Archive for Training

Times…

January 9, 2009 Cands No comments

While I was writing the post about which races I’ll be doing this year, I saw all my results together on one page for the first time! I always knew when I’d improved a time over a particular distance, but I’d never really recorded anything, I just had approximate times in my head -I guess because I never thought I’d get into running as I did, silly me ;)

So I decided to make a spreadsheet of all my race times from 2008 so that when they come around this year, I can compare them and see how my running has improved.

Yay for little experiments like this, does anyone do the same thing?  Are there any other things you would compare from race to race?

PS I have another race this weekend which takes me along the coast so I’ll be sure to take some pictures…

Stopwatch

Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training

Races Planned for this Year

January 7, 2009 Cands 2 comments

These are the races I plan on doing leading up to the Comrades in May,  of course things might change since I won’t run if I’m ill (I learned the hard way) or injured and I might add a few unofficial ones to the list, but so far here they are:

January
5th Poppy Run 15km – first time (1:24)
10th Terra Firma 13km – first time
17th Hohenhort 15km – 1:26:47
26th Red Hill 36.2km – first time

February
1st Kloof Neck Classic Half Marathon – 2:04:07
7th Lion of Africa Half Marathon – (decided not to do)
22nd Peninsula Marathon – 4:29:47

March
4th Men’s Health Lighthouse 10km – 0:54:22
7th Constantia Village 15km – 1:40:31
14th West Coast Half/Full Marathon – Didn’t finish

April
11th Two Oceans Ultra 56km – First time

May
10th Milkwood Half Marathon – 1:52:56
24th Comrades Marathon 89km – 11:19:

Seems like a lot now that it’s down on paper – I’m not going to lie, I feel a little intimidated…

Half-marathon, Reluctant runner, Training

First Race of 2009

January 5, 2009 Cands No comments

I’m back – feeling refreshed and quite motivated for the next 5 months of running in preparation for the Comrades Marathon in May!!

I’m not going to lie, I was probably a little optimistic in thinking I could do a 15km run without having done much over the last 2 months.  Occupying my newfound free time with surfing and working on my alcohol tolerance through practice, I suspected that my fitness might have been effected which is probably what convinced me last minute to do this run – as an experiment or benchmark to see where I was starting from.

Jo (one of my running partners from last year) was the instigator of this run and so we set off for Big Bay as the sun was rising on Saturday morning, after struggling out of bed at 4:30am wondering why I’d had that last gin on the beach the night before…

The field was pretty small considering the proximity of this race to New Year’s Day hangovers and the subsequent festivities.  I had a slow start and lost Jo along the way while she was considering the pro’s to never drinking again – ever!

Coming in at 1:24 I didn’t think I had done too badly considering I did it without music (my ipod was stolen with my bag a few weeks ago) and a minimal amount of training.

All in all it was great being back in “racing mode” again.  The energy around races and seeing so many familiar faces again has added to my motivation for the coming weeks.  I’m in the process of compiling a list of races I’m aiming to participate in over the next couple of months, so keep yourselves posted…

First Race for 2009

First Race for 2009

Comrades Marathon, Reluctant runner, Road Running, Training

Running the Grape Run

October 31, 2008 Cands One comment

On Sunday I found myself standing at the start of the race where everything began – the VOB Grape Run, known as one of the toughest but also one of the most beautiful half marathons in the Western Cape.
The morning was clear and warm as we went winding up into Groot Constantia then hitting the dirt tracks around the vineyards and through the forests, giving us unobstructed views over the southern suburbs of Cape Town.

This being the only race I’ve ever done twice, I was pretty eager to see how much I’d improved since last year’s run with my mom – in tennis shoes, talk about a beginner ;)

Finishing at a sprint (after really huffing and puffing the last 2 kilometres with my music blaring so loudly I couldn’t even hear what JayZ was saying), I came in at 2:01 – that is 17 minutes faster!!

Another great surprise was bumping into a lady who I’d run part of the Comrades with and who had essentially been the deciding factor in me leaving my mom at half-way.  I also happened upon Reluctant Runner readers who, when I caught up to them (they were walking at this stage) were very quick to motivate me to try for the 2 hour mark!

To Summarise

Two and a half full marathons (I didn’t finish the one I started with the flu), a bunch of half marathons and  the Comrades Marathon later – I feel like the first chapter in my running career has been written and is drawing to a close.

I would like to dedicate my next year of running to all the wonderful people I’ve met and who have motivated me to reach my goals this year.  I also have to warn everyone that I have decided to take a few weeks off from running to give my body a break and indulge in the other things which I love doing and which have taken a back seat (my surfing has been reduced to beginner level and I don’t even want to talk about Yoga) so that when I start training for next year’s Comrades, I’m refreshed and ready to take on the challenges that surround getting my body ready for another 89km race…

Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training , ,

Running, The Past Year and What Now?

October 23, 2008 Cands 2 comments

On Sunday I do the Grape Run – the first half marathon I ever did – exactly a year ago…

With this landmark coming up I’ve been thinking about the past year (I tried not to because it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long – but I failed) and what I’ve achieved.  It’s been a pretty hectic year for me career wise, emotionally and financially and to be honest I’m not sure I would have weathered it as well if I hadn’t had such a massive goal to work towards. 

Yes I complained about running monopolising my time, it was the cause of some pretty substantial physical pain and I managed to blame it for everything that didn’t go right in my life – but it is also responsible for my biggest accomplishment.

This is what I have learned over the past year:

  • I proved to myself by training, participating and finishing the Comrades Marathon – that I can do anything I put my mind to, which is empowering in so many ways.
  • Blogging has been my outlet for running frustrations and indirectly some of my emotional turmoil (which is for another type of blog all together) and has put me on a new career path I hadn’t even considered.
  • Fundraising is not only easy but immensely fulfilling and is something I’d like to carry on with into the future.
  • The ability to run and motivate others is infectious, and I seem to be good at it.
  • Not to take myself too seriously because it forms barriers against having to pee behind cars and bushes in a race – and not care if anyone is looking.

Moving Forward
I realize now that I’m not really the “Reluctant Runner” anymore – although I most certainly started out as one and some days still feel like that person, but I’m going to have to shift my focus a little where this blog is concerned. 

I’ll fill everyone in on my plan in the next week or so but for now I’m going for a run – coz I want to…

Fund Raising, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training , ,

Running , Canons and 76 year old men…

October 13, 2008 Cands No comments

On Sunday I did the Gun Run and decided to see how fast I could actually run 10km if I just pushed a little. I guess this is why normal people run time trials but in order to NOT have running take over my life and in trying to achieve some balance with my career and social life, not forgetting to leave some quality time for myself – I guess time trials didn’t even make my list of “To Do’s”…

A unique feature of this race is that the start is signified by the firing of a canon – at this point I’d like to say this race should NOT be run by people prone to fright or heart attacks since I almost jumped out of my skin, being unprepared for how a canon sounds from roughly 10 metres away.

Pushing hard from about the 5km mark I managed to come in at 51 minutes although I could feel I had pushed it and felt mildly nauseas when I was done, something which hasn’t happened to me since school Physed classes.

After the race I was chatting to an older gentleman who had also done the 10km run and who had come in at 46 minutes, he was 76 years old!! This reminded me of WHY I run and one of my motivations for having started on this journey which has resulted in me loving the sport and trying to persuade other people to start running too.

My next race is the Grape Run which is the first half marathon I ever did. I anticipate it being rather emotional but I’m excited to see how much I have improved in a year, on the same course.

Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training ,

Other Running Blogs

October 8, 2008 Cands One comment

I came across this website the other day.

I would love to think that all you – my loyal and dear readers – ONLY read my musings on running and what it takes to train for a long distance race, but in the interest of giving you a more technical view on things I’m going to say have a look at this site.  It is a collection of a few resources which includes a marathon training blog, a triathlon training blog and a few other things.

Check it out

http://www.ontri.com/

Reluctant runner, Training , ,

New Running Shoes

September 29, 2008 Cands No comments

The mention of new running shoes has sent me into intense procrastination mode over the past few weeks. I knew I was due for a new pair after the Comrades Marathon but I just couldn’t bring myself to even think about replacing my ol’faithful New Balance Pronation shoes.

Common sense would say just go with the same make and brand, but back in April when I went to the Orthopedic surgeon for a knee injury (not acquired through running – unfortunately) he had said I should get neutral shoes.

So, having slight pangs of anxiety about paying for new shoes and having them not work for me – developing some injury in the process of wearing them in, I decided to head to the New Balance store in Access Park where they test your running and recommend shoes, this is also the place I’d bought my first pair of shoes (in November last year – hard to think I’ve done 1 000km since then), which I also brought in for them to have a look at.

After explaining the whole story to the guy helping me, he made me put on neutral shoes and have a quick run (in the shop, pretty random considering I wasn’t really dressed for the occasion).  Apparently my right foot goes off on its own mission before it strikes the ground, which I’ve seen on various race pictures (please take note of good vs bad photography) , but just conveniently ignored.

About an hour later (and a few more km clocked on the treadmill in the shop), I walked out – huge grin on my face, clutching my new pair of shoes – the same make and brand as my old ones, just a newer model and a different colour.

I know my mom has had some pretty horrid stories regarding shoes and 8/10 toenails falling off – I’m sure there are more out there – let me know I’d love to hear them…

Reluctant runner, Training , ,

Running Nerves

September 20, 2008 Cands One comment

I’m going to need everyone to send me good vibes tomorrow morning, starting at 6:30am!!  You can stop at around 11:00 which is when I should be finished running the 42.2km Cape Town Marathon…

Somewhat unprepared in that I haven’t done any long races since Knysna,  although more fit since the first marathon I did back in February – I’m still nervous and am hoping that my legs remember the 89km Comrades Marathon.

My mom will be seconding me on the route for the first time which I’m really excited about,  my aim when I signed up for this race was to better my  first marathon  time of 4 hours and 30 minutes (my only marathon coming to think of it) and try bring it to as close to 4 hours as possible.

I’ll give you the race rundown on Monday probably, oh and if you are in the Cape Town area tomorrow morning look out for me – my black skirt and top with a green crocodile across my chest is pretty hard to miss!!

Reluctant runner, Training , , ,

New Runners!!

September 14, 2008 Cands 3 comments

Last night one of my friends Erin (who also happens to be a trusty second) announced that she would like to do a half marathon (and she was sober).  The one she has decided to call her debut will be the Two Oceans Half of which I’m doing the 56km Ultra.  Erin’s dad is breaking out his running shoes and wants his daughter to accompany him, which sounds extremely familiar…

This is said to be one of the most beautiful races on the South African racing calendar and next year is the 40th year that the Two Oceans Marathon  will be held – so a great starting point for Erin.

I am thrilled that she has decided to do this and I have decided to take on the job of main motivator – which is one of the reasons I started this blog in the first place.  I’ll keep everyone in the loop as to how Erin is doing, we have 5 months to whip her into half marathon running shape and the prospect of wielding the whip is mildly exciting for me…

Anyone else interested in joining Erin on her little adventure into the running world let me know – I promise to be kind ;)

Motivation, Reluctant runner, Training , , ,
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