I had a birthday and tomorrow I am racing...

This week has been such a great week. Yes, it was my birthday, and also because my hubby had 3 days off... Bonus! I love me some time with my fave boys! These two:

My birthday was on Wednesday, I turned 27 (yes, I still accept gifts if you didn't manage to get it to me on my birthday - there is no cut off date for these). I started the day with a run with my running buddy which was a treat in itself. Lately my mid week runs have been on the tready, but since Tim was home to look after Fletch I got to get out and run on the road like a normal person. My training plan called for a 16km run (10miles) but since I am racing tomorrow and did 30kms last weekend my legs were a bit heavy so just ended up doing 13.5kms easy pace. It was lovely.

I am one of those people that NEVER looks good during or after a run... Or before come to think of it :)

Following my run we went out for brunch. I had been dreaming of french toast with the works for a while and when I got it it was everything I had been dreaming of and more... I think I consumed double the calories in that one meal that I had burned on my run but it was sooo worth it. Plus it was my birthday so I was allowed to right?! I was also too starving to remember to take a pic of it but you can imagine it in your mind, I'm sure.

Then I had a nice relaxing afternoon with my boys and a visit from my parents (who came bearing cake!) and then Tim cooked dinner for me and some friends that evening! What a great birthday, I felt so spoiled and special, not to mention all of the lovely messages from my friends and readers! Thanks!

Then on Thursday Tim had Fletch while I went to work. This is what happens when the boys have a day together...

Fletch swimming in his puffer vest at the hardware store... From a baby to a man!

This week has been a great week of training with 3 runs and one weights session in there and today is a rest day before I race my half marathon tomorrow.

That brings me to my race tomorrow...

I am rather nervous about it, to be honest. It is a half marathon and although I have been doing much longer distances in my training, I am nervous about how I will go in this since I am using it as a race to gauge my progress for the marathon in 6 weeks time. It is my first half marathon since having my baby 7 months ago and I want it to be a good one.

If you have been following my running journey for a while now, you will know that I am NOT a fast runner. But FYI people:

I can go the distance but it takes me a while. I am not really aiming for a PB tomorrow but I don't want to end up with a PW (personal worst) either. I think I am still a better runner now than I was when I first started out. Tomorrow will tell I suppose.

So keep your eyes peeled early next week for a race recap from tomorrow's race. Oh, and well done to the two people that one their tickets to the event through the competition I had going through my blog and fb page!

Anyone else racing this weekend? What event and what distance?

Any other September babies out there?

Favourite way to celebrate your birthday?

Marathon training starts and what I have been up to...

It is the week!! 16 weeks until my marathon so my marathon training officially starts this week and I am sick!! I would like to thank my husband for passing on his laryngitis and head cold... Here's hoping the wee one doesn't get it!

I have had a bit of a blog hiatus for two weeks, busy with life and things in general I suppose. But here's a wee bit of what I got up to in that time...

- I ran my first race post baby - 12km, 1:09:48

My friend and I at around the 8km mark trying to be cool not die.

Phew! Finished!

 - I revisited the 80s...

A dress up party with 80s theme - how unflattering are those tights right!?!

 - My 4 month old son learned how to read...

Hello baby genius!

Back to the marathon... I have been a bit hot and cold about all this marathon business recently - wondering if I am biting off more than I can chew... However, I kind of just figure that I can start with the training plan and just take each week at a time. Plus I already have my race entry so if that's not motivation enough I don't know what it!

I read this awesome blog post this morning about running long distance and how to ease back into it. It has some great tips and advice, I definitely recommend it. It was great for me to read as I haven't run more than 12km in about a year, so I will definitely be finding it a challenge to build up mileage again. 

I haven't run today, instead I did a weights workout with some short and sweet cardio bursts to try and sweat out my cold. Not sure if it has worked or not, all I want to do now is go and have a nap!

Tomorrow I will be doing 3 x 1600m repeats on Mum's treadmill - so thankful she bought a tready! I'm thinking with it being winter and having a baby and all that the treadmill is going to be best for my track workouts. I have never really been a treadmill fan but I am totally on team tready now! The convenience with a baby is just great. I can run while he sleeps or I can watch him play while I run. Brilliant!

Thursday is a 9km tempo run and the long run is 15km. I will usually do my long run on a Saturday but I am playing hockey this Sat so will probably do it Sunday.

Are you training for anything at the moment? 

Do you like track and hill workouts?

What are the best two things you have done in the last two weeks?

July, sweet July....

I have decided that I am in a bit of a lull at the moment and need to set myself some goals... And what better place to announce them than on here for all of you to read and hold me accountable for... I will probably regret this later when I would rather be snuggling on the couch than out running in the cold winter rain, but nevertheless, here we go!

Next week officially marks the start of my FIRST 16 week training program, as mentioned earlier from this book (the top one):

So my goals for the next 16 weeks will look a lot like this:

1. Follow the plan to a tee - no excuses, no missed trainings, you are NEVER too tired to run, and don't let the weather get in your way!

2. Eat a well balanced diet with lots of good carbs and proteins to keep me going longer and less of the things I truly love, like these:

Oh cookies how I do love thee...

(Which will be a treat ONLY after a super LONG run). I think I'm going to start drinking protein shakes...

3. On that note, practice better self control... In more areas than one!

4. I will encourage other runners who I know have the same goal as me and will try and run my long runs with others as much as I can

5. To keep a good balance between work, running and social life (this sometimes is a problem as I get so wrapped up in myself... Gasp!)

6. To raise around $1000 for my next marathon cause:

 

7. To run a sub 4 in this marathon:

So, what are your goals for July/ the next few months/ the rest of the year? Do you need to practice self control? What protein shake would you recommend?

I'd love to hear what your goals are!

Marathon Number Two...

It's official, I have just registered for my second marathon of this year. As you might recall from this boring blog post (not a joke) I confessed that I would like to attempt 2 or 3 marathons this year...

Well I have done one and I have registered for my second, but am not sure how a third one is looking. Don't hold your breath but don't rule it out either.

The marathon I just registered for is The Auckland Marathon which I did last year. It's in October so I have plenty of time to train. And this time I would like aim to do a... Wait for it...

It's coming...

Ok, I'm a little scared about putting it out there but here it is...

A SUB-4 HOUR MARATHON!!!

Yikes! Now I have told you all I will have to try really hard to make it happen! Got readers who are counting on me. This will be a huge feat if I can accomplish it so I welcome all necessary encouragement along the way :)

Last year for this marathon I did it as a fundraiser for this wonderful woman:

 
 And this year I have signed up to fundraise for this amazingly awesome charity!

"Christians Against Poverty is an international debt counselling charity that works through centres based in local churches. We have a high success rate in getting our clients debt free, which is achieved through the provision of a wide range of specialised financial services, personal support and ongoing education. It is this unique package that enables CAP to achieve such a high rate of success, offering hope and a solution to people in debt."

Ok, so there it is. I have put it out there so now I really have to do it!

Do you have any running goals that you are aiming to achieve? Any PBs you are hoping to reach? What is your next race? Would you like to run this race with me??

Watch this space for more on my journey to marathon number 2 for Curious Runner Girl :)

Monday mileage and mothers day...

A day late, yes I know and I do apologise. My computer and I were taking a 'break' yesterday - well actually I was just so busy I never got to the computer. But alas, here it is...

I have decided to start a new thing for my blog and it's called monday mileage. It's all about the mileage I, and my fabulous readers, did (or for some reason didn't) do over the weekend.

To start it off I am going to tell you about the 12km race I competed in on Sunday, which also happened to be mothers day here in little ol' NZ.

I wasn't sure how I'd go only 2 weeks out from the marathon so I didn't put a time goal on it. I was happy to finish it in just under 1 hour and 5 minutes. Next time I'd like to be able to finish in under an hour. It was a great run but started with a very steep 250m hill. Literally we started at the bottom of the hill. Got a bit of a puff on going up but a good way to warm up. Thankfully it was a gorgeous day too (a bit hot at times) but we managed to get in a tail wind at some points too - bonus!! AND... For a mothers day treat my Mum-in-law (a.k.a runner Mum) did the run too... Just what every Mum wants to do on the one day of the whole year dedicated to them... HA!

Posing like a dork way after I'd actually finished

Super runner Mum crossing the finish line - Yahoo!

My lovely sister-in-law (brother's wife) and gorgeous friend also walked it so it was nice to have some company with the three of them at a race for once (instead of not knowing any other competitors). And the quote of the day (not naming any name's but was from my friend...haha) 'did you just get really sun burnt or are you usually that red after you finish a run?' Oh shame on my name - that's right you couldn't really tell where my t-shirt finished and my face began... Story of my life - HA!

Sarah and Saskia cruising across the finish line still looking as gorgeous as ever!

So it was a pretty great day all around and a nice time was spent with the girls.

My wonderful runner Mum-in-law and I

 Later on that day I took my Mum and her partner out for a devonshire cream tea which was a nice treat for us all. A lovely way to end the day.

So what miles did you clock up over the weekend and how did you treat your Mum for mothers day? Would your Mum enjoy running a race on mothers day?

Warning: Running is addictive!!

A week and a half out from running my second marathon I am contemplating what I will do next... I am ADDICTED!!! 


I am registered to run the Baylys to Dargaville 12km this Sunday, but with no pressure on myself for a target time. This is because it'll only be two weeks after the marathon, in which case I should still be in 'recovery mode'. I am looking forward to it though and have some friends walking it - yay!


So now I am trying to figure out what my next big race will be to get me on the road to my ultimate goal of a sub 4 hour marathon!!! 

If you are wanting to find yourself an event to run in, or a goal to train for, no matter what the distance and no matter where in NZ you live, then you need to check out this fantastic website right here! It is my go-to whenever I want to plan a run to do and see what is going on in the running world around the country. 

I am contemplating the Auckland Marathon again which is in 5 months time, so watch this space to see what I decide and when my training will commence. 

After the Auckland marathon 2011 - hope they have better coloured t-shirts this year!!

Do you have anything you are currently training for? Have you discovered a new found addiction to running? And are there any great runs that you can recommend as a MUST do?

A fun marathon... Is that an oxymoron???

In finding my last marathon a bit of a struggle (that's an understatement - it was a MAJOR struggle), I had decided that for this one I wanted to try to beat my time, but most importantly I wanted to enjoy it and even try to... wait for it... MAKE IT FUN!! Gasp!

Slugging it out in the Auckland marathon - not even at half way yet!

So here's what I came up with to make a marathon fun... And yes, IT IS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE!!
(warning, some photos beyond this point may offend)

10 musts for a fun marathon:

1. The first is the most obvious - train hard so you know you have put the effort in to actually get you to the finish

2. Smile every chance you get - if not for the WHOLE marathon

3. Encourage other runners - this always makes you feel so much better

4. Have a laugh at the funny signs people are holding up along the course. For example, these two guys were carrying a sign on the sidelong along several parts of the course that said: 'Hurry up, we want coffee!' Didn't really get it but thought it was worth a laugh. Or my all time favourite at the Auckland Marathon: 'Nek minnit... Finished!' Classic.

5. Make sure you look good before you start. Have a good looking kit to wear and make sure you feel GOOD in it!

6. Or if the running gear ain't doing it for ya' dress up if there's a theme or just because you feel like it - such as the tinman seen in this post, and like this guy:

or this guy:

7. Fist pump whenever you get the chance - such as when you see someone you know, someone cheers for you, or just because you CAN!

8. Encourage, cheer for and even offer lollies (if you have them) to the marshals and drink station peeps - trust me, they LOVE it! Especially if there are kids!

9. Have some funkadelic beats playing on your iPod, or run with a buddy so you can have company. If all that fails, do what I do and just make mates with someone along the course - that's fun and then you have someone to encourage and someone to encourage you!

10. Last but definitely NOT least, and probably the most important especially for your first marathon... CROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR!! 'I throw my hands up in the air sometimes...' You know it, sing along :)

So... That's about all I can think of for how to make a marathon (or any other race) FUN! That's right folks, you heard it here first, running CAN BE FUN! How do you make running fun? Is there anything you can think of that I didn't? Would love to hear what sorts of fun things you do to get you through.

Happy Runner Girl

There it is, 'The Im-having-fun-running-this-marathon thumbs up and smile!' 

If i can do it you can do it too! 

Runner Girl

Funny business

I saw some funnies when I was running the marathon that I thought I'd share with you. Two girls in matching singlets were just ahead of me at the start and on the back of one singlet said:

'I over train so I can over eat'.

On the back of the other girl's singlet it said:

'Life is short but running makes it feel longer'.

Thanks for the funnies girls, I couldn't have put either one better myself. The more runs I do the more I realise that a lot of the runners competing are very similar and think the same.   

Rotorua marathon race recap...

Me crossing the finish line - YAY!

Well people, I did it! I 'conquered the lake' as the people from the Rotorua marathon said. Such a great achievement, and the best part is that I actually CUT OFF HALF AN HOUR from my previous marathon time... STOKED!

Here I am crossing the finish line - I totally sped up for the last 200 meters to beat the chick behind me who my Uncle and husband were calling the 'ab chick' - moral of this story - your mean abs won't win you a marathon! (although I will still try to get them!)

I have to be honest, after my first marathon I thought I should be on the TV programme 'I shouldn't be alive' because I actually thought I was going to die at the end (or even before it). But this race I thoroughly LOVED and I felt I ran really well - bonus! I fuelled well and had plenty of energy to boost over the finish line too - what more could you want? Eat my dust abs girl... muahaha! Overall it was the perfect day for it - good conditions, good temperature, only a small head wind for about 4-5 kms in the last 10kms and I had the best supporters crew! (Photos of them to come but in the meantime here is one of my cousin cycling along side me for a few hundred meters).

 

Now here's a bit of a run down of the rest of the trip...

At the hot mudpools and geysers - being totally touristy and nerdy!

Husband jumping in for a self-shot pic - a must in tourist land!

Just had to put this one in of Tim looking like he should be on the catwalk - *proud wife*

Always the rebel!

A spot of mini golf with Tim, Uncle and Grandad - the boys giving Grandad some unwanted tips.

Mini golf cheese

Here's a low down of some of the race...

At the start line a little nervous and cheesy

Still in the pack around the 5km mark

The tin man

Look at that scenery! Lake Rotorua

My best supporter and the gel sachets I used - there will be a post on these to come

Trying to be cool as I approach the last 200m - looks like I'm walking but I promise I was running!

And that's all folks - second marathon done and dusted. Watch this space to see what the next adventure will entail.

Anyone keen to join me in an event or even in some training? I would love to run with you and even help you to achieve your goals!

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. - Romans 8:37

Ciao for now,

Runner Girl.

True Grit...

I am currently staying with my Uncle and Aunty and two cousins in Rotorua - the city of Saturday's marathon. My Uncle asked me this morning as I was strapping on my running shoes to head out for my last light run before the race: 'What makes you want to just run a marathon?'

'Well', I said, 'great question'. But what is the answer to that I then thought? I told him my story of how I got into running, but then he was still like 'But why a marathon, what is wrong with you girl?'... Haha. I love how whenever you tell someone you are going to run a marathon (that's not a runner or sport-minded) they automatically assume there's something wrong with you.

So I thought about it and here is what I came up with:

Perhaps it is craziness that made me first decide to run a marathon. Or maybe I thought I had something to prove to the world (or just myself, I honestly don't think 'the world' actually cares what I do). But to actually go out and do it takes what I like to call True Grit! AKA determination.

This definition of determination is as so:

Definition of determination

In terms of running a marathon, my true grit/determination is defined as:

• Getting up out of bed on a Saturday morning (which to everyone else is sleep in day) at 5.30am and hitting the road by 6 (so I can be back by the time everyone is up from their sleep-ins - lucky so and sos!) and running for several hours. 
• The sore feet, joints, muscles and whole body from the enduring training
• The 'Can't stay out too late tonight as I have to get up for a long run in the morning' attitude
• It's putting your running first 
• It's putting down that cupcake the size of your head
• It's having your apple crumble and ice cream without the crumble or the ice cream 
• It's carrying snacks all the time like a mother with a mini van load of children. 
• It's constantly thinking about how your next move is going to impact on your training and running...
• It's saving up or sacrificing other things to pay for the race you've entered, new running shoes, sports supplements, clothing, massages, physio, etc. etc.
• ALL totally worth it!

That is grit, to say the least. But... Here's the catch:

Crossing that finish line knowing you had true grit and determination to get you there without dying is one of THE BEST feelings in the world.  AND... It's addictive, which is where the need to run a second marathon (and possibly more after this one) comes from.

So there you have it people - the short version to answer my Uncle's question is craziness or mild insanity followed by true grit and determination. Viola!


Although I say that I have true determination and grit, I also have God helping me too. This is what the Bible has to say...

Zechariah 4:6b -
'Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit', says the Lord.

So if all else fails God's word never does!

Stay cool kids,

RunnerGirl.

Marathon countdown: 2 more sleeps!

Packing and remembering...

Getting all excited for the up-and-coming race and it is my first 'big travel' race... Woop!

Today we are heading down to Rotorua, about a 5 hour drive, and run is on Saturday. Packing was successful last night - never want to forget anything important for a big race so had everything I need (and plenty more) laid out on the bed for double and triple checking (plus plenty more things not included in this photo).

Running essentials - including double ups - can never be too careful.

But before all of the race buzz begins, today my day started with the alarm sounding at 5am to get up and get to the ANZAC dawn parade. Time to remember the real heroes of our country and history before heading off on a big trip. Also time to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us, just like all those very brave soldiers 97 years ago.

Field of remembrance

Me in the field - looking rather tired, yes, but alas... I was!

So now that I have begun my day I will quadruple check that I have all I need for Saturday's race, get in a hearty breakfast and then off we embark on a fun little road trip.

Marathon countdown: 3 more sleeps... Eek!

Coatesville Classic...

Last Sunday I ran the Coatesville Classic Half Marathon... Apparently it is the most scenic half marathon with the world's best finishers medal... If that doesn't make you want to do it then I don't know what will!

It was a very beautiful and scenic run and the weather was absolutely beautiful. It was the calm before the storm that was the 'weather bomb' that hit the regions starting later that day.

I did this run in the hopes that it would help me to gauge my running progress for my up-and-coming marathon. It really did help, but not in the way I was expecting.

Firstly, I had set a time goal in which I hoped to complete the run in, which I did not. However, what I did not realise when I set this goal was just how hilly the whole course was. This is not a problem though, as I love running hills, I train on hills, but it is not the best if you are trying to obtain a personal best (PB).

So... Although I did not break my PB, my progress is coming along nicely in that I managed to run the whole course, hills and all really strongly and I even managed to up my pace somewhat for the last 1km to finish strong... This hasn't really happened before, I usually am just about dead when I cross that oh so lovely finish line. But my energy levels felt great, as did my body - bonus!

Here is a pic of me (thanks to marathonphotos.com) of me crossing the finish line in a time of 1 hour and 57 minutes (I was hoping to do it in under 1 hour 50 mins, but we'll save that for the next one - perhaps flat!).

I would have had more (and better photos) to put up but we had a minor camera malfunction, thus the stolen pic :)
And, as always, my wonderful husband was there to encourage me at the start and cheer me on at the end. What a treat!  I know it's a-whole-nother year away but I would totally recommend this run as one to do as it is challenging and very enjoyable in terms of scenery and the whole atmosphere of the run. Would be a great goal to aim for!

So how have your running ventures been coming along lately? I would LOVE to hear!