I went for a run...

So I finally plucked up the courage to go for my first run since my early pregnancy. I put in some headphones, laced up my old Brooks runners, left the dog behind and went for a run along Skeleton Creek. I walked for 800m to warm up and clear my head and then set off at a slow plod, somewhere between 6:30-7:00 min kms. My goal was to nail a single solid kilometre non-stop. When I got to the km mark, I was feeling pretty good so I thought I'd stretch it out to 2km, but even then I felt OK so continued on for a third km but by this time I was plodding along at about 8:30 min kms. But that's OK. I was happy with that.

I thought my lungs would have been the first casualty on the run but instead it was my legs. Oh my, they felt really heavy the whole way. And even better news is, no, er, leakage! Always a fear a woman holds after childbirth...

Two days later, it was REALLY hot so instead of running in the hot sun, I went to the gym and tried the treadmill. What a disaster! I couldn't even run 500m on the bloody thing :(  That shattered my confidence. Then I got a chest cold and was coughing up phlegm (gross!) so I didn't run again :(

Now I feel like my confidence is shattered and that's holding me back. I think I'll try the C2K program and jump in around week 4 or 5 to help regain my confidence. I can manage that - three times this coming week. Stay tuned!

2013 update

As this blog has largely been an exercise related blog, nothing got posted this year because I found out on New Year's Eve 2012 that I was 4 weeks pregnant. Finally!  I continued to exercise until June when my back and right hip packed it in. I kept riding my bike until early May and while I stopped the intense cardio classes from January at the gym, I still did yoga and light weights until I could hardly bear weight on my leg.

My first walk after giving birth was to the town centre and back, about 5 days after Alex was born.  I was sooo slow and my pubic bone hurt, like I'd been kicked in between the legs. I needed a nap after my almost-2km walk!  How my fitness had slipped considering I walked the 100km Great Ocean Walk the month before becoming pregnant.

My boy is now11.5 weeks old and I've been going to the gym for strength and conditioning "mums and bubs" classes twice a week and walking 2 or 3kms (easily) most days. I take my dog PB and she is more unfit than me.

I'll start jogging once Alex is three months, so about two weeks to go.  Yay! My first goal race is the local Rotary Wyndham fun run on March 2nd with my buddy Caz and maybe my sister Al. The big question is will it be the 5km or the 10km?

When Alex can hold his head up on his own (he's almost there) we'll do some short hikes. I want our love of the outdoors to be passed on to him from an early age. First Stop will be the You Yangs.

Coast to Kosciusko Ultramarathon

My sister, my niece and I crewed for my brother at this event. What a magnificent experience - I feel lucky and blessed to have been a part of C2K 2012.

Coast to Kosci (or C2K as it's affectionately known) is a 240km ultramarathon from Eden on the east coast of Australia to the summit of Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciusko and returning to Charlotte's Pass to finish the run. Competitors have 46 hours to complete the course. We predicted a 32 hour finish for Kevin, but he far exceeded ours and his own expectations and finished in a time of 29:38:10. Amazing! And he finished in third place!

We had a few minor disasters along the way... the water tub tipped over in our Bongo Van and smashed to pieces and 20 litres of water went gushing out the door. Ooops! Then later during the night the handbrake got stuck. Fortunately we were in a mobile service area and could call in for assistance. Phew!

Crew brain set in from about midnight. I couldn't calculate, couldn't focus on more than one task at a time. I drove pretty much the whole way to Charlotte's Pass without a nap. I think that was the longest I've ever stayed awake - about 36 hours in total. It's funny how basic functions like calculations and remembering numbers becomes so hard when your brain is foggy from lack of sleep. But there was no way I was going to sleep. The night time was much too dramatic and exciting. We passed a bit of 'carnage' along the way as Kevin overtook quite a few struggling runners during the the night.

We leap frogged Kevin and the other crew members and runners every couple of kilometres until we didn't see any more crews for the last 8 hours or so. At first we stopped for Kevin about every 3-4km but during the night and the following morning, we stopped every 1-1.5km so we could keep a close eye on him and his fuel and hydration requirements. He had an army major run with him from Jindaybne, which was fantastic and saved us from worrying about him during the night, and also to accompany him for the last 18km up and down from Charlotte's Pass. I knew that even with 220km in his legs, Kevin would still outrun and outwalk me so I was very greatful to have Andrew there. And he would have outrun me, finishing the last 18km in 2:33 or thereabouts.

I really felt for the other runners and crew as we headed back to Jindabyne after the race. It was hot hot hot where Kevin had run through at 0 degrees overnight. We got to nap for a few hours before dinner while competitors were still slogging it up the mountain. And again we got a full nights sleep while others were still battling their way to the finish. My good friend Brett finished within five minutes of the cut off. I think his crew member George looked the most exhausted of anyone at the breakfast the following day.

34 competitors started and 29 finished. Remarkable, really. I'm so inspired by current race record holder Jo Blake who had stomach trouble throughout the event but didn't pull out - he and his crew soldiered on and finished in a respectable time. To me, that's what it's all about. Rather than pulling the pin because he wasn't having a great day and wasn't going to finish on the podium, he toughed it out. What a top sport :-)

The presentation the following morning was fantastic and Race Director Paul Every was funny and charming and very entertaining. He had personal comments for each and every competitor and interviewed the top three men and women. He talked to Kevin about the time he fell 25m down a cliff and broke his back in several places and shattered his arm etc. The doctor told Kev he'd be alright if he stayed fit and healthy... and he hasn't had a problem since, haha.

Here's a video Jo Blake's crew member made. It gives a bit of a visual insight into the event, the terrain etc.

In terms of my own adventures... no hiking as I recovered from the Great Ocean Walk, but my ankle has finally righted itself after my last osteo visit on the 17th of December. So it took about a month to recover fully from doing the Great Ocean Walk. I'd do it again in a heart beat, too.

There have been more team lunches and activities in the past two weeks than gym visits and the YMCA is currently closed until Monday. Eeek! However, I've taken over a gym membership at Fenix Fitness near home and intend to use that on weekends and maybe once per week on a weeknight to attend a Body Balance or Yoga class. I haven't been riding much, either, taking advantage of the clear roads during this holiday period - yup, I'm one of the saps working through Christmas and New Year. But I don't mind. I've had so much time off the past two months and because I'm a contractor, if I don't work, I don't get paid and the bank balance has taken a sad hit.

I'm still feeling inspired and strong and determined to work towards a healthier and fitter lifestyle in 2013.

Post GOW update

I'm feeling good this week, despite some residual tenderness in my unstable right ankle from the Great Ocean Walk. If I stand on it for too long, it aches and is tender if I poke around in there. I'm sure it will come good by Christmas. I'll focus on low impact workouts (ie no running) until it sorts itself out.

I did my first cardio cycle class in a very VERY long time. My two options during the class were pass out of faint! I think I'd better pace myself better next time. My whole body sweated, including my shins! And my face was bright pink for about an hour afterwards. Great workout, that's for sure. It wasn't tough on my legs, but it was brutal on my lungs.

The week that was:

Sunday - 2km swim (40 x 50m laps) / 1 hour
Monday - 12km cycling / 40 mins
Tuesday - Cardio Cycling class / 30 mins
Wednesday - 12km cycling / 40 mins and weights program
Thursday - 12km cycling / 40 mins and 45 minute hatha yoga class
Friday - 12 km cycling / 40 mins and 30 minute cardio boxing class (my arms are still sore)

A quiet weekend. Saturday was a recovery day and today... well, that's counted for next week anyway and it's been a busy, but non-exercise day (other than a 20 minutes walk with the dogs this morning).

It's Coast to Kosci on Friday, so there'll be a few missed gym sessions this week and next. My ankle may not be right to do the last 18km with Kev, but he has a 'real' runner to do it with him anyway, so no problem there. Can't wait!!!

Update!

Well, it HAS been a while since I blogged about running, hiking and stuff. Quite a lot has been happening this year in terms outdoor adventures, but it's really only been in the past two months that I've started to get serious about my training.

We started the year off with a camping trip to the wonderful Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

 

At Easter we went to the Grampians and camped and hiked. I love the northern Gramps much more than the area around Halls Gap. I remember Taipan Wall from my climbing days of twenty or so years ago. 

Over the long weekend in June, we camped in the Tara Valley. Very beautiful but very muddy. We chose the wrong time of year to visit. Some amazing new tracks have been recently opened. Check out the Grand Strzelecki Track website for more info on hiking trails in the area.

It was very chilly. Dig the 70s style ear muffs?

In August we went to Argentina and Peru for three weeks and did a few days of hiking in the Cusco region. Of course this included the information trek to Machu Picchu...

And I've just finished walking the Great Ocean Walk, through the Otways and Port Campbell National Park with a colleague from work. An unexpected week off work came up so I decided to use the opportunity to tick something off my bucket list. We walked about 95kms over five days, leaving the trail each day to stay in Bimbi Park and using the excellent (and reliable!) GOR shuttle service. I absolutely LOVED this hike. It wasn't too strenuous and had so much variety, both underfoot, the views and the flora. So good for the soul. 

Later next week I'm off to Eden with my sister and niece to support my brother who's doing the Coast to Kosci 240km run, from Eden to the summit of Mt Kosciusko  I hope to do the last 18km with him, from Charlotte's Pass to the summit and back... if I can keep up with him. Even with 220km in his legs I'm sure he'll still be quicker than me with fresh legs! I can't wait! It's going to be an amazing adventure. 

Tai Chi

My place of employment has generously arranged for Tai Chi classes every Thursday at lunchtime and personal training after work on Tuesday for those that wish to attend.

Today I did my second Tai Chi class and I really enjoyed it. This week I could feel myself pushing my 'qi' down :) Because I knew what to expect, I could focus more on my breathing and relaxing rather than stressing about what we had to do next and how long we had to hold poses. I came out of the class feeling fresh and relaxed but not in a 'I'm-sleepy-and-ready-for-a-rest' kinda way.

My achilles feels antagonised, though. I've been a bit lax with my stretching and strengthening over the long weekend because I spent all day and night working on the house renovations. Back to it tomorrow, though. Only four or five weeks to go until I an contemplate running again.

Contemplating

I've been contemplating... running goals for 2010. Could it be the year of the Marathon?

I'm tentatively thinking about doing Run for the Kids in March, the Great Ocean Road half marathon again in May and following it up with the Gold Coast Marathon in July.

But I'm scared of writing it down. Because I've been disappointed so many times before when my body's let me down and I haven't been able to meet my goals.

Still, it's better to have a 'tentative' goal than none at all, right?