It was the night before city to surf...

It's actually 2 nights before my first ever City 2 Surf, and I am feeling very nervous. One of my work friends is also racing, and we have been exchanging terrified looks all week! We did use carbo loading as an excuse to each corn chips at a birthday afternoon tea on Wednesday though so not all bad :)

The forecast for Sunday is daunting too; cold, very windy and possibly raining. I think I will be running Heartbreak Hill straight into a headwind. I stopped off on my way home to pick up a cheap jumper to wear to the start; I wonder how much of the race I will wear it for?

I'll be meeting my running group at lunch time tomorrow to drive to Sydney together. Before then I have to get my gear together, update my running playlist and finish a uni assignment! Argh.

I'm going into the race much more poorly prepared than I anticipated I'd be when I signed up. Problems with my pesky right calf, a sprained ankle and then four weeks off with a torn oblique means the furthest I have run in about 2 months is around 8km. I have maintained some level of fitness; I have improved my 5km time by about 45 seconds since June, but I have no idea how I am going to go over 14km.

I am trying to remind myself that I have been injured; to have fun and enjoy it, but my self talk is not helping the nerves!

Sweating my thorns off (in winter)

I have had my eye on the Boring Runner's 3rd Annual Sweat Your Thorns Off virtual race for a while now, but I didn't know if I'd even be capable of running this weekend.

This was my second ever virtual race-  I think they are a brilliant way of building a community of runners and supporting other runners to achieve their best. So thanks Adam for arranging this one. I was lacking motivation for yesterday's run, and it was only remembering that I had entered the SYTO race that got me out of bed!

I combined my run with this week's Gindy parkrun. Free, timed and 5km, exactly what I needed for Sweating my Thorns Off. Of course, it is winter here in Canberra, and the previous week's parkrun had been run in sub-zero temperatures, but I always sweat, and knew I would have no problems sweating my thorns off. Imagine my surprise to wake to a sunny and balmy 5 degrees! I was actually a bit worried about layering my compression socks and long tights together. Sweating would not be a problem at all!

There was a good turnout, almost 60 runners this week. With my series of injuries this would only be my second run on this course, and the last time I had run it, I was nearly delirious from the cold. Prior to my oblique tear I had been running really strongly. Speed training was paying off; my pace was improving without feeling like I was working harder. I really wanted to run faster than my previous parkrun time (27.10) but I didn't know if it was a realistic goal or just a pipe dream.



Whenever I run I like to get off to a slow start and finish strong, but I really wanted to beat a girl running in denim overalls! I took off faster than I wanted but just had to get past her! It felt uncomfortable, I was certainly working hard, and I walked between two light posts at the top of a hill, but I finished in 26.25! So a 45 second parkrun PB for me (and after 4 weeks off running with an injury!) and only 30 seconds from my 5km PB. Getting under 25 minutes is my 5km goal for the year, so here's hoping!

girl running in overalls

dan and me; crossing the finish line

I'm back baby!

Long time no post!

I tore an oblique muscle 5 July that kept me from running (and most exercising) for almost 4 weeks. I was pretty low- the frustration and depression from another injury during the training cycle was pretty hard to bear.

I was really challenging myself; I was getting up early to fit in a morning workout alongside my regular lunchtime and after work sessions. I can't even remember the specific exercise that did me in; it was some sort of bridge, I think. What I initially thought was an annoying cramp just would not go away. I was struggling to complete the exercises in class and even walking back to work was uncomfortable. Sitting at my computer I was getting sorer and sorer; dull aches just sitting, and sharp, stabbing pain when I moved (or coughed, laughed, sneezed).

I put off running hill intervals that afternoon, and rested (like really rested- I barely got out of bed) over the weekend. I got through a speed session with my running group (likening the pain to being stabbed in the ribs with a screwdriver) but I pulled up so sore I knew I couldn't ignore it.

Diagnosis: torn oblique- 3-4 weeks of rehab. Only permissible exercises- stationary bike, light stretching and bridges on my knees. Should be OK to run City 2 Surf. Argh!

Well I was good, and followed doctor's orders. I had my first run last Saturday. 4.5km around the streets near my parents. I accidentally turned it into a tempo run, with 2 faster kilometres (about 4.45 pace) in the middle. It was uncomfortable rather than painful, and I had almost no pain afterward!

So I will still be running the City 2 Surf next weekend, but I will have to revise down my time goal. I am quite disappointed, despite a series of smaller injuries my training was coming along so well. The speed work was really paying off; training runs I was completing in 5.45 pace a few months ago I was doing at 5.25 pace without an increase in perceived effort. I haven't run further than 8 km in about 8 weeks, and my total running volume is much less than I where I would want to be, but I will finish the race and be happy with that (I hope)!

Running relief

SO relieved to have finished today's speed work. I crossed the finish line for my last interval, collapsed in a heap for a minute and got up a completely different person. My mood has lifted and I feel like I could accomplish almost anything (which is good because I have another run planned for this afternoon)!

I slowed down a bit over the 6 intervals, 4.56, 5.08, 5.25, 5.27, 5.16, 5.16, and overall was running a but slower than I want to be, but I am feeling such a relief to have this session over that I don't really mind. My running coach commented on my complete 180 in attitude from the start to the finish of the session, and we all had a good laugh about how grumpy I was to begin with.

I still can't put my finger on exactly why I was dreading the session, but I'd say it was a combination of factors; ones I think every runner experiences once in a while. 

Fear; that I can't run the way I want to.

Doubt; that I will ever run as fast or as far as I want.

Envy; wishing I could run as fast as others.

I guess it was one of those days when I didn't feel like I was a real runner, but I am now back on track! I am running to Dan's work this afternoon, so it's a good thing I feel capable and confident. 

Running scared

I am scared of my run today. 

I had an awful run on Saturday. I was up early (ish) but not to run, I had volunteered to be the official parkrun photographer this week instead. It was a relatively mild morning, but I was standing around in the cold waiting for the finishers to come through the 'chute'. I didn't drink much water; it was cool and once the runners started to come in I couldn't stop taking shots. One of the other volunteers was well organised, she was heading straight to the gym to run on the treadmill. I was going home to run.

Neither my mind nor my body wanted to run, but I laced up my shoes and was out the door before either could persuade me otherwise. I had planned on an out and back run (about 4km each way), followed by a loop around our local lake (about another 4km), which would round out about 50km for the week. 

From the very first step it was crap. My phone was flat; so I had no music to run to. Even though it was 'warm' my hand were cold. I'd find myself walking almost without realising I had stopped running. I hated every minute of it. At my turn around point I stopped to practice some mindfulness; I hoped that I could get my head back into it and finish strongly. It didn't work. I pushed back to the start (with a few walk breaks) but  I knew there was no way I was going to manage the lake as well. As soon as I got home I tried to pick myself up with a giant bubble bath but it didn't help; I was down and dispirited and doubting my running. 

So I have speed work in 45 minutes, and I am dreading it. 6 * 1000m. I threw a few into some of last week's runs so I know I can maintain the right pace but I am scared. There really is no other word for it. Dan asked me this morning what was the worst thing that could happen, and I know disappointment with myself is the worst outcome but argh. 

The hardest step for a runner is the first step out the door. 

Doubling up or Welcome to Summer Virtual 5km run

I participated in my first virtual run this week! The Running, Loving, Living Welcome to Summer Virtual Run 5km/10km. I decided to squeeze it on the very last day, Monday 25 June.

I had been sick with a head cold toward the end of last week, and it had persisted across the weekend. Come Monday, I was back at work but not feeling at all motivated for my lunchtime group run; speedwork. 6*800m intervals. Blergh. I hadn't run since the previous Wednesday because I was struggling to breathe. But I dragged myself off to run, promising my body that I'd be easy on it. As it often does, the run was a great pick-me-up; I ran faster than I had planned and felt much better for having run.

 I'd seen Toni's virtual run and planned on racing it, but the string of injuries and illness I've had over the last few weeks had left me thinking that I wouldn't be able to race. After the boost from the lunchtime run, I thought why not! and decided to run again that afternoon, on the gym treadmills.

By the time I got to the gym my legs were feeling pretty heavy, the speedwork had taken it out of them, so I decided on a progressive run. I also was dressed for running outside in winter, in thick tights and a long sleeved shirt. I started fairly slowly, trying to get my legs comfortable, and while I never really succeeded I managed to keep pushing the speed and finished,  hot, sweaty and exhausted, in 27.10. I was pretty happy with the time considering I was doubling up runs (and fast ones too!) but this was the exact same time I had run 5km at parkrun a few weeks earlier, not even a second faster! I wish I had pushed a tiny bit harder to finish just a little bit quicker!

This is only blurry because I was so sweaty, I swear!

I am glad I raced, but boy did it take it out of me! I still feeling sluggish and heavy-legged. A slow recovery day yesterday, and some rolling (with my new friend PVC pipe) hasn't helped much, and my run today was sloooower than normal too. My usual pre-work run, which loops around the National Museum, is blocked off while the museum is being renovated. I ran through part of the city west precinct instead, but there are too many side streets and traffic crossings for me to run during peak hour. Just a crappy run in general.

Parliament House and the National Museum of Australia

So I am home tonight, I've stretched out my legs, wearing compression guards, feeling a bit sore and sorry. Two speed sessions on a Monday seems to be a recipe for crappy runs for the rest of the week, but I'm glad that I was able to run in my first ever virtual race!

Fighting injuries

How well do you cope with injuries? I react in one of two ways, I either ignore it and hope it goes away feel massively sorry for myself and want to give up on life.

You want examples? When I was training for a marathon a few years ago, I tore my calf about half way through my training guide. I'd take a few days off, run again, hurt myself again, and repeat the cycle over and over again until it became clear that it really wasn't going to go away. Physio didn't help, and I have to give up on that marathon. I fell off my bike, thought I had sprained my wrist, waited and waited for the swelling to go down. About 4 weeks later I had an x-ray, bone scan and mri which determined that I had 2 breaks and ligament damage in my wrist. Earlier this year I tried to run through persistent pain in my sacroiliac joint and tore my calf again.

I most regret running through my back pain, it was certainly a stupid thing to do. Even following my physio's treatment plan I have twinged my calf twice since March, the most recent time just last Friday. I was running to work with a friend, at a pace slightly slower than my normal speed, on a flat section of path. It was relatively minor, but enough to pull me up and stop running. I eventually talked my friend into continuing her run (she's training for a half next weekend), and called another colleague for a lift to work.

I was so angry, I have run along that path so many times, I was cruising along, I wasn't running fast, or uphill, so why did it have to give out on me! I'm training for two races, I can't afford to take time off with an injury. My work friends did a great job of trying to lift my spirits, and I had a good whinge to my coach and running group at our abs session at lunch. I bought a new pair or 2xu compression socks and wore them all weekend.

Saturday was my pity party, apart from going grocery shopping I spent most of the day in bed.

But, on Sunday I put a stop to the self-pity and worked out anyway (has anyone tried bodyrock? best workout ever!). Monday I took a flex day and did some yoga and more bodyrock. Same for Tuesday. Wednesday was supposed to be a cross-training day with my running group, but we ended up running our interval session instead, and while I didn't run sprint intervals, I did a steady progressive run with no pain.
The only problem was trying not to heave from the stench of a blue-green algae bloom on Lake Burley Griffin.

Isn't it amazing what a pain free run can do? Instantly all was right with the world. The sun was shining (weakly, it had bee -5C overnight), the birds were singing.

Until I feel victim to the cold that half of Canberra seems to be suffering through at the moment. I don't think that I have completed a full week of training in about 4 weeks. I've had bronchitis, a sprained ankle, a calf twinge and now this darned cold. But that one run was enough to convince me that I'll get through it.

Why do you do it to yourself?

I love to run. If you had told me in high school that I would be a runner I would have laughed in your face. I loved sport and was pretty fit and healthy, but I hated running.

When I first started running and entering fun runs I would often hear, "fun runs! there is no such thing". It wasn't just the thrill of crossing the finish line, I just loved to run. Nothing beats the runner's high. How do you describe something so intangible, that hit of endorphins that makes the hard work so worthwhile?

My running goal has always been to complete a marathon, it's never been about running fast. Combined with a tendency toward injury I have concentrated on time on my feet, on pace of my feet. I would find my comfortable pace and all my running would be at that speed. I'd come home feeling tired and wait for that runner's high. But I surprised myself at the Mother's day classic; I completed it almost 5 minutes faster than my 'goal' time. It got me thinking; maybe I could run faster than I thought I could. How fast could I run if I trained to run fast?

So I now have intervals sessions and time trial in my training week. I was dreading my group training interval session yesterday. I'd run a pyramid style session with Dan on Monday, and even after a recovery run Tuesday I was still feeling it in my legs. I'm still coughing. My ankle is still sore. We're running on grass. My mind was telling me it was going to be hard and it was going to hurt. 8 600m intervals trying to keep to under 2.55 (not as fast as some but fast enough for me!) were going to kill me. It was hard. And it did hurt. And the runner's high was short lived, a bit of dizziness and an upset stomach quickly replaced the good feeling.

I was complaining to mum, telling her how hard running fast is, how much my legs hurt and how exhausted I am, when she asked me why I was doing it to myself. It was a really good question. Why am I doing it? It really put into perspective that punishing myself is my choice. I could go back to being the tortoise, running slow and steady but finishing the race.

I'm doing this for me. This is my choice. Am I going to stop dreading speedwork? Unlikely. Am I going to continue complaining about being sore? I don't think so. But I am going to own this decision. This is me.

Ice ice baby

How do you motivate yourself to run on those freezing cold mornings?

I've never really followed a training plan. I usually plod along at my own pace, and hope that my nervous energy and crowd enthusiasm help me fun faster during races. It tends to work, my other half hates racing with me. But not this time. My long term goal is to run the Canberra marathon next April, and I know I am not going to manage that without following a plan and training seriously.

There are 9 weeks until the City 2 Surf. My training group started 2 weeks ago, and we meet twice a week (one interval session, and one cross-training session). I know I need to train faster if I want to run faster so yesterday morning I went to my first parkrun. Parkrun are free, timed, 5km runs held every Saturday morning.

So what has that got to do with running when it's cold? The overnight temperature was -5C. When I got up it was -4C. Dan didn't want to get out of the warm bed, but I'd told myself I was going to run and so I convinced him it would be worth it. I dressed in layers; gators, tights, long sleeves, vest, jacket, hat and earwarmers, and drove to the meeting point.

When the run started it was -2C. When the run finished it still was below zero. I've run when it's been this cold before, but I run slower. I find that comfortable pace and try to stay warm. Yesterday, my body was begging me to slow down, trying to get me to walk, but I wanted to push myself, to run faster, to try harder. It was an internal battle that my body was winning. I don't think I have ever had a harder run. I was so grateful that I had dragged  Dan out of bed to run with me. He kept me running when all I wanted to do was stop. He talked me through the hard kilometres and didn't complain when all I could do was grunt in response.

I am so pleased that I finished this run. I know that training will push me and I need to run outside my comfort zone if I want to get faster.

Happy (Inter)National Running Day

What a fabulous day to start blogging about running. I have failed twice trying to maintain a blog. One was a general day to day blog, the other the cooking blog linked to this running one. This time it will be different!

I have entered the City 2 Surf, and I am training with a running group. I joined a group several years ago when I got back to running after a knee reconstruction and I know that the accountability of a group will keep me on track. I've always wanted to run the City 2 Surf, but I've been daunted by the size of the run (about 85,000 participants), and the reputation of Heartbreak Hill. When my gym organised a small running group to train for the run, I was there! I am planning to run the Sydney Running Festival half marathon five weeks later.

I'm not new to running; I took it up about ten years ago while starting university. A couple of serious injuries (a second knee reconstruction and a series of calf tears), work and study all had a negative impact, and I hardly ran at all in 2011. I have run two half marathons and a dozen or so races between 5 and 10kms, but I am a plodder. A couple of injuries While slow and steady will get me over the finish line, I am ready to push myself and see what I am capable of. 

So I hope that this blog will help me to improve my running. I want to keep track of my training runs and mileage, so I'll post about my runs. I want to maintain my motivation, so I'll keep reading the running blogs that have been inspiring me lately and if I inspire anyone else to run, that's a bonus!

Today's run was short; I sprained my left ankle Monday, and today I wanted to test it out. A very slow 10 minute run on the treadmill was all I could manage while maintaining reasonable form. I also completed a circuit style cross-training class with my running group during the day, boy do burpees put stress the ankle!