Thank you all!!
Well this changing habits thing is harder than I thought. I was all set to go for a "real" run/walk but then other things cropped up - and as I have done so many times in the past few months, my exercise was pushed to the side.
So I'm trying a different approach. I'm working within my existing habits and making them more mobile. For example - there are two buses I can catch to work. One drops me off directly outside my building - the other stops at the convention centre and it is a bit of a hike to my building. Normally I catch the "lazy" bus and mentally congratulate myself for getting to work quickly. Today I caught the other bus and got off one stop early. For Perth locals, I got off at Jacobs Ladder and walked into the city. Not a long walk by any stretch of the imagination, but fairly decent. Then, because I normally get into work very early I eat breakfast at my desk. Instead of my croissants and hot chocolate I got muesli and orange juice. Remarkabley satisfying.
So while my exercise is not up there - yet - I am conscious of the choices I am making.
For the record, I was still cycling to work until a couple of months ago when it was dark when I got to work and dark when I left, and very very cold. I got out of that habit - and perhaps time to get back into it now that the season has changed.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Starting Again
Is it seriously September?? How on earth have I missed so much time??
It is true what they say, when you get out of the habit of doing something, it becomes easier to avoid it again and again.
On a professional note, things are doing well. I work in a great job with fabulous working conditions and I have a passion for what I do. I tend to work long hours, but that really hasn't bothered me because I love it. However, considering it is SEPTEMBER perhaps I should take a look at what I am doing with my time because I always seem to be too busy too blog.
Too busy to blog, too busy to run, too busy to scratch myself, too busy for anything except making excuses.
You know how something happens and it's the kick up the backside you need? Well I had a kick up the backside today and I took a long hard look at myself. And I have concluded that my downward slide of poor time management began when I gave up blogging.
No exercise to report today. In fact no exercise of particular note to report for, ummm, nine months or so. What a great opportunity to start again! If anyone has me on a feed and notices that I'm back - I'd love a hello.
It is true what they say, when you get out of the habit of doing something, it becomes easier to avoid it again and again.
On a professional note, things are doing well. I work in a great job with fabulous working conditions and I have a passion for what I do. I tend to work long hours, but that really hasn't bothered me because I love it. However, considering it is SEPTEMBER perhaps I should take a look at what I am doing with my time because I always seem to be too busy too blog.
Too busy to blog, too busy to run, too busy to scratch myself, too busy for anything except making excuses.
You know how something happens and it's the kick up the backside you need? Well I had a kick up the backside today and I took a long hard look at myself. And I have concluded that my downward slide of poor time management began when I gave up blogging.
No exercise to report today. In fact no exercise of particular note to report for, ummm, nine months or so. What a great opportunity to start again! If anyone has me on a feed and notices that I'm back - I'd love a hello.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Busy, busy, busy
Not much to report on the exercise front, sadly. I've been busy, busy, busy. I know that I SHOULD always try to find time to exercise but lately it's been easier to just pike. I'm still cycling to work, so that is something. But it's been a week since I've been for a run. I'm feeling guilty about it and I miss it like anything, so I take that as a really good sign. It means that it has become part of my lifestyle. Best not to get out of the habit though. So I need to go for a run!!!
I'm not too keen to share really intimate guff on here, so suffice to say there have been some changes recently and I am trying to develop a new routine.
On a VERY positive note I have met someone who is studying to be a personal trainer. She is looking for some bunnies to practice on so I told her I was willing!! I am jealous of reading of Kathy's personal training sessions, so I am looking forward to linking up with Sam. Sam will plan my sessions for no cost, while she is still learning, and at the moment that suits me very well. She is thinking of starting her own business and needs "clients" so we're happy all round. She mentioned Jacob's Ladder (long term readers will remember my experience on THAT!) so it is all very exciting. I'm really looking forward to it. She's been talking about flexibility and improving my stride and all sorts of things that sounds like she knows what she's talking about. It is very motivating. Hence my feeling of MORE guilt for missing my runs!! Hee hee! Watch out you Melbourne Marathoners - I'm in training!!!!!!!
I'm not too keen to share really intimate guff on here, so suffice to say there have been some changes recently and I am trying to develop a new routine.
On a VERY positive note I have met someone who is studying to be a personal trainer. She is looking for some bunnies to practice on so I told her I was willing!! I am jealous of reading of Kathy's personal training sessions, so I am looking forward to linking up with Sam. Sam will plan my sessions for no cost, while she is still learning, and at the moment that suits me very well. She is thinking of starting her own business and needs "clients" so we're happy all round. She mentioned Jacob's Ladder (long term readers will remember my experience on THAT!) so it is all very exciting. I'm really looking forward to it. She's been talking about flexibility and improving my stride and all sorts of things that sounds like she knows what she's talking about. It is very motivating. Hence my feeling of MORE guilt for missing my runs!! Hee hee! Watch out you Melbourne Marathoners - I'm in training!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Run in the rain
I had a run/walk home in the rain today! First time ever I have run in the rain. It was pouring as I walked out the office door and I confess I wasn't that excited about the soggy trip home. That feeling lasted all of 2 minutes and I then had a big grin on my face! Once you are wet, you don't get any wetter and you can actually enjoy it!! I wrapped the iPod in glad wrap and stuck it down my dacks and took off at a good ol step. Soon I couldn't help it and I broke into a run. I didn't really have a running plan except that I was going home so I ran then walked then ran again whenever I wanted to. All up about 6km. I had a blast! I had to put up with a bouncy back pack but in the big scheme of things that wasn't really a problem.
I needed a bit of cheering up actually. Some of you already know that my house was burgled. It's crap to lose sentimental stuff and material objects can be replaced but it makes me sick to think of what the baddies did to my cat. Poor little thing has been hiding in the clothes basket for days. I don't know what they did and maybe it's worse not knowing because my mind fills with all sorts of devious deeds. The guys at work have been joking that I should get new toothbrushes - or maybe they are not joking. I lost my sense of humour about a week ago.
I needed a bit of cheering up actually. Some of you already know that my house was burgled. It's crap to lose sentimental stuff and material objects can be replaced but it makes me sick to think of what the baddies did to my cat. Poor little thing has been hiding in the clothes basket for days. I don't know what they did and maybe it's worse not knowing because my mind fills with all sorts of devious deeds. The guys at work have been joking that I should get new toothbrushes - or maybe they are not joking. I lost my sense of humour about a week ago.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Getting fitter
I'm feeling very confident this morning. I've discovered a new way to assess my fitness. And it's painless. I wanted to do another interval session this morning, using Week 1 of the C25K. I had such fun last week. Well I managed to convince hubby to come with me. I told him it was one minute running and I said we could do 90 seconds walking. To make it a little more tempting for him, I told him he could have the iPod and control the speed. Now, as a bloke he naturally walks and runs faster than me. I thought it would be cool that I would (for once) probably be able to keep up with him. Now he is not fit by any stretch of the imagination, but he's also not quite as, ummm, well-built as I am. Anyway, I could more than keep up with him, I was running the pants off him!! (Well, not literally of course.)
It was a great revelation for me.
I AM getting fitter. I mean, I know I am because I can now run 30 minutes. But sometimes it's nice to have confirmation, you know? Hubby struggled. The running was much faster than I usually do it, at about 10 km/h. But I managed fairly easily. It wasn't easy but it was comfortable.
You'll see from the picture that the distance was much shorter than usual. About 3.5km. Another revelation! I've been covering a pretty decent distance in my runs lately - well for me. We didn't even make it as far as the old boat shed, let alone to the Eliza statue!!
And, Em, I haven't used the "O'" word once!!!!
Unfortunately, on the back of all this confidence is another trip away for study. Not unfortunate for the study, but unfortunate for the running. Seven days this time instead of four days like last time. Very intensive. But I will try my best to find time for a run or two. I leave tomorrow. You probably won't hear from me for a week - I tend to get quite one-minded and extremelly focussed in my own little bubble of study. Bear with me until I catch up with you all.
It was a great revelation for me.
I AM getting fitter. I mean, I know I am because I can now run 30 minutes. But sometimes it's nice to have confirmation, you know? Hubby struggled. The running was much faster than I usually do it, at about 10 km/h. But I managed fairly easily. It wasn't easy but it was comfortable.
You'll see from the picture that the distance was much shorter than usual. About 3.5km. Another revelation! I've been covering a pretty decent distance in my runs lately - well for me. We didn't even make it as far as the old boat shed, let alone to the Eliza statue!!
And, Em, I haven't used the "O'" word once!!!!
Unfortunately, on the back of all this confidence is another trip away for study. Not unfortunate for the study, but unfortunate for the running. Seven days this time instead of four days like last time. Very intensive. But I will try my best to find time for a run or two. I leave tomorrow. You probably won't hear from me for a week - I tend to get quite one-minded and extremelly focussed in my own little bubble of study. Bear with me until I catch up with you all.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Great Court
I decided to finish my run a little differently this morning. I've been doing the same route so I can see how I feel at certain points and be pleased when I notice the difference. For example there is a little hut on the water that must have once been a boat shed. I can remember trying very hard to make it as far as the hut. Now I power past it! But anyway, this morning I decided I'd take the scenic route through UWA to come home. UWA is a beautiful old sandstone university - one of the top "8" in Australia. The green dot in the picture is me running across the Great Court! Hee hee!! Makes one feel all edjamacated just being in that environment. Now I don't know if I got all excited going through the uni or what it was but my last half was a full minute and a bit faster than my first half. That's one heck of a negative split!
Still really enjoying my running. I think because I can just run and not worry about lasting the distance. I know I'm only going 30 minutes so I don't even think about it. Great fun.
Still really enjoying my running. I think because I can just run and not worry about lasting the distance. I know I'm only going 30 minutes so I don't even think about it. Great fun.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Week 1 C25K
I ran along the beautiful East Perth precinct this morning. I dropped hubby off to work and decided to take the opportunity to run somewhere just a little different. So instead of heading down to the foreshore, as I usually would, I headed up the other direction. Lots of trees, parks and shade, and many, many schmicko houses.
I decided to run my own little version of intervals. I downloaded Week 1 of the C25K which is 60 seconds run followed by 90 seconds of walking. I thought I'd do the 60 seconds as a run and the 90 seconds as a slow jog. It was only for 20 minutes. How hard could that be?? Well in my enthusiasm I took off too quick and pushed a little harder than I had anticipated. I managed 4 of the 8 sets before I started walking in the walk breaks instead of jogging! I still pushed hard in the runs but it was not an all out sprint. I have a new challenge. To complete this training run as running and jogging! Man it was hard work!! Meanwhile ol' mate on the iPod is telling me to relax and run slow enough to have a conversation with the person beside me! If there had been anyone beside me, they would have only heard me puffing and panting and hacking and swearing. I think it's just as well I don't wear a heart rate monitor! But at the end of the run I had managed 4km in 33 minutes which includes the 5 minute warm up walk and the 5 minute cool down walk. Not too shabby!!!
And, man, it felt good to be striding out even if it was only for 60 seconds! 60 seconds is short enough that I could still concentrate on form and breathing without blowing up and falling into my comfortable shuffle. It was incredibly hard work, but it has given me the confidence that I CAN run faster - maybe even 6 minute k's. But I have to run a sub 7 minute km first!!
I decided to run my own little version of intervals. I downloaded Week 1 of the C25K which is 60 seconds run followed by 90 seconds of walking. I thought I'd do the 60 seconds as a run and the 90 seconds as a slow jog. It was only for 20 minutes. How hard could that be?? Well in my enthusiasm I took off too quick and pushed a little harder than I had anticipated. I managed 4 of the 8 sets before I started walking in the walk breaks instead of jogging! I still pushed hard in the runs but it was not an all out sprint. I have a new challenge. To complete this training run as running and jogging! Man it was hard work!! Meanwhile ol' mate on the iPod is telling me to relax and run slow enough to have a conversation with the person beside me! If there had been anyone beside me, they would have only heard me puffing and panting and hacking and swearing. I think it's just as well I don't wear a heart rate monitor! But at the end of the run I had managed 4km in 33 minutes which includes the 5 minute warm up walk and the 5 minute cool down walk. Not too shabby!!!
And, man, it felt good to be striding out even if it was only for 60 seconds! 60 seconds is short enough that I could still concentrate on form and breathing without blowing up and falling into my comfortable shuffle. It was incredibly hard work, but it has given me the confidence that I CAN run faster - maybe even 6 minute k's. But I have to run a sub 7 minute km first!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
