Well, I figured it was about time I popped in and gave you all an update - it has been a little while

Life has been keeping me pretty busy. Study is full on, I have just managed to get my first two assignments in and now I have two more that are due soon again. I’m doing two units that I’m not really enjoying that much, but they need to be done and I figured it might be best to get them out of the way before my enthusiasm wanes. I’ve picked more interesting ones for next study period so here’s hoping I can survive until then!

Work was pretty full on up until the end of financial year, thankfully it has settled down and normal service has now resumed (whatever that is!)

Running has been non-existent. In fact, I couldn’t even tell you the last time I ran - it may have been the lunch time run I did at Homebush Bay. My shins were starting to get bad so I figured complete rest and then a slow return was the order of the day. I have been starting to get itchy feet lately and have been thinking it is close to getting back into it. Unfortunately it may not be the case. I walked down to the shop this evening - probably about 600m all up - and now my left shin has started to hurt. Not really ideal is it?

So, other than working and studying what’s been happening? Well, that’s about it really. We are in desperate need for a holiday and have a long weekend at the Blue Mountains coming up soon. A couple of weeks away would have been better but it will still be good to wind down and relax together - I’m looking forward to it

Fat Bobby has managed to lose 700g since I have put her on a diet. She still has another kilo or so to go but it is amazing how much of a difference it has made to her temperament. She has really come out of her shell and spends a lot more time with us. She’s also a lot more playful - it’s really lovely to watch her, so cute. I have decided to try something different to the chicken wings they have been on. Bobster doesn’t really like them much and Pickle will only eat the tips (bone and all - yuck). Today I bought them some lamb strips (means I don’t have to cut them up and can dish them out using the tongs). Pickle went feral as soon as she got hers! She was growling at Bobster and me! She gulped hers down and then rushed over to Bobby’s bowl, snatched away the meat and then ran off to the other side of the kitchen with it. When Bobby wandered over to try and get it back, Pickle just started growling at her again while guzzling it down. It was very funny to watch. She did this twice so in the end I had to shut her out of the kitchen while Bobby ate hers. I seem to be onto a winner with that one

Anyway, seeing as there isn’t much to report other than me getting fatter and lazier, I shall sign off until next time…..

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

I might have to keep it short and sweet here for a while. My course officially starts today and I rather cleverly have enrolled in a full time equivalent course load - fabulous, need to find at least 20 hours a week on top of working and running in which to squeeze the study

One of my units is entirely online and I have to take part in online discussion as part of the course - just what I need, more forums to post on!!!

Rest day today, woke with a slight overhang this morning due to consuming an entire bottle of Piper last night. Took me until about an hour ago to feel vaguely hydrated

What a week.  It seemed awfully long but flew past at the same time.  Yesterday we had a work BBQ at Bicentennial Park which I wasn’t going to bother with but got peer pressured into by my boss and co-workers.  Glad I went in the end as it was a pleasant arvo and meant I got to go home early (which I was planning on doing if I’d stayed at the office anyway)

I enjoyed a sleep in until 7am this morning before heading out to the city for a massage with Easy Tiger.  My last massage was back in October so it was well overdue.  Left calf was very tight but relaxed fairly quickly - I think I have finally learnt the art of receiving a massage!  Usually no matter how hard I try it’s as if my muscles are fighting it, not overly helpful.  This time I could actually relax the muscles and it was so much easier.  My back was also a tad tight on the left side and my right adductor was the only truly painful bit (it has been giving me a little bit of trouble occasionally) - actually feels slightly bruised now.  Anyhoo, the news is good - I am nowhere near as bad as I have been in the past and there is nothing to worry about.  Time for some functional strength training in the gym though.  Interestingly, I have been told not to do spin classes if my shins are sore due to the fact that you point your toes down on the pedals a lot and put more stress on the shins (or something like that)

Back home for some laundry before heading out into town for a hair cut and colour.  Sounds like the perfect day doesn’t it?  A massage and hair appointment.  In reality it’s like an hour of torture followed by three hours of boredom

Actually, it was a busy but good day - I feel pretty wiped out now but it’s all good.  Relaxing on the sofa with a glass of red before having an early night and welcoming my man home in the morning

Oh and Morsey, apparently he came second.  He also had the “accident” at the 12k point so managed to run a further 9k like it!!!  I’m sure you’d want to be known as a legend for something else, but seriously - that is some guts and determination right there

I had the bright idea of running at lunch time today, just for something different. I was undecided whether to run around Homebush Bay or on the tready at the gym. 30 seconds on the tready made up my mind - listening to some horrendous dance version of Def Lepoard’s “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and feeling totally unco, it was more than I could cope with. So outdoors I headed, venturing into the great unknown

It was probably just under 6k, by the time I kept stopping at all the signs to see where I was (it’s like a rabbit warren) I didn’t have time to go any further. It wasn’t the most thrilling place I’ve been and I was very wary of the fact that there were virtually no people around and it was all secluded cycle paths. Probably not too bad if you have company but as a lone female runner I wasn’t too keen. Must admit it made a change to run somewhere almost completely flat though. Back at the gym the girl on reception was completely fascinated by my Garmin - highly entertaining. Shin pain 4/10, escalating to 8/10 occasionally

I had a teleconference that started at 3.30pm and was only supposed to go on for half an hour but as I predicted, dragged on for one and a half excruciatingly painful hours. I usually finish work early as I start around 7am, being stuck there til 5pm wasn’t fun and neither was sitting in traffic all the way home. Good job I ran during the day as I’m now sat on the sofa enjoying a glass of wine and never would have made it out for a trot around the block

Speaking of trots, a lovely picture posted by Rohan on CR today:

Yesterday was a rest day which was just as well really, a truly dreadful night of hardly any sleep (more like 8 hours of torture) and a work day that started with me in the office at 7am until 6.30pm with no lunch break (unless you count scoffing a bread roll at my desk as a lunch “break”). The day was saved eventually by TOH taking me out to my favourite restaurant for dinner where I enjoyed a couple of glasses of Shaw and Smith Sav Blanc, roasted snapper with garlic mash and a platter of deserts to share (check out the menu on their website, it included all deserts apart from the soufflé and ice cream, five tastes of heaven!). What is particularly nice is that TOH is known by name without the maitre d’ having to check the bookings and they always give us a great table with the best view. I was pretty well stuffed by the end of it and you would have thought I’d sleep well after all that. Sadly not to be and after another awful night spent tossing and turning I crawled out of bed at 5am and was in the office by 6.30am

On the program today was an easy 5k recovery run which I completed this evening after work. Nothing exciting to report, just a good little croose at snail pace around the golf course paying strict attention to my left shin which had a worryingly painful swelling on Sunday after the long run. Luckily it was fairly well behaved but I am keeping in mind that I may swap the two 5k recovery runs each week for two lunch time spin classes if it’s looking dodgy during my mileage build up

Speaking of which, I headed off to a spin class at lunch time today (much needed after last night’s indulgence and this morning’s scale shock). I probably didn’t work quite as hard as I could have but it was still better than sitting on my arse for 45 minutes

As further penance it was steamed fish and veggies for dinner tonight. Quite nice actually

Very restrained with the shopping this weekend. Probably got something to do with the fact that my new meds kept me fast asleep until 11am

This meant slobbing around on the sofa until TOH got home from work at 2pm, then a bit more slobbing around before heading out for an 8km trot

My sleep went a bit haywire last night and I woke at 4am, was wide awake for an hour before falling back asleep and missing the SMC

Eventually made it out of bed and down to the Junction for groceries, still managed to not spend any other money. Well, apart from the $30 on this massage ball thingy. Have given it a good roll up and down the ITB a few times and seems to make me feel suitably uncomfortable. Must be good then.

After missing the SMC 10k, it was back to the original plan of 16k long run. Bugger me it was hard work. I guess getting over an infection will that to ya. A trek from home to Centennial Park, the long road around the outside and down to Moore Park rd, back up to Queen St and then cut through to Edgecliffe and home via Double Bay. After about 10k the bottom of my right foot got really tight and sore. We ended up pulling the plug at 13.5k because to get it up to 16k we’d have had to add extra bits on - I was completely knackered and my heart wasn’t in it by then. Still, not a bad effort considering the week I’ve had

Had the official weigh in today and due to the expected fluctuations it wasn’t quite what I’d hoped for, but a 1.5kg loss isn’t bad and I’ll take that. Heading in the right direction and that is what counts

Oh, and yes, that was the run we did when you were in Sydney AJH

A pretty good run last night, 7.5k ticked over in an average 6:11 min/k pace which for me, is good given my current form.  From home, to Bondi Beach, a lap of the foreshore and back home again.  I can’t remember the last time I ran to the beach, it was dark and cold but didn’t seem to stop a few foolhardy runners (the only people we saw out there).  Lovely to listen to the waves crashing on the sand, I really need to do this run more often as it’s probably the flatest route that we have near to home

I have a long run scheduled for Sunday and an 8k for tomorrow but as I have decided to do the SMC 10k on Sunday I am going to switch and do the 16k tomorrow.  Looking at the CR thread I reckon I could be in contest with Thomo and the Keg, should be good fun and a challenge always helps to up the pace a bit.  I need a few quicker runs in my training schedule so adding in a few “race” type things every now and then is the perfect way to introduce a bit of speed work

I tried the new meds last night and although I didn’t drop off to sleep straight away, when I did I slept almost the whole way through.  It was a bit hard getting up this morning but I don’t feel any bad after effects, certainly not zombie-like

OK, so I snuck another peek at the scales this morning and what I saw certainly put a smile on my face.  It looks like I am 2kg down from the weekend.  Mostly fluid, but I feel heaps less bloated and my cravings are almost all gone.  I’ve been pretty boring with my food and eating much the same things but that works for me.  Too much thinking about it and it all becomes like hard work with convenience food making an appearance.  I’ll have to put the scales away for the next few weeks as this is when the fluctuations start and the motivation wanes

The antibiotics seem to be doing their stuff although admittedly when I woke this morning my sinuses were totally stuffed and my head was killing me.  I feel generally better through the day and the nausea has started to go away.  Still a bit low on energy though

Alrighty, time for a cuppa

Ick. I have a sinus infection which explains why I have been suffering so badly with headaches and nausea this week. But, been to see my Doc (who is lovely, bit like a favourite old Uncle) and I am now loaded up with antibiotics, nasal spray and new meds to help with my sleep/mood issues. The last mood meds I had gave me really nasty side effects so I stopped taking them. I had called the Doc to let him know and he said that he would change it, but I didn’t realise that he had left a script at reception for me. My bad, I got told off for not taking it (I didn’t know it was there!), quite funny really. Anyhoo, due to my sleep getting poor again I am going to give this new stuff a go. It should have a good sedating effect but not give me as much of a “hangover” effect. I’m to start on a low dose for one week before ramping it up - fingers crossed that it does the trick and doesn’t make me feel like a zombie (which is what the last lot did)

Diet-wise is going well - constant nausea will do that to your appetite. Lucky for me my scales are not of the talking variety (thanks Ewen…) and I took the plunge on Monday to weigh in. So far I have lost just over a kilo since then which is pretty good. We have been enjoying steamed fish and vegetables for dinner every night and I have been avoiding snacking during the day. So far so good and I feel loads better

Just one 5k run since the HM, it was slow and felt awfully fast. Due to unforseen ick factor this week I won’t be following Uncle Hal’s program to the letter, but this is probably a good thing as it would have called for an increase from my current 3 - 4 times run a week to 5 times. I can ease in this week and start to ramp up from next week. I’m actually looking forward to having a program to follow. Without having to put any thought into it I should be able to just go out and do what I’m “told”. So much easier. Now, if only I could work out the bloody table thing for Macs….does anyone have an easy program that can do it? It’s funny you should mention the Windows LiveWriter thing Simlin, I had thought about it then realised “Dur, WINDOWS Live Writer”

In animal news, my fur babies have been to the vets and they now have to “relearn” how to eat raw meat which is highly entertaining. Anyone would think they were being starved the bloody racket they are making every time I walk by the kitchen. I have had to halve the amount of dried stuff I give them and only get them have it in the morning, while giving them both a third of a chicken wing each at night. Pickle is giving it a good go, she is sort of licking at it and hissing/growling at Fat Bobby every time she tries to go near her own food. Not a huge issue as Fat Bobby is on a diet anyway. Apparently it can take up to a month to reteach them this habit but as I now have to fork out a small fortune to get their teeth cleaned it will be worth it (chewing raw meat helps to keep the teeth clean I am reliably told by the vet). Pickle is currently on antihistamines as she has got allergic dermatitis (it’s all fun and games in this healthy house at the moment), last night was particularly funny as TOH shoved the pills down her throat and she managed to froth at the mouth and gob all down my arm (yuck). I wish I had taken a picture - she looked like some demented animal with rabies.  They are finally both using the new litter box that comes with lid - I so should have got one of these years ago. I was doubtful that Bobby was going to be able to get in it at one point but she is grudgingly using it now. So much better than having to constantly clean up litter that they have kicked out of the box and all over the floor (or stepping on it in bare feet in the middle of the night)

Wow, long waffly post today. See how exciting my life is?

After Sunday’s abysmal run I have come to the realisation (shock horror) that my haphazard approach to “training” just isn’t cutting it.  I have 18 weeks until Blackmore’s so have dug myself up an 18 week Hal Higdon training plan and will be sticking to it like my shoes were sticking to the Gatorade covered road in the SMH Half (which is very sticky if you hadn’t worked it out).  The program looks good, it doesn’t have a total weekly distance a million miles more than I am currently running, no nasty speedwork to introduce early injury and I can still fit in a couple of spin classes a week on the days with shorter, easier runs.  As soon as I can be bothered to work out the table thing I shall update my training plan page

So today starts with an easy 5k run which is probably all I can manage after my legs took such a bashing.  I’m pleased to report that the niggles have faded (probably just a product of running too far on too little training) and all I’m left with are tight hamstrings.  The diet needs a shake up too with the vino getting knocked on the head and Lindt chilli chocolate becoming an occasional treat.  I’m sure shifting a good 10kg will only help things progress nicely but I need to actually do something rather than just talk about it.  I’m not going to launch myself on to some radical diet, just make small changes each week.  Last week I got myself down to danish for breakfast only twice and this week I shall only have one on Friday.  The wine will be restricted to a couple of glasses at the weekend and vegetables are to be had at every dinner time!  I’m sure if I can adjust to the smaller changes over time it will be easier to maintain and I won’t feel too deprived.  I’m also considering a three-treat meal plan: one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner (but not all on the same day).  I like AJH’s plan of burning 3500cal per week in exercise so if I’m not making up the numbers with the running I need to chuck in an extra spin class or swim for some cross training

I haven’t weighed in yet and I am considering the possibility of not weighing in at all - just going by how my clothes fit.  The scales fluctuate too much and only cause me distress when not showing me what I want to see.  At least the clothes method is a good indicator of progress (providing it’s not just that my jeans need a wash!).  I have a rough idea of what I weigh now so maybe just a halfway (halfweigh) check in and an end point one.  Much nicer to see losses of “Biggest Loser” proportions that way

Anyhoo, I need to blog more regularly too.  My habit of not keeping an online diary only lets me get away with letting things slip