Melb Marathon

The year before last, I ran the half in the Melbourne Marathon.  Last year I ran a very slow and painful 10 kms.  I was in the zone – the geriatic zone.  My legs just didn’t want to work.

This year, with all the no running and problems I’ve had, I didn’t even consider running.  I didn’t want to do an even slower and more painful 10 kms.  I didn’t want to do 5 kms.  I thought about the half a few months ago but would never have been able to do it.

So, I got an email this week and decided to opt out all together and volunteer instead.  I’ve always wanted to volunteer at a running event.  I think all the folks working at these things do an amazing job and really appreciate how just a smile or word of encouragement can help lift your spirits (even though I like to have my ipod on when I run, at fun runs I always take the ear buds out when I pass the marshalls cos it’s rude not to).

Anyway, I’ll be working at the finish line somewhere on the day so hope to see lots of familar faces looking triumphant.

Good things!

I’ve been recently thinking about doing some personal training at the gym, especially boxing training.  I love boxing but the class I was going to just wasn’t challenging enough for me.  I kinda hate classes cos, unless you with a friend, you get randomly paired with someone who might be a whole different skill level – and bad either way.

So today I was at the gym and I asked one of the trainers to check my deadlifts (see my previous post).  She was great and did say that my form was wrong and we spent some time getting it right.  Awesome.

Later I was at the punching bags and she came over and asked if I wanted to do some sparring with her.  We got chatting and now I’ve booked in to do a training sessions with her for the next 12 weeks.

I’m all motivated now because I’m not paying for training then screwing it by eating bad etc.  I start on Wednesday and it’s going to be awesome!

More…

Too many thoughts for one post today!

Goal:  In Sept 2006, I got to my goal weight of 70 kgs.  That was 3 years ago.  I’ve put on around 20 kgs since then.  Ha, this is more like a weight gaining blog than weight loss. 

Since then, I’ve always held that 70 kg weight as the pinnacle, the shining light of success but lately I remembered something. 

When I looked at photos of myself at that time, I wasn’t happy.  Happy with the body (still thought I could lose more weight though) but NOT happy with my face.  I looked drawn and old.

Last night I found a photo on my phone taken when at the BDO in Jan 08.  I looked good in that photo.  Not thin but okay.  I figured I was around 75 kgs at that time.  Today I checked on Calorie King (how convenient to have all my weigh ins online).  I was 85 kgs! 

That’s the way I’ve been for most of the past year and a half.  During that time, I’ve really, really unhappy with how I feel about my body.

I think it’s easy to get caught up in the whole losing weight for the sake of losing weight thing without stopping to remember why you are doing this in the first place. 

I AM unhappy at my current weight.  I have a spare tyre that would fit a Mac truck!  It makes my clothes look bad and I’m always bashing against it.  

I need to get back to a place where I’m happy not some number that fits within a BMI grid or anywhere else.  And most up, I need to stop feeling miserable.  The weight I am now is still something I couldn’t imagine most of my life.  I’m doing things I never thought I would.  That’s got to count for something.

Blerk!

I’m a bit worried about my new job.  Since I got the offer, they’ve changed the details a few times.  I’m sure they are just trying it on to see how low they can get me to go.  I really want the job and it’s paying more than I’m getting at the moment but this really sucks.  I’ve said the last offer is the lowest I’m go.  

Also, the agency hasn’t sent through my contract yet.  I am not saying anything at my current job until I have something in writing so it’s majorly painful.    And when I went to the agency for an interview on Monday, the dude wasn’t there.   They asked if I could come back at lunch time Tuesday — he was v apologetic about it later and said it was a miscommunication… hmmm.

I have a theory that if a job is a PITA to start with, it never gets any better.  Always happened with me.  Still I need to earn more money.  I have to save.  I’ve save zero dollars this month.  Well like $30.

To answer Louise, yes I’m still going to Japan.  It looks like it will be Jan-Mar next year now.  That’s part of the reason I’m putting up with all this malarky.  I want maximum savings before I go. 

I’m hoping it’s just the agency doing all the mucking around and not the actual client (although, come to think of it, they are an organisation famous for mucking people around).  Still it’s $$$.

Freaky

When I got my weights program at the gym, the trainer told me to do 2 x 10-15 reps of each exercise so basically I’ve been doing that but when I get to 15 reps, I put the weight up next time (as you’d expect).

That’s all fine and dandy, except with the deadlifts.  I started on 30 kgs which was challenging but soon bumped that up.  Added more weight, still managed 15 reps easily, more weight, more weight.  I’m now up to 60 kgs and, while it’s challenging for me, I’m still managing to pump out 15 reps.

Is that normal?  I’ve doubled the weight in a month!  I’m a bit worried about adding any more weight cos once apon a time I hurt my back doing deadlifts wrong. 

I think I might grab one of the trainers and ask them about it and also get them to check my form so I know I’m not going to wreck myself. 

Also, I’ve pulled a muscle in my shoulder!  Not from doing weights but on the punching bag.  I think I have punching bag issues.  I really like hitting stuff. 

To me, it’s not like exercise.  It’s like when you are playing a computer game or something and you get so wrapped up in it that you are oblivious to everything around you.  That means if something starts hurting, I’ll keep going!

Anyway, I have only been working out on the bag cos the one class I can get to at the gym is boring as hell and not challenging so I’m thinking of getting a PT so my boxing technique doesn’t go to hell.  Also I think I can afford it now as I HAVE A NEW JOB!   A 12 month contract with much more $$$ and around the corner from the gym.  Perfecto.

Running

After my post yesterday, I thought I should put my money where my mouth is – or my feet where my mouth is (but not in the normal way I do that…lol).

I got to the gym and headed to the treadie.  Lately I’ve been doing a 30 min walk/run with lots more walking than running.  I set it for 30 mins then changed my mind and went for 60 figuring I could always finish early.

Instead of stopping when I started to feel twinges of pain, I decided to see just how long I could run for.  I wanted to at least get over 5 mins of continuous running since that’s about all I’ve been doing lately. 

I didn’t set the incline.  Normally I have it on about 2% or so but I think that could be contributing the calf pain.

I started off with a walk then at 3 mins upped it to a run.  A slow run.  A 7.5 km/h run.  That’s damn slow; I can walk at 7 km/h.  But I made it to the 5 min mark then kept going.  I got to 8 mins before the calves got too sore to keep going.

Stopped for a 2 min rest then started running again, wanting to get another 8 mins.  Got to 8 and felt fine so aimed for 10.  I kinda missed the 10 mark, fiddling around with the video screen and my ipod (did I mention you can watch video clips off your ipod on the screens on the treadie — lots of J-Pop!), so figured I couldn’t stop at an random number and aimed for 15…

At the 15 min mark my fave song came on, so had to keep going.  I have this weird thing I do sometimes when I’m on the treadmill.  When I get to the point where I can’t go on and want to rest, instead of slowing down I bump up the pace.  It keeps me going for some reason (and I figure I can go back to the original speed and it will *feel* like a rest).   It works for me.

Got to 20 minutes and my other favourite song came on! 

All up, I ran for just over 22 minutes continuously.  That’s the most I’ve done in months.  I was going to try for another 20 min or so run but figured I needed to be able to walk afterwards!  No point going too hard.  I did some shorter walk/run intervals to finish off the 60 minutes though.

Anyway, I’ve learnt a few things from this:

• I think a lot of the pain in my calves etc is because I need a longer warm up than I used to.  The 8 min run initially really helped.  In future, I might try doing a 10 min warm up then stretching then the real work!
• Also, even though I feel the pain in my calves, I think the problem is in my hip flexors.  They are really tight so I take short strides and that screws up my calves.  I actually feel better (in the muscles at least) when I push up the pace.  Just need to get my aerobic fitness up to par!
• Even though people say to put the incline on the treadie to make it more like running outside, I think this is causing me problems.  I might avoid the incline for a while.  If I want it be more like running outside, I’ll run outside.
• Running is fun!
• Maybe doing an hour run should be for days when I don’t have Japanese class after the gym.  Run endorphins and verb conjugation don’t mix.

Running

Lately I’ve been thinking about running.  I stopped a while back, mostly because I had pains and aches and couldn’t run for long but also I had the shits with running.  I don’t even know why. 

It’s like when you have a fight with a friend and, after a while, you can’t even remember what the fight was about.  You just remember that you are angry with them.   But then you think about the good times and wonder if you should get in touch.

I’ve been especially inspired by Phil with her amazing half marathon efforts and LBTEPA with her marathon training.

Stuff

• I had a very productive weekend — got my Japanese homework done, went to my storage space and started sorting through things and lots of other stuff too.  It feels good to be productive.
• Also went to the gym and got lots of gyming done.
• Slight weight gain this week.  I need to be more focussed on my goal.
• No news on the crush.  I’ve been trying to stay away from him.  Not in a playing games to see if he notices kind of way, but just to give myself a bit of distance.  I saw him the other day and he didn’t respond in the way I wanted, so I got all mopey and blerk.  I don’t want to be like that.  I don’t want my moods and the way I feel about myself to depend on someone else, esp someone who prolly doesn’t even think of me that much. 
• I am planning my bday party atm.  Just low key drinks.  I’ve sent out invites on facebook.  If I know you and haven’t invited you, it’s prolly cos I’m not friends with you on facebook or else you live interstate etc.  It should be fun

Rocket of Love

He gave me a bunch of rocket.  I think it’s love. 

Or maybe just old stock that he wanted to get rid of.

Who can tell?

Pilates

Tonight I did a pilates reformer class at the gym.  I’ve been meaning to do this for a while.  At first, I thought it was way easy then about halfway through, my guts hurt like hell. 

I’m going to try to do at least one class a week for the next 6 weeks to see how I go.  It’s fine to try new things but I think you have to keep on doing them for a while to see if they suit you.   Also, apparently I need to learn to connect to my pelvic floor. 

Crush update:  not much happening on that atm, though we did manage to let him know that we are sisters (not a lesbian couple) last night.  That’s an important thing to emphasis when you live in this neighbourhood.  It’s hard to know what he thinks because a) he’s nice to most/some of the customers (he seems to ignore the others!!!!)  and b) everyone in my neighbourhood loves me.

Will post photos of my hair extensions shortly.  I got them cut to the right length today and took some pics but am far to lazy to find the camera tonight.