Challenge Two.... Tick!

....and so there you have it, my second run longer than about 3km in the last 18months has been completed. The 12km GH Mountains trail run. I cant remember the exact time, it wasnt that remarkable, maybe somewhere around 1.17mins I think, I would have to check the watch. Still, it further reinforced why I want to be out there running again. MJ, myself and a friend of MJ's had a blast. I found the first 2km really hard going for some reason, I dont know why, probably a little out of race practise and it just took a while to settle in; the hills were fun, although I freely admit to walking up those where running would have actually been slower! Between about 6-10kms MJ and I chatted about allsorts of otherwise inane things, however, when its taking your mind of the hurt, any conversation goes!! At about 10km, despite carrying water and filling up a bit at the 5.5km station I was starting to feel a bit thirsty, I think the heat/sun and again, lack of race skill plus overall unfitness was the reason, it was good enough motivation to get me to the end quicker and put in the final effort to the finish line. Ceramic mug #2 is now proudly at home!

Back at my place I spent an hour in the spa with MJ & her friend and then did a really good stretching session while the muscles were warm. I didnt feel too bad at all when Sunday night came around, which was an improvement from the weekend before after B2B. Monday morning and I went the gym, a very easy session on the treadmill, some weights and a good stretch, more to keep in the gym habit than to burn any serious calories! By Monday afternoon I was feeling pretty sore and went for a walk Monday night to try and work some of it out, and of course, the obligatory stretch before bed again! Tuesday morning and while still sore I was feeling much better than the previous Tuesday, another evening walk and a quick spa before stretching and come this morning I was up and ready to go for my 5.30am Body Attack class.

I am quite pleased with the little progress I have made so far. I will be trying to get out on my bike tomorrow and then the gym on Friday morning. Saturday I have plans to ride to Chermside to meet MJ and then we're off a little run, and then I'll ride home again... Sunday will be rest day, apart from a session at the driving range and maybe a small bit of shopping!

Its a start

Well, this week was interesting. On Monday I experienced DOMS for the first time in a while after the Bridge to Brisbane. I had a float and 30min massage booked in for Monday night which helped considerably and left me only with sore quads to contend with the next day.

Tuesday afternoons are meant to be an easy cycle (I am trying to add some x-training in to my 'running' to prevent injury and increase overall fitness) but I didnt end up going, a late finish from work and Mr Chelle coming home a day earlier than expected from a work trip work were enough excuses combined with my quad soreness, for me to stay home and do a decent stretch instead that night.

Wednesday morning is the dreaded 5.30am Body Attack class, I very nearly hopped on a treadmill instead but MJ was there and I thought I may as well give it a go. I'm very glad I did too. While the class is not technical by any means, its full-on, the 10minute breather in middle is 70 push-ups, it certainly gets the heart rate up and works your legs almost continuously. It was just what I (and my legs) needed, and although it left me tired for the rest of day, the soreness was pretty much gone.

Thursday nights are meant to be another easy cycle, but a doctors appointment and feeling like I was suffering a bit from that achey / headachey / sore throat bug that was going around forced an early night - with some stretching first of course!

The last working day of the week requires a gym session and sure enough I bounced out of bed at 5.15am this morning to make it down there. Nothing to strenuous as this is still very much early days, but a bit of speed work on the treadmill, some weights and a good stretch and I was out of there just after 7am and heading to work.

I think the best part of this week is going to be Sunday, when MJ, Collette and I will be heading up to the GH Mountains to do the 12km trail run. I've only run at the GH once before, a 20 or 25km run I think with Clairie and Tesso, we managed to go off track only once, and I'm hoping for a similar or better run this weekend. From the list there seems to be almost a full-house for the 12km, and lots of others listed in the longer events too; my hat is certainly off to the guys that will be running all through the day and night before finishing, probably, faster than I do.. ha ha.

Anyway, its slowly slowly at the moment, but thanks for the encouraging words on my earlier posts and hopefully over the next few weeks or so this running malarky will become a bit easier again and some distance and speed work can be looked in to.

Its been a while...

I really wasn't joking when I was telling people yesterday I hadn't run in almost two years... its in black & white on this blogsite that I've not posted for nearly as long as well. Hmmm, no wonder I am hurting so badly after competing Bridge2Brisbane yesterday! The rather slow, although not terrible given lack of recent runs time of a whisker under 60minutes has been enough to make me enthusiastically dream of what use to be, and perhaps what could become again. My partner in crime, as usual, is MJ and the bug seems to have bitten her too!

Time will tell if running becomes a full time sport again, or just a weekend hobby, I am very nervous about getting injured again, on the flip side I have had some changes at work over the past month that mean I now have more time available (dont feel obliged to be in work by 6.30am everyday anymore!) and have been managing to go the gym and try and gain some fitness back.

*Watch this space*