Good run today

I had a good run today. 8.85km in about an hour and 15 minutes. I was running into the city to meet hubby and I had hoped to make 10km in under an hour and a half, but he drove past me before I finished the 10km. Oh well. I was on track for an hour and a half so that's pretty good. I was doing OK until 6km when I needed to stop and walk. When I started running again, I managed to continue plodding but my pace was much slower. I must have been in a rhythm without knowing it. I'm definitely improving. I managed to pass the 5km mark in 40 minutes so that's pretty cool! I'm now looking at my watch and seeing how far UNDER 8 minutes I am each km (well, at least for the first 4 or 5!!) Woo Hoo!! (Not sure what happened to the picture but you get a lovely aerial shot of Perth!)

Joined running club

Yesterday I went along to my first training session with the West Australian Marathon Club. I turned up a little nervous and unsure but everyone seemed friendly - albeit very fit! I was starting to feel very much out of my depth when the conversations turned to "slow" six minute kms. Another lady, Jody, was there for her first time too and was worried her six min k's would be too slow. I still think 7 min k's are fast. Still, they were very welcoming and a lady, Jenny, said she would run with me as she was usually slow. So off we went! The shortest route is 6km and most runners went for 10. The club house is on the river and they run up one bridge and back along the other. Jenny ran very slowly with me and we had a lovely chat but it was hard work for me! At the 4.5km point she pointed me in the direction of home and went off to add on a couple of faster k's! So I plodded slowly by myself back to the starting point where a few had already finished. I felt a little awkward because I wasn't sure if everyone hung around and waited for everyone else to finish or what the go was. I stretched for a while and a few others came back, jumped in their cars and left. So I left too. Another lady told me about Monday night runs at Kings Park where they train on the hills. She was very polite when she said it might be beyond me at the moment, but I was still welcome to come along and have a go. So I might do that. I'm not going to get better unless I train with those who are better than me! I'll certainly go back next week - after a few weeks I'm sure people will start to recognise me and get used to seeing me around. Might even turn up on Monday too!! Jenny said she was usually last and she was pleased to be able to run faster than someone!!!

As an aside, my bra arrived in the mail yesterday. It was lovely to put it on! The Berlie bra has been good but my ladies need extreme support. The little tag on the Berlie bra said the bra could reduce bounce by 40- 50% but that's just not quite enough! The Enell bra straps me in and NOTHING moves! For running uphill the website is http://www.bellaforma.com.au - hope it helps! It's really only good for larger busted ladies. If I could get away with wearing a plain ol' crop top I would!

"Running" today

I tried really, really hard today to run as fast as I could for as long as I could. I kind of had in mind that I would get Percy to register a "run" (even just for a metre or so!) but alas that was not to be. However, although it was harder, I felt better when I ran today. I felt like I was really running instead of the shuffle I normally do. I started my run on a downhill and I decided to just let myself go instead of hold back like I normally do (usually so I don't fall face first into the footpath). Percy tells me my first k was my fastest - 6.42!!!! Can you believe that??? Holy cow UNDER 7 minutes!!! I think I need to get to 6 minutes before Percy believes I am running, but I felt like I was flying! Granted most of it was downhill, but I'll take it.

Percy tells me I managed 4km in 30.39! 30 minutes is getting closer - but I was stuffed!

One thing - my big toe started hurting! Really hurting. I wonder if it is because I was running in a different way to what I normally do, or if my shoes are perhaps not as suited to my feet as I would like them to be, or a combination of the two. I stopped to walk after 4km and the toe got better but then started hurting again when I started running. I don't know - probably my running style. My poor feet just didn't know what happened today!!

It felt less awkward to run but also harder. I've worked out what it is - I lifted my knees. So of course it was harder because my poor thighs had never worked that hard before. But of course it was easier to run because my poor thighs had never actually WORKED before!!!

I ran/walked just over 5 and a half k and walked a k and a half home. All up 7km. I'm going to try and "run" again! It was cool!

Fun Run!

I had a wonderful morning! 4km in 31.13 which is not my fastest but I'm reasonably happy with that. And I wasn't last! (There were walkers.) There were about 100 runners, maybe more so it was all very exciting. Hubby came with me - to walk - but when the gun went he took off running! He was excited by the atmosphere as I was. I took off very fast and had to slow right down. I was soon the last runner, but that's okay. I just wanted to make the 4km. Hubby tried to run with me but I was going too slowly so he just did his own thing (and came in under 30 minutes!!!!)

My pace was amazingly even - consistent to the second except at the end when I tried to pick it up. I didn't want to run out of puff so I kept it pretty slow and comfortable. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience! I managed to beat the 10km runners home - just! They were overtaking me on the loop thing back to the finish but still had to run 1km when I had 100m.

Great day!!!

Visiting the south west

In case you think I've been a bit quiet lately - it's been because we were off exploring the countryside of the south west. Hubby and I went to Margaret River for a couple of days then to Denmark and Albany before getting home this evening.




We stayed at a B&B in a little place called Cowaramup just outside Margaret River and used it as a base to explore the wineries, cheese factories, chocolate factory, gourmet food outlets (spotting a common theme here??). I went for a run along a trail which was beautiful!!

Thinking I was a good girl, I washed my sports bra - my beautiful firm Enell bra which cost a FORTUNE - and hung it up in the bathroom, then promptly left it there when we headed to Denmark. I didn't notice until I went to go for a run and I was devestated!!! It was 5 hours drive away and not possible to go back for it. We rang the B&B and they still had it and will mail it home for us (thankfully) but my funrun is on Sunday and it won't arrive before then!!!! I was in tears trying to explain to hubby that I couldn't run without my bra. He, of course, thought it was all a bit silly - after all I have heaps of bras right? Eventually I was able to sort of explain the importance of the bra and hubby, bless him, drove us to a lingerie shop and I bought a Berlie bra - which was the most supportive one I could find. I'll use it Sunday but it won't be the same!!!! So my memory of Albany will be buying a sports bra. Ah well, I guess it's not a holiday without some sort of experience. So, after all that, I was away 4 days and ran once! But man what a run. It was 5km taken really slowly and I managed the first 4km in 32 minutes!! Fast for me!!! I'm on track for a close to 30minute time on Sunday!!!!!!!!! And not running for the past 3 days is...... tapering. At least I'll be fresh!

But our little holiday was wonderful. We saw some amazing things. WA is an awesome state. It was the first time down south for me so I was playing tourist! We had a great time which consisted of far too much food.

Thank you to everyone's supportive comments. I'll let you know how I go on Sunday! I'm very excited - new bra and all.

Time on my feet

Today was all about time on my feet. I wasn't trying to run the whole distances, in fact my average pace was 9.42!!!! All up about one hour and 45 minutes. I went through Kings Park but along the river side. I think next time I'll take the inner route. There are a set of stairs up to Kings Park which thankfully I was coming DOWN on this run. But I might try and incorporate them going UP in the next few weeks.I came home along the river and the Perth City triathlon was on. There were hundreds of cyclists but it has only served to confirm that I am a runner and not a cyclist. It might be different because it was a race but they were aggressive ("Get out of my f***ing draft!" - to another cyclists, not to me!!) and very competitive. Lots of huffing and puffing and not too many people enjoying themselves! I've yet to see a running race so I can't really talk! But it was still very exciting and inspirational.

There were a couple of larger ladies plodding along as I came onto the path, so I ducked in front of them with the idea that I would see how long it took for them to overtake me. It looked like they were barely moving, and one of them looked particularly uncomfortable. I am afraid to say I was overtaken very quickly and I had no hope of catching up. I can only think that if they LOOKED slow then I must look SHOCKING!!! Sigh. Just more motivation.

Nice slow plod

A nice slow run this morning. I took on board some of the comments people have made and concentrated on simply plodding without stopping. I managed almost 6km before I had a break but it was incredibly slow. Still it's nice to know I can continue to plod the distance.

I'm still really enjoying the cool mornings in Perth. It can heat up during the day but at least there is some respite overnight. It is beautiful along the river. I stopped at the tearooms on the way home and met hubby for a cup of tea. It was meant to be a cup of tea, but I had taken so long to get there that he ordered bacon and eggs. I sat with him for a while and then went home for a shower - it was not quite the environment to be stinky and sweaty. All up about 7km.

I'm excited about my funrun on Feb 11. 4km sounds perfect and I am confident I will last the distance. I'll aim for 30minutes but I'll be pleased with anything less than 32. That's 8min k's. It might still be a bit beyond me, but I'm hoping the nervousness of the race will help me pick up the pace. I will have to remember to start conservatively or I'll run out of puff!!

Oh and another thing, there are hills in my neighbourhood. Nothing heart shattering or anything but varieties and undulations. I have discovered I like hills!! Sure they are hard work, but you can feel the different muscles working and the reward when you get to the crest is wonderful! I can coast down the other side, to start climbing the next one. I'm starting to notice that I can get my breath back and still be plodding - amazing! I can even almost (ALMOST) talk while I run!! Huge changes!