Day 89 - 90 Another 20 minute burst!!

I was on my own today. Bruce was busy in my preferred afternoon run time and he did his run earlier in the day. So I geared up for a run on my own about 3pm. Was feeling good and ready to have a go at ...  a new personal best?!! As I chugged along I did think it would be great to get home and be able to share with Bruce that I had run for 25 or 30 minutes non-stop. However, after a 10 minute warm-up walk and 20 minutes of running I was feeling some strain in my hamstrings into my buttocks and thought that was a great effort and walked again. I was always checking out the state of my mind and body. I could feel my mind scattering away on me from time to time which affected my breathing so I kept working at focusing myself with a rhythmic "mantra" again which relaxed me and helped me carry on. I am prepared to push myself while also staying a bit cautious. Still, I felt quite proud of myself that I am actually running for 20 minutes now.

Judy Thoughts: I have come a LONG way from puffing and having to walk after just 2 minutes!!

Day 88 Why not just keep running till you get home?

Well, today marked a new high in my running efforts! Two things happened and I have my wonderful Bruce to thank for each of them.

We had done a 12 minute warmup walk along the beach during which my thoughts ran along the lines of - I haven't been sleeping well (earthquake excuse), I'm not really up for any great effort and maybe I just have a good brisk walk today and say that's a good enough.

Then I ran for 15 minutes. And felt a bit disappointed in myself. Should have got to 20 again. Oh well. Walked for 5 minutes. Reluctantly broke into a run and somewhere in the next 5 minutes Bruce could feel me struggling and suggested I find a rhythm to concentrate on. I immediately came up with the phrase (and this is going to sound really far out and hippy dippy to many) "I love you" and kept repeating that in time to my running. 8 beats to the "mantra" equal to 8 running steps. (I x2, love x2, you x4) Well that carried me through. I thought - what more powerful and uplifting thought is there than love! It really made me feel strong.

So we came to the sandbagged area and walked over that - didn't want to turn an ankle on very uneven surface at this point. I had thought I'd just walk home from there. But then broke back into a run - just for another 5 minutes I thought, then it was, well, just get to the bridge, the gate, the road ...at which point Bruce casually said - why not just keep running till you get home?

Ok. I checked myself out and I was breathing well, loping along fairly easily, maybe it wasn't that far to go ...  so I just kept going - another 10 minutes of running (with the "I love you" rhythm supporting me) and I even did a final sprint along the road through the gate to home!! 30 minutes of running all up. 18 minutes of walking. I really think I'm going to be able to do this 5km run by 4 June!!

Judy Thoughts: The combined power of thought and a loving partner supports me towards my goal.

Day 81 - 87 20 minutes non-stop running!!

Just realised I have entered Week 13 which means I have completed 3 months of training! Haven't I done well!! Pat, pat on my back!

I've been alternating days of running and resting for the past week. Often getting to the 15 minute mark mixed with lots of 5 and 10 minute bursts within the 5km loop. Then two days ago I set out thinking it was time for another push. That meant running for 20 minutes non-stop. And I did!!! Bruce and I set off in a different direction altogether. I was ready for a change from our usual loop. We thought we'd run along the river walkay to the north but found it was taped off and we could see from the bridge that the walkway was very severely damaged from the earthquake. So we swung along through the park and golf course and headed "cross country" then back through New Brighton. So I even got a bit of mild hilly golf course territory to puff along over.

A very fit and experienced runner friend recently suggested I get rid of the watch and just go for a run. However, my running watch has been a vital part of my training. I realise I have no sense yet of running distance or time. I know that the watch does not lie and helps me keep track of how I am doing. It would be so easy to say I've gone far or long enough but the watch helps me measure and pace and push myself. Come on it says to me - just two more minutes and you'll set a new personal best. So I'll use it as a tool until I reach my birthday goal and then maybe run differently.

Judy Thoughts: Did you hear that?!! Sounds like I may keep running even after my birthday!!

Day 75-80 Running at Hanmer Springs

I've had a good variety of activity this week. I ran with Bruce the day before leaving for Hanmer Springs and we took the Estuary Pathway together even though it was still "blocked off". We found a whole section had been sandbagged quite extensively in preparation for the full moon "king tide" due on the week-end. It was done to help prevent flooding of the properties by the river. I'll have to go back there when we return to check out if the effort was successful. I haven't seen any news reports of flooding.

Friday we headed out of town for a break from all the shaking. I haven't been sleeping well - along with most of the city I think! Being woken up by your house shaking violently is very frightening. I still keep solar lights scattered around the house at night so I can see without fumbling around for a torch if I need to act quickly ie.get out of the house! We have a checklist for a quick getaway that I go through before going to bed each night. It includes clothes and shoes on the floor beside me to grab on the way out. What a way to live, eh?! There is always an edge for me through the day as well - the sense that at any moment the earth could heave up again and throw me around. Once having experienced that terrible feeling, I find it hard to shake off - so to speak!

So yes, I organised us a shake-free break in beautiful, peaceful Hanmer Springs. This is 2 hours north of Christchurch which puts us closer to the Alpine Fault I know - but surely that won't pop on us while we're here?!! That would be too cruel!

And I think it is just coincidence that we are here on the week-end the the "Moon Man" predicted a major event in Canterbury - but I'm glad to be out of it "just in case" the man's theories have some validity. Also, I have two friends who have a psychic ( http://conniehdeutsch.com/ ) who rather acurately forewarned them about both big Christchurch earthquakes as well as the event in Japan. And she has been saying get out of the area now ... another major event is imminent. Both friends have packed up and left Christchurch. This sort of information is playing with my fear level in a big way. We have extended our stay in Hanmer by a couple of days. I'm just not ready to go back to the city.

Back to the running - a great release! And what a fabulous place to run! We have been going along the Dog Stream Walk which takes us through the forest. And I am going well. Saturday I ran for 10 minutes, then another 5 minutes after a 5 minute walk. I always end with a sprint through the "finish line" - this time through the gate entry to of our chalet unit.

That evening I had an amazing "Hot Stone" 80 minute massage. The therapist used 52 hot stones with warm oil to give me a deep heat massage. The small ones between my toes were a surprise and a delight! God, the whole experience was wonderful!! I highly recommend having a go sometime!

Sunday we took our bikes on a mountain bike trail - the "Easy Rider" track. A reasonable challenge for me given I haven't really ridden for many years beyond down the road for 5 minutes. And I was on Alana's sturdy old mountain bike from high school days - very dusty and rusty. Had a couple of hairy moments but it was exciting and fun.

Today I did my best run effort yet. Ran for 15 minutes, walked for 5, then ran for 9 1/2 minutes to the end of the track. Bruce says I should count it for 10 cause it was a gradual uphill! I also did the usual sprint "through the gate" at the end. Very satisfying and a great stress easer. After a light meal we ended the evening at the hotpools. They have been upgraded in a major way with lots more choices of heat levels and self-hydro therapy spa treatments. Oooooo.... such luxury!! Makes the running training all worth while.

Day 72-74 15 minutes!! A new breakthrough!

A couple of rest days - then off to see what would happen. To be honest, I was very tired. I even had a nap before heading out. I am not sleeping well. The nightly aftershocks and the memeories of the earthquake have my nerves all jangled up and the more recent events in Japan have my fears of tsunamis at a new level (we live on the coast).  I also spent this morning at "The Club" - the Day Centre for people with dementia where I was when the big 6.3 struck 3 weeks ago. I drove around in the van picking up people and saw parts of the stricken city that I hadn't seen before. The roads were often like a war zone - and we kept having to find ways around the worst hit areas. It was very distressing for me. Seeing the devastation - I kept wanting to cry. My shoulders and neck tighter than I have ever felt them.

So after I was home for awhile and had a nap - let's see what a run will do.  I was not very optomistic but I thought even just getting out for a brisk walk would help. However, after my usual 10 minute walk warm-up I started running and reminded myself of the goal I had set last time - to run to a new milestone - the start of the Estauary Walkway. 10 minutes went by and I said to myself - just keep on going and see what happens. I reached the milestone and decided to keep on going. Why not carry on to the 15 minute mark. So I did!! Another breakthrough!!

A bit of a setback happened when I tried to do my usual circuit and a big orange sign blocked my way and said that the Eastuary walkway was closed and to take an alternate route. When Bruce and I had run along this walkway by the Avon River the last couple of times we had seen the huge cracks and displacement of earth and were prepared to move quickly away from the river if there was a sizable aftershock. Much of the riverbank in other areas through the city have fallen into the river, I guess they must have decided it was actually a danger - and hopefully they are working on repairing it.

Judy's Thoughts: I have made progress. Running for a 15 minute stretch. And what really excites me - I was breathing well and know I could have carried on. And chose not to. Again, pacing and chunking the effort to be safe and injury free.

I am feeling devastated by recent events. My heart  is very much with all the people who have lost loved ones in Christchurch and Japan. This running effort has become a coping mechanism to help me get through this terrible time.

Day 71 Hot water determines run time

The timing of my run today revolved around hot water - or the lack thereof in our household due to the earthquake. Here's the story...we now have both power and water coming into our house. But because our 200 litre hot water cylindar popped out of its brackets during the earthquake and started slipping down the roof along with the solar panels, I had to get it emptied really quickly to reduce the weight so it could be lifted and strapped back in place and - until we get water back into it and the solar panels back on the roof we have no hot water. We now wait for the plumbers to become available to reinstall the system and I think we may be way down on our damaged city's list of priority jobs.

So with no hot water for awhile, keeping cleans requires a bit more effort. I know, I could be brave and wash in cold showers. But hot water is just so much more comforting and feels more cleansing. So we either heat water up on our gas hob and sluice ourselves down standing in a bin in our bathtub. We can use a solar shower bag but it just doesn't do it for me. Or we take up the generous offer from friends who offer us their hot water services.

So back to the run ...  Having my usual morning shower to wake up and then a shower later in the day after a late afternoon run (my preferred time) just seemed excessive so I compromised with no morning shower (a hot cloth in critical areas did the trick) and a noon run followed by a shower at friends. They also have a spa pool so I was really blissed out by the end of the day!

The run itself? Bruce and I went out together and I did another 10 minute burst with three lots of 5 minutes as well!! So 25 minutes of running for the 47 minute run/walk circuit felt great! I wore the heart monitor today as well - while running my heart rate would be up in the high 140's and quite quickly go back down towards 100 while walking. After stretching it was back down to the usual 60's range at rest. I think that's about right for where I'm at now.

Judy's Thoughts: I'll extend that 10 minute burst next time out. I decided today on the next milestone to run to. I'm learning to consciously relax when I feel myself tense up with the effort of breathing. And trust that the next breath will be there for me. I really am getting the hang of this now and know that I can run continuously for whatever it takes to cover the 5km. It's just a matter of building up to it gradually and safely.

Day 68-70 Breakthrough! 10 minutes non-stop!

Yesterday I headed out feeling a need to breathe deeply - release some of this pent up earthquake "living on the edge - every moment on high alert" stress. I did the usual 10 minute brisk warm-up walk. Then I started running with the thought that I'd go further than ever before - all the way to Bridge Street. Once there I was feeling ok so just carried on till I hit the 10 minute mark! I concentrated on my breath and relaxing. When my breath became a struggle I could feel myself tensing up with the effort so I consciously relaxed my shoulders, chest and arms and the air was able to flow into my lungs deeply. Feeling pretty proud of myself!!

Judy's Thoughts: I feel like I have broken through a barrier - both physical and mental.  I can actually see myself running non-stop for 30 minutes now. After all, it is only doing what I did 2 more times!

Day 62-67 Earthquake inertia then a run!

Every day I've thought about going for a run. But the day to day earthquake survival activities in our eastern suburbs seemed to fill the hours until it was dark again. Amazing the physical and psychic energy it takes to live with no power, water or toilets for 2 weeks. And always being on high alert of preparedness just in case we have a repeat of that awful day when Mother Nature shook our lives apart. A friend asked me to post my "emergency getaway list" and will do that on a separate post.

Yesterday, late in the day, I decided to get on my running gear and see what would happen. I was apprehensive. I hadn't run for 3 weeks. 1 week of illness and 2 weeks of coping within a national disaster. Would I be back to square zero and have to build my fitness level up from scratch? Such a discouraging thought kept me from even trying. Would the incredibly high stress and deep sadness I have been feeling make extending myself difficult? even harm me? Crazy thoughts maybe but this was what was going on in my head.

Bruce came with me and I set the direction and pace. The run/walk combination suited him as he is still adjusting to his vibram five-finger running shoes - barefoot running - so needs to keep his running shorter as his feet and legs get used to a new style of movement.

We did a 10 minute brisk walk along the top of the dunes then moved down onto the flat inner dune walkway to do my usual loop. When I moved into a run and was able to keep going for a 5 minute burst I felt surprise, relief and delight! I carried on alternating walking and running with a final fast sprint through the gate to home!

Judy Thoughts: I have learned more about how my body works. I found I could carry on from where I left off 3 weeks ago with a fair bit of residual fitness intact. So if there should be another break in training, I will feel confident that my body will respond well. However, the activity felt so good that I am looking forward to my next outing and giving the training high priority. And I feel happy knowing that 5km by my birthday can be achieved after all.

Day 53 - 61 Christchurch 6.3 Earthquake - running training forgotten

22 Feb, Tuesday morning. I headed out to do my usual volunteer time at a Day Centre for people with dementia, the Harakeke Club. I intended to get back to a running schedule that afternoon cause I was feeling better after my bout of illness. However, 9 minutes before I was meant to leave, at 12:51, the building seemed to explode. I staggered out of the kitchen to the lounge area, dropped (was thrown?) to the floor and crawled to a table to hang onto a leg so I wouldn't get tossed around too much. It went on forever it seemed. The noise was incredible as the building was bucked around and things flew out of the kitchen cupboads and fridge to crash on the floor. Chaos and confusion ensued. As the movement and noise subsided we quickly got everyone sitting down on big comfy chairs in the lounge away from the windows and the staff started singing songs with our oldies ("It's a Long Way To ...", etc).

The aftershocks continued for hours. I stayed on to help clean up and comfort people - then offered to drive some people home. The usual driver of the van couldn't get through - the traffic was in gridlock as people escaped the city. So I set out with two people. It was very scary for all of us. A drive that would normally take 15 minutes took me 3 hours - as I forded streams, drove over hills of liquifaction and waited endlessly  in a car lineup for forward movement and prayed that I wouldn't end up stuck in a deep mudhole like some of the vehicles I passed. Finally my charges were dropped off at their homes and safe with their worried families. I arrived at my home afraid of what I might find. The house was standing and appeared unharmed from the outside. Inside was a mess. Everything had been tossed about and thrown off the walls. The kitchen was an explosion of broken glasses and dishes, food from both fridge and freezer, the floor covered in a huge mess.

It was starting to get dark by this time so I ignored the mess - it could wait for the morning - and I concentrated on preparing my "get away" gear in case I had to escape in the middle of the night. The aftershocks were huge and scary. The house rattled and shook until I wondered how it could possibly stay standing. I lay down on the bed fully clothed clutching a torch (flashlight) and transistor radio, ready to flee at any moment. Not a wink of sleep for me that night! Willing the dawn to appear so I could see to get on with the clean-up. Bruce was overseas so I was on my own at this point. He was making arrangements to get back to New Zealand as soon as possible.

So running? Well, it took a back burner for me during the week to follow this event! I did get out to walk lots but that was more to collect water, supplies, and see what was happening in the neighbourhood. I was in survival mode and helping my neighbours.

So maybe I'll go for a run tomorrow. My running shoes sit by the back door waiting for me.

Judy Thoughts: I realise I am not yet "a runner". And that's OK. I think a runner would have felt compelled to run as part of the day no matter what was going on - a strong coping mechanism to get through the crisis. A way to get around and check out the scene. It has been way down on my list of things to fit into my day - but I haven't given up. I need to re-set the goal and make another start. And see it as a valuable strategy to help me "get through".