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!