I'm being chased by bees! Halp!

One thing I love about long weekends is how long they are. Wow, that sentence was remarkably redundant. I’ve missed the point I was trying to make, somehow. So anyway, long weekends are great, aren’t they? I’ve been feeling odd today. Jumpy. Energetic. Kinda distracted. I just can’t concentrate on anything. So I went for a run at about midday, just chucked my Garmin on a charge (it was flat) and did the same with my iPod touch because I can’t find my Nano. Then I just ran.

Ridiculously fast, it would seem. I went ten kilometres, and all in under an hour. I didn’t feel like I was running at race pace, just running. So maybe I am getting faster after all. My theory is that I was going faster to try to keep myself focused, in some subconscious way. Whatever, it worked. Feeling good, folks. Apart from, well... there were a few things.

Children on freaking bicycles, and those stupid scooter things. What goes through their minds? Oh, there’s a girl running in this direction. She seems to be wearing a skirt. How strange. Maybe I should stay on the same side of the path that I have previously found quite suitable for my purposes up until now. Maybe... No. I’m going to swerve onto her side of the path. And just stop. Because I am a douchebag.

I didn’t want to say this, but children are such dickheads when they want to be. I’m not talking about teenagers here. No. I’m talking four year olds, six year olds. Maybe a few of them were seven or eight. Every single one of them singlemindedly determined to make me run straight into them and topple ass over tit. Who would be the bad guy in this scenario? That’s right. I would be. How dare I knock over little Ethan on his brand new razor scooter that he got for his fifth birthday? I’m some sort of monster. Why couldn’t I just run on the grass and leave the path for these assholes and their asshole children?

</rant>

Yeah, running in the park at midday was fun, but a little more crowded with inconsiderate dicks than usual.

And that’s not to mention the bees.

I’m going to mention the bees now.

Across the road from my apartment building is the CIT Bruce campus. They’ve been doing it up, prettifying the joint, with cool educational TAFE-y things like greenhouses. Agriculture stuff. And, unfortunately, a big long row of beehives. You wouldn’t think it’d be a problem to have that many beehives right next to the fence, would you?

I think the bees went out for walkies this morning. I was running along, adjusting my iPod because I’d already heard the podcast that it was playing. And then I saw a bee. I was all like ‘agh! bee!’ and I ran a bit faster to outrun the bee. In doing so, I ran right into A GIANT MOTHERFRICKIN SWARM OF BEES. I’m talking dozens of the little bastards. Maybe a hundred. Maybe two hundred. A whole lotta bees. They don’t like people running through their midst. Especially people who are in the process of freaking out because they just ran into a swarm of bees. So yeah. The bees chased me. I may have yelped, I wouldn’t say I screamed, but I’ll accept that there could have been a yelp there. I ran out onto the road to escape the bees. A car almost hit me. I think I had a pretty good excuse. I hope the guy saw the bees and didn’t just think I was an asshole runner who ignores road rules.

I don’t like bees.

But I didn’t get stung, so it’s all good.

A more updatey update

I ran a Sri Chimnoy 10k on Monday. A great way to spend a public holiday, and I got a good workout. I showed up at the start about an hour before the race was going to happen, which was only a problem because it was FRIGGING FREEZING. I thought I was going to lose a thumb from frostbite. I didn’t, but I thought I might.

I’m not tough or hardcore. I ran in a tank top in the end, but with gloves on. I think my hands have bad circulation, because my arms are usually fine when my hands are screaming in pain from the cold.

Finished in a time of about 60 minutes, 12 seconds. Not bad.

Now, I’ve been looking into what I want to do next, race-wise. I have decided to do this:

The 2012 Cadbury Half Marathon!!!

It’s such a sweet deal. You get race entry at a discounted rate if you sign up with irun.org.au, which is free. When you finish, they give you a medal (which I always like. I should take a photo of my medal board), a t-shirt, a goody bag that just has to contain chocolate (amiright?) and a free bbq at the finish. And then you get a year’s subscription to R4YL magazine. And there’s a training program. And it’s in Tasmania. I’ve never been to Tasmania. Anyways, I just registered. I got the leave approved at work. Now I’ve just got to book the accommodation. I’ll probably spend like a week there and see all the sights. Assuming there are sights, aren’t there?

Why do my arms always go so red when I'm running?

Looking toward... Something. A half?

Friday morning, I got up bright and early. Wait, scratch the ‘bright’. Emphasise the ‘early’. I somehow managed to bludgeon myself into some semblance of consciousness and get out on the road at 6:15. Saw the massive plume of smoke coming from the Mitchell chemical fire thing. I was glad I was running in the other direction. Then I plodded all the way to work.

The distance was about 17.5 km in the end. I think I may have mis-plotted the route I was going to take. Also, got a little lost in around Yarralumla Bay. Nothing too devastating.

I was absolutely starving all day at work. Gorged on cake and associated goodies at the Divisional morning tea. Then ate two massive chicken tacos for lunch. Then, if I wasn’t tired enough, I went to a Les Mills Body Balance class after work. Then, a Zumba class. Came home and completely crashed.

I feel like doing a half marathon sometime soon. I think I’m up for it. Can’t seem to find any appropriate races in the Coolrunning calendar though. Maybe the Mount Majura two peaks run in October? Both peaks is 20 km. But it is mountain running. Might be a little too hardcore for me. Hmm. I’ll have to think about this.

Past triumphs, and future challenges

So yeah. I ran the Canberra Times 10km fun run in a Little Red Riding Hood Outfit. Observe.



The watermark is because I’m too cheap to buy my race photos.

Here is my outfit in all its glory prior to the race. Note the sexy chicky I’m standing next to. She’s awesome.



This isn’t going to be a really pic-heavy post. Nor is it going to be very content-heavy, so I apologise in advance.

I guess I just need something to run toward, so to speak. Goals are awesome. I have no goals. I need goals, at least in the interim before I start training for the Canberra Marathon next year.

I haven’t mentioned that yet, have I? Yeah. I’m doing the marathon again. I think the five months or so since my first mara has caused me to forget how much agony I was in. Maybe it’s the same as people who just keep on having children. Pain + Time = Amnesia. Or something.

The Canberra Times Fun Run was easy. Very easy. Too easy? I don’t know. I was just having so much fun. I’ve never run that far with someone before. We chatted the whole way, and it seemed like the shortest 10k of my life. Next time, I’m just going to have to push myself just that little bit more. Aim for a PB. Get in the zone.

Anyway, tomorrow is the Cancer Council National Walk to Work Day. I decided, just for the heck of it, I was going to run to work. It’s only 16 kilometres from Bruce to Woden. The only thing that bothers me is having to get up at 5am so I can get on the road nice and early. I will be running in standard running attire. I’m going to save the dresses for special occasions.

Special delivery!

I just walked to Jamison to pick up a package that the lovely courier folks didn’t even bother to try to deliver this morning. It usually happens, no big deal, but I was hoping they wouldn’t force me to come back and get it tomorrow, because I knew it was at the damn post office. They gave it to me, after a small amount of bickering over the fact that I don’t have any ID with my address on it. Like, seriously? Just because I stumble over my street name. I’ll have you know that the post office were the ones who told me I was using the wrong address in the first place. I’m just trying to do the right thing, and surprise surprise, I’m the one who gets punished.

What was I saying?

Oh yeah, the package.

I just got my outfit for the Canberra Times 10k, and it exceeds my every expectation. Don’t worry, photos will be coming. I’ll suffice it to say that I decided to dress as little red riding hood, in the understanding that these outfits tend to be flimsy and badly constructed, thus having a white peasant blouse top to the dress (as in all the dirndl-style outfits) would be ever so slightly indelicate when I get sweaty or, as is likely to happen in a race, I pour water all over myself.

My dress is red, and short, and it has black lacy frills at the neck and white puffy sleeves and white lace on the hem. It’s shiny, and red, and plaid. It has a velveteen cape with black lace. I’ve made the command decision not to wear the little shiny black vinyl waist cincher, as I just don’t want to run in it and the outfit looks a lot more appropriate without it. I was initially concerned about the propriety of this kind of outfit to begin with, but seriously people, I’m going to be wearing basically a full running outfit underneath the dress. Shorts, full sports bra. All I need to buy now is a white lacy petticoat to make the skirt all puffy, and a little basket to carry. I can put goodies in my basket.

If I really get into it I can run past people, screaming pleas for a little help, a little direction.

“DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO GRANDMA’S HOUSE? I’M LOST HERE, PEOPLE.”

In lieu of photos of myself wearing the outfit, as it just isn’t finished yet, here is a photo of the costume as worn by someone who is a great deal sexier than I am.

A crisis of indecision

Yes, forgot to write yesterday. Always intended to. Actually ran, too. Did you miss me?

I did a nice 14k. Nothing too daunting, even got out there fairly early. Lovely. It’s nice to occasionally go harder/further than I really need to, it makes me feel like I’m running because I love it and not because I have some event or another in my sights. Not that it’s an issue to have something to train for. Quite the contrary. I love to have an event booked. Fun runs are the coolest thing ever, no matter how much I may curse myself for my masochism during one of the said fun runs. It’s just not the be-all and end-all. I would still run if I didn’t have races, but I wouldn’t feel that sense of achievement you get from running at race pace.

I’m so tired today. I forgot what I was talking about. What was it? Oh yeah. I had a nice easy 14k yesterday, even though I probably could have done with some of the energy I expended, later in the day. It has been quite a tiring weekend, all things considered.

Looking at the title of this post, I suddenly remember the point I was supposed to be aiming for. I’m currently looking for a costume for the Canberra Times 10k, and I’ve found a cute little dress, pink and green and brown with little bows and things. There was another that was cuter but it was all in white with a maroon skirt. I know I’ll be wearing a sports bra underneath, but all the same I’d feel self-conscious about it. I feel like buying my costume now but I’m still hesitant. Maybe a little red riding hood outfit would be more fitting, with a little basket to carry? I don’t know. So many choices.

Speedy Gonzales? I think not.

I had serious difficulty getting out of bed this morning, probably due to my less than early night last night. My alarm went off at 6:30, which is a perfect time for running, at least at this time of year. Not too dark, and it’s not too late when you get home, depending on your mileage of course. However, I didn’t get out of bed until 7, and when I finally did get out there (at 7:45 or thereabouts) I was not really in my best form. I ran slow the whole way, seven minute kilometres for the most part, but nothing hurt and I wasn’t feeling out of sorts. I was just slow. Probably due to the race last Sunday, but I’m not sure.

It was an uneventful run for the most part. The only thing I was curious about was that my fastest kilometre was the second to last one, bizarre in that it’s all on a pretty steep uphill. Could I have taken eight kms to hit my stride? Or am I just a masochist who speeds up on hills? Maybe it’s due to the fact that prior to the hill I was listening to a podcast (Sex Nerd Sandra, from the Nerdist) and then I switched to the new Zumba release. Music might be the key here. All in all, a fairly disappointing 10 kms, but at least I’m getting out there.

Meep meep!

Official City2Surf Net Time: 1:24:55

Many thanks to mum for acquiring the time for me and texting it to me at work. I couldn’t wait to find out!

As you can see with the time above, I managed to beat last year’s time for the City2Surf.

In the most eloquent terms - YEAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I was, I admit, a little hungover at the start line. I had about five or six glasses of champagne the night before in the Club Lounge at the Sheraton on the Park (my home away from home when I’m in Sydney) and hardly any water to chase them. I also ate a hearty breakfast prior to the start, and if you’ll excuse a little too much information (I apologise in advance) my breakfast kept on coming back up to say hello over the first ten or so kilometres of the race. I never actually vomited, which is a plus, but I had a bit of... unpleasantness.

My legs felt like crap as we crossed the start line, and my lungs started to give me hell after the first kilometre in a way that made me think I was going to be walking a large portion of the way. I felt disheartened, like I’d cheated myself out of a good race. The first little hill (just as you head toward the tunnel) was way harder than it was supposed to be.

I’m going to assume that these issues came from not being warmed up, at all. It was also a bit cool at the start - in Sydney standards, mind you. Canberra folks are made of hardier stuff. It was grey, and it drizzled a little before the start, but I was too focused on my own pain to care even if it was raining (and I don’t think it really was raining). At the first drink stop, I got a cup of water and poured it down my neck and back as I walked through, drinking another. As soon as I got back into my stride, I felt good. Actually, I felt great. The cold water gave me the shock I needed to harden up and get on with it.

Heartbreak Hill? More like a speed bump. I noticed coins on the road, a fifty cent coin here, a five cent there. They started halfway up the hill (or at least that’s where I noticed the first one) and I followed them all the way up the slope. A welcome distraction. Actually, there were coins on the road all the way down to Bondi. Someone had a hole in their pocket, methinks.

Mum didn’t catch me at the finish line, but I didn’t catch her either, unfortunately. It was a great run though, and even though there was no live rock band on the pub roof this year (something I always keep my eye out for) there was a jazz band (or maybe two), cheerleaders (multiple), some very well dressed drag queens and the obligatory smurfs, presumably drinking at nine am on a Sunday.

Recovery wasn’t too much fun. I was tired as hell after the race, and that continued until yesterday. Starting to feel a little more like myself now, but I’ve still got the pain in the front of my thighs that comes with a two kilometre sprint at the end of a race at what was at least for me a blistering pace.

All in all, very happy with this year’s race.



Very happy indeed.

(ps. Love this pic, but unfortunately my medal was flipped around so you can’t see it. It’s a pity. And yes, I’m a dork. I’ve cross-posted this pic everywhere because it’s awesome and I look like a big awesome dork in it.)

Cough cough cough

Alright, one week out, I thought I’d give the rundown on the run-up to the City2Surf.

I took one step forward with my training, then I took a pretty big step back. Inexplicably, I got sick again. A viral lung infection, leading to a great deal of coughing, at times coughing up blood. Had to get a puffer as my old friend bronchial asthma decided to come back and say hello. I’ve been barely able to breathe, and I haven’t run in two weeks.

This morning I hoped to get a quick 14k in (as I was hungover yesterday from my birthday on Friday. My own fault, I’m not going to try to rationalise) but when I hit the turnaround point on the first bridge heading around Lake Gininderra I took stock of my breathing, took stock of my legs, and decided to go on back and leave it at 10k. My legs were fine, great even, but I had a tightness in my chest that I didn’t want to push. I felt like I had enough steam to confidently jog up College Street on the way back, didn’t even have an issue on the last piece of Hayden Drive, which usually pushes me into the anaerobic and is never comfortable. I think I’ll do fine in the big race, but I know it won’t be anything special.

On the costume front, I didn’t have time to source a costume online so I went to the Funny Shop in Civic to look for something. I found exactly the costume I was looking for, in brown, unfortunately, but the price made me pause. $90 or thereabouts, for a crappy cheap ‘sexy beer wench’ costume! Outrageous! I know I could get exactly the same thing, maybe even in blue or pink or purple, on the internet for maybe $30. So I made a decision. City2Surf, I’ll wear my usual boring gear. I’ll plan my costume for the Canberra Times 10k, and hope not to embarrass the crap out of my pal Dina, whom I’m going to be pacing in said race.