Trail and Error

So my holiday in Cape Town flew by! After a lot of eating and some running, I am back in Johannesburg and of course there is a thunderstorm to welcome me back and keep me off the road.  I planned to do two races during my stay in Cape Town.  I made full use of the  fresh air and sea level and both races went exceptionally well, both also ending with PB's.  While in the Mother City, I had the privilege of becoming acquainted with a few runners from Brackenfell Running Club.  The handfu of members that I met were welcoming, friendly and in fact they reminded me a lot of the people in my own club.  So when they suggested another race on Boxing Day (one that I had not planned on doing) I was immediately keen!  The only problem with this race was that it was not a road race.  This would be my very first Trail run, something that I had been avoiding due to my clumsiness...until now.  If I was ever going to do one, I suppose Cape Town would be a good place to do it, given there are some real views to be seen! I read up about the Tokai Manor House race and found that it was considered a fairly tough run with about 9km of steep uphill climbing and then 7km of steep downhill running.  I didn't have the right shoes but really, how bad could it be?  Well the first few km's of climbing weren't too bad.  Steep and tough, but pretty manageable.  At about 5km though, this Trail run suddenly turned into a Trail hike.  My legs burned from the unfamiliar surface and they worked hard to get up those steep hills.  Once at the top though, the view was amazing and the pain forgotten...until we started the descent.  Different muscles starting speaking to me as I had to hold back to prevent myself from rolling all the way down to the bottom.  But 16km later (and not a bad time), I could officially say that I completed my first trail run.  Will I do another one any time soon? Probably not.  But at least I can say I've tried it...and after that I'm bound to thoroughly enjoy my next road race.

The Mitchell's Plain experience

I lived in Cape Town for 22 years but I was never a runner, nor did I ever think I would become one.  I spent my Cape Town years enjoying the sea and the relaxed vibe, being completely oblivious to this running world that actually existed all around me.  Now that I live in Johannesburg, Cape Town has become my holiday destination and now that I'm a runner, I usually try to fit a race or two in while I'm here.  So it's the Christmas season and here I am, in Cape Town. Before I came I checked the race calendar and found that there were two races taking place in the Mother City that I would be around for.  The first one, the Mitchell's Plain half marathon took place the day after I arrived which was perfect as I could take full advantage of the sea level!  The only less than perfect thing however, was that it took place in Mitchell's Plain.  In all my years of living in Cape Town, I had never been to Mitchells Plain, but had never heard anything good about the area.  I wasn't convinced this was the best race to do given the surrounding township so like a ridiculous Gautenger, I phoned the race organiser to find out more about the event.  When I told him I was from Johannesburg and was just wondering if it was a safe race to do, I could almost hear him thinking...you ignorant woman...you idiots run marathons in Soweto and Joburg CBD and you want to know if Mitchells Plain is unsafe?? But instead of verbalising that thought, he simply giggled as politely as he could and told me it was perfectly safe.  So off I went on Saturday morning to run the Titans Half Marathon. The race ran along the beach and as I looked up at the mountain and dodged the last bit of the high tide, I couldn't help laughing at myself.  The friendly Cape Town runners all welcomed me along the way and the entire race had such a good feel to it.  I suddenly felt incredibly silly for thinking this could be unsafe.  Perhaps its not a great area on any given day, but on Saturday morning it was buzzing with good vibes and happy runners. The race was well organised (apart from not getting a medal) and enjoyable....and on top of all that, I even ran a PB.  I'll definitley be back in Mitchells Plain next year!

'Tis the Season...

Sea, sun, food, drinks, family, more food....when one thinks of December and January, these are pretty much the things that come to mind.  So with less than five months til my first Ultra marathon, where exactly does running fit into this picture? The Comrades training program I'm following advises runners to relax to an extent over the Christmas season.  While it's important to keep fitness levels up, it must also be remembered that a grueling few months of intense training awaits after the Christmas tree gets taken down.  So my goal for this season...try not to pick up too much extra weight, don't get too carried away with the New Years champagne, but at the same time, don't tire out the legs just yet.  The running year starts with some tough races for which I want to be fit, but fresh.

The Tough One

Even the name sounds scary.  The Tough One is a 32km race that takes place in Johannesburg every November.  Apart from the Soweto Marathon a few weeks earlier, its really the first tester for runners since a long and fattening Winter.  It's pretty much what I've been training for since I started running again.  It's given its name for a reason...its a Tough One!  I ran the race last year and since it was going to be my farthest distance ever run, I had no idea what to expect.  All I knew was what people had told me...expect it to be hot and expect it to be tough.  Despite my nerves on the day the race passed by in a bit of a blur and I ended up enjoying the atmosphere on the road so much, that it really didn't seem so bad.  I put no pressure on myself for time and since there is always a 5 hour cut off for this race (the same as a 42km marathon) I wasn't worried about completing it.  I assumed I would come in around 4 hours and I was perfectly happy with that.  To my surprise I finished the 32km in 3:14 and even qualified for a special Athletic Icon medal for a sub 3:15 (just made it).  I think the best part about the race last year was not knowing what to expect.  I had never put my body through something like that before and so I had no idea how it would perform.  This year, however, was different.  As much I tried to convince myself that time was not important, I knew that I actually wanted to run a sub 3. I was never 100% convinced I could do it though, even during the race I had my doubts.  Under 3 hours is the cutoff for men to qualify for the Athletic Icon medal so it's not an easy thing to do.  But, no harm in trying right?  Since the route of the race had been changed this year, I again didn't know what to expect.  But it was certainly hot and it was certainly tough! I made it through the first half of the race with little problems but when I reached 20km I suddenly realised I had to move a little faster up the hills if I still wanted that sub 3.  I suddenly became demotivated and unbearably tired.  When I started to walk up a particularly long hill, a man in front of me turned around and shouted, "If you want it, you have to decide now!" And so after a few seconds of thinking that I didn't care if I got it or not...I was tired and I wanted to walk...I re-evaluated and realised that actually I did want it.  So I said a quick prayer, made the decision to go for it and ran the last 11 km fairly comfortably.  I finished the 32km Tough One in 2:56 and was ecstatic!

The Taper Period

It's accepted in the running world that when you run long distance, you should have a period of tapering.  What does this mean exactly? Well, it means that during the past couple of months you have trained pretty hard for a particular race and so the week or two before that race, you can relax a little, knowing that the hard work is behind you and all that's left is to reap the benefits. Before a race like Comrades, normal runners might take the week before just to eat, put there feet up and try to mentally prepare for the mammoth task that lies ahead.  At this stage, the physical preparation is done and whatever runs you might do in that last week, is really just to keep your muscles moving.  Elite athletes who have trained intensively for 4 to 5 months out of the year for a gold in a particular race, might start to reduce their mileage two or three weeks ahead of time, allowing their bodies enough time to recover from the training and to ensure that they are on top form on race day (or so I've read).  But what about average runners who have been training as hard as they can for a few months for lets say...a 32km race....like me for example.  32km isn't exactly an impossible distance, but its far enough to make you tired and when said race is called The Tough One...well, average runners like myself may feel somewhat nervous just thinking about it.  So how much is too much before a race like this? Surely I haven't earned the right to taper as much as an elite athlete might, or even as much as I'll taper before Comrades next year.  But at the same time, should I really do a 25km run just a week before? Didn't I read somewhere that it stays in your legs for at least 10 days? So many questions! And what are the answers? To be perfectly honest, I have no idea! Some say cut your mileage down by a third two weeks before and then in half a week before, others say there is no need to taper at all before a 32km.  In fact, my Comrades training program by Don Oliver reckons all I need is one rest day before the race.  So what have I done? Well, I decided to apply the same principals for this as I will to the rest of my Comrades training (because The Tough One is just a part of that I suppose).  Body Sensing...those are my two favourite words in my running vocabulary! I've continued to run this week as I would any other week (although rain in Johannesburg has provided somewhat of an unwanted taper on some days).  Is this the right way? Again, I'm clueless.  But I guess I'll find out on one of the many hills come Sundays big race!

That's why I run

I once read a book called "That's why I run" by Argentina Senda.  It's a short, non fiction book about a woman (who I now often see at races) who almost lost her leg from disease, found God and was miraculously healed.  After experiencing such grace, she decided to do something meaningful with the gift that was given to her.  So, she started running...and got pretty good at it too! The book was so inspiring and I'll admit there were a few tears spilled over the pages while reading! My start to running is a much more boring story I'm afraid, but that doesn't mean I am any less grateful for the gift that I was given! And I don't mean talent, because lets be honest, I'm just an average runner.  But the gift that I have been given is the ability to run, the motivation to keep going and the strength to never give up! So while I can't write a book about a miracle, I can write a blog about how thankful I am to be able to run! Every time I'm out on the road, I say a little prayer, remembering who gave me this gift and being ever thankful for it....and that's why I run!

Running is a dangeours sport

So we might not get tackled and we might not have any balls flying straight at us, but that doesn't mean runners aren't pretty tough too!  I am ridiculously clumsy, which is one of the many reasons why I have not yet tried the new craze that is trail running.  I've heard it can be quite fun and exciting, but the thought of jumping over rocks and into puddles just doesn't really do much for me.  So I stick to road running and make sure I don't fall off the pavement too often (trust me, it's happened!).  Last Sunday my running partner and I decided spontaneously to run a club run.  The only race on that day was the Soweto Marathon which we had cleverly not entered! So a club run it was! Club runs are great due to their slow pace and generally social atmosphere.  If it weren't for the regular stops at petrol stations to grab a drink and a chat, I might not enjoy the 26km quite as much.  But you can be sure club run's will always provide a fun morning of running.  During the last few km of this particular route we were on, you have to run a short section over a small stream and through a field before joining the road again.  It's my least favorite part of the morning and as we were balancing over the narrow bridge leading to the other side of the stream and into the field, I complained behind my running partner about how much I dislike off road running and prayed I wouldn't fall into the water.  Luckily, I made it through! Ironically, she on the other hand, has tried trail running and really enjoyed it.  So she carefully hopped from rock to rock also making it safely to the field.  However, it wasn't long before she moved out of the way for a cyclist, tripped over a stone and lost her balance falling pretty hard on the ground.  I got such a fright...and of course so did she! She grazed her elbow and knee pretty badly and there was a fair amount of blood! She bravely got up and made it through the last 3km of the club run.  This kind of thing happens to runners more often than you would think! I've often read stories about runners who trip over small objects in the road or just lose their balance and end up seriously injuring themselves.  I know my running partner was extremely relieved that she got away with only a few cuts and bruises, but I think it was a lesson to us both to be a lot more careful when running! Anything can happen and next time we may not be as lucky!

Don't ask if you don't want to know!

Some say I'm petite...I think I'm just abnormally small.  I'm 26 going on 27 and I have absolutely no curves to speak of! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining (not even a little bit!) and I'm comfortable enough with my body that when people ask me if I suffer from anorexia, it really doesn't bother me.  I've always been small.  As a student, I lived off oven chips, bread and Chinese noodles from Mr Wong on campus.  Still I made it through four years without any signs of the student bulge.  When I lived in London for a year I lived off kebabs, mayonnaise, too much beer and even more rum and coke. And still, my fast metabolism got me through.  During all these years of my early 20's, exercise was a foreign term to me.  I had far better things to do than keep fit! Plus, I didn't need to...despite all the warnings of picking up weight after 20, it just never happened! So when I started running and caring more about leading a healthy lifestyle, of course I lost even more weight.  Not because I suddenly started dieting or stopped eating, but because less beer and more exercise has a way of changing your body, even if it doesn't need much changing. 

People often ask me what I eat or even if I do eat at all? My reply always irritates them! Well of course I eat...do you really think I could run 12 km a day without eating???? So when I answer that I actually eat quite a lot, some joking response is always made about how two strawberries is not a lot (ha ha, hilarious). Ok, you want to know what it is that I eat? Well lets see, while healthy eating is important to me and I make sure I get enough fruit and vegetables in every day, I certainly don't hold back on the carbs either! (As a runner I feel I should take full advantage of carbo loading and I eat a big pasta meal at least twice a week!) At least 3 days out of the week I finish an entire slab of chocolate in one sitting and I'll never say no to other treats! I have a terrible weakness for Mac Donalds and I still eat mayonnaise with almost everything.  Running makes me so hungry that by the time most people are eating breakfast, I've already eaten two or three small meals. And when I tick off all the things I've eaten in one morning and people realise its more than what they'll eat all day, you can be sure its met with a pretty irritated response about how life is unfair.  I know I'm very lucky when it comes to food.  I've never had to watch my weight.  Who knows, maybe my metabolism would have let me down eventually, in which case its a good thing I started running when I did.  But I certainly have never had a problem with eating! It's one of my favourite things to do!

How to irritate a runner

This weekend I joined the rest of Joburg and went to watch Kings of Leon at Soccer City.  Needless to say I decided not to run a race on Sunday morning, but rather to stay in bed and enjoy a lazy day of no exercise.  So when I heard about the Hunters Half Marathon on Saturday in Pretoria, I figured it would be the perfect chance to make up my mileage with a long run that I otherwise would have missed this week.  My running partner and her brother got on board with the idea and so we all set our alarms for 4 am, grabbed the GPS and made our way to Pretoria in the early hours of Saturday morning.  As we set off in the dark, there were a few moans and groans about getting up so early and driving so far just to run! But as we got closer and the sky got lighter we all woke up a bit and got excited to start the race, which promised to be a fast and easy course. It looked a bit like rain but thankfully the weather held out and we didn't have to worry about that.  Just as well, because there  were enough other problems during the race to get our blood boiling! The start was very congested and it took a long while before we were able to start running comfortably.  This is an issue in many races though, so while it was annoying, that's not quite what made us so upset.  The first 7km of the race went by without any hassles, but as the runners reached what should have been the 8km mark, we started noticing that there was a mistake and the marker told us that we had already run 10km.  From that point on, right to the very end of the course, each marker was 2km out.  It became the topic of conversation among the runners for the duration of the race and every one seemed pretty upset.  Well, I spent the first 5km after the mistake being highly pissed off that I had gotten up at 4am just to run 19km!  But then as I got more and more tired as the race continued, I started feeling quite relieved that it would be 2km short! So for the next 5km I felt great! I was tired and I would only have to run another 1km! Of course by the time the last marker - the 20km marker - appeared, my Garmin told me I had run 18km, but I didn't care anymore.  I just wanted to blitz through that last km and go home. However, as I continued to run and as my watch counted down the meters towards 19km, I came to a shocking realisation that 19km in fact would not be the end of this race! I couldn't see the end and the runners up ahead didn't seem to be turning off to any finish line just yet.  So I kept running....and running and running! In the end, after I had mentally prepared myself for a short race, we ran almost 3km between the false 20km mark and the finish. By the time I finally entered the sports grounds, I was so irritated that I didn't even care that I had done a good time! At least I had a Garmin watch! I felt even more sorry for those runners who had no idea of what was going on, just a thought that things were seriously wrong! Passing the fake 20km mark, many runners were shocked at their time and were excited and convinced that they would run a miraculous PB, only to be severely disappointed when they were still on their feet 2km later and the PB slowly became a distant memory! Now that's enough to upset any runner!

There's no pleasing a runner

A heat wave has struck Johannesburg! For the past week the temperatures have reached well into the 30's.  It has been unbearably hot on some days..(especially when you are stuck in a (non air conditioned) classroom with 37 pre-teens who think its cool to keep their jerseys on all day!) Needles to say, this makes running fairly tricky.  While in Summer it's accepted that we need to leave the house later than usual for evening runs so as to avoid the heat of the day, its preferable that we don't run in the dark...particularly if you're a small, defenseless and not very fast runner, like me! But when it's still 29 degrees at 17:00, a long run becomes quite a struggle.  So the general consensus at our weekly Time Trial this evening, was that it's just been too hot to run much this week, hence a low mileage week pretty much all round.  Of course, being typically Joburg weather, we can probably expect a few thunderstorms in the next couple of days.  And you can be sure we'll complain about that too.  When it's too hot, we can't run.  When it's too cold, we don't want to run.  When it's raining, we're just not motivated enough to run.  So when exactly are we satisfied with the weather? It can't be a perfect 18 degrees for every run!  Well, you'll find even in the bad weather conditions (bar a few) we'll lace up our running shoes, take a hat and stay hydrated or run in a wind or rain protector.  Oh yes, we'll get out that door and do our necessary training...but there's going to be much complaining after that run! Because lets face it, if we weren't complaining about the weather or something else, what else would we discuss for an hour after every run!

The Carnival City Curse

On the 17 October 2010 I set out to Carnival City Casino to run what I thought was going to be an easy and enjoyable race.  A few weeks before, I had broken the 2hour barrier for a half marathon for the first time on a fairly difficult course.  When I heard about the fast and flat race at Carnival City, I was eager to see what I time I could do there.  Unfortunately, my running man and I had a particularly bad start to the morning (lets face it, waking up at 4:30am on a Sunday morning to drive to Brakpan, never qualifies as a good morning, but this one was worse than usual).  For starters, we woke up late and it was proving to be quite a struggle to get above mentioned man up! Being grumpy and tired we had a silent argument for the duration of the drive there.  I was angry and upset and to make things worse, we were late! I had to sprint through the casino (where there was a surprising number of people playing Roulette at that time of the morning!) to get an entry, rush for a bathroom break and I only reached the start just as the gun went off.  By this stage I was so anxious and yes, typically emotional, that I couldn't even think about the mammoth task ahead of me (because a year ago a 21.1km was still a pretty mammoth task!).  The race went by with many tears and sighs along the way.  To add to my drama there were unnaturally strong winds blowing the whole morning, making my journey that much more unpleasant.  Despite everything, I finished the race in under 2hours.  As I crossed the finish line, I sobbed into my running mans chest - which of course he couldn't understand as the earlier argument was already a distant memory in his mind.  In the year that followed I always looked back on that day as one of the worst races I've ever done.

This year, I was determined to make a better day of the dreaded Carnival City race.  Unfortunately, the morning didn't start out too well again! First, my running man couldn't find his race kit and by the time he decided to wear something else, it seemed as though we would be late for the second year in a row.  Next, the GPS was being more of a hindrance than a help and we got slightly lost.  With about 25minutes to the start and no sight of Carnival City, I decided that this race was just never going to be a good one for me.  But somehow, in those last few minutes, we managed to find the Casino, get entries, make a bathroom  stop and push our way to the front of the field...with time to spare!  The only other thing that could ruin this race for me now was the weather.  No wind at all, but at 7am when the gun went off, it was already extremely hot! All runners had to be careful to stay hydrated and preserve energy as the temperature climbed to 30 degrees.  As the race went on, I started to enjoy the morning and despite the heat, I finished in a PB of 1:44! I will no longer pull my face when someone mentions Carnival City, I have a new, better memory of it now and the curse is officially broken!

Garmin Forerunner 110...a girls best friend!

My running partner and I often joke about still being on the shelf.  We both happen to be in long term relationships though we both still have very empty ring fingers! One thing that we do both have though, courtesy of our respective running men, is a fab, pink and grey Garmin watch.  When I first started running, my running man bought me a Polar watch which came with a heart rate monitor.  It didn't measure distance or pace, but time and heart rate was all I needed as a new runner.  He said to me at the time that if I was still running in a year, he would buy me a GPS watch.  I didn't think much of it then (probably hardly believing that I was running at all, never mind still be running in a year!).  But a year passed and I had started taking this running thing pretty seriously.  So as promised, I received my favourite birthday present to date! My Garmin watch goes with me on every run, be it 5km, or 42km! It tells me how far I've run, for how long I've been running and what pace I'm running at. A few months later, my running partner had a birthday and after much not so subtle hinting, she was thrilled to find that her own running man had bought her one too.  So now we are both proud owners of a Garmin Forerunner 110.  We flash them around at races more than any girl probably flashes a diamond and even after months of having them, we still get excited when they miraculously pick up satellites at the push of a button! So while these men may be useless at some things, they managed to get a pretty big something right...buying us the best present any runner could ask for.  Next step...a diamond running watch????

Rugby vs Spar Ladies

Every year, Spar organizes a series of  races for women in various parts of the country.   I started taking part in the Spar Ladies 10km challenge in 2009...when I was very unfit! But it's a great race and the field is made up of thousands of female runners and the occasional male runner...in drag! (All part of the rules) Last year, my running man joined in the fun by slipping into one of my dresses (that I can no longer wear due to it being horribly stretched out!) and a wig.  Despite his uncomfortable outfit, he was still stopped along with the rest of the leading men, just before the finish, allowing the female runners to finish before them. It's only fair since it is a race for women after all.  Once all the top ladies were in, the men were allowed to continue over the finish line.  This year, the race unfortunately fell on the same day as the Rugby World Cup quarter final - SA vs Australia.  So needless to say the field saw far fewer dressed up men this year than ever before! I must admit I was in two minds about whether or not to participate in the race this year, or to join the bulk of South Africans in watching the important game.  I opted for the race and it was just as well! I asked the first person I saw at the end of the race and was informed that SA had lost the game.  So while the rest of SA is pretty depressed about the outcome of the rugby, I am left with a natural high after a good run.  Good choice!

32631

It took a while, but I have finally received confirmation that my entry for Comrades has been processed.  Of course I am yet to qualify for the race which means I have to run a standard marathon in under 5 hours.  Luckily this is not particularly difficult, provided the correct amount of training gets done.  The hard part is doing the best possible qualifying time so as to secure a place in a good seeding pen come race day.  For an average novice runner like me, the best I can hope for is a sub 4 hour marathon which should get me into the D pen (I think).  To date, my best marathon time is 4:08 (yes, I know I've only run two) and at this point, taking another nine minutes off that seems almost impossible.  But that's the plan.  If I don't manage to do that, then I'll be stuck in the E seeding pen which will put me pretty far back in the field, meaning I'll lose quite a lot of time at the start. And when you have absolutely no idea what to expect or how bad the pain is going to be after about 70+ km, you need all the time you can get...just in case things go pear shaped! There are still 239 days left before Comrades however, which means there will be plenty of time to worry about these things later.  For now, my entry is in, my number is 32631 and there are 9202 other crazy people who have also entered this thing.  Good to know I'm not alone!

Hill training 101 - Take a friend!

I must admit I stole this heading and idea from my running partner.  While Frances and ran most training runs and races together in the past, over the months (and years I suppose) all runners develop their own pace and style of training and it started becoming more and more difficult to stay together in all races.  So we started training separately as well.  However, there is still no one I enjoy talking about running to more, in fact we can often spend hours just talking about running - from running clothes, to upcoming races to how much we eat after a race!  So of course when she suggested that we start doing hill training together, I agreed it was a great idea! At the moment we are both training for the 32km Tough One coming up in November, and while we both have different time goals, its great to have someone with you who can relate! So this morning we set out on our first hill training session.  We found a steep hill nearby and measured it to be 700m.  We ran the 2km from my door to the hill at a very comfortable and conversational pace, just to warm up.  When we got to the top of the hill we had to stop for a minute to take it all in.  Standing at the top, we couldn't even see the bottom, that's how steep it was! But we aimed to do three hill repeats (which is 3x up and 3x down).  The first repeat went pretty well, but I must say that by the third time up, I'm pretty sure the people that live on that street could hear us panting! The point however is that we did it...without walking or stopping once! We both agreed that had we not been together, we more than likely would have stopped for a little walk between repeats! One should never underestimate the value of having something around for support and company!  And at least you know you're not the only idiot running up and down a hill at 8 o'clock on a Sunday morning!

Just plain average

As soon as you get ahead of yourself thinking you're not half bad at something, something makes you realise that you're actually just pretty average.  After a few good races during the past few months, I admit I was feeling pretty chuffed with myself.  And then this morning I happened to catch the last 10km or so of the Berlin Marathon on TV.  Watching runners cross the finish line of a marathon in much the same time that I have done many half marathons in, has a way of cutting one right back down to size! The Kenyan winner and new world record holder for a marathon, passed the 36km mark in well under 2hours and then crossed the finish line in 2:03.  The first woman, also from Kenya, followed in 2:18.  These people have such an incredible talent and its inspiring to watch them use it!  For the rest of us average runners though, well we just keep plodding along, trying to better our times and clock up more mileage.  Still, just because we're average, doesn't mean we're not as determined to break records...of course our records are set on a much smaller scale and we generally don't compete with anyone other than ourselves!

Short term, long term

Since I started running, I was always told that its important to have a goal.  That's the only way a runner stays motivated and keeps leaving the house in running shoes.  So when I first started, my goals were fairly simple, but important goals for any new runner none the less.  I set goals like, making it through a 5km without walking, or breaking 30minutes for a 5km or even just to run twice a week. Slowly but surely I started reaching all the goals I was setting and I found myself setting more challenging ones.  I set distance goals as well as time goals.  Some goals I reached quicker than others.  For example, I ran my first 21.1km race in February 2010 and Two Oceans half marathon in April 2010.  However, it took me a lot longer to reach the goal of breaking 2hours for a 21.1.km.  I finally did it in September 2010.  It was so worth the wait and hard work! After Two Oceans in April I needed to set a new goal, something new to work towards.  So I decided on that day that I would run the 32km RAC Tough One in November.  It seemed very far in advance to be making these decisions, but I knew I would have to work pretty hard to break 2 hours for a 21 first, before I could attempt such a challenging race. So it all started falling into place.  I ran the 32km in 3:14 and set a new goal almost immediately.  Next challenge...Pick n Pay full marathon, 42.2km, in February 2011.  And I did it!  Along the way I set short term goals for myself as well, things like breaking 25minutes for a 5km, improving my time at Time Trial and breaking 50minutes for a 10km.  All these short term goals kept me training for the long term one! Now, after running two full marathons and then setting the goal of not running for a few months, I need some new challenges.  Short term goals...there are so many! Breaking 1:45 for a 21.1km, breaking 23minutes for a 5km, consistently running a sub 18minute 4km Time Trial, running five times a week, not getting injured, hill training at least once a week, the list goes on and on! Long term goals- there are just as many...32km Tough One in November in hopefully a sub 3:10, a sub 4hour marathon early in 2012, first ultra marathon - Two Oceans 56km in April 2012 and ultimately, Comrades in June 2012. I've yet to set a goal that I did not achieve, but the reality is it could happen.  But even if I don't manage to reach all these goals, its the trying that keeps me running!

Entered....

A little over a week ago I officially entered Comrades 2012.  I am roughly following the Don Oliver training programme, Alsoranrunners, which promises to help me finish the race within the given time.  Being a novice, I take all the advice I can get.  But sometimes, listening to too many different voices can get confusing.  So I've decided to follow this particular training programme and further more, it has to be about body sensing (which of course I read all about in some running book). I'm going to run how I feel and hope for the best. This means that sometimes I have to accept that I need rest days when my body says so and other days it will mean running further than what I'm used to when I'm feeling good.  So far it's working out well, but then again its still early days! I've been running consistently again for a few months now, resting when I need to, eating when I want to and going to gym when I can for extra strength training.  During the past few weeks I've run a few half marathons, each week improving my time. First there was the Wanderers 21.1km which I ran in 1:48:55, then there was the Zoo 21.1km which I ran in 1:47:09 and the most recent was the City 2 City half marathon held on 18 September.  It wasn't the easiest of races and I admit I walked up the last hill before the finish, but I managed a PB of 1:46:20. While things do seem to be going my way at the moment, I realise that I've still got a long road ahead of me! Fingers crossed I can avoid injury and exhaustion until June next year!

No prize for third place

On Sunday 4 September most runners in Johannesburg headed out to Germiston to run the Callies half marathon or 10km.  On the same morning however, there was also another race taking place.  This 15km race happened to be about seven minutes away from my house and since I had also run it last year and had really enjoyed it, I decided to sleep a little later on Sunday morning and run the race closer to my house.  The Modderfontein Spring run is a race for charity and it takes place through the Modderfontein Nature Reserve.  It's a very relaxed race (though pretty tough!) and the 5km, 10km and 15km attracts many walkers and runners who may not run competitively or particularly often.  While a normal race usually has a field of a few thousand runners, this particular field saw only a few hundred people.  Of those, I'm not sure how many opted for the 15km but when one of the marshals informed me with about 6km to go that I was the 3rd lady, I figured that there couldn't be too many runners!! True, I am usually in the top 50 or at least 100 (depending on the size of the field), but I'm not anywhere near good enough to ever sneak into a top ten position.  They say hard work and training can only take you so far in your running, the rest is just good genes and natural talent. So while I work hard to be average, I'll never be an elite athlete! So when I was informed of my position I just laughed and asked "how many women are there - ten?"(Turns out there were quite a few more than ten).  At the end of the 15km I had managed to hold on to my position of third place.  In a normal race, there are cash prizes for the top three men and women.  Being a race for charity though, there was no prize giving what so ever.  So, my first 'podium' position in a race and nothing to show for it.  Then again, had it been a normal race, I wouldn't have been anywhere near that podium!

Cross training, good weather and other factors contributing to a good race...

The Wanderers 21.1km took place on Sunday 28 August.  There was an option to run a 10km and when I arrived at the Wanderers stadium at 06:30 on Sunday morning, the cold wind and miserable looking sky almost convinced me to take the easy way out.  But I had been focused on running this half marathon the whole week so I wasn't keen to give up on myself just yet.  I accepted that it wouldn't be a great race, seeing that I have only done one race of 10km in the past few months and my training doesn't exactly consist of heavy mileage at this stage.  But I knew I've been doing just enough to at least make it through a 21.1km, even if that meant walking along the way to catch my unfit breathe.  So I lined up with a very small field on Sunday morning, hoping to at least come in under the six minutes a km time of 2:06.  I shivered my way through the first few km, which passed by very slowly.  About 4 or 5 km into the race, I started to warm up enough to take off the extra layer that was shielding me from the wind.  The weather remained cool for the duration of the race (and day) but while this seemed like a bad thing earlier that morning, it was turning out to be a great thing for the runners! Kays 5 to 16 flew by and before I knew it, the race was coming to an end! I'm not sure what it was, maybe a combination of things like fresh legs at the beginning of running season, my extra hours in the gym this Winter or the cool weather (or maybe the fact that I needed the bathroom for the better part of the race so I was extremely focused on getting to the end as quickly as possible), but somehow, the race went surprisingly well! In April of this year, after having run two full marathons, I ran the Two Oceans half marathon in Cape Town.  I like to think I was pretty fit at this stage and I managed to run a PB of 1:47. Somehow, on Sunday I ran the Wanderers half marathon in 1:48.  I wouldn't say I'm even nearly as fit now as I was then, so how this happened, I'm not entirely sure.  Runners always say that how you feel on the day of a race, can change everything, despite all the hard work you may have already done in preparation for the race.  So maybe it was just my lucky day.

C for Committed....

The big C...Comrades, happening 3 June 2012.  I keep saying to myself that I'll train for Two Oceans 56km and if all goes well I'll go on to do Comrades.  But just recently I read something that made me rethink this outlook.  Apparently "I'll see how it goes" is the wrong attitude to have when it comes to something as serious as running 89km! I read that those who adopt the "I'll see how it goes after Easter" attitude, are those same runners who also say "I'll see how I feel at half way" and don't end up completing the race. So it seems a solid commitment to Comrades is part of whats required if I have any hope of making it through the 'ultimate human race.' It makes sense I suppose, seeing that staying mentally focused and strong plays such an important role in long distance running.  Being fit is one thing, but if your mind is not in the right space, you could end up having  a disaster of a race.  I know this from one particular race I ran last year in October, after having just had a rather heated argument with my running man.  I reached the start line feeling frustrated and anxious, rather than relaxed and ready.  I struggled through the entire half marathon and I was unable to focus on my running for even 1km! Needless to say that race holds bad memories for me and I don't think I'll be running it this year come October! So I need to decide...am I ready to commit to running Comrades 2012, because sitting on the fence is no longer an option.  Entries open on 1 September so I still have a few days to decide.  I have a feeling I know what my decision will be, but I'll take some more time to think about it, because once I Commit, there's no going back!

Recovery Juice...Yay or Nay?

Recovery juice...what's that? Well for starters its not really called recovery juice, that's just a name that I've given to a post workout drink that I believe helps me to recover more quickly.  But does it really? To be honest, I'm not 100% sure that it does or does not do what the bottle says it does.  All I know is that when I first started running I firstly, didn't run enough to ever need something like this and secondly I didn't even know it existed.  After I ran my first half marathon my legs were so sore that I couldn't run for five days after the event.  Of course with each race the recovery period became shorter and slightly less painful.  But I always struggled to run even as much as two or three days after a longer race.  I would argue that rest days are just as important as training, but when your weekly mileage isn't that high to begin with, you don't exactly want three rest and recovery days between each Sunday race! I admit that when someone suggested a drink to help the recovery process, I was very skeptical.  I don't like taking products that seem unnatural, especially if I'm not sure whats in them.  So I did some research on a particular brand and found that in fact many runners take a post workout drink to speed up their recovery.  Surely then it couldn't be that bad for me?  I started taking the product after training runs and didn't notice any negative effects, though I didn't see any real benefits either...until I ran my next half marathon.  For the first time after a longer race I was able to firstly, wear heels to work the very next day (!!) and secondly, go for a short recovery run the day after the race...without any discomfort! All because of my recovery juice??? I wasn't entirely convinced but I continued to sip my chocolate flavored, electrolite-filled drink after every run.  And somehow, sore legs became a thing of the past.  Some say it really is just all in your head, that this 'magic' recovery juice actually does nothing.  Others say it's just as good to drink an energade or eat a protein rich meal after a run...maybe so.  But for me, recovery juice works and I love it!

The much loved 10 km

I ran my first 10 km race before I had even run 1 km on the road.  It was a very laid back night race that is run every year for Valentines Day.  Being the day that it is, I promised my running man (who had already being trying to get me to run for a good year or so!) that I would take part.  I found a willing partner in pain to join me for a long 10 km out on the road.  She too was a new runner and so we promised to stay with each other every step of the way.  We ran/walked the 10 km in a shocking 73 minutes! But we did it...10 km! And believe you me, my legs felt it the next day.  Since that race I decided it might be fun to try a few more runs and races.  And so it all began.  Back in February 2009, 10 km felt like an almost impossible distance to run, but the more I ran the more I realised that it really isn't that far.  10 km is now a distance that I've come to enjoy so much that I usually run a little 10 km a few times a week in preparation for a longer race on the weekend....well this was before my break from running anyway. I've been back on the road for about 5 or 6 weeks now and while the first 4 weeks of that were filled with slow 5 or 6 km runs, it was finally time to face higher weekly mileage again.  So I started incorporating a few 7 and 8 km runs into my weekly training and I have even braved two 10 km training runs.  While they did feel never ending compared to the 5 km routes I got used to, it had to be done - and nothing beats the feeling you get after a good run!  So last week my running partner and I decided it was time to re-enter the racing world.  We entered our first 10 km race since the break during the long Winter.  But the sun is back out, and its time to get ready for marathon season! Old Eds 10 km and half marathon happened on Sunday morning at 08:00 (still a reasonable time to be up - soon races will start at 06:00 when it gets warmer!).  We approached the start line not expecting to set any new PB's, but rather to enjoy being back in the hustle of a race and see if we could in fact still run a little 10 km.  The race went by fairly quickly and passing familiar faces on the road who are also back for the first time in months is always fun.  There were a few moans and groans along the way, but all in all, a good race.  I finished the 10 km in a comfortable 53:20.  Quite far off the 48 minutes that is my previous PB for a 10 km, but not a bad effort.  With the first race done and the sun coming up earlier and earlier, marathon season is on its way...and I can't wait!

702 Walk the Talk

When a friend of mine asked a group of us girls to do the 702 Walk the Talk I admit I was a bit skeptical.  But the other girls all agreed and I certainly didn't want to be the only one left out...especially since I claim to be this so called runner! So we all happily payed the R100 for a good cause and signed up for the 15 km walk.  My first question - can we run? The answer - absolutely no running is allowed or you risk being disqualified. Well, when we entered many weeks ago, I wasn't really running anyway so I figured it would be a great opportunity to get some distance on the road and even if I wasn't running, walking is better than no exercise at all.  In fact, I've read somewhere that many runners use walking as part of their training.  So I looked forward to the race and got excited about being back out on the road in the early hours of a Sunday morning again.  When the alarm went off while it was still dark outside, it suddenly felt like I was back in running season - putting on my yellow race kit, lacing up my shoes and getting ready for a good morning - and it felt great... until we had to leave the warmth of the car, without our hoodies and tracksuit pants, and make our way to the start where the temperature was a supposed -1 degrees! The gun went off at 07:30 and instead of the usual pushing and shoving and general irritation trying to get past slow runners at the beginning of a running race, everyone set off at a very leisurely pace and it was only at about 5 km into the walk that I was warm enough to unfold my arms and actually use them for some extra speed.  When the sun eventually made an appearance the race turned out to be very enjoyable! Being the girls that we are, there wasn't a moments silence on the road and in between all the talking and giggling, the 15 km flew by!  After doing my first ever walking race, I've realised a few things.  Firstly, competitive walkers are pretty hard core! Sure, I can (could) run a marathon, but I felt muscles in my legs and bum today that I never even knew I had! Walking is completely different to running!  Secondly, while the social aspect of the walking was great for a change (I'm not big on too much talking while running!), I would choose running over walking any day of the week! And thirdly, I probably could have run that 15 km today.  My time would've been slow, but the important thing is, I think I'm almost ready to start racing again...and I can't wait!

It's a marathon, not a sprint

Three weeks of holiday flew by! I've only been back at work for three days and already it feels like I need another break! My aim for the three week holiday: start running again.  Did I do that? Sure did.  When you're relaxed and have an entire day ahead of you, getting out the door with your running shoes on doesn't seem like such an impossible task.  So most of my days were spent waking up without an alarm, keeping warm in the gym while the road was still too cold, and then enjoying a slow run when it warmed up outside.  Of course there were some days where absolutely no exercising took place and even more days where an intended 8 km run turned into a 5 km run en route!So while I felt fairly good about what I was doing at the time, after reviewing what I had actually achieved during the three weeks off from work, I found myself feeling quite disappointed.  In between all the cross training at the gym (which has left my poor arms and weak core muscles in a state of shock!) I managed 22 km in week one, 35 km in week two and 25 km in week three.  Not exactly a great come back to running! Before my break from running I was training up to 70 km per week - although its hard to believe it now...where did I find the time?? However, when I start thinking like this, I have to remind myself that if I want to run without another break, right up until June 2012, I really should start slow.  Whats the point of running 70 km a week now and then being injured, tired or just plain fed up in four months time?  I read somewhere that runners should really only run competitively for three months of the year - of course I'm pretty sure the author was referring to elite athletes and not the average Joe's of the running world.  But nevertheless, if I'm hoping to be a novice at Comrades next year, the last thing I want is to be over trained and underweight before I reach the start line.  So while Comrades is a (ultra) marathon and not a sprint, I have to make sure I don't get ahead of myself and try to treat the training in the same way - there's plenty of time to tire myself out with 100 km weeks later on in the year! For now, I'm just happy to make it through a short run without walking!

Being a Rand Road Warrior

When my running partner, Frances and I had just started running, we sat on the fence regarding joining a running club for quite a while.  Mainly because we weren't quite sure yet whether we were going to commit to this running thing, but also because when the group of eight to ten year olds from the local school are collecting their 'thanks for participating' medal before you in the 5km 'fun run,' you don't exactly want to be wearing club colours!  We were just starting out, we were painfully slow and we still looked at everyone who ran for a club like they were 'serious runners.' It was only later on that we realised you don't have to be a great runner to belong to a club! So in those first few months, Frances and I ran in our own colours of pink and black.  Eventually we became known at races as the 'ladies in pink' and so after having run a few half marathons, we decided it was finally time to choose a club! For most people, the choice is a simple one - join whichever club is closest to you so that you can attend weekly Time Trials and club runs with ease.  However, when you're a skin and bones, pale blonde girl (as both of us are) there is a whole different issue to consider! Colour! Lets face it - runners spend a lot of time in their running kit, and call us shallow, but we wanted to choose a club with a flattering kit (forget about the fact that we are red faced and sweaty after a race, so colour probably doesn't really matter).  There are a number of running clubs in our area and we had been attending the Time Trials of the club that was the closest to us.  The few times we had been, we loved it! The people were social and friendly, the TT route was flat and the whole club just seemed to have a good laugh when they got together.  The only problem...their running kit was canary yellow! Not the most flattering colour for anyone, least of all blondes!  So we put our decision off for a little longer.  But the more time we spent with the people at RRW, the more we became attached to the club.  It's a small club and everyone seemed to know everyone.  The fact that Thursday evenings start on the road next to a field and end around a full dustbin of empty beer cans, made the club so much more appealing.  They are generally a fun group of people, most of whom are brilliant runners! We were made to feel so at home at this club that eventually there was no other choice but to close our eyes to the bright yellow and join! We've been Edenvale Rand Road Warriors for over a year now and I think I speak for both of us when I say we've grown quite attached to the yellow and will continue to be proud RRW for as long as we are runners!

The Ipod debate

Someone once told me that you're not a real runner if you run with an Ipod.  But that's how I started.  The only thing that got me through my first few unbearable and horribly unfit runs, was having music in my ears to distract me from the pain in my legs, chest and pretty much all over my body.  Even as I got fitter, I continued to listen to some old punk rock music from my younger years to motivate me through both training runs and races.  My second ever half marathon was the Maritzburg 21 km.  The race took place in February in Pietemaritzburg so you can imagine the heat and humidity that was felt by the runners even as early as the first km at 6 am!  So when I saw a water station with a kind of shower that you could run through at about 10 km, I eagerly ran under it in an attempt to cool down for the second half of the race.  Foolishly, I didn't think about my Ipod and the damage the water might cause.  Unfortunately the music stopped almost immediately and for the next 11 km, all I had to listen to was the sound of my own panting!  I made it through the race, but was convinced that I could have run better had I been accompanied by the sounds of Pennywise and Rancid for the full 21 km. I went out the very next day to buy a new Ipod and loaded it with all the same songs.  From that day on I have always been extra careful with my running aid, making sure its fully charged and safely dry before any run.  

Just recently, the powers that be in the running world have banned Ipods from all races and if runners choose to ignore this new rule and get caught, they risk being disqualified from a race.  The reason - safety of the runners.  It's been said that runners are less aware of the traffic on the roads when listening to music while running.  In addition, runners sometimes cut in front of other runners without realising it because they may be paying less attention when their Ipods are too loud.  I completely respect this new rule and understand the safety issue.  However, I know many runners who do rely on Ipods to get them through runs and while I don't rely on it as much as I used to (I am now capable of running even a full marathon without the help of music...well, I was a few months ago anyway) I have gotten used to it and rather enjoy having something to listen to while running.  I've heard many runners argue that each runner should be responsible for their own safety on the road and should have enough sense not to put the volume on their Ipod so loud so as to be cut off from what's going on around them.  Even if Ipods are banned from races, (where there are closed roads and marshals to assist with the safety of the runners) I for one and many others I'm sure will continue to train with Ipods.  I always make sure my music is soft enough for me to be able to hear everything else that's going on around me so that safety doesn't become an issue.  And as much as I do respect the new rule, I am hoping against all hope that by the time Comrades comes around next year the running world would have forgotten all about it, because to be honest, ten or eleven hours is a long time to be running with your own thoughts and the sound of your own exhaustion without a little musical distraction to help you out for a while!

The beauty of the treadmill

I suppose trying to start running again in the middle of Winter was probably not the best idea.  But I had the time off work and figured that all that free time would help motivate me to get back out on the road.  To be honest, I didn't really even think much about the weather and how cold it might be.  The first week of my holiday I was lucky in that the sun was out every day and by midday the temperatures reached about 18 or 19 degrees, which is supposedly perfect running weather (or so I've read in some or other running article).  So I managed to get out on the road every day of the first week (except Thursday when the chocolate cake seemed like a better idea, and of course Sunday, when I was enjoying a well deserved day of good food, great company and nursing a slight hangover). The second week of my holiday however, I was not so lucky! One of the few benefits of living in Johannesburg (because lets face it, Cape Town has the sea, the mountain and the sane drivers) is the weather in Winter.  It might be unbearably cold in the morning and at night, but there's no rain and miserable gray skies.  So running in Winter is not impossible, its just more difficult to get out on the road when its cold.

When I woke up on Monday morning of my second week of holiday I noticed that there wasn't much morning sun coming through the curtains as there had been the previous week.  I checked the time expecting it to be a lot earlier than it was because of how dull it still looked outside.  Unfortunately, it remained dull for the rest of the day.  So I had to make a choice.  Either, layer up and brave a run in the 9 degree weather, or go to the gym and run on the treadmill.  After opening the window, I made a quick decision for the treadmill!  I'm lucky enough to have a gym in my complex (because everyone knows the hardest part about the gym is actually getting in your car and going there!).  I was quite surprised to find the small gym quite busy on Monday morning...is everyone a teacher or do these people just not have jobs?? There was one treadmill free so I claimed it straight away and started a slow run.  I find running on the treadmill somewhat harder than road running, mainly because watching 'My Super Sweet 16' while running is not quite as fulfilling as being outdoors and enjoying the fresh air.  Gyms are always hot and stuffy, no matter how cold it is outside - which I do enjoy for the first 500m  while I'm trying to warm up, but thereafter, you can be sure that I'll be sweating up a storm in the next couple of km! I carried on running until the treadmill said 5 km (in a shocking total of 28 minutes...and I used to do it in 23!).  Because it was such a slow run, I felt good afterwards and decided that since I had already won half the battle by getting to the gym, I may as well stay for some cross training.  So after a quick drink of water, I moved on to some weights and other strength training.  Tuesday I had a disaster of a day - being in a small accident and other insignificant problems can really demotivate you! So after my little car accident I decided to spend the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself on the couch instead of going back to the treadmill.  In hindsight, a little exercise was probably exactly what I needed to pull myself towards myself, but of course this didn't cross my mind in amongst all my self pity!  Wednesday, I was back in the game! The weather was still as it had been at the start of the week so I chose the treadmill once again.  I ran the 5 km and watched a total of 27 minutes of MTV, after which, I stayed in the gym and cross trained for a further 45 minutes.  Thursday was a big day and left me feeling good about things throughout the weekend! I went to the gym, ran on the treadmill, cross trained and when the sun came out later in the afternoon, I put my running shoes back on and enjoyed a 5km run on the road...finally!  Friday's bad weather saw me back on the treadmill, but as my weak  arms are suffering from all the weight lifting, I left the gym directly after my run.

 Saturday I managed to get out on the road  and ran a 5km route in 25 minutes (slightly better than the treadmill, but still not a good time!) and Sunday I was back in the gym for more treadmill time and of course a little cross training.  So all in all, a 35 km week (not quite the 70 km weeks I used to have!) with plenty of cross training.  If it wasn't for my good friend the treadmill, my week would've looked a lot less energetic! Do I prefer running on the road, definitely.  But the trusty treadmill makes for a great substitute when I can't face the cold!

My weekends are still my weekends

15 May...that's the last time the alarm went off on a Sunday morning for a race.  It's been so long I'm not sure I'll even respond to an early morning race wake up call anymore.  After Comrades at the end of May, races do become more few and far between, giving runners time to recover after the 90 km race between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.  But July - that's when they start becoming more frequent again.  After the RAC 10 km that I ran on the 15 May, I excitedly told everyone about my plan to stop running for a while (even though I didn't run Comrades this year, I felt I needed a break too!) and start just in time to be ready for the first few easy races at the beginning of July.   Clearly, time somehow got away from me and I am far from ready.  The first race that I naively believed I would do was last Sunday on the 3 July.  The Northgate 10 km is an easy race that is perfect for starting up again.  However, my options for the weekend were as follows : Either I could wake up early on Sunday morning, drag myself to the start of the race at the Northgate shopping centre and struggle my way through 10 km, a distance I have not run since May! Of course when my watch said I had been running for 48 minutes (my previous PB for a 10 km) and I was only at the 8 km mark, I would have mentally given up and I would probably have walked the last 2 km! My other option was to spend Saturday afternoon and evening enjoying caramel vodkas at the Pink Punter party and then wake up at a reasonable hour on Sunday morning to indulge in a champagne brunch with my oldest friend.  I think it's pretty obvious which option won in the end! Of course there's no rule saying that I couldn't have done both, and when I 'm as fit as I used to be then a few caramel vodkas won't stop me from enjoying a short distance race.  However, at the moment I'm not sure I could enjoy a 10 km after a big pasta meal and 8 hours of sober sleep! So that was my decision made!

The next race is on Sunday 10 July.  The ADT  Security Pirates 10 km is another pleasant and easy race that, a few months ago, I had every intention of doing.  So will I set the alarm for Sunday morning? To be honest, probably not.  From this point onwards, there will be races every Sunday morning until May 2012.  So I figure, why not run during the week to regain my previously lost fitness and when I'm ready there will be plenty of races to choose from.  Until then, my weekends are still my weekends.

First week back on the road

They say it takes two weeks to form a habit.  I wonder if it takes the same amount of time to get back into a previously formed habit? And why is it that bad habits seem to need less time to form than good habits do?  It took me months to get into the habit of going for a run every day after work.  But it only took two or three days to get used to putting on a tracksuit instead of running gear and sitting in front of the TV after work.  One of the perks of being a teacher is that I now have three weeks off to figure all this out! Five days down and I've realised that while it also takes months of hard work to reach a certain level of fitness, it only takes two months worth of couch time, TV, red wine and chocolate, to end up exactly where you started!

I began the week on Monday feeling optimistic and excited to get back out on the road.  I drove down to my running club's time trial route (a great, flat 4 km route that we usually run twice on a Thursday evening at TT) equipped with Ipod and Garmin watch.  I started out feeling good and I was surprised to find that I was really enjoying it! This was going better than expected! Of course the entire run didn't go quite as  well.  I ran out of breath and slowed down...a lot! Before my break from running I was able to complete the 4 km in roughly 18 minutes (not a phenomenal time, but I was working on improving it!) and the double lapper in  38 minutes.  For obvious reasons I opted to skip the second lap on Monday morning and finished my first 4 km back on the road in an embarrassing 19:59!  Despite this, I still felt good after the short, slow run.  So good in fact that I rewarded myself by baking a chocolate cake!

Tuesday I set out again, this time braving a slightly more hilly route.  I ran 5 km and by the time I was finished I looked and felt worse than I did after I ran my first marathon!  But I remember all too well the cliche 'no pain, no gain.' So I was back on the road again on Wednesday! I started out in the gym on Wednesday morning (trying not to neglect the cross training) and finished off the morning with a 7 km run on the road.  Thursday - Time Trial day.  I belong to a great little club that gather in a field on a Thursday evening to socialise, have a few drinks, and of course run. It's been a long time since I've been to TT but in the Winter months many runners tend to hibernate and I don't imagine there has been a great turnout.  I fully intended to go and run a leisurely 4 km, but when my running partner canceled, my leftover chocolate cake started speaking to me and I suddenly couldn't face going alone! So I conveniently called Thursday my 'rest day'.  Friday - I finished off the week with a 6 km run, feeling better than I have all week.  I'm still running a lot slower than I used to and I still have to talk myself into my running shoes.  But give it another week and this running thing might become a habit once again!

The value of cross training

I've never been big on sports.  Partly because I'm not very good at them and partly because I'm so small its almost abnormal, so if a ball is hit or thrown in my direction, I tend to run away! Being a runner now, I hear and read a lot about the value of cross training.  Some runners find another sport or exercise to keep them active on 'rest days' and other, more hard core runners might cross train before or after a run! I hadn't really given much thought to what benefits it might have for my running until recently.  I decided a few months ago that while I was taking a short break from running, it would also be the perfect time to get a head start on whatever cross training I was going to do.  Problem was, I'm not great on a bike, I don't like swimming and clearly any ball sports are out! So that left gym.  Being 26 and still built like a ten year old boy, I've never had any weight loss reasons to go to the gym and keeping fit only became a priority to me when I started running.  In fact, the first time I ever walked into a gym was when a typical Summer thunderstorm in Johannesburg forced me to try out the treadmill!  So two months ago I bravely walked into the small gym in my complex to give this cross training thing a go.  My running man helped me work out a few reps that would supposedly help to strengthen my legs and surprisingly, I quite enjoyed it...until we started working on the dreaded core!

To be honest I was never quite sure what was meant by 'your core' until I read the book Chi Running which explained it all nicely.  Turns out, leading a largely inactive lifestyle for 25 years will lead to a very weak core...which is not great for running.  In the gym I wasn't able to complete many of the simple core exercises without feeling pain in my back.  It was pretty embarrassing actually so needless to say I now do all core exercises in the comfort of my own home!  Two months later and I'm still going strong at the gym.  I've got a nice little routine that keeps me busy for roughly an hour after which I go home and work on strengthening the dreaded core! The challenge now will be to see if I can keep it up while racking up the mileage on the road again.  Will all this cross training help my running? I'm not sure yet, but I hope so!

Get off the couch

My teenage years and early twenties were filled with punk rock bands, parties and staying out til 5 am on a Sunday morning.  These days if I’m awake at 5 am on Sunday morning, I’m lacing  up my running shoes, applying Vaseline under my arms to avoid chafing and getting ready for a race. So how did I morph into this runner? Well, it took me about a year and a half, and I’m still not quite there yet.  In short, I met a man who is a runner, moved from Cape Town to Johannesburg, found a GREAT running partner and joined the world of running – one that I didn’t even know existed until I met above mentioned man.
But as all runners know, you don’t just become a runner overnight.  It takes a lot of early mornings, hard work and in my case, a change of lifestyle.  And even after all that, most of us will always just be average runners.  So why do I keep doing it? Simple, nothing else in the world gives you the same feeling as running does!
So in October 2009 I officially gave up smoking and decided to attempt this running thing.  I lined up every Sunday morning, along with the toddlers and geriatrics to participate in the 5 km ‘fun run’ while my man sprinted his way through a 21 km or even a 42 km. Fast forward a few months to when I could finally make it through a 10 km and actually enjoy it.  Fast forward a few more months to when I could comfortably finish a 21 km in a respectable sub 2 hours.  And finally, early in 2011 I completed two full marathons ie 42 km!  (One of which was run in Rome!).  The next step (Because runners are never satisfied and always have to achieve more), the Ultra Marathon – possibly Two Oceans.  And hopefully in May/June 2012, I’ll be one of the 14 000 or so ordinary people lining up in Pietemaritzburg to run the ultimate human race aka Comrades.
The only problem – after more mileage than my little legs could handle in a few months, I had to take a breather from all the running.  So I’ve spent the past month and a half sitting on the couch eating cheese curls and toast.  And going to the gym twice a week does not have the same effect as running 10 km a day does! So I’m a few kilos heavier, but well rested and ready to start running again…just as soon as I finish these last few cheese curls!