Wednesday, September 26, 2007

What a pain in the neck!

A couple of days ago I was very proud of myself, having lifted my run/walks to two 8minute runs on the C25K.

Today - not so happy.

Actually, more precisely I am cranky.

I have hurt my neck and it is, of course, self inflicted. Apparently it is a combination of poor posture, sitting at a computer and lots of other minor things that have built up over years and years (I was in a high speed car accident about 15 years ago) - until I hit the tipping point on Sunday. I thought I "slept wrong" but by Monday I was dizzy and the pain was getting worse. I skipped my run (and felt guilty). By yesterday my arm was numb and I had pins and needles in my hand. I knew then it was more serious than sleeping wrong. I went to a physio who told me my neck was like cement. I got feeling back in my arm, thankfully, but no relief from the neck pain. This morning I woke up and I couldn't move. Very scarey. I went to the chiropractor and he took x-rays. Not surprisingly, my neck is out. The discs in my neck are pushing on my nerves and grazing the spinal cord. This is not uncommon, apparently. And usually only manifests itself when something tips you over the pain threshold.

The good news is I WILL get better. I won't ever have full movement in my neck, but that's hardly an issue since I did not realise that I didn't have full movement to start with! And the good news is I can get better with regular chiropractor visits.

The bad news is I need to stop running and going to the gym (AGAIN) until the pain settles down. I will be able to run and cycle and go to the gym SOON but not until I at least get full feeling back in my arms. Then the chiropractor will give me gym exercises which suit me and will not aggravate my neck.

I have to be flat on my back today, with very slow deliberate neck exercises every hour - just to get some movement back. Hopefully by tomorrow I will be able to go back to work. The chiropractor expects me to be immobile when I first wake up in the morning, but I just need to wiggle a bit and gradually move my neck and I should be able to get out of bed. I have no strength to lift my head up when I am lying down, but I can quite happily sit upright once my head has been lifted.

If I sit still, I FEEL perfectly fine. It's just pain. Finally I get up to two lots of 8 minute running after all that time and this neck-thing kicks in. I just hope I won't lose too much of that fitness before I can get out there again. I reckon it'll only be a week or so. So it's really not as bad as it sounds. Just like a cold or something.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Just a walk

Just a walk this morning, but another clear, crisp day. I could really get used to this weather! I didn't want to run two days in a row but I still want to get out there. My enthusiasm must be showing because I convinced hubby to get out of bed this morning and walk with me! It was nice to have company for a change.

Lots of people out enjoying the early morning sun this morning too! Plenty of joggers passed us - just to keep me motivated.

4km in a tad over 44minutes. At my level of fitness, it was enough to raise a sweat!


Thursday, September 20, 2007

Beautiful morning!!

I can't believe I've been stuck inside on the treadmill all this time. This morning it was beautiful!! It was clear, crisp and the sun was just rising. It's so easy to stay motivated when the weather is kind, of course!!! I've got to keep reminding myself that it HAS been cold up until now. Anyway, this morning's run was another C25K - still Week 5. I'm not ready to jump up to long time like 20 minutes yet!!!!

I had another run earlier this week on the treadmill - I don't know why anymore. Strapping Percy on the wrist and jogging along the river makes me feel like a real runner! I was a bit slower this morning though. I averaged about 8.30minute k's (including walking). But I really enjoyed it and I was comfortable - so perhaps that's why it was slow!


Sunday, September 16, 2007

Running outside

This is my run this morning. It's the first time I've been outside to run since about April. Using the podcasts for the C25K has given me heaps of confidence - even though I am way back at Week 5. I can't overdo it - but by the same token I can't cheat either!!! I was going up a hill on the last five minute run and I wanted to stop but then this voice came on "Only a minute to go - keep going!" So I kept going! Still, three five minute runs is a long way from where I was and I am a little disheartened - but all the more determined to get back.

Interestingly enough, my pace is consistent with what I've been doing on the treadmill. My pace (for all of five minutes) is steady between 8.5 and 9 km/h. I can't say I'm disappointed with that!!


Thursday, September 13, 2007

I've been tagged

Courtesy of Iris. I'd love to know this stuff about Morseyruns, Warriorwomen, Hann, Kathy and Andrew. Consider yourselves tagged.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had just started my Masters study. I was very happy living in a small sea side town in Queensland.
2. What were you doing one year ago?
I was in Karratha, furiously writing a university degree. I’d just finished the C25K and was devastated to discover my 30 minutes was less than 4km!
3. What are 5 snacks you enjoy?
Salt and vinegar chips
Cheese and onion chips
Plain chips (Hmmmm is there a pattern here?)
Strawberry Freddo frogs (or anything with gooey strawberry)
Vita Wheat with vegemite (or, rather, vegemite with Vita Wheat)
4. What are 5 songs that you know the lyrics to?
American Pie – Don McLean
Piano Man – Billy Joel
Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits
Billy – James Blunt
I’ve got a plan – My Friend the Chocolate Cake
5. 5 Things you would do if you were a millionaire?
Buy a house (nothing extravagant – but comfortable)
Buy a car (a red convertible – and why not?)
Study full time and volunteer for charities (purely for selfish reasons – makes me feel good)
Get a house cleaner and a gardener (cause I’m inherently lazy)
Help out the family (I’m selfish, but not THAT selfish)
6. 5 bad habits
Over eating (This one is head and shoulders above all the others)
Procrastinating (usually only when I have really important stuff to do)
Forgetting birthdays (and anniversaries, and dinner dates)
Starting early and working late (caused by a high work ethic – is that a bad thing?)
Excessive internet use!!! (I can, and do, lose myself for hours)
7. 5 things you like to do
Sleep (Including naps on the weekend)
Run (I'd like to do this better, of course, and more of it, but I like it all the same)
Study (seriously, I do!)
Watch movies (especially *ahem* Star Trek)
Read books (Nothing better on a rainy Sunday afternoon)
8. 5 favourite toys?
iPod (music and podcasts – how did we EVER survive?)
Laptop (for games, DVD’s, oh and study)
Tin whistle (sooooooo much easier than the flute)
Cryptic crossword book (is this a toy? Well it’s a game!)
Killer sudoku!! (Ditto – obligatory brain exercise)
9. 5 things you would never wear?
Mini skirt (a bit too “mutton dressed as lamb”)
Ugg boots with shorts (it’s a fashion faux pas)
Police uniform (to be judged just because of what you wear is not appealing)
Excessive jewellery (it’s an OVER statement – like driving a Porsche)
Bikini (out of respect to those who might see me!!)
10. 5 things you hate to do
Go to loud, noisy, busy places (gives me a headache)
Wait (like waiting for a bus, or waiting for Christmas)
Diet (I refuse to diet! But I will eat healthily…)
To see suffering of any kind (from animals to people and even sick pot plants – unhealthy is unhappy and I hate it)
Be late (lateness is the epitome of rudeness – time is valuable)

Bored with being scared

It's still raining and I've had the boss's car while she's away so I haven't ridden to work. Still, driving to the gym has been somewhat of a novelty.

Anyway, I'm getting bored with this insane fear I have of running. If I behave myself, of course I won't get re-injured. But I don't trust myself. I'll push myself and be stupid, simply because I love it so much!! Anyway, like I said I'm bored with that attitude. It achieves nothing - and I miss out on running.

So I decided to do the C25K again. I did it once and managed OK. It was only when I started kicking up the distances that I got myself into trouble.

I've downloaded the podcasts and man, it makes it easy!!! It's set to dance music, which is not usually my scene, but makes a pretty cool change from what I've been listening to. Old mate on the podcast tells me when to run and when to walk. I know I'm not overdoing it because I stop when he tells me to stop.

I've started at week 5 which is 3 runs of 5 minutes with a 3 minute walk in between. Not right at the beginning but not where I was either.

I think I've become a little precious because it was raining this morning, so I did my run on the treadmill at the gym. I WANT to run in the rain, but this morning it was, like, it's WET - so off I toddled to the gym. I was so paranoid that I wouldn't make it or that I would overdo it, that I set the treadmill to 8km/h for the runs. Now I KNOW I can run at 9km/h. The first two runs were so easy that I increased the speed to 8.5km/h. Ooooooooo 8.5!!! I think I'll stay on Week 5 until I can make it at 9km/h.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Wildflowers

There are more and more flowers appearing every day now. We've had a few cool days but it's more fresh than cold. Spring is finally here! The weather is still being kind if you are a farmer but it's still damn wet if you are a cyclist! I took photos this morning on the way to work in what passes as sunshine these days. Still, it's a beautiful day, and LIGHT now as I cycle!

This first photo is as I enter Kings Park on the UWA corner. The sweet smelling freesias are everywhere. The dominant colour is white and yellow, but there are the occasional red kangaroo paw and some other pink and purple flowers that I don't know the name of.


The freesias are apparently a weed, but I think they are a very pretty weed!





This is the spectacular kangaroo paw. They are dotted throughout the park....
.....except just here where they have been deliberately planted enmasse for effect.


I went for a walk the other day. A real walk. You know, like walking for EXERCISE. Not even on the treadmill. I wasn't game enough to break into a run, but I've had no ill effects and no niggles in the achilles. It was a wonderful change from cycling, although I am comfortable in my routine now. I'm even starting to get to know the other cyclists on my route!! You know how you always pass the same people? We've now moved up from "good morning" to "great day!" or "you left early this morning!"


There is nothing out of the ordinary happening at the moment - everything is blissfully routine. There is no improvement in my fitness levels, although no decrease either! The weights at the gym are on the same level - hmmmm maybe I need to spice things up again, I'm getting too comfortable....

And THIS is the Mulla Mulla (courtesy of Gargoyle - thanks mate!). This is my FAVOURITE wildflower, native to the Pilbara. Check out Gargoyle's blog for some absolutely fabulous photos of my old home, Karratha.