Mother's Day!

What a mother's day I have had this year!  I managed to get myself a new pair of new runners and I think everyone who runs knows just what it is like to get some new shoes!!!  Check them out:

 I also took part in a Mother's Day 5k Fun Run/Walk.  It was organised by Jennian Homes and held over in Palmerston North.  It ended up that this was going to be the only run I would get in this weekend so I decided I would give it my all.  The new shoes would have to wait for another day to get tried out as I wasn't too sure just what the running conditions would be like for today but I did know that it started at a park so thought best not to cover the new shoes in mud just yet.  I have to say I did give it my all.  I ran my heart (and lungs) out.  The run was measured at 5km.  I measured it at just under (4.85km) but what I do know is I haven't run that distance in that sort of time before.  A personal best I managed:

I had fun - that's a big part of the day, I got an awesome new shirt for running it and I proved that I can push myself.  Until next time (but here's a photo from not long after I finished showing off that shirt!)

April in Review

Four months into the year and the fourth month I have managed to clock up 100km over the month.  Yes, running a half marathon at the beginning of the month certainly helped, but it also meant a week of not much running after that as well.

So my positives for this month:

*  Running The Great Forrest Events run and coming away with an awesome time for this

*  Starting my training for my next half marathon

My sad moments from this month:

*  Having to run long runs on my own again - its hard!!

*  A small pain after my half marathon resulting in more of a break than I wanted

Where to????

To keep on running.  I have registered for a 5km fun run in May which will be a fun time.

The Great Forest Event!

This time last year I was settling the nerves before embarking on my first ever off road half marathon.  Today I am resting up and recovering from running it yesterday.  So what was it like second time around?  Here's my report (as best as I can remember that it!!)
We arrived at Waitarere rather early!  Just after 7.30 but in a way that was great because we got a park very close to the registration tent so could leave things in the car while getting all our numbers, etc.  Then there was that nervous waiting and nervous visits to the toilet again - just in case.  Finally at 8.45 we were all called in for a race briefing before heading out to the start line.  Kate (my running buddy) and I headed off together and made sure we got a photo of ourselves before heading out on this run.  Here we are looking all fresh face, full of excitement and ready to go.

We wished each other good luck and see you at the finish line and got ourselves into position.  Early in the month I had set some goals in the back of my mind for today but as the event grew closer and everything got busier I decided to take some pressure off myself and not have a goal in mind for today.  I decided I would just set myself at a comfortable pace, listen to my body (I went music free this year) and just see how I went.  By the second km in I realised my pace was very quick for me and tried to slow it down a little.  I was feeling good and by the fourth km I think I was probably at a lot better pace of just over 5.30min/km.  I had my Nuun in my drink bottles and drunk a little as I needed too.  I also had water at the first aid station just over 3km in as felt a little thirsty.  I was just in my own little running zone, people passed me, I passed some people.  I was comfortable.  I was enjoying watching the km signs counting up as a passed them and before I know it I was at the 11km mark and knew that in my head I could start counting down soon.  Something happened at the 12km mark though.  I felt a bit of a struggle and had a moment of 'Why am I doing this?, I'm not designed for this, I can't make it to the end today!' but by the time I reached 14km I had gained what I can only describe as a second wind!  I felt really positive again and felt like I could do anything.  Looking back at my splits my times really got up in that second half (there was one nasty slope just after the 10km mark!) but maybe this was also me settling into where I was comfortable.  I visited two aid stations in that second half of the run, the last one at around the 18km mark where I was starting to feel it.  And I think this was when I hit the brick wall.  I tried everything in my brain - all the positive 'you can do it', 'you have got this' ' this is for ......' but in the end nothing worked.  Suddenly my feet stopped moving.  I wasn't going to give up though.  I was going to finished this event whatever it took.  Over that last 3km I probably stopped and walked half a dozen times.  This was also when I had a lot of people from the 10km event charging past.  I tried to ignore them and just concentrate on me and getting myself to the end.  By the time I had 2km to go I could see the tops of the tent by the finish line but they still looked so far away.  I was so thirsty as well but had run out of Nuun in my drink bottles by now so just had to deal with it.  I had another runner pass me as I stopped to walk and she encouraged me that it wasn't far to go now and that I had it.  This started me running again.  The 1km to go sign came and I wanted to run all the way to the finish line (didn't happen but the walking spell was very short).  Then the final corner and the uphill slope before coming down to the race way.  There was music there and people cheering you on.  Somehow I managed to find a little extra in the tank and gave it my all to get to that finish line.  My splits show I even managed to get a bit of pace on for those last 200m!!  Wow, I had done it, I had crossed the finish line (and managed to hit stop on my watch).  This is when I realised just how much I had put into my race.  My legs where shaking and as they handed me a drink and some fruit I had to steady myself (Luckily my husband was there and I grabbed his arm).  I decided I had better go sit down.  I walked myself over to a chair but I was shaking so much I struggled to sit and one of the event support crew was there and she helped me into the chair and told me just to sit there and take a little time.  She got me some water and I just sat.  I don't know how long I sat for but I was up and back at the finish line in time to see Kate cross over as well.  We had done it.  Now it was time to collect our medals and pose in the photo frame.

My official time came in at 2:04:26.  A whole 5:24 off last years time!  Am I proud - yes I am.  Did I give it my all - I think I can say I did.  Do I want to do it again - I think so.  Did I learn from this run - yes.  I learnt I need to believe in myself.  I learnt that walking doesn't slow you down too much.  I learnt that times get tough during a race, outside influences can play a part but deep down inside you find a way to get through it all.  Thank you to everyone who helped to make today the success it was for me.

The Month of March

Really - where has this time gone!  And what a month it has been.  I feel I have achieved so much over this past month in terms of my running.

*   At the beginning of the month I decided to swap one of my mid week runs for a core strength workout.  I have done these workouts at least once a week for the month and while I'm not sure how much they have benefit they have been I can say I did it.
*   I also aimed to run at least 100km again over the month and was lucky enough to clock up 121km.  This is outstanding given I was running twice during the week and then one longer run on the weekend.  And that longer weekend run was usually about time and not about the distance!
*  I also took part in my first ever park run.  It was called the Feilding 5's and ran for 5 Thursday nights with the option of running one 2.5km loop or completing it twice to reach 5km.  I was very nervous about doing this by myself but rocked on up the first night (my birthday present to myself) and really enjoyed the challenge it gave me.  It was mostly running on grass and I never realised just how hard that could be.  I completed 4 of the 5 nights and while I had hoped for a personal best on the last night I was surprised that we ended up running the circuit in the opposite direction which was hard mentally and left me with my slowest run of them all.
*  I ran trails!  And they were hard trails!!  First up was the Manawatu Gorge track from Ashhurst through to the Balance end.  That was hard going and I really wanted to give up at times but of course once you start there is no backing out.  Then there was two hours of trail running around Palmerston North with Kate.  This once again challenged me but I needed to remember all the good it was doing me.  And I can proudly say that even falling over 7km into this run (resulting in some nasty swearing) I did get up and carry on until we had covered the trails we planned.
*  Our 20km run!  Well I have written all about this before and head back a couple of blogs and you can read all about it.
*  I've also had some very surprising and fast paces over this past month.  Those certainly help to boost your confidence from time to time.
*  I think most importantly I have achieved all of this while still spending quality time with my family and working full time.  At times I don't know how I achieved it all but somehow I managed.

Now for April and my second time running the Great Forest Event at Waitarere.  This time next week I will be making sure my gear is all sorted out, drinks sorted, and quality dinner in my belly (well not quite at this exact time as I will be just rapping up my Kindergarten disco!!).  The things I do for my fun!!

Taper Time

Believe it or not I have reached taper time for my 1/2 marathon already.  I the past I have really been looking forward to reaching this time and cutting back on the kilometers because the journey has always felt so long.  This time around it feels different though. I really do think that having a running partner has helped me this time.  The long runs haven't felt so long (yes, running for 2 hours didn't feel like 2 hours honestly!!).  I have also had the opportunity to add a lot more variety into my runs.  The days of running the same blocks week in and week out have gone because in the past increased distances just meant running the same roads in a circuit.  My runs this time have taken me on trails, country roads and then still a bit of what I am use to.  I some ways, I really like to think that this different training has made me a stronger runner for my up coming event.  Waitarere, you are only two weeks way!  Yes my mind is wandering a bit but I know I can tackle you again this year, I know I can run the distance.  Just a few little short runs for the next two weeks and 10km to plod out at the weekend and I will be as ready as ever for you!

THE 20KM RUN!

So this weekend we had planned for a 20km run.  Back and forth the discussion went around this run and by Sunday morning the plan was to run for 2 hours and hopefully (just hopefully) we might get close to the 20km.  We had decided a 2 hour run was a good long training run.  Because we needed more time, we decided we needed to be out running by 7.30 - a little earlier than we had been use to but really we couldn't have asked for a better morning!

The sun was rising, the temperature a little chilly but it didn't take us long to warm up.  Knowing I had a running buddy to head out with me, I decided to tackle some of the country roads around Feilding.  I had run them before but not for about 3 years.  I heard my watch 'beep' over the first 4km and while we weren't worried about pace I did have a sneaky look and saw we were keeping a pretty steady pace of just over 6min/km.  I also found that this time around, the roads didn't seem as difficult to run and I was really enjoying myself!  10km in and we were heading back into town.  Our pace had stayed very constant.  It seemed though that there was still some steam left in our legs and our pace quicken.  It also seemed that we were both pushing ourselves and each other along to just keep on going.  The kilometers just seemed to keep on coming and time was looking good.  All of a sudden it was like "We are can make 20km, lets keep going!" and we did.  To add to that, we did that 20km in under 2 hours!!

Gosh, it looks a long way when you look at it like that, and I guess 20km is a long way BUT... I'm so proud of how the run when.  I'm so proud we stuck at it, we pushed ourselves along.  We owned the run and I still had a smile at the end.

Park Run Take Two

So Thursday night means the opportunity to take part in the local park run.  I didn't really know if I wanted to run it last night either.  I think it all comes down to those nerves really.  Just like not wanting to do it the first week either because what if I'm last, what if I can't run it (even though I know I can run 5km), what if there are too many people for me, where do I put my keys!!!  All silly little things.  BUT ....  luckily I have this friend.  She encouraged me to run it last week, she suggested I go back and run it again last night.  And I'm glad I did.  I battled the wind last night and I still managed to knock 30 seconds off last weeks time!

I'm so, so thankful for friends.  Friends who are also runners.  Friends who give me that little push when I need it.  Thank you so much!