Running BUG.

I have the running bug. As far as I have heard it is very contagious. Anybody who comes into contact with a pair of runners, a singlet, shorts and a stretch of road becomes deliriously infected. Those infected are seen running with a glazed look in their eyes and a digital device plugged into their ears - known as an IPod. Do I want to be cured of this disease? NO WAY.

I have been doing the bridge to bridge with my best friend for a while now and initially could only do it as a walk. It is about 7km in length and incorporates straight stretches of road mixed with uneven bush paths and hills. However, this week I am pleased to say that I have walked/run it in 44mins.

I have gone from walking 3mins mixed with 1min running, to now running 10mins and walking anywhere between 3-5mins minutes, depending on how I feel. This is good for me as I had not run for a while due to my shin splints. I feel great. When I am walking now, my legs and mind become fidgety and want to keep running. I have to pull back on the reigns and remind myself that all good things come with time and patience.

Self analysis of this last run has made me realise that having my shoulders down in a relaxed-neutral position promotes better running form. Also, keeping my arms relaxed as well as my hands makes me relaxed. I was running like "Rocky Balboa", arms all pumped up like I was ready to go to battle with Apollo Creed. This totally expends more energy than I had, hence the reason I was getting tired at a faster rate. Having my torso and shoulders relaxed allows my legs to do the bulk of the work. I am also able to breathe alot better as my diaphragm is able to expand appropriately. Thankyou Susan, this is Stage 1 in my transformation as an effective runner.

ANNOYED

I just recieved an email from the organisers of the Triathlon that it could possibly be turned into a Duathlon. ARGH. They recieved advanced warning from the Royal Algal Coordinating Committee that they have had their first blue/green algae alert in the lakes due to all the rain and runoff and then intense days of heat. I know I should be happy, swimming in blue/green algae can make you really sick, however I really want to do the swim leg, thats my strong leg.

Running for two legs is going to feel very hard. Physically my legs will fatigue extremely rapidly. I thought by doing a Tri that my legs can atleast rest a little in the swim, but now the whole race will be based on the strength of my legs. Oh boy, am I in trouble. I told my best friend who is also doing this with me and she is a runner, although she was disappointed because she too wanted to swim but I could see the look of "Oh yeah", glistening in her eyes.

The decision wont be finalised till the 5th March, two days before the event. I still need to get my TriSuit but now question whether I need one at all. I just have to get it and then hope that all turns out for the best. It will be okay, not my desired dream but an offshoot.

What was your turning point?

During my journey to date, I often remember back to that time in March when I saw my photo and determined then and there that I needed to lose weight and take control of my life.

I now ask, what was your turning point? What made you decide that that day was the day? Please share, writing down your journey really helps solidify the reason you chose to change. And besides, I love sharing in peoples journey's as well.

2.5km straight.

Seeing as my Triathlon is fast approaching and I had not even run 2.5km for quite awhile since injuring my shins - I thought it best to see how I would feel. It came as quite a surprise as to how painfree and strong I felt.

I had gone with Susan to see one of my friends do a run through of the Enticer with her friend at the Regatta Centre. I wanted so badly to do it but I had only just recently sold my new TriSuit to a friend for two reasons - 1. I felt a little self conscious in a bright red Santa suit and 2. the torso would pull with movement and consequently leave me with an unsightly look in the nether region.

So whilst at the Regatta, Susan and I thought best to make use of our time. Susan shadowed my friend Mel to push her in the run leg which she did really well. I tagged some 20 seconds behind and set myself a pace which I knew I could keep for the entire distance. It wasnt a fast pace but a nice steady rhythm that felt comfortable. I focused on trying to keep my torso upright which I had noticed starts to slump when I become fatigued. I also focused on keeping my stride the whole way, focusing on foot placement. When I get tired I start to shuffle and shorten my stride, falling into the step rather than making each stride purposeful.

As I approached the finish I felt like I had some energy left as a result I picked up the tempo. I wanted to give it that last little bit of "umff" to get me home. When I finished Susan told me my time, 12min 48secs, I was so happy. Anybody would have thought I just completed the Enticer. Reaching my goal, no matter how big or small is like a triumphant achievement to me. It is what keeps me focused on reaching another goal.

My riding is getting better.

I can run.

I am finally allowed to run. I have been itching like a race horse stuck in its holding pen to get out and just run. Not because running is like my most favourite sport in the world, but simply because it is the one leg of this Triathlon that I need to work on the most. And I havent been because of the shin splints. Granted - I am glad I rested them because now they feel totally fantastic. Gone is the stabbimg pain right in the front of the shin, gone is the burning pain everytime I placed my foot down. There is nothing. ALRIGHT.

At the beginning of last week I had been allowed to do really fast walking. Some think that my pace is quite fast, and I guess it is. My parents blessed me with long legs. Even I noticed that if I got any faster I would have to up it to a very slow jog. And so because my shins felt good after the fast walk, I was then allowed to do a bit of running at bootcamp class. Nothing to complain of as an after ill effect there either. Could it be that things were just feeling good, finally ? Of course!!

So this week was the tester. And what a week to start running. Bootcamp was back to its good old form. Gruelling. Yay. I know, sounds mental but I love it. My best friend had always said to me before I started getting fit - if she feels the burn then she knows its working. I always said back then "if it hurts then something is wrong". This was only true for some part of it. If my back hurt then I just had to find something else to do, on the other hand if it was muscular then I just had to grin and bare it. Nowadays, I looooove the burn. The burn is my friend.

Anyway, back to the running. This week was definately going to test whether or not things would hold up. In total we did about 2.1km. I started off feeling hesistant and then I felt great, but with that greatness I held myself back and did about 500m of those at a fast tempo walk inbetween some runnning. I am happy to report that I woke up in the morning feeling great. Nothing was sore at all. I feel great.

My leechy Saturday bushwalk

The day began like any other day. Well, not really - it was cloudy, rainy and miserable. But this was to be the day for our Prep Walk 1 nonetheless. Preparation for the 6 Foot Track is crucial as I have heard it will be a gruelling 45km trek, completed in about 12 hours. I cant wait really, I am up for another challenge.

So anyway, as we were driving up to the starting point the rain got heavier and heavier and the fog became as thick as pea soup. Just what I needed. The first bushwalk I went on had seen me twist my left ankle which to this day I have still not recovered fully from. It still swells in the heat and aches if I have done alot of walking on it. Funny enough though, when we finally arrived at our destination the fog had cleared and the rain slowed to what now was just a sprinkle.

There were 7 of us women and Barry. All I can say is I don't think Barry quite knew what he was getting himself into. We all started this walk with such excitement and a bit of a nervous twinge in our bellies. The sound of our voices I am sure resonated through the silent air of the mountains. We had all come somewhat prepared with our backpacks full of food, fluid and change of clothing. What we had not prepared for was what lay ahead in the dark wet gully some many metres below us.

So we began the descent down some many hundreds of stairs - some metal and manmade, others just chipped out of stone and some stairs carved into the soil held in place by timber retaining walls. The air already quite humid up high, became thick and clearly visible the lower we went. The canopy got higher and higher and showered us with rain every so often. It truly was a spectacular sight.

That was until the leeches started. Where in god's name were they all coming from. Some were little and barely visible others were long and skinny just waiting to fatten up on some poor innocent bystanders blood - Barry's Bootcamp girls looked like they were going to be on the menu for this trek. I have never in my life been so grossed out. If you stood still and stared at the ground they were like little zombie soldiers honing in on your scent from every direction. I was lucky. I only had about 8 try to get into my shoes an socks, others further down the back of the line were being swarmed left ,right and centre. The squeels from us all echoed through the valley. We tried warning other hikers but they looked at us as if thinking "novices". Oh well, we tried but it was too much.

Our trek got cut short as a result and now we had to climb back up and out. Oh boy, talk about lactic acid build up in my quads and calves. They were on fire. But the sheer thought of those blood thirsty creatures at the bottom spurred us on up that mountain in no time at all. When we finally reached open air and the top we began the search for more little friends right inside our shoes. I had none but others had them hidden in their socks and one lady Meg, had a critter feasting on her lower ankle. It was peeled off with a knife and feel off in a glutonous heap on the floor. GROSS.

Anyway the remainder of the walk although uphill was on flattened terrain. Perfect. I loved it. But my calves and quads are still paying the price and this is day 3. I have been stretching to alleviate the tightness and it seems to be working. Bring on Prep Walk 2. Can't wait.