Marathon Training – Long Run #1

I have like 11 months until I plan to marathon but you can’t start your long run training too early. Esp when my effort today was 12 kms. Only 30 kms to build up there. I went to the Tan with the intention of seeing how far I could run, thereby setting a benchmark to build from. I ran the first two laps (very slowly) then thought I’d run an extra 2 km to get up to 10 km total.  After 1 km I figured I might as well keep going as turn around – what’s an extra 2 km?

Trying to work out your limits can be hard, can’t it?  I mean we all have a limit we could be running/workout to if absolutely necessary – like if you had a bad man chasing you – but you aren’t going to really work to that same level just on a training run now are you?  I mean, you’ve got to get out of bed and function the next day. 

I finished up today in a state where if someone offered me an obscene amount of cash, I could have done an extra lap but no way was I doing it just for shits and giggles.  I reckon that’s a good point to finish a run.  Now it’s build, build, build, recover and so on.  First step on the ladder is the Run for the Kids next year.

On the job front – just wanted to say for those who commented the job in Canberra said no phone interview, no way.  It *had* to be face to face.  I think that fact and that they wanted the interview on a Monday morning when everyone knows airfares are much more costly around the weekend showed they were NOT employers of choice.  Experience has shown if they are annoying before the interview, things do not get better.

Anyway I have about 3 possiblities in the air, hopefully one will land in a nice bubble of cash.  I figure even if  I can get a week’s work it will keep me going until after Christmas.  Fingers crossed.  After making an initial query about the dole, I never got back in touch with them (I was supposed to call them) but I hate dealing with Centrelink so am really hoping that I don’t need to.

Other good things in life: 

• I’ve started writing again after not writing anything more creative than a shopping list for about six months.  At the moment, it is only for my own amusement and it might stay that way but I’m enjoying it and that’s what matters cos god knows there is no money in writing anyway
• I start back at Japanese class next week.  I want to learn kanji because it’s well and good being able to talk the language but sometimes you need to read stuff.  I’m freaked out though cos kanji – not easy.
• My video clip filming is tomorrow.
• I know this is the most annoying thing you can say on a blog but I’m thinking about a Major Life Decison that I don’t want to make public atm.

Dressy dress dress

Back in the heady days of my serious weight lossing, one of the pinnacle moments was the day I realised I never had to shop in plus shops any more.  Woohoo, no more moment.

Well lately I’ve been looking for a dress and everything everywhere is seriously crap.  Arrgghh I hate all the clothes around at the moment.  I finally found one — at City Chic (that’s a plus size shop for those not familiar with it).  It’s the most perfect dress ever and I love it a lot.  But what’s with that shop – where’s all the oversized floral prints and the cheap synthetic fabrics?  Where’s all the “figure flattering” flowing dresses? 

How awesome is that dress?  Btw I have no idea what is going on with the guy in the background!  Or with my zombie facial expression!  Yahs for the dress though – and for having to buy an extra small

I also found my favourite Japanese chocolate: Crunky.  Oh how I love you Crunky.  My diet rule is no chocolate but Crunky, on account of Crunky doesn’t make you fat… plus I have to go into the city to buy so major effort involved.  But once you’ve had Crunky, no other chocolate cuts it.

Anyway, I was going to layby the dress on account of having no source of income at the moment but then remembered that Christmas is coming.  So I bought it on the spot then phoned Andrew and told him he’d done my Christmas shopping – I’m such a good Mum! 

Anyway, I have been thinking about life changing decisions and such at the moment.  I had a call today about a job I’d applied for in Canberra.  They wanted me to go for an interview – the catch was that it had to be Monday morning, they wouldn’t change it to any other time.  To get to Canberra on Monday morning, I’d have had to pay $400-500 for a flight.  I had to make a split second judgement call on it and decided to turn it down.  That’s a lot of money to spend with no guarantee that I’d get the job plus it was only a 2 month contract.  Meanwhile there is NOTHING in Melbourne – and I mean nothing.  All the jobs are in Sydney or New Zealand and, while I’m flexible about moving, those are both more than I could handle I reckon.

Dance, dance, dance…

Go go dancing last night then we had to remain behind to rehearse for the video shoot next week.  Didn’t finish until after 10.00, so a big night of dancing in a very hot room.

But, yah, I’m going to be part of a video clip.  I’ve always wanted to be in a video clip, it’s one of those life long dreams, but when I found out they wanted people from our go go class to get involved my first thought was “I’d love to do that but I’m not good enough:  I’m not that person”.

This is my challenge to you – the next time you want to do something, don’t worry about being good enough, don’t worry that you aren’t the kind of person who does that.  Just go for it.  What have you got to lose?

Toothed Up

Got out for a run this morning.  After warming up, I tried the 10 min run/1 min walk intervals.  It was hard but not too hard.  I felt a lot better running than I did on Sunday but then because I’d done the kettle bell class yesterday, my legs felt pretty sore so I was forced to keep to a slow pace.  Better to run 3 x 10 mins at slow pace than to go out fast then collapse in heap.

After that, I went to the dentist to get my missing teeth reconstructed.  It’s now the $6million tooth, cos they rebuilt it stronger, faster… and that’s about how much this freaken tooth has cost me!

Got home and checked my bank balance.  My sister had loaned me some money to cover the dental costs etc since I don’t get paid until Thurs.  I knew the money was in my account yesterday.  Checked it today and the transaction had completely disappeared!  OMG!  I freaked and called my sister.  Meanwhile, she was sick on the weekend and it’s developed into something awful, kinda like shingles on her ear drum.  Not good at all.  Sorted it all out with her then rang the bank to check and got a recording saying there has been a BIG problem with transactions from the past 3 days and they are sorting it out atm.  Maybe I should apply for a job with the Comm bank, might be some IT positions vacant there real soon!

Weigh In – 82.9 kgs

A gain of half a kilo this week, basically taking me back to where I was before I went on hols. I pretty much expected it since I was in a slump for the past week, overeating and not exercising. But I’m back!

In the spirit of Miss Milo and others, I’m getting myself a Christmas challenge: Under 80 by Christmas (and staying there… the real challenge). That’s less than 3 kilos in 4 weeks or so – when the hell is Christmas?

Actually, I’m so un-Christmas this year. I have been so focused on going oseas that Christmas got lost, not that we do anything big anyway. At the moment, I’m planning on spending Christmas in Tassie with Mum but since I don’t know what’s happening workwise, I can’t book anything.

To get in the spirit of things, I think I’ll write a Santa list.

Dear Santa,

I reckon I’ve been good(ish) this year. We’ll just forget those few indiscretions shall we. I don’t want much, just a few little things:

• a job would be nice.  Maybe something that goes for more than a month or so, you know, long enough for me to remember what floor to press on the lift buttons. 
• I’m not going to ask for weight loss, since I know you’re no great shakes in that yourself, but the common sense to do what I know is good for me… that’s not too much to ask for is it.
• a pretty summer dress, not like the crap I’ve been seeing in the shops.

Too simple I’d have thought.

 

 

 

 

Kettlebells

I actually went to the gym today, and did a kettle bell class. Amazingly enough, even though I can notice a huge loss of fitness with running, I didn’t really notice much difference with having three weeks off kettle bell training. Maybe lugging suitcases up and down stairs all over Japan took care of that!

I’ve been thinking lately about all the things I love doing yet seem to avoid – boxing, kettle bell training, go go class even running. Why do I avoid them? Who knows – laziness or some kind of wacky brain stuff? Plus a general dislike of leaving the house. Oh yeah, and I’m too tired!

When I first started exercising, I never let myself use the ”I’m too tired” excuse. I’d go to the gym if I had a gym visit planned. There are rare times when you are too tired to do a workout, like if you’ve been three days without sleep and there’s a danger of dozing off and dropping a dumbbell on your foot, but just everyday stuff like work and life shouldn’t make you too tired to go to gym. In fact going to the gym gives you more energy.

I’m going to start making sure I do the things I enjoy. Not just the things I enjoy, but the things that I don’t really love but make me feel better (I’m talking about you, yoga). I spend far too much time dicking around and far, far too much time playing spider solitaire when I could be spending that time lifting things and hitting things and stretching other things. I’m going to start pushing myself out the door – I can pretty much guarantee I’ll feel better for it.

Run!

I actually got myself out of the house for a run today, only the second time since I’ve been back. I did a lap of the Tan, finishing at the top of the Anderson St hill, then doubled back to catch up with my sister, walked back with her then ran up the hill a second time. My fitness is totally shot to shit atm, I can barely run 1/2 km without dying, but I ran almost to the top of the hill twice so am proud of my efforts.

I noticed today how many ppl run a really good pace on the flat around the Tan then get to the hill and walk up it. I silently judge them for that… slackers.

After that, we walked through the gardens because there were signs up for an exhibition of botanical drawings. You know, I studied Fine Arts for 3 years and basically think most art is a pile of crap with a lot of wank thrown in, but botanical art is something I can understand. I did get a very snotty look from one woman at the exhibition — hmmmm, seems art and sweat don’t mix.

After that, I decided to run back to the car. Despite nearly dying earlier in my run, I’m rediscovering how much I love running.

I think the plan now is to go out and see how long I can run for then start doing some walk/run intervals like 10 min run/1 min walk or something until I get fitter.

On a completely different note, I mentioned in one of my Japan posts that we went to the Sony centre in Ginza but got stuck watching (and drooling over) an ad. This is the ad, – possibly the hottest thing ever!

Stormy

I can’t believe the weather in Melbourne – it’s like the middle of winter… in Tasmania! Luckily it was okay for a while so I managed to get out and get a coffee.

Things still aren’t back on track around here. I haven’t been to the gym since I got back from holidays – I’ve been totally resistant to going to the gym. I haven’t even been into the city. Instead I’ve been coccooned into my own little world. I leave the house to go to the local cafe and shops and have worked 2 days this week, but don’t feel like going anywhere beyond that.

I had planned to go to Kettlebell class today but when I woke up and heard the storm, I snuggled back down into bed.

I think this week instead of pushing myself to do some hardcore training, I’ll ease myself into it. So long as I do something every day – walk, run, weights at home, etc – I’m not going worry much beyond that.

Toothless

I’m not working today so woke up thinking of all the things I could do – gym, shopping etc – then remembered I didn’t have a tooth. I don’t wanna go out in public like this. I called my dentist so hopefully they’ll call back soon saying I can get in today.

I think the whole tooth snapping incident isn’t my dentist’s fault – I went to my first (dodgy) dentist who did a root canal on this tooth then my new dentist did the veneer. I wasn’t even eating anything risky – it was a liquorice allsort. Not a particularly hard or chewy liquorice allsort at that, just a regular soft one!

Dental Update: Just got back from the dentist. They can’t do anything until Tuesday! Arrrgghhh! On the bright side, they said they’d take the money I’ve paid for the veneer off the cost of any treatment to fix it.

OMG

My tooth broke – like it just snapped roff about a millimetre from the gum! Not my front tooth but the one next to it. The one that I spent a zillion dollars getting root canal treatment on then a zillion dollars getting it gussied up. Now it’s gone except for a piddly stump and I’m going to have to spend another zillion dollars, which I don’t have, getting it fixed. It’s doubly crucial now because I have to be able to find a job and that’s going to be hard, looking like Cletus the Slack-Jawed, Missing Toothed Yokel.

Must go ring the Dental Hospital Emergency number to find out what I can do!