Run for your life.

Oryx

Right this is my brand new sparkly training log, for my brand new sparkly year of training.

I've already posted for a year over in Fitness, and am now moving to a new home for the next stage of whatever the heck I decide to do.

The original log is here

To recap on who I am, female, 38 (never gets easy saying that). Weight has become irrelevant, not too skinny, not too big. I go by my shape, these days. Mostly been running up to now, with some kettlebell and circuit training thrown in.

Completed various 10ks, with pb of 45.40 or so. 10 mile pb is 1.17, Half marathon pb is 1.41, and my only marathon, Dublin, just completed, 3.59.27. Tough guy winter 2009 in 2.38, (partial course closure) and TG Summer 3.01.

My aims this year are:
To learn to swim properly
To start to cycle for training
To add the above to running and do a sprint tri.
Continue with kettlebells and increase weight.
Will do TG Winter again.
At least one marathon, with a better time.
TG summer or Gaelforcewest.

In a nutshell, I want to see how much further (and faster) I can push this.

Sub430

Best of luck Oryx, will keep an eye on this. I'm just back from a massage, legs feel fine, just have to find a new challenge and start my own log now that the allstars have been disbanded. :eek:

Oryx

Sub430 wrote: »

Best of luck Oryx, will keep an eye on this. I'm just back from a massage, legs feel fine, just have to find a new challenge and start my own log now that the allstars have been disbanded. :eek:

Glad youre getting back to normal. I did a cycle this morning on the static bike. Just 20 mins, but it helped. Ran next door though, and 20 seconds of running, my legs felt like lead!

I have a feeling the allstars will be back together for another go in 2010.

rainbow kirby

Welcome to the dark side of the logs

menoscemo

Welcome to the logs and good luck with your goals. I plan to get back to running soon to with a few new goals, hope to keep track of yours.
BTW congrats on your time on monday, you must feel elated to get under that mythical 4hr mark!!

Oryx

No proper runs yet since dcm. Its hard but I know I need the break from it for at least a week. Got to the pool for my first swim this morning. Spent an hour in the water, did 55 20m lengths in that time. They were the most disjointed clumsy and woeful lengths ever seen, but it sets a baseline to improve from. Cant manage to take breaths properly yet, and my technique is all over the place. So a lot of work needed. But sure its something new to do!

metamorphosis

Hey best of luck with the log Oryx and congrats on DCM.

For some reason i thought you were male oh well ...

Best of luck with the swimming. I am pretty much in the same boat swimming wise. The bike and road fitness is there but god, for the life of me, i swim like a castrated donkey. I can swim but have atrocious technique!

Ill be keeping on eye on here to see how ya get on with it.

littlebug

Best of luck Oryx. You've worked really hard and it's really paying off. How do you manage to fit all the training in with the little people

Oryx

Thanks very much, littlebug and ULstudent. Got to try and keep the gains now, it never ends.

Did circuit and Kb classes last night. 45 mins of one, half hour of the other. One of the circuits was catching a medicine ball thrown from a height. Caught it badly, and my little finger went snap*. Very painful. Made the rest of the sessions interesting. Other than that found it all ok, no real fatigue problems, tho couldnt go deep on the squats, my quads werent up to it.

*Today the poor digit is black and wont move. But sure I hardly use it anyway.

Oryx

Me and the girls got together for girlie weight night. Didnt do a hard session, mostly practicing kb technique (jerks are a new move). Also some getups, situps, a bit of bike, stretching.

No run yet since dcm, and Im getting twitchy.

MCOS

Oryx wrote: »

Me and the girls got together for girlie weight night. Didnt do a hard session, mostly practicing kb technique (jerks are a new move). Also some getups, situps, a bit of bike, stretching.

No run yet since dcm, and Im getting twitchy.

I don't know why but this post has me LMAO this morning, dunno if it was the "...girlie weight night" (a phenomenon I've never heard of) or "...Im getting twitchy!"

Well done on your first Marathon, I'd say that sub4 was satisfying!

Actually, just had a read through your fitness log and I have to say its an excellent balance of cross training, core, resistance, and running... I'd hazard a guess and say you have sculpted quite a figure for yourself;) Funny log too!

Best of luck with your log Oryx all the best for 2010. I'll follow with interest...

Oryx

MCOS wrote: »

I don't know why but this post has me LMAO this morning, dunno if it was the "...girlie weight night" (a phenomenon I've never heard of) or "...Im getting twitchy!"

Girlie weight night is my own copyright.

Well done on your first Marathon, I'd say that sub4 was satisfying!

Bloody amazing. Didnt aim for or expect it.

Actually, just had a read through your fitness log and I have to say its an excellent balance of cross training, core, resistance, and running... I'd hazard a guess and say you have sculpted quite a figure for yourself;) Funny log too!

Ta very much. Im a woman, so Ill never be happy with the figure. Up to July I was quite 'sculpted' but with more running than weights your shape changes accordingly. Back into weights mode now, to get my biceps back.

Best of luck with your log Oryx all the best for 2010. I'll follow with interest...

Yup, heres hoping a busted pinky is my only injury this year. Thanks for the good wishes.

Oryx

Thursday:
Finally got my legs under me and went out for a short run. 4 miles on a beautiful morning. Thought it would be cold but was warm once I got going. Didnt time it. No point. Felt pretty ok, a little heavy in the legs towards the end.

If anyone had told me 18 months ago I would be outside at half seven in the morning, in November, in shorts, Id've been sick from laughing.

In other news, last night I spent most of the night dreaming I was doing Tough Guy, very badly. Just goes to show how much its on my mind, and I woke up thinking I really really dont want to do that stupid event (which Ive already entered). Most likely will do it, though.

Excaptain

Oryx wrote: »

Completed various 10ks, with pb of 45.40 or so. 10 mile pb is 1.17, Half marathon pb is 1.41, and my only marathon, Dublin, just completed, 3.59.27. Tough guy winter 2009 in 2.38, (partial course closure) and TG Summer 3.01.

Guys,

I did a spot of volunteering at the DCM last week. For all that finished congrats to you. You are an inspiration to the marathon virgins out there (me) & I will most definitely be joining you all on the start line in 2010.
Good luck with the training

N

Oryx

Saturday:
Out early for my usual short run. 4 miles 34 mins. Slow, but not bothering with speed at the moment. Im supposed to be resting. Tried out my new Brooks Launch shoes, they feel bouncier and more cushioned than the burns, but prob cos the burns are knackered. I think tho, that these will turn out to be a good shoe once I wear them in, better than the Ghosts.

bourne99

Thanks for the encouraging post - I'm doing my little best!

Just looking through your goals there - I also briefly had the idea to do a triathlon but I can't swim for nuts and didn't want to be the first triathlete to be 'lost at sea'. Which is a shame as I used to love cycling. Discretion, cowardice, valor, etc.

As for you and your Tough Guy stuff - that's insane alright! I watched it on Setanta and it looked like the guys at front were ok because they could keep moving and (maybe) keep warm - but those at the back were having to stand around and queue in freezing mud and water at every section!? Is that what actually happens!?! Mud I can take. Water I can take. Even muddy water I can take - but hypothermia?!?!? Ah now...

Oryx

bourne99 wrote: »

Thanks for the encouraging post - I'm doing my little best!

Just looking through your goals there - I also briefly had the idea to do a triathlon but I can't swim for nuts and didn't want to be the first triathlete to be 'lost at sea'. Which is a shame as I used to love cycling. Discretion, cowardice, valor, etc.

As for you and your Tough Guy stuff - that's insane alright! I watched it on Setanta and it looked like the guys at front were ok because they could keep moving and (maybe) keep warm - but those at the back were having to stand around and queue in freezing mud and water at every section!? Is that what actually happens!?! Mud I can take. Water I can take. Even muddy water I can take - but hypothermia?!?!? Ah now...

Whatever you think you saw, however bad you thought it was, its worse. Think of cold so bad, it doesnt feel cold, it just hurts.

Ha, and re triathlon, I cant swim OR cycle. Should be fun.

Wow, I need to update.

Sunday 8th.
Hungover. No training

Monday 9th
Circuit class, kb class. Nice and strong, all good.

Tuesday 10th.
Hmmm. Feel like sh!t. No training

Wednesday 11th.
Headcold coming on... I think. No training.

Thursday 12th to Sunday 15th.
Full on flu is what it was, dammit. No training. No getting up at all, in fact. This is what I get for doing a marathon, apparrently.

Missed my chi running course. <insert multiple swear words here>

Sigh.

Lets start again, shall we?

Monday 16th
Circuit class and kb class. Better than expected considering it was my first active, leave the house day in a week. Managed it all, felt fine afterwards.

MCOS

I saw the Tough Guy event on Setanta also and you sprang to mind. Nuts, utter lunacy. Hey a Triathlon will be a piece of pie after that.

MAJOR KUDOS to your achievements this year

catweazle

Good luck Oryx, was very impressed with your pb's in running. I think you will enjoy the new challenge of the tri's particulary the swimming, no better feeling when you know you are beginning to make progress in the water.

Oryx

Tuesday:
Girlie weight night. Turning into a bit of a gossip session instead of a training session at the mo, cos I tend to lead what goes on and Im knackered most Tuesdays. Still, did stretches, 10 mins on tready, some kb weights.

Thursday:
Today is a stormy day! Went out for a run in all that weather. Took a bit of a deep breath to make myself go, but once out, it was nice, not at all cold. Wind was a bit of an issue, but only in certain spots. Short route, 34mins. Not fast, but generally Im not right now.

Oryx

Just reminding myself as I go of what I have planned so far for the coming year.


Tough Guy 2010 31st Jan *entered
My Sport 10k 14th Feb *entered
Wicklow Adventure Race 17th April *entered
*Wexford Half Marathon 2 May *not registered yet
*DCM 2010 25th October *not registered yet

Will update as things progress!!!

Oryx

Saturday:
Another run planned on one of the worst days of the year. Ho hum. Out at half eight this morning. At first I thought, this aint too bad.... half way around the wind caught me full on, along with pelting rain, which hurt!! I couldnt even keep my eyes open, it was insane. I kept repeating 'Just gotta get home...' Very tiring running into the wind. So much so I had to walk the last steep hill a half mile from home. My lungs were shot. 34 of the roughest minutes Ive put in in a while. Four miles.

Izoard

Oryx wrote: »

Saturday:
Another run planned on one of the worst days of the year. Ho hum. Out at half eight this morning. At first I thought, this aint too bad.... half way around the wind caught me full on, along with pelting rain, which hurt!! I couldnt even keep my eyes open, it was insane. I kept repeating 'Just gotta get home...' Very tiring running into the wind. So much so I had to walk the last steep hill a half mile from home. My lungs were shot. 34 of the roughest minutes Ive put in in a while. Four miles.

Sounds like a gentle warm up for a TG training session:)

Oryx

Sunday:
No run today, went swimming. 60 clumsy lengths. I reckon i look like a drowning horse in my attempts to swim. But it did feel easier than the first time, and every now and again I got the hang of taking a breath without inhaling half the pool. This can only get better,

In other news, Im buying my first bike and turbo set up. Shipping from the uk, as its the best deal I can find, money being tight and all.. Cant wait to get into this next stage..

Oryx

Monday:
Circuits. For the first time since DCM, I gave it as much as I could, almost 100%. Really felt it, it was a good session.

Followed by kettle bell class, which included swings, single 12kg and double arm 16kg, deadlifts 16kg, snatches 12kg, double arm row 2 x12kg (?) push ups, bench press 16kg/12kg(?) squats with military press 16kg. And a few other things Ive forgotten. (?) means Im not sure what the proper names are. A really hard class, at one stage I was bent double trying to get my breath back. You gotta love that.

I hurt all across my chest and in my arms today, which I see as a good sign.

MCOS

Nice circuit session there. I used to love circuits, it was my favourite part of training and the stiffness when you push the boundries... all good! BTW 60 lengths clumsy or not is good going.. well done

Oryx

Thanks MCOS. That was the kb session after the circuits. Circuits were four rounds of: squats/military press (10kg), skipping, pushups, sprints, situps using medicine ball against a wall, deadlifts, lunges, more situps lying on a swissball, and a weird one that involved jumping while throwing a heavy medicine ball. Roughly 40 seconds per station. Warm up cool down before and after etc. God, it sounds easy written down.

village runner

Oryx wrote: »

Just reminding myself as I go of what I have planned so far for the coming year.


Tough Guy 2010 31st Jan *entered
My Sport 10k 14th Feb *entered
Wicklow Adventure Race 17th April *entered
*Wexford Half Marathon 2 May *not registered yet
*DCM 2010 25th October *not registered yet

Will update as things progress!!!

Best of luck with the log. Might see you on the line in Enniscorthy.
Hope you will be able to change your pb stats after that.

Oryx

Tuesday:
Girlie weight night. Was very stiff, so just did a bit of rowing and some basic crunches and weights. A night off, pretty much. Then on to tea and yak yak yak.

Today Im so stiff I could cry. I walk like John Wayne after a long day in the saddle.... damn you, squats, damn you!

Oryx

Thursday:
Out this morning for a nice run. 10.75k, 56 mins. God but Im slow these days. Still, once I got into it I enjoyed it, but will need to start some shorter tempo runs to get my speed up to a better level. I think Ive just got lazy about it.

Im liking my new Brooks Launch btw, theyre turning out to be a good shoe.

OI

Hiya, you are not that ruddy slow, that's a nice oul pace for a Thursday morning training run.

I am so out of shape now, it's unreal, 3 x 3 milers since the marathon, don't know where it's all gone wrong.

Are the brooks launch a support shoe?

Oryx

The launch are neutral, and pretty flat. But they suit me well. As for it all goin wrong, you just need to tell yourself that rest break is over, and begin again. It is easy to let it slide and get out of the habit, but give it a hard push for a week and youll start to regain!

rainbow kirby

Oryx wrote: »

10.75k, 56 mins. God but Im slow these days.

You're not slow by any stretch of the imagination! :eek:

Oryx

Saturday:
Was out last night for a meal. God but its hard to get up and run after. Out for half eight, did 4 miles, bang on 33 mins. At least the times are consistent for the last few weeks, but in spite of the encouragement above I do want to pick up pace. Been trying out some chi running advice I got from people who did the course I missed. The aim is to make running more comfortable, easier, and therefore faster. No change yet but I live in hope.

Oryx

Sunday:

Out before nine in the horrible weather for a run. Very cold to begin with. Did approx 4 miles, took just over a half hour. Then into the pool for 30 lengths. They are getting easier, but was feeling tired and didnt want to push it too much.

Oryx

Monday:
...is circuits day. Good class, seemed to work the arms a lot. New kb move, swinging around one leg then snatching, gym ball crunches, squats with military press 10kg, more situps, a bunny hop/squat jump move, shuttle runs, sit ups with ball throw, side to side on a step, military press 12kg, skipping.

Then kb class which was the usual moves but endurance sets. Very hard once you go past 12 reps of anything. Good tho, really enjoyed it. Mostly stuck with 12s and 16s, only dropping to eights for the last set of jerks. Arms were gone wobbly

Oryx

Tuesday:
Rest.

Wednesday:
9.75k loop, with the second half very uphill. In the pelting rain as usual, what fun. 51 mins. Trying hard to improve my running technique by leaning forward rather than being too upright, and tightening my core. Im still at the 'have to think about it to do it stage'.

Oryx

Winter Duathlon Series 17th January *not registered yet
Away 22nd -25th Jan
Tough Guy 2010 31st Jan *entered
My Sport 10k 14th Feb *entered
Winter Duathlon Series 28th Feb *not registered yet
Away 5-9th March
Ballycotton 10 March 21st *entry sent and pending.
Winter Duathlon Series March 28th *not registered yet
Wicklow Adventure Race 17th April *entered
*Wexford Half Marathon 2 May *not registered yet
*DCM 2010 25th October *not registered yet

Holy sh!t spring is getting busy.

Oryx

My new baby has arrived, along with a tacx turbo, but £299 ex hire. Im a happy bunny today.

Oryx

Friday:
Out in the evening for a short run. 28/29 minutes, so between 3 and 4 miles. Was bloody horrible, rain and wind, but not cold once you got going. Did an out and back, not realising the wind was with me on the way out, so when I turned and got it in the face I thought up lots of new swear words.

Saturday:
Onto my bike for the first time, indoors, with the turbo. No computer today, so dont know pace, cadence etc. Did half and hour, and was sweating and out of breath by the end. Quads really felt it, and even now I know my legs did that today.

And boy, dont bike saddles hurt? Went and bought a gel cover today, cos otherwise I wont be able to use the bike at all. I wonder how long it takes to *ahem* toughen up in that area?

jlang

Oryx wrote: »

And boy, dont bike saddles hurt?

They do. Good pair of bib shorts makes a big difference. (Bib tights for outdoors this time of year). Can be expensive but well worth making sure you've a good fit with good padding.

Oryx

jlang wrote: »

They do. Good pair of bib shorts makes a big difference. (Bib tights for outdoors this time of year). Can be expensive but well worth making sure you've a good fit with good padding.

Yeah, the girl in the cycle shop said similar, but I had enough expense this week. Will have to invest soon tho.

Oryx

Sunday:
Mornin run on main road, 30 mins, not sure of distance. Very heavy rain which is getting to be normal. Sigh. Then into the pool, 40 lengths. My technique is not improving but my stamina really is. Ill master the breathing one of these days. I hope!

RacoonQueen

I'm trying to improve the swimming and the like aswell to try and get a few tris in next summer, might tri a few duathlons in 2010 aswell but thats if I can fit them in with my race schedule. Like the bike looks a real bargain.

Oryx

Monday:
Busy day, and I was tired. Proper weary. Still, got out to circuits, a hard class. Gym ball situps, weighted ball throw, 10kg squats or using a bar, pressups, shuttles, situps using weighted ball throw, stiff leg dead lifts 12kg, skipping, kb exercise I cant name, you bring the kb around one leg and then press above your head. I was glad to see everyone looked as tired as I felt after four rounds with only one one minute break.

Then the kb class which was supersets. Pretty hard, but doable, cos the reps were 6 of each move and two moves per set, 3 of each set. I think 5 supersets. The longer rep sets done individually last week were much harder.

Need to do more weights. Arms are getting weaker, I notice it on pressups. But its hard to fit it all in per week!

Oryx

Tuesday:
Girlie Weight Night. Now with added cardio.

Did 30 mins on the bike, keeping the cadence at 85-90 and flicking through the gears. My mate was running on the tm beside me which was kind of funny. Didnt make it super hard on myself.... just enough to break a sweat and get breathin hard. No hrm yet, so cant do proper turbo sets. So am going by how it feels. Next time hope to get my head down and do an hour, Pink and the Foo Fighters will have to help.

Did stretching, a few sets of pressups and some kb weights afterwards. Nice session.

Oryx

Just had a session of physio. First since dcm. Went well, if painfully, and I do feel better for it. Will keep going every week or two to preempt any possible tg problems.

Oryx

Thursday:

Forgot my kit today so no run after work. It was 9.30 by the time I got to do anything. Did a 40 min session on the bike, which I enjoyed. Must not be doing it right.:) Kept cadence at 85-90 again.

Oryx

Friday:
Out in the dark for a run, felt lovely, didnt give a toss about pace... until I turned to come back, and yet again faced into a strong wind. I keep doing this. Still, nice, easy run. Ha, I really need to start making this hard again. 4.6 miles 44 mins.

Saturday:
No run this morning cos I didnt really fancy it, as Ill be out tomorrow again. So did a 45 min kettlebell session, along with some crunches. Deadlift, 20 kg swing, one arm swing, squats 20kg, clean and press, two arm row, bench press, bicep curls. Two sets, various reps 6-10 depending on move.

Oryx

Sunday:
went out for a run, will have to check distance, but about 50 mins. Then into pool, 46 lengths. Breathing was terrible for most of it, only seemed to get it right for the last ten or so. But felt grand in terms of stamina, breaks are getting shorter and lengths are getting faster. Still not a bit pretty though.

Oryx

Monday:
Circuits christmas party. Half an hour of hard cardio.. kettle bells, bunny hops, weights and pushups.. To the sound of christmas music.. Then hot fruit punch, yule log and mince pies. Our instructor laid it all on as a thank you, how nice is that?