Feeling a little dusty

Woke up this morning feeling a little dusty thanks to drinks after work- yes, I did eat my body weight in junk food whilst staggering home. Actually as I was on the tram to my favourite purveyor of junk a girl sitting opposite me started talking to me about running because she saw I had my polar watch on- it is like a secret sign to runners! We had such a good chat about our injuries before she had to get off the tram and I had to continue on my fast food hunt- but it wasn’t that fun because I was trying not to sound 10 parts smashed and I know that pretending to be sober is what usually gives away a drunk. Oh well.

Fortunately it is pouring rain so I don’t have to come up with legitimate arguments for why I am not running today- TSD (The Sulky Dog) is annoying me because she hasn’t been walked but she hates the rain anyway. So it seemed like a good idea to get the Music Challenge of Beki (I am struggling punctuation right now) out of the way- and wouldn’t you know it, Video Hits are showing 80’s hits to get me in the mood, have already done Thriller dancing around the loungeroom and enjoyed a bit of “Eye of the Tiger” and my favourite and yours “Especially For You” by Kyles and Jase.

Name your all time favourite song that you will never get sick of:

This is way harder than I thought- surely my ipod will help, a quick check of ipod- most played song sadly is “Better Man” by Pearl Jam. I am not really a Pearl Jam fan so I don’t know how that came about. Need more time!

List the ten songs that would make the “sound track of your life” i.e. your other favouritist songs that are not your bestest ever:

1. Back In Black- ACDC
2. I am Woman- Helen Reddy
3. Purple Rain- Prince
4. Glamorous- Fergie
5. Sexual Healing- Ben Harper
6. Beautiful Girl- Inxs
7. Long Black Veil- Johnny Cash
8. Satellite of Love- Lou Reed
9. Into My Arms- Nick Cave
10. London Still- The Waifs

The one song that you love but are too embarrassed to admit it to anyone (and now I’m making you admit it to anyone). The more embarrassing the better:

Can I have two??

Teenage Dirtbag- Wheatus

9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

Wow, that was really hard, and my brain hurts now, might need another nap.

(sorry AJH, had editing issues)

Ohhh my legs…..

The Running Dog (TRD) and I went around a local park this morning for 40 mins - at an average of 7.17k/hr (in case you were just blown away by how slow that is, please just also notice that it means I am getting quicker!)  TRD was well behaved and ran so nicely beside me the whole way.

Then I took my life into my own hands and rode out to the Academy in Glen Waverley for a swim- I have spent a lot of time driving out there, and I never noticed that it was uphill THE WHOLE WAY THERE.  This is not a problem in the car, but when you are starting off with your new shoes that have to clip in, it creates BIG problems, I need to have enough momentum to push me along while I frantically try to clip in and this is almost impossible uphill.  I felt like EVERY set of traffic lights was at the bottom of a hill.  I nearly went ar$e over once, and I am sure everyone in their cars around me was disappointed when I didn’t but I got that little adrenaline rush before I managed to clip in in time.

I made it to the Academy in just over an hour!  It was 17.1 km and I averaged 16.5k/hr- terrible I know, but I swear it is uphill and so steep- sometimes I thought I should just turn around and go home.  But I kept grinding away and eventually I got to the last hill - from High Street up to Waverley Road- and my legs were like blocks of wood so I got to within 50 metres of the roundabout and I had to get off and walk….in my socks.

I swam 1km in the pool- it is fantastic- so clean and I usually have my own personal lifeguard and a whole 50 metre indoor heated pool to myself, but this morning there were three other people there too.

I rode home again and confirmed my theory about the uphills- I managed to drag my average from 16.5 to 19.7 and I found that it was quite a fun ride home.

I just need someone to move the traffic lights to the tops of hills so that I can always start off downhill.  I am sure it is just a matter of filling in a report somewhere.

Anyhoo, arvo shift today and there is every possibility that I will be asleep at my desk by 7pm.

40 mins running!

The Running Dog (TRD) and I went for a run around the lake this morning- 40 minutes non stop!  Yes, it was slow- averaging 7.20 k/hr!  The best part was that TRD was very well behaved.  I kept her on the lead because on Sunday I had FOUR, count them, four toilet stops that meant I was carrying multiple bags of poo with me! Then when I let her off the lead, she ran onto the road and ate rubbish that was in glad wrap, including the glad wrap…..Sorry Aud, but all I could do was imagine the vet bills after having a bowel blockage removed!  (You will be glad (?) to know that I “found” that glad wrap during our walk last night and I got to carry it around in a bag)

Anyway, TRD was very well behaved- only one stoppage (and I was carrying about ten bags just in case- nothing worse than being caught without) and she was happy to run along with me. 

I got home then rode to work- such a lovely still morning, maybe a bit cold but it was a lovely ride.

I got an email yesterday from Powerade offering me free drinks because they have been reading my blog (maybe my old blog) and wanted to know if I wanted to trial it! Initially thought that I wouldn’t bother but then I realised that I am going to be riding a bit further on my bike soon and it would be perfect for that.  Did anyone else get an offer?

Dinner was a disaster, the pudding was almost inedible and I forgot about the beans :(  Oh well, the wine was good! 

 

 

Last day of freedom.

Bounded out of bed this morning- no back pain which was a nice change- though I didn’t bound very high because I didn’t get to sleep until 3ish thanks to some neighbourhood kids hanging out in the street outside my flat- they just sounded like they were having fun and I expected them to bugger off and go somewhere else- but they stayed.

The Running Dog (TRD) and I ran around the lake then it was a mad session at the supermarket followed by a trip to Oaklands Junction for the Ingliss Yearling Sales to catch up with Mum for M.Day- Dad bought a horse!

Then I hurried home and began cooking- a boy is coming over for dinner tonight and I don’t know why, but I am so nervous that I don’t know if I can eat. Imagine if I really liked him? Anyway, wine is my friend and I am hoping he gets here before I finish the bottle by myself. Cooked chicken and mushroom pie, roast vegies and self saucing chocolate pudding (with a bit of orange to make it more interesting). Am freaking out a bit- but at least it is taking my mind off the fact I have to go back to work tomorrow

Sore &*$%ing back

Upper back still sore today, so tried bounding out of bed this morning again and gave up and went back to sleep- crap I know, I had even laid out my running gear all ready.  I have smothered my upper back in deep heat and I have to say it doesn’t seem to be working.  I was thinking about seeking professional advice, but there is only enough money in the budget for one medical visit this pay and that was used up by taking The Unhappy Dog to the vet yesterday for her horrible ears. (I should never complain about medical bills, they are nothing compared to vet bills)

Actually I know that a bit of rest will sort it out and I should be right for a run tomorrow morning- then maybe a massive cycle on Sunday morning.

Sore back, shoulders, neck

I don’t really feel like doing anything today- I tried to bound out of bed at 6.30am to walk The Snoring Dog (TSD) but for some reason my neck, upper back and shoulders are so sore it feels like someone cracked me across the back with a cricket bat in the night. I think it could be due to my really poor form doing planks and push ups yesterday coupled with poor posture whilst knitting on the couch.

I am feeling a bit disappointed because I was looking forward to my ride/swim this morning. I feel a bit better after a hot shower, heat pack and some voltaren, but I don’t think a few hours on the bike will make things better.

I have to go with my sister this afternoon as she is having a gum biopsy (trust me, you can’t complain about your health to someone who has many many more serious ailments than you ever will, I know I have tried).

Anyway, after being a tad unhappy and quite stressed during my last week at work I think I am ready to be nice to my colleagues again.

35 minute run

The Sulky Dog and I went for a run this morning- after sleeping in until 10.45- and it is obvious that running with TSD slows me down at a rate of about 200metres for every 35 mins. For my previous 35 minute run I ran 4.88 km, but this time I only managed 4.69km. I stop the clock for the toilet stops but it is the stopping and starting combined with the dragging of a 28kg dog when she REALLY wants to go back and play with another dog.

After the run I did some push ups, planks and some proper stretching- I was going to do weights but I still have a sore upper back and shoulders from painting the ceiling at my brothers house in Perth.

Anyway, I have the rest of the week off and no real plans! Might ride to the Academy tomorrow for a swim then head back- that should kill some time and keep my legs moving. As usual I started leave with grand plans of losing these kilos but it certainly hasn’t happened.

Back east

Flew home tonight- well left Perth at 2pm, got home at 8pm thanks to the time difference and a good half hour circling the city before we landed.  When I headed off to Perth I had a funny feeling I had left the heater on because I was trying to dry all my clothes overnight so I asked Pruesy to call in an check.  She rang several times to say she couldnt get in, and sure enough I walked in the door and my heater had been on for five days!  It wasn’t nearly as warm as I thought! (but at least it hadn’t started a fire)

Perth was beautiful- the kids were gorgeous- though Haz doesn’t do goodbyes very well and it always makes me so sad to see him getting so upset.  Lucky I bought a smile from him with a packet of fruit tingles and there were no tears!

I had two good runs- 30 mins and 35 mins- and I am not far off 5km at the moment which is good.  I didn’t run this morning because I wanted to have more cuddles from the kids and so that means staying in bed playing monsters and boats instead of getting up early for a run.  I took Haz to school everyday and picked him up on his scooter!  It is so much fun, though I need to learn how to stop in a controlled manner- Haz rode his bike and I scootered so I could keep up with him- don’t know what the mums at school thought but it was too fun!

The weather was gorgeous- t-shirt and skirt everyday- I think my Birkenstocks got their final wear for this half of the year.  I naturally ate wayyyyy too much,  (gotta love the Margaret River Chocolate Factory in the Swan Valley) and drank way to much (again, wineries and breweries in the Swan Valley) but it was great fun.

I have a million blogs to check on and a Very Sulky Dog to cuddle- she met me at the airport with my sister and has been a little put out!

Heading to the west

Am off the Perth this morning- can’t wait to see the Hazard and the Duck- they rang and sang me songs last night.  Didn’t run this morning- just couldn’t be bothered but I have managed to cram my sneakers into my bag- don’t know if I need 20kg  of stuff for 5 days.  I can’t remember what I have packed- everything I own probably.  Am being ridiculed by my family for my obsessive need to be at the airport super early (or just in time as I call it) and for missing the stinky dog too much.

Back next Tuesday- no internet connection for me over there- take care everyone.

30 mins running, 80 mins cycling

I am still at the farm and it is absolutely freezing here- the farm house has a fantastic wood heater/fireplace thingy which heats up two rooms, but the rest of the ice is like living  in the fridge.

Dad kindly woke me up at 6am for a run- but it was still dark outside and I have no interest in running along country roads in the dark, so I let The Stinky Dog (TSD) out of the back room and waited for the sun to come up.  At about 7am TSD and I headed out the road for a 30 minute non stop run.  I didn’t make it very far in that time- 15 mins out and back WITH NO WALKING for once! It was pretty easy and I went very slowly- averaging 7.30 k/hr again.  Then I waited for Mum to head to work and my bike and I got a ride with her into town (about 30km away) and I rode home.  It was cold, very cold but I soon had to take off my fluro jacket because it was like cycling with a massive sail- even though there was no wind my jacket would fill up with air and feel like I was going to take off.

I was a lot slower than Saturdays ride- averaged 23k/hr- it was a bit hillier and there was a slight head wind.  It wasn’t such a fun ride but it was nice to get out there again.  The last few kms is on the Glenelg Highway and it can get a bit hairy- only they are fixing some of the road so it was 40k/hr for the whole way!  It is so nice to be passed gently by trucks instead of when they blow past you at 100 k/hr. 

Icing my ankle and my knee then I am heading into town to have coffee with Mum and her colleague.  Back to the city tomorrow then heading to Perth on Thursday- I don’t know why I book these holidays, I get so distraught about leaving TSD behind.  (yes, I know she is a dog and I should just get over it)