Run 37 - McKenna Scott Pinelands 10km Race

The day started early - I don't do mornings (if I can help it!) I was up, ready to leave by 6.30am. Steve drove us to Pinelands in the dark (with fog in places) and the race started at 7.30.

I wasn't really ready to go because all us women had been queuing for ages to try and get into the ladies' loos. I was still in the queue five minutes before the start, so I didn't bother and gave up, hoping that I wouldn't have to do a Paula Radcliffe! I walked across to the start with Steve, pinned on my numbers, put on my Garmin, took off my jacket and the gun went for the off!

It was a 2 lap course around Pinelands, quite flat, with a narrow bit across the park area, but other than that it was fine. I did the first lap in a good time but wasn't able to beat my 1:04 (PB) time! Don't know why, other than I wasn't quick enough! However, I feel that if I had run the 5km instead, I could have broken my 30 minutes.

Still, apart from not having enough loos for the ladies, only the clubhouse ones, it was fine. Not hugely exciting because I feel I should have done better, but perhaps it will make me train harder?

I'll wait and see what I did in the official results. Thinking about it again though, it might actually be better than I originally thought. We'll see!

Official results: Time: 1:05:14 (PB)

22/54 in age group for women

169/318 of all women

561/782 of everyone

Run 36 - Jog

Just a slow "jog" around PB today before my 10km race on Sunday.

5km to check that everything is in its rightful place. Mmm!

Weather warm and sunny, but quite windy.

Run 35 - So as not to feel so guilty!

A very wet, windy day! But I eventually managed to get out the door at about 10am. Steve came along for company (well, he does wear a 'Lee's trainer' T-shirt!) on his bike.

Alfie and Chilli are both booked in to the vet's to be fixed this afternoon and they aren't allowed any food this morning. Therefore, poor Sid and Mango aren't allowed much food either! At least Sid did get some breakfast whilst Chilli was shut in the studio! That's more than what Mango did! Therefore, good idea to go for long run so as not to feel so guilty and stay out of annoyed animals' way!

I did 16km today, the first half with a headwind and hilly, took an hour to do. The second half was much quicker! I enjoyed the second half much more, even though I was getting tired then. Didn't get too wet. It rained 3 times, I think, not too heavy, and not for long, until the third time just as I had finished running at the very end - it chucked it down for about a minute! Oh well, nearly escaped the rain!

Run 34 - Treadmill, shower and massage!

This morning I was told that when I had done my run today and had a shower, then I could have a massage! I have a good memory!

This afternoon, I did 3.5 kms on the treadie. It is back to winter outside with heavy winds and rain (and it's cold) so it was an inside job!

Run done, showered, and awaited my massage! Yes, I did get it and it was lovely! Well worth 30 minutes on the treadmill. No, I don't feel guilty about doing less than 4kms - I am supposed to be doing a long run tomorrow and don't want to mess that up! :)

Run 33 - The promise of lunch helps

It was a struggle to get out of the door today but I went because I was promised lunch out afterwards! Couldn't refuse really!

Did a 6km around Pearly Beach (around Rotunda - the hilly bit) at an average sort of pace. Actually, it felt ok considering I hadn't wanted to go out!

Weather is still ok at the moment, but I am sure it will turn very soon!

Oh well, off out for lunch now! :)

p.s. Had to add a PS here to say that lunch was lovely. We sat outside as the weather was sunny and warm. Homemade burger with all sorts of trimmings plus a HUGE glass of wine! Must have been half a bottle at least! Followed by blueberry cheesecake - dee-lish! That's me done for the rest of the day!

Run 32 - Get it done!

I had intended running this long one tomorrow so that Ronnelle would be here and the dogs wouldn't have to be left alone - well, Alfie, anyway! However, she has the day off tomorrow so I decided I might as well get it done today, while the weather is still nice - and get Steve to come with me anyway. Alfie could be left in his cage with a filled kong! They had both had a run before we went out anyway so we felt they should be fine - and they were!

Ran towards Carruthers Hill. I did the run in the ratio of 9:1 - walking breaks of a minute. That gave me the opportunity to drink when I was walking as it was rather hot out there (as well as have a bit of a rest in between bouts of running!). Not fast, but I keep reading that I should run these long ones slowly! Very slow!

Shorts and sleeveless top again today. Shorts weather! Can't believe it. A few weeks ago it was long tights 'cos it felt so cold! Oh well, best make the most of it while it is nice!

The run went ok but was getting quite hard on the way back because the wind got up and was channelling up Carruthers Hill.

01:47:31 - 14.5km

Still, it's done now and I don't have to do it tomorrow! :)

Run 31 - That was hard!

Well, I enjoyed my massage on Wednesday afternoon. I think my legs must have enjoyed it too because they didn't want to work today! It was a real hard run this morning and everything seemed to ache! My legs felt heavy and weren't very interested in running. Perhaps my leg muscles are still too relaxed from the massage!

Still, I staggered round 6.5km of Pearly Beach, which is most of Pearly Beach! The weather is still lovely and ideal for a run - only a gentle wind, sunshine and warm but not too warm.

Glad it's over though for today!

Run 30 - Enjoyable run in the sunshine

Another beautiful day. At least, it was when I went out. By the time I had showered when I got back, the fog was rolling in fast off the sea! Still, it was beautiful when I went out.

I did a slower run with a fast km in the middle and slightly slower at the end around my normal route.

I am looking forward to my massage later this afternoon in town!

Run 29 - Another beautiful day...

What a beautiful day for a run! lol! The sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze and it is warm. I can smell the blossom of the fynbos, a sort of honey smell. Beautiful!

It's a long way to go though - 15km today. It is a long time since I did 15km! Luckily, I was able to get Steve to keep me company on his bike (and carry my stuff) so that helped the time pass.

I did another of the 3:1 ratio run/walks, which I think helped! I'm sure it must have helped my joints! Well, I'm still standing at the end of it so it can't have been too awful!

Thank goodness for chocolate steri stumpies at the end of a run! :)

Run 28 - What a beautiful winter's day...

A beautiful, almost hot, sunny winter's day. Wind is getting up a bit but it certainly didn't make the run feel cold at all. In fact, it helped to cool me down.

I did my usual around PB - up Charlie, Esplanade, Rotunda, Central and Arcadia, coming back to Charlie.

I tried the ratio of 3:1 again. Not sure yet whether it is just as fast as running all the way. Will try a few more and then review it, I think.

Run 27: Sunny day so why not...

I hadn't intended going out for a run today because I had it in mind that I didn't need to run until tomorrow. However, when I checked my training plan, yes, I should be running today! I put it off, and put it off, until late in the afternoon, then decided to go for a run anyway as it is supposed to be very windy tomorrow so I don't think I will want to do it then. It has been a lovely warm(ish), sunny, wind-free day today so why not make the most of it...

I did run/walk in the ratio 3:1 to see how it felt for 45 minutes, and covered 6.35km. Not sure whether I ran any faster though.

Run 26 - So much rain!

Torrential rain meant that I really did not want to go outside and run 13km getting, well, more than just drenched! So I did 13km on the treadmill.

Wow, that was a long session, but at least I could listen to my music and I didn't get as wet as I would have done if I had run outside!

I should have run yesterday instead, but I had wanted company on my "long" run so Steve said he would come with me today when Ronnelle was here to look after the dogs. However, little did we know how much rain we would get today!

Run 25 - Just for the fun of it!

Weather has turned out nice this afternoon, except for rather a lot of wind! However, I didn't go for a run yesterday so wanted to go for a short one this afternoon. I had intended doing about 5km and ended up doing just on 7km.

There was a head wind for the first half of the run but it was much easier running the second half!

I ran up Charlie and around Rotunda, then back along the usual route to the other end of Charlie.

I didn't follow my "plan" but just ran as I felt like it! Made a pleasant change!

Kms run last month: 77 (better than the month before but not the 100 I am trying to run each month)