2 week holiday

I'm the first to admit that I have been indulging a little too much since my injury and the end result of this is extra weight and a big loss of fitness. While I am on holidays for the next 2 weeks I intend to turn this around and get my metabolism back fired up and burning strongly again.

So much for my planned 60k bike ride early this morning, instead I slept in. I think the emotional energy involved with leaving my job and the end of financial year work-load really left me more tired than realized. With the adrenaline levels down - I was feeling zonked.

Despite this I managed a 1hr hard ride and also a 6k run without stopping (yeah me!). I'm sure Holly the lab was equally shocked. What a feeling of accomplishment I got! I didn't use my orthotics and used my old Brooks Dyads as an experiment - if I am only running two or three times a week for a while, I think I will use them and see if my shin responds any better. If not, I will be heading to a new podiatrist for a second opinion on my orthotics and running shoes. Having spent what seems like a bazillion $'s on orthotics/adjustments, physios, osteos and myotherapists and having spent many weeks not running I'm not convinced I have received the best professional advice. I might well be wrong but I need to be sure. I just want to be back running normally again - like I was last year or early this year - I need it!!

A fellow blogger recently teased me about my pajama preferences. It got me thinking that it might be fun to see what sleepwear some of us are using. Here is me trying to avoid showing my double chin to much in my winter PJ's. Now, who's game and who's next?

Tagged again....

I think I have done this one before but just so I can learn more about my blogging mates:

Four Jobs I have had:
Shoe Repairer/Key Cutting guy
Cocktail Barman
Photo Interpreter
Boat Painter


Four movies I watch over and over again:

Apocolypse Now
Bridget Jones's Diary
Any Arnie Movie
Dead Calm

Four Places I have lived:
Sydney
Hobart
Brisbane
Perth

4 T.V. Shows I love to watch:
Spicks and Specks (music trivia/comedy)
Northern Exposure
Wimbledon (is that a show?)
Motor Cycle racing (is that a show?)


4 Places I have been on Vacation:
Geneva (working holiday)
Las Vegas (working holiday)
Galway
Cook Islands

4 Websites I visit daily:
Cool Running (Aust)
ebay
Bloglines
Google


4 of my Favorite Foods:

Eggs
Oysters
Peking Duck
Cheese

(not sure what sort of dishes you could make using all those but if you could make something I'm yours!)


4 Places I would rather be right now:

In the snow fields
Germany for the World Cup match against Italy tonight
Bed
Beach (somewhere tropical preferably)


4 Favorite Bands/Singers:
Not Drowning Waving
Wiggles
Mental as Anything
U2



4 Bloggers I am Tagging:
Cirque
Hilda
Sekhemet
Spark Driver

Satisfaction at last !

Since revising my running priorities for the next 6 months I have discovered that Sunday's do not have to start in the dark at 5:45 am and exercise does not necessarily need to commence shortly thereafter. Exploring this new found sleep opportunity (after falling asleep while watching Australia hand out a wolloping to Ireland in the Rugby) I woke at 8:00am, snoozed for another 45 mins and casually got myself clad in the customary cycling lycra.

I decided a blast up Beach Road was absolutely necessary to ensure the custard filled doghnuts had arrived safely at Cafe Racer okay. I am feeling a lot more confident on the bike now (yes, another ride without falling off/over) and I'm seeking out small packs to latch onto so I can learn the "Mason-like" hand signals that help you navigate around cars, pot-holes and basicaly know what the leaders of the pack are doing.

I set out to pedal hard today as it was a shorter trip (40km round trip) and surprised myself. Although I am new to this cycling caper I suspect most cyclists slack off more than I do. I arrived at Cafe Racer with sweat dripping of my nose and steam coming off my shoulders but when I looked at many of the others getting off their bikes they looked like they had just left their driveways! I suspect it might say something about my current level of fitness too, but lets no go there just now....

Anyway, after quizzing some experienced cyclists who had ridden 500kms over the weekend about distance progression etc (being a dumb newbie is coming very naturally to me), devouring a custard-filled doughnut and downing a cafe latte I headed home on my own. After about 3kms I found myself behind yet another blonde haired cyclist of the female variety and again I found myself able to pedal much harder and for longer than I thought possible while keeping up with her. She turned off after about half way home so I quickly returned to my normal pace before a heart attack developed.

All up 85 odd kms cycled again for the weekend. I am hoping to slip in two 6km runs during the coming week as I finish up with my current employer on Tuesday afternoon and will have plenty of time to get out there for a run.

I took Wobblette # 2 for a camel ride this afternoon. She had a grin from ear to ear. Pity I didn't take the camera!

Saturday ride - disappointing for the wrong reasons

This week at work has been frantic! I am mentally exhausted. The end of the financial year is peak workload time for me. I did however manage a 30 minute run on Tuesday evening - very happy with that. My fitness has fallen away during my break - I needed one walk break this time. Next one I'll will be trying for none.

A last minute txt message received yesterday had me out for an early ride this morning. It seems like I have become the riding apprentice of my running apprentice (life always has balance huh?). This morning we headed out for a ride down to Station Pier and back (a 45km round trip). I was planning on a 30 minute run afterwards but figured that could wait until tomorrow as the ride was faster and harder than last week.

All the way down there I was salivating at the thought of a custard filled doughnut and a strong cafe latte down at Cafe Racer - that is what kept me grinding away up the hills (well that and following a cute blonde ponytail for a while). Arriving early before the crowd we collapsed onto the stools and ordered only to be told that the doughnuts are only available on Sundays - doh!! Two coffees each, a quick chin-wag and we headed off for the last 15kms home. My legs feel really worked now. I love that feeling of having worked out hard at the start of a weekend. No falls again!

Poor Wobblette # 1 is dragging herself around the house today as she has picked up the tummy bug that # 2 had a week ago. The forever to be postponed Yum Cha lunch has now been postponed for yet another week!

I'm off to the Vic Markets this afternoon with Wobblette # 2 to pick up some goodies for dinner this afternoon, With luck we will have time to stop in at Acland street for coffee and a littletreat.

An oldie but a goodie...

Monday! The sacred day of rest and recovery for runners and (would be) cyclists. Besides, after waking at 2am to watch a World Cup Soccer match I wasn't quite capable of slipping out for a training run or ride - when it was just 3 degrees (37F) at 6am this morning it was not too difficult a decision to make!

With just 6 days work left at Wobbly's "salt mine" I need to ensure I have adequate energy reserves for the 6 lunch banquets to be enjoyed. Enjoy your week team!

Sunday's activities

What a great weekend it has been. After yesterday's ride/run I slept like a baby and didn't get up until about 8:30.

My legs were feeling a bit sore (my rear-end was faring worse) so what better way to remedy the situation than hop back on the bike. I powered my way down to the St.Kilda mecca for cyclists - Cafe Racer where by chance I met an old work buddy who is my cycling guru and a member of the Bayriders cycling club. I felt privileged to join his group for coffees and custard filled doughnuts (not so good for my waistline but I had to be polite, right?) at their "usual table". I confess to feeling like a cycling impostor sitting with these serious cyclists but had a great time catching up with Glenn and meeting some of his cycling buddies.

Glenn rode with me for a third of the way home and I rode with one of his buddies for the rest of the way to Beaumaris. A great ride of about 25kms a bit faster than expected but great fun.

The afternoon was spent attending at the local hardware store where Wobblette # 2 became a dog and I picked some shower fittings and then read the paper over another coffee! The shower fittings are half fitted but I need smaller screws now because I drilled the holes too small and have already rammed the plugs home. Typical me! What do they say about measuring twice before doing handyman jobs?

While I'm waiting for tonight's BBQ dinner to cool down enough to eat I'm sitting down blogging and enjoying a beer while thinking about if my blogging mate Running Rabbit would be feeling like a drink at the moment! Cheers RR! Two rides and no falls - that's got to be worth celebrating!

The sum of 10 weeks of indulgence...

while recovering from my injuries is .....*insert drum-roll* ....5kg (or 11 lbs or 25 000 carat [international] if for whatever reason you measure in those units)! Yes folks, despite my suit pants feeling tighter after every trip to the dry cleaners I continued to (over)indulge myself and today after a 2.5 hour exercise session (when I was probably dehydrated) I tipped the scales 5kgs heavier than my April pre-marathon weight. Yikes! Just as well I have recovered (enough) from my injuries and can get back out there and burn some of this "stuff" that seems to have accumulated around my waist and on my back-side.

This morning's session was a 45k (round trip) bike ride down to one of the fantastic cafes in Beacon Cove followed by a small run.

I rode with a friend who is much more experienced than I at this riding caper and it made a huge difference. He taught me loads of things and also gave me some great riding tips. At one point we were overtaken by a pack of about 30+ Bayside Bandidos which initially was very scarey but we decided to hang onto the back of their pack for a couple of kilometers. Our speed went up over 5km/h for the same effort. After 45kms I realise that the increased volume of padding on my backside does not seem to be in the right places for my bike seat - ouch!

After the ride and a quick change, it was out for my first run in three and a bit weeks with Holly the ever happy lab. She was so happy to see me lace on my runners that she was bouncing about with joy but not nearly as much as I was (albeit inwardly)! It was a slow and easy 6kms (with a couple of brief walk breaks) to test out my legs which performed almost faultlessly. The first km was weird though as my thighs and quads just felt (and probably looked) like rubbery blobs from the ride.

So with 2.5hrs of exercise and a couple of errands to the shops done I am now waiting for Mrs W to go and do the weekly grocery shopping with the kids so I can sneak in a mid-afternoon "nana" nap.

On a side note I resigned from my job this week after accepting a better one with a company I worked for about 13 years ago. This move was primarily driven by a distinct lack of job satisfaction in my current role and something that was unlikely to change in the mid-term. I've been a very happy puppy this week, I have drunk too much and had too many long lunches. :)

Sunday Fall # 3

A couple of e-mails and fellow Cool Runner Greybeard had thankfully agreed to meet me for a bike ride this morning. I was hoping that Greybeard Jnr would come too so he could pass on some tips about riding a road bike but his late shift the evening before unfortunately prevented that. With a strong southerly blowing we headed downwind for 16kms first -questionable logic I agree, but we had a particular cafe in mind. The ride down was uneventful enough although I noticed Greybeard was wisely keeping his distance from me and my somewhat wobbly riding technique (perhaps he has been reading my blog).

With a couple of warming lattes at the cafe and a good chin-wag about what training I have been missing out on while I have been injured, we were soon back mounting the bikes outside the cafe for the return journey. Somehow or other while remounting my gleaming (near) new bike I managed to get one foot clipped in and missed the second one right outside the cafe resulting in a rather spectacular tumble for fall # 3. This fall (somewhat predictably) was right out the front of the cafe and no doubt provided loads of laughs for the more serious cyclists and breakfasters inside who would have had front row seats for the inadvertent entertainment I was providing outside.First blood

I noticed that A Girl Running thinks that running is better than sex (or food)! I'm pretty sure that even at my age I could find a more pleasurable way to inflict an injury like this and not suffer as much embarassment!

The ride back was all tough being all into the wind but it was great to be back exercising with Greybeard. It's been hard to watch my fitness slipping away while recovering from an injury and today I noticed how much I have missed the company of like-minded exercise freaks like Greybeard!

That makes three days riding in a row and am looking forward to riding another 20kms tomorrow and tackling my first easy run next week

First two road riding attempts

Firstly I need to thank those that have sent PMs and provided comments to help me take my first couple of baby steps with road riding.

After two rides (total 40k) and incurring nil (yes zero!) injuries, my observations so far are as follows:

1. When walking in cycling shoes with cleats on slate floors don't try to change direction quickly. Fall # 1 and I hadn't even reached the front door.
2. Water bottle cages are for water bottles - best to put one in it as cycling is thirsty work.
3. Two pairs of socks will not stop your toes from going numb if it is below 7 degrees Celsius (44F)
4. When approaching a red traffic light remember to get your shoe unclipped before starting to put your foot down (fall # 2)
5. Cycling computers were made by strange geeky people that do not appreciate that people like me will try to figure out what button is which while riding.
6. When trying to figure out what the cycle computer buttons do, remember to look up occasionally - parked cars are probably not soft or inexpensive to run into.
   

So far so good. I have really enjoyed doing some exercise again and next week will be trying out my new running legs. My shins etc are all feeling good and ready to go again. Mind you, after chocking on 4 kilos (8.8lb)since the beginning of April I'm not looking forward to feeling my man boobs bouncing about again!

Warning - Bike images follow!

Okay, I guess that by reading this far you really do want to see some bike photos! Sheez, and here is me thinking that my readers were nice non-drinking, church-going folk.....

I am evolving!

Many readers will know my battle with injuries over the past few months leading into and after the Canberra Marathon. Frankly it has been driving me nuts (okay, maybe more nuts)! Despite the Wobbly household's crappy financial position, I have bought a second-hand bike so I can get off my legs and still get some aerobic work done while avoiding running injuries. I suspect I have been so hard to live with that Mrs W has agreed to this purchase just to get me active and happy again! I guess I starting to accept my age and my body's desire to not run quite as far! And yes, I am absolutley accepting the inevitable bike related injuries that are likely to follow. (Although I reserve the right to change my opinion here)

As soon as I got the camera out to take a pic, the wobblettes jumped on the bike - thus the following...
Wobblette #2 with Holly asleep behind
lucky Lance has retired!

Only trouble is, I really don't know what to do next! I have been searching the net for info on starting up cycling like what I need to do before I go for a ride besides the basic bike set-up. I will go and get a professional lesson soon and get the bike set-up done properly after a couple of weeks but what else should I do? I have most of the gear I need but (for example) what stuff should be taken on a training ride? How long should my first ride be? Is an hour too long or too short for a first ride? How long can I expect my nether-regions to be numb for afterwards? Should I pack a pump and repair kit or is that inviting the inevitable? Maybe just a mobile phone and some enough taxi money to get home?

Seriously, any advice for this would-be road rider would be appreciated! Wish me luck!

The running shoe whore

my running shoe collection
Sometimes Mrs W says that I have too many runnning shoes. How unreasonable! Surely only a runner (or in my case would-be runner) would understand these things and using this line of logic a long time ago decided never to mention her collection of housey magazines.

The thing is I kind of get attached to the old fellas and as I pick them up to throw them out I remember old races/places/people and PBs and think... maybe next clean out. Am I strange?

Please post photos of your running shoe collections so I don't feel so alone....

Friday update

It's been a quiet week this week. I suspect that the photos from the last few blog entries were slowing down my blog. Since the new month has ticked over (Ugh - it's winter already) it has been fine again. I took a couple of days off work this week while Mrs W was interstate with work and found myself looking after Wobblette # 2 with a bad tummy/bowel. Although she is known for pretending when she is sick, this time she there was no way she could have faked her symptoms!

When I was picking up Wobblette # 1 from school on Tuesday afternoon I was walking down some steps and got distracted mid-step and nearly fell down them. (clumsy fool) Of course I overstressed my bad leg (not the good one) while saving myself from falling down the stairs! 3 days later and my
injured shin is now only just starting to feel like it was on Monday! Regular readers will know that I am known for walking into things and tripping over things while looking at my watch or whatever else distracts me so I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise. So why does it still surprise me when it happens? I swear I was never so clumsy when I was younger. Heck, I'm only 45! Why am I even thinking it could be age related?

No real news to speak of just yet..... stay tuned though for some positive work news in a few days (fingers crossed)!

Apart from that Mrs W is interstate again next week so its going to be more work/school juggling. Although we all miss Mrs W terribly when she is away I secretly find that it's nice to have the kids all to myself and not have to compete as much for attention. :)

Only walking and a bike ride planned if I get a chance this weekend. I need to slip into work at some stage to catch up on some work though (groan). I am missing my running terribly now. It seems so long ago that I was running without an injury. Soon I hope.....