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)

“There is a patch of blue sky over there!”

I headed out for my ride yesterday just before midday- the skies were sort of clear and I had a pretty good tail wind that sometimes became a cross wind.  I was absolutely hooning along as quickly as I could- it felt so good to go so fast so effortlessly.  Then the rain started, and it was freezing, the wind picked up and it was a nasty cross wind and it was so strong that I couldn’t keep the bike on the road.  I stopped and rang home but the line was busy, I rang my sisters mobile- it was turned off.  So I had some harsh words with myself and got back on the bike and kept going.  I didn’t want to, but I didn’t want to admit defeat and go home with that headwind and the rain.  The rain felt like hail as it hit my legs.  But I remembered that JoJo would love to be out exercising in this rain, and Alison would also love to be in my (new bike) shoes were she not injured too.  So I had a few harsh words with myself on the side of the road and kept going and it eventually stopped raining so heavily and the wind dropped a bit so I could ride on the road without a problem.  My top speed was 53 k/hr but my average was 26 k/hr.

I was passed by a lot of cars, and I wasn’t wishing that I was in their place for one second- but I doubt that anyone wished they could trade places with me.

I managed to ride 63km before Mum and my sister overtook me and stopped so I could climb into the lovely warm car.  I just had to get out of my wet clothes first- my bike nicks were sopping and cold- so I did a quick change on the side of the road and I would like to apologise to anyone who was driving past and copped an eyeful.  (I am a real convert to the no nickers approach to cycling).  Despite dry clean socks I had no feeling in my feet- they were like lumps of ice at the end of my legs.

We went to Warrnambool so Mum could pick up her new golf clubs- then we had 9 holes in the rain so she could try them out! Mum is a very “glass half full” person and kept pointing out “there is a patch of blue sky over there”.  We had one umbrella blow out then gave up with a few holes to go.  By the time we had driven home, I had feeling in my toes.

The Farm Dog (TFD) and I had a run this morning- 2 x 20 mins.  This is my last split run- the next one will be 30 mins.  I did it a bit easy this morning- I thought the second session was gonig to be way quicker but it was just the same. 

Mum, TFD and I went for a big walk before to meet my sister who was riding her newly broken in horse back home- I think Mum and TFD are now asleep on the couch!

At the farm

I drove to the farm yesterday afternoon- with my bike in the back and The Travelling Dog (TTD) up front.  The reason why TTD isn’t allowed up front normally is because she hogs the air con vents and she likes to sleep on my lap and it is a tad distracting having to wrestle her onto her own seat whilst on the freeway- so this time I just let her sleep right across my lap and only woke her up when I was changing gears. 

I went to the dawn service in Dunkeld this morning- 6.30 which is a bit late in my opinion, it was getting light when we were assembling.  Couldn’t get Mum or Well-Dressed Sister (WDS) to come with me so it was just Dad and I, plus the 100 locals.  I find it very moving, and you can be guaranteed tears from me during the Anzac service every year- even in Melbourne when you can’t get near the shrine and some drunk falls asleep on your shoulder.  Anyway, this year I was in tears because the local school kids were playing their recorders- fortunately it is on the main road and the occasional B-double drowned out the noise!

Then I took TTD for a run down the road- we did 5.2km in our 2 x 20 minute blocks- averaging 7.30 min/km- still slow but at least I am moving.

Then I did some weights in the garage- (have spoken to Mum about the dust on the weight bench hence the pause in her strenghtening phase) and settled down to get some knitting and baking done.  (I have made an apple and walnut cake to take up to the golf course for afternoon tea- Mum and Dad are playing this afternoon)

Dad has a new working dog- Bomber- he is gorgeous and WDS has been cuddling him since she got home.  TTD is testing him out and making sure he knows his place- sometimes this means walking up to him while he sleeps and nipping him.  I have been letting them work each other out, but TTD gets told when she is a bit rough.

Mum is heading to Warnambool tomorrow (depending on the wind direction) I am going to be dropped off just out of Kororoit to start cycling home- then I should be picked up by Mum about two ish hours later.  It is about 100km back home but I hope she finds me before I get home.

I love holidays!

SNAFU means “Situation Normal, All F$%#ed Up”  not as Jo thought I meant - “Single Now, All F%^&ed Up” which applies more to me than to my work! My favourite work acronym is FIDO which means “F&* It, Drive On” and is usually when you just cannot be bothered getting out of the car for something like two fools arguing over a car park.

Sports Doc

Dr Karen said that she is again super happy with my progress and has written a program that has me running for two sessions on alternate days - first for 30 mins, then 35, 40 then 45!  I stay on 45 for a while and then add in some strides and some hills!

If Dr Karen is happy, then I am happy.

Running

The Snoring Dog (TSD) and I ran around a local park this morning- 3 x 15 minute runs- and we ran further than on Monday- though it felt a lot slower because I ran in daylight!  I know, crazy stuff from me.  I don’t like running in daylight- I just feel too exposed, but I went out for dinner last night and just couldn’t bring myself to get up in the dark for a run when I have the whole day free.

Swimming

I went to the pool yesterday and did a short 1.2km swim- it was very easy and I had my own lane.  The best part was that I had lost my swim card with 13 swims left on it and I thought they would tell me that it was tough titties and I would have to pay but they just printed me up a new card.  Swimming is so expensive- $4.40 a pop which always seems excessive considering I don’t spend a lot of time there.  Anyway, after April the hours change so I am making an effort to get a few swims in this week.

Cycling

The bike shop rang yesterday and said they had my new cycle shoes in ! I am convinced that is why I am so slow- but all that is about to change.  The bike guy said to me, after putting my new pedals on “You aren’t riding home in your shoes now.” At which I threw a little tanty.  He managed to convince me that I would kill myself by falling over in traffic so I stopped at Fawkner Park and rode up and down the paths clipping in and out until I could do it without looking then I headed home.  There was only one hairy moment but other than that it went fine.  I don’t feel very confident at all- and I hope that feeling doesn’t last for long because I was really enjoying my cycling.  I know I will fall off.

I mentioned the cycling to Dr Karen and she said she will refer me to a physio who does bike set up with your physiology/ pathology in mind- sounds like a good idea.  The bike guy looked at my bike and said “Who set that up??” and I told him about the crap other bike shop where I bought my bike and he said the drop was way too big for a beginner.  Anyway, hopefully it will all be fixed soon.

3 x 15 mins!

The Crazy Dog (TCD) and I ran around the lake this morning- so much faster than Saturdays run- and it was good fun!  I was working harder than I have in ages- I wasn’t that quick but by the time I finished I was a sweaty mess.  I ran a lap and then had to keep going for another six minutes.  I had to change my sports doc appointment to tomorrow night instead of next week- I finally start leave after today and I will be heading to the farm for the weekend.

There are a lot of TLA (three letter acronyms) in my blog now Stu, but they usually refer to the dog or my sister- we don’t have many TLA in my work, there is a lot of jargon and people are often “alighting from the vehicle and decamping in an unknown direction”- but my favourite acronym you would be aware of - SNAFU! 

Getting so much faster

I took The Cheeky Dog (TCD) for a very unsatisfactory walk around the park- we saw Leslie and her now three dogs- one of whom is terribly behaved and very aggressive towards TCD so it wasn’t much fun.  TCD still got a very big walk around, but it wasn’t a very relaxing or calm way to spend the first few waking minutes.

I rode into work then headed out for a long ride- finally I achieved the following things:

• I managed to get my drink bottle out without snagging my fingers on the spokes
• I conversed with a cyclist as he past without making a complete fool of myself
• I averaged a whole 3KM faster than normal
• I changed gears sensibly and spent a bit more time on the large front ring thingy
• I passed people who weren’t even stopped to change flat tyres, they were cycling along and I cycled faster than them, and some of them weren’t even old, some were riding better bikes than mine, and all of them were better dressed

I think when I took my bike in for a service they must have put a motor on it- seriously I was battling to average 20km/hr for every ride I have had- this morning it was so easy and I averaged over 23k/hr.  Well maybe they just pumped the tyres up.  I also had breakfast which would have helped too.

The only downside is that the amazing hunger was there when I came home so I had my lunch- left over pilaf that I cooked last night after tearing out the recipe from the Good Weekend- it was fantastic and I might have a new carbo loading meal!

Day 19 and a half

I “accidently” didn’t get to run yesterday mornning in Sydney- there is a range of excuses:

a. It was raining

b. Sydney is too hilly and I am supposed to run on the flat

c. I drank too much last night and my head hurts

d. My feet are sore from dancing and walking between pubs last night

e. I can still taste beer and I think I am going to be sick

f. All of the above

g. c, d and e are the most correct

If you picked g then you were right! F is also correct, but I only made those up when I was justifying it to myself as I lay in bed fighting the urge to go and hug the toilet.

It isn’t an interstate work trip unless I:

a. Vow to give up drinking for the rest of my life

b. Commence a search for junk food at 1.30am

c. Think that I have enough rhythym for dancing in public

d. Get along with my work colleagues even though in the office they sh!t me.

 

We went to Sydney and had a great time- wasn’t that successful work-wise but after we had caught a ferry to Manly for work then returned to the city we were in the mood for a drink.  So we headed back to our hotel via every licensed premises we could find then got changed and went out (at 11pm- way past my bedtime).  There was dancing.

When I woke up I didn’t feel like I run so now I am one day behind in my plan- so I ran this morning- a VERY slow 2 x 15min run with the Very Messy Dog (VMD) around the lake.  I decided to forgo the cycle this morning as I was knackered- despite being in bed at 8pm last night! I thought I have the next three weeks to get some kms in and sleep was very important to me.  I am working this weekend so it will be another early night tonight- then I am going to run tomorrow night so I might get back on track.  3 x 15 mins tomorrow afternoon maybe.

Day 15

I went to the Tan this morning with MBF (My Best Friend) and we did our usual run (Steve has told me that I can’t say I ran around the Tan, even if I am really running a circle around it, and not actually on the Tan track). I was really super slow even though my foot didn’t hurt as much as it has been. My foot has really been sore this evening though and after I walked MBF we went to my sisters and she kindly dropped me home because I was getting a bit limpy. I will try the anti inflams and see if that helps.

I guess I haven’t run every second day for such a sustained period- normally it is three runs then two days off in the middle but I have been very consistent and maybe I am not ready to step up to 2 x 15km runs. Sports Doc says it is up to me but I will wait and see how it is this time tomorrow. I guess I am really not in that much of a hurry.

I have decided that I will take three weeks leave starting next week- we have to take four weeks before the end of the financial year so it feels like ages since I had leave because I was completely loving work I didn’t want to go on leave. Work is about to get very exciting so I told my boss to ring me and I will come in for the good stuff unless I am in Perth (only sixteen days till I get to see the Hazard and the Duck (harry and daisy).

40km cycle

After a quick walk with TWD (The Walking Dog) I jumped on my bike (after trying to inflate the tyres further, moving my car to a non-residential area, shorting out the cigarette lighter fuse trying to use the compressor  and returning car home) and headed out for a ride.  It wasn’t as wendy as yesterday but I seemed to have a head wind all the way out and back!

I cycled around the lake to the beach then down Beach Road until I had cycled 20km then I turned around and came home again.  I thought I was quicker than yesterday but I was just wrong, about the same pace but I did a negative split due to the wind.

I am a bit worried (and yes, I know that I shouldn’t google symptoms) about my left hand- since the Melb Summer Cycle I have no strength in it and it gets pins and needles all the time- a mate suggested carpal tunnel syndrome (??) and it sounds sort of right- but I am too scared to go to the doctor because she will go berserk at me for not going back for follow up iron tests.  Anyway, my hand problem won’t go away and I am having trouble turning on taps, doing and undoing my bra, holding onto the dog (obviously not all at the same time).

Had some friends over for lunch today- don’t know if I have lost the ability to wield a spatula but first my vegie lasagne was mediocre, then the ginger cookies didn’t work out so I added way too much butter then they collapsed and TWD got them, passionfruit cheesecake slice in the oven as we speak so I have my fingers crossed that works out.  I was tempted to eat the ruined cookies, but after reading Angel’s article in the paper yesterday (yes, I take all my advice from Gladiators) I thought, “What would Angel say about that?” and so I didn’t- Angel pointed out so clearly that everyone can look like her, they know what they have to do, but they make up excuses and don’t exercise and then eat rubbish- IT WAS LIKE SHE WAS TALKING TO ME!  It is my turn to take morning tea into work so after this cheesecake slice, I will be thinking like Angel a lot more.  She also suggested that it wouldn’t kill me to follow all the sensible eating advice in my head for a month.

Day 13 (My name is not Wendy)

The Running Dog (TRD) and I slept in this morning so we didn’t get to the park for our run until 6.30am- it is probably good for me to get over my aversion for running in daylight so I banished all thoughts of postponing my run and doing it tomorrow.  I did 4 x 10 minute runs again- and I stopped my heart rate monitor for the walking bits so the stats for the running are as follows:
Max HR- 81%

Av HR- 74%

Max pace- 6.41min/km

Av pace- 7.45 min/km

Distance - 5.2 km

1st session- av. 8.33min/km, AV HR 69%  (had to stop and pick up after TRD)

2nd session- av 7.31 min/km, AV HR 74%

3rd sesssion- av 7.29 min/km, AV HR 75%

4th session- av 7.28 min/km, AV HR 78%

I know it is slow- but I have to tell you that I am always pretty glad when the timer goes off and I get to walk!  The first session I have a lot of ankle pain- not as much as a few days ago but I think that is because I have been making an effort to warm up my ankle joint before I start running.  I don’t get any knee pain while I run but I get pain afterwards (which is why I just finished icing and now I have gone for the compression bandage while I sit here.

After my run I got out for a ride- I spent last night installing my latest gadgets- pump and speedo (that words) so I wish I could impress you with how fast I ride, but sadly it is as slow as I run!  I cycled 32km and averaged just 20.0 km/hr- I was busting my lungs trying to maintain that coming up the last two hills.  I have sought some cycling advice from people who should know and they all say not to worry about pace, just get out there grinding away until I can go the distance.

I was passed by an older man this morning who I thought greeted me by enquiring if my name was Wendy.  I replied that my name was Sara.  It then dawned on me, as he gave me a very strange look as he sped past, was that he had simply said “Windy!”  I am sure he is thinking what a loser I am, I know I agree.