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August 24, 2006
Running in the Rain
This morning I ran in the rain. Heavy rain that soaked me within minutes and made me shiver all the way home. I enjoyed it - I really did! I just wished that I had worn something a little warmer and less absorbent. As I was running a fair few cars came up and helped the clouds in their quest to make sure that there would be no small part of me that didn't have water on it.
A cow gave me a look of sympathy as I ran past it. I just laughed and carried on.
My legs are feeling good and there's only two and a half weeks before the marathon. I can't wait!
[Edit] I know this post makes no sense. I just wanted to update :)
Posted by karinm at 12:09 PM | Comments (2)
August 16, 2006
Being Selfish
A few months ago, on the way to a race, one of the guys from the club said to me that if I wanted to do a marathon or Ironman, I'd have to be selfish for a year. I'd have to train when Andy wanted to go to the movies and restaurants. I'd have to dictate when we could do anything together and I'd have to be the one to make sure that I was doing the training required, when required, where required, with no interference from anyone else. And he knows, since he took part in triathlons and marathons for years.
I didn't realise how true that is until recently. Well, yesterday.
Andy joined me for my 1 hour run and we were holding a conversation all the way. It was so relaxing having him there, running at a comfortable pace and being able to do it within the heartrate zone I had to be in. Afterwards I was sitting in the lounge, updating the logs and he asked me if I'd like to go see a movie tonight.
That's when I realised that I had to be selfish. Wednesdays are a great day to go to the movies, but it is also the day that I have to go swim and run and probably won't get home until after 9pm. So I had to say no and although he looked a little disappointed, he understood that it wasn't because I didn't want to go, but because I have to make sure that I'm disciplined about doing training. Normally I'd be able to schedule my training times so that I am able to go out at night, but on Wednesdays there is only one lane swimming session at the gym.
I feel awful about having to do it, but at the same time I know that if I make an exception now, soon it'll become the norm and in the end I'll have a really horrible experience if I start the Ironman race next year.
I'll just have to take him to see something on Friday or Saturday :)
Posted by karinm at 6:27 AM | Comments (2)
August 12, 2006
I'm such a Geek
The first person to note that I was a geek was Jeff. He was of course right, but I'm pretty sure he didn't know just how much :)
This past week I've received a few goodies and gadgets and I'm in hog heaven. Below are two pictures - the first being one that contains my new pedals, a Polar S625x that someone lent me to try out (more on this later) and some energy gels and energy mixes that I've been experimenting with (keeping in mind that I needed to find something to use in both the upcoming marathon and next year's Ironman). It doesn't take much to make me happy and keep me busy for hours on end.
The energy gels from High Five arrived yesterday and like a kid I opened up the pack to see exactly what was inside. I asked for a mixture and they sent me citrus mix, orange, berry mix, summer mix and chocolate flavours. All in all I have 25 gels (well, right now only 24 because I had to see what the chocolate one tasted like while I was cycling today). I also got some mix to put into my bottles and it doesn't taste too bad :)
The pedals - I ordered a pair of pedals and some new shoes during the week, but due to the "incredible popularity", they didn't have my size in stock, so I'll have to wait another two weeks before it arrives. This morning we sat in the living room and I tried to explain to Andy how it works. Ten minutes later the cleats were stuck in the pedals and for the next 20 minutes we sat trying to get it out with our hands. I have to admit I've only ever used my feet to try and remove these, but since they weren't attached to my shoes, it proved to be a little harder :) Now all I have to wait for is my aerobars and I'll be set!
The S625x? Oh... after all the trouble with my Garmin, I thought I'd try and make it a little jealous. A runner from the club who isn't actually training at the moment, and not really taking part in anything, offered to lend me his for a week. I'm feeling SO technologically disadvantaged right now with all the settings, but once I got some basic settings in, I actually enjoyed it while on the bike. I'll try the footpod tomorrow on my long run and then compare it with my Garmin's measurement after the run. That is if it doesn't lose satellite signal again. I'll let you all know next week whether I might go in search of greener waters or stay faithful to my Forerunner.
Right now, I might just go and fall on my bed and sleep, dreaming happily away about my new little gadgets.
Yes. I'm such a geek.
Posted by karinm at 9:21 PM | Comments (0)
August 9, 2006
Where Be My Motivation?
Tonight after swimming, I knew that if I got into my car and drove home, I wasn't going to get out and go for a run. I was lacking motivation after a hard day at work and feeling a little sluggish as well. It was quite convenient then that I didn't have to get in my car, but instead could go for a club run.
I ran with Brian today - if you remember my first club run, its the same guy that I ran with at that stage - and we took it really easy and slow. I think my legs needed a bit of running and stretching and running and stretching. That's precisely what we did tonight.
He was telling me how, years ago, he trained with some guys for a Half Ironman and how they used cross-country courses as their training courses to keep things interesting. I love listening to him when he tells you how they used to train and then suddenly wishes out loud that he could still train like that. He recently got a hamstring injury and the physio told him to stop running. Not that he listened :)
A funny but painful part of the run was when we managed to "brush" by some nettles. My calves stung for a good 30 minutes later - nothing a shower couldn't cure. I think it was quite funny how we managed to miss that those were there :)
Hopefully my motivation will be back tomorrow. I might just do a morning run rather than an afternoon run :) That way I can't skip it!
Posted by karinm at 9:05 PM | Comments (0)
August 7, 2006
Random Post
This past weekend we had some friends over and to make a long story short, very little running got done. Then I woke up this morning and felt distinctly sick, but decided to go out for a run tonight in any case. As it turns out, I think my body just wanted to get rid of some toxins, because now that I've run and swum, I'm feeling extremely good.
My Garmin has packed up though. With no clouds in sight, and no trees or buildings or electrical or phone lines, it keeps losing signal. Of my heart and of the satellites. I've just about had it with it now. I beg, I plead, I make promises that I intend to keep. I speak nicely, I scold. Nothing. Nada. It just doesn't want to work. Does anyone else have similar problems?
So I might ... get a Polar device. Purely because everyone that I know hasn't mentioned problems with theirs, but the Garmin owners seem to have problems every now and again. Or maybe I should get a shiny new 305. Maybe that's the message.
We'll see. Maybe mine just needs a little bit of rest :)
Posted by karinm at 8:21 PM
August 3, 2006
An Invite to You
Posted by karinm at 7:42 PM | Comments (2)