Another week down...

19/11 – AM – 8km sandals 45.49min. 2.03km barefoot 10.29min. 15min stepper.
Run was good this morning. Felt like I was only going slow but kept a nice solid pace. Was awesome to get some barefooting started again after a little hiatus on it.

20/11 – AM – 13km sandals 1hr 09.46min. 2.01km barefoot 10.20min.
Was hella windy but my first run back with my buddy Jodie so it was a chat fest and very enjoyable! Good times!  Ah the counselling is so good!

21/11 – AM – 10.02km sandals 58.21min. 15min stepper. PM – 7.43km sandals 38.30min at Road Runners.
All my Hummock buddies deserted me so I decided to punish myself! Ha! Did a big loop and did 8 x grass hill repeats in a row! Oh the burn! Was ripper fun though! There was also a group from Be Transformed down there doing PT so I got to encourage a few of them doing hill repeats.  I get a sweet satisfaction in encouraging those around me ripping in!  I hope I did this in a small way.  In the arvo I went to Road Runners and did about 3k with Rick chatting which was good then got into it a little. Really focused on form and felt great.

22/11 – AM – 19.08km sandals 1hr 41.21min.
Ran 11km with Jodie and then finished off on my own. Another enjoyable run in the beautiful sunshine.

23/11 – AM – 6km sandals 31.13min. 3.02km barefoot 20.00min. 15min stepper.
Ran with the superstar, Female 10km overall winner of the Lighthouse Series Tanya today and had a nice chat and run. Enjoyable all round.  Well done on your achievement too Tanya, you deserve it, you train hard!

24/11 – AM – 40.04km sandals 3hr 49.48min.
Ran 30k with dad and a bit of time with the running group too. OMG, did not even struggle. Even though I got up to start at 3:15am to get this run in before work, it was easy! I can only put this down to the diet…felt awesome! Another really good mental builder before Goldy Ultra.  I am at a special place at the moment where I am actually surprising myself with my training!  I can not believe how good I feel and how well I am running/recovering.  It makes my heart so happy to be eating and training so well.

25/11 – AM – 17.06km sandals 1hr 35.31min.
Ran with Dad and Lee. Was a little tired in the legs from yesterday but otherwise great. Always good fun to catch up with Lee the big skirt!

TOTAL – 127.7km running and 45min stepper
Weight loss - 600g

What a ripper week!  My running has been consistent and this has been my biggest week for a little while.  My body and mind is feeling the strongest it has in a long time!  I am contributing this mainly to my new eating plan!  It has been amazing and my running has improved out of sight in such a short time!  Average speed, recovery, leg turnover...everything!  I am also continuing to drop weight which is awesome and feeling super light!  GOLD! 

I am really looking forward to the up coming Kurrawa to Durranba run!  It is now going to be a boys trip (Dad has decided to do the 30k) so it will be alot of fun!  I am really looking forward to running strong, catching up with friends and having a heap of laughs!  YES!  The way I have been training, I think I would be pretty disappointed if I didn't go under five hours.  Time will tell though!

This week I have also made the leap to getting a new GPS watch!  I have upgraded to the Suunto Ambit and trying to learn the ropes getting the bad boy set up!  I am a bit technologically challenged so it is proving a test!  Ha!  I am relying on the help of my friends who also have one!  Seems like a pretty amazing piece of machinery though!

So, apart from that there is not alot to report this week!  Things are just cruising along really nicely and I am loving eating super clean, running free shirtless and in my huaraches/barefoot.  I have also come to the realisation that if I can remain consistent for the rest of the year (no reason why I shouldn't) I will achieve the goal I set myself last year about this time....5200km for the year!  That is an average of 100km per week people!  This is a MAJOR achievement for me and I hope and pray I can reach it without too much effort!  Good times!  My running is going forward in leaps and bounds which makes this young man very happy!

So ladies and gentle men, I hope that this reaches you all well and that your life, wherever it may be is blessed and firing!  Keep your head up, run free and savour every moment!  Until next week...RUN FREE!

Engine 2 REPRESENT!

09/11 – AM 9.25km – 53.59min in trail sandals, 15min stepper.

Nice run at the back of Shalom school with Dad and Melinda my sister.  Enjoyed pretty much the only trails Bundy offers!

 

10/11 – AM 30.10km for my 30^th BIRTHDAY– 2.59.49min in trail sandals.

Ran the whole journey with Dad and Tanya and met up with the old running crew and did about 12km with them.  Was met by them all singing Happy Birthday as they were running along.  Was a really nice way to start my big 3-0 and catching up with old friends made it super cool too.

 

11/11 – AM 15km – 1.28.16min in trail sandals.

Ran the Bargara track toward Burnett Heads with Dad, Melinda and Chris.  Was a little slow on the way out but picked things up a bit on the way back.  Always an enjoyable run along the water front.

 

WEEK TOTAL – 112.8km and 15min stepper.

 

12/11 – AM 10.05km – 52.04min in trail sandals, 15min stepper.

Was a heck windy but ran strong and at a good pace.  First day on the Engine 2 Diet.

 

13/11 – AM 15.02km – 1.18.46min in trail sandals, run with Pria.

Ran to Telegraph Road and then with Wade.  Was great to catch up with him and we kept a good pace too which was a bonus.

 

14/11 – AM 11.28km hills – 1.04.16min in trail sandals, 15min stepper. (Solar eclipse)

PM 7.4km – 40.45min in trail sandals at Bundy Road Runners.

AM - Started off with Wade and Tanya and did our loop with 3 x grass repeats.  Amber then met us for 5k and I kept on going with Wade.  Did another 3 x grass repeats and kept a solid pace.  Was a good hard workout.

PM – Really nice run with Dad and Sabo.  Pushed Pria in the pram and she had a good time so everyone was happy all round!

 

15/11 – AM 17.03km – 1.28.15min in trail sandals.

Was a good solid hit out.  Getting quicker!

 

16/11 – AM 8.04km – 45.20min in trail sandals, 15min stepper.

Ran to Bargara Road and then ran 5k with Brett.  His first run back in sometime so was nice to get out with him.

 

17/11 – AM 35.01km – 3.20.02min in trail sandals.

Started with Dad and ran to Sabos place.  Then ran together for a while before Dad dropped off to do his own thing.  Sabo ran strong but stated to fade after a couple of hours.  He then detoured and we met up at the end.  This run was a real breakthrough for me.  It felt effortless and I ran the last 7k at under 5:10min p/km pace.  Felt euphoric when I finished, a real runners high!  Was so stoked!  All this after working all night too!  Good old night work!  PB for Sabo – 25km.

 

18/11 – AM 17.06km – 1.30.22min in trail sandals.

Was super tired from work and it was HUMID, WINDY and brutal conditions.  Felt sick most of the time but I toughed it out.  Was a stark contrast from yesterday!

 

WEEKLY TOTAL – 120.9km and 45min stepper.

 

First week of Engine 2 Diet – 3.3kg loss in weight!  YES!

 

Well this last week has been VERY exciting!  I turned 30 on Saturday 10/11 and celebrated with 30km!  I had a ripper awesome party with my friends and got some beautiful presents!  Stoked to now have a slack line (SO FUN) and looking forward to getting a new toy in the Suunto Ambit!  YES!  Thanks to my beautiful bride, mum and dad and special friend Lori for all the hard work you put in to make my day so memorable!  Bless your hearts every one of you for rocking up and sending me much love!

 

Sunday also saw the dawning of a new chapter in my life.  I have gone vegan!  I decided to kick things off with a bang and commenced with the Engine 2 Diet.  It is basically a four week vegan kick start program developed by a Texas Firefighter and professional Triathlete, Rip Esselstyn!  Check out www.engine2diet.com for more!  Basically it is a brutal welcome to vegan living however also includes no oil, very minimal sugar, everything wholegrain (bread, pasta, rice etc) and NO COFFEE or tea!  WTH?! 

 

For the first three to four days I nearly died!  No exaggeration!  Ha!  I was SO tired from not having coffee and sugar I could barley keep my eyes open!  I persevered, feeling like absolute crap for four days but have come out the other side!  I was worried about this weekend at work (night work) and am proud to say that I survived with no caffeine!  This has been the hardest thing for me because for those who know me know I LOVE coffee!  The food has been awesome and I have enjoyed eating beautiful fresh unprocessed foods!

 

I also did my first bulk wearhouse fruit and veg shop!  WOW!  It was RIPPER and the food is amazing quality and price!  A vegans God send!

 

So it is all very exciting!  I am basically doing this kick start to shake myself free of anything that I feel dependant on (ie. Coffee)!  After the four weeks I may go back to having oil, coffee and being a little less strict on the complete no sugar, but I am committed for the four weeks to the E2D. 

 

I am also making the change to vegan for long term health and wellbeing.  I have been running quicker than ever and my body is really enjoying the amazing food I have been eating and preparing!  I am so very grateful for an amazing supportive wife who puts up with my cooking and is so on side with my constant quest for health and a better way of living!  I am also super stoked that my mum and dad have shown great interest in giving the vegan lifestyle a go!  Although the ideas are foreign and full on for dad they are both taking it in their stride.  Mum is trying out the E2D and dad is making some good healthy adjustments to his diet and lifestyle to try and get healthier and more plant strong!  

 

So it has been a really positive time the last week or so!  I hope my madness and constant quest to improve myself and life is an encouragement to you all!  There is hopefully going to be some really exciting times ahead for my beautiful family and way of life.  God is so good to us and I am incredibly blessed to have such an amazing wife by my side in this life!  I hope y’all going tops and that life is good!  Keep loving life and all those around you friends and until next week…RUN ON!  TattooRunner

 

Viva la New Zealand!!!

Ok crew....what up, and a sunny Gday after a couple of weeks in the land of the long white cloud! Providing my computer plays the game, this blog will be pretty much be a daily summary with photos of shortly before and during my little jaunt over in NZ! YES! I know there is a lot of scenery shots but I hope that you can get a glimpse and enjoy a little the time we had in NZ! RIPPER and here we go!

22/10 - AM - 5.03km sandals.  5.28km barefoot.  15min stepper.  Barefoot run with Pria.
Standard, non eventful.

23/10 (Dads Birthday) - AM - 10.01km sandals.  5.14km barefoot.  Barefoot run with Pria.
Hella windy and a little lethargic but good tail wind home.

24/10 - AM - 11.3km hills at the Hummock with 2 x grass repeats each loop, sandals (this is just a nice steep section for added flavor!)  15min stepper.  Barefoot run with Pria.  PM - 7.54km tempo run at Bundy Road Runners in sandals.
A good solid effort at the Hummock and then a quick run at Road Runners with an average of 4.31min/km.  Stoked in the strong wind.  Got paid a great complement by a guy I passed to...he said, ''Gees you run quiet.'' I said, ''The lighter you are, the quieter you are, the less impact!''  Then I shot off!  Good times!

DUNEDIN, New Zealand

The veiw of Dunedin from our Bed and Breakfast

25/10 - PM - 7km barefoot run.
Arrived in Dunedin and checked into our Bed and Breakfast.  We were up the top of a 2.4km steep hill climb so that was a nice little ditch at the end of my run!  Shoulda seen the looks I got barefooting in NZ!

The view from our Bed and Breakfast in Dunedin
looking toward a small township across the bay. 
Good climb up!

26/10 - 10year Wedding Anniversary - AM - 10.03km run sandals.  PM - 300metres up and down the Worlds Steepest Suburban Street in Dunedin.
Drove down the hill and ran around the harbour and into an industrial area of Dunedin.  Was a nice easy run after yesterday.  Went to visit the Steepest Street in the afternoon and couldn't resist running up and down it!  Good times!

A cool building in Dunedin I found.

View of Dunedin from the Peninsular.

 27/10 - AM - 30.01km sandals.

War memorial at Dunedin.

OMG, was hella windy and ran down the peninsular to the 'beach'.  The only problem was I then had to run back up, through the country side, up the peninsular!  And what a climb it was!  Brutal, about 5km of steep constant incline!  I then finished my run around the city of Dunedin.  All up I did about 7-8km of steep climbing on this run!  Tough effort but loved it!

28/10 - AM - 15.02km sandals.
Calfs were a little sore from yesterday but had a beautiful run through Dunedin and then some magic time in the Botanical Gardens.  So beautiful.



Beautiful sunrise at Dunedin Harbour

Trail along the water at the Dunedin Botanical Gardens

Week total - 106.3km with 30min on the stepper.

TE ANAU, New Zealand

29/10 - AM - 16km sandals.

The beautiful Kepler

After a few google searches and emails back and forth, I managed to get in touch with a bloke in Te Anau named Dwight.  He was a local and was keen to catch up for a run and to show me some of the local trails.  A long story short but it turns out that he was also a copper!  We met up and he was in Five Fingers and after much conversation we had a lot in common!  He took me on 16km of the Kepler Track just outside Te Anau and OMG!  AMAZING!  Beautiful single track, cool suspension bridges and an overall awesome time!  Hope your calf came OK Dwight and thanks for an amazing run!  The best memory of running in NZ!  RIPPER



Lake off the Kepler Track, Te Anau

A Motarau Hut on the Kepler Track





Suspension bridge on the Kepler

Poser

30/10 - PM - 11.02km
An easy run on the trail around lake Te Anau to the control gates.  Was a top morning and even got a good selfie in!


The control gates at Lake Te Anau



Poser again

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand

31/10 - AM - 13km sandals.

The view from the top (almost) of Queenstown Hill

WELCOME TO QUEENSTOWN!  Decided to do some hills today and ran up Queenstown Hill!  Usually on hill day I use the Hummock in Bundaberg...just over 100m above sea level.  Queenstown Hill is 800-900m!  YES!  I got to what I thought was the top and couldn't find any more trail leading anywhere.  I did a bit of bush whacking and some down climbing but was still unable to find any other trail leading to the top.  I was a bit disappointed upon reaching the bottom and consulting the map to find out that I had just missed tagging the top of the hill...but still a good solid day of climbing!

Some cool gates on the Queenstown Hill trail

Queenstown

Cool stacked up rocks on the Sunshine Track, Queenstown

01/11 - AM - 17.15km sandals.
Ran a beautiful track around the Queenstown Botanical Gardens and then out the Sunshine Track toward Glenorchy and return.  Was a bit rainy but still very pretty.  Got a cool picture of some stacked up rocks too...I couldn't resist adding one to leave my mark on the trail.




Queenstown

Sheep in NZ...who would have thought

02/11 - AM - 7.01km sandals.
Ran a nice easy journey through town and then some trail on the George Road track.  Legs were a bit tired from yesterday but the scenery always alleviates that problem!





It SNOWED!!!

03/11 - AM - 25.03km sandals.


New snow on the mountains!

Huaraches in the cold!  YES!

Did a run around the water to Frankston and continued around on the Queenstown/Kelvin Peninsula Walkway.  It was COLD!  Man alive!  My hands were frozen and it rained pretty much the whole run, along with hella strong winds!  The thing that completely cheered me up though was that it SNOWED!  Only very light at the elevation I was running at, but enough for me to see white snowflakes on my gloves!  BEAUTIFUL!  And who would have thought, all in huaraches!  YES!

WANAKA, New Zealand.

04/11 - AM - 20.01km sandals.


Flippin awesome Lake Wanaka

Bloody cold run!  The coldest so far!  Was -0.3degrees when I GOT HOME from my run!  Cold!  But...ÓH WANAKA!  The view and the run along the lake was incredible!  I ran into town from our resort then onto a track along the lake.  After about 4km I was on a completely secluded gnarly track!  Had a massive laugh when I came around a blind corner with a cliff on one side and a sheer drop off on the other and I was confronted with about 10 sheep!  Scared the daylights out of me!  Hilarious!  Did some good climbing and descending on the middle half of this run and was sure fun!

Week Total - 109.2km.

Lake Wanaka sunrise

05/11 - AM - 10.12km sandals.
Nice easy run through the suburbs of Wanaka.

06/11 - 15.01km sandals.
My last run in NZ!  And it was beautiful!  I ran along the lake again but the opposite way!  Nice and flat, scenic trail!  Saw HEAPS of rabbits and snapped a good little selfie for my last jaunt.

Mountains at Wanaka

Last run in Wanaka

Back home...

07/11 - AM - 4.1km barefoot in the mornin.  15min stepper.  PM - 10.14km sandals at Bundy Road Runners.
Was a big shock to wake up at 5:30am today and it be complete sunshine!  Gone is the 7:30am sunrises!  Good thing, I was stoked to be back in the heat and daylight!  The barefoot smashed my feet after being in the cold dry conditions and I got a big blood blister from no barefooting for a couple of weeks.  Ugh!  Had a good little hit out at road runners with Melinda (my sister visiting from Melbourne) and Dad.  Good to see them and have a run together.

08/11 - AM - 19.1km sandals.
Good solid pace run with 5km with Melinda in the middle.  This run was so easy and I didn't really feel like I had done that far.  Love ones like this!

09/11 - AM - 9.25km sandals.
Hit the Bundy trail up...as short as it is and had a nice hot run with Melinda and Dad.  Feet a little better but still quite sore.

Summery - New Zealand was AMAZING!  I had a truly blessed, relaxing fun time with my dear wife with some beautiful running!  I am so thankful and grateful to have such an amazing wife to let me go on these adventures while on holidays!  Ripper time but it is good to be back in the heat and sunshine!  A MASSIVE thank you to mum and dad for having Pria too so we could have the time away, just the two of us!  You guys are amazing!

Well friends, I hope that you have enjoyed this little picture journey and that you are all ripper!  Keep loving life, hope to see you soon, and I will leave the last note to my new friend Ernie the Eel!  Run free friends...TattooRunner.


The eel has the final say!

http://www.lunasandals.com/?aid=4c7p5f3p