Thursday Week 5 Term 4

Couldn't find Caroline this afternoon and the weather was very threatening with thunder rolling over the hills.  I decided to take myself off to the gym for a run instead. Felt a little sluggish to begin with but managed to run for 30 minutes and was feeling much stronger by the end of the first ten minutes and dedicated the remaining twenty minutes to solving the problems of the world.  It's got to be good for you :)

Monday Week 5 Term 4

Kicked myself out of bed this morning and went for a run around the block.  I had intended to go for a run at the gym yesterday but only managed to get there in time for my Body Balance class, so I thought I had better make more effort this week.

Had a lovely slow plod around the neighbourhood.  Managed to run most of it, only walking up the biggest hills.  What a great way to start the day.  Dog was cross not to be included but I didn't want excuses to stop while she checked out her 'domain' every few minutes.

Week 4 term 3 Wednesday

Went out with Caroline again this week.  Lovely run in the sun after work.  We decided to run one lamppost walk one lamppost and since the posts are fairly close together it was quite a comfortable target.  Even managed to chat while running.  Life is good.

Thursday Week 3 Term 4

Went for a lovely run around the inlet today.  The weather was perfect, sunny but not too hot and a gentle breeze to stop me overheating completely.  I had to stop a few times for walk breaks but I still felt pretty good overall.

Saturday Week 2 Term 4

Went to the gym for my run today.  I chose the North Island New Zealand run video on the treadmill and enjoyed the wonderful scenery from around the country.  I decided to see how long it would take me to run five kilometres (if I could make it that far).  I was definitely feeling it towards the end of the run, and had to slow down a tad for the final ten minutes or so.  However I'm pleased to say I managed to complete the 5K without needing a walk break.  35 minutes - a good time to start working away at.

Wednesday Week 2 term 4

Went for a lovely walk/run with Caroline today.  We decided to head out around the inlet.  The weather was perfect, the scenery calming, and the company thoroughly enjoyable.  It was so nice to have someone to chat again to on my run.  By the time we had finished I felt a lot more relaxed and ready to take on the world.

Sunday Week 2 term 4

Went to the gym for a run today.  Wasn't feeling very energetic as was on my feet all day at the gala yesterday and am STILL fighting off this horrible cold.  Never mind, I gave myself permission to take walk breaks and not go too far.  After riding the stationary bike, rowing on the machine, and lifting a few weights, I managed to run for fifteen minutes before stopping.  A reasonable effort I think.

Monday Week 2 Term 3 holidays

Had to squeeze in a run before heading off to Rotorua for a conference.  Decided to run 3 x 10 mins with 1 minute walk breaks.  Surprised I can run at all with this horrible cold.

Thursday Week 1 Term 3 Holidays

Well finally, after 3 weeks of an horrendous cold, I managed to get in another run.  Have barely been able to breathe without hacking and coughing lately so haven't even attempted a walk, let alone a run.  However I decided enough was enough, and if anyone is actually checking this blog, then they would be thinking I've become a slacker, so I dragged myself to the gym with the promise to at least try some form of cardio.  I started out with a gentle ride through France (video on the stationary bike).  Inspired I rowed across a lake (in my imagination - reality was the rowing machine :)).  I then crept warily around the treadmill avoiding it by lifting a few weights, until, finally I was brave enough to approach.  I gave myself permission to back off if my lungs weren't up to it, but actually to my delight I managed fifteen minutes before my poor sickly body said enough was enough and I had to stop.  Still, feeling pretty proud of myself all things considered.  :)

Sunday Week 8 term 3

What a lovely day, all sunshine and blue skies.  I was going to go for an outside run today but got distracted with other things.  Instead I went early to my body balance class in order to squeeze in a run.  By the time I got there I was already pushed for time so I started out with only a one minute warm up walk.  As the time came up to the end of the first twelve minutes I realised that I would either have to cut the run short, skip the walk breaks, or be late for the class.  I decided to go for it and ran the entire 30minutes.  It felt great and I found myself relaxing and thinking about all sorts of things rather than focussing on the time.  I also managed to make the body balance class so I had a good stretch after all of that running.  What a wonderful start to the week.

Thursday week 7 term 3

Zipped to the gym for a 'quick' run before dinner tonight.  Managed to run 3x 1:12 walk run ratio with a small warm up walk, altogether totalling 40 minutes worth.  Felt great - even though I was slightly late for dinner.

Sunday Week 7 term 3

Back on programme today.  Went to the gym and did an hour and a half of strength exercises before starting my run.  Completed a walk run ratio of 1:10 x 3 quite comfortably.  Increased my speed in the third set ever so slightly - didn't want to overdo it but after yesterday's run I realised I should probably start increasing my pace slightly if there would any hope of a personal best in the Round the Bays next year.

Saturday Week 6 Term 3

Woke up this morning to a beautiful blue sky shining through the skylight, so I decided to head outdoors.  I was a little nervous, having been running on the treadmill for most of my training, so I decided to just treat it as a fun run.  No watch.  No programme.  No pressure.  I was surprised to find that I was running quite slowly (the treadmill had clearly been lulling me into a false sense of security).  However I managed to run around the inlet and back without stopping - a good four kilometres I would say.  I'm not sure how long it took me (no watch remember) but I'm pretty sure it was less than half an hour.  It was a good run and although some parts were quite windy, for the most part it was a lovely warm sunny day.  There were a few people out walking their dogs/children/husbands to say hello to, and the views were (as always) both inspiring and relaxing.  A great way to start the day.

Sunday Week 6 Term 3

A bit slack last week.  I think I was fighting off a cold, but whatever it was I just didn't have the energy to go for a run.  Today however I got my mojo back.  Easing my way into exercise, I took the dog for a 40 minute walk along the river.  It reminded to approach exercise like a dog: Enthusiastic excitement and constant joy at the prospect of being out of the house!

Followed the walk with a trip to the gym to run 3 x 2:10 walk/run before completing an hour of body balance (stretching).  Felt great afterwards.  Next run is 3 x 1:10 - I think I'll be okay but a bit nervous about the shorter recovery time.

Sunday week 5 Term 3

Another great run today. After a warm up walk of five minutes, I managed a walk run ratio of 2:10 x 3 quite comfortably much to my relief.  This was then followed up with a Body Balance class (a mixture of Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi) for an hour of delicious stretching and core work.  Very sweaty, but very relaxed by the end of all of that. :)

Tuesday Week 4 term 3

Another great run today.  The video on the gym treadmill was showing a run through the Zion National Park and around the Grand Canyon area in America.  I did this run the other day and quite liked it so had another go.  This was my last 4 x 1:7 walk run ratio.  Next time I move up to 2:10 walk run x 3 so that will be an interesting challenge.  I did try increasing the speed a little this time but since I'd had a shorter warm up (or maybe I'm just not ready yet), I found it too hard, so dropped by to my usual pace.

Saturday Week 3 Term 3

Had a big argument with myself before today's run:
"Go for a run."
"But I don't feel like going for a run."
"Okay, read your runner's magazine."
"But that might make me feel like going for a run."
"You need to go for a run today."
"I'll walk the dog instead." ....... (one dog walk later)
"Okay now go for a run."
"But..."
"Just put your gear on." .....
"Okay I'll just go to the gym and do some weights, but I'm not promising to go for a run."......
"WOW!  What a great run.  So glad I talked myself into it."
4 x 1:7 walk run ratio = Feeling very pleased with myself and appreciative that my body showed such persistence when arguing with my brain.  Hehe.

Tuesday week 3, term 3 2014

Still a little stiff after Sunday's Body Balance (stretching) class, but kicked myself off the couch so I could fit a run into my busy week.  Completed a walk run ratio of 1:7 minutes x 4, which was great to start with but by the fourth set was starting to challenge me.  Luckily the treadmills at the gym have great video courses, so I could pretend to be running through the Zion National Park in America and around parts of the Grand Canyon.  Quite spectacular and helped to take my mind off my poor struggling legs. ;)

Saturday week 2, term 3 2014

I didn’t really feel up to running today, having had two days off sick with headaches and sore throats, but I decided to suck it up and go to the gym anyway.  Once there I couldn’t wait to be warmed up enough to try a run.  There was a very fit looking woman already running on the treadmill and she looked so happy that I was inspired.  I started a walk run ratio of 1:5 minutes and was doing really well.  Then I had a panic that the gym closed earlier on Saturdays and I didn’t want to miss out on completing my run.  I decided to push through and try to run the remainder of the time (15 minutes) without a walk break to decrease the time I would take to finish. I was amazed that I managed to complete the run and felt really great by the end of it.  I’m glad I went.   It just goes to show that sometimes we can achieve a lot more than our brain tells us we can.

Sunday week 2, term 3 2014

Another great run today.  Warmed up thoroughly at the gym first then hit the treadmill.  Managed a 2 min walk: 5 min run ratio for 35 minutes.  Had to stop half way through to stretch the niggly calf muscle but after that it was fine. 

Thursday week 1, term 3 2014

Managed to run for five minutes/walk 3 minutes for half an hour. Felt really good – almost like I could have run for longer. It was very tempting to push myself further but I am trying to resist the urge because I don’t want to injure myself (again!). Am running on the treadmill at the gym since the last couple of times I ran outdoors my calf muscle cramped and I had to hobble home. Hopefully the treadmill will help me build my strength enough that I’ll be back on the tracks soon.