Company and Conversation

Have been intending to blog all week but this have become a little hectic around here.

I'm just back from my 13k long run. That is the longest I have run this year. It was an extremely humid run, 96% humidity before I set out and about 28*, which made it seem hard. I started out slowly and knew that it would stay that way. The road was even boggier than last week as we have had even more rain but it was good to do the three bridge run again.

The title of this post is due to the company I had out in the bush this morning. A Parks and Wildlife guy was up there spraying lantana. I called out to him so that I wouldn't scare the life out of him. He commented that it was an awesome place to run and I had to agree. Then on the way back I ran past a group of 4 who were checking out the creek, one of them said 'Jeez you must be fit' and another one warned me that I had a good run ahead (he didn't realise that I had already come down that way and was well aware of the rather large mountain ahead!). It was a novelty to exchange a few words and kind of nice in a way as it can get pretty lonely out there at times, and of course a compliment is always welcome.

Killer Hill was pretty slow today - 9.10, and all up it took 1.28.31 (under 7 minutes/km so that's okay) but I wanted a negative split which I missed by 50 seconds. Still I am happy considering the mugginess.

Stump to Stump, Trunk to Trunk

Catchy title eh?

I actually did an interval run yesterday and it was okay. I didn't really decide what to do until I started running. I warmed up for the first kilometre and a half, then decided I would pick a pair of tree stumps (the bush here was logged extensively several years ago) or a pair of tree trunks that stood out or even a termite mound or two and run hard between them then rest until I was ready to go again and repeat.

I still ran the same ol' 7k route, but it felt a lot harder. I managed to get my heart rate up to 185 briefly (at least I know I was working hard on that one). Overall I was only 15 seconds faster than Monday afternoon but it felt like it was a lot harder. It was also extremely humid - by the time I got back my eyes were bright red from perspiration running into them.

I learnt a few lessons:

• It's not that bad (really it's not)
• slow down in mud puddles because they can be slippery
• Cheap tissue tucked into your bra on a humid day's run soon turn into pulp
• Bugs in the eye hurt more when you are running faster.

Getting Longer

Managed to increase the kilometres of running this week including a 12 km run yesterday. This meant running the nice section through rainforest along the creek which is flowing well at the moment. There were some nice squelchy sections due to all the rain we have had and the road is much more like a trail in parts. I felt pretty good afterwards (I took it easy) and woke up feeling fine today. The achilles has reared its ugly head again but is no worse than usual.

I felt motivated to get back into it after chatting with a colleague earlier in the week. She runs about as well as I do (although she has managed a half in under 2 hours) and is training for her first marathon in the middle of the year. She runs with a couple of friends and she says they have a pact that they are only allowed to use an excuse (for missing a run) once. I decided to make the same agreement with myself. I promise myself that the only excuses allowed are if it isn't safe to run (apart from illness or injury). Although I guess my problem isn't getting out there it's just that when I do I tend to always run at the same pace. I just don't enjoy speed work! So I need to find a way to incorporate some variety (ie speed sessions) where I will actually do them! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Weekly Roundup

Run: 25km
Walk: 15km
Total: 40km
Year Total: 215.6km

Soggy

Wet here again all weekend. Got out for a 10 k run in light drizzle on Saturday afternoon. Was a bit slower than last time (66.39, HR: 161) but managed to run the two halves very equally. Also managed to give myself some new chaffing spots from the heart rate monitor which look very attractive! Then yesterday I took Pip for a 5k walk in the rain. It was quite warm and very enjoyable to walk in the rain. We have had so much this year that there are some really cool fungi around. I must take my camera with me as thay really are quite unusual and some of them are quite beautiful (in a fungi kind of way).

D had his first week of high school and seemed to enjoy himself (only got lost once). He also managed to give himself a mallet finger while putting his hand in his pocket on Monday night. This is where the tendon in the end joint of the finger can't be straightened. Fortunately it was his left hand as he has to wear a splint and can't use it for 4-6 weeks. He is devestated as this means no guitar!

Weekly Wrap (for last week)

Run: 22km
Walk: 15km
Total: 37km
Year Total: 175.6