Day 111-116 I need to keep focused now



Sprinting through the home gate



The "new" running gear, Sorry Megan, bit late posting the pics!

I've been running for shorter distances every second or third day since my 1st 5km a couple of weeks ago (Day 101) but thought on Day 115 I'd go for another 5km. It is a late April, Easter week-end and it predicted a cool drizzle on Sunday. However, to everyone's surprise it showed up as a beautiful, clear blue sky day which I thought would be perfect for a run! However, it was the hottest temp that I have run in - at 25C.
I set out late afternoon on a new route from the Clocktower in New Brighton and headed north along the dune track next to Marine Parade and then continued on a circuit east up Bowhill Road, then through the golf course back towards home. I was very optomistic that I could knock off another 5km. However, I was hit by the heat and got incredibly thirsty. I grabbed a slurp of water at a water fountain in the golf course (thank goodness that was there or I was done!!). I carried on running, puffing very heavily and decided to cut back on the planned distance. Headed for home and through the gate clocking in 3.5km in 30 minutes.

Not a bad effort really - back in January that would have been a miracle effort!! But it is not what I had set out to do 4 months on so am feeling disappointed in myself. I think it may have to do with one too many glasses of wine, one too many hot cross buns and several too many chocolates eggs - indulging in too many Easter treats that slugged me down. There's also the poor sleeps - waking at 2am and wandering around the house in a post earthquake/aftershock daze. Reading till 5am then catching a bit of shut eye till 6 or 7am. Not the best training regime I suppose.

I have lots of excuses but the bottom line is that I have gotten a bit complacent about my efforts and need to re-focus so that I can do my 60th birthday run easily and effortlessly - no matter what the conditions.

That's the problem with going public on something like this. Lots of people now know about this! Many have been so supportive. I don't want to disappoint anyone - especially myself! I really want to finish what I set out to do and so May is the month to consolidate and get  more serious about this.

Judy Thoughts: I am visualising the run on my 60th birthday. Friends and family have gathered to support me. At 3pm we walk to the start line - the New Brighton clocktower. I set out running with Bruce by my side as well as anyone else who may like to join in on foot or bike. There is somone with a sign at each 1km distance cheering me on, a cup of water ready for me to take up on the way past to refresh me if I need it. I easily run the 5km circuit and sprint through the gate breaking through the "Finsh Line" ribbon . Everyone is cheering and congratulating me.  Lots of high fives and sweaty hugs all round. I feel very happy and proud that I have acheived my goal. I head off to do my stretches, shower and change while everyone else is ready to have a drink and share a meal together. We enjoy an evening of good fun, food and friendship.

Day 105-110 Running and chatting... this is getting easier!

I've had a couple of runs with Bruce since my last lone run. I really do enjoy having my mate alongside me - and up to now we have had a catch-up while we walk to warm up and then there is simply the comfortable sound of his feet hitting the ground alongside me with an occassional comment from him. However, I noticed that with these last runs I am actually chatting to Bruce from time to time - and THAT took me by surprise!! Up until now, there was no way I would waste my breath on talking!! In fact, I don't think I COULD have talked beyond a few gasps of things like ... 10 minutes now! ...  20 minutes! Yeah!! Pant, pant...  However, this development shows me that I've reached a new comfortable level with my lung capacity.

Oh yes, I had a root canal done yesterday. Oh, joy. I was knocked flat for the rest of the day. However, today I was out there running the circuit. Makes me think I have some resilience stored up to help me bounce back from a physical trauma like an hour and a half in the dentist chair!

Judy's Thoughts: This is getting easier! What a journey!

Day 102- 104 So what comes next? Explore what 5km means.

Thanks everyone for your messages of congratulations about running my 1st 5km! 40 minutes of non-stop running seems like a miracle to me! I am surprised at how many people expressed that there had never been any doubt in their mind that I could do it. I sure had doubts but I guess it was me putting in the km's and feeling the un-cooperative lungs in the beginning!

And the main question from people seems to be - now that you've achieved your goal, what comes next? 6km? 10km? half marathon?!

I've been thinking this through quite a bit and realise that I actually haven't yet reached my goal. My goal is to run 5km on 4th June this year - my 60th birthday. To do that I will have to keep up the commitment to running regularly. I have no desire to increase the distance or length of time I spend in my pretty shoes (now a bit dusty and worn!)  However, I can explore what 5km means to me and try out the various ways that it can be done. Faster? Effortlessly? Uphill? Over different terrain? Alone? In an organised race? In another country? With music wired into my ears? Any other ideas?

So today I headed out by myself and chose to run for a shorter distance. I missed my running buddy and found that running alone isn't so much fun or interesting.

Judy's Thoughts: So how many differnet ways can I run 5kms? And, I can always change my mind and go for a marathon. Now wouldn't that ... well, words fail me!

Day 99-101 Pier to pier and beyond. Did my 5km!!! 40 minutes!!

Wow! I've done it and I am about 2 months ahead of my goal date of 4 June!!

Today I decided that I'd start at the New Brighton Pier and do a circuit to arrive back at it. I stayed on roads so that I could actually measure the distance accurately in the car afterwards. I was aiming to extend myself to 35 minutes today and maybe get close to 4km.

So (for those who know the area) Bruce and I walked to the New Brighton Pier. I don't want to run on the beach cause I think that the slight slope hurts my left knee so I started my run at the clock tower which is even with the pier. We ran down Marine Parade to Bridge Street up to Estuary Road  and over to Shackleton, down to Marine Parade and back to the clocktower. I got to my goal of 35 minutes and felt ok so decided to go for 40 minutes! That took me down to Rawhiti Avenue to the house we used to live in on Marine Parade. Seemed like an auspicious end point to me. I even sprinted the final minute or so! I think I had a bit more in me but decided that was enough for today. The 20 minute walk home was a great warm down and chance to celebrate my achievement. 40 minutes!! Lots of good stretching when I got home too.

When I drove around the route later it was exactly 5km!! What a buzz that has been for me!

Judy Thoughts: This is amazing! I feel a paradigm shift has occurred in me. 3 months ago I believed this event was simply not possible. My head said no way - Judy this is crazy. My almost 60 year old body rebelled and did not respond very quickly. However, many people told me it was possible. I saw that others, though starting younger,  had done it. I decided to trust in the process and carried on. But there was huge doubt in me that I could make my body run for 40 minutes. From non-runner to runner ... I get it now!  And if I can do this ... what else that seems impossible now is actually possible!

Day 96-98 Up to 30 minutes of running non-stop now!!!

Two rest days and then headed out with Bruce. Not expecting too much as I'd had a restless, sleepless night with an earthshake or two to keep us aware that it's not all over yet. I also kept thinking about the decisions to be made now about stay? leave? where to from here? fixing damaged properties? Not my usual middle of the night thoughts really.

Anyway, I set out with an open mind about how far and how long. I now know that it takes me about 5 - 10 minutes of pushing just to get my lungs opened up and working. Then I can chug along fairly comfortably. So, once I did an 11 minute walk and my running was well under way ... I just kept going - and never stopped till I was home!! Whew! It was about 3.5km - shorter than my usual 5km circuit cause the walkway was blocked off while repair work is being done. And just the right length to get me home - sprinting through the gate in 41 minutes.

Having my "running buddy" is a big help. I am very grateful that Bruce is willing to trot along beside me on shorter (for him) runs to keep me company. He is totally supportive of everything I decide to do. And there is absolutely no pressure from him to push or acheive to "his" expectations. He may make a comment from time to time about his experience of becoming a runner - which may or may not be relevant to me and I can take it and use it - or leave it. This is entirely my experience and he's there to enjoy it with me. It is often very comforting hearing his feet thudding along just behind me on the narrow dune track. And he says just enough positive things about my running style and pace to help me see myself from the outside and feel good.

Judy Thoughts: Guess what - I am actually enjoying this running caper now! And look forward to each experience to see what happens. Oh yes, an added bonus that I hadn't really set out to do but thought might happen along the way. I have "released" 2kg (= approx 4.5lbs)! Wouldn't mind another 3kg disappearing as well. At this rate it may all just take care of itself.

Day 91 - 95 Another push! 25 minutes of running!!

Wasn't up to too much on Friday (Day 92) after some morning dental work that left me exhausted. Even the next day I took as a recovery day. A bit of pain sure takes it out of me. However, I was lucky to have a lovely place to recover in cause we spent the week-end at our friends' organic farm north of the city. We shooed them away for a break and took over the feeding of the chickens and geese and watering of the winter seedlings. We also had a chance to do some "nana sitting" - an elderly parent whose home was damaged from the earthquake is now living at the farm and we kept her company, enjoying some meals together and sharing stories and some good laughs.

By Sunday (Day 94) I was up for a run in the fresh country air and headed down the lane. 10 minutes of walking on gravel lanes to a main road then - yes! 25 minutes of running!!! Turned around after 10 minutes and trotted on back. Then about 8 minutes back to home base. Driving out that night we measured the running distance at about 3km. So I am definitely getting close to my 5km goal! I am very excited about that - and proud of myself.

Judy Thoughts: Yes, I can almost hear those people who said that my body would surprise me saying "I told you so"! And I don't mind. I love this kind of surprise!