Rest Day

Keeping the next 3 weeks very easy on just 3 days running each week; will probably add a 4th day after that. Will do some stretching & gardening today.

Training for GC Marathon... Week 11

Starting with today's session, the plan will be to train for GC marathon on 3 days only each week. I think more rest days are needed to revitalise my addled brain as well as the rest of the body.

So today was just 6km on flat road, which is difficult to find here, trying to keep an even pace of around 7:50min/km.

Results were : 7:36; 7:53; 7:47; 7:53; 7:56; 7:28. Short distance, no chance of getting lost, but at a reasonable speed....for Chickybabe!

Totally Insane...Here I Go Again!

This is the first of 11 weeks to the GC marathon......Totally insane!

At the gym this morning : 2km on the elliptical trainer; 2km treadmill jog.

And Another Day...

A week has passed as if it's been one long, dark night, but I cannot stay with this disappointment forever, so it's time to force myself to make a change, think of other things, get another goal. If I fail to do this & just keep on feeling angry & sorry for myself, I will have very badly let down my wonderful Cool Running family, without whom I would just as surely given up altogether & that certainly was my intention.
That's a positive thought; letting down my CR family would have a more drastic & longlasting effect than the incident itself; I need these people far more than I need success in a run.

But I still feel sick in the stomach & cannot fully grasp that this all happened.
All the more reason to have another goal to think about & work towards; and then enthusiasm will return.

Then I should aim to do the Gold Coast marathon even though I lack any interest in it right now; flights & accommodation have been arranged; apart from having it as a goal, it's money wasted to pull out unless there were more serious reasons for doing so...e.g. injury, illness, etc.
I'll go to the gym tomorrow & Tuesday & do some cross-training on the elliptical trainer & see how my legs feel; if OK, I'll try a short run on Wednesday.

There are no words to describe how completely overwhelmed, overjoyed & profoundly grateful I am to this Cool Running family who have me back on my feet again! I wish I could give each one a hug as well as saying "Thank You"!

And Another Day..

No one should read this blog for a while; it's talking to myself stuff; just my way of unloading personal thoughts & feelings; won't make much sense either, but it's what I want to do for a few more days, weeks, years...who knows?

Today : no tears; worst time is the second of waking in the morning & the realization that Sunday last really happened...I'd rather not wake up.
I'm thankful that I did wake up; if I didn't wake I'd have died during the night! Not the best solution.

No tears today....that's a positive; just feeling numb emotionally; still can't think of anything else except what happened.
That will lessen each day as other things start to occupy my mind.

Went around the yard with the leaf blower/vacuum & stood in dog shit & got cranky that Jim hadn't picked it up...like it was the end of the world! Selfish bitch, Norma!
Jim is just as upset as I am & also he's nearly crippled with his knee while waiting for knee reconstruction surgery; on the other hand, it's to be expected that I'm still a bit touchy, I suppose.

I took a walk around a local nursery, looking at the plants & trees in autumn foliage...that's a positive.

Walked the doggies through a quiet pine forest...another positive.

Read & re-read all the comments on my blog & the emails...a positive thing to do for the rest of my life; because, Norma, apart from Jim, you will forever be indebted to many, many cool runners for their responses of encouragement & concern; the love & care they've shown while a fellow runner is down & grieving; no words of mine will ever adequately express how completely overwhelmed I am & how much I love & care for them, my family, in return; amd what a family they have turned out to be!

This is a more positive day, I think and, somewhere inside this despondent, depressed being, there's a brighter, stronger person trying to get out!

Tomorrow is another day.....

Another Day...

My blog is going to become a psychiatrist.... It might be helpful to account for each day for a while & see where it leads., i.e. how much is positive & how much is negative thinking & then try to turn the negatives into something positive.

Still reading & re-reading the comments of understanding & love left on my blog....I find these of great comfort; will continue to read them several times each day. (positive.)

Still can't stop the tears (negative); I look terrible & pale as a ghost. (negative)
They are fewer than yesterday; No one has run away in fright so I can't look that bad.

What happened in Canberra will happen again because I'm always running alone. (negative)
I can't be absolutley sure that this will happen again & there 's a possibility there might be someone else as old & slow...who knows for certain?

It's bound to happen that I'd get lost if ever I did a long distance again. (negative)
There's no proof that I'll always get lost.

I have no appetite & can't eat much. (negative)
It's true I'm not enjoying food, but this will change when the sick feeling passes.

I'm a real wet blanket at home, making others miserable too.
Jim is upset for me & has taken it all very much to heart which shows how much he loves me; when my darkness lifts so will his. I smiled & talked as best I could to a lady who was walking her dog.

I keep saying and thinking a favourite prayer : "Give me serenity to accept the things I cannot change". (positive)

I took my 3 doggies for a walk & they had a great time on the scent of rabbits. They made me smile. (positive)

Tomorrow is another day....

Trying to Talk

Owl said : Talk to us" & I'm going to try, even though I can't stop the tears.

I don't want to lose my family of cool runners or my blogging children!

I have accepted, though heart broken with the result, that I was on a wrong section of the course.
I asked directions & went where I was told to go.
Discussions all week with a race director leave the case with me accepting that I was on the wrong course at some stage, but the director refusing to admit that a marshal could have given a wrong direction. They have to be protected at all costs, I believe now.
This is what leaves me physically sick to the pit of my stomach.

I was taken to task about posting anything at all on the CR message board & told that if I didn't tone it down, they would respond with a post strongly defending the marshals.
If you read my first post, it merely is a response to CRs asking when I would report & asking them to leave this matter in the hands of the directors.
I was shocked that the director said they wouldn't read the message board to see my post because CR are a lot of trouble makers.

I'm embarrassed to be so upset by all this...grieving is what Owl called it & that's
exactly what it is. Put in perspective, which I must do, to what real disaster is : sickness, loss of loved ones, world poverty, war, etc. I feel ashamed to succumb so completely to a disasterous running event.

When I dig myself out of this hole, it will have been all of you who have been responsible for getting me there so I'm going to hold on tightly to your hands & love & if common sense, not emotion, can prevail, I will run, post & blog again.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.........Norma

End of Blog

My blog will end here....there will be nothing more to add & it can be deleted from the Blogging List by anyone who cares to do so. 'Bye from Chickybabe.

Last Run Before Canberra!

That's it! Finished! Used the gym treadmill today to do 7km @ 7:30min per km & since it looks like it's going to be a hot day on Sunday, I'm going for a very negative split...rightly or wrongly....gradually increasing pace. That, for me, translates into starting with an 8:05 first km & taking it up from there.....if possible!

So, in a way sadly, that's the end of training for this event; have enjoyed the training & looking towards the goal enormously...always do enjoy that part far more than the event itself. The only leg work for Chickybabe between now & Sunday is to hoist a leg over Wombat's 1400 bike on Saturday, & roar off around the course & Canberra!

7km with Strideouts

Fast walked 7km this morning; at the 2km mark I went into Renwick soccer field & did 6 x 100m strides, then finished the walk; felt good just to walk, no huffing & puffing; will continue with stretches several times each day as well.

Not much longer to wait now......not for the run, but to become a biker with Wombatface! Even suggested to him that we skip the whole running thing on Sunday & go biking instead....haven't had a reply yet!! We blast off from Telopia Park school around 2:00ish Saturday afternoon , weather permitting; otherwise it's going to be difficult hoisting a leg over the bike after the run on Sunday!! That's the latest news from Chickybabe Blogger-Soon-to-be-Biker!

WEEK 1...6 sleeps to go!

Rest today as usual for a Monday..........and most of the last few days before the 50km in Canberra. Will be doing some stretching each day this week. Still coughing a lot, breathing not as easy as I'd like it to be, but all else seems to be OK...no signs of injury; if I could only shake off the last bit of this cold. I always thought that Chickybabes didn't get colds! Still a few days to improve.

10km @ 'Pace'

By this I mean that this morning's run of 10km was at the pace with which I want to start the 50km on Sunday. ......i.e. with an 8min km; what I'll finish with, only the day will tell!

Monitor results for each km were : 7:12; 8:13; 7:48; 7:35; 7:50; 7:12; 7:14; 7:23; 7:52; 8:41; 7:53...................Avg. 8:20 over variable terrain.

Remainder of this week is resting! Walk on Tuesday; very short run on Wednesday; walk on Thursday.

This time next week...........most will have finished, but Chickybabe will be about half way..sob! sob!

Rest Day

Rest & a hot day! 25+ degrees here today & hoping that next weekend will be cooler! Still unable to shake off this cold & cough; makes the house shake...almost!

A Short Run + Strides

Yesterday, Thursday, was a rest day. This morning, 8km with 6 x 100m strides. Tomorrow will be another day off & then a short run on Sunday.

General Aerobic + Speed + Meeting a Biker!

Only 10km today with 8 x 100m strides. Light showers while running....nice! Passed a man & his dog, got chatting (as we do in these parts!), turns out he has a Harley Davidson "Shovelhead" (whatever that is!).....will have to ask Wombatface; I suppose Bloggers know by now that Wombat & I will be seen tearing around Canberra on Marathon weekend on his 1400! Have cameras ready....the shot of a lifetime!

Speed Session

On the move again! Over to the gym for treadmill session of 4 x 1600m reps. with 2 mins. intervals; 2km warm up & 2km cool down. 11km approx.

Results : 10:44, 9:58, 9:34, 9:14; Max HR = 95-98% (so the monitor says)

Chickybabe so pleased to be out & about again, even with a 'graveyard' cough!

2 to Go!

Well, I'd hoped to get out this morning to do Sunday's missing long run.....and I didn't! Not feeling quite 'up to it'. Instead I'll just get on with this week's programme, beginning Tuesday. I don't think that 1 missed long run at this stage is going to make a difference.....I hope not anyhow!

Another Day Off

Still choked up with this cold & cough; didn't get today's long run in; slept in instead. Tomorrow, Monday, should be OK to go long....as Tim & Plu said....better now than later for a heavy cold to strike!

Coughing, Sneezing & Nose Blowing!

A beauty of a head cold like I said yesterday! All day coughing, sneezing, blowing; don't know why a head cold makes me feel so miserable & off! Hope the worst will be over before tomorrow's long run.

Run + Speed

In this morning's 12km, I included 6 x 100m strides, some of which were uphill.....pleasantly tiring!

Will take tomorrow as an extra rest day as I seem to have developed a huge head cold!

Rest Day

Replacing a short recovery run with an additional day of rest; freezing cold here this morning (7 degrees) so Chickybabe didn't too much mind staying in her nest!

First Session in Taper - Intervals

Used the gym treadmill for an intervals session; weather wet & windy..outside!

5 x 1000m with 90 secs between : 6:13, 6:03, 5:56, 5:44, 5:40....max hr = 90-95%; required a big effort & pleased to finish this session!

An Extra Rest Day

Taper is here! : today's short recovery run replaced with an extra day of rest. Tomorrow is intervals day; looks like the rain is settled in for the week, so the gym it will have to be for tomorrow.

3 Weeks & Taper Begins Today

Today & probably tomorrow I'll take off.....felt wretched yesterday after the long run; OK today, but an extra rest day is needed this week.

There was something good during yesterday's run......passing a paddock on one of the properties, a cow was giving birth to her calf & just 2 tiny hooves had emerged & I thought : there's two little feet that have never touched earth yet! I didn't stay to see the birth because the mother looked as if she needed her privacy for that special moment without humans watching her! I thought about her for the rest of the day.

Last of the Long Runs

With only 3 weeks till Canberra, I'm hoping I didn't push too far today, because at the finish of the planned 40km, I felt totally wrecked! Anyhow, that's it for the long runs. Nothing more to add & even if there was, I'm too tired to add it.

Chickybabe must go & rest! Total for the week : 60km

Rest Day

Spent half of the day getting back from Sydney & the CR drinks night! This Chickybabe had a real good night!

Intervals

Went to the gym & used the treadmill for intervals : 4 x 1200m with 2min jog between each. Warm up & cool down....total 12km.

Chickybabe is going to the CR get together tonight........if I can find the place!

Practising "Pace"

The aim of today's 19km was to keep the same pace as I'll need for about the first third of the 50km in Canberra; for a negative split on the day, a 7:48m pkm.

Results from monitor : Ave. Pace 7:09m pkm; OK, I guess, allowing for a bit slower (though tried not to) on the ups & a bit faster on the down hills.

Keeping to the same pace for the entire time (2hrs 20mins) is a bit tricky for a Chickybabe!

Tomorrow, I'm thinking......intervals.

Cross Training

Didn't run today; instead : 1hr bike; some upper body light weights, crunches....exciting stuff!

Just 4 Weeks Left!

Rest day of sorts today : Going to the big city of Sydney for the day!! And again tomorrow....so no running for this Chickybabe until Wednesday.

2nd last Long Run!

Ran all of this morning's 24km as if it was the first half of the 50km in Canberra : i.e. a very slow first half! Seemed to work well & if ahead of time at any of the 1km marks, I walked for the few seconds left at each one; felt really good on such a short run compared with the last two long Sundays.

Next Sunday will be the last really long run, so maybe I'll run the first half very, very slowly! A Chickybabe has to be very careful at this stage....today 4 weeks!!

Rest Day

Nothing for Chickybabe to do today except worry about all the cool runners doing the 6ft Track ! I won't be able to rest till the last one is in! LL

(Late) Mid-Week Run

Cool & overcast, so went for 18km this morning, keeping to a comfortable pace of 7:48mins. per km....bit slower on the hills! Tomorrow......rest & think about all those running 6ft Track!

On the Road Again

Well rested after last Sunday's long run, so....out of the pool & on the road again! Today, 14km @ 70-80% of max HR; will take it a few more kms tomorrow & rest Saturday & long again on Sunday.....and then 4 weeks only!!!

Another Pool Day

Same as Tuesday....1 hour deep water running (incl. 10mins. hot spa!)

Deep Water Running

More recovery time needed between recent long Sunday runs : used Berida Manor heated pool in Bowral for 1 hour session : 10mins. warm up, 40mins. intervals, 10mins in hot spa. Probably keep to this for the week & be fully recovered to go long again on Sunday. Time for all Chickybabes to take stock & not get injured!

Rest

As usual, Monday is a day off. Tomorrow, will probably do pool running instead of on the road. Have a bit of a niggle in the lower back; will take each day one at a time & see how it goes.....away, I hope; if not, I'll stay with pool work.

5 Weeks to go!

With only 5 weeks remaining, there won't be too many more long runs!

Out this cold morning at 7:00 a.m., just the sort of day to do 42km; the usual Macquarie Pass road, taking the usual supply of food : sports drink, de-fizzed 'V', raisin bread & Nutella sandwich (only 1 today since I wasn't going as far as last week), dozens of snakes & one of the new (new in this far flung outpost!) ' Pria, Power Bars'; I suppose everyone has seen & tasted them; they're quite small & come in 2 flavours 'Chocolate Cookie Flavour' & 'French Vanilla Crisp'; really tasty & a vast improvement of those horrible big things that tasted like cardboard & used give me awful stomach cramps! At 21km ate sandwich & from then on, bit by bit, km by km, hill after hill...I got through the rest of the supplies. I'm starting to like taking lots of food & these simple goodies never tasted so good!

Have to mention how much difference, psychologically, it makes to have gone as far as 50km; the thought of 42km wasn't at all daunting : before leaving I said to Mr LL, "Only 42km today!" A bit nonchalant, I know, because it is a long way, especially the way I do it..(today, lengthened the walk breaks.....jog 1km/walk 2mins. ....time 5hrs 46mins. Next week will shorten the run & also the walk breaks & then hope to get 1 more long one in before the taper!!

This week I will omit the shorter runs, replacing them with deep water running (legs very tired tonight); keep the mid-week medium long run, take 3 rest days (I think!) & then go "long" on Sunday.

86km for this week.

And now it's good night from me & good night from a tired Chickybabe!

Rest Day

Rather than do an 8km recovery run, I've decided to take the advice of some bloggers to be careful (thank you!) & take the day off; tomorrow's forecast is for a cool day & that will help with a medium long run.

A Miserable Medium Long Run

The aim was to do 18km with the middle 14 @ the pace for the ultra; it didn't go exactly like that, in fact it was a shite session! First half reasonable except for having to walk the hills; at 12km quads felt like jelly & I walked the last wretched 6km home! A wasted session? I hope not; at least I finished!

Tomorrow, rest; Sunday will cut back to somewhere around or under 40km.

Chickybabe is very disappointed with today's training!

A Day Off!

I've taken another rest day & will do a medium long run tomorrow...hope it's as cool & misty as this morning!

An Extra Rest Day

Change of plans for this week.....& will take each day one at a time; how I feel will dictate what I do because I need more rest before tackling another 'long' run on Sunday; doing more of these & recovering well seems to be more important than trying to fit in more, shorter distance runs during the week; either Thursday or Friday probably a medium length run...we'll see how Chickybabe feels!

Week 6

Getting closer & closer all the time!

Took Monday off as rest; today 12km ....jog 1km/walk 1km, as more recovery from the weekend; that's all I felt like doing, so that's all Chickybabe did!

1 X 50km!

Took the opportunity of a cool morning, early start & no rain to do a first 50km run.....jog 1km/walk 2 mins. Same course as last week...down & back up Macquarie Pass. 2X25km.

Took the usual 2 Nutella sandwiches, 1 container of sports drink & 1 with 2 cans of de-fizzed 'Red Bull' & a pocket full of 'snakes'! Sandwich #1 at 25km; from then on it was dangle the carrot before the donkey trick... I promised myself rewards at various stages of the return & delivered on the dot! At 35km (just before the climb back up the Pass) I could eat the 2nd sandwich...& I did! At 40km I could eat as many snakes as would fit in my mouth & wash them down with 'Red Bull'...& I did! At 42km I could eat all the snakes I could find..& I did! At 45km I could finish the last of the 'Red Bull'...I did & then it was a case of 1km at a time; I walked k49-50 because I was feeling too tired to watch the traffic speeding on the downhill bends into town.
50km is a very long way!!! I felt like I'd been going for a week!

I hope to do another 50km & 1 or 2 x 40km. Total time today 6hrs 45mins. No wonder I feel really, really tired! So now, it's Good Night from Chickybabe!

Feb. = 349km
Jan. = 348
Total = 697 km

Rest & XT

Went to the gym to do some time on the elliptical trainer & bike.

Tomorrow I must be out by 6:30 a.m. at the latest, otherwise I have little chance of being back before dark! So, please God! Don't let it rain on Chickybabe's parade tomorrrow!

Running & Flying!

I put the 'flying' part on the main message board, so only a brief mention here.

12km with strides was the run. At 3km I stopped to watch a glider circle & land on Mittagong airstrip; called out to the pilot that he looked like a bird landing, and asked me if I'd like to go up! Faster than a speeding bullet I was at the side of his 2-seater motorized glider; we introduced ourselves, put on one of his jackets, earphones & helmet & after doing all that clearance & checking bit like in the movies, we were racing down the tarmac & soaring into the air, eventually getting to 2000ft.

If I'd died there & then, I'd have done so with a big smile on my face, such was the adrenalin rush as we soared over the ranges, flew down low over where I pointed out my house, up again & out over Bowral, Berrima & Mittagong. It was so cool, clear & beautiful beyond anything I could have imagined. Can't wait to go up again when I get the phone call!

"Down to earth" & completed the running session, light as a feather & smiling all the way !

Continuing With Endurance - Medium Long Run

I slept in till.......!!! and didn't get out to run until 11:00 a.m. It was too hot & humid by then; however, to be positive they (whoever they are!) say you should do some running at the times of day you'll be out on the day; that's why I need to experience everything from dawn to dark; and, for that matter, all sorts of weather changes as well! Because, on long runs I'm out of contact range by mobile, I must also learn how to send out distress signals (smoke?) should I ever again be overcome by darkness or the elements!

Today 16km; Avg. HR was 65% of max.; dirt road in the bush ..unfortunately a lot of soil erosion from recent heavy rain, but wonderful bush smells, especially when crossing some old wooden bridges over flooded creeks.

5 X 600m intervals

Solved the problem of being able to do today's session with as little pain as possible ! : (1) Cut the legs off a pair of panty hose, keeping just enough to cover chafed parts; (2) lathered areas with vaseline; (3) carefully put on modified pantyhose & an old pair of thigh length shorts. It worked & managed to do 3km warm up, 5 X 600m reps. with 90 secs intervals, 3km cool down.....on a treadmill at the new gym in Mittagong. Count as 10km.

Not bloody likely to ever let chafing happen again!

Week 7 Begins...getting closer & closer!

It had to be a day off.....can't run, can't walk properly, can't even sit down in comfort! A 'step back' week is in order with less kms than last week.

A Very Long Run!

Oh, Bloggers! Where else, but here, could I leave for all to know, what a Chickybabe puts herself through on the road to Canberra!

Out at 6:30 a.m. (unheard of for me!), rain & mist above the ranges & below in the valleys.....d'lovely! I was carrying 2 raisin loaf sandwiches with Nutella spread, jelly beans, sports drink in one container & 2 de-fizzed cans of "Red Eye" in the other..."Red Eye" this week 'cos it had more caffeine than any of the others! So if I strayed off & got lost somewhere amongst the daisies & cows, I'd survive the day & even the night outdoors!

I missed some of the 1km paint marks I'd put on the road down Macquarie Pass & just went on & on ...jog 1km/walk 1minute; now that I'm home & have taken a look at the piece of paper where I've jotted down how far each mark is, I find that instead of doing 20-21km out & the same back, I'd gone 23 out & the same back...total 46km. That was OK; I was feeling great at halfway & most of the way back, enjoying the rain & the occasional burst of sunshine, until with 15km to go, from running in soaking shorts for so long, what did I feel? Chafing on both inner thighs! I can't tell you how terrible the pain became! Tried walking & it was sheer agony; so I just ran with no walk breaks & eventually, know what? I could feel nothing! No pain at all!

It gets worse though & don't read on unless you have a strong stomach! About 10km to go, looked down & both inner thighs covered in blood & running down to the knees....that's the first & I hope the last time I'll ever feel chafing like it ..trying to wipe the blood away lest I be seen by people in passing cars! Thank God, they're aren't many where I run!

And it still got worse!
After I got home & in the shower!....& that's when I started to cry....big sook! Truly, the burning pain was dreadful; inner thighs look & feel as if they've been cut with a razor blade! ...though I suppose if it hadn't been raining all the time, it may not have happened. I hope the pain goes away soon; right now I can barely walk or sit down for the burning pain....I've truly never felt anything like it.


Total for this week = 84km (Today's run took me 6 & half hours.. down the Pass & all the way back up in the rain & pain!)

Chickybabe is now going to lie down again & probably cry some more.. I'm so sore!

An Extra Rest Day

Called another day for doing nothing special because tomorrow, God and my legs willing, I plan to go 40 or 42km. Because of the hours involved in doing this, I will very likely need to take a packed lunch, afternoon-tea, the evening meal and possibly, a late supper! Oh, Chickybabe!

Medium Long Run

Cloud cover kept the morning cooler than the predicted 28 degrees; took a fairly flat course out & back, past the Mittagong air-strip for a total of 18km., keeping HR at Avg. 70%, Max. 75-80%. Even so, I was feeling weary from about 12km onwards....soles of my feet sore from running entirely on bitumen surface...oh well, Canberra is all bitumen, so must look on the positive side of everything that happens!

A Rest Day

Might go & take a look at the new gym that opens on Monday here in Mittagong; only a couple of minutes from home so could be more convenient than going into Bowral.

LT Run

Started out late (9:00 a.m.) thinking the day was to be very cool & I could sneak an extra hour in bed! Well, the breeze was good but the morning warmed up considerably. 21 hilly kms with the middle 12km pushed hard.. For the total distance of 21km : Avg. speed = 8km/H; Max Speed = 23.9km/H.

Recovery Run

Still in recovery mode after Sunday! A 10km 'easy' run is the order of the day; this evening we'll go into Bowral to see a French movie called "A Very Long Engagement", set in the period at the end of World War One......looking forward to it.

8 Weeks to Go!

Soon will be 'count down' time! Week 8 begins with the usual rest day.

A Longer Than Expected Run!

Ages ago I drove down the Tourist Road hopping in & out of the car at each km with my little can of white paint; a dab on one side of the road, run across the road & drop a dab on the other side; all this so that I'd know exactly how far I'd come each Sunday.

This morning the intention was to do 30 -32km & 34 if feeling extra good; something (legs) was telling me I'd missed a dab or two; checked when I got home & I'd done 38km!! No wonder I was like a walking zombie towards the finish! Fortunately I'd taken a handful of jelly beans, sports drink & a de-fizzed can of 'Red Bull'...gives a good kick too!

Total for this week = 70km

Another Rest Day

Not planned at all, but feeling a bit "off" in the tummy; better to take today off & be ready for Sunday's long run......I hope!

A Rest Day

Slept in till.....late! Hope the cool weather lasts for Sunday's long run.

Recovery Run

Strange, gloriously cool day after 33 degrees yesterday! Dark clouds coming in over the tops of the ranges: more storms? Oh well, "Somewhere over the rainbow......".

Being so cool, did the week's shopping first & got out to run around 12:30 p.m. Today was just an 8km 'easy' run that I enjoyed a lot......and nothing tomorrow!

A Run with Intervals

Went to the gym this morning; did 12km with 5 X 600m reps. with 90 secs. intervals. I like the treadmill for intervals as it's the best way for me to keep the pace constant. A bit tiring, but a shower afterwards & finding the day much cooler when I got outside, gave me a feeling of having done a worthwhile session.

Aerobic Run

Of course, I would leave it until the temperature was over 30 degrees before setting out; must have been 35 degrees by the time I finished. Took plenty of water & refilled at taps.

14km run keeping HR at around 73% of Max.

Simply must get myself out of bed earlier in this hot weather; but this Chickybabe Blogger loves her nest!

Week 9 Begins

....with a rest day; happy with that, 31 degrees outside. Will see the movie "Finding Neverland" tonight & hopefully there won't be another power failure as happened in last week's storm during "The Motorcycle Diaries"!

Will also have one last 'going over' with the Physio this afternoon.

Long Run w/Marathon Pace

B'Gosh! But it was a glorious mornin' this mornin'!! Very cool breeze, sunny, not a cloud in the sky and I swear I could see Centre Point Tower in the distance!!!

24km with middle 20km @ marathon pace, except on the steepest hills where I slowed down somewhat!

Really enjoyed the run, being shorter than usual and only spoilt by coming across a bad accident amongst a group of about 50 'bikers', (who pass me every Sunday), where one had skidded off the road, awaiting the ambulance & police. Very friendly group to speak to, but those bikes!! Huge, shiny, colourful monsters that I'd give anything to have a ride on!!

Anyhow, that's it for this week : Total of 64km

Change of Plans

I'm taking an extra day of rest today instead of the planned 10km; reason : it's windy & cool & I have first signs of a heal cold; for some strange reason, the ordinary common cold knocks me out completely for several days once it takes hold & I don't want that to happen now; funny......because others I know seem to be not affected at all by the same thing.

I suppose being a Chickybabe makes me a little more fragile!!

"Late" Mid-Week Run

D'Lovely cool, overcast morning and able to get in the run that had to be postponed on Wednesday because of horrific storms.

22km @ around 73% of MHR. Have had a very painful big toe for several days & have had to cut a piece out of an old pair of runners. Taking a look later found a big blood blister under the nail & at the tip of the toe! Gave it a jab & out came a near tissue full of fluid; a bit inflamed around the base of the nail but not as painful as it has been for the last few days; hope it's not infected. Anyhow, an easy run tomorrow.

Run With Strides

Windy, very cool day after a stormy night! Did 10km with 8 X 100 m. strides.

Change of Plans

Today's mid-week long run postponed until Friday due to weather conditions ( managed 8km before skies darkened) : huge electrical storms; two people struck by lightning yesterday in Mittagong, one killed when a tree fell on a tent in which 2 school girls were camping; tagic accident.

Last night everything blacked out including half way through the movie we'd gone to see! No traffic or street lights driving home.

Will have another session with Physio tomorrow; do an easy 10km weather permitting & then the longer run on Friday, short run Saturday & long on Sunday...that's the plan anyhow!

Recovery Jog

Woke at 7:30 a.m., turned off the alarm and woke again at 10:30 a.m.! Haven't done that in ages!

Very hot out at 11:30 a.m. for a 10km jog; taking it very easy & felt no trouble with either knees or back....big sigh of relief!

Movies this evening to see "The Motorcycle Diaries"...all part of recovery for Chickybabe Blogger!

Week 10 Begins

....with a rest day!

Even though lower back is fine today (not so during Sunday's long run!), went to Physio, massaged, heat applied, stretching ; upper body push-ups to do at home; she will take a look at knees & back on Thursday.

Long Run to Finish Week 11

36km this morning with some walk breaks; now have horribly throbbing knees & will go and lie down!

Total for this week = 80km

Total for this month (Jan.) = 348km + Dec. 268km
= 616km in the lead up to Canberra 50km

Recovery

8km ....walked it so as to spare knees any further pain!

Medium Long Run

Could I posibly be "hung over" after Sunday's 8km?? I felt very tired in spite of a rest day yesterday..hinges & joints all needed oiling! Lower back stiff & both knees aching.

18km...and to make sure I end on a positive note : if the session did nothing else, I'd like to think that it at the very least, it strengthens mental thoughness.

Rest Day

.....feeling tired; pleased a day off happens to be today.

Australia Day

Medibank Private 8km Fun Run, Centennial Park: fun? For sure, but a very tough, hilly 2 laps. Time: 54:40 & a PB for that course.

Recovery + Speed

10km this morning...overcast & humid; out 5km with 6 X 100m strides; back 5km power walked as I felt in need of more recovery time after the weekend & tomorrow's early start for Sydney & Centennial Park 8km. Must remember to set the alarm for 5:00 a.m.!!!

Rest Day

........watching tennis!

Longest Run So Far!

At 6:30 a.m. the ranges were covered with heavy mist; visibility reduced to about 50m but a glorious morning for a run.

34km on bitumen down & back up the Macquarie Pass has given me aching knees; tomorrow a rest day.

This marks the end of Week 12; a total for the week of 86km...Chickybabe is tired, but pleased!

Aerobic Run + Speed

This morning : 12km with 8 X 30 seconds 'hard'....i.e. as fast as I could possibly run! Taking the rest of the day easy before tomorrow's long run.

Rest Day...& ready for it!

Watch tennis &, at the same time, do some stationary bike, light weights.

Mid-Week Medium Long Run

Longest yet for a mid-week run : 18km; and I struggled all the way; I felt more like a jumbobabe than a chickybabe! heavy, sluggish, tired, etc. etc. & walked the last km.....anyhow, I finished it, but hated every minute!

Hopefully knowing that not many will be reading my blog, (I wouldn't want too many to know!) it's going to contain not only the good, but also the bad & the ugly. This morning, other than what's written above (& that was the good part!), I also had the bad & the ugly in the form of constant dashes into the bushes &, there is no more polite way of saying it : got home in a "mess"! So there! Now, if it happens to others, you're not alone!

Recovery

An 'easy' 6 km followed by 50mins. deep water running & hot spa!

Aerobic Run

16km this morning; kept HR at 73% of max.

12 Weeks To Go!

....beginning with a rest day.

Long Run

Forgot to record yesterday's 6km. It all counts!

Today did 26km, 2 more than planned, but the morning was fairly cool, overcast, though humid.

Week Total = 66km and the end of week 13!

Tomorrow begins a 'step up' again week.

A Recovery Day

...or rather an easy day in preparation for tomorrow's long run; will be finishing this 'step back' week with 24km.

Rest Day

That's it....no running!

Mid-Week Aerobic Run

This morning 13km....keeping HR between 70 &75% of max....just 'putting in the miles' as the books say!

Recovery Run

Out by 6:30 a.m. before the predicted 33 degrees. An 'easy' 8km & used my new Polar S625X monitor; have yet to read back the recorded results, but having set it for 'Pace' I was surprised just how far off the set pace I drifted. Nice toy though!

A Run With Strides

This morning 13km, including 8 X 100m strides. Now this really gets the heart rate going upwards to 94% of max. Enjoyed the session, especially the run home after the strides were done! A pleasant, warm morning.

Week 13 Begins

Rest Day for me; going to the movies to see "De-Lovely".

Sunday's Long Run

Very cool, very fresh morning....what a difference it makes! 32km.........run/walk...5/1 for all 4 hours 15 mins. Not fast, but got where I wanted to go! Felt strong all the way, even climbing back up the Pass. Hope I'm not fooling myself when I say I can feel an improvement from week to week. And now Chickybabe must lie down, start to read and then fall asleep for 2 hours! Tomorrow begins Week 13 towards Canberra 50km. Total for this week = 78km.

A Short Run Before a Long One!

Next week is a 'step back' week....Ye Gods! the weeks are passing quickly! This morning was an 'easy' 8km; cool, overcast; hoping for no rain tomorrow when the plan is for 32km. which will take me a fair way down Macquarie Pass & back. This week, while watching the tennis, I've spent some time on the stationary bike, some leg raises, one and two legged mini squats, crunches and upper body work with light weights. With the Australian Open coming up, I might soon resemble a Turkeybabe rather than an Chickybabe Blogger!

A Day Off

No running today, thank goodness! I really feel I need it after yesterday; will put my feet (& legs) up and watch the tennis this afternoon.

Mid-Week Run

18km this morning....and a tale to tell! 9km out, good; 9km return, faded....faded.....faded with each km! Why? 1. Set out late 10:00 a.m. & already hot (not an issue really) 2. Nothing to drink before starting out 3. Didn't take any water with me 4. No taps to drink from anywhere Result : 5. Overcome by fatigue & thirst during last kms & walked the last one 6. Drank a couple of handfuls from a not too clean roadside puddle of rain water! Result : 7. Lucky I haven't got la grippe!! One more lesson learned & you should know better.... you silly Chickybabe Blogger!

A Recovery Walk

8km today, but did it at a fast walk. Reason for walking : a bout of post-shingles neuralgia from 2:00a.m. till 5:00a.m. kept me awake; it's bad enough if it happens during the day, but at night it's sheer agony. I was in no mood to do anything today, but the very thought of having to post a DNS here, where nothing but the truth must be told, was sufficient to get me out! And it still gets counted as 8km recovery...so there!! The breeze was more of a howling wind and the flies more of a squad of suicide bombers, but your Chickybabe Blogger trudged on through it all!

LT Run

Back to a cool, misty morning! 14km run today, with the middle 6km at between 80% - 90% of max. Average was 85% and I was pleased with being able to keep with that comfortably. I don't think I'd have been as successful a month ago, so things must be improving gradually, judging by the results. It was, as always, up and down hills; for future reference & comparison the middle 6km times were : 7:03......6:23.....5:53.....7:04.....6:10......5:29....up & down like the terrain! Not fast by most standards, but OK for this Chickybabe!

A Day Off!

Week 14 to Canberra begins today. A rest day is much appreciated after yesterday's 30km! Slept in till mid-morning! The only exercise today will be to take my 3 doggies for a longer walk than they usually get each late afternoon, i.e. approx. 60mins.

Long Run Finishes Week 15

For me to get out by 7: 00 a.m. is early! Over 30 degrees predicted, however there was heavy cloud cover right up until the last 12 km when the sun came through. I did 30km this morning : from Mittagong out along Old South Road, past Almyerton; turn around at 7km & back 7 km; add another 12km loop & another 4 km home. ....took plenty of water, a gel & sports drink; also took time to take in the scenery, a lovely green; and talk to a few horses along the way! Finished OK but legs very fatigued! So now we head into week 14; for the past week total = 72kms.

January 1st, 2005

Began the New Year with an 'easy' 6km and we're back to hot weather now! Went out late at 11:30 a.m. and it was already over 30 degrees, so tomorrow I must be out & about much earlier to avoid the heat during what is to be a long run.