Showing posts with label city2surf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city2surf. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wiaw #5 + kickboxing + survey!


Breakfast: Chocolate Protein Powder, frozen raspberries, strawberries, soy milk and oats. Chocoberry.. mmm.

Three of these - coffee

apple!




Two lots of the above for lunch... which I still feel full from at 5.45pm :( Must have put too much almond butter on... or bread overload... but that bread is amazing... four seeds - poppyseed, sesame seed, linseed and I dunno what the fourth is, but it's yummy.

I also had one of these pumpkin muffins.

Today I spent most of the day trying to study but failing miserably because the whole house smells like paint, and every time I tried to escape the painter he'd come in and paint a door or windowsill in that room, and my head hurt!! So I went out like three times... shopping, the gym, and then back to my old kickboxing gym - who had a "50% off for old members" deal!! SOOO... I signed up! Kickboxing was my first passion... I've had to leave several times.. 1st time moved house... second time.. I was in the depths of the ED and I just couldn't do it. It's a pretty high intensity sport and I was failing abysmally at keeping up, and it looked like I wasn't putting any effort in.. but honestly I just had no energy! Plus with all the fibre I was eating from copious amounts of vegetables - had a baaaaad gas situation and it was embarrassing.

Here is a picture of me in the last tournament I participated in before leaving. I really struggled with this one, I felt so weak, and all I could think about the whole time was how much calories I was burning. I no longer enjoyed the sport in the same way and was thinking about the calories. It totally killed it!


So I'm pretty excited to be going back :) I don't know how I'm going to manage with two passions - running & kickboxing, but I'm sure it will work out! haha. Plus who can pass up 50% off?!?!

What I worked: 30 mins elliptical, 10 min treadmill (just a walk, I'm sore from yesterday!) so I probably won't kickbox tonight 'coz of that... as much as I want to... or will I... arrgh.

And... here's a survey just to fill out the entry with some goodness.

1: What’s your favorite type of running shoe?
I stuck with Asics for a while, but have since moved to Nike Lunarglide +2 (bought them just before +3 came out, bummer!!) and they are fantastic, so I may be a convert...
2: Do you run to music? If yes, what’s you’re favorite song to run to?
It depends on the situation... most of the time I have my iPod app Runkeeper logging the run as I go, so I put music on with it... I'm pretty happy running without though. Favourite songs?? Prodigy - Breathe, Voodoo People, Out of Space, Pendulum - Watercolour, Witchcraft, The Island, Propane Nightmares and Plasticworld. Ok - let's just say most Prodigy or Pendulum. They're so upbeat and really get me going when I struggle!! 
3: Do you run in a gym or outdoors?
Waaaay prefer outdoors, I even love running in the rain - but I like doing intervals on the treadmill because outdoors I always go way too hard and am sore for days! Easier to regulate myself on the tready...
4: Do you bring a sports drink or water out with you when you run?
No, but I never really go for too much longer than an hour... if I did I would consider it. I drink a lot of water during the day so it's not usually an issue.
5: How many miles can you run without breaking?
Probably not a lot. I did a 14k at the start of the year without break, although at some points my running was almost walking speed ;)
6: Do you prefer long, mid or short distance running?
The longest I've done is 14k and really enjoyed it, but I do really enjoy a quick, short run around the block if I'm short for time... I still have yet to decide this!
7: How long have you been running?
Pretty much May 2010 was when I got "serious". Where has it been all my life????!
8: What do you think about when you run?
I don't really know... if I'm trying to improve my pacing I say "1,2,1,2,1,2" in my head... but mostly just random stuff, I guess... what I'm going to do later, how I'm feeling, blah blah...
9: Do you run when you’re emotional?
Absolutely, it's a great pick me up!
10: Have you noticed any changes in your life since you started running?
Everything... I'm happier, healthier, more confident, I now think about food as "how can it fuel my running" and every other exercise I do "how can this help my running"... even when I take the stairs instead of the escalator (which I've always done anyway) I think about how it's helping my running! :)
11: Do you stretch?
I'm trying to get better at this.... but sometimes I forget!
12: Do you plan your day around your run or your run around your day?
At the moment I have to plan my run around my day... my schedule changes a lot due to uni, work and that kind of thing so I usually make a plan at the start of the week and then change it throughout or even daily... I wish I could find a way to be more consistent!!
13: Do you run with someone else?
Pretty much always alone... I can't keep up with most people! Although I'm thinking of giving it a go in the future...
14: What motivates you to run?
Fitness, fun, the feeling afterwards, being outdoors, being healthy, losing weight, to beat previous times, getting my vitamin D, getting away from the house, stress relief, mood improvement... you name it, it's a reason :)
15: Are you surprised with how well you run?
Haha. I wish! I'm more often disappointed with how I go...
16: Do you run marathons/races/both?
I've been doing City 2 Surf for three years now, which is a 12 k race, but I mostly have done it in the past to "participate" and be part of it because it was fun being out there with so many people... hopefully soon I'll actually race it properly. Just gotta work on the speed... also planning half marathon next year, and maybe some 5ks!

17: What’s your best mile time?
I've only ever run 1 mile exactly once (since we mostly use km's in Australia) and my time was 9.15... that was at the start of boot camp! So pretty slow ;)
18: Do you run to keep fit or keep fit to run?
Both... I love keeping fit but at the same time all the other exercise I do is to benefit my running.
19: Do you prefer to run in heat or in cold?
The cold, but in fairness, it never really gets that cold where I live. Even on the coldest mornings, you could still get away with shorts and a t-shirt and be warm enough once you get going.
20: Is it hard for you to get out of the house to run?
No, I find it way easier to just grab some shoes and leave than to drive off to the gym (where there's never any parking) and do other workouts!!!
21: Do you ever regret not running?
I wish I'd started many years earlier...
22: Do you keep a record of your running times?
Yep, I use Runkeeper to log my runs, and also keep a note in my 'little black book'. Just ordered a Runner's World one off Amazon though... although it's taking forever to get here...
23: Do you have a running idol?
Sweet Tooth Runner & XCFoodie make me jealous with their speed, and I love their passion for it!!!
24: Does anyone else in your family run?
My brother did couch to 5k and then stopped running (not sure why? think he prefers cycling...), otherwise nobody else!!
25: Are you currently trying to become a better runner?
Always!
26: Do you run when you have nothing else to do?
I never have nothing else to do! But occasionally I go on an impromptu run...
27: How often do you run?
3 days a week at the moment, slowly increasing.
28: What is your biggest running-related dream?
I'm just looking short-term at the moment since I'm still really a beginner... I haven't been consistent enough for long enough. So my first goal is to do a 5km run in 25 minutes or less. Then we'll see how I go... half-marathon is in there too though.
29: Will you run for the rest of your life or just until you become what you want?
Hopefully the rest of my life!
30: What are your favorite exercises to team with running?
Swimming!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

WIAW #3

I've been pretty busy catching up with uni work, I think I'm almost there - but understanding chemistry seems to take me a long time!!
So anyways... today was Wednesday :D


Thanks for hosting the party Peas & Crayons :D Enjoy it every wednesday!
This is kinda gonna be some random eats from the last couple of days since I forgot to photograph breakfast this morning (was a yoghurt, oats and berries mix) and most of my snacks...


Yummy chicken in a can (I know, sounds bad but tastes great!)

It went on top of a small can of four bean mix, steamfresh veg (carrot, broccoli & cauliflower), some mushrooms, red capsicum and a small amount of cheddar cheese. Trying to make myself have more dairy... testing the lactose intolerance out!! This lunch was delish. 

This was a RAW bar... apple cinnamon flavour I believe... I actually ate this yesterday ;)

I eat these like way too often...

Here's a pic from the City 2 Surf website which had me on it! Ha, barely, but I'm the one behind the insanely tall bloke in the white shirt with red bits, wearing blue shorts and a blue hat... (It's like Where's Wally... but one of my mates actually spotted me!)

Anyway, on to my workouts lately... well since Sunday's 12k took it out of me a bit, I did yoga on Monday and went for a light swim yesterday. Today I was DYING to go for a run so I let myself... probably a dumb idea since my shins are STILL playing up... but I took it really slow and only did 3km. It was great though :D Debating whether to do a weights class tonight, and then most likely I shall do spinning tomorrow morning... I'm thinking I need to take a break from running for a bit to let my shins heal properly but it's so hard not to run. Maybe when I go for the hike in two week's time it will give them a break?? Although that's still using my legs... hmm...

Now I plan on eating this delicious oat bar I made the other day... unpictured, but just imagine a yummy oaty bar with coconut on top, and bananas and raisins throughout... undercooked so very gooey!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

City to Surf 2011

I have nothing huge to mention about this morning's race... I think I did it in 1.18 to 1.21 hrs, but I can't be totally sure! Will find out tomorrow when they upload the results. Right on the money with my guesstimate of time :)
I was feeling good apart from the nausea, I was up half the night with this weird stomach bug I've had for the last couple of days... but otherwise feeling pretty good.
One thing that really pissed me off - there were protesters on the sidelines. Seriously, go away! Who wants to hear you chanting negative stuff when we're having a good time? I could hear some of the other runners yelling back at them, good on them.
Then there's the people that cut in front of you (like, RIGHT in front of you) and then go really slow... ugh!
I saw one of my friends at one point and tried to catch up but then lost track of him, so I don't know how I went compared to him.
And there was someone getting CPR, like, 5 metres before the finish point :( I hope they made it... that's scary!
Met up with those from work afterwards and we got burgers - I got a sesame crusted chickpea burger with aioli on wholemeal bread... sounded healthy but my gut is not happy now - although that could be dehydration nausea also.
:D

Urgh feel sick.

12k race this morning... I'm hoping for 1hr18 - 1hr 27... but shins are a little tender and I'm not feeling well still, so we'll see. My stomach is kinda hating me this morning.
I look like an advertisement for Nike ;)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Excitement.

Excited for two things: City 2 Surf 12k next Sunday, which I probably won't do too well in - but pretty sure I'll beat last year's time!! -

Aaand 5 or 6 of us from work are hiking the Bibbulmun Track in about three weeks!! We've got a rough plan going for about 20km per day, 110 in total. It should be so so so much fun! The rest of them I'm pretty sure are fitter than me so I will definitely be pushed.
I'm planning on bringing peanut butter, of course, and maybe a giant trail mix, and probably some beans... debating what else. It's in the "no classes week" or whatever it's called. Means I won't be able to use that week to catch up on study, but I really need a week OFF study!! So I'll just have to work my butt off till then, because I'm pretty sure there's assignments due at the end of that week too.
So what am I doing writing this... better get back to it.

Oh yeah - but before I do - this morning's boot camp was KILLER! We were doing 400m sprints, swapping with our partner to do 10 x pushups, 10 x burpees, 10 x situps continuously until our partner came back from their 400m sprint, and then back to sprinting, back to pushups etc etc etc... we didn't stop the entire hour, it was hardcore!!! So tired afterwards!! I think one girl actually puked, and I had an "exercise headache" which was easily remedied with a soy cappuccino on the way to my chemistry lab... :D

Sunday, August 14, 2011

My health...

Gasp, updating two days in a row...
Thought I'd do a recap of my week's exercise and whatnot...

Sunday: rest day (as I was working all day)
Monday: 6am boot camp sesh
Tuesday: 5.44 km run (3.3 miles)
Wednesday: boot camp sesh
Thursday: 20 min walk
Friday: boot camp sesh
Saturday 1hr at gym - 15 min run, 25 min elliptical, 5 min row, 5 min bike
Sunday (today): 30 min HIIT session on the exercise bike...

Weekly running km's (according to runkeeper): 11.5km (7 miles)

Despite this probably not looking like much to some, I actually feel like I've overtrained... well, that's what my muscles are telling me :( Boot Camp has been pretty hardcore though. It's the last week this week, and so they will most likely step it up! Hopefully I'll get a better score on the fitness test. Then I plan back to kickboxing and on to my half-marathon training plan... which I'm planning on making really, really long... like, a YEAR long. Just gotta get it all written up so I'm not increasing the K's too quick, or the speed, and allowing for holidays / courses / sickness, etc... I don't want to go at it too hard and get injuries etc.

City to Surf is in two weeks on Sunday, and as usual I'm just racing for fun, but also to beat last year's time, because every year I get a little fitter!!

Hmm, haven't been eating very well this week though. Too many protein bars... kinda thinking I might stop eating them and just go back to natural protein. And way too much bread, not enough vegetables and fruit, so I am feeling like the exercise is doing me good but the nutrition is just way below par. Surviving on peanut butter sandwiches and protein bars is just not healthy.