BRIONY'S STILL RUNNING!

Well- its been months, but I've been racing and training.

City to Bay in mid September went well- got a bit warm so a little over PB time.
The Melbourne Half went really well in the end. I got sub 2:40 which was 3 minutes faster than NYC- so pleased.

Then I got sick.

A trip to South Africa in November was fabulous, but I got worse until I was sent to hospital in the 3rd week of November with suspected pneumonia. Thankfully it was not but my asthma was so bad it was replicating pneumonia. Was better by December, and then I had my Gran's 100th in early January.

January 11th I began again, birthday's over, sickness gone. 78 days later, I am still going. Inspired by a friend in the US who is currently on Streak Day #120 something. So the Streak began.... and hasn't stopped. Minimum of 7 sessions of exercise (or min 1km) across 7 days. If a day is missed because of work it is made up as soon as possible in that week. So far a success and nearly 300 kms achieved.

There has been a trip to the Tokyo Marathon with my dear friend Anthea to cheer some friends around the course, including our favourite Belgian who completed her 6th marathon major.

Last week was round 2 of Bay to City- no position to run as up until end of February my longest run had been 5km- in preparation for the Friendship Run in Tokyo. No PB but a time of 1:32 I was pleased with the result.

Next race is a 10k up in Salisbury and also on the local calendar, a 10k at Semaphore.

The big race for the year will be the Philadelphia Half in November with a warm up at the Rocky Run in Philly the week before.

Watch this space for some posts from Tokyo and Bay to City.

Thanks for following :)

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 1 DAY 7 - I CAN STILL RUN!

So for those following at home you will know that after the NYC Half, I struggled with hamstring issues that have only had me run on race day- which is twice since March. With dry needling, I have got rid of the hamstring issue and so today, I ran.
I am 0.9kg of my 1st goal weight of 69.9 kgs (under 70) and am off to Vegas for a conference soon.
Todays session, involved 4 x 1.3 km runs at relatively good speed from 7.5-9.0/km/hr on 3 incline.
I walked 500 uphill on 9 incline, ran, then did 700 m walk intervals on 9 incline, finishing with a 1 km walk on the 9.0 incline.
After pizza for lunch, I needed to expend some energy.
Really pleased with my first actual training "run". Excited I can actually still run. Was thinking I would have been totally crap but it was actually really good. Sore hip flexors late in the peace which were relieved while sticking my fingers in them while I ran (TMI???).
Feeling ok now, hoping restless legs don't keep me up.
Happy running!

08/06/15 TREDDY 7km

Monday Night treddy session. After a day of tidying the spare room and cutting fabric, I had a nap about 2:30 pm. I'd done 4 hours of 20 minute intervals cleaning and cutting. I'd used most of my calories by that time (had my beef casserole for lunch and a bagel). Woke up after sleeping really hard with a hideous headache, so not conducive to wanting to go and exercise. In any case got dressed and headed down to the gym.
Did 5 km on 7-11.5 incline at about 5.6km/hr avg speed. Then 2 km on 3.5 incline. Funny when you bring down the incline the lower one feels like it is downhill!
Even dinner hasn't got rid of the headache. I thought it had but it just dulled it.
Bed beckons after 36km in 3 days.
Only 1 day of work and then the usual Wednesday off (thank god).

07/06/15 SUNDAY DOUBLE

So with a weekend that has been rather hefty on the food, I had to head to the gym to redeem some calories (got about 800 back- or so). This brought me to about 30 km in the last 2 days. Sometimes you've just got to keep moving. Should be heading out to do something tomorrow as well, not sure what yet, I will see what the weather brings but I may even give myself a bit of a sleep in.

07/06/15- Long Walk #2 with Mum

So the long weekend continues. Walking with Mum to Glenelg. Stop at Cibo for our long black with steamed milk and 1/2 a tuna sandwich each. Good time made, nothing speedy. There was a seal in the ocean lolling around in the waves which was lovely to see. Weather still great. Been a lovely long weekend so far.

06/06/15 Long walk with Mum

Great morning for a walk. It was 6 degrees C, so three layers required. Lovely photo op on the bridge.
Walked to Henley and met Mum. We walked on to Grange and then back to Henley where I walked towards home, but not before taking a detour up the river. No great pace but good distance. Good way to start the long weekend after a lovely dinner at Sosta in town last night for my brother's 40th. Tonight is pizza for dinner at a friend's house.

12/05/15 Mt Lofty with SA Dashers

And once again it was back up the mountain, Rain, Hail or Shine.
No Rain or Hail and we got a little bit of shine.
Sami and I started up and KP messaged us to say she was running late but she chased us up there and caught up to us. Perfect weather and I felt AMAZING.
No shortness of breath and legs didn't even hurt.
Not sure which Kenyan I was channeling but it was amazing.
Not a fast time but we had a great time.
Took some great photos of the autumn leaves as well.
Fab day.


#dasherlife
#asics
#garmin
#radelaide

12/05/15 500kms for 2015

Have finally cracked 500km for the year. Was hoping to gun for this by end April but was a bit far away to get there. So excited. All going to plan should crack 1000 by end October.
Still chasing my friend who is a machine....
#dasherlife
#asics
#garmin

03/05/2015- ADELAIDE GREENBELT 10KM RACE

So I've been not well the last few days with the snots. Was feeling so crap when I got up, but got everything together and just went in to town hoping for a Sub 1:20 but with Sub 1:15 in my sights.
Hamstring as tight as all get out as well. Really got to get that seen to.
Knees strapped to keep me inline. Only managed to smash 1:15 and come in at 1:14:03 (Garmin, not official). My previous 10 km RACE PB was 1:24 something at Barossa nearly 2 years ago.
So essentially smashed it by 10 minutes.
Did run sub 1:15 in Bay2City but that was a 12km race.
So so pleased. Hips/Knees/Leg, totally caning.
Met Sam and Louise, Ev and Steph at the finish. Do love those girls.
Sam and I headed to Henley. We started on ice-cream while waiting for Ev and Louise to run down from the finish line.
Had a great day.

#dasherlife
#dashers
#asics
#garmin
#adelaide

River Torrens in the Morning- That is FOG not clouds LOL

Pre-Race Selfie and Ubiquitous Garmin Shot

#slayedit

Sam and I at the finish. I kept having to hold all the rubbish.

Steph, Sam and I at the finish. Fading fast and needing food.

Sam, ME, Kate, Sam's friend, Louise, Ev and James at the finish.

Sam, Louise and I

Sam and I

Ev, Sam, Louise and I

Sam and I with our ridiculously HUGE ice creams.

APRIL MONTHLY WRAP UP

Well, its been over a month since NYC half and I have managed to keep training around 30 km a week since the start of April, after a couple of weeks rest from my big PB.
Been mainly walking longer distances, with a couple of runs, but this seems to have been working as I smashed the inaugural Bay2 City on April 19, finally getting under 1:30 for the 12kms.
Total mileage of 134.92 for the month of April. I am 15 kms from Coffs Harbour on Run Down Under and am 33.7 km short of 500 km for the year.
Hoping to get about 1000 km for the year which I am sure will be possible especially training for the Melbourne Half.
Been full of the snots the sat few days which has hampered my treadmill training (maybe no great loss...)
Looking forward to May.
Goal 150 kms.



http://rundownunder.com.au/members/?rdu_view=map

TUESDAY 28/04/2015- Overshot the distance plan: West Beach to Somerton

After I finally dragged myself out of bed, I got out fuelled by a crumpet and an apple. The plan was to go from mine to the Broadway Kiosk. At Glenelg, I decided that I would head up to Somerton Surf Club. I got running at 3kms and was doing intervals of about 200/800. Threw in a 1km stretch for fun. Did some shorter intervals as well and did a lot of walking. Had to get back before 12 for the dishwasher man but wasn't doing much else with my day, so was good to just push the boundary today. Greenbelt 10 is on Sunday (rain forecast) so just trying to get kms in the legs.

Only have 26 km to go to get to Coffs Harbour on Run Down Under. I was hoping to get there by Thursday but will fall just short and should get there next week.

Nearly at 500 kms for the year as well.

Leg is quite sore.... so I'll be on the roller later.

#RunDownUnder

#garmin

#asics

#thorlo

#Glenelg

#Adelaide

#Running

At the jetty looking back to Moseley Square at Glenelg

Saw this on my run up to Somerton. May have been left there from Anzac Day and it is really nice that people have left it there.

The ubiquitous Garmin Shot showing 16 km which was about 4km more than I had planned.

NYC HALF MARATHON RACE WEEK (WEEK 18) -DAY 7 RACE DAY 15/03/15 FINISH LINE CHEER SQUAD

After passing the Mile 10 squad, there was one more sign I was looking for and it was this one. I hoped to find it at the finish and I did. It was Kathi's sign. As John and I rounded the last bend, and I pulled every single ounce of energy that I didn't have, I saw this sign and started waving like a mad woman. I was so excited to see them. Maria had run the race and I was hoping it wasn't too cold for her to wait around. I was about to smash my PB. I remember seeing them and pointing at my watch yelling "I'm going to get it". Out came the knife hands and off I went sprinting to the finish.

There is nothing better than seeing friends and family along the way and at the finish cheering you on and especially when you round the last bend and then they finally see you. 

Thank you to Kathi, Maria, Steph, PG and the lovely Kel for waiting for me and cheering me across the line.

I did my best demonstration of "knife hands" ever.

NYC HALF MARATHON RACE WEEK (WEEK 18) -DAY 5 13/30/14 RACE EXPO

Expo is always fun and it was where I caught up with some of my favourite people Jess Wise from Florida and Lindsay Phillips from Victoria, Canada. Part of my NYC Marathon Facebook group, we last saw each other in November.

You can see us trying to get a photo in front of the course map for the half... with the selfie stick.

FAIL.

We had such a great time, catching up with one of our other friends James and then bumped in to 2 of my other favourites, Janet and Scott who live in Manhattan. Scott was one of the first members in my Facebook group. He came to the picnic in the park in 2013.  I spent a lot of time with Scott and Janet this trip. They are eternally too goo to me.

The expo was not as good as the Marathon one but there was definitely more space to move around in.

NYC HALF MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 17 -DAY 7 - 08/03 - MT LOFTY WITH RUNAR

I picked Runar up quite early so we could beat the Sunday onslaught of climbers.

We got to the top in good time.... only to get NO VIEW!!! 

Down in record time for one of my fastest up and downs ever.

What a great way to end a fabulous weekend with a lovely friend.

Garmin Data: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/728569573

Blue Asics

#dasherlife