THE SECRET DIARY OF A RELUCTANT RUNNER

Monday June 1 - 2009

Whose idea was it to put the Auckland Marathon in October?? I mean did they not think about the agony of training over an Auckland winter??  Who are these people who set the dates for such events?  I am pretty sure they can't have very warm houses ‘cos who in their right mind would trade the snugly warmth of a feather down duvet for the blistering wet cold of Victoria park at 6am...???

What am I doing?? Oh yeah that's right I made the fatal mistake of watching ‘The Spirit of the Marathon' movie and fancying myself a Deena Kastor protégé!  Why is it that it always looks so easy?

So here I am 6 weeks into a beginner runner programme and feeling rather grumpy that I am still hating getting out of bed to train, that my decrepit lungs still can't seem to find enough air (how hard is it to breathe?) and that I haven't progressed any further that a 5:1 run ratio...

But hey - I know what a run ratio is, I know what a dynamic warm up is and what the 5 week plateau is all about... I also know about engaging my butt, feeling my sacrum and allowing momentum to do all the work for me... (Actually I have to say this Claire that thing about momentum making running easy is really rubbish... I mean you still have to lift your bleedin legs up right??)

Yes I know a lot about running now cos I wanted to make sure I did everything the right way... now I just have to get my sorry butt out there enough times in one week to actually see a difference!!

People/ businesses mentioned in my diary:

Claire Smith Runners Rehab Group

Monday June 8, 2009

Maybe this should really be called the diary of a reluctant writer - I am finding some alarming similarities between having to write this diary and having to do my runs...and some alarming similarities to my old university days of avoiding assignments at all costs!

Ah yes when I agreed to write about my efforts to run a half marathon it was with some excitement that I dreamt of the weeks ahead.  I would report of my fabulous advancement as a runner - knocking off 8ks then 15ks then 20ks with my perfect form and injury free movement... and the fun, oh the fun to write about myself crossing that finish line!!

But as I watched the mixture of bodies cross the finish line at the Xterra Trail Run yesterday I realised that there was a yawning chasm of time and effort between my own finish line fantasies and where I am at right now.

It made realise just how  inspiring it is to do any event let alone some of the events the runners there yesterday do as a matter of course... What does it take to be one of them?  Time to ask... Keith, Deidre, Vince, Vanessa... what does it take to be you??  Are you any different from me?

I suspect not... I know for sure they don't necessarily come from sporty backgrounds, most of them have full time desk jobs, children, a history of weight problems or general sedentary lifestyle... but here they are now popping out on a Sunday morning to skip across 15ks of rugged off road terrain...and that's just a training run!

What does it take?? I am going to find out .. cos this time I want to be there too...Xterra Trail Run Series - from Total Sport

Monday June 8, 2009

Wow oh wow I have the answer!  I spent last week asking friends and clients - what does it take to be a runner - a real runner??  You know the type who thinks nothing of running 15ks on a rainy Sunday, mud and sweat and actually call it 'fun'....

Thanks to my helpful running mentor who shall remain anonymous I have the answer.

It's kind of the holy grail of fitness... the meaning of life... the answer is.... 42!!  

No just kidding - the answer is....

To become a real runner you have to believe you 'are a runner'...
You have to wake up in the morning and live and be the concept
'I am a runner'
You have to identify yourself as a runner, it is part of the crux of who you are - it is who you are.  

'I am a runner' - I have to be able to say it and not go all squirmy and feel a little foolish cos I so obviously don't look like a runner

Cripes I can see this needs some work... But after hearing those golden words I tried them out on my next run and it worked!  I woke up Thursday morning with the words firmly marching through my head, dragged butt out of warm bed, hauled on trainers etc and ran a full 30 minutes non stop with fully functioning lungs, not a gasp in sight...!  I think there is something in this...

"I am a runner", simple really - "I am a runner" - repeat 15 times

I am a runner........
I am a runner..........
I am a runner.............
I am a runner!!!!

Exclamation marks help hammer it home... but I am a true believer in faking it till I make it.. I know it works.. time will tell...another run tomorrow morning.. storms brewing, rain lashing... BUT I AM A RUNNER!

Monday 22nd June

Hey ho what a week!  It started out sooo good!  My first long run- 40 minutes with only 2 tiny stops and not because I was breathless - no, more because I was bored... hmm but still I did it - and then I promptly woke up the next morning with a stiff neck and was grumpy all day!

I blame Claire - its her fault for teaching us about how important the upper body is in running...

Being the swotty student that I am I spent the following 7 days concentrating hard on where my arms were, swinging as pendulums from my shoulder joint, not crossing the mid line, relaxed neck, pull back, swing forward... I'm great I am totally getting this new style... its amazing the difference it makes, no more swingy hips, I truly am channelling Cameron Brown! 

And then I wake up on weds with a gammy neck!  One fabulous massage from Ross and I am in better spirits but still not 100%... took Thursday off - ran again on Sunday... (was supposed to be Saturday but felt rougher than the proverbial)

And wow Sunday's run was my first 5ks - and it included a hill - Curran Street you are mine!  I stopped once - and conquered approximately 2/3 of the hill...I am stoked! 

Roll on more lovely weather... and lighter mornings - the shortest day has passed!

People or businesses mentioned in this diary
Claire Smith - Runner rehab groups - email

Monday 29th of June

Well I have done it!  When I started Claire Smith's 12 week beginner runner group my goal was to comfortably run 5ks by the end - and I have - I am running 5ks and have even added hills!  Yay!! 

Ok so its taken 12 whole weeks to achieve just 5ks, but I'm ok with that - I am all about being the tortoise, there is no hurry to a lifetime of running.  My main aim was to enjoy running and to remain injury free, so mission accomplished thanks Claire! 

Now I am ready to advance into the real McCoy, serious running training.  August 1st is the start of the 12 week build up to AK Marathon so I still have a few weeks up my sleeve to creep up to 8ks... quite exciting really.

My only slight bummer is that I missed out on an entry to the marathon... eeek!!! but hey its ok I am sure I will get there, even if I have to fake a hand written number and lose myself in the masses... just kidding!   I sooo want to be filmed at the finish line.  I was chatting to some seasoned marathoners who are training with Gaz this year, they said we get videoed crossing the line, OMG I can see it now, hands in the air, oh the joy, the emotion of actually finishing... that's what I love.  I see it time and again the sheer elation that people have when they finish even a 5k race is truly inspiring. 

This is what will get me up this week - cos to be honest that pelting rain this morning only served to keep me in bed longer, and strangely enough the only internal dialogue I could hear was 'I am warm and dry and want to stay that way'  .... oh well my fleet footed runner will just have to save herself for our last group session tomorrow...then Thursday we are all on!

Ooo check out my first foray into maymyrun! 
http://nz.mapometer.com/en/running/route_194531.html

Monday 6th of July

Woo hoo I made it - all the way up Curran Street that is.. yes my ‘big' run this morning - and I ran the full monty - (ok I did stop once but caught my breath and continued running) - so effectively ran the WHOLE way... I just won't mention the old guy in tweed who walked up the hill faster than me... L

Still, Claire says that speed will come soon.... So here I am on the precipice of another week - I have mapped myself a new longer run and will venture forth on Tuesday.

Only one little niggle - but otherwise my bod feels great - Deney had me doing some funky stuff in the studio on weds - it was so much fun!  Kind of odd for this 37 year old to find herself doing backward rolls and jumping up and down... but a good giggle nevertheless... Im not kidding I was actually doing backward rolls and attempting to leap to my feet with all the grace of a wounded hippo...

Deney is my trainer - with an endless supply of sometimes fun and sometimes bloody awful exercises to kill me with each week!

The goal - to keep the bod injury free and strong - core and glute exercises that are designed to make me run further faster, better... but actually I just like em cos they make my tummy flat and my butt pert...!  But that's not what it's all about!!  No we are all about function - if good looks come too that's just an added bonus.

So here is my battle plan to marathon:

• Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekend - run lots
• Saturday join Gaz and GetRunning crew for inspiration and excuse to eat cake
• Weds and Friday Deney hammers my wobbly bits into sleek strong machine of running fabulousness
• Thursday avo - Ellen smoothes my wobbly bits, takes away my pain and generally makes me feel great - (actually during the sessions can be bloody awful - but after - its all good!)
• Occasional Sundays - do an event... Xterra Trail run in August??

My latest run - first go tomorrow http://nz.mapometer.com/en/running/route_194953.html

July 27th

Gammy Hips indeed!

Well I'm feeling pretty positive about my old hips - went to see Vaughan Craddock a physio who specialises in runners and is based in Remuera.  Had heard many a good thing about him but am always a little weary of ACC phsyios - its just the whole 15 minute appointment thing you know?  Its not long enough! 

But I must say Vaughan actually spent a whole 30mins on me and was so onto it he managed to suss out what was happening and explain it all to me and get me on a plan to recovery!  It was brilliant - Ellen came with me so she would know what to work on at this end and I must admit we were actually doing a bit of secret spying... it's always good to suss out the great practitioners to learn some more! 

So am armed with a series of followup appointments and the instructions to continue running and exercising only if my pain level is below 3/10.  So tuesday morning I am outy again and hope to be able to last 5ks!  Ellen will keep the soft tissue work going too and together we will mold me into the running machine I know I can be!!

Keith suggested I start aqua jogging - but I will see how my road jogging goes first... can't quite get my head into having to hit a smelly old pool and tread water for 40 minutes!  Eeek!  yes I know it would be great for the purposes of research... many a marathon runner has had to suffer the indignity of paddling away with a giant flutter board tied around their waist all in the name of injury recovery.  Previously I have nodded with sympathy but no real understanding of what they must be going through. 

But it happens - the cycle of training, injury and recovery is ongoing, we are variable creatures, our bodies are swayed by so many factors.  From how we run, our gait, our biomechanics, from the stuff we do every day - like sitting at a desk, to the stress we put ourselves under - all these factors will influence our potential for injury. 

We call it the wellness cycle - and the quicker you accept and understand that it is cyclical the quicker you will recover and move forward with your goals.  What am I saying? 

If you have injured for whatever reason it's OK... get the right advice and follow it - we are here to help get you back on the road to greatness! 

And on that note roll on my training programme - thanks Claire!!

August 10th

Being a bit wussy?
Gosh its terrifying how quickly the weeks can slip by while I am still trying to arrange alternative exercise arrangements...managed to run on tuesday last week - my body felt great... except for the hip pain!!  And was the pain over 3/10 or not quite?  Who's pain scale should I be going by?  I'm not sure if I am being staunch or a big wuss...

Speaking to other runners and I fear I am being a bit of a wuss... but Vaughan (physio) said no to anything over 3/10 on my pain scale... that was during and after running... so that meant the rest of the week was out. 

But it's an interesting concept isnt it?  I am positive the majority of runners actually run in pain 90% of the time.. it certainly sounds that way... one of our clients laughed at me when I told her my run was great - except for the pain - she said 'spoken like a true runner!' 

So is that how it has to be?  I'm not certain that running 6ks qualifies me for the 'running through pain at all costs' level of athlete.  I mean if its painful at 6ks what will it be like at 20ks??

So I have a sneaky suspicion I am sitting in the 'wuss' category... hmm ok so this week I am going to run like a true runner.. pain or not! 

I am armed with 12 weeks to 'D' day, a brilliant programme put together by Claire, and daily exercises and stretches to sort out my hip.

So far have done my daily exercises every second day...this is a minor miracle for me and I am expecting great results...

Will I make it to the pool this week?  Maybe.. if my attempt to be a toughend hardcore runner fails.. I have to get going again or it will all be too late!  Its bloody hard juggling it all though isnt it??

Just have to think of that finish line - oh the glory!!