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 10 DAY 3

All I can say is #dontbeafraid
OMG this is my fastest ever 10 in history. Faster than the last treddy effort on the Saturday night.
Run intervals at 10/10.5 and pushing it up to 11.0km/hr.
Run intervals really 300-500 at that speed. Walk intervals 200 at the start but reduced to 100 when doing only 300 running.
OMG. So chuffed. Next goal is under 65 but that is going to take some work.
Just got to get this kind of speed up to 15km distance.
Still got 6 weeks. Hoping for some #racedaymagic.
Finally can do this without running out of air.

Giddy Up, Happy Running.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 10 DAY 2

So back on the treddy. It was my first mid week day off in weeks. I had the alarm set for 5:30 am t go out for 14 kms. It went off and I reset for 8:30. Just needed a sleep in. It has been a long 3 weeks since I got back from leave.

I'm definitely #racefit for City2Bay. no doubt about it. The fast 10 km on the treddy a couple of weeks back showed me that.

See what tomorrow brings. Long runs are necessary but so are some quality short ones.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 9 DAY 7 - LOFTY

So this week was really a total right off. I gave myself a couple of impromptu rest days after last Sunday's mini marathon. That turned into a rest week. Far too tired from work and just wanted to beat one with my couch. So this morning was lofty with Katie. Ignore the time, it said we got up there in 34 mins and it was only 2.8 kms (yet we had parked about 500 m away from the start), so who knows.
In any case with was a ripper morning (all be it hideously fresh at the bottom). Great view from the top and obligatory summit photo with my buddy :)
Back down and home by 10 am which was great.
Let's see how this weekend pans out. Tuesday will be the best day for a long run and the target is 14km (so waking up early on my first double days off in weeks).  7 weeks to go.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 3

Long day at the office today so I have taken the night off from training. It's Wednesday and I worked. I don't work Wednesdays. Everything is not quite right!.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 2

Well this one is even blurrier than the last one.
Legs are caning, glutes are tight and need some attention. Short walk today. Hoping for a run tomorrow.
Everything needs needling (this soon???).
Let's see what happens but it's a mental struggle at the moment.

Happy Running

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 1

So the physio is now on speed dial. Dry needling is coming.
After Saturday's MONSTER effort, the legs are saying "you are doing this again??".
That really should have been a slow slow run.... epic fail.
Sore to touch, the muscles on the inside of my lower thighs need a bit of waking up.
So spent this evening walking uphill to walk out the legs. Back to a run tomorrow.
Mr Foam Roller is back in my world. I have not missed it. Also got the stick out, one of the other tools of torture to give the legs some treatment.
And I love miscounting weeks until race day. It was 9 weeks yesterday..... yippee, I'm ahead (not really).
And after one week, I'm wearing my glutes as earrings.

#dasherlife

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 6

So solo Saturday turns into a PB Party.
Was sitting at homing pining for NYC. I had 10 km planned for tomorrow as my first long run for this half (leaving it rather late as we all know!). Was so bored I got dressed and headed to the gym just after 9:00 pm to do tomorrow's 10 today.
On the treddy by 9:20. Finished by 10:30. Ran on 0 incline (because I didn't realise I had forgotten to put it up until about km #5!!!
Fastest ever everything!!!

4k @28:49
5k @35:40
6k@43:10
8k @57:00
10k @71:10

Just goes to show when you think you can't, you can.
I ran this session on intervals again with the walks at about 6.3km/hr (0.3km/hr faster than last 2 sessions) and the runs at 9.5-10km/hr.
Walks were all 200m. Run intervals varied from 500-800m and I did run a 1km interval towards the start at 9.5km/hr.
Bear in mind, I have hardly run for 2 months and just ran a PB over every distance.
This is my 5th run this week. Definitely rest day tomorrow now.
Totally smashed it out of the ball park.
So all those time trials I talked about yesterday? #doneanddusted !!!!!

Happy running, enjoy your Sunday!



#dasherlife
#racefit

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 5

Sub 40 5 km time trial SUCCESS!!!
Ran the last couple of intervals on 9.5 and 10km/hr!

Still on the interval pyramid which I am liking for the moment.
200/200/200/500/200/600/200/800/200/600/200/500/200/500 (because I wanted my sub 40!)

Once again running on an incline and next week will up that 0.5 to 2.5 to further test my fitness.
Next goal is sub 60 8km followed by a sub 1:15 10 km
When I achieve those I will know I am moving forward to race fitness.
Hoping to get the 8km by 25 August and the 10km 10 days following that which will bring me to 2 weeks before City to Bay where I want to go for the sub 1:30 across the 12km.

Happy Running!

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 3

So 3 days in a row. I wasn't quite fast enough on the run intervals so missed my sub 40.
Ran on a mini pyramid.
200/200/200/400/200/600/200/800/200/600/200/500/200/300/200
2.0 incline. Used 5.8-6.0 for walk intervals and runs varied from 7.5-9.5
Its the best way to push up the speed and test fitness. I used to run on zero incline but now find I can do a slight incline with no trouble.

Had a rest day on Thursday.
Happy Running

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 2

And back again to the gym as weather was less than fabulous and once again hideously windy. To give my hip flexors a rest I did an uphill walk for 5 km on 11 incline.
So totally boring but just a necessity as we race towards Oct 18th.
Diet is back under control with ample boiled eggs and yoghurt. Madarins are on the menu as they are just AMAZING at the moment.
Still trying to reduce my sugar intake. I am at about 51g which is about 13 tspns a day (this has been the average for the last 2 days). This is double the recommended amount however, if I took out the sugar from Fruit and Veg then that accounts for 35.3g which would bring me down to 16g which is 4 tspns and below the recommended amount. So in the right direction.
Not sure of tomorrow's plans. It is back to work and it could be a loooong day.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 1

So fast forward about 6 weeks and here we are.... 9 weeks until race day and hideously undertrained.
After nearly 4 weeks of travelling for work and pleasure I find myself in August. So Monday I took myself off to the gym (the weather is windy here in Adelaide and makes running on the beach just hideous) for some kms. I don't mind the treddy as I can control the incline and the speed which helps me with time goals.
So this week's session and my first session in weeks had me do 0.5km walk intervals on 9.0 incline at about 5.6 av speed and 1.0km run intervals varying from 6.8-7.7km/hr on 4 incline.
Felt good that I could still run and could get in 8 km on my first session.
Back again tomorrow for my last day of leave. I then have the challenge of only 3 days off for the rest of August.

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!

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 1 DAY 3

2 days in a row.
Felt like death this morning so didn't get up as planned to walk long. Took the opportunity to sleep in a bit to try and keep my self from succumbing to the "team sickness".
So just went for a walk up the river. Ran up the hilly bits which was trying but ok.
So using this week to get back some motivation with the hope to be able to have a run in Vegas and Central Park in a couple of weeks.....even in the ridiculous heat.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 1 DAY 2

.....And it begins again. It has taken me a long time to get back from Stadium Stomp on 14 June. That really quite damaged me at a time where mentally I needed to stay out there and keep going. Had it not, I am sure I would have exercised through the June 30 roller coaster. I went out iceskating today with my friend Sami and her girls, so spent 45 mins hoping I didn't fall over and break anything but got quite good in the end. I had always planned to go the to gym and do a walk (actually to be honest I was going to walk to the iceskating but it all got too hard). When Sami dropped me at home, I am not sure what happened but got on the couch and slept hard for over 2 hours. Woke up feeling like a truck ran over me. The ice-cream must have had valium in it or something. Anyway, it took me the best part of over an hour and a half to wake up properly, and get myself dressed and get in the car.
Was nice to finally be doing something and getting back in that mindset.
13 weeks and 5 days until race day.

PRODUCT REVIEW: THORLO EXPERIA SOCKS

I only had one pair of these socks for a very long time. For some reason I found them not ideal compared to other socks I had. I then bought about 6 pairs at the NYC Marathon expo in Nov 2014 and have never looked back. They have become one of my favourite brands of socks. Available in so many colours, I love them. They are fitted giving support around the arch. Padded to provide cushioning on both the ball of the foot and the heel. At the expo they normally have 3 pairs for $45USD which is such good value as they are about $30AUD a pair here. Can't go wrong with a deal like that!. They aren't left/right sculptured, but I still like them. If you are not used to padding on your socks you may wish to try with one pair first.




Affiliate Link- click here if you can't see the picture in your email

TRAINING: WALKING (JUNE 21 2015)

Mum and I headed out very early at 6:30 am in 6C temperature. No wind and virtually no cloud. Great morning for a long walk.

I did forget to turn off the Garmin until about 45 minutes after we got in!
So time was about 2:14 and distance would have been really about 10.8km
A smashing day here in the Rads.
So if you are pondering over whether to go out, put your shoes on, grab your iPod and just walk.
At least you will be out getting some sunshine, topping up your Vitamin D and burning some calories.
Enjoy your Sunday!
#garmin
#dasherlife
#lifeofanoneliteathlete

14/06/15 STADIUM STOMP

A little quiet on the blogging front this week. I have felt under the weather and the winter having set in here has initiated some hibernation activity in me. However, today, I took on the challenge of 6000 steps of the Adelaide Oval. First week in a long time I won't be anywhere near 30 km and you know what, that is ok.

My friend Louise joined me for this event (we went to NYC in 2013). It was tough but it was fun. About half way through, the glutes were caning and coming downstairs was just jelly leg central/
Total course was about 4 km, took us about 1:15. For those who know me, stairs are not my forte, especially coming down, but I did really well, even on the steep upper levels. Not even a little wobble. So Lofty and Stairmaster, is good training. Not sure how you get down stairs training except by going down the stairs!

When I got home, I was totally spent. Walking around the supermarket was a zombie effort (when you need groceries you gotta go, especially when your later afternoon is being taken up with Entourage movie in Gold Class!!).
Had a short nap and as I write this I am not sure I can make it to the end of Masterchef. Laundry is done, dishwasher has been put on and bins put out.

#dasherlife
#asics
#garmin
#stadiumstomp
#adelaide

Tesltra Plaza, Adelaide Oval

Me outside Adelaide Oval

Ready to Stomp- Finally got a bib number I am happy with.

Louise and I found this sign just towards the end of the course... And yes we are.

Louise and I- just started. We had also just seen my tweet of my bib on the big screen. Dasherlife got to be on the big screen at the Oval.

Yep- these steps hurt.

One of many UPS.

Don't look down.

Yep- they are steep.

Finish Line- ACDC was on as I came across

Great Venue

Finisher! With my bling.

Louise and I with our bling.

More bling pics

Couple of red lines where there shouldn't be, but hilarious map.

Hot Fireys Going to Stomp in full get up.

09/06/15 STAIRMASTER

It's cold this week. I am cold. Stairmaster tonight in preparation of Stadium Stomp on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
Back for a session of dry needling tomorrow. Dinner tomorrow night so will give the legs a rest tomorrow.

#asics
#stairmaster
#dasherlife
#dashers

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).