First 10km race done and dusted *does a little jig*

hello fellow runners

First official race completed, and may i say what an experiance.

Loads of tips coming my way, and what did i do .... not get any of them right. Ate a good meal on saturday night and it didnt stay down i was so nervous. Did not sleep well at all Saturday night. Then was sick twice more Sunday morning before the race -_- so needless to say i was not feeling my strongest for the race ... DAMMIT!!!

Sunday morning was up and ready early bells and on my way to chickens house. We waited for Mandz who was running with us, and off we went to the start at the sports club. A little stressful as we just made it there on time for 7am start.

Durning the run i heard screaming of my name ... it was Nat my trainer and her housemate, i heard my name but thought it was for anouther Natalie being yelled for, so just kept my head down and kept running didnt even look up at them. After 3kms i told Chicken and Mandz to run on ahead of me as they where feeling good and running strong, me i was feeling a little weak. Nat saw me once more during the race and screamed out "GO LITTLE ONE' haha, that time i saw her and waved. Ran the rest of the race on my own, but kept with a group of very nice people, kept passing each other and every time they passed me they yelled "comeon you can do it", and when id pass them id chirp back "my turn to say comeon speed it up". So Nat finished way before me and then came back to like 500m before the end waited for me and ran the last little bit in with me, shes such a sweetie, and as we turned into the field of the sports club to the finish her room mate was standing there jumping up and down and screaming well done for me :). After i finsihed i collected my Tee (Very happy i got a tee) a bar one choc and went to go find Chicken and Mandz who finished ahead of me. WELL DONE TO THEM ALL! Then the 3 of us then went back to Nat and her housemate, along the way i spotted Dale who works with me so went over for a hug, well done and chitty chat. Nat was then kind enough to stretch us all out.

After the run we went back to Chicken's house to collect cars, me and Mandz then went for brekkie at Oscars as a reward ahahaha!

All in all a very pleasing day :)

SO here's my stats ...

Distance 10km  Time 1h19min20s on Sunday 1st July 2012 which is a 5min56s improvement on my time.

I know i could have done better if i was feeling stronger so here's to beating that and the next race.

Cheers for now.

Nat
xxx

FIRST 10km RACE

Hi all

So finally here it is, the weekend has arrived, i got up the courage and this weekend i have entered into a little 10km race

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh freaking out ... its friday, race is on sunday, and i already want to vomit haha.

I have been assured by my trainer Nat that i can do the distance as i have run it twice and done 8km. Tells me i will LOVE the energy and vibe of a race and i sould not be nervous and just enjoy.... im still nervous. Hints Nat has given me, eat a good dinner Sat night and she swears by a shot of coffee before the race for a boost haha.

Any other advice???

Will update how race goes on Sunday

Nats
xxx

Second 10km attempt

Helloooo

Made my second 10km attemt. Very bloody pleasing!!! Improved my time by 8min, and did a peronal best 1km time. Didn't pull a muscle or get any tweeks at all :D :D happy to find my body is adjusting and getting used to a little bit of distance. Heres hoping to push it to 15km and then half marathon soon enough.

Ran this with a very good friend of mine around her area and route, and i must say it was a stunning beautiful route, thanks for pushing me chicken sure was such a pleasing run because of you. All in all VERY happy with this progress... We getting there ...

Distance 10.06km Time 01h26min13s ran started at 8 in the morning of the 24th June 2012

Post soon

Nats

xxx

Pulled a muscle in that 10km run attempt :/ time to recover

Hey Hey

So in that first 10km run i attempted i pulled my adductor muscle (groin) was SO sore. Also my knee and ankle felt a bit of a tweek. So the next 2 weeks i of course still ran, couldn't not i love it so much, but had to tone down the distance and time.

First week
Distance 3.16km Time 28min31s

Second week
Distance 4.64km Time 41min22s

After 2 weeks recovery i felt like i could attempt distance again, but at 8km i started to feel a little something something in my groin muscle, didnt want to damage it again and not be able to run distance for a while so decided to stop at the 8km mark, didnt make 10km.

Distance 8.07km Time 1h16min24s

Better luck next week

Nats

xxx

First 10km run attempt

Hi all

 i know i havent been on here in a while, sorry about that!!!Been busy training and run run running though. So heres the update

First10km attempt was on the 20/05/2012 started at 3 in the afternoon

Distance 10.44 km  Time 01h38min53s

What a difficult run this was. Had to push myself, really stay strong in mind for the second 5km because all i wanted to do was stop. Felt like Dory from findng nemo kept singing in my head "just keep running running running, put one foot in front of the other" im such a dork, sure it helped me through though.


post again soon

Nats
xxx

Running progress

Hi there

So this week i didnt want to go for distance, so instead of building on my 9km run, i took it down to 4km again and tried to improve my speed, and am proud to say i showed some improvement.

Run 1
Distance 4km Time 37:07 Calories 354

Run 2
Distance 4km Time 35:26 Calories 376

Less time more calories very excited with this progress on my way to this race, know alot of improvement needed but ill get there. *determined face*

Nat has come up with some ingenious plans to get my running alot better, which is needed, where theres a problem theres always a plan and solution from her its great. She is just one of those no problem find a way glass half full kind of people. So her plans .... train running with 3kg ankle weights when they come off time should be better, and .... lets change the training up we live in South Africa, beautiful beaches, lets go training on the beach, soft sand sprints ... harder wet sand sprints. So first try at that should be Tues heres hoping it makes me fitter, faster, stronger and healthier ;)

cheers for now

blog again soon

xxx

That awesome running spot i found

Hi all

So last Sunday i ran that route along the beach with my friend Jules.

Statas
Time 1:21:44 Distance 9km Calories 669 Avg HR 123 Max HR 164
So a little note on that time haha we got from the Casino to Usharka and took a walk out over the ocean on the pier and stood out there a good while before running back to the Casino.

I really enjoyed this run it was beautiful, cool, pleanty of others biking and running, nice and flat. Very pleasing!

I noticed this time the waves where calmer then when i took the walk with my friends and found this route, so was maybe reconsidering Surfing again haha really want to try it and it could be good cross trainig .... but then i get into gym on Monday morning and Nat tells me her story of being out in the ocean that weekend, they where out paddling and all of a sudden her friend loryn says shes burning her ear is burning ... then her side ... then her leg, then Nat feels burning on her wrist, they look around ... blue bottles  EVERYWHERE million of the little buggers. One is stuck on Nats wrist under her watch and she has to push the watch tighter down to get it off OUCH. So i then again started to get nervous and unsure about wanting to surf.

This past week i focused on biking some cross training see if it improves my running speed and distance. I dont know if this is right but i have noticed that the more weight i loose and lighter i get the faster my running seems to get.

Back to some serious running this week ahead :)

Blog again soon

xxx

Found a excellent running spot

Hi all,

WOW there is a stunning 5km stretch of promanade running right along the beach all the way from the casino to ushaka marine world, it is cool because at the beach there is always a breeze, although if its blowing against you it could be a challange haha, nice and flat the whole way which is nice for me starting out. So this may become a common running spot for me. May start with one way first the 5km then go for there and back a good 10km. Also it is lovely and social plenty of bikers and runners to smile at and greet, very pleasing.

Note to self ... i really really wanted to try my hand at surfing, yet anouther way to keep active and fit, build up my stamina, ... until when i as on the promanade i was looking out over the beautiful ocean and noticing exactly how rough and choppy it was, now im not so sure im brave enough. But i think some day soon i MUST at least "suck it up princess" and give it a try.

Bought this month runners Magazine, and there was a piece of information i found very interesting to me. For ages and ages Nat has been telling me it is difficult to raise my heart rate and i recover very very quickly. I like the recovering quick part,  of course, but not being able to get my heart rate up means not as many cals burnt. So in this article there was  research that found if you have an overactive thyroid your heart rate is high, me ... having an underactive pondered then, well if over means high heart rate, maybe under means low heart rate. I will look into this some more.

blog again soon

xxx

Tues night run

Greetings

Decided on a TM run this evening,

5km in 47min15s burning 398 cal,

Progress, thats an extra half km in the same time space i did running with my friend on Sat. Getting better getting better thats exciting to me!

Me and Nat where talking and looking over 2012 running calender and have decided that a race in April will be my first race, SO NERVOUS, training and getting ready for that to start now. So hope to be seeing lots of improvement here and will keep posted on progress until race and how i go in the race for sure.

xxx

You know that you talk ALOT about training, gym and running when a friend who you work with awesomely gives you this diary because it has a fitness record on the bottom of every page and she though of you :D <3 Thankyou i LOVE it!!!

Running with someone

Evening everyone,

So i arrived at the gym Sat morning for the run with my friend.

4.49km in 47min10s burning 357cal.

I must admit i did really love running with someone, it was social and fun, but i seem to put head down and push harder on my own, we ended up running a little slow because we where holding a convo at the same time. 

Friday the 13th Running

Hi Everyone,

Decided against the run last night as i was feeling like i wouldnt be able to breath through it, i dont know maybe flu would would have cleared once i got going. I did stay at gym for some Zumba though, *moves hips shakira style*

Tonight though i am feeling much better and worked it in the gym on the TM. 5.34km in time 52:40, cals 425.

The gym i go to is very social, and when i got off the TM a lady i often have a little bit of a chit chat to, and was the winner of this crazy weight loss and fitness challenge, came over and asked if i am going to be at gym in the morning (course i am, always am) and would i like to go for a run around the area with her :D. So iv made plans and times and we running first thing tomorrow. Wish me luck!!! Going to look for a nice route. Im a little nervous because she seems so fit, but LETS DO THIS.

Off to get some sleep so i can be up early for this run :D

xxx

Some of the beautiful mornings i have seen running <3

Daily Running progress

hi to who ever out there is reading,

So....speed wobble, as from yesterday i am feeling SO flu sick, i completely blame this summer South Africa weather and working in aircon all day, damn in and out of office hot cold boiling hot cold grrrr.

Dispite feeling and prob looking like a death warmed up, i dragged my ass to the gym, of course *determined face* and did my training session with Nat. Worked on my arms, legs and core. And i must say i am feeling a wee bit stiff this morning *YEAH BABY* not hectic but its there :D.

Me and Nat had such a funny and interesting convo last night while training, she has just joined a running club, but said she has some issues with this ..., her issues "the running colours of the club are very very important these are green and yellow both make me look real sick PROBLEM, and the outfit is the proper tiny little running shorts and i dont think the skin just under my ass has seem sun since i was 12" i had a good giggle! I dont know if im good enough YET or ready for a running club, but i may start scouting the area for some clubs.

As i was talking to Nat and walking out i got a comment "You know your coming along really good, you getting better and better" awesome this is encouragement, and then "you also got a little peach ass going for you now people are going to like running behind you" well i had just taken a sip of water and think it sprayed everywhere when i burst out laughing and went bright red.

So last night was strength which means tonight, if i can breath from this flu, is some running training. So if anyone has some advise on flu please id love it.

Post soon about how running went

xxx  

Daily Running Progress

i know no one out there will ever prob be reading this, but i have decided to post a little every day post on my training and progress. If for nothing else it willl be good for me to look back on and read about.

Did a 4km run this morning, time 38.10, cal 430. Was able to laugh and chat while along the way, and rovered almost instantly after run heart rate from 168 to 120 in less then a min, so id class this as a nice easy run i will have to step it up and get working harder ;)

Strength Training with Nat after work tonight (wish me luck she works me hard, why shes so good for me "You ready to go play? lets go push some HEAVY STUFF, and remember lock your abs, breath out on the weight, and posture how proud how proud SO proud stick your boobs out")  hope my legs will be fine for it after that run this morning, and im a naughty girl i didnt stretch and i must do i know i know.

Post soon,

xxx

Best running book i have ever read

This has been thee most inspiring and funny book for me, if anyone has some other reading suggestions please leave feedback. thanks :)

 

Running Hot 

Lisa Tamati (Author), Nicola McCloy (Author)

The Start

Hello there fellow running and sport enthusiasts,

I am a new runner having just completed my 3^rd 5km run but have discovered such a love and passion for exercise , mostly running, and have lost 26kg in the process, that I have decided to share my progress (as I will be continuing and getting better and more distance on my shoes) and funny little stories from now on.

But first let’s start this blog with where I have come from to this 5km I am doing now and how I discovered this passion.

I awoke one morning, 6 months ago now, with a strange and sudden strong urge that this is the day i must get my ass into gear and start to exercise, having no thoughts or plans of this before this morning I immediately drove to my closest gym, which was not a huge franchise type gym but more a family run gym. This was the best decision I have EVER made and I account a lot of my progress to choosing this gym rather then a big franchise one. All such lovely and encouraging people I have met there as well as a personal trainer (Natalie) who you will be hearing a lot about I’m sure.  

The first day at the gym I had a body evaluation and brief show what to do at the gym, well I was blown away by the results of that body evaluation, seriously if you had been there you probably would have been giggling your head off at me, complete wide eyed scrunched nose wanting to gag moment haha. I asked the trainer who did this body evaluation if she would train and help me to become a fitter. Her reply “yes course but you have to have your head and heart in the right place to do this as it won’t be easy and I only train determined driven people who won’t give up at the start because its hardest at the start, but I can already tell you are determined and have a feeling you are going to go far. Where this feeling of hers came from I will never know, but this encouragement really drove me and uplifted me.

Training started with Nat, cycling to better my cardio stamina, core building and weight training. Well that day I was fine, great infact more energetic and a happy for a unknown reason. Then …. I woke up morning after training and could hardly move. DEATH… DEATH is better then the feeling in these unknown to me before muscles.  As the day progress I found out I kind of like this feeling of subtle pain since I was up and about and moving it was better now. I had this little grin on my face every step “oh yeah I worked that muscle yesterday EXCELLENT”

When I had gotten a little better on the bike Nat asked if I would like to try running, her being a great lover of running herself I can only assume she wanted to share this great freeing sport with me. I was so inspired by her passion for it that I decided I’d try it with her. She was very patient with me panting and being so slow, she then started filling me in on some tips, get a rhythm going and concentrate on your breathing … three steps deep breathing in three steps deep breathing in. I managed to the end of the road and back on that day a whole 800m *WHOO HOO haha* and found that a difficult run and my hip was killing like a bitch. But there was an extreme sense of accomplishment when I completed the end of road and back, and I felt this joy and happiness building in me. I decided from then running is for me and I love it. Also I am hardest on myself if I find something difficult I cannot give up I must push myself further and get better.

We ran a little further with every run and I felt myself getting faster and my breathing getting better and better. But my hip was always still killing, but I just pushed through it and never mentioned it, I know now I was acting to much like a DORK, big strong girl i'll just ignore and push through. When I eventually did mention my hip to Nat she was at first angry I had tried to not say anything, then said we will make it better and just not to give up because you work through all this, also had me start on some omega tablets. With continuing running, some exercises to strengthen my hip and knee muscles, and these tables I am completely fine now.

On a 3km run I did on my own I came across a barking dog, scared if It would attack me I stopped with a shocked breath in, only to find that if was preoccupied by alternately chasing monkeys and a deer, i loved finding this on my run and thought im going to enjoy seeing all these amazing beautiful natural things on my runs. Things none runners or cyclist will not really ever see. I work also so my times to run are really really early or after work, but the beauty of the sun rises and sets more then make up for the getting up or getting in late. It is the most inspiring parts of the day to  me.

Running for me now is a time to admire nature and beauty, clear my thoughts, and after a good run I swear I am completely at peace and happy J

Blog again soon

xxx