First run of 2007!

Monday 01/01/07: New Years Day
I was determined to start the new year off with a run - provided of course that my leg was feeling OK. After an hour of traipsing thru the bush on Sunday with absolutely no discomfort during or afterwards, I was satisfied that it was ok to give a proper run a go today.

Due to doing 101 other things (including lots of housework, grrrr!) first, it was 2pm before I headed out. It is very rare for me to go running at this time of day, but my mum had taken Courtney off to see a movie, so I had time up my sleeve. It was a humid day, typical of Auckland, where it was hot and steamy and sunny one minute and pouring down with rain the next. But I really didn't care!

I chose a mainly flat loop, that has just one significant downhill and then later one gradual incline. Should add here that it was my last day of a 10 day course of Voltarin for the leg. I had loaded a different playlist on the iPod - mainly ABBA and Neil Diamond !!! Don't laugh - its good catchy stuff for running to !!! And it made a great change.

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Steady paced run: 27mins (5km)
Brisk walk cooldown: 5mins

I have been reminded what summer running is like! 5 mins into the run and I had worked up a sweat! My breathing was quite laboured but I was just so happy to be out there in my sunnies and cap, cruising along feeling like a "real runner" again! I had absolutely no discomfort from the leg what so ever, which put a huge smile on my face. About half way round the huge black clouds that had formed overhead opened up and big, fat rain drops splattered down all around and on me! It was fantastic. The hot roads were steaming and I felt like I was running thru cloud! It was short lived, before long the sun was beating down on me again and by the time I reached my walking point again I was very hot and sweaty!

Nothing for it when I got home but to hop into Courtney's (knee-deep but very cold) pool for a bit! Then the rain came down again and it was accompanied by some rumbling thunder, so I went inside to do an enormous amount of stretching! Any physio would have been proud!

Tuesday 02/01/07: New Years Holiday
Had a much needed sleep-in this morning (back to work tomorrow) and when I did get up I was pleased to note that despite some general stiffness in both legs (esp upper) my left quad/adductor area was really none the worse for wear after yesterdays run. YAY! As the day has gone on it has felt a tad tight, but nothing compared to how it has reacted in the past. Fingers crossed the worst is finally behind me.

Mid morning Courtney and I headed out on our bikes and rode approx 2kms to the park. While she played for 15mins or so, I continued to ride approx 1km loops around the park perimeter, where I could keep her in site most of the time. Lost count of how many I managed, but it soon got boring anyway. We then rode home together and it was good to have done some exercise at least, even if it wasn't running or particularly taxing. I will be restricting myself to only running every second day for a while yet - exercising some of that patience I have promised myself I will have this year! While I am not entirely certain that I have put this leg injury completely behind me yet, it certainly seems a lot better, and thats without taking any Voltarin today either!

To finish - here are a couple of photos from my New Years Eve. It was spent out south at a friends farm, with lots of other people I know and their kids, having a bbq and playing around with "Sing Star" the PS2 karioke game they had gotten their kids for Christmas. Of course we all had to have a go! And at midnight, the guys let off some fireworks at a safe distance from the kids and animals! It was a fun night, I caught up with some people I hadn't seen in a while and got to spend it with two of my best friends, who just happen to be sisters. I'm glad we went - I had been tempted to go out to some pubs and clubs in the central city and to watch the fireworks on the waterfront with some other (childless) friends, but in the end doing more of a "family thing" won out.

OK - so I've spent the last half hour trying to add photos but Blogger just won't play! Arrrrrrh!
Will try again later on...