15/10 – 10km road sandals. 2km barefoot. 15min stepper and run with Pria barefoot.
A good solid hit out. Felt great to finish this run off barefoot.
16/10 – 15km trail sandals. Run with Pria barefoot.
This was a fun little run down through Baldwin Swap…except for the Satan possessed, kill shot plovers! What the heck…they wanted blood and they nearly got it!
17/10 – 10km road hills at the Hummock with 2 x grass repeats each lap (four in total). Whole run with Tanya and 5k with Jodie. Stepper 15min and run with Pria barefoot.
We have started to include these cool tough hill repeats in our normal hill route. They are tough and add some good tiredness into the legs. We plan on building these up to doing five each lap…that will hurt! Wanted to go to Road Runners in the afternoon but got stuck on overtime at work. Priorities people!
18/10 – 10km trail sandals with Jodie. 3km barefoot. Run with Pria barefoot.
Again another nice cruise and enjoyable run out the back canefields.
19/10 – 8.4km road sandals. Run with Pria barefoot.
Had time restrictions today due to finishing work late last night and having to be at the coffee shop early this morning. A bit heavy but still a good solid run.
20/10 – Rest (mainly due to finishing work at midnight last night and having to be back at 9am this morning.
21/10 – 25km road sandals. Full run with Jodie and 15km with Sabo. Run with Pria barefoot.
A real good solid run to get the legs used to some longer k’s! Oh how I have missed you! Felt great to get a little time back on them and really looking forward to some serious training going forward.
Weekly total – 84.7km. Weight loss – 200g
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This last month has been a serious reminder, as if we need another one, as to why life is so precious and every moment should be treasured! Overseas, in runs that some of my hero’s have taken part in, has seen two runners die during the events. These were for various reasons but it is a timely reminder that although running ultras is a beautiful, peaceful, serene and sometimes even meditative experience, it also can be inherently dangerous.
I think at times it is very easy to look at a race, or even a training run as ‘just another outing’ but it is important to remember there are real risks in what we do. I know that most of the time we take all the precautions we can to ensure that we are safe and that our loved ones don’t worry anymore than they need to, but these recent events were a bit of a wake up call for me! It is too easy to think ‘It wont happen to me’ but to be prepared and aware of any possible dangers is so important. Do what you can friends to stay safe and make sure that your loved ones are happy with whatever arrangement you have to keep you safe! For those interested, check out roadid.com as a great way for others to know who you are just in case! I need to get my act together and get another one!
Although I wasn’t at either of these races and I didn’t know the athletes who passed away, my thoughts and prayers go out to your families and friends. I pray your spirits live on in them and that you can be remembered for doing something you loved with all your heart. Bless you all.
So, on a more positive note…I am now on HOLIDAYS! I am SO excited! Tegan and I (that’s right, no kid!) are heading to New Zealand on Thursday for about 12days of pure bliss! It is our 10 year wedding anniversary (YEP, married at 18 and 19 years old! GOLD!) and I can’t wait to spend it with my beautiful bride! I plan on doing a HEAP of trail running and exploring all NZ has to offer on the nature side, spending time with Tegs shopping, eating and just enjoying the beauty that is NZ! Blessed! I will endeavour to post a blog next week of all the super fun adventures but just not sure what the internet story will be…
I have also just compiled a 12 week training program on www.runningahead.com. I couldn’t help myself! I have included the Kurrawa to Durranba race in December however the program will be pointed by Hares and Hounds on the 13th of January, 2013. The k’s aren’t as far as in the past (between 100-130km on average) with some challenging workouts in there which I am looking forward to! Jump on board if you like!
So crew, just a nice short little blog this week. Keep smiling, loving this warmer weather and if your keen for a run, give me a hoy! Love life friends…until next time, Run on…TattooRunner
Monday, 22 October 2012
Monday, 15 October 2012
Beauty of a child
08/10 - 5km barefoot. 15min stepper. Pria run (shoes).
A good steady effort with my first ever run with Pria. OMG SO AMAZING! A beautiful, memorable day!
09/10 - 11km trail in sandals. Pria run (barefoot).
This run felt pretty cruisy and fun with Sabo and upon finishing I realised that we had run low 5:20 pace...gotta be happy with that on trail.
10/10 - 15km hills on road in sandals. 15min stepper. Pria run (shoes).
A good workout on the hummock including three new hill repeats which got the heart pumpin. Felt a bit of tightness in the left calf...
11/10 - 12km sandals and 8km barefoot. Pria run (barefoot)
Ran 12k with Jodie at Bargara and it was BLOWING ITS ASS OFF!! Left calf was very tight and probably shouldn’t have done the 8k but was meeting Lee and wanted to run with him. In a fair bit of hurt during this 8k but got through. Hitting the roller/self massage hard!
12/10 - 5km barefoot. 15min stepper. Pria run (barefoot)
Very upset...calf was painful from the get go and limited to a very short, hurtful run.
Roller and self massage.
13/10 - 15km sandals at Relay for Life.
Calf started to get a bit sore at about the 12-13k mark but otherwise not too bad. A fun run for a ripper cause. Roller and self massage.
14/10 - 17km sandals at Relay for Life. Pria run (barefoot)
No calf pain today, YES! Only a little tightness afterward. Another fun run with Rony and Rob. Good spirits and good laughs.
Week total - 88.8km and 1.4kg weight loss. A little limited due to my calf soreness but all good now so full steam ahead.
So, this week has been an interesting one! I have wanted to run a heap however have been hindered by my pesky sore calf! I am stoked that this has now dissipated though, so onward and upward from here!
The biggest thing that I have learnt this week though has come from my daughter! As you can see from above she has started running with me! I have been waiting for the day that this would happen (and praying that it would) but Monday it finally arrived! She asked me to go running! YES!
Now, I have still been struggling a little for motivation however running with her reminds me why I do what I do! Simple, un-burdened joy in running and having the wind in her hair! She is beautiful...there is no other word to describe it! I NEVER want to push my kids to do anything that they don’t want to, so having her ask EVERY day to run with me is amazing! It hurt me to say no to her Saturday as we were quite busy, but I want to do my best to never say no to her when it comes to exercise! I want to encourage her and be by her side in whatever she does and if that is running...RIPPER!
So...her style...her conversation...oh bliss! She is all over the shop and I don’t care! Arms and legs flying! God created her to move and run! It is a freedom that doesn’t need to be taught to a child, they just know they should be doing it and get goin! Her conversation is of such simple purity it warms my heart and nearly brings a tear to my eye as I am typing! Comments like ''Morning Sun'', ''I love running with you daddy'', ''Running is so fun with you daddy'' and ''Nice and steady, don’t want to wear out'' which I taught her, show the simplicity and amazingness of a child’s mind! She also has to run with a bottle in her hand just like daddy. I think I may have created a monster though with her wanting to copy EVERY thing I do!! Today she said, ''I go barefoot and no shirt like daddy''...Ah...shirts for girls darlin...or at least crop tops! Ha! We might only be running about 200-250metres every morning but I tell you what, those few minutes are so precious and refreshing to my soul, I never want to lose that and just want to bask in the moment all day.
That kid, I tell you, she is busy and wild at times but her spirit and adventurous heart makes me feel young again! To live without ambition and worry, to run free and feel the wind in my hair, not having to worry about time limits or how many k's I have to or don’t have to run! To be barefoot cause shoes are too heavy (OK, so I do that) and not even be worried about rocks in the way. To say good morning to the birds and learn that the lights aren’t on anymore as the seasons have changed from Winter to Spring....the mind of a child is something that we can all learn from and hold dear! I think this is a reason I loved Micah True from Born to Run so very much. He was a simple soul with a simple phrase to live by...'Run Free'. Those words...as basic as they are can speak to our whole lives into eternity.
I did not intend to get all deep when I sat down to write this blog but I tell you what, I am glad that I have. Sometimes it feels like life is spiralling out of control and every day just blends into one, but when doing things with a nearly three year old, all the rubbish takes a backseat and the important comes into clarity. Life is good. It is meant to be enjoyed and not bogged down by insignificant rubbish. God is good, saying good morning to his creation and creations is good. Feeling the wind rush though your hair and your lungs and heart beating when running up hill for the first time is beautiful. A high five at the end of your 250metre run with dad is a moment he will cherish forever...one at a time.
Pria thank you for taking time to spend with your Dad...I love you more than my futile words can express and I hope we have millions of k's together to enjoy the simple things in life. I am sorry when I let you down and get cross at you but it is for the greater good and your future. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life and that I have such an amazing wife to teach you and help you to grow into a beautiful woman one day. I dont know what I have done to be so blessed, but, Thank you...
Smile my friends, run free and until next week love life...TattooRunner
http://www.lunasandals.com/?aid=4c7p5f3p
Monday, 8 October 2012
But I’m scared mummy!
What up hipsters!? Well it has been an interesting week to say the least. To give you a quick run down (no pun intended) it went like this…
- Run a lot! Calfs a bit tender??
- Run 15k of hills in the am on Wednesday and then run 7.5k in the pm at 4:52min p/km pace…ROOTED!
- Drag my ass for a short run on Thursday
- Completlly stressed and extending my maths skills to try and fit in 160km per week!
- Decided the time is not right again for the 100miles per week
- Eat too much food
- Make new plans…
So there has been my interesting week! As mentioned, I have decided to change my focus from the 100miles per week business, for now anyway! I found that half way through the week I was REALLY stressing about my k’s and in my opinion if that is happening something is not right! Running is the most beautiful, free, liberating thing to do and as soon as it becomes an effort things need to be switched up.
This in turn got me thinking a little about the future…as in next year. This year I only have one event left planned, the Kurrawa to Durranbah 50km and then Hares and Hounds the second week in 2013. I was reflecting on the 12 week challenge that I have done not long ago and how I lost, and have kept of 6-7kg’s (depending on the time of day!) and how I am still a little ways off my goal weight and REALLY want to get there. Then, with a little calculation, I realised that today (Monday) is exactly 12 weeks until the end of 20-12 homies! SOOOOO, why not another 12 week challenge to round out this awesome year!?
I have recruited three of my good buddies to take part in the journey with me and we have all set lofty but achievable goals to obtain by the end of the year. I am scared at my goal but VERY excited to try and achieve it!!! Can not wait to see what can be done and how ripped/fit I can get for 2013!
Basically my plan is this…eat a clean vegan diet where possible (all other times, and where not possible, ripper vegetarian tucker) and try and stick to a set calorie goal. This isn’t something that I have really done before (count calories) so it should be interesting (I will be using using MyFitnessPal App). I also want to eat much more mindfully and not just jam the tucker into the hole in my face as fast as possible. A food/training journal will also be kept. Food (especially plant based) is beautiful and meant to be enjoyed and this is something that I am planning on doing!
As far as training goes, I am going to focus on running free and doing as much as I want. This is going to be ideally over 100ks a week as this is pretty much stock standard for me now. (As a side point, for those who have been following my blog for a while, at the end of last year I set a goal for this year to average 100k per week all year, giving me 5200km before years end. I did some calculating on my online log (RunningAhead.com) and if I can do 100k a week for the rest of the year I will achieve this goal! KEEN!!!) I want to try and run EVERY day of the challenge with no rest days.
So Tattoo Crew, as I did last time the call is out…if you want to join me and my buddies in this crazy adventure, come on down! Text or Facey me your starting weight today and your goal weight by the end of 2012. Weigh in days will be Mondays and a lot of hard work will be done between them! Let me know if your in, and we can include you in our rott talk! Oh, and there is plenty of it! All ripper super fun though!
Ok my friends! The sun is shining, the warm weather is here and its time to tan up! Shirtless running is well and truly here to stay and its time to soak up that vitamin D! YES! Forks to the cold and running in the dark! Thanks to y’all for putting up with my rott and erratic adventures! I look at my life as an on-going challenge, fun filled, high-goal set journey of joy! Time is too short to be content with the normal and not strive for amazing and better in every area of life! I will leave you this week with a awesome quote that my mate Tanya said the other day while running (see below)…I’m pretty sure she made it up, and if not that is what I am running with anyway! Love ya mates, and even better, love your enemy’s brothers and sisters and until next week…Run On…
‘Running is not what we do, it is who we are!’ Love your work Tanya!
- Run a lot! Calfs a bit tender??
- Run 15k of hills in the am on Wednesday and then run 7.5k in the pm at 4:52min p/km pace…ROOTED!
- Drag my ass for a short run on Thursday
- Completlly stressed and extending my maths skills to try and fit in 160km per week!
- Decided the time is not right again for the 100miles per week
- Eat too much food
- Make new plans…
So there has been my interesting week! As mentioned, I have decided to change my focus from the 100miles per week business, for now anyway! I found that half way through the week I was REALLY stressing about my k’s and in my opinion if that is happening something is not right! Running is the most beautiful, free, liberating thing to do and as soon as it becomes an effort things need to be switched up.
This in turn got me thinking a little about the future…as in next year. This year I only have one event left planned, the Kurrawa to Durranbah 50km and then Hares and Hounds the second week in 2013. I was reflecting on the 12 week challenge that I have done not long ago and how I lost, and have kept of 6-7kg’s (depending on the time of day!) and how I am still a little ways off my goal weight and REALLY want to get there. Then, with a little calculation, I realised that today (Monday) is exactly 12 weeks until the end of 20-12 homies! SOOOOO, why not another 12 week challenge to round out this awesome year!?
I have recruited three of my good buddies to take part in the journey with me and we have all set lofty but achievable goals to obtain by the end of the year. I am scared at my goal but VERY excited to try and achieve it!!! Can not wait to see what can be done and how ripped/fit I can get for 2013!
Basically my plan is this…eat a clean vegan diet where possible (all other times, and where not possible, ripper vegetarian tucker) and try and stick to a set calorie goal. This isn’t something that I have really done before (count calories) so it should be interesting (I will be using using MyFitnessPal App). I also want to eat much more mindfully and not just jam the tucker into the hole in my face as fast as possible. A food/training journal will also be kept. Food (especially plant based) is beautiful and meant to be enjoyed and this is something that I am planning on doing!
As far as training goes, I am going to focus on running free and doing as much as I want. This is going to be ideally over 100ks a week as this is pretty much stock standard for me now. (As a side point, for those who have been following my blog for a while, at the end of last year I set a goal for this year to average 100k per week all year, giving me 5200km before years end. I did some calculating on my online log (RunningAhead.com) and if I can do 100k a week for the rest of the year I will achieve this goal! KEEN!!!) I want to try and run EVERY day of the challenge with no rest days.
So Tattoo Crew, as I did last time the call is out…if you want to join me and my buddies in this crazy adventure, come on down! Text or Facey me your starting weight today and your goal weight by the end of 2012. Weigh in days will be Mondays and a lot of hard work will be done between them! Let me know if your in, and we can include you in our rott talk! Oh, and there is plenty of it! All ripper super fun though!
Ok my friends! The sun is shining, the warm weather is here and its time to tan up! Shirtless running is well and truly here to stay and its time to soak up that vitamin D! YES! Forks to the cold and running in the dark! Thanks to y’all for putting up with my rott and erratic adventures! I look at my life as an on-going challenge, fun filled, high-goal set journey of joy! Time is too short to be content with the normal and not strive for amazing and better in every area of life! I will leave you this week with a awesome quote that my mate Tanya said the other day while running (see below)…I’m pretty sure she made it up, and if not that is what I am running with anyway! Love ya mates, and even better, love your enemy’s brothers and sisters and until next week…Run On…
‘Running is not what we do, it is who we are!’ Love your work Tanya!
Sunday, 30 September 2012
A new challenge
 |
| Lorna Jane anyone?? |
Well this week has seen me slowly back to running decent
distances as it took me a little longer to recover from my chest infection than
I thought! Ugh, sickness blows! It was a fun week, totalling 100k. I have been a little flat since my DNF so it
was nice to get back to some regularity and normality! A highlight on Thursday was something
completely different to normal, a 1hour run on a treadmill for Team Gloria
Jeans at Hinkler Central Shopping Centre for the Cancer Council. The girls at Lorna Jane did plenty of
stirring and by the end my big old face was sore from smiling so much! Thanks for a good laugh ladies and it looked
like a good amount of coin was raised for a worthy cause! Good job to all involved, even though I had
to wear a shirt!
I also got news this week that I was un-successful in my
application for Coast 2 Kosi. I was
actually telephoned by the organiser and he had a great, lengthy discussion
with me about my entry, sandals and the race in general. After chatting about a number of points, it
was consensually decided that I would delay doing the race for at least a year
and keep ticking the k’s over in my huaraches.
Although I think I have more than proved myself in my Jesus footwear, I
do understand that they have to think about insurance, blah, blah….the joys of
organising a race! All good though and
stoked that he phoned me personally to talk over their concerns.
So, after my flatness and not being accepted into C2K, this
week has also seen me pondering the rest of the year. I have decided to do something different and
entered Kurrawa to Durranbah, a 50k road race on the Gold Coast in
December. It should be nice and cold and
an easy race. Yeah right! It will be hot and ripper fun! I am looking forward to it and have been
trudging out a few k’s in my roadie sandies getting ready for the different
terrain! What’s a boy to do!
I have also been thinking globally and acting locally….ok
maybe not but it sounded good! I wanna
have a big end to the year and pulverise myself with some super fun, big
distance, consistent running. Now I
kinda set myself a similar goal earlier in the year but only got about a month
in before getting sick or injured, I can’t remember…so here we go again.
Tomorrow is Monday the 1st of October, 13weeks
aka three months until the end of the year.
I am going to aim to do a minimum of 100miles per week (160km, come on
people, haven’t we figured these things out yet!?), eating a clean vegetarian
diet and aiming to get to my goal weight (still!) which I will reveal in later
posts, but is under 75kg’s! So friends,
that is a total of over 2000km in three months…OH THE BLISS!!! I will also be
running in my usual attire, as little clothing as possible, namely a pair of
shorts, maybe a head covering sometimes and either sandals or barefoot. Summer is coming and I hate being restricted
by silly inventions like shoes and shirts!
If ya cant handle that, stop looking at the tattoos! Ha!
GOOD TIMES!
So there it is, another ridiculous adventure in the life of
the TattooRunner! I will be aiming to
post on each Monday, the previous weeks runs and how things are
travelling. If ya not interested in
this, just ignore my ramblings!
As a final note, I have also made an exciting link this week
with Luna Sandals. I am now an affiliate
partner and you will see their link/maybe some small advertising for their
products on my blog. If you know anyone
who wants to buy some (or you do!)and give them a burl, I am more than happy to
chat to them about how awesome they are and how FREE the will feel prancing
around in them! Further to that, if you
or any friends wanna grab some sandals or their clothes etc, please go through
the link on my blog as it will then feed back to them that the TattooRunner is
doing his job in promoting the awesomeness of the Luna Monkey! As a side point, they are releasing the BEST
SHIRT EVER in a couple of weeks. A
baseball style shirt with a cartoon drawing and the slogan ‘Good enough for
Jesus, Good enough for a Spartacus, Good enough for you!’ YES!
Well homies and hometts as usual it has been a pleasure
doing business with you all! I can not
wait to see, hear, smell you all soon and pray that you are looking after your
mum and being nice to strange people, just like me! Y’all the reason I am still here typing my
nonsense so keep enjoying it if you will!
Love you all…RUN ON
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Ups and downs...
What a week it has been....some good, some bad and some just straight painful!
GLASSHOUSE 100miler - I have been training hard for pretty much the last year for this event. I was leading up to it not doing 100% of what I would have liked (when do we ever?!) but feeling confident I could go well under 24hours......that was until Tuesday/Wednesday last week I started getting sick.
My daughter was very crook two weeks ago and I thought I had avoided it. WRONG! I was feeling ordinary and on Thursday I pretty much completely lost my voice. I then started coughing up yellow and green muck. I didn't tell anyone about this as I didn't want them to worry, I thought it would pass and it was just the flu. Anyway, I downed as much multivitamin, fruit and cold and flu medicine that I could handle. I rested and did my best to be ready for race day.
I started the run very excited! After the briefing Friday night and catching up with old and new friends, the anticipation of a super day was in the air. I started off and whilst not feeling 100% was cruising along nicely, running and chatting with friends. I completed the first 10k look easily, saw my crew then headed up Mt Beerburrum. We then had to complete about another 11-12km before seeing our crews again. I ran the majority of this section, only power hiking the steep hills. I again was feeling pretty good but a little cautious. I saw my family/crew at Checkpoint 4 and everything was going to plan. I was keeping a good pace and spirits were up.
After leaving this Checkpoint, things kept going along OK, until about the three hour mark. I started to come into some good hills and I started to struggle. I just felt like I had no energy in my legs, my breathing felt laboured and I was still coughing. I had hoped I was just having a 'down' patch and that I would work through it. I struggled thought this section and reached my family at Checkpoint 6. I was feeling the pinch by now and was starting to wonder what was up. I sat down for a second and then headed off to one of the tougher parts of the course, the power lines.
Now I usually LOVE this section but in this race, I battled! I walked a fair chunk of the big ups and downs and just felt rough. What was happening!!!???
I have run enough races and trained hard enough to know my own body. This day, something wasn't right. My natural heart rate was higher than normal and I couldn't get it down quickly like I normally would. My breathing was very heavy where it shouldn't have been and my engine room (lungs) just felt bad and heavy.
I continued on very slowly to just before Checkpoint 8. Upon approaching this Checkpoint I started to get quite emotional, something that hasn't happened to me for a long time in a race. The only other time I have got emotional in a race was in happiness when I finished my first marathon. I got to my crew and broke down. I cried, felt completely beat up, and helpless. I felt like I was letting them down. I had never pulled out of a race before however this time it felt ominous! The power just wasn't in my legs and the sickness was killing me. I walked to the Checkpoint with Dad and Tegan and after a sit down (I had already lost three kg's...not too concerning but still a little) Dad convinced me to do the Western loop and then see how I felt.
I set off on this 10km loop and for the first third shuffled and walked along. After this though, it was again slow going, my body feeling the same as the last three or so hours. I am grateful that I did this extra 10k though as I really gained clarity and peace in my decision to withdraw from the race upon returning to Checkpoint 8. I am glad I didn't pull out when I was emotional as I didn't want to make a decision based on feelings. When I got back, I had a little chat with Tegan and after only 59km, handed my number in. Just like that.
I returned to the finish line that night to see my friends finish the 100k and then again returned the following day for presentations and to see some friends finish the 100miler. I am so very proud of them all!
In reflection I am still VERY disappointed that I pulled out. I have never pulled out of a race and I don't want anyone to think of me as weak or as a quitter. Upon going into Sunday and Monday after the race though, I was very happy and proud of my decision to pull out. I went to the doctors Monday and found out I had a chest infection. I am now on a weeks worth of antibiotics and still feeling pretty ordinary. I have no doubt that if I would have continued I would have done some pretty serious damage to myself. It is the first time in a race where I have actually been concerned for my long term health and well being. I guess sometimes you just need to know when to be smart and say enough is enough.
A few shout outs to my buddies... Andy in his first 100miler - 29hrs! What a legend, redemption brother!! To Tegween who just scrapped in for the cut off in 29hr58min! What an effort! To Dion and Lee who went under 24hrs, awesome! Proud of you boys! Lori, Chris and Amy in your first 100km even...inspirational! To finish and to be able to share in your joy was a privilege! Well done! The speedsters - Andy B and Scotty W finishing 3rd in the 50k and 2nd in in the 30k respectfully, top effort! Thanks also to all that came out to support me and help out in any way! Mum, Dad, Ma, Tegan, Pria and Dan, bless your heart! Thanks again to Chris at the Mower Doctor for support me in my jaunts and adventures! GOLD!
So, since then, I have continued to be sick but am slowly on the mend. I spent a couple of days at Lori and Chris house chilling out and talking our heads off! SO FUN! They really picked my spirits up! YES!!!
To keep the TattooRunner name flowing, I then went and got tattooed all day on Tuesday...BAREFOOT! OMG! It was a LONG painful day but the end result was well worth it! I only need to return for a little colour and my little wolf is done! YES!
And...some of you may be wondering what the teaser was from the last blog...well, I have been in talkings with a Rep from New Balance and they have hooked me up with some shoes! That's right, your read it correctly, SHOES! Don't get too fired up though, they are complete flat, zero heel lift from front to back and only a very thin sole. No cushioning or any of that rubbish! I am going to be trying them out and providing some feedback with the potential for on going dealings with the company. Some exciting times ahead. I am continuing to run in my sandals and completely barefoot as well as my feet are going to take some getting used to being back in a shoe...such an odd feeling after not being in them for over a year! Thanks Paul!
So that is it my friends, what a week it has been! From here until the end of the year I am planning on running as much as possible and without a program. LOADS OF K'S! I have a few potential events in the pipeline but well see what pans out.
Regardless of what each day brings friends and what challenges life throws at you, keep your head up, keep strong and fight till the end! 'Can't stop, won't stop!' Love you all...Run on...
GLASSHOUSE 100miler - I have been training hard for pretty much the last year for this event. I was leading up to it not doing 100% of what I would have liked (when do we ever?!) but feeling confident I could go well under 24hours......that was until Tuesday/Wednesday last week I started getting sick.
My daughter was very crook two weeks ago and I thought I had avoided it. WRONG! I was feeling ordinary and on Thursday I pretty much completely lost my voice. I then started coughing up yellow and green muck. I didn't tell anyone about this as I didn't want them to worry, I thought it would pass and it was just the flu. Anyway, I downed as much multivitamin, fruit and cold and flu medicine that I could handle. I rested and did my best to be ready for race day.
I started the run very excited! After the briefing Friday night and catching up with old and new friends, the anticipation of a super day was in the air. I started off and whilst not feeling 100% was cruising along nicely, running and chatting with friends. I completed the first 10k look easily, saw my crew then headed up Mt Beerburrum. We then had to complete about another 11-12km before seeing our crews again. I ran the majority of this section, only power hiking the steep hills. I again was feeling pretty good but a little cautious. I saw my family/crew at Checkpoint 4 and everything was going to plan. I was keeping a good pace and spirits were up.
After leaving this Checkpoint, things kept going along OK, until about the three hour mark. I started to come into some good hills and I started to struggle. I just felt like I had no energy in my legs, my breathing felt laboured and I was still coughing. I had hoped I was just having a 'down' patch and that I would work through it. I struggled thought this section and reached my family at Checkpoint 6. I was feeling the pinch by now and was starting to wonder what was up. I sat down for a second and then headed off to one of the tougher parts of the course, the power lines.
Now I usually LOVE this section but in this race, I battled! I walked a fair chunk of the big ups and downs and just felt rough. What was happening!!!???
I have run enough races and trained hard enough to know my own body. This day, something wasn't right. My natural heart rate was higher than normal and I couldn't get it down quickly like I normally would. My breathing was very heavy where it shouldn't have been and my engine room (lungs) just felt bad and heavy.
I continued on very slowly to just before Checkpoint 8. Upon approaching this Checkpoint I started to get quite emotional, something that hasn't happened to me for a long time in a race. The only other time I have got emotional in a race was in happiness when I finished my first marathon. I got to my crew and broke down. I cried, felt completely beat up, and helpless. I felt like I was letting them down. I had never pulled out of a race before however this time it felt ominous! The power just wasn't in my legs and the sickness was killing me. I walked to the Checkpoint with Dad and Tegan and after a sit down (I had already lost three kg's...not too concerning but still a little) Dad convinced me to do the Western loop and then see how I felt.
I set off on this 10km loop and for the first third shuffled and walked along. After this though, it was again slow going, my body feeling the same as the last three or so hours. I am grateful that I did this extra 10k though as I really gained clarity and peace in my decision to withdraw from the race upon returning to Checkpoint 8. I am glad I didn't pull out when I was emotional as I didn't want to make a decision based on feelings. When I got back, I had a little chat with Tegan and after only 59km, handed my number in. Just like that.
I returned to the finish line that night to see my friends finish the 100k and then again returned the following day for presentations and to see some friends finish the 100miler. I am so very proud of them all!
 |
| Barefoot at the Tattoo Shop! A true believer! |
A few shout outs to my buddies... Andy in his first 100miler - 29hrs! What a legend, redemption brother!! To Tegween who just scrapped in for the cut off in 29hr58min! What an effort! To Dion and Lee who went under 24hrs, awesome! Proud of you boys! Lori, Chris and Amy in your first 100km even...inspirational! To finish and to be able to share in your joy was a privilege! Well done! The speedsters - Andy B and Scotty W finishing 3rd in the 50k and 2nd in in the 30k respectfully, top effort! Thanks also to all that came out to support me and help out in any way! Mum, Dad, Ma, Tegan, Pria and Dan, bless your heart! Thanks again to Chris at the Mower Doctor for support me in my jaunts and adventures! GOLD!
 |
| The new edition. Only a little colour to go. |
To keep the TattooRunner name flowing, I then went and got tattooed all day on Tuesday...BAREFOOT! OMG! It was a LONG painful day but the end result was well worth it! I only need to return for a little colour and my little wolf is done! YES!
 |
| The new treds! Light as a feather! |
So that is it my friends, what a week it has been! From here until the end of the year I am planning on running as much as possible and without a program. LOADS OF K'S! I have a few potential events in the pipeline but well see what pans out.
Regardless of what each day brings friends and what challenges life throws at you, keep your head up, keep strong and fight till the end! 'Can't stop, won't stop!' Love you all...Run on...
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Well, flippen, heckin, ripper times, bloody excited
man! Only four more sleeps till my next
event, Glasshouse 100miles (160km for those of you struggling with the
conversion). It has been an exciting
journey, with a few speed bumps along the way, as there always is.
I have been focusing on this event solely for the last
13weeks and all was going tops. As
mentioned in my last blog, since Flinders Tour things have been a bit up and
down, however I have noticed something significant happen. Even though I haven’t been able to log the
k’s I would have liked, the little bit of rest (pft!) has freshened me up! My training runs have been quick and I really
don’t feel like I am putting out any significant effort. One particular run with my mate Sabo the other
day we knocked out 10k at 5.04min k’s and it actually felt like I was going
slow! Good times!
So, overall, I feel ready.
I was a little worried when things weren’t going how I wanted them to,
but over the last two weeks, the excitement has been steadily growing and now I
am keen as mustard!!!
My goal for this race, as it has been since finishing my
first ‘miler’ last year, is to go under 24hours. I have worked hard this year, dropped weight,
feel way fitter and completely transformed my running style over the course of
the year! I think it is fitting (excuse
the pun) that this year I will be doing the miler in my huarache sandals.
 |
| OOOWWW!!! |
After finishing last years race (wearing conventional
running shoes) my feet were an absolute mess…see lovely picture and insert
disgusted sounds here! HA! I said after that event that things had to
change and I was no longer going to be wearing ‘normal, conventional running
shoes’. Since then, I have transformed
(kinda like Optimus Prime but skinnier and just as colourful) my running
style. I have, since then completed
three 10km races, 50km Hares and Hounds and a run to Childers (50+ k’s) in my
home made sandals. I have also done a
50miler (again, 80km for those who have now gone to get their calculators) a
50km race and A LOT of k’s in my Leadville
Luna Sandals. I have also done a full
marathon completely barefoot, YES!
Since my transformation things have been beautiful! For the first time since starting running I
actually have all my toenails! I hardly
EVER get blisters now and have only battled a few run in’s with rubbing between
my toes. My k’s have looked like this in
the last year…
 |
| How your foot SHOULD be landing! The right way to run! |
Home made huaraches – 1141km
Leadville luna huaraches – 2183km (yeah that’s right, ONE
PAIR! Forks to the 800-1000km running shoe
companies recommend you replace your fancy cushioned clompers!)
Complete barefoot running – 1141km
WHAT A YEAR!!!
So, there it is. It
has been an incredible journey and I am SO very excited to round it out with
the 100miler, in complete style! YES!
After this event, there may be some changes in the TattooRunners
‘footware’ and the journey of self discovery will continue. Stay tuned for a blog….maybe next week about
this!
 |
| Yeah baby! |
To finish this blog up, a little on the 100miler event. For most people, this kind of distance,
especially on the trail, is incomprehensible.
I don’t say this to make it seem like something amazing, maybe just
something a little left of centre. The
miler is a magical distance and for most ultra runners, the ultra distance. I have heard the event described in a number
of ways…even like child birth! You go
through so many different emotions and feelings. I look at it as an amazing, beautiful, soul
searching, meditative, blissful, free journey!
Whilst there is a lot going on in my life at the moment, and some things
seem so blurry, running in general but especially for 24hours, is the ultimate
freedom, council and steadfast thing I have.
I can lose myself in the day and yet be fully in the moment of
travelling through the beautiful Glasshouse
Mountains
 |
| My mums handy work for this weekend! GOLD! |
I look forward to sharing my experience after the event with
you all! Thanks for the support you have
all been and I hope to do you all, but most of all myself proud!
Tell someone you love them today, give them a hug and
cherish life, every moment of this beautiful thing we have been blessed
with. Keep smiling friends and run
on…TattooRunner
Friday, 31 August 2012
By by August!
Well...August! You have been interesting! It has been a challenging month but one that I think I had to have mentally and physically! It feels like it has been so up and down, I have been on some sort of rollercoaster!
Since Flinders Tour I have been constantlly battling niggling issues with my legs, and up and downs with my eating patterns. It, I believe, was due to my own fault of overdoing things since the race in late July. I trained too hard, too soon after the hard effort at that event and have done myself some minor damage (manageable but still damage). And just when I thought things were coming good, my sandals ravaged my toes this week and I have had to barefoot the last couple of days.
In saying this though, since that race I have completed weeks of 129.3km, 34.5km, 162.3km, 65.3km and this week I should do over 110km. Now this might seem like alot to some, but when training for a 100miler, long k's on the legs are what you need, physically and mentally. I have unfortunatlly not been able to complete my 100miles a week for 10weeks as I had previouslly hoped. This has been mainly because of my hard effort at Flinders, so I think I will try it again soon when I have no races to blow my legs out and destroy me!
Now in saying this, the 'forced rest' has proberbly been a good thing for me. For thoes of you who know me well, know that rest is not something that I do! I run every day, if physically possible and don't like not running! It is something I need to do and have to do for my sanity! I have noticed though, with the forced rest, the runs I have done have been much faster (pretty much always averaging betwen 5-5.30min p/km.) This rest seems to have freshened up my body and mentally got me ready for the battle ahead in two weeks time!
Ahhh, the 100miler!!! I have been working hard to get my head in the right space and really work myself up for the fun day/night of the race! I have had a goal of going under 24hours this year since last years race and I really look forward to smashing that goal! SOOO much of ultra running is done between your ears and the physical side of things is just a bonus. I am fully ready to tackle the challenge! I hope to get a few good runs in over the next week and then focus on positive thoughts, books, YouTube clips and people to really build things up to race day!
So...September. The first day of Spring and a new start for my training and clean eating (I havent really been eating bad, just too much good food!) I am very excited for the heat to return and get some sun/tan up for the months ahead.
I hope and pray you are all doing well! Keep positive, run free and I look forward to updating you once or twice before the big weekend! Run on...
P.S - As a side note, there are some VERY exciting adventures ahead for TattooRunner. I, along with a good friend, are looking at expanding and exploring the possibilities of branching out into the unknown. It is very exciting, so watch this space for developements. In addition to this, there is something that YOU can do! If you know anyone who might benifit physically, mentally or just enjoy reading my blog, please pass on the links and spread the word. The more people reading along the better! Thanks guys and Ill see ya soon!!
Since Flinders Tour I have been constantlly battling niggling issues with my legs, and up and downs with my eating patterns. It, I believe, was due to my own fault of overdoing things since the race in late July. I trained too hard, too soon after the hard effort at that event and have done myself some minor damage (manageable but still damage). And just when I thought things were coming good, my sandals ravaged my toes this week and I have had to barefoot the last couple of days.
In saying this though, since that race I have completed weeks of 129.3km, 34.5km, 162.3km, 65.3km and this week I should do over 110km. Now this might seem like alot to some, but when training for a 100miler, long k's on the legs are what you need, physically and mentally. I have unfortunatlly not been able to complete my 100miles a week for 10weeks as I had previouslly hoped. This has been mainly because of my hard effort at Flinders, so I think I will try it again soon when I have no races to blow my legs out and destroy me!
Now in saying this, the 'forced rest' has proberbly been a good thing for me. For thoes of you who know me well, know that rest is not something that I do! I run every day, if physically possible and don't like not running! It is something I need to do and have to do for my sanity! I have noticed though, with the forced rest, the runs I have done have been much faster (pretty much always averaging betwen 5-5.30min p/km.) This rest seems to have freshened up my body and mentally got me ready for the battle ahead in two weeks time!
Ahhh, the 100miler!!! I have been working hard to get my head in the right space and really work myself up for the fun day/night of the race! I have had a goal of going under 24hours this year since last years race and I really look forward to smashing that goal! SOOO much of ultra running is done between your ears and the physical side of things is just a bonus. I am fully ready to tackle the challenge! I hope to get a few good runs in over the next week and then focus on positive thoughts, books, YouTube clips and people to really build things up to race day!
So...September. The first day of Spring and a new start for my training and clean eating (I havent really been eating bad, just too much good food!) I am very excited for the heat to return and get some sun/tan up for the months ahead.
I hope and pray you are all doing well! Keep positive, run free and I look forward to updating you once or twice before the big weekend! Run on...
P.S - As a side note, there are some VERY exciting adventures ahead for TattooRunner. I, along with a good friend, are looking at expanding and exploring the possibilities of branching out into the unknown. It is very exciting, so watch this space for developements. In addition to this, there is something that YOU can do! If you know anyone who might benifit physically, mentally or just enjoy reading my blog, please pass on the links and spread the word. The more people reading along the better! Thanks guys and Ill see ya soon!!
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