Running With Dogs

Went out this morning, feeling demotivated, hard to get up, you know the story. I couldn’t find my running bra so put on a Reebok tight lycra crop top under a tee shirt, and by the time I got out, it had already started to heat up. Anyway, when I started running I forgot to turn the Garmin on, so couldn’t time myself, and I got  so hot I practically melted. I don’t think I really needed two layers on the top, but I’m not particularly comfortable running in just a crop top. I’ll know next time. Anyway, I just did my 30 minute loop, so figure I did around 5km. This was my only run this week, been a bit sore in the groin so have taken it easy. I think I just maybe pulled something running the cross country last weekend.

Roseanne’s Church camp have a 5km and a 10km cross country run each year. She invited me along this year - who am I to refuse a gift run in the mouth, to completely trash a common saying!

After a rainy Saturday night, this morning was clear and fresh. We headed off just after 7.30am, the course started around an oval, then headed into the bush, around a lake and along a few trails. There were a couple of slight hills, but nothing really high. It was so nice, now I see why my hubby will never do a road marathon again, he’s much more into trail running. Anyway, I thought we were doing well, and when we finished, we’d done the 5km in 29.00 minutes! That’s the fastest I’ve ever done, and considering Roseanne hasn’t been out running much of late, she did just briliantly.

I think my secret is the several glasses of Shiraz I had with dinner on Saturday night!

So, I’m feeling a bit more motivated, and am even keener to do the 6km trail run at Maleny in November. My hubby has suggested I do a 5km beachside run next Saturday morning, but I’m a bit unsure. I’d have to get up really early to get started at 6.30am, then find  a shower, then go to work from 8am ti 2pm, then in the evening we’re probaby going to an astronomy session in a park about an hour away from here. I’ll see what I can work out though, it’d be nice to do that as my 3rd run of the week.

My hubby came home yesterday so I grabbed to opportunity to get out for a run early this morning.  My dog was so excited.  I think he misses our regular runs as much as I do.

It has been quite a while since my last run and I found it pretty tough going this morning.  The uphill bits were a real challenge and there were way too many of them.  The downhill bits were a welcome relief!

I ran 5.16 km this morning but it took me about 36 mins to do it.  I am amazed that I didn’t stop.  I came close to stopping a couple of times on the worst uphill sections but just kept plodding along.  I am really looking forward to being able to go for regular runs again but it will be a while yet before I will be able to.

Looking forward to a 5km challenge at Dakabin on Sunday.

After my sluggish run earlier in the week, I didn’t know how I’d feel today, but I had a good run! I’d done around 4.5km in the 30 minutes, and felt good about continuing a little longer. Ended up doing 6.5km, probably could have done more, but my shin was feeling great and I didn’t want to stretch the friendship, and I had to get home for my hubby to get back to work. I stuck some ice on my shin after my run as a precaution, but it really didn’t hurt.

I’d been at the podiatrist yesterday to get fitted for my orthotics, they’ll be ready in about a week. I’m looking forward to getting them, just to see what sort of difference they make. I’ve already had some brilliant results from the heel lifts.

What a tough morning! I did 4.35km in my 30 minutes, and that’s all I could do. My legs felt heavy and sore, and I was really slow. Sinner was fine, even though he’d run 13km the night before with hubby.

There could be a couple of reasons why it was so tough. I’m getting tired and demotivated with the same old scenery. I’m also really tired of week 9 of the C25k on my mp3 player- I’ve just left that on because it’s a convenient amount of time. I also haven’t worn my shoes with the heel lifts for about 3 days, wonder if my body is slipping back into it’s old bad conformation. I get fitted for my orthotics tomorrow, at least they’ll be able to be moved from shoe to shoe.

So my plan is to try and find a different route around here, and stick to my shoes with the heel lifts. As far as music goes, I have a meditation that I could put on my mp3 player, but I’d worry tha I’d end up more in the zone than usual and do myself some sort of injury. Has anyone tried running with a meditation on their mp3 player, I wonder?

I went out this morning with my big red boy, and we did 4.3km in our 30 minutes. I was feeling good, so I kept going and ended up doing 6.5km quite comfortably and with no shin pain. 

I’ve been feeling really quite unmotivated, and I think it’s because I don’t have a goal that’s reasonably close. The Warwick run I think is in May next year, and that’s over 6 months away. I need something closer, and I’ve found it. There’s a 6km trail run through the rainforest in Maleny in November. That will be gorgeous, and it’s got me keen again.

I had every intention of getting up this morning and doing day 2 of my 1 hour runner program’s first week (is that grammatically okay?) I was up til 1am last night, getting our tax returns prepared. Stinking job. Then I lay awake from about 5.30am, so I’m feeling quite knackered, with the hint of a migraine happening. Anyhow, I woke up tired, with the intention of taking the kiddies to a home ed activity as we usually do on a Thursday. They usually start at 11, so I figured I had tons of time. However, when I checked my calendar, it started at 9.30 and we had a half hour drive to get there, and the kiddies had a bit of a sleep in. So, it really was action stations, and I didn’t get out to run.

When I got home, I spent half an hour on the elliptical trainer, watching Bold and the Beautiful. Good Grief! Ridge is still with Brooke, Taylor is back even though she died a couple of years ago, and they have some new beautiful boys with impressive names - Constantine, Storm for example  That show should get an environmentally friendly award for recycling their actors. I ended up doing 1.6km on the trainer, in my 30 minutes.

I should be able to get out for a run in the morning before taking the kiddies to gym. I’m going to a conference this weekend, I may get a run in on Sunday morning to round out the week. I’ll be running along the beach - beautiful!

Hope you didn’t think I’d gone out this morning and run for an hour!! Nope, I’ve decided to go with the 1 Hour Runner program because it’s, to me, a more natural continuation of the c25k - go out 3 times a week, start at running 30 minutes, which is where the c25k finished, and gradually increase your time over 12 weeks. It’s coming into summer here, so it’s lighter earlier and I should be able to get an hour in before my hubby goes to work.

So, Sinner and I went out for our 30 minutes. It’s still very hard with the heel lifts, and I’m slower than usual. I’m also very mindful that I don’t slap my feet on the ground when I run, particularly when I’m tired. In the 30 minutes, I only managed 4.3km, which is over 1/2km less than in the past, and my legs were tired. But………………… very little shin pain!! I did the ice/massage again when I got back and it feels very good indeed. I’m thinking that I’ll get the orthotics sooner rather than later, so I don’t have to go through getting used to different foot support again, with the accompanying aches and loss in ability.

Had a bit of a funny thing happen. Sinner and I were running along, both of us lost in our thoughts. I swear that dog just zones out when he runs. A ute went past us with a German Shepherd in the tray, and it barked furiously at us. We both got the fright of our lives, Sinner was up in the air and twisting at the end of his lead. He’s a quiet, slightly timid dog at the best of times, but that must have been like being suddenly woken from a deep sleep.

More glass on the path today, unfortunately.

I took Guinness out this morning for week 1 of the C25k, I’m finding I can’t walk him far enough to expend enough energy. The first week is very easy, and we’re sticking to grass so I doubt there’ll be any dramas with his joints. He could go forever I think. I’m going to stick with week 1 for quite a while, I’m taking treats and teaching him to run beside me rather than in front, which is potentially dangerous, though more than likely would provide fodder for the “Australia’s Funniest Home Videos” TV show! He’s fine, he was quick to learn to lope along beside me when we ran, but I let him have a wander and a sniff during the walking breaks.

Found a race report for a doggie fun run in the US, hope to get in touch with the organiser to get some hints and tips on organising one here. My hubby’s running club are keen for it to happen, so that should cover any insurance issues. I’ll need to get some veterinary help on board, particularly during the run, just to keep an eye on the dogs and watch for any signs of distress. I’m hoping the run will raise funds for a local rescue group.

Wow! That was so hard! I went out for a run today with Sinner, and the heel lifts obviously change my gait, my legs tired badly and I only did about 4km. Parts of my legs ached that had never ached before.  It felt like I was back at the beginning again. Mind you, the several glasses of red wine I had last night wouldn’t have helped!! I did the ice/massage thing on my sore shin, I’ll do it again a few times today and see how it all goes. I’ll head out again probably on Tuesday.