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December 23, 2007
The Long Run
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What you see above are two pictures of my long run today. The first is the elevation map and the second are the lap times per mile as I ran along my 12 mile course.
Outside it was miserable. It was cold. It was (and still is) foggy. It is enough to drive any sane person insane.
I put on my shoes, my clothes, my heartrate monitor, got hold of my iPod, made sure it was attached to the Nike+ sensor, chose the playlist, put on 305, nearly fell over in surprise when it found all satellites in less than a minute (the 301 didn't like fog and generally didn't like the cold weather, so wouldn't find any satellites on a day like this). I started running and within less than a quarter of a mile knew that today might end up being a tad of a struggle.
My legs were feeling heavy, my chest didn't like the sub-zero temperatures, my feet was okay, the music was good, but rhythm was not something that wanted to settle in my body today. I struggled for 7 miles before I found any form of pace... and then the pace was too fast (I was supposed to be doing 11 minute miles today!), but I was so thankful for some form of steadiness that I just carried on. I couldn't let this weekend pass without a long run.
After 2 miles I reached a section of road where there was no curb. There was no space on the side of the road... and I was at the mercy of drivers that I hoped could see me, but even more, I hoped would have the common courtesy to not drive to close to me. 99.9% of those that passed me did. There was just one person that drove me to the point of trying to melt into the thorny hedges on the side of the road and I came off it with no scratches at all. Now, when I reached the start of this section, I wasn't feeling particularly like carrying on. The mindset wasn't there. My body already ached. But I carried on.
After 4 miles I finally entered a smallish village with curbs and friendly people that waved and let me know just how crazy I was for doing this. A few old ladies just shook their heads and carried on walking while a few older men offered me a pint to warm me up - I must've looked cold and thirsty and running at lunchtime when you are bound to come along people on their way to/from the pub, obviously made me seem like someone that would appreciate a drink.
I declined and carried on.
And then I remembered why I've not run this route before.
Because, at the start of mile 6, a HUGE HUGE hill lay ready to greet me. I started up it, had to take a few steps of walking, but by the time I was at the top, I was thinking that my legs will be stiff tomorrow. Definitely.
I carried on through another village, and then another... and finally I got to cross the M1 motorway again and I was on the right side of it to be close to home.
I stopped after 12 miles and took a brisk 200 yard walk to my front door where Andy was waiting, ready to help me with my shoes and make me a bowl of lovely pasta :)
Posted by karinm at 3:59 PM | Comments (1)
December 22, 2007
Welcome to a New Family member
My new Garmin Forerunner 305 arrived. And not a second too late or too early. It was just on time :)
It arrived this morning at 7:30 when I was still lying in bed, bleary eyed and feeling like the nearest train had derailed and decided to come straight through my window, over me and out down the stairs. I stumbled down the stairs to open the door and sign for the parcel and once upstairs, could not resist opening the package and configuring the wrist unit.
Then there was 3 painful hours of letting it charge. And then I had to install the new software and finally I was just about ready. Now it was only the matter of the fact that I had a chest cough and that I couldn't possibly get out of bed... you know, having had an incident with abovementioned train and all.
I crawled to the lounge, clutching the 305 in its cradle and attached it to my pc.
At 4pm I couldn't help myself anymore.
It might not have been 14 miles, but I did manage 4 before I realised I was going to kill myself at this rate.
So I came back home and excitedly docked the unit and looked at the stats...
And boy was I happy :)
Posted by karinm at 6:01 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2007
Is it Here Yet?
Impatient person that I am, I can't wait for my new Garmin to arrive tomorrow. Did I mention I have the best husband in the world? He knows that I've been looking at the cycling bits and pieces that Garmin manufactures, and in an effort to give me some cycling functionality with the new 305, got me a cadence sensor :)
Expect photos and graphs and various songs of praise tomorrow evening :)
Posted by karinm at 2:42 PM | Comments (1)
This Must've Hurt
Posted by karinm at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2007
Fare Thee Well Garmin
Yesterday, in a blue spark, my Garmin Forerunner 301 finally decided that life was too much and ceased to work. It won't start, it won't recharge. It won't do anything. Which is really a pity as I was fond of the little watch.
But times change, and now I'm attempting to decide whether an investment in a shiny new Forerunner 305 is going to be worth it. Andy has already given me the green light...
Posted by karinm at 8:20 PM | Comments (2)
December 18, 2007
This is Fun
Since Jeff showed me this, I'm addicted!
Posted by karinm at 10:54 PM | Comments (1)
One week till xmas!
There is something about Christmas approaching... I'm curious. Very, very curious. Because for the past few weeks, I have been taunted with a gift that was put under the tree and required me to walk past it unlimited times... I'm going insane. Like a little kid I have to know what is in it... right now!
Its nice and cold this morning, which is why it was the perfect morning to tackle a few miles. My throat feels fuzzy and raspy after the run. I guess the middle of Winter is the best time to experience cold weather running at its best. My toes are frozen as usual, my clothes feel like they were outside for an hour... and my hair feels like it is crunchy. Like it froze and I'm supposed to put on some Jamaican accent and confirm my death.
A week from now, I'll probably be out and about for a run as well... making the rest of the family wait before they can open their xmas pressies and have some hot breakfast. But until then, the gift under the tree will keep taunting me....
Posted by karinm at 8:41 AM | Comments (1)
December 17, 2007
Another weekend Down
'Tis was a quiet weekend with a lot of cake, some running (lotsa running) and some fairly cold weather that left some lovely frozen drops on my top while out on my long run on Saturday morning. We woke up and it was well... well below zero. I went out into the lovely cold weather, started running and as my muscles felt like they weren't warming up, listened to podcasts while counting the miles.
Somewhere along the route I had a drink... and noticed small particles of ice starting to gather on my top. I thought it was a tad funny. The last time that happened I was running up a mountain in freezing weather and half expected it to happen when they started serving sherry at the water stations.
I finished the run and my hands felt like they were frozen in place... a hot shower later I was ok, but my feet felt like bricks and I spent about half an hour sitting in front of the tele before taking Elizma shopping in Nottingham. Andy and Fanie stayed home and made the most of the unlimited access to the television by playing endlessly on the XBox.
Saturday evening we went out for supper and on Sunday morning I woke up to some pressies and cards and a HOT mug of coffee.
The rest of the day was equally great and relaxing and even though I got a card that wished me a happy 30th birthday on my 29th birthday, I was fine :)
Now a new week starts - only EIGHT days until Christmas!
Posted by karinm at 8:02 AM | Comments (1)
December 13, 2007
The Freeze
Running in -5 degree weather was never going to be fun. No way. No how. Well. Maybe. And tonight, as the ice lay on the ground and made me run extra carefully, I had fun. Partially because it was funny to see Andy attempt to keep his balance. Partly because I was REALLY enjoying the run, and partly because everything was sparkling in the dim light of the street lamps. It was just magical.
At times my muscles complained a lot about the cold. Other times I just didn't hear it. Its a fact that muscles weren't made to heat up in temperatures that are so cold that the frost that lay on the ground this morning never melted and are now building layer no. 2 on it. Not that it bothered me.
When I got home the plan was to go to the gym and run on the treadmills there, but once I got to the house, I realised that my car wasn't going to move from the spot where it was standing. The ice underneath it had reached the point where the car just would not move again. I still have my doubts about it getting me to work tomorrow - without a crystal ball, I can tell you right now I'm going to have to pack some sturdy shoes and head out the door and do the mile and a half to my offices on foot. Oh, to live more than 5 miles from work again...
I know that I have nothing to complain about :) I'm loving life at the moment. I'm loving training. I'm loving EVERYTHING about Winter... I just occasionally wish I could run in slightly higher temperatures :)
While writing this, I was listening to "No More Sorrow" by Linkin Park
Posted by karinm at 9:19 PM | Comments (2)
Slip and Slide
Outside there is ice all over the road... the sidewalks... the cars... and it is slippery. As I found out two days this week so far. While I'm out there I slip and slide and attempt to stay upright while having a lot of fun. My arms are generally wrapped up nice and tight, my feet find that one downhills I tend to take 1 step and travel 3.... uphill I tend to run 3 and go 1 back... but all in all the winter is fun.
I can't complain after seeing pictures of the ice storms over in the US :)
My brother and his girlfriend have been here for nearly a week now and they are starting to settle in properly. Last night they stayed up to a normal bedtime for the first time since they arrived - I've gotten used to them disappearing around 7pm to crawl into bed... it gave me some quiet time :) So when they left the room at 9pm last night, my head didn't quite register that it had happened. I stayed up and watched Sunshine with Andy before getting to bed... at which time it was close to midnight.
Tonight I'll head out for some slip-and-slide action outside again. This time I might try to get Andy to take a picture while we're out :)
Posted by karinm at 8:08 AM | Comments (0)
December 11, 2007
Thanks Doc!
Generally I don't like doctors. Everytime I get the chance to see one, they just re-affirm my belief that most of them are worthless people that cause me a lot of pain without any reason and lately there has been no exceptions.
A few weeks ago I had some veins in my nose cauterised because the nightly nose bleeds were really not my cup of tea. The pain on that day was particularly bad, but hey, I had no reason to complain, because since that night, I had not had one night of nosebleed induced insomnia. I have however been having particularly bad nights... waking up at 2am... being sick... and then feeling worse for wear.
When I phoned the doctor yesterday morning he told me that it was just a virus and I should just let it pass through my system. But earlier today I phoned again... I do NOT want another night of this and want something that'll take away the nausea and make me sleep through the night.
So off I went at lunchtime... only to be told that I didn't have a virus. No, my nosebleeds just haven't stopped. Well, it has in the fact that it doesn't bleed out of my nose and onto my pillow now. Instead the blood is going down the back of my throat and straight into my stomach and since humans aren't supposed to live off a vampiric diet of blood, I'm getting sick. And I'll stay sick until I go back to have it stopped. But they don't have an opening for me until Wednesday. Next week. Which means that for the next week I am going to suffer the consequences of a doctor not doing his job properly. AGAIN.
I'm getting so sick (yes, yes) of this.
Posted by karinm at 2:17 PM | Comments (0)
Exploring the New... and freezing
This morning is cold. Very cold. I stuck my toes out the door and the toe-sicles that are now snuggly underneath the duvet is busy thawing. A warm mug of coffee is stuck next to me ... ready to drink once I sit up ... but being as snug as a bug in a rug is definitely for me and there is no way I'm getting up anytime soon. Well, maybe in 30 minutes or so. It should at least be good fun to try and get something done on the outside... and by outside I mean the outside of the house. I'm going to attempt running or swimming (INDOOR pool) or maybe just head out for some strength work. I'm definitely in need of some.
My head is a little fuzzy though. I think I clamped down on my teeth again last night as we slept. Its left me with a rather sore jaw and incapable of completely straight thought. Which is probably why I'm more comfortable watching old episodes of Lilo and Stitch than watching the news or weather or anything educational. I'm definitely in love with that little guy. I started watching the early morning episodes of LIlo and Stitch about a year ago and decided that its definitely for me. Before that it was some other Disney cartoon that livened up my mornings and I always ended up feeling incredibly rejuvenated after watching it. Its just a good start to the day and something positive rather than murder and mayhem.
My brother, his girlfriend and my husband are now on their way to London. They've gone to open bank accounts and find out more about English culture and what they can do and what they can't do. Great! At least they'll know about National Insurance Numbers when they get home and about having to contact agencies. They've already told me that tonight they want to set up their CVs and get ready to start looking for work tomorrow. They're going to have an incredibly long day getting to all the agencies and going for interviews and finally getting some form of job to just get some money in. I remember when I first arrived in the UK and the tension and scared moments that I had, not knowing whether the company I was working with would keep me on past the first few months. You never know whether you're just good enough in order to survive ... until you've done it.
I almost can't believe that I've been here for 3 years already.
Well, that coffee is about to get so cold that I can't drink it. I'm going to need to finish it before I get ready for work.
Have a great day!
Posted by karinm at 7:03 AM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2007
The Weekend Passed Quickly
The weekend was relatively relaxing with my brother and his girlfriend making their long awaited arrival and promptly dealing with jet lag, culture shock and cold weather. The sympathy was little, but at least the central heating helped a little ... as did early nights (why they couldn't just chill and wait until 8pm before going to sleep on Saturday night, I don't know, but they did, and then woke up at 4am on Sunday) and a good amount of walking in the centre of Nottingham.
Sunday I wanted to run the Keyworth Turkey Trot, but I ended up spending a rather horrible night being sick on Saturday night and Sunday morning I knew I wasn't up for 13 miles. 9 miles had to do and afterwards I loved the warmth of the house. The cold weather got worse, and today we've already seen blue fingers.
I dropped Fanie and Elizma off in town during lunch and left them to themselves to find their way back home. They do need to get to know the area, and today was as good a day as ever. At least the skies were clear and they could see the sun and blue sky. They made it home, although I was told that they nearly froze to death (even with a coat and gloves) and now they're looking forward to a relaxing evening in the warmth of the house.
The sun is already down (at 16h19) and I'm not sure they would be all that fond of the dark. Eventually they might be, but for now they have a healthy bout of South African paranoia... it'll keep them safe for a week or two. Pictures of these two's adventures in the UK is to follow.
That's my 5 minute update for the day... I have a bit to do, but then I'll be back :)
Posted by karinm at 4:22 PM | Comments (0)
December 7, 2007
Sick. Very Sick.
You know you've got one of those weekends coming when you wake up at 2am with an immense desire to hug a toilet and be sick for the next hour. TMI. I know.
After spending a crappy night up and about and blaming it on the food we had last night (one can only hope), I'm going to go to work today and hope that I feel a ton better this afternoon. My brother and his girlfriend arrives tomorrow morning and I still have a ton of things to do, not to mention go to my work's Christmas do and I won't be able to keep it up if I feel like I do right now.
Sunday sees me running the Keyworth Turkey Trot. I have tried to run this race - keyword tried - 2 years before this, but every year something came up. The first year I got flu just before and ended up having to stay in bed. Last year I got whisked away for a weekend and ended up 100 miles away from the race. This year, I'm home. I'm going to hope for feeling good tomorrow and on Sunday morning I'll go run the half marathon with a silly cut-off time.
But now I'll go to work and get this week over and done with.
Posted by karinm at 7:39 AM | Comments (1)
December 6, 2007
December is a Great Month
Running has always been fun for me, but the past two weeks its come up a whole new levels from when I started running again nearly 3 years ago. So much fun that I'm looking forward to the runs and the runs feel extremely short and ultimately, I'd do more if it wasn't for the fact that someone kept me in check. Even more - it is the 6th of December, cold weather all around, and I've already done more mileage this December than I've done any December before it, including those from years and years ago. December have never been a good running month for me.
This morning I woke up and nudged Andy.
"Let's go run."
I got a grunt in return. I nudged him again.
"Let's go run!"
He moved and tapped his alarm clock. And with that my dreams of an early morning run disappeared, because it seemed husband dearest was already late for work. With the darkness outside and builders already arriving, I decided I'd go for a run tonight. Andy rushed out the door and I was left on the couch with a half cold mug of tea and my advent calendar full of chocolaty goodness. (The only chocolate I see these days, and boy do I savour that 5 minutes in the morning that I get to have it)
There is only 12 and a half weeks left until LA!
Posted by karinm at 8:04 AM | Comments (0)
December 3, 2007
Gorgeous Monday
Its a beautiful day! Blue skies, fluffy clouds, 7°C temperature. Yes, its a beautiful winter's day in the city of Nottingham.
I managed to sleep like the dead last night and if I could, I probably would've slept until noon today. My bed was just so incredibly comfortable that I couldn't get myself out of it for long enough to wake up until 8h30 and even then it was the shower that woke me up and not the getting up.
A great week lies ahead, that much I know. I'm in positive spirits on a Monday for the first time in a while (other times I was only fooling myself) and I can't wait until I login to my calendar in a while to see what the coach has in store for me this week.
Only 4 more weeks until the end of the year!
Posted by karinm at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)
December 2, 2007
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Santa came to town. 7000 Santas. We headed to Liverpool with the rest of them and absolutely loved the experience. And now a few pictures:
First we had to get ready:
Santa started running during the year and found that his suit was now a tad too big
Santa gets his/her groove on
Waiting at the start line... it was COOOOOOLD
AND 30 minutes later... still waiting
So many Santas, which one wants my list?
And OFF they go! Into the sunrise :)
It was far too much fun :)
Posted by karinm at 2:14 PM | Comments (1)