Weekend Recap...

Next weekend I am doing my first race since having Fletcher (16 weeks ago). It is a 12km race - and just to clarify to you all, a race doesn't actually mean that I am racing as in trying to win, it just means I am entering an organised run as opposed to just going for a casual run by myself... If that makes sense?

So anyway, I thought I had better make sure I would actually be able to do the run without dying or losing body parts, or something crazy like that, so yesterday ran 10.5km. It was a great run, I felt the best I have felt whilst running since before I was pregnant. It just goes to show that it does get easier, you just have to keep going. I thought it never would at one stage so I am glad that it is getting easier.
I went with a buddy who lives 300m down the road from us. We started from home and then we ended at the local Saturday morning growers markets... Brilliant planning!

There I got myself some lovely goodies...

This bad boy was huge - the photo doesn't do it justice at all!

After the markets we went to one of my fave local cafes, which does the best coffee in town, and had coffee and bagels for breakfast. Delish!

Bagels with cream cheese and lemon curd - probably not the best post run breaky but one of my fave breakfast treats.

This was followed by some play time at home with my two fave boys, a spot of shopping in town for some bday pressies for friends, and then an afternoon of this:

Not-so nutritional snack of almond chocolate with a cuppa whilst catching up on some of my fave blogs while baby sleeps.

Perfect way to spend a Saturday, especially one where the weather turned to rubbish in the afternoon.

Sunday has consisted of a great morning at church with some awesome friends, followed by lunch at my parents place. I am now relaxing with the computer doing some blogging while Tim helps my Dad with some handy man work and I listen to my baby talking to himself in his cot while he should be sleeping. Perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday when it is terrible weather outside.

I have been keeping up with the 30 Day Abs Challenge, however I did not do the yoga for yesterday.
Today's workout is here, a nice quick but painful one...

Day 16: Crazy-Tough Move: The Twisting Windmill
We bet you haven't tried this oblique-targeting exercise before. To do this move, lie on your back with your arms out to the sides and raise your legs straight in the air. Lower your legs to the left side of your body, bring them back to center, then lower them to the right. That's one rep. Try to do 12 reps of the twisting windmill!

Tomorrow is another plank challenge - how long can you hold for now?

My 16 week marathon training program starts in 3 weeks, I will talk a little more about that closer to the time, for now I am just enjoying my casual running.

I am so looking forward to my run next weekend and am now feeling really positive about it - like I'll actually be able to do it! I just hope the weather is better than it is this weekend!

What has been the best part of your weekend?

Anyone get in a good run this weekend?

What is your favourite breakfast treat?

Mine is definitely bagels, or some french toast or hot cakes with fruit and bacon and maple syrup... YUM! I am a sweet breakfast person.

Picking a running buddy and the Shock Absorber giveaway winner...

As I am nearing the end of my pregnancy, 4 weeks to go and counting, I am beginning to get a little less active and indulging in a bit more relaxing. However, I am beginning to think more about post baby exercise and training. As I mentioned earlier this month in this post, I have a
goal of doing the Auckland Marathon in early November. I have been thinking about it a lot, as it's not my first marathon but it will be my first since baby, and wondering how it will go.

One way I thought it would be easier to train for and get motivated for it would be to get a running buddy to do it with, or at least train with. So how do you pick a running buddy you ask?? Well, typically this is what I would have USED to suggest:

Pick someone who is...
1. Slower than you so you always feel fast and amazing
2. Someone who doesn't look as good a runner as you so you look fast and amazing
3. Someone who will definitely NOT beat you in the race, if you do end up doing it together
4. Someone who just all round makes you look fast and amazing!

But actually, that is ALL rubbish!

They totes are!

Picking a running buddy is not about getting someone who will make you look good, but it's about getting a buddy that will challenge you, motivate you and encourage you that you can do it and do it well!
So here are my new pieces of advice. Pick someone who...

1. You can happily chat to whilst running, and with ease - this is not the place for awkward conversation and trying to find commonalities with someone. This will take your mind off the running itself and will help you keep a good pace for those Long slow runs.

2. Will challenge you to keep going, even when you just want to throw in the towel. You don't want some psycho screamer who rants and yells at you every time you want to stop, but you want someone who will challenge you to keep going for that last mile, 2kms, or 10 minutes.

3. Is in tune with your running style and can see signs of needing encouragement and cheering on. I know this sounds a little lame, but sometimes we just need someone to tell us we are doing well and that we can keep going!

4. You want someone who has similar training goals to you. Even if you are not training for the same distance, you can still do some of your training together. For example, you might be training for a half marathon, they might be training for a full, but you could still combine your speed and track sessions, as they are not about distance but improving fitness and speed.

5. You do not feel you have to compete against. The last thing you want is a running buddy who is always trying to 'one-up' you or beat you in your training runs.

Run with someone you feel comfortable with, someone who you feel at ease with and ENJOY their company. Remember that every run does not have to be done with a buddy too, as you will most likely be solo on race day, so having a mix of training runs is a good balance.

If you want to read more on the subject of running buddies, here's a link from Runners World which talks a little more about the subject.

Do you like running with people or flying solo? 

How do you pick a running buddy? 

NOW TO THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY...

Thanks to the random number generator,  I entered all of your numbers in and the winner that came out is...

Jenn Overton!! Woooohoooo!! 2 entries for liking and commenting :)

Jenn has just had a baby and before she was pregnant she had started running but then stopped once she found out her happy news. Enjoy your Shock Absorber Bra Jenn and I hope it helps with the post baby exercise! You totally deserve it!

Thanks to everyone who entered, I hope I will have more giveaways throughout the year for my amazing readers!

Because I know you've been missing me!

I know it has been a little while since I have posted - a little too long for some of you... HA! So here is a bit of what I have been up to lately...

I have been working LOTS which is GREAT! For those of you who don't know, I finished my teacher training at the end of last year but haven't been able to get a full time job this year. I started off relief teaching and now I am practically full time doing that which is awesome. Still trying to get a permanent position but trusting that'll come in time - thus the reason I get excited when I have lots of work.

Loving working, getting the experience and, of course, having MONEY - BONUS!

I have also been training for and playing hockey lately - my team is doing great this season. And I am still doing bootcamp, which is awesome. We have 4 weeks left of that and then I get into my next training plan for my next marathon which will be the Adidas Auckland Marathon.

Exciting business - I know you are ALL wishing you lived a life as exhilarating as mine right now. Getting excited about having lots of work is a sure fire sign that you are not the world's most exciting person - Doh!

This weekend, however, is a long one which are always well loved in my household. Long weekends mean more time with my awesome husband, more sleep in time, more time with friends and family, and more time to spend just faffing around - who doesn't love that!?!

My wonderful husband, his father and my father (what lovely bonding time) spent Saturday building a cover over our front step while I was lunching and brunching with my girls (it's a hard life, I know). Yesterday was fun-filled church activities (I mean that too, that's not a sarcastic voice) and then today I had the pleasure of climbing this awesome mountain with my lovely friend:

Mount Manaia

View from the top of Mount Manaia - what a blessed place I live in!

This afternoon I get to spend going over plans for my next couple of weeks of work - I am excited about this as I will be in ONE classroom for TWO WHOLE WEEKS! Excitement city right there!

So don't go getting all jealous about how exciting and thrilling my life is or anything because no, I won't be toning it down anytime soon either. Sorry!

And about the running - well I know this doesn't really even cover much about that but keep posted for these majorly cool posts coming soon:
- Low mileage marathon training plans, and
- How you know you are getting serious about this running business...

I am enjoying my in-between-marathons low running training and getting to do things I can't/don't when I am in marathon training. Get amongst it - try something different :)

Enjoy your long weekend all your Kiwi and Aussie peeps!

Curious Runner Girl

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

Done and dusted!

So apparently today was forecasted to have destructive winds and heavy rain but it has been a beautiful morning for a run. I hauled butt out the door for the 26km run I had been dreading this week (just wasn't really feelin the running this week) and it turned out to be great!

It was windy, yes, but not too bad and actually found the breeze cool and refreshing when I was sweating it out. I also finished before any huge bouts of rain pummelled down on me and it was sunny pretty much the whole time.

Anyway, I know you are dying to hear about the actual run itself so here you go...

The first hour and a half of it was ok (the whole run took me 2 and a half hours total), but then I started to get the ol' attack of the mind going on - little evil dude on one shoulder whispering in my ear 'You're too tired, you're sore, who cares if you don't finish, an hour and a half run is still really good... blah blah blah!'

And just as I was about to go 'evil dude, you are making a good point there' I ran (literally) into one of my running mentors for the Auckland marathon. None other but the true legend herself, Ady! Woop! She really is a running legend and the NICEST and most ENCOURAGING person out btw!
Anyway, she had just started and I still had another hour to go so we joined forces to beat the running game together... And it was great! I'm tellin ya, you NEEEEEEED a running buddy! As this lame little add that I just found on google says:

It sums it up perfectly even if it is in a cheesy sort of way. I pretty much did all of my training for the Auckland Marathon by myself (bar a few that I ran with Ady) and thought that I didn't need anyone to run with. However, it's getting a little different now, a little boring and a little lonely. Especially when I know all the words to all 400 or so songs on my iPod... Yikes! So I encourage you to find someone who likes to run, or maybe even someone with the same goal as you, or just someone who wants to help support you in your running to get out and pound the pavement with. It makes the runs go faster (especially those LSDs) and it is just plain nice to have someone alongside to chat to (or not) and to share the running with.

So do you have a running buddy? If so, what do you like about having them run with you? Please do share, would love to hear any stories.

P.S. Now I am enjoying a guilt free relax on the couch and am about to go bake a cake for my Grandad's 85th birthday - which I intend to eat a HUGE piece of BECAUSE I CAN... Suckers!!! Yuss!!

Training and your running essentials

Training

I completed a great run on the weekend but the weather has put a bit of a 'dampener' on my week's training so far. Not to mention that I have been back working which I am sooo stoked about and LOVE, but it's also tiring me out a bit too. Nevertheless, I was up in the dark at 6am to do my hill repeats this morning. This is probably what is tiring me out more than the work so we'll see how long I can keep that up for. 

Anyway, I am 11 weeks away from my marathon and at the moment my training is consisting of 3-4 runs a week, plus some cross-training (generally weight sessions) and some good ol' twilight soccer to keep things fun.

Two of my training sessions will consist of around an 8-10km run, one will be hill repeats and the other will be my long slow distance (LSD). With the hill repeats I am trying to do one more each week, for example, last week I did 3, this week I did 4 and I want to build up until I can do around 7-8. Phew! My LSD I do on the weekend, I try to make it a Saturday.
The key to your training, for any distance, is to build it up gradually. No matter how much you may be loving it and no matter how good you feel, if you go too hard/far too fast you'll wear yourself out, perhaps get an injury and maybe even eventually put yourself off it.

Essentials

The next part of this is about my running essentials. For my training there are essential things that I MUST have. The first thing, and might I add is my latest obsession (just come to my house and you will see these everywhere), are good books/magazines about running training, nutrition and the like. Here's a pic of a few of my staples at the mo:

Gotta love the library for anything running - they have it all, cheers for that! Also, my bible for running is Runner's World... I don't actually get their magazine normally (this one was a free copy - bonus!) but their website is a valuable source of information, there is nothing you can't find on there to do with anything running. They have training programs, nutrition info, gear info, race info and soooo much more!

In terms of nutrition most of these running books will have sections in them about 'food for runners', but I also LOVE the Healthy Food magazine. Same again, although I do tend to read their mags I am also constantly searching their website for great, healthy and yummo recipes to try out.

The next essential for my running are some good sounds - molto importante! I LOVE my iPod Shuffle that hubby bought for me for Christmas when I first started running. It's sooo light you won't know you're wearing it and it conveniently clips right onto your waist band, or whatever you are wearing. My fave songs at the mo (for running and just in general) are Six60 - 'Only to be', such a great song, 'Pumped up kicks' for some upbeat funk, by Foster the People, 'Dog Days' and 'Shake it off' by Florence + the Machine, just to name a few. It always helps to have some funky beats to get you in the mood but it's also important not to have it blasting too loud so that you are aware of/can hear your breathing, as well as sounds around you such as traffic, pedestrians and other runners and walkers.

The other thing, seen in the below pic, is a good watch. My one in this pic here is a basic one that I got super cheap but it does the trick in terms of timing my runs, it has a light and an alarm (to wake me up and so I can see in those early morning runs when it's still dark), and it does lap splits. On my running wish list is a fantastic GPS watch which gives you really advanced details such as your time per km, distance run, heartbeat, and more. My ultimate would be a Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS... Drool!

Last but not least are the essentials I use for my LSD runs - generally anything over 90mins and I will have one, if not all of these things with me. The first one is a drink belt, which is uber important when running longer that 1.5-2hrs, and particularly in summer, or hot weather. In case you haven't noticed running makes you hot and being hot makes you thirsty... Therefore the need for a drink on the go. The belt in the pic here is just a cheapy I bought off trademe, however you can check out other brands and types at stores like Rebel Sports, online sites, and other sports stores. You want to get one that feels comfortable to wear, is light when it's empty (as it only gets heavier when it is full) and I also find it useful to have other pockets/compartments in it to store things like gel sachets, your cell phone, money or lollies.

The powerade powder is what I use to make up sports drink for my LSDs, and it seems to work for me, plus it's way cheaper buying it in powder form than it is in the ready made bottles, and it lasts for around 9 months. You might like to try different sports drinks and see what you prefer, and also when you are running in competitions it is best to train with whatever sports drink they will be using on the day - which may be different all the time. The gel sachets are something I have only used a couple of times - these are for the REALLY long distances - for me I only would use over the 30km mark - but then again each person's preference for this will vary significantly. They are really high carb and just help to top up your tank when you are doing long distances and settle better in your tum than eating a solid food. Do be ware though as they are really sticky and not something you want to get all over yourself when you are in a race.

I guess the last essential would actually be clothing - but perhaps this should be the first thing... With clothes I would say just wear what you feel comfortable and confident in and something that makes you look good because, as silly as this may sound, the better you you look in your running gear, the better you will feel = the better you will run. CHOICE! And let's face it everyone wants to look hot when working out (I look super hot if you like a girl with a bright red face, sweaty and looking like she's about to pass out... HA!).

As for shoes - I still haven't found my ultimate best ever pair of running shoes, I am still on the search for these so my advice there would be to go to your local sports shoe store and get them to do a consult on what would suit you the best - if anyone is going to know it'll be them.

Would love to know what shoes you have found to be great and why.

Until next time, crank those funkalicious beats and run your hot little asses off! YEOW!

Running mate...

 I am going to share my running stories with you all and in those stories I will talk about all the different aspects I have learned about - such as nutrition, training, goal setting, shoes and clothing, injuries, and the list goes on. I will share what has and hasn't worked for me and, although everyone is different, you might like to try some things I mention and you might also find that things that have worked for me don't work for you. That is the beauty of running, I think you are constantly learning new things about the sport and about yourself through it. Ah, it's a wonderful thing!

So I have already shared with you about how I got started running and now I love it! I can't live without it - when I don't run I don't feel good. It gives me pleasure and pain, sometimes at the same time, but the pleasure ALWAYS outweighs the pain!

Not to say that there aren't times when I just don't feel like going for a run - because there sure are! For example, today. I have decided to set a new goal of running the Rotorua marathon on the 28th April - my first marathon for 2012, that's right folks, you heard it here first - you are all my accountability. So in order to do this I have gotten myself a running program and have set runs/distances I need to complete in order to be able to successfully run the marathon. Today's run was a 19km run and I normally do my long runs on a Saturday but worked yesterday, therefore it was today. I got home from Church and this was the last thing I felt like doing but the best part was that as soon as I was about 10mins into the run I began to enjoy, just like usual and it ended up being a great run. I ran slowly and got through it and ended at the beach where I had a swim to cool down and my lovely husband to give me cold water and drive me home. Long run number 2 = a success... Which is good because when you are training for a marathon 19kms is still actually a rather small distance.

So here's one of the first things I learned on my running journey:
The most important thing about deciding to get running is to have a supportive someone - whether it's a husband, wife, friend, family member, neighbour, trainer, or whoever - everyone needs a someone that is going to support their goals, their ambitions and their triumphs. That is what I think helps me to achieve my running goals the most - the fact that my husband is encouraging and supporting me all the way through the journey. He meets me half way during long runs with water, sports drinks and the occassional lolly, he's there at the finish line of big races (and the start), he drops me places, picks me up from places, cooks me meals when the race is over, buys me treats and he celebrates my achievements. If you haven't got someone like that to get you through your running (and I actually think it goes for everything in life) you need to get someone like that NOW! Step number one. Do it!

Here's a little pic of me and my 'supportive someone' at the start line of my first marathon. Couldn't have done any of it without him :)

So until next time, get out there and give it a go  and... Enjoy your running!