I am so back!

After a small hiatus I am back on the running wagon. Okay okay, it wasn't small but I am back none the less.

Things have been pretty hectic with Uni and that little thing called life getting into the way. But today, after many days of thinking that I might go for a run today, I tied on my running shoes and headed out. Yay! I'm pretty proud because my lazy side was yelling at me to stay at home.

The run only last 15minutes but I was running for most of it with only a little bit of walking. The weather was amazing, even though it is the middle of winter. I got hot running in a long top and considered stripping off to my sports bra but I figured my stomach might blind a motorist with it's whiteness and possibly cause a accident. I kept it on, just to be safe.

Only a couple of my friends know this, but I am seriously considering joining the army. I have a passion for Civil Defence and the army is a really great way to get into the sector. One of my friends boyfriends is in the army and he took me up to the local base and showed me around. He answered my many questions and gave me a general overview of the army which the website couldn't really do for me. He basically calmed all my fears about army life but I was still freaked out about the All Arms Recruitment Trainig (Basic Training) but they had an online diary from a female recruit and she made it look really awesome (I'm pretty sure she was supposed to do that). You basically have to be really, really fit to enjoy AART and not find it ridicuosly difficult. So my plan at the moment is to get really, really fit and then make the final decision about joining. If I do join, and I really don't like it I can always leave and go back to Uni for the second semester next year. But we'll have to see what happens.

Anyway! Its great to be back! Can't wait for the times to come.

Out on the road

My plans of a rest day were squashed when the sun came out and was shone with all it's glory. I just couldn't resist getting out and about.

I've been wanting to go for a bike ride around the Auckland waterfront for awhile. We used to do it often when I was young but I haven't done it for a long, long time. So Mimi (my awesome hot pink bike) was disasembled and put in the boot of my car and off we went.

You just wont believe how beautiful the Auckland waterfront can look on a day like this. It amazes me really. Just the fact that this beautiful scenery is only 2 minutes away from the middle of the city is incredible. I was lucky enough to get the same view from my old high school's library window. I sometimes got lost in the scenery and would forget to do my study.

My trusty camera came along with me for this trip so I could amaze you with all the beautiful pictures.

This is a photo from where I parked my car. The first mountain you see is North Head. Its an awesome piece of history and was the main defence post of Auckland in World War 1 and 2. It is riddled with tunnels that I have spent many happy hours in and there is a ledgend of a lost plane cemented in a room somewhere in there. Behind North Head you can see the glorious Rangitoto Island. Rangitoto is the youngest volcano in Auckland (its now extinct) and is amazing because it looks exactly the same shape no matter where you stand, due to the round shape of the island.


The bike path takes you right around that headland and a lot further. The entire bike ride goes for 50km but I only went 5km in one direction and then 5km back.


This is a photo from Mission Bay, where I made the turn around. I sneakly took a photo of those two people since I thought they just made the shot. Thats Rangitoto again. I ate some almonds on my stop to give me energy on the way back :)

It was a fantastic ride and there were no hills so it was a lot of fun and not much work at all which the lazy side of me loved.

Week 2 - Run 2

So I headed to Western Springs for my 2nd run of the week. It was pretty cold yesterday so I chucked on a long sleeve top instead of my usual short sleeve one. I'm usually pretty resiliant to Auckland winters since spending winter in freezing Taumarunui and Palmerston North.

The run started off well, I felt strong and was impatient to get into the 2nd set. I chugged along and reached the 3rd set. Thats when my lung started to hurt. I've been prone to lung problems in the past and am on an asthma preventative since previous illnesss' have made me susceptiable to asthma. When my lung starts to hurt, it generally means I'm getting sick.

I figured I should probably call it a day since the cold air would probably make the sore lung worse. So I started walking back to my car and the heavens opened up and it started to pour. I got soaked within seconds. I sprinted back to the car but there wasn't much point really.

So I am giving myself a day off today, so I can recover. The sore lung hasn't really come to much. I have a bit of a cough but nothing more. Lets hope it stays that way.

As you saw in my previous post Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend... I am giving up junk food. I eat WAY too much and its not doing me any good. I know its going to be hard because buying and eating junk food has become a habit but I'm up for the challange. My good friend Emma is also giving up junk food too, so we're going to support each other. I'm going to allow myself one treat a week because I know myself, and I know that I will just fail if I'm not allowed any junk food ever again. I'm excited to see the results of this new lifestyle. Anyone else want to join the challenge too?

Goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend...

Dear Junk Food,

We have to talk. You see, although our love affair has been going on for a long time, I am afraid I have to end it.

Its not you, it's me. (Actually that's a lie, it is you, but I was trying to make this easier on you)

Although you are completely delicious, satisfying and comforting you are also wreaking havoc on my teeth, fat stores and wallet. I just don't see how its going to work anymore.

Don't be too upset. Remember all the good times we had? All those BP pies and V's, the countless trips to McDonald's for cheeseburgers and frozen cokes, those sneaky missions to the supermarket for maltesers, tiny teddies and those strange but yummy Chinese noodle things. And don't forget all those delicious muffins, scones and biscuits that dominated the pantry.

Look, the truth is. I've moved on. If we're being truthful here, I should tell you. I... I cheated on you. I never thought I would be a cheater but I am. I've fallen in love with your arch enemy, Healthy Food. He rejuvenates me, he makes me feel like a new woman. He encourages me to better myself. I just feel stronger and happier when he's around.

Healthy Food's introduced me to his friends who are just amazing. Exercise, Water and Sleep always lift me up and treat me like I deserve. Your mates, Laziness, Tiredness and Gluttony always ridicule me and make me feel bad. I am a Princess, a Warrior and they don't treat me like I am. Dam it Junk Food, I deserve better!

Lets just make this easy. Don't call, don't write. I think we should make this a clean break. I'm too good to be a booty call, so don't even think about it.

Its time to move on Junk Food. To tell you the truth, I'm too good for you. And so is everyone else. Really, you should just become a hermit. Don't go looking for someone else. Its for the best really.

Goodbye Junk Food.

PS. Welcome to Dumpsville... Population: YOU

Getting through a tough run

My last run got a bit tough part way through. Its pathetic really, I've only just started running and am barely running 2km but my lazy lazy self tries to take control.

Runners' Lounge compiled a list of tips from members to get through a tough run which you can view here.

Here are some of my favourite tips:

- Think about winning the lottery and all the things I would do with the money. All the people we would be able to help. I could hire a personal trainer that would run along beside me and yell like a drill sergeant to keep me going when I want to quit. Another thing I do when the road gets tough or hills get too steep, is keep telling myself that I am the one moving, not the road. I am capturing the road! Step by painful step, the road will not claim me because I am in charge and it just lays there!

- There is a trick a friend told me about that he called the Magnet Trick. You just look at an object in the distance and imagine that it is pulling you towards it. Just focus on it and try to imagine the pull. If you reach it or turn just choose a new magnet to focus on.

-I have many phrases I repeat over and over in my head (The faster you run the sooner you're done, strong and smooth, I can do this, etc.) (I like "The faster you run the sooner you're done")

Make sure you check out the rest of the tips :)

Week 2 - Run 1

Brisk 5 minute warm up walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging for two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

I was really excited to get out on my run today. I finally feel like I'm getting into a runners mindset. When I first started running again, I knew it was something that I had to do but didn't really want to. I wasn't excited about it. It all changed yesterday when I went for my bike ride and flew down the hills with a big smile on my face.

I headed to Western Springs for the run. The run was the perfect mixture of challenging and enjoyment. The first few sets were easy but as the run got on, I started finding it difficult. This is when the lazy part of me started saying "You can stop now, it doesn't matter" but I really wanted to finish the run. I knew I would be dissapointed in myself if I didn't finish the run. I have given up so many times before and I really didn't want to do that again. So even though I felt like I was going to be sick, I kept going and finished it! WOOT! I am so happy with myself.

So tonight I will do my other exercises (stretches, push ups and crunches) and tomorrow will be a rest day since my muscles need a break.

I LOVE RUNNING.

On a high

I just got back from a bike ride and it was fantastic.

I had decided last night that I was going to bike to Western Springs. Western Springs is a gorgeous lake with hundreds of ducks and swans and chickens and other animal life running around freely, and is about 8km from my house. From there I would lock my bike up and go for a run. There are 2 MASSIVE hills right by my house that I would have to bike up and down to complete my journey and I knew I would never make it so I put my bike into the boot of my car and drove until I got to the bottom of the second hill.

The ride was great, there were a few little hills that I had to bike up on the way there which almost gave me cardiac arrest but I managed to survive. Flying along on the downhills was awesome, I couldn't stop grinning. I saw a few other cyclists along the way and they all smiled, waved or nodded at me. I felt like a true cyclist... though I'm pretty sure most of them were just smiling at my awesome hot pink bike and helmet. As I neared Western Springs I knew I would never be able to do my run. I was so tired already and I had to get back to my car. I totally over-estimated my fitness levels. So when I got to Western Springs, I turned around and headed home. The journey home was much harder and I had to get off to walk up the hills. It was raining off and on during the whole ride and it started getting cold so I was glad to get into my car.

The whole ride was just great! And I can't wait to do it again sometime! Tomorrow I am going to drive to Western Springs to go for my run :)

Change of plans

After some thought (actually there wasn't too much really), I have decided to use the Couch to 5km program rather then the Complete Running program. I have always enjoyed doing this program and did about 3 1/2 weeks of it before I gave up last time, but I have downloded Robert Ullrey's Couch to 5km podcasts. These podcasts are fantastic because Robert tells you when to walk and when to run and there is some decent music that goes along with it. I'll start week 2 of the program tomorrow which is:

Brisk 5 minute warm up walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging for two minutes of running.

In other news, I learnt how to snowboard today! And I LOVE it! I have been wanting to learn for a long time and I took my 13 year old cousin along with me today. We had a two hour group lesson and then spent an hour just boarding by ourselves. I learnt how to do an Ollie and even jumped a tiny ramp. After I sell my horse I would love to get into snowboarding as a sport. Anyway, I need to head to bed. I am exhausted after a late night and then all the snowboarding.

Someone needs to lock me up!

I can’t believe it! I HAD A V AGAIN! I went out this morning to get meat for this weeks dinners and I managed to convince myself that I didn’t need one but then when I went out again to get some supplies for our family birthday, I bought one! Grrr. So now I have given my mum my eftpos cards until I head back down to Palmerston North, so I don’t have the means to buy it. Hopefully by the time I head back, I won’t need V anymore.

Run No.1 - SUCCESS

I did it! I did it! I went for a run. I am so proud of myself... I actually managed to get out of the house and complete my run! The program for today was:

Walk for 1 minute, run for 1 minute. Repeat 7 times for a total of 14 minutes.

I didn’t end up doing the program though but for a good reason. I am planning on joining the New Zealand Reserve Army as soon as I am fit enough. There are certain fitness requirements which include running 2.4km in 12 minutes or less, doing 45 curl ups and 15 push ups. So I decided I would run the 2.4km and do the push-ups and curl ups to see what I had to work from (I know there is a technical term for this but it escapes at me the moment). Here’s how I did:

2.4km Run – 21.49 minutes
Sit-ups – 50
Push ups – 5

So I need to cut a good 9 minutes off my run but I think I did OK considering my lack of physical activity in recent months. I was really disappointed with my number of push ups though. I used to be able to do 50 easily and would always beat the boys at Youth Group. But since giving up riding, my physical strength has waned dramatically. I plan to get back my old strength back.

The run was pretty good in itself. It was surprisingly foggy but a nice temperature so I wasn’t too hot or cold. I walked for quite a bit of it but did manage to run for a good 7 minutes (not in a row). I had eaten a pretty big meal of KFC about an hour and a half before hand which was a BAD idea and it sat all heavy in my stomach making me feel a bit off during the run.

Sadly, I failed when it came to V. I gave into temptation and had one. I think it’s more of a habit then anything. So tomorrow I am going to leave my eftpos cards at home so I can’t buy one.