Lake Maquarie

What a weekend! My hubbie and I drove up to Lake Maquarie on Saturday morning and spent a really lovely relaxing afternoon and evening with my uncle and cousins. My cousin has been overseas so it was great to catch up. We had a nice dinner and watched my beloved Newcastle Knights smash the sharks...all was set for a great weekend.
I was really looking forward to this run... I wanted to do well for my Pa and make up for a blow up the year before. Last year I was running really well until the 19km mark when I suddenly felt really sick and barely made it over the finish line. I was really dehydrated and thought I was dying!!! I have never before or since felt so bad!
So this year was for Kevin! My Nan and Pa have been really special people in my life... the sort of people you shape you ideas and world views around. My Pa ran pub's, loved his footy, loved the horses and was the biggest shit stirrer of all times! But he was the backbone of the family and was always so suppotive and loving! It was the hardist thing to endure having to watch him deteriorate before our eyes with cancer... but not once did he complain and always had a big smile and a story for us!
Any way I woke up this morning and freaked out a little! What if I don't run well... what if I let him down...blah blah. I tried to tell my hubbie that I was going to just stay in bed.... no way! He got me out of bed with "pa would be proud if you took 4hours, as long as you had a go and gave it your best", he always knows just what to say!!
Well WOO HOO! I ran a 2 minute PB for this course and had a great day! I finished in 108:30! It took me a while to settle into my rhythm and still felt nervous and a bit apprehensive! I had set myself the goal of 105 minutes, but realistically just wanted to better last years time. So I started out trying to maintian 5min/kms...I started out a bit too quick and then settled into about 5:06/km and pretty much ran this most of the way. I averaged 5:03/km over the whole distance. This run I actually felt pretty comfortable most of the way, I think I could have pushed the last few a bit harder... but felt a bit scared to do it after my disaster last year! This year I struggled with my nerves and had to work really hard to focus. I really could have stopped after the first lap... not because I felt physically strained, just a lot of self doubt. I am so happy that I kept going, kept the goal in site and just kept focusing on how good I was feeling while running, rather than look how much better they all are!

So the elusive 105 barrier lives for another day.... I will get there! I feel on top of the world, I am happy with my run and time and really enjoyed the morning. I also get so much from all the other runners! It is great to see so many happy smily faces... all ready to say congratulations and well done. Karin, Darren and Wayne really helped before the race simply by being supportive and saying I would do well.... I really appreciated the words of support. It is a privillage to be part of such a friendly community.

Gosh the endorphins have gone to my head I think!! That is a bit of a rave! To continue with my super hero feel... Onwards and upwards chickens!!
Heres to the next run :)
KIT

Getting excited!

The past few days I have enjoyed just running and taking it at an easy pace. I have felt stronger and my confidence and excitment is building. I love the feeling of just cruising along, music blaring, feeling effortless and just soaking up the scenary! I always finish on top of the world... there is no better drug! Wednesday morning I did some 400m reps at centenial park... relaxed just ticking the legs over. Todays run around the bay was also very relaxed and I was running faster than I thought... average pace about 5:05 /km and felt very comfortable. So now the next few days I will get enough sleep and eat well and then cross my fingers all comes together on Sunday! BUT my new strategy is to relax and do what I can do on the day.... getting too stressed and worried about times always back fires.

Fingers crossed!
Katie

The hills are alive...

What a way to start the week! After a nice easy warm up, we launched straight into 5 hill reps. This is about 600mtr loop with a 250mt hill... with a nasty little bit at the top! We do this 5 times with a 2min recovery (if your fast about 1:30 for me!). Last time I did this work out I hovered arounf the 3:18 mark. This morning I did 3:16, 3:06, 3:11, 3:15, 3:15. I felt happy to finish, the last two were hard!! I hate the nasty steep bit of the hill... It always brings me almost to a standstill. The good thing about this session... just as you think you will cry or throw up your finished and then you can SMILE! I was still a bit tired this morning, but felt a million times better than yesterday, and tonight at the gym I had a lot more energy! Well off to eat now... I have to make sure I do that properly this week!

Excitment bubbles are starting and last night I dreamt of the half... I like the anticipation!

The hills are alive...

Waht a way to start the week! After a nice easy warm up, we launched straight into 5 hill reps. This is about 600mtr loop with a 250mt hill... with a nasty little bit at the top! We do this 5 times with a 2min recovery (if your fast about 1:30 for me!). Last time I did this work out I hovered arounf the 3:18 mark. This morning I did 3:16, 3:06, 3:11, 3:15, 3:15. I felt happy to finish, the last two were hard!! I hate the nasty steep bit of the hill... It always brings me almost to a standstill. The good thing about this session... just as you think you will cry or throw up your finished and then you can SMILE! I was still a bit tired this morning, but felt a million times better than yesterday, and tonight at the gym I had a lot more energy! Well off to eat now... I have to make sure I do that properly this week!

Excitment bubbles are starting and last night I dreamt of the half... I like the antinipation!

Sunday Plod

Well this morning was supposed to be my final long run before Lake Maquarie Half next week. I was going to take it easy, realx and feel full of confidence for next week. Instead I felt thirsty and stodgy from the thai food last night and only managed about 50 mins before stopping. I felt really heavy, like running in cement and my hands and feet felt tingly. There goes my confident glow for the week.... replaced with the usual self doubt " Have I done enough" feeling. On the flip side... that was my crap run out of the way, hopefully I will fire on all cylinders next week. I am really looking forward to this run. I am a born and bred novacastrian and my family live in Lake Maquarie. My Pa died in Jan this year and he was extremely proud that his once 110kg granddaughter is now running. So next week is for Pa! My unrealistic goal is 105mins... last year I did 110. I am hoping to improve on that this year.

This week I am going to try and relax, focus on my goal and visualise running 105 mins... I don't know if that is going to help on the day but anything is worth a try.

Hills tommorow..... definately no rest for the wicked!

city to surf 2005

Heres me finishing the city to surf.... YEAH!