Catch up.

Have not been able to post the photos from last Sunday yet, due to the PC at home being down. Think it may have a virus and is not co-operating at all, so will have to get someone in to look at it I think...

Almost another week has gone by since I posted. My motivation and time for posting, catching up with blogs and getting on the forum has been very limited lately. Fortunately the same is not the case with my running, in fact it is the only thing keeping me sane...

This is what I've done since last posting:

Thursday 07/09/06:
Out at 5.45am for 8km on extended out and back route. Plan called for 45min steady.

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Steady paced run: 40mins (8km)
Brisk walk cooldown: 5mins

Hammy feeling much better, just a tad tight. Doing extra stretching and still applying ice pack while doing so, when I can. Had the afternoon off work to spend some time with my friends before they fly out tomorrow night. We collected my daughter from school, (a novelty for me) took her out for ice cream then to ice skating, which we all had a laugh at ourselves over. Later we all went out for a bit of a farewell dinner, as tomorrow night we will be at the airport saying goodbye.

Friday 08/09/06:
I also had today off work to spend with Sara and Julian on their last day in NZ and Sara and I had arranged to go for a final run together at 8am while Julian babysat Courtney for me!
We did a loop round the local streets at a good steady pace, chatting all the way.

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Steady paced run: 45min (9km)
Brisk walk cooldown: 5mins

Spent the day driving them into the city and catching the ferry over to Devonport on the North Shore. Had lunch there before a big walk up and all around North Head in the sunshine, then back down to visit a couple of art galleries and handmade local jewellery stores. Caught the ferry back to CBD and drove home via Auckland's waterfront for afternoon tea at Mission Bay. Can't complain about the Spring weather so far, thats for sure. By 7pm we were at the airport, saying goodbye. Lots of tears shed between Sara and I. Due to their plans for the future, it could be many years before we see each other in person again... :-(

Saturday 09/09/06:
I won't even begin to describe how I was feeling this morning, but the weather certainly matched my mood - raining and windy. So much for Spring! Headed out at 7.30am regardless. Even took the radio despite the drizzle as I was so in need of distraction. Did a large loop round the streets at a steady pace. Plan called for 70mins steady, but I didn't quite make it due to time restrictions.

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Steady paced run: 60mins (12km)
Brisk walk cooldown: 3mins

Very busy day followed, including accompanying my daugther when her godmother took her to get her ears pierced for her 7th birthday present, which is tomorrow. Thought she may chicken out, despite begging to have it done for a long time now. However she was very brave and confident, with nothing more than some face pulling, screwed up eyes and "ow, ow, ow" to be heard! Spent some time on Sat night with a good girl friend that I hadn't seen for a while, which definately helped my mood.





Sunday 10/09/06:
Made today my rest day, due to it being Courtney's birthday and besides, the plan was only calling for 30mins jogging. However I was still woken up at 6.15am by a very excited 7 yr old. Big day followed, including a party for 8 at the local Teddy Bear Factory, where they got to make and dress their own bears, have cake and treats and generally have fun. Out for a family dinner in the evening, as another birthday comes and goes...

Clocked up 43kms running this week.

Monday 11/09/06:
Into Week 4 of the plan. Will try to stick to it a bit more closely from now on, so into 6 days a week of running. Even though the amount called for is still not a lot (4 1/2 hrs total) at least the amount of time spent on any one day is now at a level where I feel it is worth getting out of bed for. Today called for 35mins of jogging.

Out of bed at 5.30am and out the door shortly after. Had heard pouring rain at 4am, but by the time I headed out it was only drizzling but quite windy. Wore the Asics jacket and a cap, as the temp was mild.

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Easy paced run: 43mins (8km)
Brisk walk cooldown: 5mins

Tuesday 12/09/06:
Much more pleasant conditions at 5.30am this morning. Cooler but clear and fine and getting light by 6am. No gloves and beanie now, just the cap but my ears and hands were a bit nippy when I first started off. Plan called for 45mins including 20mins of up-tempo, so knew I would soon warm up.

Brisk walk warm up: 5mins
Steady paced run: 10mins
Up-tempo run: 20mins
Steady paced run: 10mins (total of 8km run)
Stroll around the street and extra stretching to cooldown.

Up tempo pace was satisfying, if a little hard to maintain for 20mins.
I do feel my body has now adjusted to the current milage and could handle more. All of the recent niggles have disappeared and hamstring is back to normal after getting tight last week for the first time in ages. Intend to go back to the physio for my last couple of free sessions that we have been saving, before gradually getting back into some hills next week.