LSR ramping up

EDITED TO ADD:   I had written this post a couple of weeks ago and still had it sitting in my drafts only to realise tonight I hadn't hit publish!


So my weekend LSR (long slow runs to the non-runners reading this) are ramping up as I continue on with my half marathon plan.  Not sure if I've ever mentioned, I use a plan from the Marathon Training Academy to which I also avidly listen to their podcasts.  But heck it's hard to get out when the mornings have been looking like this - ICY !

My weekend runs are taking me out of town and down lonely country roads.  Actually lots of roads around here like this, but admittedly this one lead out of town.

And I had the 'girls' for company, a veritable cheer squad lining up along the fence watching me run by.   Actually this heard of cows started following me along the fence, not sure how I can get the video I took in here, it did make me laugh.

But you know when you run way out of town, you've got to run back in, so in my effort to do a big loop I went along under the cypress trees and came across lots of puddles like this.  Oh no!  Not my finest hour.  

Didn't really think that plan through properly did I?

Cows!!

Soooooo there were cows involved in my day today.  First off my morning run.  Told His Nibs that I would be getting up early to get my 8km in.  Feh!  Only 8km.  It was a drop back week in my training schedule, I feel like I should do more but what's the first thing people will say ... TRUST THE PLAN!  So I did.   The plan was that I'd go out and do a 4km loop of town and when I was five minutes from home I'd send Mike a text and he'd meet me up on the corner and he'd do the next 4km loop with me.  Win-win.  He'd get his 4km in and I'd do my 8km.

So text sent when I was five minutes from home and I get to the corner and no Mike.  I rang him and get a feeble "errrr I'm not fully dressed yet".  [read: I'm still in bed].  Yes my fair-weathered running husband / accountability partner for this morning piked on me.  So darn him I kept going but decided to put a big angry-assed hill in it too so ran up the stock route instead. There, I showed him!

Cow legs made me mooooooove it !  haha  someone had to say it.   My awesome tights from Run Amok Tights.  Honestly so super super comfy and some great patterns available, but really who can go past cow legs!

What a glorious morning though, here's a pic of the Mill against the morning sun coming up, it looked eerily spooky and beautiful at the same time.   Oh and yes, got home and His Nibs was definitely still in bed!  Hmmmm.   

Sooo then because it was a magic winter's day today, absolutely glorious out this afternoon I took the little boy out for a walk.  So much fresh grass to sniff and pee and sniff some more!  haha, yes it's a drawn out process when there's so much goodness to get into for a little dog.

EXCEPT ... when there are cows involved.  Heck don't know what came over him this afternoon you'd think he'd never seen a cow before.  But there they were lined up at the fence.  Oh right, yep never been THAT CLOSE before hey Lucky.  His little tail went between his legs and he trembled and wouldn't go any further.  Only with some extreme urging would he walk but only on the other side of me giving that fence a wide berth.

He soon realised the cows were more scared of him than he was of them.

But his eyes never left them, don't take me over there mum, noooooo don't take me over there!  Don't worry mate, I won't let anything happen to you, we'll stick to the road and leave the cows over there.

And then after all this, later on this afternoon at 5.30 the guilt had got the better of Mike, and off he want for his own 3km run.  Good man!  I'm not going to say I shamed him into it, but the smile he had when he got home and then sat down for his roast lamb dinner was worth it!  

Postie's here!!!!

AKA my online orders have arrived.  Yipppppeeee!  Actually it's kinda bad when you have ordered something and it arrives and you forgot you even ordered it, haha!

First things first, I hadn't forgotten these babies.  Checked out my wonderful new running tights from Run Amok Tights.    Made by a runner (and an awesome one at that) for runners.  And well you know the fascination we have for cow print from our online 12WBT Runners Connect group.  Char was gracious enough to source some rocking cow print material for us too.

As soon as I opened the parcel I quickly put them on to take them out for their maiden voyage.  A run - sniff - pee - walk - scratch - hang on what was that - go backwards - nope nothing interesting - keep going - and repeat with Lucky!  tee hee.  We start off running but well it is what it is.  He was happy, look at that face.  He's saying "one more sniff pleeeeeeeease mum!"

Dropped him home after doing the 1.5 km blockie that we do.  I have learnt not to take him over 2km.  Once he hits the 2km mark he just knows and that's it, no more, carry me the rest of the way.   Then I hit the road myself for a run.  Yep these are the bomb.  They are silky smooth so my spibelt did ride up a bit, maybe I don't have so much of a spare tyre these days to hold it in place!!  I'll tighten it a bit more next time and see how that goes.  Plus they are 7/8 length.  I don't believe I've ever owned tights in that length, mine are usually 3/4.  And I'm liking that little bit extra now that it's coolish.

Trying to get a pic of myself !!

Check it out, this cow just stood and looked at me (I'm going to say) in awe thinking I've gotta get me some of those tights for winter!  hahahaha   Heck I love living in the country, I can run to the end of my street and around the corner and see sights like this.  Superb.

My neighbours saw me as I got home from my run and called out "Good on you, supporting the dairy industry".  They had noticed the tights (I mean really, wouldn't wouldn't notice them!!)   I just nodded, it's easier than explaining the fascination for cow print.  And yes, I completely wholeheartedly support the dairy industry, I know too many dairy farmers going through hard times.  

So that's not all, my other package was some new socks.  Which I had forgotten I had bought, so this was indeed happy mail.  I'm alternating between Balega and Lightfeet at the moment.  I like the extra padding that both socks give.  So these were on sale so I got three.   I wonder if red will go fast!!

And so tomorrow I have my Great Ocean Road half marathon present to myself - an hour long relaxation massage is booked at my favourite spa in town.  Everyone does this don't they?  Give themselves a congratulatory present after a big big event?  Yes?  Please tell me you do.  And if you don't, please don't tell my husband! ha.

GOR (a bit more than a) Half Marathon!!!

So unless you've been living on the moon, you may be aware I was doing the Great Ocean Road Half Marathon last Sunday!!  Or I should say "a bit more than a" half marathon as it is 23km as opposed to the usual 21.1km.  I will admit I did wonder if I had that extra 2km in me.  Turns out I did!

So sit back for a read, this is a photo heavy post as a picture tells a thousand words, and I'll just narrate the other thousand!!

Last weekend was full of running and friendships and enjoying like minded people who love this running caper just as much as I.  Our beautiful girls from the 12WBT Runners Connect Group were out in force over the weekend running the various events - the 14km on the Saturday and the Half and Full Marathons on the Sunday.  It was a time of renewing acquaintances, making new friendships and drinking in the atmosphere.

Saturday the weather was amazing and it was wonderful to see my friends Kellie, Alison, Mel, Jane and Anna running the 14km.  Many meet up photos were taken as we found more people.  We come from far and wide here - country Victoria, Melbourne, even beautiful Melissa from Tassie was over for it.

The sensational Warrnie crew.

So for those of us running on the Sunday and beautiful Floss (the cow!!) who came to support, well you all know of our group's cow fetish right?  We had important cheering to do to bring our girls home.  They had no idea we would be half way down the road as you came back into town with our signs and cowbell ringing and hooting and hollaring.  Floss blew us away, she brought so many smiles on people's faces, she would run alongside those who were walking and in pain getting them running again ... or maybe they were running way from the crazy cow, who knows!  We had a ball.

After the 14km race had been held we wandered back and celebrated with the 14km runners and looked enviously at the beautiful finishers medal they had received knowing the job ahead of us the next day to be worthy of our medals.   Trina and I had been looking at the gorgeous blue sky, would it bode well for the following day?  We kept checking various weather apps until we found one that made us feel a little better.  But we knew we were in for a wild day with 35km/h head winds forecast.

We had rented a house between five of us so checked in and Sue, Trina and I decided to head down to the beach to paddle and stroll, not being too strenuous on the legs though, before sunset.  It was beautiful.  

The evening was sensational.

Sue's exuberance of getting into the water suckered me in.

I rolled up my trousers and all was fine until a wave came in!

Sunday morning we were up early the five of us - Sue, Trina, Jane, Shev and I did our ritual pre-race morning routines and breakfasts. Well Jane had already done her hard work on the Saturday at the 14km so she pepped us up. We walked a block to the busses which were well organised and said goodbye to the Marathon girl Sue who was catching a different bus to Lorne, and made our way to Kennett River, the start of the half marathon.  In the dark as the bus was travelling I was trying to mentally feel the hills as we went up and down and I swear we must have been on the wrong bus as it was a never-ending drive. 

We got to Kennett River and Shev had us organised as she'd done this before, bag drop, loo stop, sunrise, greeting friends, photos.  It was a beautiful morning, what on earth was the Willy Weather app talking about.  Surely the weather man had got it wrong.

Runners milling about on the beach capturing the beautiful sunrise.

Trina and I saw a couple of crazy Scots - yes they run in kilts and horns - take note Mike!!  And we had to get our pics taken.  We had already bag dropped at that stage with our warm clothing to be taken to the end, but ah ha!  I had a couple of disposable throw away plastic raincoats we could pop on to keep warm - they actually do keep the chill off.

I saw my Warrnie buddy Leah, a sight for sore eyes.  Just seeing this beautiful girl who inspires me so much set my racing mind to rest.  Shev in behind us here too.  Both these girls are gun runners that I'm so lucky to call my friends.

A bit excited I needed a start line pic before things got too crazy.

  

We all needed start line pics - Jacqui, me, Trina and Rachael.  
Jill came in later but I don't have a pic of that one.

They kept moving us back as more and more runners got ready, self-seeded.  And even in amongst this throng of people there was a kind of calm in knowing we had quite a number of our 12WBT Runners Connect group out there on the course.  Waiting for the start amongst the crowd of runners lined up, I feel a hand slip into mine and I looked at Trina.  We were full of anticipation ready to take on this beast.  And before we knew it the race had started.  It would be starting simultaneously at 8am - us at Kennett River, the Marathoners and Ultra-Marathoners at Lorne.

I just set off at my own plodding pace knowing there were two big hills to start with.  I kept thinking of my training runs up Cairnlea Lane or Mount Leura or Lake Pertobe Road.  They stood me in good stead.  I see somewhere waaaay over int he distance where we would be running to.  Heck, what was I thinking.  But I was planning to take it just 1km at a time, be mindful of the beautiful scenic surroundings, when on earth does a person get to run along the beautiful Great Ocean Road free of traffic.

This was a blessing and I was taking part in something so much bigger than just a run - this was a beast of a run and it would take every strength of mental toughness I could muster.   I stopped a couple of times along the way for a quick pic, walked a little, ran a lot.  It was spectacular.  I think I was at about 13 or 14km when the eventual marathon winner passed me.  Yes he started at 8am and had run about 35km and caught me.  Crazy stuff.  It was thrilling to see. Not to mention he is the fellow who fitted me for my last pair of runners at the Running Company!

This is a bit of a lonely run, other than the runners alongside you.  There's not much audience participation at all until you get to Skenes Creek.  There was one farm where the farmers were down at their gate handing out snake lollies to runners.  He saw me coming and yelled out "here's a green snake to match your shirt".   It's not until you get to the odd water stations along the route and then Skenes Creek where you really get a bit of audience participation, people were cheering.


Mother Nature decided that we were going to earn this medal today and she threw everything at us - we didn't just have to contend with rolling hills, but the sunshine soon turned to 35km/h head winds, then some wicked cross winds, then we saw the most glorious rainbow.  But with a rainbow there's rain and soon enough we saw the clouds covering Apollo Bay and the rain started.  Showered for a while and then it bucketed down with about 5km to go.  

Just knowing that everyone was in the same boat, hat down I just kept plodding.   Seeing Floss and Jane (pic below) was a highlight.  OMG what a lift of spirits seeing these two crazy cows jumping about cheering and clanging their bells. I was so proud to call out to the lass next to me "they're my friends" she said "you're lucky". Yep I know.

I had been tag teaming with this young girl we were chatting. She said this was her first and last half marathon and I told her by next week she'll be looking for her next one to enter.  She looked at me like I was crazy, I hope she remembers that conversation.  We got to the first lot of buildings in town and I said to her no more walking let's own this. There was no one in front of us at that stage and I told her to soak in the cheers they were all for us. The people were lining the streets and yelling and clapping it was a great feeling.  I called out to her to bring it home strong and from somewhere we both found something and sprinted to the finish line joyous. 

I was given my finisher's medal and I popped it over my neck and took a photo elated and if I thought it had rained before the heavens then opened up as I walked through the chute. I was already saturated so just stood in the rain drinking my drink and eating my banana so happy and thankful that i had the ability to do this. 

3 hours 2 minutes 41 seconds

My goal was 3 hours but maybe next year, although as the great Leitchy has mentioned I did stop for photos so I probably did run the 23km in under 3 hours.   The actual 21.1km mark (official half marathon timing) was 2:50:47, so considering weather conditions and the hills I'm really happy with that.

I ran into Shev at the finish who had obliterated the run with her speed, and she was heading out to give support to our two Marathon girls Sue and Melissa.  So I headed back to the house which was only a block away from the finish line to dry off and change, I found Trina and we then found our bovine friends (giggle) !!

It was here we did our important cheer leading duties.  Oh my goodness what fun.  Floss and Jane brought so many smiles, they were in so many selfie's that runners took, or go pro videos, there was even a runner who came back after the run to ask "why cows?" as she was a dairy farmer!   It was an awesome experience cheering on the runners - by this stage the half marathon runners had long since finishes and we were cheering the full marathon and ultra marathon runners.  What stamina.   Sue and Melissa came through to riotous bell clanging and cheering from us.  It was a great feeling being part of it.

This was truly the most amazing event I've ever been a part of, the hardest race I've ever run, the toughest conditions I've had to endure - and you know what - I'd do it all again in a heart beat.  Roll on next year.

These are the beautiful girls I shared this most magical weekend with - I will call us the Fabulous Five.  Between us five we ran 127 kilometres.

That night we went out for a beautiful meal, although our dear friend Shev had to leave early to get home, the rest of us were staying an extra night.  We drank champagne, wore our medals all night and finished up the evening with Baileys hot chocolate.  Yep we know how to party alright - we were all in bed by 9pm!!!  hahahaha  Exhausted.

And of course Monday morning look at the weather - I took a few quick pics at the beach prior to going home.  Typical!  What a difference a day makes.

Until next year GOR, I'll definitely be back to conquer you once again.

My Mt Everest Run

Okay so I have this blogger-turned-real-life friend Cat who is an amazing runner.  And she put so much into perspective for me today and I thank her very much for that.  I had posted on facebook about my run today and there were some high fiving well wishes and I felt like a fraud.  I may have run (let's be honest, run-walk-run) 16.6km, but I was slow.  It was misty rain the whole way.  I stopped for some photos of cows.  And I mentioned when reading the comments not to get too excited as it was slow today.   An the amazing Cat retorts with:  "Stop with the slow!!  No one asks you how fast you climb Everest!!!!!"    I shared that comment with our 12wbt Runners Connect online group and it resonated with a number of those girls too.  So thank you wise Cat.

So as mentioned I needed a decent run today so to do something different I drove over to Terang and parked my car and ran back to Noorat (a town about 6km away) and then back to Terang and then a lap of the dry lake.    It was what I set out to do and I did it.  Was quite soaked by the time I finished, and starving, and oh so bad chafing under my right arm.  In the end as I was running I was holding that arm out like a wing, no wonder the cows were laughing at me!   I think because I was wet it was rubbing on my shirt, you know the flabby jelly under arm bit! ha.

Anyway so here's my very impressive map.

It's a good run as there's a walking/riding path the whole way, so you're not on the road at all.  There was a lot of long straight bits like this.

And many curious audience participation members lining up at fences like this.   They weren't shy at all.

Love that the cow is the official-unofficial-who knows- mascot of our 12wbt Runners Connect group.   We all try to get a cow photo each week on our runs, makes it hard for the city dwellers, but they've been quite inspirational finding all forms of cows as well! 

And in my quest to run 100km this August I'm up to 88.02 !  Only 12 to go with 9 days still to run.  Yeeeeeha!   Don't you love the eyes on the cow on the left, I wonder what she is thinking!

This is how ridiculous it looked as I was running, I did one of those panorama shots so it's a bit out of skew, but the cow whisperer sure has it, they all lined up along the whole length of the paddock to moo me on to victory!

Early night for this chick.  Hope your Sunday is a good one.