The week in reflection

Another week done and dusted in terms of running training.  I started the week with some hill reps. The hill I chose I have run before and it is a bit of a nasty one at times.  I decided I just wanted to get to the top of it four times - three of which needed to be run all the way up.  It's just 200 metre up so I thought it can't be that bad and surely it will be good for me.  By the third up, I had to stop and walk some of it. This meant no stopping on the four up.  I plodded my way up and then decided to carry on along the road right to the end before coming back down and finishing my run.  For those who know Feilding at all, I chose Highfield Hill for these reps just so you know what I was completing against. Next run was Wednesday night. I had already decided this would be a longer steady run.  I was so ecstatic when I got back and saw I had kept an average pace of 5.50 for this 8km run.  I haven't had stats like that for quite some time so cue a little victory dance for me.  That left one week day run to do.  My time trial and since it was coming up to the end of February I wanted to see if I could meet my challenge of a sub 5minute km.  Guess what? I did!! My pace for that km was an amazing 4.55.  I felt really proud of myself but did then realise that it was quite similar to my last time trial as I have been running just over the 1km mark.  Oh well, this can be my official personal best and I have something to work on from here.  Then along rolled Sunday and long run day.  Honestly if I didn't have Kate as my running buddy I probably wouldn't have run.  I just had a bad running vibe with me and it was stopping me from being my usual bubbly self about my runs.  With the support of Kate and her encouraging me along, I managed to plod out 16km this morning.  I felt terrible that I didn't use proper running etiquette today and I went ahead a couple of times and also ran an extra road but Kate insisted I get my kms in and that she would meet up again with me but she just needed to keep it a little easier today.  So now I just need to work out what I plan to run for this coming week.  Maybe some intervals, a steady run and then of course my long run next weekend again with Kate.  Training seems to be going okay and I know the excitement will be back again soon.

What a run!

First though, I must say just how much my thoughts about my running have changes lately.  I was always so focused on speed, getting faster, that sub 2 hour half marathon.  After a second run with my running buddy, I have really had a change in thought.  I have learnt to enjoy the runs again.  To not worry about how fast we have gone (or far for that matter).  I have learnt to take in the views around me, enjoy the company, and just be at one with myself, nature and where my feet are taking me!

Now onto this weekends run!  We had planned on a 14km run for this weekend and it was time for me to head through to Palmerston North for our run.  My running buddy had mapped out this route for us - lots of trails and all new scenery for me.  I will be honest and say when I first saw the map I was a little worried!!  It did look hard.

I could see there was going to be a lot of ups and downs but I was also very excited.  We decided right at the beginning we would walk any bits we needed to and just try our best.  My running buddy had been sick and couldn't push it too much and I was still amazed at what a struggle 13km had been the week before.  Well before I knew it 1km had passed.  We were just cruising along, chatting about this, that and everything and I was taking in the views.  We certainly did have to stop - mainly for some photos of the views we had - and to say, "Look at us, we did it!"  The 10km of trails was just amazing and it was the 4km we covered along the river and on the streets that were hard but we got the whole 14km done.  I loved every minute of it.  I'm so proud of what I achieved and just want to share a couple of photos of our run with you all.  Sadly, it's a Feilding run next weekend so there won't be the photo opportunities or anything but at least I will still have the great company.  And here's to some more training this week.  I'm thinking some hills might need to be tackled and maybe a time trial later in the week.

A weekend of first!

What a weekend I had!  And such a positive start on Saturday.  Saturday marked my first long run (I class anything over 10km as a long run) with a running buddy.  We clocked up 11km, talked as we went and I really had an enjoyable time.  Gosh, I wish I had found myself a running buddy a long time ago.  It was also my first time of getting to record a run with a fancy watch.  See I have this amazing friend who has lent me her old Garmin to trial.  See each km clock up was great and so much more accurate than my phone in the pocket I normally do.  I think I hooked to having this type of technology now.  It was also a first for my daughter!  She ran almost 1km at a steady pace that she determined.  See she is training for her first Weetbix Tryathlon.  I can't wait to see how she goes.  It always give you so much more of a buzz when you have a positive running time.

Planning

So day has ended up being my rest day.  I might not be out there running but I have definitely been doing a lot of thinking about running.  My new running buddy is a pro with writing up plans and certainly bet me too it and today I have been spending some time going over this, looking at other plans and seeing what I hope might work best for me!  Wow only 12 weeks until my first events and I know that time is going to fly.

Lots of positives!

Well, I'm into the final week of the Kick Start programme now.  This quote was shared the other day and it has been certainly ringing true for me!

I just happened to come home and read this after a very trying interval training session.  For this session I was running at fast speed for 3 minutes and then having 60 seconds of recovery.  I'll be honest and say that I struggled but at the same time I'm proud that I did it.  And it was the programme that kept me going with it.  See, if someone else sets me the challenge or the task for the day I have this feeling of not wanting to let them down so I try my best to achieve it!  And I really have had some challenges.  I completed my second time trial and ended up a whole 5 seconds fast than the first one!!!!

I was just so stoked with this time! And now today I was challenged to some hill work.  90 seconds running up hill and then jogging down again.  I did it.  Yes I walked a little of some of the uphills but I got the whole 8 I needed to do in and here is my evidence of this run:

I have really been enjoying my running lately.  Having a real focus to it has been the best thing.  And it seems that it just keeps on getting better too.  It seems I have managed to get a running buddy for some of those long weekend runs.  This is certainly going to help and make some of those runs just a little more fun.  I'm sure more will come about this in the future.  For now, I'm just celebrating in the success of completing the challenges I have been set but also looking looking forward to tomorrow's rest day.

Missing in Action

I've been a little quiet lately.  The end of last year became a bit of a non event and running almost went out the window.  I knew I would be able to get back into it all but I just needed to find the best way to go about it.  Then the perfect opportunity came knocking:  Run for your life kick start.  This was just what I needed.  A two week programme to get my running back on track again.  I'm up to day five of it already, done my first ever time trial, battled the always hard interval training and enjoying today as a rest day.  During this quiet time I have also entered two events for this year.  My first of which is in April so not long at all.  I will finish my kick start programme and then get straight onto training for it.  I guess this all means I won't be able to go missing in action again!

Decisions!!

I've been thinking and trying to decide just what I am going to do.  I did another good run on the weekend.  Almost 18km in preparation for the Wanganui half marathon on Saturday morning.  Felt great, felt inspiring.  BUT ... do I really want to do Wanganui in 5 weeks time?  I know I will be ready but there are so many factors in me saying just leave it for this year.  I've been looking at those pros and cons and this time around the cons certainly out way the pros.  The only reason I'm thinking of doing it is because I haven't met my last goal for this year.  To do a half in under 2 hours.  But is this a big enough reason when it is already such a busy time of the year?  I still have next year and there will still be half marathons available.  Maybe I am better off to say, I'm just going to keep running for me for now and the events can wait until the new year.  Reading the blog of someone who really inspires me I know that saying no this time around is not giving in or giving up, its just doing what seems right at the moment.  Thank you Alison for your great blog (you can read it here) and for helping me to understand to look after me!