Running Paranoia…

Paranoia seems to be setting in…  Everyone in my office is sick and so far all I’ve gotten is a runny nose but with the Comrades on Sunday, I’d be devastated if I got the flu and was unable to run…

I even considered coming in to work with a surgical mask on, or asking my operations manager (who is also running so is as nervous as what I am) if I could work from home this week.

I hate this feeling…

2 Comments / May 19th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Injuries, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training

Running Charity Partnerships…

For the past couple of months I’ve been in email contact with Ryan, a South African living abroad, who is running the Comrades Marathon for the first time this year.  It’s been great chatting to someone who is going through exactly the same things I went through last year (what am I talking about, I’m going through the same stuff THIS year)…

Anyway last week Ryan informed me that he is also raising funds for running the Comrades and instead of trying to find a charity at this short notice, he has decided to join me on my mission to send children in the Red Hill informal settlement, to school!!

I am so excited for this joint venture!!  Let’s see how much we can raise…

For updates on all the donations and pledges, go to my Facebook Group – Let’s send some kids to school…

2 Comments / May 18th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training

8 Things you can do with your race medals

1. Re-gift: It is a recession after all… Just remember that the karmic wheel is small, what goes around comes around…
2. Diving weights: they even come with a handy ribbon to go around your neck, or just stuff into pockets for the desired effect.
3. Ornamental Display: This can be used as a conversation starter, although you have to take note of who you bore to death with your running tales, or expect a sharp decline in friends!
4. Use as a weapon: If you take the biggest medal (I have a pretty big and heavy one, complete with the profile of table mountain on it) and keep it in a handy place, when an intruder strikes, swing said medal above the head until desired momentum is achieved (you may yell here like the Highlanders used to) and aim for the head. Beware; this could lead to imprints of whatever medal you have used, so try not to do it as a joke…
5. Table Stabilizers: When you have a table that rocks because it is on an uneven surface, use a medal – not as cheap looking as a piece of cardboard and can double up as #3
6. Tooth Mouse/Fairy gifts: Again in keeping with #1, the alternative to money is sitting right there in front of you. Note: you might have to explain to Junior why he can’t put it in his piggy bank for the iPod he’s been saving up for.
7. Pocket Money: Times are tough and you put in many hours and hard work for that medal, it is as valuable as money (in your mind anyway).
8. Accessorise: My medals come in all shapes and sizes, you could start a new trend and pare a medal up with an outfit – see how the people in the office react. Note: again could be coupled with #3, especially if there were people at work who didn’t even know about that run where you got a cramp 30 minutes into the race and then needed a number 2 after 45 minutes…

My Medals

Leave a Comment / May 16th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Half-marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running

International First Love Day…

Today is International First Love Day and I felt like I wanted to contribute…

When examining what qualifies someone or something as a “First Love” I was rather shocked to discover that running ticked all the boxes!

Love is about sacrifice – we all know about this when training for a specific race, I for one can’t even remember what my surfboard looks like or which way to put on my wetsuit, don’t even mention my friends (I have to write their names down to remember them).

You spend most of your time with those you love – don’t even get me started on how much time I spend running, thinking about running or planning a run.

First loves are like prized possessions – well we all know what I think about in times of crisis…

In all honesty though there are things about running which would qualify it as a first love, for me anyway.  These are the things I love about running:

• An early morning run through a beautiful place, when it’s quiet and nobody is around
• The feeling of crossing the finish line of all of my races
• Having people come up to me at a race and say ‘Hey, aren’t you the Reluctant Runner?”
• The fact that it serves as a platform for me to give back in some small way
• The knowledge that I can do anything I put my mind to

I keep saying that after this Comrades Marathon I’m going to be putting running on the back burner and taking up all those other things which I enjoy doing, but in the back of my mind I  wonder – will anything else be able to compare with that feeling of running across the finish line of the Ultimate Human Race…?

4 Comments / May 15th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training

Running Inspiration

Note: I have sorted out my PayPal issues, so donating is going to be as easy as pressing SEND

I also found what I’m going to be using as my inspiration for when I’m feeling dog tired and ready to keel over (other than all you folks who have donated).

I first heard about this father and son team from my friend Glen, check out the video, you won’t be disappointed!

Leave a Comment / May 13th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training

Running Medal Alternatives

On Sunday I did the Milkwood half marathon as my last long run before the Comrades.  I wanted to do this race in particular because instead of handing you a medal at the end, they hand you an indigenous tree…  Rather random I know, especially since I live in an apartment, but I’d far prefer getting something like this, which I can keep in my flat until it is too big, than a medal.

This post isn’t about the actual race because I did it last year and which I’d recommend anyone in the area adds to their running calendar, I wanted to write about this race because it has come to my attention that my little wooden box which I keep my medals in is becoming inconveniently full.

I’m not sure about any of you, but after every race when I get a medal, it gets photographed for a blog post and then unceremoniously thrown into a box in my cupboard – not really what you’d think one would do with something which is meant to be given for bragging rights…

I’ve always been interested in what people do with these useless pieces of metal, some people don’t take one, others throw them away before they even leave the event and some people do the same as me (minus the taking a photo for a blog post) – very few in fact do anything useful with theirs which has made me start thinking about possible alternatives.

I like the idea of a tree because it makes me feel all hippie and cancels out feeling bad for not recycling (AND a tree is also harder to kill than normal house plants).  I asked around at the race yesterday and some people said they’d prefer water bottles or even sachets of new products to try.

I certainly wouldn’t shed a tear at not getting a medal – ok ok some races you HAVE to get a medal like the Two Oceans, the Comrades and the bit international City races.  I’m interested to hear what you’d like to get instead of a medal!!

Running "Medal"

Leave a Comment / May 12th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training

Running Research

While I was out searching for a new pair of running shoes a few weeks back, I was asked if I was keen to be a guinea pig for a study which the Sports Science Institute, the University of Exeter (UK) and the DSO National Laboratories (Singapore) are doing to measure what the body temperature does during Ultra Marathons in warm environments.

Of course I jumped at the opportunity, always being eager to do new things (oh wait, isn’t that how I got into running too

What does this involve??
I have to swallow a temperature sensor (and no, they don’t want it back to those wondering) and then carry a small recording device which logs what my core temperature and my skin temperature is doing throughout the race.  They will also be taking a small sample of blood before and after, checking my hydration levels and I guess a bunch of other stuff.

I also had to do a VO2 Max test (check out tomorrows post on that experience), where they are able to see how fit I am along with measuring my body fat percentage.
I’m really quite excited to find out what the results show, I was told after my little run that apparently I’m in the top 5% of the general population in terms of cardio-vascular fitness, which has done wonders for my confidence – only 4 weeks from the Comrades…

NOTE:  They are still 6 people short on this study so if anyone in the Western Cape is running the comrades and would like to be involved, email Aurélien at physiology.research@googlemail.com or check out the information on their Facebook Group.

2 Comments / April 29th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running

Running Stars!!

I mentioned in my last post that I was in a photo shoot, now I’m not about to turn all Model on you but I do need to boast a little considering the shoot was with none other than Bruce Fordyce!!!

For those of you who don’t know why this is such a big deal, Bruce won the Comrades marathon 9 times, 8 of which were consecutive – need I say more…

Of course I wasn’t looking my best having just finished running 56km and with no make-up or wardrobe crew on hand I just had to make do with my hat-hair and salt encrusted face.

The shoot was for LIFE magazine and the article is about marathons, look out for it!!

Bruce & I

2 Comments / April 23rd, 2009 / Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running

The Two Oceans Ultra Marathon – Part 1

I’m just going to be brutally honest, I didn’t enjoy this race.  I’m not sure if it was because I started, knowing that I hadn’t done enough training and was not looking forward to a long day on the road or if I was just having an off day – but for whatever reason there was a full scale battle going on in my head from the very beginning.

I came over the line in 5 hours and 50 minutes (which is about 40 minutes faster than what I thought I’d do it in) and it was with a smile on my face, but this race had me wishing my iPod had another volume setting called “call your audiologist before engaging this setting” and wondering if I should in fact do the Comrades which is in 6 weeks time…

Things I learned from this race:

• It was great doing a race with my mom again (even if it was only for the first hour)
• It is impossible to tell what the human body is capable of doing, until you push it
• That some people possess such strength that it oozes from their bodies and is contagious

I know this post is rather random; I will elaborate in Part 2…

4 Comments / April 15th, 2009 / Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running

Masai Mara Marathon

I was sent this competition link the other day and was forced to think about a possible African holiday, guess what the first thing was which popped into my mind… – a marathon through the Masai Mara.

How amazing would it be to run through such an insanely beautiful piece of land, just as the wild animals do…? Of course precaution would have to be taken for the carnivores, but to have an organized marathon in this part of the world would have me packing my bags and making sure I can outrun a lion

Anyone else keen?

Masai Warriors

6 Comments / April 9th, 2009 / Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training