Mornings

Have run three times since my last post, each time in the morning. This morning I set out at about 9.30 and decided to try for 8 ks (my longest run since the half and subsequent foot problems). Felt fine until the 6k mark when I started to get a pain like sciatica down my right leg and backside. I just kept going, hoping that it would go away - it didn't.

Got home in 49.50 which wasn't too bad. Still felt the pain and the touching-the-toes-test confirmed it as sciatica (no way could I touch them) which I have had twice in my life before - firstly when I was about 19 and doing lots of aerobics and then again when I was pregnant with J (and no, don't even ask). I also noticed once I had cooled down that my foot was a little sore again. Bugger. Applied some ice but it has felt a bit sore all day.

So it will be an easy week of running here. I will leave it till Wednesday and maybe again on Friday if all is okay. We are then off to the big smoke on the weekend for a family do so I might be tempted to run around the posh suburbs (if I can do so without getting lost).

I have a confession to make: I am still running in my old shoes (that may or may not have been part of the cause of the foot problems) but I promise I will get new ones next weekend and I might even splurge on them. Any suggestions for someone with high arches are welcome!

Wildlife spotting: Just one goanna and numerous birds (mostly heard rather than seen).
Traffic: One horse (with rider)

blogiversary

I missed my one year blogiversary a week or so ago but I thought I should mention it and give a thanks to the first person who commented on my blog: Scott. I started writing a blog in order to stay motivated with my running, to keep a log and to make contact with other runners. It has been a good experience and I must admit that I am amazed that I am still going with it (going on past experience of diary writing from my younger years) and I guess I am also pretty impressed that I am still running after almost two years of running consistently each week. I think that keeping the blog has been a good aid to my running and I have had some great advice from some of my readers which has helped a lot.

In running news I got out for a 7k run yesterday afternoon and it was a good one. One of those afternoons where it was warm but cool (just right?) and I was really enjoying getting back to running my old route through the bush.

This afternoon I took Pip for his walk and saw heaps of wildlife - a wallaby with a joey in the pouch, kookaburras, a big goanna and I am certain that I also saw a rufus bettong. G thinks that I imagined it after seeing them at Cania Gorge but I can't think what else it might have been and I know that we are supposed to get them here, although they are endangered. Sometimes I just love living here.

Sunshine

Just back from our massive road trip/holiday in central Queensland. Had a fantastic time, saw some great stuff and really enjoyed ourselves.

We visited Lake Monduran (so G could try to catch a barra again, no luck only catfish and a bass caught by D), Cania Gorge (a fantastic place with lots of great family-friendly bushwalks, heaps of birds and wildlife, Yepoon (stayed at the scuzziest place ever and was very disappointed with this place), made up for Yepoon by going out to Great Keppel which was gorgeous (especially on the quieter beaches), Keppel Sands (another lovely place but as the name suggests the sandflies were bad) then Lake Awoonga (more fishing, but another great place) and back home. We also visited Mt Warning on the way up and stayed with G's sister in Brissy for a night. These are only the places where we stayed overnight we also did a lot of other fun things like fossicking for thunder eggs (found heaps of little ones)and visiting a crocodile farm where the boys all got to hold a baby (I took photos!) and of course a few runs as well as lots of walking.

I took it very easy with the running as my foot was still sore when we set out. I self-diagnosed tendonitis which my BIL (who is a doctor and runner) agreed with as there is a tendon that runs around the side of the ankle and along the side of the foot. This can take a while to heal, especially if you rush back into it so I wanted to stick to my resolution to be patient.

So, taking 2P's advice about running stride I gave it a little test run at Lake Monduran with a run/walk and the great thing was that I didn't have to alter my stride at all. Although it was still a little tender and sore.

A few more days rest and the foot was feeling a lot better so I decioded to head out for half an hour at Cania Gorge. The caravan park where we were staying was right next to the National Park which meant a 5k run along one of the walks. How good is that? Beautiful scenery and a good run. Foot felt pretty good.

The only other run to report was a nice sweaty run (very humid) around Keppel Sands with a great view of the islands and lots of hellos along the way (this would have to be the friendliest most relaxed place in Australia). No problems with foot at all!

So, the foot is feeling good. I don't notice any pain/discomfort at all unless I push fairly hard along the side of the foot. The plan is for a run this afternoon - might try for 7ks and see how it goes. I think I'll stick to shorter runs for the moment and ease back into the long runs over the next few weeks.