Mel Tries to Run... Again

It's a new year... let's try this thing again?

2012-01-02T15:36:00.002+09:30

This blog is now littered with attempts to get back into running.

This page alone is full of hopeful starts.

So here we go again. New year, time to commit to running again.

Got up this morning, plugged in RunKeeper app and ran 3kms. Same old, same old when starting again. Felt bloody hard and bloody good in equal measure.

2012 is full of a heap of excellent things for me and running would go beautifully with them.

Is this finally the year of the half marathon?! Let's hope so.

Here's to getting up tomorrow morning and doing it all over again.

Running company

2011-07-28T16:43:00.005+09:30

What do you listen to when you're running?

I really mix it up, y'all.

Last night I listened to Back to Black by Amy Winehouse (yep, I'm a walking cliche). I found myself thinking hard about love and addiction.

One thing running does is clear your thoughts.

Musically running wise - know that Amy has/had some wickedly steady beats to keep your running rhythm. They're chilled out, so it doesn't force you to go too fast.

Tonight, it was a storytelling hour. I had a playlist of This American Life and The Moth prepared*.

Do you know This American Life? I don't always love it, but many of my favourite radio moments are from their stories. Tonight I listened to a podcast about a group of prison inmates putting on Hamlet.

It was more than incredible. You hear their stories, you feel them in the way they get their lines out.

It's the most amazing example of why theatre and radio are the most powerful mediums we have, I think. I actually burst into tears when they finished performing (sorry to my neighbour, who must have thought me a crazy woman, puffing and teary). It's super moving. Have a listen.

So I pounded out 4kms tonight, and a little faster than yesterday. It feels terrific to be back.

Do you need music when you get back? I can't wind down without it. Now playing? The Pixies, my friend.

*The Moth is pretty much my favourite listening in the world. Didn't get a chance to get to it tonight as I was so dang fast. Ha ha ha...

The hardest one is over

2011-07-27T16:23:00.003+09:30

Ran 3kms tonight and felt the world change a little.

Why is it so hard to do get out there when running makes everything work so much better? There's the physical stuff: your blood pumping hard, your limbs feeling strong, your skin feeling plump and alive, the unmistakable taste of salty sweat as you shower it all off.

How about the head stuff though? I have the tendency to get depressive and eat crap. A completed run is about the best anti-depressant there is for me. And I emphasise for me. I'm not getting all Tom Cruise on anyone's arse, it's what works for me.

It's just the greatest. Will go for 4kms tomorrow. Baby steps.

Here's the story!

2011-07-26T20:07:00.002+09:30

Thanks to one of my twitter buddies, @alivicwil, I've worked out how to put the story here!

ps. I was nowhere near 32 when I wrote this article. I was 29 and hugely concerned about turning 30...

Melanie Tait Runner's World

This blog needs to be about running again

2011-07-26T18:52:00.005+09:30

Photo courtesy of Runner's World. Fancy, hey?

Just sifting through my work to get my website up to date (won't link to it now, as it's not great), when I came across an article I wrote two years ago for Runner's World.

I miss that passion I had for running! I need to get it back.

Any tips please? I need them desperately.

Here are the tips I wrote about in Runner's World. Need to get back to taking my own advice...

Mel’s Top Ten Tips for Shedding the Kegs*

1. Stay away from the chocolate aisle, chocolate shop, chocolate part of the office vending machine. My doctor says the only way to eat chocolate guilt-free is to run 10kms a day.

2. Potato Chips are not your friend. They may taste all warm and salty, but the only thing they make smile are the dimples in your bum.

3. Start a blog. It keeps you honest and most of your bloggie buddies will be American. Americans are about the most positive, supportive peeps out there. It’s the lack of irony thing working in the most terrific of ways.

4. Get inspired by other runner’s stories. Did you know even Dean Karnazes had to walk/run when he started his training?

5. Remember that every 100 calories of junk food you eat is almost 2kms of hard sweaty running you’ve wasted. Stick that in your mouth and chew on it.

6. Remember how nice your sweat smells when you’re eating healthily and how stinky-old-man it can be when you’ve downed a kebab and a beer.

7. Alcohol is just as bad as junk food. Not only does your body fight the booze in your body instead of the awesome food you’ve eaten with it, but you’ll eat like the worst fat story on the Oprah show for the entire next day.

8. Drink 3 litres of water a day. All the skinny actresses do it and have you seem Hilary Swank running? Find a picture of her and drink up!

9. Avoid white bread, white rice. What’s the point in it? It does nothing but fill space in your stomach (for about twenty minutes) and bloat you.

10. Did I mention staying away from chocolate? Apparently dark chocolate can be good for you, but I’m willing to bet my spare kidney on the fact that no chocolate is even better*.

*have since discovered spare kidney is actually fused with the other. So won't be bettin' nothin' on nothin'.

Introducing...

2011-07-18T17:20:00.001+09:30

No skatin' no pump no nothin'

2011-06-15T18:25:00.004+09:30

Yo yo dudettes and dudes,

It's but Wednesday and this week feels pretty heavy.

There's already been lots of skating, pump and cycling.

There's also been a boat load of work. Our second Now Hear This is on in a week's time so I'm busy making sure it's an even more amazing night than last time.

We have some amazing stories being told - about everything from long lost love, love surviving the holocaust, theatrical weddings... the works. My story is about my first love and why I thought our anatomical craziness meant we were made for each other.

After bustin' my ass at work from 4.45am - 4pm today, I decided to have a rest tonight. As it happened, skating was cancelled. I don't think I'll do it again. Am going to bed without feeling satisfied at all. No more days without some exercise.

How raw is this picture? Sheesh. That, my friends, is what tired looks like. Do you like the mega-sexy flannie pyjamas?

Jump!

2011-06-09T19:07:00.003+09:30

What an arvo.

Shano and I were due to meet up for a cardio/core session by the lake. I woke up from my nap late and groggy. I picked Shane up late. One of my buddies called with bad news. Looked as though it wasn't going to happen.

Shano had other ideas and we ran 600m, stopped and did ten burpees and ten turkish get-ups. Then we did it twice over again. Bugger that, right? Well actually, it was kinda fun by the end because it was so hard.

Lucky for us, Canberra is a rockin' city and in the background of our work out someone was filling the air with gorgeous carillon sounds.

One that torture was over, we went and met Jo for some skating underneath the National Gallery of Australia.

A number of very cool things happened there. We skated around for yonks and this dude came down and talked to us - turned out he was a ref for Canberra Roller Derby League. His name is Fair-as Bueller. We had a little chat with him about try-outs. Next time let's hope he has his skates for a bit of a spin with us.

The very cool thing is... Jo and I taught ourselves to jump! We kinda had no choice as the cement is all separated underneath the NGA.

Very, very fun and tough as shit on your abs, being in derby position and jumping.

Probably don't need to say that by the end of our session all three of us were riding high on skating endorphins.

For your listening pleasure, and for my buddy Jo, I present to you the well gorgeous 80s version of Eddie Van Halen.

Never do what I did

2011-06-08T15:42:00.004+09:30

As this is a fitness blog, fitness news first.

Canberra Roller Derby League has cancelled their try-outs until November. So devastated. My buddy Shane says I still have to work out like they're on July 2, but I must confess a little of my resolve has drifted....

On another non fitness related thing. Today has been a big day for me financially, and I want to write this post in case there are any youngens out there thinking about getting a credit card.

In my early twenties I earned a shit load of money from my play The Vegemite Tales, which I proceeded to squander on wine and women (well, not quite wine and women - food and travel would be a more appropriate way of explaining it away).

The play went on throughout my twenties so that by the end of it, I would live on the money, wrack up a heap of credit cards and pay the credit cards back with the next year's royalties.

Then one day there was no "next year". The play closed and wasn't back on again.

Which left me with a huge tax bill from the year before and a heap of credit cards. For the last four years, I've been trying to pay the credit cards off as well as manage a mortgage and rent. Tough. I just haven't been able to get ahead.

Every month or so, it really depresses me. I had a relationship break up last year and all I wanted to do was travel, and couldn't because I was crippled with debt. I've been invited to NYC to do a few months in my dream job and can't because I'm crippled with debt. I had a ticket booked to the US last year and didn't end up going because I could afford it.

DON'T EVER GET A CREDIT CARD.

Today, somehow, I managed to secure a consolidation loan to pay them off. Finally.

And I feel so free! At the same time, I set up a savings account for my travel fund.

The world feels great again. Still, if I'd never been in credit card debt, I'd be hanging in New York or London now without a care in the world.

DON'T EVER GET A CREDIT CARD. OR THREE.

Flying High Now

2011-06-06T19:31:00.004+09:30

Are you a fan of Rocky?

Come on, admit it. You love it. And if you don't? I'm guessing you just haven't ever seen it.

If you're someone in need of being fired up for... anything, you need to watch this clip:

http://tinyurl.com/y2bwtmm

Rocky is one of my favourite flicks, and if I ever meet Sly, and he's not stoned, I'm going to ask him if he's really running that fast at 1.53, or if it's a speedy gonzales special effect.

Week 5 began tonight, and with it a renewed purpose because of the the Canberra Roller Derby League try-outs. Tonight was pump and I lifted heavier weights on every track.

This week is a whole heapa full on:

Monday - pump

Tuesday - ride to work and maybe a run (will be home in Bowral with parentals)

Wednesday - pump

Thursday - ride to work, hard core cardio training in Dickson park (burpies and some other crazy-arse endurance cardio Shano has dreamed up), skating practice

Friday - ride to work and 3 hrs of derby training

Saturday - move house (yeah baby, there be fridges and couches to move)

Sunday - cardio training and skating practice

There's no slacking off between here and July 2, the derby try-outs.

And the really cool thing is after 5 weeks of pump, I'm starting to see my body change.

Now - if I could just say good bye to the chocolate, I'd be a machine.

The question for us all here is this: would Rocky have eaten chocolate to get ready to go 15 rounds against Apollo Creed?

Tick! Now for the next month..

2011-06-05T17:39:00.004+09:30

My interwebs was well buggered when I met my goal, so didn't get the chance to celebrate!*

We've now set a new heap of goals bigger than the first because...

CANBERRA ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S HAVING TRY OUTS.

Auditions for the tiny few spots they have in the league. A chance to be skating three times a week, every week and to eventually bout.

You have to be able to do all sorts of crazy things: 50 sit ups, 20 push ups, 2 X 30 sec planks and a whole heap of derby-specific skills.

I'm really starting to dig derby now my skills are getting better. Today at training we did some relays where we had to skate backwards and forwards, do push ups and sit ups in between and adrenaline was at a fever pitch. It really is the most fun sport I've ever played.

With running, I love it when I finish and have achieved what I set out to do. With derby, I enjoy the actual doing.

Now my Shano-set goals are tailored to do the absolute best I can in the try-outs, on July 2. To know, Rocky-style, there's nothing else I could have done.

So for the next months it's 2 pump classes, 1 big bike ride, commuting to work, 2 gym sessions and skating practice. Sorry boys, don't think I'll have time for amour this month.

ps. Check out those crazy retro derby women. They don't have any padding. Crikey!

*That's not entirely true. My coach-buddies Shane and Jo and I all had some delicious Japanese food to mark the end of the first month.

The finish line is in sight!

2011-05-30T19:19:00.004+09:30

I don't think it's any secret I have the best friends in the world. True.

Two of my besties are Jo and Shane. Not only are they the most kind, smart, generous and fun people to be around, but they're super fit and disciplined.

At the beginning of the year, they decided to get me fitter. They didn't realise the 25 years of giving up on fitness would be so tough to battle through.

We've had a few ups and downs in our fitness relationship. When it began, I was frequently being a major shithead. Not rocking up for sessions, being miserable when I got there etc.

For a couple of months, we parted fitness ways.

Then a month ago, cap in hand, jeans ever so tight, I begged them to take me back via text.

"Please, I'll do anything! Take me back into your fitness life!"

Shano agreed, but with conditions. The condition was tough love.

I never have any money and I don't really care about stuff. Except for my piano and something else I'd prefer to keep private (because you'd LAAAAAUGH!).

Shane and Jo decided that they'd take my piano hostage and bloody well keep it if I didn't meet my fitness goals for the month: 2 pump classes a week (in addition to roller derby stuff, but the absolutes are pump).

We have a week to go, and tonight came the ultimate challenge.

I was catching up with my ex for the first time in forever. He's a deliciously lovely and interesting person - someone who you want to spend more than a few minutes with. Tonight's pump was at 6.15pm, and exxie didn't arrive at my house until 5.15pm.

We had such a lovely catch up, but when my little alarm went off I made the decision not to palm off pump. Exxie dropped me at the gym, Jo and Shane had set up my weights, and I had a killer session. Killer.

I feel as though I chose a new way forward instead of the old stuff, you know?

Now, there's just one session until my piano is back in my home and we're Shano and I are having a nice old lunch on Friday to come up with new goals.

I'm thinking: 2 pumps, 1 run, 1 ride to Belco a week and a new boyfriend.

Bring on the bruiser

2011-05-16T19:41:00.005+09:30

If you're a person who loves the guts out of a 32 degree day with 80 per cent humidity, a Canberra winter can be a bit of a bloody struggle.

This morning when I went to work it was -3. Grim.

The very cool thing about Canberra is that it's very Life Be In It, so there's loads of stuff to keep you warm.

The extremely cool thing about this for me means that I now have roller derby three nights a week.

It's no secret to anyone who reads this blog that the one defining battle of my life (still not yet quite won) has been with my weight.

As a fat kid, I was rubbish at sport. Every single sport left me panting and embarrassed - except swimming and... rollerskating.

Every afternoon after school, my brother and I would swing our skates over our back, walk across the cow paddock and to the subdivision being built in the farmland behind our house. There were only three or four houses, so barely any traffic and loads of smooth bitumen.

We'd meet our buddies down there and skate until it was dark. We didn't wear padding, helmuts or even know how to stop properly, but we'd gun it around and around having speed skating competitions. It was the only sport I was ever the best at. The only person who could almost beat me was a boy called Dale - and he was a little overweight too - funny, hey?

My skates had wings. My babysitter Carole was killed in a truck accident when she was nineteen and her skates were passed on to me. They were the coolest, fastest skates around and I only ever fell on them twice (once, showing off in my parents' shop and the other time having no option but to dive into some dirt on a steep hill with no end). Clearly they had a bit of Carole's magic dust left over on them.

Since being an adult I've flirted with rollerblading (not nearly as fun) and skated every few years, but have found myself timid. Slight dips in the concrete that would have set my heart racing with excitement scared me and had me thinking about broken bones and smashed teeth. A proper hill? No way, won't go near it.

The first time I heard about roller derby, I thought it was the perfect sport for me. The Canberra Roller Derby League has a long-arse waiting list and I went on it. I was totally excited about it until I went to a game with my brother who promptly told me I might be a good enough skater to do it, but I was way too soft to be skating around barging into other girls (I do have a habit of crying if any of my siblings punch me - and yes, it still happens occasionally as adults!).

So, for the past year, I kinda forgot about it.

Then in the last few weeks, there have been spaces in a new ANU league and the CRDL are running a social skate. I have three skating sessions a week! And you get taught how to stop! And fall!

What I'm really excited about in derby is the theatre of it all. Being tough and fast and efficient on skates, while also being a character who's not remotely like me. I've also found since working crazy breakfast hours, I have a much shorter fuse. A whole heap of rage I've tried to get rid of through yoga...! Will be excellent to take this out on the rink and not my colleagues and unsuspecting friends!

Plus: it's a sport run by women, for women, where the whole vibe is non-conformist. You can be whoever the hell you want to be. It's super sexy too, I reckon. The cool thing is that it's sexualised as much as you want it to be in a self-expressive way, rather than a submissive way. I dig that big time.

Even When I'm (not) Sleeping

2011-04-19T23:31:00.002+09:30

Oh man. I broke every rule in the book today for a good night's sleep.

Sleep hasn't ever been anything that's worried me too much. Until I started working a breakfast radio shift.

Best sleep I've had since then has been after running or when I had the flu and was dosed up on cold and flu meds (so restful was that sleep, I considered going on sleeping pills. Slippery slope).

It's midnight now and there's no sleep in sight. All because I broke my three rules of getting a good sleep.

1. I didn't run or do yoga today.

2. I drank diet coke about an hour before proposed bed time.

3. I had a nap at about 4.30pm.

And so I blog. And share with you my favourite song about sleep.

Baby this town rips the bones from your back

2011-04-14T19:39:00.003+09:30

This town is about to rip the bones from our backs as winter is muthafuggin' coming, dudes.

I'm coming to you from my little cottage where my flattie and I type furiously under 30 degrees of heater, while my bar heater blazes in my room heating everything up.

Still! I thought perhaps I would write today about the things that make Canberra a rocking place to run in at the moment.

1. It's flat if you want it to be.

2. For some reason, around 5pm there are non stop gorgeous boys who grin sweetly at you as you chug past (where are they when I'm dolled up and not Sweaty Betty, please?).

3. The cold actually works in your favour. It feels as though your body is working harder.

4. My friend Jules (pictured here with her boyf Jeremy and I at my gorgeous friend Steve's op-shop party) is starting out as a runner, encouraging the rest of us to keep going!

5. I keep discovering new places to go out as I run around the streets at night*.

*disclaimer. If you see me running and I ignore you it's because I can't see anyone until they're up close. Have terrible eyesight and don't run with glasses.

Kick-in-the-arsery

2011-02-19T17:51:00.006+09:30

One of my bestie's had a Big Fat Go at me on Thursday morning.

She woke up a few hours earlier than she usually does and wrote an email to me about how crap I was being.

She had every right to. This friend of mine and her wonderful partner had been trying to get me fit. First few weeks was great guns, but then work starting making me tired, I had about three months worth of PMS, I chose social events over exercise and I became a cranky bastard.

My buddy listed the ways I'd been shit: leaving my trainers at work, grumbling about going to the gym, leaving a class half way through and generally being an unpleasant shithead.

My friend is amazing and selfless and always unfailingly honest. She's someone who doesn't ever say a word that isn't somehow truthful and wise. You know how selfless she is? One day we were on the treadmills together and I was stopping and starting, grumbling and moaning and I asked her what her fitness goals were. She told me they were to see me achieve mine. That's a brilliant friend.

I've never been one to respond to kick-up-the-arse criticism. Usually, it makes me rebel and keep doing whatever it is someone has criticised me for. This time, I can't do this. I love this friend of mine and want her to be happy with me again.

She's only mad with me because she was putting so much energy into helping me get healthy and I totally disrespected that.

So... since the email?

Every bit of exercise I've done, I've made sure I've loved it. In my runs I've been thinking about all the good it's doing, and in pump I added extra weights and revelled in the changes they're forcing my body into.

Today, I ran 5kms and really felt my love of running - like the other day. I kept a good pace, listened to some good stories from The Moth and stayed happy the whole time.

Hopefully my buddy will have faith in me again soon.

Brought to you by sweaty fingers

2011-02-17T16:30:00.003+09:30

That's right. I'm so sweaty at the moment my fingers are dripping a little on the keyboard.

How's that for sexy-sexy?

I just got back from my first straight 5km run in weeks. It was outside. I think that makes all the difference. Stuff to look at, things to think about. No time to walk.

Life has been running at a fairly frantic pace at the moment. I'm pretty much doing three jobs: my day job as breaky producer starting at either 4.30am or 6am, my CanberrArts podcast and the pulling together of Now Hear This.

In the past couple of weeks I haven't done a lot of exercise outside my commuting.

The thing is: I need to run like I ran this afternoon. Freestyling with my Garmin, just running in and out of streets and parks in my suburb and the next.

It really is an awesome time of the day where no one is asking you to do anything, you're not forgetting anything, you're not tired, you're just lost in your tunes and the rhythm of your feet.

Gotta get back my love for it properly.

Melanie and the Case of the Incredible Shrinking Thighs

2011-02-01T19:23:00.003+09:30

It's schnitzing here in Canberra at the moment. Dry, brutal, freckle-inducing heat. 37 degrees has been the norm lately and today was the first running club of the year.

My buddies and I decided to forsake said meet to run our 5kms in our air conditioned gym.

Crikey. I find treadmill running impossible. It's boring, it dictates your rhythm and I walked FOUR times (not the treadmill's fault, I grant you - it was all my lack of ticker). Not great. Still, I ran faster than I usually do, was drenched by the time I finished and my lungs were screaming bloody murder. Yucko but body will be happy tomorrow morning.

Things are on the up with the constant battle of fitness and weight stuff. I've given up my car, so am riding everywhere. I'm back in my old jeans and my old summer dresses. Weight is down, but not down enough.

The thing I love the most?

My receding thighs. I can't stop looking at them, like a testosterone charged sixteen year old. On my bike as I peddle along, in bed when I'm sitting up reading a book, right now as I have my computer resting on them. They're shrinking and toning!

Don't get me wrong, they'd still qualify for Sufjan's "super-human thighs" in the song below. They're by no means small. They're just getting stronger and more toned. They feel so strong I might just try and crack open a coconut with them on my next tropicana vacationioni... Look out.

Loads of stuff to write anon - I have two friends helping me with everything and I want to blog about how amazing they are properly when I don't have to be awake at sparrow's and can give them the thoughtful, generous, witty, terrific blog they deserve.

Talk soon y'all!

5kms and accidental exercise

2010-12-23T13:21:00.003+09:30

Oh man. It's a good eight hours since I ran 5kms and I'm hobbling around like Nanna without her walking frame. Sexy.

Have moved house, committed to a fitness program with my buddy Shane and will be giving my car up in two days time*.

Will 2011 be the year I finally do that half marathon?

Crikey I hope so.

More anon peeps, have a lovely holiday (if you get one and are celebrating said holiday)!

xx

*riding a bike in Canberra at this time of year is bliss, I've discovered.

The state of things

2010-12-14T06:23:00.005+09:30

I've decided to stay in Canberra. For the next year, at the very least.

This place is crazy. You won't believe the things that have gone down in the last two months enticing me to make a home here.

One night as I was walking out of the cinema, these two lovely guys approached me about making films (they'd heard me chatting with my flatmate about how we wanted to make a short film). Now, it's a couple of months later, I've written a script, we cast some uber-talented actors on the weekend and we're shooting in a few weeks!

I finally wrestled the screenplay into shape last night and it's the first thing I've written for ages that I love and would want to see. It's a little romantic comedy - it leaves me feeling all smiley and schmaltzy at the end - I hope it does the same for the audience.

Also super exciting is a series of storytelling nights I'm putting together with The Street Theatre and ABC Canberra. More details to come on this, but it's something I've been trying to figure out how to do on radio, and The Street have gorgeously stepped up to the plate to make it happen. The first night will be Feb 23. Super fired up - I haven't produced any theatre in a lot of years and this is a really gorgeous mix of my new life (ABC/journalism) and my old life (theatreland!).

Work wise, things are humming. I'm moving jobs to produce the Breakfast show with Ross Solly, which should be awesome fun and am continuing doing my little CanberrArts podcast.

I'm shifting house in a couple of weeks to be closer to work for those 4.30am starts. It's all happening!

On top of all-a-that?! The most A1, King of the Hill, Top of the Tree Reason To Stay In Canberra: One of my oldest and bestest besties and her gorgeous partner are moving back here (won't name her in case she hasn't told her work yet).

Still - the one thing I've let slide in the last few months, I feel? My weight. I haven't been eating as well as I should and exercise has been in fits and bursts. Am trying desperately hard to get focused again as I can't be feeling unhealthy when programming starts again next year and I'm starting work before dawn.

Just back from a nice long walk around Parliament House and the lake with my new friend Alison. Much gossiping was had and it feels like a good start to the week.

Hopefully there'll be a running report tomorrow...

Detox, can we start over?

2010-11-25T05:34:00.003+09:30

Detox and I were great buddies until about 5pm las night.

I was set to meet a friend, forgot my appointment and told myself I didn't want to offend said friend further by silently watching her eat.

My other excuse: I've been writing a short film in the last few weeks and it was my final night wrestling with the script before passing it on to the dudes who are making it. I needed to be able to concentrate on the film, not on the burning pit of hunger.

What a bunch of baloney. I was hungry, is all!

Will try again today.

Big day today: I'm off to a web writing course with one of my favourite people in the ABC; tomorrow I record a pilot podcast on the arts around Canberra, so there's the final preparations for that; and I get to sit in a cafe with three cool guys and go over every word of my screenplay (scary).

Below is a song to put a spring in your step. It came up in my shuffle this morning and I was so surprised by how into it I was. Actually had a bit of a dance down a sleepy street. Oh, and anything to do with Back to the Future has to be awesome, hey?

ps. even though detox wasn't my bestie yesterday, my running is catching up, because my jeans are nearly wearable today!

(detox)*

2010-11-24T06:55:00.006+09:30

Desperate times, friend, means desperate measures.

Yaybejee it's finally summer here, but here's the hitch in all that. My entire summer wardrobe is based around a pair of kick arse jeans and a collection of really excellent summer dresses. There isn't an elastic in sight. It's all zipper.

Problem is, I have what I'd like to refer to as a winter-tummy. You know, that tummy that comes when instead of running through winter and whatever is going on you're actually enjoying a Festival of Carbs.

Said tummy creeps up on you without knowing. It's able to hide itself with black stockings, skirts and leggings.

But! When summer comes! There's no hiding for this kind of tummy. Especially when you have awesome clothes.

I went to put my jeans on and it wasn't pretty. They fit, but the tummy makes it impossible to wear anything with them remotely streamlined.

And I have a HUGE couple of weeks ahead! My buddy Emren has his

Christmas party and Sharon and the Dap Kings next weekend.

So... I'm doing something I haven't done since pre-band days. I'm going on a detox. And I plan on bloggin' myself silly over it otherwise I won't stick to it. Not sure how I will cope on it - I expect I will become a grumpy arse on it as there's no food. All lemon and pepper and some sorta honey. So ridiculous.

Running will be taking a backstep in the next few weeks to be replaced by walking (as it was this morning). I am a great fainter already while not on a detox, so I won't be running hard and falling down in someone's front yard in Narrabundah.

Wish me lucks peeps, and maybe I'll see you about town next weekend in some shit-hot jeans or the prettiest dress you ever did see.

This picture is NOT me. It's Lucy from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

ps. Walking today reminded me of a game I used to play when I was a kid (a kid who looked like Lucy from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - for reals). Being an intensely romantic child, on every train trip between Sydney and Bowral, I would stare into the backyards of the houses of Western Sydney, complete with grimy backyard pools and broken cars piled up, and wonder if I was in love, would I be happy living there with said love? I always decided I would be (unless there were hoards of cats around).

While walking around Narrabundah this morning, I thought I'd try the old game. All I could think was even if I was in love, how would we not get bored here? How would I ever be bothered to keep this garden up? Would I ever want to be with someone who loved mowing lawns and tending to rose gardens? Being a grown up is so much more complicated.

*it's 6.50pm and the detox has already been broken. I forgot I had to meet a friend for afternoon tea and broke like the cheese eating surrender monkey I am (only I didn't eat cheese). Tomorrow is always a new day...

Another day another 5k

2010-11-18T06:25:00.003+09:30

There I was this morning: smug as hell.

Powering along. Feeling strong and fit. Marvelling at how capable my lungs were after just a week back at daily hard exercise. Sure my winterlovebug tummy was shrinking away with every stride. Positive my soft thighs were getting leaner at each step. Enjoying the smells of other runners going by me and watching the ducks happily play with each other in the lake. Michael Jackson was telling me I Gotta Be Startin' Somethin'.

Then I was overtaken. By two walkers.

Ouch.

I guess I'll be picking up that pace on my next run. Lungs should be feeling incapable.

ps. I have a bloody toe today! Hard core!

A cheeky 5k with Shazza

2010-11-15T07:13:00.003+09:30

I ran 5kms this morning and suddenly I feel as though my world is going to be okay.

I'd forgotten that's what I love about running. Meeting goals you don't think are possible, so then in your non-running life you feel as though anything is on the possible side.

It's funny, isn't it? The stuff that happens when you're running. There's the physical: the heat in your body, the feeling of everything working and pumping and circulating, of muscles getting stronger and tired, sweat trickling down your reddened face and limbs. And there's the emotional: it's like with every hundred metres you let go or process a little more of your junk.

It's the bomb.

Running with me this morning was Mark Ronson and the Business International (which I wasn't really into), Magnetic Fields (i) and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (Learned the Hard Way).

I'm going to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings in a few weeks and can't wait. Here's a sample of her fantasticness to take with you into Monday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ouI5KcyHfE - can't seem to embed it.

Who woulda thunk runnin' inspiration would be at the Japanese Film Festival?

2010-11-14T19:59:00.005+09:30

Not me.

It's a rainy weekend here in Canberra, and I must confess to have spent most of it as a bit of a grumpy-bum. My holidays have just come to an end. I'm unsure what's happening with my job. My brain doesn't seem to working in tandem with my fingers while tapping out a new play. Broke up with a Pretty Lovely Boy.

Lots of excuses for buggering off my morning run and taking to my bed (don't you love that expression? I imagine it's what Marianne did in Sense and Sensibility post the scoundrel Willoughby*).

Then! Out of the blue comes the Japanese Film Festival.

Determined not to spend the arvo in bed watching bootleg tv shows and avoiding my play, I trudged off to the festival with some buddies to see "Feel The Wind". The last running flick I saw was "The Athlete" and it was up there with "Bubbaho-Tep" as one of the shittest films I've ever seen.

Crikey, and the Japanese underdog story was almost as uplifting as Rocky.

It's about a group of students who are brought together to run this big marathon relay in Japan. 10 runners do a half marathon each. They all have their issues and work through them with corny-arse music. And there's loads of beautiful running. So light, fast and free they were almost like dancers. It was the best.

It's coming to Sydney, but I beseech thee runners, go find a place to pirate it if you can't find it on the web (I couldn't).

I'm home now, anxious as hell to wake up early in the morning and lace up those sneakers.

Hope this means we'll be seeing more of each other, running buddies! xx

*On that. I remain completely underwhelmed by Marianne ending up with Colonel Brandon. Willoughby was delicious, even though he was unreliable. Brandon is the "settle" I think she'd never have to make today as she'd be a crazy boho artist living in a squat reciting Sonnet 116 to Willoughby ( or Willoughbette) Number 17. Thank you, Feminism.

Kinda back to running club

2010-10-12T05:57:00.003+09:30

The goal: get to running club and have a run.

I was somewhat worried that this might not happen. I did a late night yoga class that both burnt me down and lit me up. It's hot power yoga, really tough on your body. Still, I left it with a whole heap of happy.

Given that I'd worked so hard in yoga, I thought my head would talk itself out of a run. No such un-luck, buddy!

I got to running club at about 6.20am when people were starting to gather. The thing is, they've been going all winter and are uber-fast and uber-fit and uber-in shape.

So I headed off on the warm up before everyone as I knew in time they'd overtake me and did a bit of a different course. I think I punched out about 3.5kms. Not much, I know, but something!

It was great - and proof how great it was is in my stupid music selection for the run.

When selecting an already-made playlist, I cunningly supposed I'd need something chilled out because I'm too unfit at the moment for my proper running playlists and chose "Warm Up/Warm Down".

Full of break up songs. The Scientist by Coldplay, Yesterday's Gone by Bernard Fanning, Bones of You by Elbow, Warwick Avenue by Duffy, In Spite of All the Damage by The Be Good Tanyas and on and on and on.

Not one of these songs killed my buzz. All they did was keep me at a good, chilled pace.

ps. Picture is of this pretty town, this morning about 6.20am. Check those clouds out.

Runner, Come Back to Me

2010-10-11T06:24:00.003+09:30

Dear Running,

I come to you this morning, cap in hands. Returning as a lover who didn't recognise how awesome you are.

It's true. I've been neglectful. I've teased you every now and then with a 1-2km reunion, but for the most part I've been spending time with Gym and Yoga (and even then, not enough to be satisfied).

The thing is, Running, you're the only one that does it for me. The only one that makes me feel as though I can take on the world with confidence. You make my body more toned than all the weights in the world. You get my heart going and keep it slow with everything else I do. And, for some reason, when I'm with you I never put on weight.

AND. You make me happy.

Well, I'm back now.

Understandably, you'll make it tough for me for the next few weeks, but I'm going to put in the time with you again.

We took it slow today, just half an hour of walk/sprints. Tomorrow we'll meet at running club and really get stuck in.

See you then, my love.

Mel xx

Nope, I'm just slow...

2010-05-13T07:06:00.004+09:30

This morning I was so far behind running group, I lost them.

It also doesn't help that I'm terribly short sighted.

I came across a big group running up and down hills and couldn't make out any faces, so didn't know if it was them. When I got there I asked one of the guys if they were the running group.

"Sure are - you must have been late this morning, not to worry!"

"Nope," I replied "I'm just slow."

He explained they'd probably do one more hill repeat, so up I went and by the time I got back down, I'd lost them again.

By the time I returned to base camp, after running about 45 minutes and walking 5, no one was to be seen.

Perhaps running group is all in my imagination...?

Photo: another beautiful Canberra morning. This city is bliss for a wannabe runner!

Running on a misty morning

2010-05-11T06:52:00.002+09:30

I have new shoes. I think my foot is better.

Still, I was finding it tough to stay motivated now that half marathon training has finished and it's FREEZING.

Guuuuess what?! My training group is still running together. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays!

I went back this morning and had a tough, but completely rewarding run. I feel great. I was so far behind I was completely by myself - but I like that most of the time. I had a terrific podcast from The Moth and the time flew.

Canberra is incredibly beautiful at the moment. It's Autumn (Fall) and the colours are so rich. This morning, mist was tiptoeing across the lake and it looked like heaven in a George Burns movie.

I'm so blissfully happy to be running again. Hope you're well xx

The mystery deepens...

2010-04-16T19:31:00.003+09:30

My plantar fascitis could actually be a crappy shoe!

At the beginning of the week, I was certain my foot was nearly better so I ventured out for a walk. Not a run. A walk. You know, the thing you used to do before running?

I was out for an hour in my up-till-now-beloved-runners and by the time I was home, I was hobbling around with the pain in my foot as usual.

Then on Wednesday I did another thing to add to my list of things I do when I'm not paying attention: I left my car inside light on all night for the second time in a month.

And... it's been so long since my bike has had a spin the tires were down. So I walked to work. In my purple cons... without any pain.... so I walked home from work... still no pain.

I was too into the book I'm reading last night to get my car fixed, so I walked to and from work again today. No pain.

As soon as I have some money I'm off to the runner's shop to get some new shoes. In the mean time, I'm thinking about a little jog on the weekend in my cons. Dudes used to play basketball in them, surely they're not all bad?

Am I Eva Gonna Run a Half Marathon...?!

2010-04-05T20:27:00.002+09:30

Ah!

It seems I have Plantar Fasciitis. With four weeks until the half marathon.

I have a friend who's a physio who's given me a heap of exercises to do and will strap it later this week if need be.

I've missed a week of training because I've been limping all week and it looks as though I'll have to bow out of my millionth planned half marathon!

My Dad pointed out something that has to be outrageously true. If I just lose the rest of my extra weight, I probably won't have any foot problems (neuromas, plantar etc). It makes sense.

Good point and I do need to get serious about it. Easter is over, peeps!

Hope all is well with your easter running.

13kms... with hills

2010-03-27T07:57:00.003+09:30

Thanks so much for all the advice on pushing on - I carried it all with me on today's big run.

And today, even though towards the end there was lots of joggleuffling, I ran 13kms! Didn't walk a step. And there were some hard core hills.

I had a bizarre soundtrack for my run. When I was a kid I adored musical theatre (Rogers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, you name it) and yesterday I presented a radio program and one of the segments we had was about Sondheim's 80th birthday. I'm not sure why, but it opened something back up in me I haven't felt since I was a kid.

So... today I ran to a playlist of gentle musical theatre ballads and showtunes! It was great! Let me tell you: running up a hill to "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific, sung by Barbara Cook is a strange but lovely experience.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm going through a phase of wanting to run on my own: to set my own pace, to tune into whatever world is happening in my iPod, to think, to focus, to try and figure out what my next book will be about! Just until I get those big distances up comfortably...

To my US/Canada buddies: I've had to postpone my US trip until later in the year because I'm so broke! So sadly, won't make it to the ATB run! Go hard! I hope I'll be there next year, but I'm definitely having a trip to the US later in the year.

If I only had the noive....

2010-03-25T06:42:00.003+09:30

I've missed three training sessions in a row.

The first was valid: my ma was biting my bum about getting to the coast and helping her with preparations for my 30th birthday dinner.

The second and third, not so valid: I think I've lost my nerve.

Aside from two training sessions after it, the last run I did was the 10.55kms. It killed me. Absolutely killed me. And since then, I haven't been able to fire myself up.

I'm not sure I can run 21kms. I'm so far behind everyone else and I had nothing in the tank (nothing - fitness or body-wise) when I finished that 10.55kms.

Can anyone recommend a great story or some words of wisdom to get me out of this funk? I'm so ashamed that I've missed three training sessions and I really want to go to Saturday's with gusto and a positive attitude...

Update: My workmate Craig just gave me this, check it out it's awesome!

Half way there - the Weston Creek Half Marathon

2010-03-14T17:28:00.003+09:30

I'm writing this from a much more comfortable vantage point than where my legs were this morning: my bed. I'm in my pyjamas, snuggled under blankets, snacking on Vegemite cruskits - could there be a better bliss?

This morning was the Weston Creek Half Marathon. I'd originally planned on doing the whole thing, but there's no way I could have done it today!

Luckily, it's the first big run in our Half Marathon training group. We had the choice of relays of two or three.

At about 7kms, I was wishing I was part of a group of three!

I did the 10.55kms -a whole 550 metres further than I've ever run. It was hard towards the end, but around the 5th and 6th kilometre I felt like I was the fittest, most capable woman in the world. Not sure of my time, but I think it was pretty slow.

It was terrific to see all the new friends I've made through running in Canberra down at the race. This is a really terrific community. The race was unbelievably well run: signposted, delicious drinks right when you need them, encouraging organisers.

My blogging should be back to normal soon: I've had so much on with my book, it's been hard. All that said, I've been doing my training sessions for the half marathon in May and things are looking good.

I hope you're well! More soon! xx

Running to America

2010-02-20T06:43:00.004+09:30

Why is it so effin' hard to get yo ass out of bed for a run, when you know you'll feel so ace afterwards?

This morning began the second week of half marathon training in this centre of gorgeousness, Canberra. We ran around the lake for forty minutes.

I think I need to woman-up and start running a bit faster. I was with the back of the pack, but was pretty comfortable and didn't ever really need to search for my breath after the warm up (for some reason I get out of breath in the warm up, but after that am fine - anyone else like that?).

Although I feel like I've had a great work out, my lungs didn't burn at all and I feel like by the end of the week's big run they should be.

Running to America

In other news: I met one of the greatest Australian distance runners of all time this week, Robert de Castella.

Rob has done all sorts of amazing things, he's run at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, but he was in the studio to tell us about what I think must be his most amazing thing yet.

He's training up a group of Aboriginal runners from the Northern Territory (my home for the last year before moving here to Canberra) to run the New York City Marathon in November.

Remember how tough I had it last year with the heat and humidity? Well these runners have to deal with that and a whole other host of problems Rob de Castella didn't even forecast.

One runner is having trouble training because his community is surrounded by wild dogs and every time he tries to run they chase him and bite him!

Rob and Good Oil Films are making a film about this incredible program and you can see the trailer here.

They're still needing funding to finish the film and contribute to the program, so if you have a spare $10 or so, do what you can - I wouldn't normally have something like this on my blog, but I think it's such an important program. Not only for indigenous Australia, but to inspire people to run all around the world.

A burst... up a hill!

2010-02-18T06:13:00.005+09:30

So I've been at this running thing (albeit a little on the sporadic side every now and again) a little while now and today was the first time I really felt it.

This morning was the third installment of half-marathon training. Of course, I ran with the back of the pack.

The first half was pretty much uphill until we got to Parliament House. It was so gorgeous - all Canberra bush and twisting paths. I was really enjoying chatting with the other back of the packers when something happened.

We got to a proper hill.

One woman started walking and the other two non-trainers slowed down and I felt like I could go faster up the hill. I thought about it for a second "Is it rude if I overtake them and charge up the hill?"... "No! People do it to you all the time and you're never offended!"

So I did. I charged up that muthafuggin' hill and didn't die when I got to the top.

Wow. What a boost of confidence. I was breathing a little heavier, but was able to run steadily for the rest of the run and felt terrific.

Someone's getting fit...!

If I could just get this damn weight off, I think I may actually be able to be reasonably okay at this! I might even be able to be in the middle of the pack eventually.

I feel like this is a humungous bit of a running-confidence breakthrough.

What a way to start the day!

2010-02-16T06:10:00.004+09:30

3.52am: Yay! Still two and a bit hours till half marathon training. Don't want to miss it.

5.45am: Beep! Beep! Beep! Press the snooze button for ten minutes extra sleep.

5.55am: Should I go to half marathon training? It's so snug here...

6.09am: Out of bed. All dressed. Sipping down a cereal drink.

6.30am: 50 of us train for the second time towards a half marathon.

There's nothing like group running, is there? If you don't run with a running club, I'd encourage you to give it a go. Even if you're a slow-poke like me, you'll be energised and fired up by those around you.

Today I ran mostly with Dave and Scott, who are trainers with the group. I was at the very back of the pack, but I was just so happy to be there. Running. When I think about where I was this time a year and a half ago, when a run around the block wouldn't have been possible, it makes me so happy!

In news not so happy, I wagged running club last night*. It had been raining all day and I rationalised it by saying I wanted to be fresh for this morning. Really, I wanted to hang on my lazy ass watching television. Which I did.

My apologies to any Speedygeese reading this, but I'm sure you guys got to be a lot faster yesterday without me - see you next week for sure!

*I need to clarify this is a run on top of my half marathon training schedule. I didn't miss a training run.

First Half Marathon training club... in the rain

2010-02-13T06:49:00.002+09:30

When my alarm woke me at 6.30am for the first organised run of the half marathon training group, I heard the pitter patter of rain.

"Please let runners be like tennis players," I thought, quite happy to stay underneath the covers on a Saturday morning "Not like rugby players, playing through the silly old rain."

Guess what? Runners are like rugby players. It was game on.

When I got to Lennox Gardens, where we were meeting there was a long row of cars already parked and a huddle of people in the rain. By the time we started, the parked cars stretched around the corner and I was pretty certain there was about 80 people starting out.

Among the 80 people, there was just about every person you could imagine - all shapes and sizes; some looking as though they've done a thousand marathons, some as though they'd never run around the block. It was great. Definitely not a place to feel intimidated by.

We went on to do a warm up run, and for about the first third I was in the middle of the pack! Of course, by the end I was in the bottom five, but it was so fantastic to not be the last by a long, long way!

The actual running itself is all time based. Today we did 30 minutes (I actually did 35 mins, because I'm so slow) on the most beautiful path along by Lake Burley Griffin and along Commonwealth Avenue (the road that leads up to our Parliament House - our Capitol Hill, if you will).

I was kept company by a very experienced runner, Mirium, who's one of the trainers.

As I was running across the bridge, in the rain, I was actually enjoying myself! It was so cool and fresh and felt like Canberra was a little runner's secret - that we had the whole city to ourselves.

Tuesday morning is the next training session.

Head coach Ken Enyon said if you can last through the first four weeks, you'll do the whole thing.

He also said another awesome thing: running should be about relaxation, not something you resent. I think I'm going to really try and take that on.

ps. The picture is of where we ran. I'll have more proper ones coming, but I've lost my camera cord (hope to buy a new one today). Over on the far right, there's a foresty bit? In there is where we started and did the warm up pretty much around that section. The actual run was from there to the bridge, across the bridge and along the lake to a part you can't see and back. Parliament House is at the tip of this picture, but you can't really see it which leads me to think maybe this pic was taken before it was finished.

A running club PB!

2010-02-09T19:19:00.004+09:30

Last week at running club, my friend Shano and I ran what we thought was a 5km. We realised at the time we'd turned around too early, but today we discovered how early.

Try 200m too early! Last week our time was 38.35.

This week (with the awesome assistance of Shano's wife and my great friend Jo, who did a great job on her first ever run!) with the extra ground to cover, we ran 37 mins something! Woo hoo!

I have to admit is was a real muthafuggin' struggle for me.

I just don't have enough nutrients in my body. I'm hardly eating anything - I think the nerves about my book have actually made me lose my appetite. It's not great for running.

By the end of running club, I was being generously introduced to others in the half marathon group and all I could think about was staying conscious - I was getting some major dizziness and almost-blackouts! I felt so rude with these lovely new people, but thankfully my buddy Sindia realised what was happening, whisked me to the car and made me drink down some Powerade.

I've had dinner now and am fine again.

From now on, I'm wearing my fuel belt chocked with energy drinks for any run I go on.

And some great news on my book: Do you have a hero in your profession? Someone you really look up to, because they show you how high the bar should be set? They step up to the plate all the time and amaze you? I got the call up this afternoon to do a half hour interview about my book with one of my professional heroes about my book! It's in a couple of weeks, on Sydney's highest rating drive time show with Richard Glover on ABC 702. My only concern is I'll be so starstruck I'll bumble like hell...

PS. WE DIDN'T PB!! I just checked the ACT Cross Country Website and they had a different time for us... 41.40. I guess those extra 200 metres made a big difference!

An exciting day!

2010-02-08T19:28:00.002+09:30

I got the first copy of my book today.

So super-duper-trooper-hooper-whooper exciting. Here I am in my very messy work space with it.

It won't be out until March 1st, but if you're super keen to get your mits on a copy, you can pre-order it here.

In running news: today was running club and I had a team of new buddies from work and home joining me - Kim, Sindia, Lucy and Jenny. We did a heap of uphill sprints (which I must confess to only doing about 7 or 8 out of 20 possible reps - it was sooooo hard).

I'm having trouble at the moment with my band and I can't really eat much, so I found myself getting super light headed during these hill repeats.

As I'm getting ready to go on television and promote my book, I'm not too keen on getting liquid taken out of my band as I want to look as thin as possible. Such a Catch 22 as I really need more energy for my running.

I start an official half marathon training program this weekend (as in with the ACT Cross Country Club, 60 of us, three times a week) for a half marathon in May. I'm still doing my half in March, but I think there will be a bit of walking involved (as we all know my training hasn't been as diligent as it should have been!).

May will be the big one. I'll be doing a 12 week online multimedia feature through my work website - very exciting challenge for me (both running wise and professionally).

The Walking Runner: Discuss

2010-02-02T18:12:00.003+09:30

If I've set out to run a certain amount of kilometres, if I walk for a second of that distance, I want to go home and give myself a big fat red FAIL.

I feel as though if I've set out to run 5kms and I walk every now and then, I haven't ran the 5kms.

I'd love to know what you think of this, because I know there's a whole movement of walk/runners.

For me though? If I walk/run my half marathon, I haven't run a half marathon and to me running every step is the big goal. I could walk/run a half marathon now, I know it. Hell, I think I could walk/run a marathon (yep, that font change is deliberate).

Yesterday in running club, between drills I was doing some serious walking and I felt like I'd let myself down a bit.

Today, I went to a new running club that I've been looking forward to for a while. It was huge! 145 people (including several cute young runners of the male variety!) of all different running abilities.

I found myself with a little runner's rage and whiff of competitive spirit in me! I was over taken by a few people that would run for a while and then walk. Run for a while, then walk. Each to their own, but I feel like such a dick coming in last (which I did - ha ha - that's how I know there were 145 runners) when the people who have beaten me have been walking.

Of course, I had run every step of the 5kms. All be it at a pace of about 7.30mins/km... the slowest in the pack. I think our time was about 36.43 or something.

My buddy Shane (who ran with me, although he's a super fit mountain biker) and I made a goal to not let the walkers beat us by this time next month.

ps. It was great to see some of the Speedy Geese there too! Apparently in Canberra, there's somewhere you can race every day. In a few weeks, I'll be old enough to be a ACT Veteran Runner (30 and a veteran? Ouch!)... another running club!

Why a girl needs to run and blog

2010-02-01T19:36:00.003+09:30

Okay. It's been a while. Je suis tres sorry. You want to know the honest to whatever's-keeping-us-honest-in-this-world truth?

1. I've only been on two runs in the last two weeks and I neither were runs to blog home about (although that's not entirely true, because one of them was with some awesome friends).

2. Like a World Class Slack Arse, I've missed running club for three weeks.

3. I was presenting the ABC Canberra Morning Show, which I thought made me Very Important and Very Tired.

4. I've been stressing hell about my book (released a month from today), which makes me look sneakily at the ice cream fridge at every store I go in to, and sometimes it whips my willpower red raw.

From the moment I woke up this morning, I knew all this was behind me.

I woke up without the aid of an alarm clock, at a normal hour! I started work at 8.30am! It was a great day at work! I had an online feature/mini documentary idea I'm really excited about approved!

By the time running club came around at 5.30pm, I knew that by the end of it, the day would be truly awesome.

Instead of telling me to bugger off and get more disciplined, my running buddies actually kept waiting for me in the warm up! Too lovely!

AND two of my friends from work and home came along and joined me.

Sorry if this post doesn't make much sense. I'm sooooo tired.

Spent the evening with my favourite girl, Oprah. Off to sleep now. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

ps. the big running club, ACT Cross Country Club has its first run this year tomorrow night. Can't wait.

pps. I love this pic above. It makes me think about what I'm trying to do.

Running Healthy

2010-01-06T06:16:00.003+09:30

Previously, you could call me Melanie, Queen of the Junk Food. Gastric band and all, I haven't been able to get past chocolate or whatever bad food is my current downfall.

Something has clicked since my last post and I've been eating really well. I had a "fill" in my band, so I can't eat as much. Since the fill I've had but three bits of naughty food: a cup of banana gelato at lunch with a friend and two Skinny Cow ice-blocks. Not only do I have my book to publicise (and I don't want to be a fatty for that!), but I'm MC at one of my bestie's weddings on Friday that I have a lovely size fourteen dress to wear (I bought the dress tight, which is how I've been so disciplined - it now fits beautifully).

Doing all the calorie numbers for my book really helped. FOOD is what counts when you want to lose weight. You can run until you fall over, but if you're eating badly it will hardly count a bit. I'm sure of it. That's certainly the case with me.

Today I got back on the running road and had a great run. Wow the difference made by not having junk being sweated out is the goods! Also having a few less kilos in my trunk I really felt.

I've been eating a mostly vegan diet (aside from last night when I had a salmon and dill Lean Cuisine) and I'm feeling much slimmer.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T05:13:00.002+09:30

I know... it's a bit belated, but it's been such a busy few weeks!

Being back on the south east coast of Australia has turned into a bit of a whirl. I've been spending a lot of time with my parents in Bowral and my friends in Sydney (which means a lot of driving around and a very tired iPod!).

I've also been reading over the final edit of my book, which means loads of new ideas and the work that comes along with them.

Sadly, I haven't been in town for runners club and won't be until Monday wee

k, as I'm off to Melbourne next Monday for a writing project.

My running hasn't been as dedicated as it should be as I've been desperately trying to lose the Christmas/moving weight I put on. Good news is it's falling off because I'm not eating a lot. Bad news is I just don't have enough energy for a big hard core run. So I've been doing a lot of gym work and walking which I'm really enjoying.

The most exciting news? Runner Leana has been in Sydney town! We met up and had a lovely cocktail and a delicious dinner with another dear runner friend of mine, Orla. Leana inspired hell out of both of us. Here we are:

I think my new year's resolution is to get taller :).

Da Christmas Blues...

2009-12-28T12:17:00.002+09:30

Has anyone else got them?

You've eaten a few too many cookies, you feel like you've put on some weight, it's raining outside and all you want to do is stay in bed and read the books you got for Christmas?

I actually managed to get out of bed this morning (or should I say this early afternoon) and have a forty minute walk/run. It's a training day tomorrow, so I'll have to get rid of the old walk component.

My company on my walk run was a great podcast I'm sure you'll enjoy. It was my buddy Leon Compton chatting with Aussie running great Rob de Castella. They talk about Deek's career as a runner and some terrific programs he's doing now (including training indigenous runners to run next year's New York City Marathon - I hope they have a camera crew following!).

Hope you're having a great holiday!

You Oughta Know Morning Running (is great)

2009-12-17T06:41:00.003+09:30

You know how often you put off something, then do it and realise it's great?

When it comes to morning running, I have temporary amnesia. I put it off and put it off, then I do it and it's a great start to the day!

I had a great, very slow, run this morning. 6.43kms in 57 minutes.

Did you read the Runner's World Article about Alanis Morrisette?

I think people need to chill the eff out. If she wants to have medicinal marijuana after a run, let her! She's Canadian, isn't she? Isn't Canada the land of easy going? From the hoo-haa I'd heard, I thought she must have gone on and on about it. She mentions it once! And if an occasional joint and glass of red wine are your only vices, lucky you!

I wonder if I could swap my chocolate habit for a medicinal marijuana habit... are the munchies still as bad with the medicinal stuff? Because if they are, it kinda defeats the purpose :).

Why I find treadmill running harder...

2009-12-15T14:29:00.004+09:30

Now that my book is finished (and it comes out in the first week of March, so watch this space!) I'm going to try and blog daily again. A daily blogger is a happy blogger, because a daily blogger is also a daily jogger...!

Today I did my training on the treadmill at my new gym. I didn't want to get up early, and it's running club training tonight. Treadmill.

I find it much more hard work on a treadmill, although I know most people find it easier.

Here are the reasons I find it harder:

* There's nothing to look at, and no, a TV doesn't constitute scenery.

* You can't ever slow down. Well you can, but it involved turning down the dial and that feels wrong. I feel like I work sooooo much harder on a treadmill.

* Did I mention it's boring?

* You have your distance in front of you the whole time.

* I force myself to sprint the last 200 metres when I'm on a treadmill.

* I can't help myself and have to do weights afterwards. I never seem to see any freeweights lying about on paths outside :)

I think I'll try and do one work out a week at the gym because even though it's boring as waiting for your favourite party outfit to dry, it's a great work out.

Still, tomorrow's run will definitely be outside, thank you!

ps. Just back from running club dinner. For those of you who have mentioned being scared about joining a club - do it! I had such a lovely time. I spoke with some really incredible women and men - nearly all marathoners and so passionate about running. Do it! Do it! Make it your New Years resolution.

Why Running Club Feels a Little Like Year 6 Sport...

2009-12-14T19:15:00.003+09:30

It was my second shot at running club tonight and the whole time I was lagging behind all the other Speedy Gonzales', all I could think about was primary school.

Every morning when I was in sixth class, we had half an hour's Physical Education (in Australia, we call it PE, in American movies and Degrassi Junior High, they seem to call it "gym").

It was the same old thing: games and then the vaulting horse (pictured).

I was always a fatty at school, but never (thankfully!) a fatty who was ostracised. I had friends who loved my guts and during every part of the day except PE, I felt the same as them.

When the games were over, I would seize up with fear, because it was time for the vaulting horse.

I would lag at the end of the line while all my friends champed at the bit for their turn to spring from a small trampoline, bounce over the horse, using their arms to propel themselves on to the comfy mat.

Over they'd go, one by one, while I'd stand there hoping it would rain or some enormous catastrophe would befall us all so I didn't have to have a go.

The catastrophe never happened, and for some reason although I grew up in a place with one of the highest rainfalls in Australia, rain never got between me and the horse.

When it was my turn to run up to the trampoline, what I could hear in my ears was a cacophony of my class' voices. "You can do it, Mellie!", "Go Mel!", "This is the one, Mel!", "YOU CAN DO IT!".

I was always really appreciative of all the encouragement, but wished I could be like everyone else and just flip my ass over the vaulting horse.

Let the record show, I never, ever did. Every morning I got stuck on the tramp. Sometimes I got stuck on the vault. I never managed to flip over it, no matter how hard I tried.

What has this got to do with running?

At running club, I'm the slowest by a long shot. Heaviest by a long shot. Most unfit by a long shot.

The really awesome thing is, I feel I have a load of allies in the people at running club. Like my buddies in Year 6, they encourage me every time they lap me :). You know how lovely the people in running club are? Tonight I was so slow in my "warm down" run (lugging a 1 litre bottle of water instead of my little fuel belt because I didn't want to be the dickhead with the gear but no fitness - ha ha!), a lovely running comrade came back to find me.

The difference between Year 6 and now though?

I don't want to spend the whole year lagging behind and never flip over the metaphorical vaulting horse! I need to amp it up a notch and get properly dedicated to fixing my diet, shedding some kegs and training properly. There's no excuse now I'm in the Australian Capital of Running!

ps. Geoff, the coach and organiser of running club lists his runs for the week. I think I'm going to start doing that, so I can't possibly find an excuse to miss them...

I'm following Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Novice Training Program, so here goes:

Monday: Running Club (no idea of the mileage)

Tuesday: 6.43kms (4miles)

Wednesday: 3.21kms (2 miles) or cross training

Thursday: 6.43kms (4miles) and strength (maybe a pump class?)

Friday: REST!

Saturday: 40 minutes cross (biking or a spin class)

Sunday: 10kms

Although, I think I'll sway Saturday and Sunday so I'm not a buggered wreck for Monday's running club.

ps. And guess what? There's a running club Christmas dinner tomorrow night. It will be nice to be a normal person and not a slow puffalong!

Half Marathon Postponement

2009-12-13T07:37:00.003+09:30

I'm sad to say I've decided to postpone my Half Marathon from January 10 in Hobart, to the Weston Creek Half Marathon on March 14.

I'm pretty ashamed to be doing this as the main reason is my training just hasn't been regular enough. I've used every excuse in the book: moving cities, the weather, everything! I'm still too heavy and too slow to do a half in a month's time. At the rate I'm going, it would take me well over 3 hours! I'm so not into that...

The other main reason is I just don't have enough money to fly down to Hobart, find accommodation and do the race. Moving is expensive and has also put my US trip in jeopardy!

So... tomorrow I will change my fundraising page with regret.

You know the very cool thing though? The day of the Weston Creek Half is two days after my 30th birthday and would have been my Nanna's 87th birthday...

The picture is a map of the race I got from SpeedyGeoff's blog (thanks Geoff!).

I feel like a bit of a loser, but my goodness, when I finally do one it's going to feel amazing!

Mel Tries To: Join a Running Club

2009-12-07T18:18:00.003+09:30

One of the things I moved to Canberra for was to get super-serious about my running - it being the "running capital of Australia" and all.

In my old job I was lucky enough to interview World Champion distance runner Martin Fryer, who happens to live in Canberra. Very generously, when he knew I was moving to Canberra he sent me an email with some details on friendly clubs to join.

Today I braved my reservations and headed to Parliament House for Speedy Geoff's School of Running (check out his blog, it's great!). Geoff Moore runs the club every Monday of the year and you can tell by the sparkle in his eyes and the constant encouragement that he's doing it because he loves the guts out of running. A running club without fees? Too awesome.

Everyone at the club was super friendly - and super fit.

We started out with a warm up, which was so fast for old-turtle-ass-Mel that I was out of breath when chatting with people. Then we went on to half an hour of full on speed work.

After 20 minutes, Geoff told me to finish up and rest before our warm down run. I tell you what, I was happy I had an excuse to stop!

I think people thought I was an absolute beginner. I'm mega slow and carrying a few extra kegs, so that's to be expected.

Still - it was so inspiring! These people are fast! And super friendly! And passionate about running!

I'm definitely going back next week so I can get closer and closer to being as fast and fit and lean as they are. Everyone was super lovely and super encouraging. I love runners.

ps. I'll endeavour to shy away from the word "super" tomorrow. Even though I feel as though I've moved to the "superest" city in Australia.

pps. The pic is of Parliament House (I think the equivalent in the US is Capital Hill?) which is where we met. The grassy where those white things are? That's where we did the speed work and it's actually a HUGE patch of grass.

I just ran my first 10km!

2009-12-05T10:06:00.006+09:30

Wow. Canberra is a beautiful city for running.

Not only are there terrific paths all over the city, but those paths hold views of some of the most important and interesting buildings in our country: Parliament House, Old Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the National Library, the National Museum, the National Art Gallery and the High Court.

On my 10km run this morning, I was in view of most of them. Even though Canberra is our capital city (there you go, you thought it was Sydney, didn't you?) the air is beautifully clean and the weather is mild (at the moment - it apparently fluctuates between very hot and very cold).

I headed out this morning with my little hydration pack, feeling like a bit of a dick. Like I had all the equipment, but not the miles in this city of runners.

Silly thoughts - 9 out of 10 runners I passed had the exact same hydration packs and gave a big smile and a hello as we ran past each other. I love the warmth between runners!

The last three kms were tough. My knees were feeling a bit sore. Aerobically, I was fine, but my body was aching.

When I finally finished the 10kms (very very slowly, but I didn't walk 1.38 for the record. SO SLOW, I know, but I didn't walk ONCE) I thought I was going to pass out! I was so light headed and my knees felt t=like they were going to snap out of my body. Good times.

It took a while, and a lot of water to feel semi normal.

Now I'm back in my motel room and I think I'll have a little nap. Am off t

o the National Library this afternoon to work on my book.

Arghhhhhh. So tired, but so happy that 10kms is out of the way!

ps. Sorry about the generic photos. I broke my BlackBerry for the 3rd time this year and the chord for my camera seems to have been lost in my move...

This is my little fuel belt - it's great! It holds my phone, room card, credit card, money and lip gloss - everything you need for a long run!

Update: I'm in a whole universe of pain! My knees are as stiff as a ninety year olds! Even my NECK is hurting. Arghhhhhhhhhh! Sleep, please take it away!

Running in my new city

2009-12-02T16:57:00.003+09:30

Wow. Working nine to five may be a way to make a livin', but you know what else it is? Not an easy way for bloggin'.

This is a quicky as I'm not working nights any more, so have the beginnings of a social life and am about to meet friends for dinner!

Running here is heavenly. No humidity. Lovely weather.

I did a 5km this morning before work and barely broke a sweat. I know, I know, I need to go faster, but it's just AWESOME to not be struggling with the heat.

And THERE'S A RUNNER'S SHOP! I went to it today and bought a fuel belt for Sunday's big run!

I'm afraid to say the weekend I got here and planned to do the 10km I got really sick and had to forgo it. So hopefully this weekend will be my chance to crack the 10km.

The other cool thing is that there are events all the time. This weekend I have the choice of a Women and Girls Jogalong (6kms) or a triathlon I've already registered for. I'm umming and ahhing, because I think I'd prefer the Jogalong (I've heard nasty stories about swimming in the lake pictured). I think I'll see on the day by how the weather is shaping up. If it's cold, see you later Triathlon!

Hope you're well and running happily! I can't wait to check up on my favourite blogs.

Movements afoot

2009-11-20T12:43:00.004+09:30

Today is my last day in Darwin. I move to Canberra tomorrow morning.

For my US and Canadian buddies, this is like moving from Montana to New Orleans (although reverse the climates); or the top of the Northwest Territories to Winnipeg...

I'm so sad to be leaving. I love it here: I have great friends, a wonderful job and I've been living in tropical paradise!

Still, it's uber exciting. I'm going to a new and challenging job (still with the ABC, but not on air like now), I'll be in the running capital of Australia (!), I'll be near my family and friends, I'll be able to go in races almost every weekend.

And guess what?! I'm going to attempt 10kms this weekend. There's a race on near my brother's house 7am on Sunday morning. The choices are 5kms, 10kms and a half. It's a monthly thing.

Please have your fingers crossed for me!

Righto - I'm off now to my last day at work.

ps. Did you hear Oprah is finishing up next year? Man, I now have to rejig every single one of my professional dreams! Being a producer on her show was part of my three year plan! I even applied for a greencard this year, with the sole purpose of knocking on Harpo's door...!! Mama O, please change your mind!!

Nightrunning

2009-11-18T00:24:00.004+09:30

It's 12.25am and guess where I've just come from?

An 8km run with my buddy Leon!

What a great friend Leon is. Not only did he inspire me to start running in the first place, but he volunteered to go running with me after work tonight. My work finishes at 10pm, so to offer to run with me after work isn't a hollow gesture!

I must admit, throughout my radio shift, I kept hoping Leon would beg off with tiredness (he is the ABC Mornings Presenter, so needs to be up early), but no go. All I got were texts reminding me to focus on the "eye of the hydrated tiger".

Last week when we did a big run together, I was pretty dehydrated, so we stocked up before and after.

The run itself was glorious. We ran around the deserted streets of Darwin chatting away about all sorts of things. We even traversed one of the only nasty hills in our city. It was terrific. See all the buildings and the water in the above pic? We pretty much followed the roads and paths between the water and the buildings and then some.

Unlike last week, I didn't struggle that much with the increased mileage. We chatted steadily the whole time.

8kms! Very slowly... we were running for 72 minutes. Actually, come to think of it, that's fast for me. So great.

I'm so sad I'll be leaving Darwin in three days and won't be able to run with Leon again for a while. Still, Canberra is the land of running. There's a run next Tuesday with the ACT Cross Country Club and a mini-triathlon a couple of weeks later. It will be great.

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with blogland. I've handed in my book now (!), but have to do a heap of rewrites. December 7 is my next deadline. Then I'll be all about blogland.

One third of the Half Marathon DONE

2009-11-08T19:47:00.004+09:30

So tired. My running inspirationator Leon and I ran 7kms. I had nothing in the tank when we finished. Thought I would fall over and not get up.

Here's a pic of us. Too buggered to write anything else. Photo is funny. This is the fifth photo we took and I just didn't have any more energy to try and get it right. Hence the not-so-fantata photo.

Update: When I got home and wrote that post, I think I was severely dehydrated. Even though it was heading into the evening, it was about 30 degrees celcius (86F) and I didn't have any water. Stupidly, I don't really like to stop for water in case I don't start again...

When I got home, I quickly wrote this blog post and lay on the lounge and had trouble for the rest of the night. I necked about 2 litres of water, but had no desire to eat. Then, to heighten the drama, I stumbled into bed very lightheaded, feeling like I was going to be sick. The worst part is that I knew electrolyte powder would make me feel better, but I was too exhausted to get up and get it!

Lesson learned: If you're running more than half an hour in big-time heat, take some liquid refreshment!

Next Sunday is 8kms... Guess I'd better get a shoppin'.

If I can (boom boom) make it there!

2009-11-05T23:37:00.006+09:30

For the past 29 years I've had a love affair with the Northern America. Mainly as a result of watching Bette Midler, Liza Minelli and Barbra Streisand movies on loop as a kid.

At 10, my parents took me to California. When I was 20 I spent a month in Canada on the premise of singing at a dear friend's wedding. For my 21st birthday, instead of having a party, I went to New York for 10 days.

I can't even tell you how much I loved New York. I loved it so much I decided to stay on in London (where I had no problems with a working visa) and save to get back to NYC. Life got in the way and I ended up staying in London for nearly five years.

Since then, I've hatched plans to get back to the US and Canada. I have close friends in both places, but for some reason I've taken my overseas trips to London for work and to catch up with my friends there (who as anyone knows who's lived in another country, your friends in that place become part your family).

One of my most loved friends in the entire world has recently moved New York City and has been encouraging me to bite the bullet and come. My bestie in London suggested we spend our mutual birthday in NYC. My dearest university friend lives in Canada. Since I've been blogging and making such beautiful bloggie friends, I've wanted to go even more. I'm not paying any rent for the next three months and have some money in the bank, so today:

I BOUGHT A TICKET TO SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK CITY TO CELEBRATE MY 30TH BIRTHDAY IN MARCH!

Aside from the outrageously exciting thought of spending time with old friends and meeting some of my beloved bloggie buddies, my buddy Ani and I are going to run the Around the Bay together in Hamilton, Ontario!

Wow I'm so excited. What a huge few months it's going to be getting ready for the trip. I want this trip to be a celebration of a milestone I'm a little scared of, a celebration of running, and of partying with wonderful friends.

My Runner's World Article

2009-11-03T13:13:00.004+09:30

The hefty tome I'm writing (set to be the definitive book on the gastric band, of course!) is due in ten days, which is why I've been slackeroo with my blog. AND I've been slackeroo catching up on your blogs (did you hear the word on the street is that Mel from Tall Mom on the Run actually WON a half marathon? Sheesh! The things that happen when you're not looking!)

This pic was taken a while ago for my Runner's World Article which is out in Australia at the moment. For some reason, I can't figure out how to get the article on this site, so if you'd like to read it, email my ass at runningbandit1203@gmail.com and I'll email a PDF of it to you!

I had a terrific run today, even though it was on a treadmill. Whenever I mention a treadmill, you can bet your first born child on the fact that it will be because I slept in and it's too hot to run outside. Tick and tick.

5kms and I had a terrific podcast: ABC Conversations presenter chatting with Barry Humphries. The only problem was Barry was so funny that I kept messing up my breathing laughing. Podcasts are the go for the runner who doesn't like being left with their own thoughts or running with music...

And an exhausting morning was had by all!

2009-10-28T10:39:00.002+09:30

I'm still dragging ma ass around like a 90 year old who can't use her arms or legs properly. Sore. Sore. Sore. Can't wait until this bod gets used to cross training.

It was blissfully overcast this morning, so I didn't head out for my run until 8am. It's 10.40am now and I've finally finished my exercises.

My warm down was walking my running buddy Kate's dog - Arthur. He's beautiful. Inquisitive, docile, doesn't really bark. Your basic dream dog.

The old bod is fighting the half marathon training... it's not liking it one bit! But my head is pushing it forward. Aside from raising the money from Alzheimers, I have someone special doing the half with me! I've promised him/her a blog silence until the big day. Suffice to say, knowing that person is also hard at training is helping too.

Here is a terrible pic of me post morning of exhaustery!

Cross Training: The Sore-maker

2009-10-27T11:29:00.003+09:30

It's been an age since I last blogged.

My training while at my parents house was pretty sporadic, sadly. I got the bloody flu! I was sneezing and coughing and had a nose like a tap. Not nice, and certainly not much fun to run with!

Now I'm back in gorgeous Darwin town. The weather is beautiful - a barmy 30 plus degrees today. I'm in Darwin for four weeks and then I move again with my work. Guess where I'm moving to? Only the Australian Capital of Running - Canberra. It's much closer to my family and has a huge running culture, so I'm really excited.

I decided in my last few weeks here in Darwin, I'd get stuck into cross training, so I'm seeing a trainer twice a week.

YOW-WEEEEEE! I had my first session yesterday and I'm so sore I can't even walk up and down stairs without looking like an old lady hiding her jewels where she shouldn't be. I blame squats and having to keep lunging up and down some picnic tables. And push ups. My poor arms. I can't lift my hands above my shoulders without some pain pain pain.

I slept in today, so had to go to the gym for my training run. Treadmills are the pits. Tomorrow, up early, no excuses (I'm house-sitting my friends delicious tropical house and all I want to do is laze around in bed with the fan beating out above me - it feels so "Darwin"... I'm getting nostalgic already).

A PB of sorts...

2009-10-10T08:23:00.003+09:30

I'm finding it so hard to do anything but lie on the couch and eat rubbish food while I'm at home with my parents.

Our house is always filled with every yummy you can imagine, and I'm not talking the apple and broccoli variety.

My one saving grace is I have my book to work on, gastric banders to interview, both of which keep me away from the couch and the pantry!

I've also been staying up too late, so when I was pulled out of bed this morning to go to our holiday house, I was a grumpy assed so and so.

I got straight up, put my running gear on and got out of the house. Last night when I went to bed, I decided this would be a new day.

I did my 5kms and was 4 secs faster. A bit of a PB. I'd rather it be 4 minutes faster, thank you!

ps. The photo for today? The Big... Potato. It's right next door to my Dad and Mum's shop.

Tait vs Treadmill

2009-10-07T17:10:00.004+09:30

It's about 5 degrees here in the Land Of The Parents. It's also windy and raining.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

I'm not a hardy enough runner for that yet for that sheisen yet.

So I paid a heapamoney and found myself in a blokey gym in Bowral, treadmill bound for today's little run - 3.21kms aka 2 miles.

I got on the tready, armed with my iPod, trying to mine the recesses of my brain for a good dream to run to (as all the tready provided me with was a blank, grey wall).

iPod was dead. Over. In dire need of recharging. I couldn't even get a measly three minute song out.

I contemplated my future on this tready. Could I really run for 20 minutes without a thing to entertain me but a grey wall?

I programed 7.5kms into the machine, put a towel over the statistic viewer and got going.

All the while, I was thinking of the people who've donated to my run. I was thinking about how I was getting one step closer to the Half Marathon. I was thinking about how sucky it is to run for over 3kms with nothing but your thoughts and a grey wall to entertain you.

Somehow, I got through it! Warmed down and did a little weights work out.

I know I said this yesterday, but running for a cause seems to be the perfect way to get your groove back into some awesome training.

Tomorrow's menu: 5kms, weights, and hopefully a big-ass sunny day.

Half Marathon training begins 2172 ft in the air!

2009-10-06T07:33:00.004+09:30

This morning I did my 5km training run. It wasn't pretty, but it wasn't as bad-ass as Sunday.

Thanks so much for all your advice! I'll be Dr Self Diagnose and say it was the elevation and cold causing a bit of a breathing problem. Shortly after I posted the blog the other night, I had a puff of my Dad's ventolin and I felt much better.

This morning is the first official run of my Half Marathon training program, so I knew I had to complete it no matter what. Man, running for a cause makes everything different. Especially when people have already committed their bunse as sponsors!

I got up about 8am (heaven... in Darwin it would be already humid and heading for over 30 degrees) and headed out. I chose a pretty safe path. Flattish and according to my trusty new Garmin, 1.3kms around. I just kept running around until I hit the 5kms.

Yesterday I stocked up on some pretty unattractive warm running gear - some long black tights and a long sleeve dry fit top, so I was pretty warm.

It was 8 degrees (46 degrees F) and I worked out at an elevation of 662m (2172 ft). The first kilometre was really hard, but eventually I got into a rhythm.

I can be labelled the Bowral Turtle as I was so slow, but didn't stop running. My time was 43.04 for the 5kms.

A kinda serious strange thing...

2009-10-04T21:27:00.005+09:30

I'm at home with my family now for three weeks. The temperature is about 15 degrees celcius (as opposed to the usual 32 degrees celcius) and it's raining.

Still, I went out on my run today and the darndest thing happened.

I had two massive stiches (I never get stitches) and had trouble breathing. It's about eight hours after my run and I'm still not breathing properly. It's still laboured. I still feel like I only ran about twenty minutes ago (you know, it's calmed down, but I'm working at it a little).

When I got home, I lay down for a bit but couldn't stop wheezing, so I got up and spent the evening hanging with my family.

They've all gone to bed now and I'm still up breathing weirdly.

Has anyone ever experienced this?

I'm thinking it might be the massive climate change? Perhaps a cold coming on?

Have taken heaps of my vitamins and am sitting here sipping orange juice non stop...

Signed! Sealed! Committed!

2009-10-01T23:12:00.005+09:30

In the irony of all time, my first half marathon will begin and end at a chocolate factory.

Call me Charlie, I've signed up for the Cadbury Half Marathon. My Golden Ticket is in Tasmania on January 10, 2010.

I'm desperately hoping they turn the Derwent River from this:

To this:

There's no turning back as some uber-generous friends have already sponsored me. I'm running for Alzheimer's NT.

See? Here's the link to my fundraising page!

I'm heading home for three weeks now, which is the perfect place to really get into some rigorous training. It's about 20 degrees celcius (as opposed to the 32 average here), it's hilly, it's shady, it's full of family who will egg me on and give me a rough time if I don't meet my schedule.

5kms, a technological nong-head and a black toe

2009-09-23T11:03:00.003+09:30

I have a black toenail. It's quite revolting, but to me? It's a badge of honour.

It means I've been clocking up kms... It means I'm a runner.

I went to the beautician a couple of days ago for some maintenance and decided while I was there to get a bit of a pedicure. I apologised for the black toe (even though I LOVE it) and made the excuse that I was a runner. She said she would have known that anyway as my feet were a freakin' mess. Score!

Now, they're all painted in red, but I know I still have a black toenail.

Kate S and I ran 5kms today - it was great. We chatted the whole way and they passed pretty quickly. The only problem: I can't figure out how to use my fancy new Garmin! I can't get it to move from the time and date!

My computer CD Rom isn't working, so I haven't watched the guide. Will take it into work today and try and figure it out.

Would love your advice if you have some time!

Love from Tech Nong Head xx

ps. Have you seen Sydney today? Everyone I know woke up thinking it was armageddon. Check out these pics: http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/environment/dust-turns-sydney-sky-red/20090923-g0tw.html

A special first anniversary

2009-09-21T07:57:00.003+09:30

A year ago today, I was wheeled into an operating room and given a gastric band.

I knew it would change my life, I didn't know how much.

A year on: I'm 23 kegs (50lbs) lighter, Australian size 14 (I was a 20), I own a beautiful flat and a dream job, and I can run 6kms!

It's taken me a year, but I'm finally able to work with the band the way I'm meant to. I can't wait to lose the next 23 kegs.

For anyone who's been overweight their whole life, who can't seem to lose more than about 10 kegs at any time and keep it off, who's whole being is dictated by how awful they feel about their weight, my advice is to think about it. It's the best thing I've ever done.

I'm off to buy a new dress in celebration!

ps. The photo of posted is of my two buddies Shannon and Alice, and me (in the middle) on the weekend at a party. It's not a great picture of me, but I've posted it because look how NORMAL I look! I don't look like I'm bigger than the other two. I look like a normal person, because that's what I pretty much am now!

And the winners are...!

2009-09-20T18:50:00.002+09:30

The winners of my first giveaway of a running book pack including 50 Marathons 50 Days by Dean Karnazes and Running Hot by Lisa Tamati are:

Heather at Run Fast Mommy!

and

Marlene from Mission to A(nother) Marathon

Your stories were all so fantastic I couldn't choose a favourite. So I did what any crazy prize chooser does and put your names into a bowl and chose two!

If Marlene and Heather could email me at runningbandit1203@gmail.com with your postal addresses, I'll get them in the mail next week.

Redemption in six kilometres!

2009-09-18T20:02:00.003+09:30

Biiiiiiiiiig day at work meant I had a million and one excuses to pull out of tonight's run.

I also had this blog post to write and certainly didn't want it to be about giving up again. I wanted it to be triumphant! I wanted a chorus of trumpets to sound! I wanted flocks of birds to fly into the sunset! I wanted a parade to meet me at the 6km mark with banners and buckets of cold water!

Instead, it was just me on a dark track fighting towards the 6km. I wanted to be in a "zone" so I insisted my buddy Kate S go forth and be speedy.

My audiobook and I did all the work. One foot after the other.

When I got to the 6km mark, instead of a parade, I got a flickery street light and a spooky walk home.

But what a terrific walk back. The thrill that I can do anything if I just don' t give up. Pic is of me after the run - have recovered somewhat as you can see as I don't have a case of Swollen Face. I do seem to have a case of Weird Shoulder though...

ps. My Garmin arrived today! I'm off to play with it now.

pps. Don't forget today is the last day you can end my superbook giveaway - you can win 2 great running books and all you have to do is follow and tell a story!

A confession...

2009-09-17T17:23:00.003+09:30

Forgive me, oh bloggie friends, for I have been a crappy runner.

It's been a little while since my last confession.

This morning, full of beans, with a good album in my iPod and the thought of Mr Izzard in my frontal lobe I set out for my 6km run.

My turn around point is usually at 3.5kms, but I decided to make my turn point much further, so I could have a lovely walk back post 6kms.

The track ran out of markings! My head freaked out! I knew not what to do. My heart, my lungs and my legs JUST WANTED TO STOP! The thought of you, bloggie buddies, kept me going for the whole run but I just couldn't make it.

Then dear bloggie buddies, I committed the ultimate running sin. I gave up and I walked. Oh, forgive me!

(ps. I'm going to haul my ass out on the track after work tomorrow afternoon - I don't have a show tomorrow night - see if maybe running in the afternoon can make me stick to 6kms).

If Eddie Izzard can run 1770kms... I can run 10!

2009-09-16T11:56:00.002+09:30

You might know Eddie Izzard as a terribly funny comic who loves to dress in women's clothes.

He's always pushed boundaries but at the moment he's pushing his own physical boundaries. With 5 weeks training, having never been a runner, he committed to running 1770kms across the UK to raise money for charity.

43 marathons in 53 days, having been running about a milisecond of the time any of us have been running.

Sure, he's a buggered mess now - exhausted, feet cut to ribbons, but doesn't that put our goals into perspective? Make them seem a little more reachable?

Like I mentioned, since being sick, I had a real psychological barrier to pass 5kms. The furthest I've ever run is 6kms and I'm running a 10km with a friend in a few weeks - so it's time to get a movin'!

Eddie's story has inspired me BIG TIME. Here's the goal. 6kms tomorrow. 7kms at running club on Saturday. Bloody hell, if Eddie can do it, I can! I've been training heaps more than him!

Today I cross trained with a 20km bike ride, while listening to Robert Evan's The Kid Stays In The Picture. Great audio book to train to, I forgot I was sweating and puffing my ass off!

Also, guess who's been eating well for nearly two weeks? Vegetables! Cooking! Vitamins! Boom!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway, if you haven't already. I'm loving the guts out of your stories! They're so inspirational - each and every one of them - even the ones that downplay themselves...

My first giveaway!

2009-09-14T16:21:00.004+09:30

Before I started running, there wasn't a passion in my soul that could possibly equal the love I have for reading a great book. My mother, known affectionately as H-Bomb, says I have a misspent because I read too much...

Since I've been running, my taste in books seems to have morphed from literary fiction lover to running biography freak!

It's my favourite way to get motivated, reading about normal people becoming amazing because they work hard at their running. Dean Karnazes' books are my absolute favourites. When my ass is a draggin', I pull out one of his books.

At the moment, I'm reading about the adventures of Lisa Tamati (pictured). She's an incredible Ultramarathoner who has just completed Badwater Ultramarathon for the second time, becoming the first Australasian to do so (she's from New Zealand). Her book, Running Hot, is out on the 27th of December and not yet available in the US or Canada!

I've interviewed Lisa (who counts Dean as her mentor) and she's the most lovely, inspiring woman. At the moment she's getting ready to run from one end of NZ to the other - a huge tast. She says I can go crew for her one day - man if that's not a goal and a half...

GUESS WHAT?! I have two prize packs to give away! The packs include a copy of Lisa's book Running Hot and Dean's book 50 Marathons 50 Days.

All you need to do is this: I like inspiring running stories (which is why I read your blogs each day!). Become a "follower" of my blog, if you're not already, and tell me where you were when you started running, what inspired you get running and keep running, and where you are today.

Please let all your bloggie buddies know - this is an inspirational book pack!

I can't wait to hear your stories. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

The giveaway will be open until Friday.

Breaking stupid-ass self imposed barriers!

2009-09-12T08:43:00.004+09:30

For some stoooopid (that's for the benefit of my US/Canadian readers - we say "st-ewe-pid") for the past few weeks I've really had trouble running 5kms.

It has been tough, tough, tough, falling short each run. I didn't want to blog about it as I was embarrassed about not being able to meet such a short distance.

This week, my gastric band and I have been working together like Abbott and Costello doing "Who's on first?". I've been making sure each meal is a winner and staying away from junk.

I kept hoping, with my short runs during the week, I'd be able to make the five today at running club, so there would be no turning back!

Running club today was great: not only were most of us there encouraging each other, but Leon was there at the same spot training for his marathon. It was uber encouraging to know he was on the track, I sure as hellioni didn't want him to see me walk at any time.

And woo hoo I did it! Very slowly, but I didn't walk. Barrier broken through.

So now I can move on in my running life! Look out 6kms next week. In four weeks I have a 10km race in my home town - it just might happen!

ps. Today's pic is of our begin and end point.

Hotties on a Friday

2009-09-11T07:26:00.003+09:30

Here's a pic to take you into the weekend. Aside from our mate Hilary Swank, surely they're the fittest pair in Hollywood? I love La Biel's body - so healthy, strong and toned.

I'm just back from 4kms with running buddy Jayde. Ah! The Dry season is over and the humidity is well and truly back...

I keep being thwarted in my half marathon dreams! I don't seem to be able to train for the Cadbury Half Marathon after all - one of my besties is getting married and I'm the MC at her wedding! Singapore Half Marathon is sold out!

The Great Australian Run might be the go... I have some friends running it, which is awesome, but it's not quite the same. We'll see.

Happy running this weekend!

Liz loves Richard, she really does...

2009-09-10T07:41:00.005+09:30

My six month relationship with running has been a bit Liz Taylor/Richard Burton in the last few weeks. You know - it's on! It's off! It's on! It's off! But the love is always there somewhere in the back of my mind.

I might have mentioned: a few weeks ago I had a gastric band fill, which means I am eating a lot less. Basically every shot at goal (meal) has to be a winner (lots of vegetables). This hasn't been the case. I haven't been eating hugely badly (well there have been some chocolates, I'm not going to lie to you), but I haven't been getting the nutrition.

I've been telling myself, half way through each run, that I don't have the energy. Yucko.

Over the past few days, I've been making a concerted effort to get the veggies in and take my vitamins (iron, multi-vitamin and chlorophyll).

I interviewed an awesome runner, Lisa Tamati (I'll blog about her tomorrow), and she's really inspired me to get training to be in a crew. Also, for that elusive half-marathon (which won't be in Singapore, as it's sold out!).

Jayde and I did a far-from-easy 3kms this morning. Here we are at the end. I look buggered. Jayde looks glamourama! I long for the day I don't have a puffy-ass face after a run...

I want my relationship with running to move out of the Liz and Richard time and into its Susan Sarandon-Tim Robbins phase.

ps. Guess what? I put in a bid on Ebay for a Garmin 405x and WON! I got it for $150 less than you'd pay for it in Australia. So excited to be able to free-style my training more as I'm a little bit over my running tracks.

Pre-show running

2009-09-02T18:27:00.002+09:30

Every night, around 7pm, regardless of what mood I'm in, I'm on!

It's about the most awesome job ever. Still, sometimes it's tough if it's been a big day but I think I've figured out the most perfect way to be amped for my radio program each night: a half an hour run before I go on.

Tonight, I made sure my entire program was ready by 5.45pm. I went and did my previews into the Alice Springs and Darwin Drive shows. Left all my show information in the studio and bolted out the door.

I found the most delicious running spot. I'll take my camera with me tomorrow and take some pics. I ran/walked it today, but about four runners on my way. Picture above is of part of the view.

I think it's about 2-3kms long, so eventually, the aim will be to do it twice in the half hour. It has a big load of squares and a rareity for Darwin... a few hills.

Gotta rush now. Sweaty and have half an hour until show time....!

A half in 14 weeks? Let's see...

2009-08-27T12:37:00.008+09:30

The friend who inspired me to run started like this: he couldn't run a kilometre, he tipped the scales at well over 100 kegs, he smoked a pack a day and lived on fried chicken. Within 11 weeks of starting running, he completed his first half marathon.

Incredible.

In a few weeks, he's running his first marathon (a year down the track). Minus twenty kegs, minus the fried chicken. He's hoping to run it in 4.15.

You might know I've been needing a goal to fire up my running. It turns out I might have one.

I've been muttering about the Singapore Half Marathon for a week or so now - it's on December 6, fourteen weeks away.

I mentioned it to my awesome running buddy Jayde and she's fired up about it too. We're setting a preliminary goal: if we can both lose 5 kegs by the first week of October (5.5 weeks) we're going to book the tickets and do it!

Amazing how chocolate cake isn't as appealing when you have a goal like that. Don't want to let Jayde or myself down.

In the mean time, we're starting training for a half in two weeks time. Too exciting.

Except there's a slight hitch. The Singapore Marathon filled up TODAY. I hope they're just talking about the full marathon. I'll find out today at work.

Fingers crossed puh-lease!

The only other possible half around that time is the Cadbury's Marathon in Tasmania. You know how I feel about a marathon starting and ending at a chocolate factory.

UPDATE: SINGAS IS FULLY BOOKED! I even pulled out the journo card. No deal. Back to the drawing board, but the resolve is still there!

Back on track

2009-08-26T08:19:00.004+09:30

Yesterday's little brain snap had some positive outcomes!

After posting, I thought: I don't want to post like that again.

I started looking seriously into the Singapore Half Marathon (in 14 weeks time) and found that there are a couple of peeps in my office who would be keen to do it. So I might be journeying to Singas after all for a race with people who already understand running in humidity - good times!

This morning I tagged my slow ass around after my buddy Kate on her run. We set out to do 4kms and guess what?! We did 4kms.

Thanks for the terrifically supportive comments you left on my blog yesterday - they were all with me as I trundled around the track. Especially Glenn's - he reminded me to harden the fugg up and of the lovely sights and smells after a storm (the poetry Glenn, the poetry!).

I was totally being a big angsty baby - hopefully that's the last time any handfuls of crazy dust appear here for a bit. (I know myself too well to promise that will be the last time you see it).

Stormy Brain

2009-08-25T10:20:00.004+09:30

My brain isn't working with my running at the moment.

Has anyone had anything like this? A brain full of storms?

Ever since I was sick a few weeks ago, I haven't been able to meet a single running goal. If I go out for a 6km run I only make 5kms. If I go out for a 5km, I only make 3kms. Today, I went out for a 4km run and only made 1.5kms. I don't know what's happening!

Usually, I have a heap of things in my head that will keep me going: this blog, my blogging running buddies, my running buddies, the thought of a half marathon, the thought of losing weight, the beat of my music. Sometimes it's as simple as thinking about Dean Karnazes saying "Just one foot in front of the other." None of those things seem to be working.

I think mostly it's my weight demons getting me down in silly ways. This morning it was this: on one of our ABC programs yesterday we had a runner called Jenny Gillard on. She's completely lovely and is training to win the Melbourne Marathon in honour of her sister Kerryn McCann, an Aussie marathon champion who very sadly died last year.

Jenny's story is amazing. Inspiring. Heart breaking.

And do you know what I selfishly took out of it? Jenny weighs 45 kegs (99lbs) and when she's weighing around 51 kegs (112lbs) she feels too heavy to run marathons.

So every step I took this morning I was thinking "You're 85 kegs, how do you expect to be able to run? You need to stop running and lose a heap of weight before you can take it seriously. This is ridiculous. How do you expect to ever do a 6 minute km let alone a 5 minute or a 4 minute until you lose some serious weight?" and on and on and on.

I think I'm going to need to run with my buddies each day this week and not let them make me stop. I need to find the love again!

Do you have any other suggestions?

Loving cycling today, but let me share with you a nightmare of long ago...

2009-08-24T11:22:00.009+09:30

Disregard my post yesterday - I don't think there's much chance of this blog slowing down because I have a book deadline. I suffer from a little old affliction called Procrastinationitis.

Last week wasn't a great one running wise, my flu was still a little bit around so I didn't do my big run.

Still, it's Monday, a new day! Mr Hal Higdon dictates that today is a stretching and strengthening day. Which usually translates into a sleep in and a couple of yoga stretches. Not so today, my friend!

I've been inspired lately by two of my running buddies Jayde and Tash to get back on my bike. My bike Samson has been fixed and this morning (after a little sleep in I must confess!) I jumped on the bike and cycled about 20kms.

Although I diss anything that's not running out, I'd really forgotten how much I love cycling. Especially when it's hot like it is here in Darwin. I'd forgotten how you create you're own breezy air conditioning. I'd forgotten how wicked it is to cruise down a tiny hill. How exhilarating it is to pedal hard when the chorus of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" comes on!

When I lived in London I was a made cyclist. I didn't have a car, so it

was my mode of transport and I used to go away for weekends cycling. So terrific.

Arriving back in Australia, I stopped. We have a real driving culture here and Sydney drivers are maniacs.

The nail in my cycling coffin came when my bestie Priscilla and I signed up for the NSW Big Ride (500 kms spread over a week in Northern NSW). We trained twice: 15 kms around the flattest park in Sydney and thought our previous London cycling fitness (now two years in the past) would come back to us in an instant. Muscle memory and all that jazz.

We were told we'd be fine. It was a relaxed ride with little coffee shops along the way for us to stop and rest.

Day 1 was 96kms or something crazy-ass like that. The only place to stop was a service station after riding on a tarmac heated at 45 degrees. It was agony. I had an 80 year old on an old bike pass me. It was hell. By the time we got to our campsite that night we were both too buggered to do anything but plot to get out of there.

It was so horrendous, I ended up on a bus home on Day 3 (Cill, Day 4)with an injury preventing me from a normal toilet routine for a week - if you know what I'm sayin'. We bought new bikes (Samson for me) and vowed to do it in 2008. Didn't happen.

Here we are, half way up a hill on Day 1, when we could still joke about how horrible it was.

Priscilla is back living in London now, and here I am, sitting in my Big Ride 2007 jersey that finally fits me (!).

I think cycling is going to be my mode of cross training.

Weighty News!

2009-08-22T13:23:00.005+09:30

Wow what a couple of days I've had!

If you've been reading this blog a while, you'll know one of the reasons why I lost over 20 kegs and started running is that I had a gastric band operation.

The band has changed my life - and though I still battle my eating demons most days, it's tamed my binge eating and food dramas down a lot.

Remember last week I told you my Darwin doctor said it wasn't so great for me to be running? Well yesterday I saw my actual doctor - the surgeon who did my band (and who I expected to be my primary doctor after the band, but I ended up moving to the other side of the country with my job).

He's such a terrific doctor - like he's stepped out of a Jimmy Stewart movie. Kind, caring and good fun. He and his wife were in Darwin for a stop over on the way back from a holiday so we got together to chat all things band and catch up.

Dr Stening said he thought the running was terrific for me and to absolutely not think for a second about giving it up. Woo hoo! He also told me my journey is progressing perfectly and eventually I'll kick those demons. I've lost the right amount of weight and I haven't had too much trouble. He even asked if next time I'm back south I'd chat to prospective banders at an information night.

My big news of the day: for the past year I've been writing a book about my experience with a gastric band (as there wasn't one available for me when I had the operation) and it's going to be published early next year by New Holland Publishing! Yee-hah!

The reason I'm letting you know this is I'm steaming towards my deadline so probably won't be as vigilant with my blogging. I'm hoping it will be the go-to book for anyone considering a band and full of stories about not only my experiences with the band, but experiences of people of all ages all over the world. It's such an exciting project!

Have to get back to it now. Have a great weekend xx

Half Marathon Dreaming

2009-08-18T22:47:00.003+09:30

I have a real itch to train for a half marathon. I know I said I wouldn't do one until I was ready - until the kegs were off etc, but I feel like I need that goal!

Australian Runner's World had a great calendar of halfs (or should I say halves? Which is correct?) listed in the mag a month or so ago. It's tough for me to do one in the southern states of Australia as they're so expensive to get to.

Guess which half marathon not only at the perfect time of year for my training, but also the cheapest for me to get to from Darwin? The Singapore Half Marathon. Can you believe it?

Here's the maths: even if I was all trained up for the Sydney Half Marathon in September, it would cost me at least $600 to fly home. One of my friends just booked some flights for her and her partner to Singas for $120 each. Return.

I know there's accommodation etc to think about, but the only other half around that time is the Cadbury Half Marathon in Tasmania.

Call me crazy, but I think it's muthafuggin' wrong wrong wrong wrong for me to be running my first big race starting and ending at a chocolate factory. I know you know what I'm sayin'.

Free-earin'

2009-08-17T07:34:00.003+09:30

This morning was my semi return to the highs, lows, tragedies and triumphs of that sport we love to blog about.

I've had a yucky flu-cough that's kept me out of action and resting. It's the Darwin Festival at the moment, and I was MCing the opening night concert last week which meant I had to be in bed until the latest possible moment each day and night to make sure my voice worked.

The worst part of it is my legs were constantly cramping up to the point where on Friday morning when I stood to get out of bed my legs cramped up so savagely I fell to the floor like a character in a cheesy made for tv movie!

I'm feeling better now (cough is still there, but the fluey symptoms have vanished). Last night I went for a walk and was a little on the alarmed side when my hips were feeling a bit rubbish (which I've never had before). Thankfully they were fine this morning when I ran.

Only a little run/walk this morning as it's not really a running day for my program and I didn't want to overdo it.

Okay, I'll admit it. I found it difficult to do a decent distance this morning because I was free-earin'. You know what I'm saying. No music, no audiobook, no buddy prattling in my ear.

It wasn't too bad, but it did provide another excuse in the endless mind-battle I fight with each run to not run that far.

I'd like to think the day will come when I don't have to listen to music or an audiobook while I run. I think it will, eventually. Once I'm not so unfit I think it will be awesome.

To tray-uk or not to tray-uk, that is the question

2009-08-14T18:14:00.004+09:30

My friend and chief inspirationator Leon has started training on a track once a week.

The greatest thing about this is that when he sits beside my desk to tell me about it, we find it impossible to call it "a track" in anything resembling our normal Aussie accents. Suddenly we're American teenagers in a grandstand talking about "tray-uk".

"How was yooor tray-uk session?"

"Narrrly - you shooould rilly think about tryin' tray-uk. I'm goin' so much fay-ester."

(FYI: that's me writing in an American accent)

So I found out about tray-uk. There's one session a week that doesn't coincide with my work hours - Friday morning at 6am. To tell the truth though, I'm shit scared about going. Feel too unfit! Everyone will be serious competitive athletes! I'm going to think about it and maybe go watch a session next week - see how hard core it is.

For some reason I'm as happy as Larry to be the slowest in running club or at a race. For some reason I feel like I'll be back at high school on a running track. Must get over this.

Cool news for the day! I'm writing an article for Australian Runner's World about what it's like running carrying some extra kegs (after already losing a heap of kegs!)! Very cool. Also very cool? This article on their website about losing weight.

Wanna eat chocolate every day without any guilt?

2009-08-13T13:12:00.004+09:30

Run 10kms a day.

I went to see my Darwin doctor today and had my usual angst session about chocolate. He says I beat myself up too much about it and that there's nothing wrong with eating chocolate every now and again.

He also said it's absolutely fine to eat it each and every day if I can do a 10km run to burn it off.

And he said I'm still to heavy to be doing so much running. That I should be focusing more on sports like cycling and walking. Phhhh. Cycling and walking - great on the joints, boring for the soul.

So, the goals are clean and simple. Lose more weight, work up to running 10kms a day!

Hot Hilary/ Blogger issues!

2009-08-12T15:25:00.006+09:30

I'm at home sick today, again. I have a dreadful cough which makes it impossible for me to broadcast.

Seeing I don't have any running news, I thought I'd post this pic I found. For morale. How amazing does she look? Uber strong, uber healthy, uber fit.

Inspiring.com.

I'm going to print this pic out and put it on my fridge, my desk, my diary, my bathroom mirror, my washing machine, my tv...

(BLOGGER has deleted all the blogs I follow, so please don't think I've been rude and "un-followed" you! I'm trying to get to all the blogs I follow, but I have the slowest connection ever tonight. Might take a few days...)

My complex relationship with Freckles (that running isn't doing anything to help)

2009-08-09T18:52:00.002+09:30

I love freckles. For some crazy reason, on other people, I love them. Can't get enough of them. My first boyfriend's beautiful face was covered in tiny little freckles and I never for a second got bored with that face - there was always something new to discover.

I'm not sure if this is where my freckle infatuation has come from, but pretty much every Donald I've been enraptured with has had freckles. And a lot of them. It could be an Australian thing...

My father is covered in freckles. My sister is covered in freckles. And they wouldn't be as gorgeous if they didn't have them. Freckles, tick, tick, tick!

Still, with those freckles, my Dad has battled skin cancer since I was two years old. He's had one melanoma and countless benign skin cancers.

So it's probably no surprise that the more freckles I get, the darker they get, the more freaked out I get. Since I've been running, my freckles have become INSANE. The picture shown is taken with a flash and you can still see loads of freckles. Without the flash (which I can't work out) it's insane.

Which brings me to the point of this blog. Is there such a thing as a long sleeved, white sun protecting shirt that is good for hot weather? I feel like I'm doing some massive sun damage.

Worries being skin cancer and looking like an old boot by the time I'm 30...

Running into bathrooms and Donalds* you'd rather not see you red faced...

2009-08-08T10:00:00.012+09:30

This morning was our second Saturday Morning Running Club!

It didn't start out according to plan. I've had quite the week: my wallet is gone, my phone is busted and the "courtesy" phone the phone company has given me can't call out or receive calls. I'm an island. And guess what else doesn't work on the "courtesy" phone? The alarm. Not very freakin courteous.

Running club is at 7.00am. At 7.01am I was awakened by a text message. Ah! I looked out the window - the sun was up! I was late! And I couldn't call anyone!

I quickly got ready and drove the 10 mins to East Point, where we were all scheduled to meet. Gorgeously, Tania, Kate and Jade (all pictured here post run with my tummy) had waited for me.

We set out for our 6kms.

The first three were okay, but as I was nearing the end of the 3rd I thought I was destined to have a Uta Pippig-style accident (too much pizza for dinner - you know

what I'm a sayin'!). As I ran to the bathroom, praying it would be open a battle started in my head about whether I'd walk the last 2kms after the bathroom or run it.

Walking was winning in my head. You ate shit yesterday! You're tired! You didn't get to hydrate! You didn't have your banana! Have a rest! You're about to overheat! Your hair is TOTALLY too long and it's annoying you.

Then, lo and behold, I bumped into a Donald who I think is nice (yep, sweaty as, red faced, in need of a hair cut, too tired to hold in tummy, in blue bike pants I've had since I was 17 - NOT PRETTY... um, that's me I'm talking about, not him). Dang Darwin for being such a small town!

Said Nice Donald cheered me on, but I HAD to stop for the bathroom or go all Uta there on the track. Cursing my ass (in all its many ways it annoys me) I sprinted to the toilet and decided I had to sprint back out and finish the run, in case the Nice Donald came upon me again.

Argh.

So I ran the rest of the run, totaling 6kms. Does that still count when I had a bathroom break?

Then Jayde and I did a 3km warm down. Lovely.

Got to get rid of tummy, 12 year old bike pants and have a hair cut. Can't be running into Nice Donalds at running club in such excruciating ways - it's enough to send a girl to a treadmill.

*Donald is my new word for a person of the male gender. Years ago I had a friend who would call girls Doris'. I now take on this tradition and convert it for my own use.

4kms at 6.30am

2009-08-06T08:16:00.003+09:30

I work at night, which makes it really hard for me to rise early and run. One of the awesome things about my new running buddy Jayde is that she works normal hours, so has to go early.

So here I am! It's 8.23am and I've already run 4kms and spent the morning in tears watching Laura Ling and Euna Lee return home. Feeling a lot of love for Bill and Hillary this morning...

Jayde and I had a great run this morning. As we begun, the moon was still relatively high, but there was enough sun out to see how gorgeously it was reflected on the harbour. So lovely. The colours out there were amazing this morning, but it was very muggy. We're speeding out of the Dry Season here... I'm not looking forward to the Wet (where humidity will be in the 80s and 90s).

It gets easier with each run. On Saturday, we're going for the 6kms. Which will mean I'm back to my old pre-injury fitness. Woo hoo!

Have a great day!

Today I ran... then ran some more!

2009-08-05T10:34:00.004+09:30

I gotta confess - this morning didn't look like it was shaping up too well. I was up late last night (again) watching some pretty terrible reality TV. To really confirm the evening's doozy status I also ate some junk that got stuck in my gastric band... it wasn't looking good for this morning.

I got up about 8am, had a banana and a big glass of water and noticed the batteries on my iPod were flat. Put my iPod in the charger and went back to bed for an hour. Not a great way to start the day.

When my alarm went off again, I knew I'd have to go for a run or risk getting in a non-running rut. I also knew that because I'd been lazy getting out of bed, the run was going to be a whole heap harder as the sun is fully up and my running path becomes a bit of a shadeless nightmare.

So I decided to do 3km. When I got onto the track I ummed and ahhed the whole time about doing 1km, 1.5kms, 2kms, 2.5kms. The heat was relentless. Somehow I made it to the 3kms. Happy with myself, I started walking back a shady way through the backstreets.

Then something came over me. When I was in the shade, I started to get a second wind and started thinking about running home. No pressure, if it felt okay, I'd run. I'd run until I felt like I didn't want to anymore.

Somehow I got really excited about running without a distance or time in mind and off I went. I ran almost all the way home, stopping about 200 metres before my house so I could get my backward springs in.

Awesome.

I read something yesterday that really stuck with me this morning: helped me out the door, finish my 3kms and start up my run home. I'm reading a book called No Ceiling by Heather Swan for work (she's a champion base jumper and I'll be interviewing her soon). She says that she once worked with legendary Aussie runner Herb Elliot (pictured above). Here's what she says about Herb that stuck with me today:

"He (Herb) told me once we're all capable of greatness, but most of us are undermined by our weaknesses - the little voice in our head that chips away at our attempts to rise above the ordinary. Herb told me most people are just too lazy to do what it takes to be extraordinary."

Now there's surely something in that, hey?

Also, Noah from Moore on Running pointed out yesterday that you never know who's reading this blog and getting a little inspiration from it - such an awesome, motivating point! Since I've started this blog, five people close to me (my sister, my Dad, my friends Alison, Amanda and Emily - go go go!!!) have started running. I owe it to them to have more days like today, less like yesterday.

Two strides forward, one stride back

2009-08-04T09:12:00.003+09:30

For some reason (or a lot of reasons) I got out on to the running track this morning, ran about 100 metres and walked. Didn't start running again.

I didn't eat well yesterday. I stayed up late. I woke up late. It was hot. I forgot deodorant. I left my sunglasses at work. My negative brain won the battle and I let all those things convince me I couldn't be bothered running today.

Hmm. Has anyone else had one of those days?

Usually once I'm out there, I can convince myself to get it going. Not today.

So funny too. I found out about the most amazing race in Australia yesterday that inspired me so, so much. Couldn't get it going today.

So it turns out there could be something to this healthy eating business

2009-08-01T12:50:00.002+09:30

For the last ten days, I've been on a junk food moratorium. It came to an end yesterday (and yes, there was chocolate, but not in an insane-soul destroying-I want the nearest high bridge kind of way way).

This morning, though, at our inaugural Saturday Morning Running Club (3 in attendance: Tania, Sezzy and I) something had changed in my running. Usually at about the 3km mark, I start to really feel bad. My running turns into a joggleuffle and it's all just a struggle.

Today - so different!

My stride was strong (for me), there was no joggleuffling! My breathing was okay. I felt powerful! Right up until about 4.5kms.

As I missed out on a training run last week thanks to my (other) foot, I can only put it down to all the healthy eating.

Something tells me it won't be so hard to stay away from the junk food even though the moratorium is off. I'll just have to think about today's run.

Pic: this morning's beautiful path.

The joy of running buddies

2009-07-30T08:47:00.003+09:30

For the past couple of weeks, I've run by myself maybe once.

Why did I not make running buddies before? I ran once with my mate Nat before my injury, but that's about it.

Running buddies rock! They chat! They encourage! They make you go faster!

You see, Darwin is at the Top End of Australia - four and a half hours by plane (if you're lucky) from Sydney where my family and close friends are. I've been really homesick in the past few months and my running buddies have helped with that these past few weeks. You see, presenting an evening radio show doesn't give you the most sociable hours to go out and make new friends!

It was with great upset this morning I had to bail on my running buddy Jayde. I love running with Jayde - she's great. So positive, chatty and passionate about being a healthy good runner.

Yesterday afternoon the arch of my right foot was so painful I was limping when I had shoes on. I think the problem is the shoes. Rock hard Birkenstocks. So this morning I decided to just do my training run (3kms when Jayde and I had decided on a 5km), so let Jayde know I'd be leaving a bit later for that.

I just went to go for my run and it's still a bit sore, so I've decided to take my rest day today, wear super comfy shoes all day today and hope for the best tomorrow!

My Very First Proper Race Report - Boom!

2009-07-27T12:36:00.017+09:30

Moments after this not-so-flattering pic was taken, a drama came leaping across the lives of our running team!

One of our runners (who will remain nameless, for fear of reprisals!) sent a text saying she'd had a big night on the turps and wouldn't be making the run. This sent me into a flurry of waking up friends trying to convince them to run.

Team Terrifically Awesome arrived at the race destination, gorgeous East Point and do you think we had a fourth runner? No! Here we are (Jayde, Shannon and I) looking pretty relaxed, but if you look closely - there's terror in my eyes.

The gun went off about ten minutes after this picture was taken and Shannon set a cracking pace in which she had to traverse the upside and the downside of Acid Mountain. What a fine job.

By the time I set off to run about 30 minutes later, we still didn't have a fourth runner. What we did have though, was huge support from our awesome (but injured) training buddy Tash.

My leg of the run was about 5.5kms. And it was 5.5kms of heavenly scenery with an awesome soundtrack to go with it. I'd decided to take it easy when programming the music for the run so I didn't tire myself out to harsh beats. I'll take you through the run with the music.

Firestarter - Prodigy

I chose this song as the only full on track because it has such power and I knew at this stage in the race I would still feel powerful too. When Shannon tapped my hand to take over the in the relay, I ran off, feeling light and fast as we tried to negotiate an iPod swap over. It was the perfect song to get started with. I had to slow my pace down as I knew I'd become exhausted if I didn't listen to my head!

The Greatest American Hero - Joey Scarbury

I love to run to this song because it reminds me of when I started blogging and running. It was a nerd-ass recommendation from one of my favourite bloggers Patrick. It helped me up a hill some time back and yesterday it was my buddy as I ran the beautiful track gazing at the cliffs and ocean.

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

It was really difficult not to go crazy with this song as it's so inspiring, but it was great company as runners kept passing my slow-ass pace.

Everything I Own - Bread

Are you picking up a daggy theme here? I wanted songs I would get lost in and this song reminds me a lot of a bit of a romance I had years and years ago. It's one of those "Wow I've come so far!" songs and a terrific one to run through as I started to hurt a fair bit. Back in the days I think about when I think of that song there would have been laughter all round at the thought of me running in a half marathon relay.

Queen of the Supermarket - Bruce Springsteen

Love this song. My parents own a supermarket and so this song makes me laugh as I spent years and years as a reluctant checkout chick. Can't remember what was going on in this song as I was just concentrating on getting out of the sunshine into the next shady bit.

Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen

Still in a big stretch of sunny running (which in 70 per cent humidity can get to you) so I don't remember having to stop myself from breaking into a dance like I usually do when I hear this song.

Life in Mars - David Bowie

When this song began to play, I thought it was a bad choice and would slow me down. Then the chorus played, which is very triumphant sounding, so I was kind fine. Just joggleuffling (a cross between a jog and a shuffle brought on by extreme buggeredness!) along now, trying not to think about walking.

She Moves in Her Own Way - The Kooks

Great song to have on when you're joggleuffling. Got me picking up my feet a bit more into a run. The lyrics work if you're someone who likes to move in her own way :).

See The World - Gomez

This is an outrageously lovely song and even though the lyrics aren't hugely uplifting at the beginning, the feeling of the song and the chorus made me happy to be out running. I was back in the shade, more than definitely on the home stretch. All I wished for is a lighter, faster body.

Human - The Killers

While this song was on, one of my colleague Charlie King passed me (he was on his second way around the course and would eventually become the winner of his age group - he's an amazing runner). We clapped at each other as we kept running and I can't even tell you the burst of energy this lovely man gave me as a result! I was ready to charge home.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay

I could see the finish line when this song played and somehow gathered more strength to run to my team mate, Jayde, and tap her to get on her way. I was relieved, exhausted, thirsty and can't remember much more except Shannon saying "You don't look so bad! You looked much worse yesterday!".

As you can see, I was looking pretty bad! Forgetting to suck that tummy in! Where does the vanity go?

After that, I was completely out of it but had to go do a few interviews as the ABC Half Marathon is a work event.

Shannon, meanwhile was limbering up, getting ready for her second leg while Jayde was off tearing through the most difficult leg of the course. Acid Mountain. Thank God I didn't choose that leg as I think it would have killed me.

Minutes later news filtered through - we had a fourth runner! Against all advice and reassurances from Shannon that she was fine to run, injured team member Tash had cycled home, got her running gear off and was getting ready for her leg! What a legend!

Here she is, making her finish. I'm so sorry I don't have any pics of Shannon and Jayde finishing as they did amazing runs and I was too nervous when Shannon finished - and off doing work things (not realising she'd be so fast!) when Jade finished!

From then on, it was the most amazing morning. Peter Eason and Hayley Barber had terrific runs to win. Here's a great video my buddy Kate Humphris made

http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2009/07/26/2636637.htm?site=darwin

(there's footage of all the great runners, and some who aren't so great - me, that is! - enjoy!).

By the time it got to presentation time, there wasn't a place I'd rather have been. So much love for running and community in one place. There was lots of clapping for the people who came over the finish line and I even got a heap of advice from the women's winner, Hayley. It was a great morning.

Special thanks to my friend Kate Shannon (who you might remember meeting here on this blog before). She organised the whole day and did an amazing job, as well as running a terrific relay time. She should be so proud as it was one of the best days I think I've ever had, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one thinking that!

Team Terrifically Awesome after the race: Injured Champion Tash, me, Shannon, Jayde.

Charlie King presenting an award to a cute-as runner.

Tash still made pancakes after a titanic effort on the track. Yum!

Things I Learned:

* I live in an amazingly beautiful place which is home to some pretty incredible, generous people.

* RUNNING IN MESH IS THE GREATEST! Bye bye cotton, we had some good times.

* I should try and eat before running. I had so much more energy than usual.

* Races are about the nicest place you can be on a Sunday morning.

Goals I've Made:

* I really need to get my weight down. I want to be a fantastic runner. Not just one who joggleuffles. I can't imagine how I'd fly 20 kegs less!

* If the weight comes off this year, I'll do a half marathon early next year.

* To start a running group 7am Saturday mornings where we do different routes and increase our kms each week.

ABC Half Marathon- where to start?

2009-07-26T14:33:00.003+09:30

It was a morning too awesome to describe for my battered brain. Here's a picture of our team at the finish line. Tash, me, Shannon and Jayde.

Will write and post more pics tonight or in the morning. So wonderful. Running races are now my favourite place to be... even over the movies. Have a great morning/night/afternoon/sleep. Mel xx

An soul destroying 5kms!

2009-07-25T18:23:00.004+09:30

Confession: I posted this picture because it makes me look as though I have a waist. There I said it. It's my ABC Half Marathon jersey (don't fret, I won't be wearing it with the blouse). Now to other business...

Tomorrow is the long awaited ABC Half Marathon, which I'm running as a relay with three buddies (Shannon, Sezzie and soon-to-be new buddy Jade).

This is bittersweet for me, as you'll know if you've read this blog for a while. I originally planned on doing the entire 21kms 17 weeks ago when I started running. It didn't work out like that mainly due to injury, but not in a small part due to my foot injury.

At 8.30am this morning, I planned on doing my 3.5km training run. Shannon put the kibosh on that and made me do 5kms so we know we can do it in the morning.

Shannon is the good cop in my life. She's a great friend, my flatmate and one of the only people I know who will give me a hard time if I'm eating junk and will go wild with loveliness when I do well in something (she's the one I have the $100 no junk food moratorium with).

Oh. My. God. It nearly broke me. One of my legs actually went straight so as to walk around the 4km mark - it just didn't want to run any more. The worst part? It was 30 degrees (86 degrees fahrenheit). And I did it on an empty stomach, with about 200mls of water. Bad, bad, bad.

I actually finished and lay on the ground, I was so buggered. Wasn't pretty.

Now we have to do it again tomorrow. In the half marathon. Am guzzling down water and getting my bananas and toast ready for the morning.

2 kegs down in 5 days!

2009-07-24T11:25:00.003+09:30

Can you believe it?

I'd like to thank my fingers for not letting themselves wander to any chocolate or chips. I'd like to thank the endless salads. I'd like to thank my running program, who, for once, isn't having to break down the chocolate cells and is burning fat like it's meant to.

And I'd like to thank you, blogger buddies, for your endless support!

Viva the next two and the next two and the next two...

My favourite thing about healthy eating...

2009-07-23T15:42:00.007+09:30

(Can you feel how positive I'm trying to stay four days into my junk food moratorium?)

You might find what I'm about to say as offensive as a stinky armpit after a sweaty afternoon lugging bricks and downing beer.

But we're all friends here, aren't we?

My favourite thing about eating healthily is how lovely my sweat smells when I run. .

What's yours?.

ps. In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit, contrary to my post the other day am sooooooooooo not a US 10. I was watching The View today and they were talking about the new Surgeon General being an 18 (and normal US women being around a size 14)? I got my reference from a size converter. I think I'm about a 14 in the US. You see, in Australia a size 0 is a size 6. Next up is 8...etc. I'm a 14-16 in Australia.

Isn't it about time to start eating like a runner instead of a sumo?

2009-07-22T09:44:00.003+09:30

It certainly isn't a big-ass-blog-secret that I have a problem with junk food. Every month or so, I'll have a post-binge rage while in the middle of a sugar coma.

I've been reading a lot of running books and each one talks about the benefits of healthy eating in a training program. It's a pretty obvious thing to do to support the training, is it not?

I have a confession to make, which spurred me into action after my Saturday chip fest (even though I'd known it for two weeks). While I was injured, I put on nearly 3 kegs. Not great for someone with a gastric band, but not horrendous considering in a past life it wouldn't have been hard for me to stack on about 7 kegs in the same amount of time. And that 3 kegs? Boy - it shows chocolate is the devil for our bodies.

One of my buddies and I have made a deal: I can't eat a moment of junk food until Friday week, she can't indulge in one of her vices. The first one to cave has to pay the other $100. One thing I know for sure, Oprah style? There ain't no piece-a choc-lit worth a hunnred dollar!

We made the deal at the weekend and since then I've been doing my best to "eat like an athlete". Cutting out refined sugars and trying to eat mainly protein and veggies after a muesli breakfast. With a piece of fruit there somewhere (I don't feel like I can entirely banish sweet yet).

And guess what?! One of those pesky new kegs has vanished!

I'd love to know if you have any great recipes for delicious salads? The three I have in my arsenal are going to tire pretty quickly (considering they all taste the same).

How Ultramarathon Man got me through a 3km

2009-07-21T14:48:00.003+09:30

A funny thing happened to me on Sunday to confirm my new life as a runner.

I was at the Nightcliff Markets, making some new buddies, when one of my new friends and I got into a chat about reading. I'm a maaaaaaaaad reader. And an even bigger literary snob. I don't read chick lit. I can't stand crime fiction. I only went near Jodi Picoult when I wanted something simple to listen to while running.

I'm a Martin Amis, Geraldine Brooks, Truman Capote, Margaret Atwood reading snob. Sad, but true.

Since I've been running it's all changed, I've only read one book that isn't about running (and that was while I was injured).

At the markets, I was knee deep in a wank fest of conversation about the vibrancy of Steve Tolz's debut novel, when my new friend asked me what I was reading. In my hand bag? Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes.

Running has made me (almost) lose my status as a reading snob.

So back to the point of this post? How Dean helped me finish my 3km this morning in 30 degrees celcius?

I've read 50 Marathons in 50 Days and have interviewed Dean, so I know he's kinda crazy in the most terrific way. I had no idea just how nutso he was until I finished Ultra Marathon Man.

This morning when I was out running, feeling a bit tired and ready to quit, I thought of Dean running 199 miles through vomit, fatigue, cramps and halucinations and decided 3kms around Nightcliff Foreshore ain't so bad.

Thanks again, Mr Karnazes. You might have just helped my out of my post-injury funk.

A great day ends in chips...

2009-07-18T18:30:00.003+09:30

So the morning gets off to a fantabulous start. At 8.30am, New Running Buddies Tash, Sezzy and I all meet up for a 3km run (the longest distance I've run since my injury). It felt good, the weather was perfect, we all chatted about foot and I triumphantly told a story about resisting pizza last night and being inspired by Ultramarathon Man to eat healthily.

We all had a great breakfast together and Sezzy and I headed off to Casuarina Square, the super mall of Darwin. In our running gear.

While in the super mall, we headed into Lorna Jane, an athletic wear store for the super skinny. I have to film a little something in running gear in a few weeks time and the thought of it has been keeping me away from the pizza. We thought we'd look at Lorna Jane and see if there were any cute outfits as I don't have any nice running clothes.

I found this really cute T-shirt, like the one I've posted, but it said "Running Makes Me Happy". Gorgeous. I tried it on and it looked terrible. Well, I looked terrible in it. All fat bulges. Then I had to put my running gear back on and I realised I was walking around the supermall looking terrible.

It depressed me for the rest of the day. And so I went home and had a pig out. Not proud of it, but there's what happened. Chips and icecream. Gross.

Still in writing this, I've realised what the really gross thing is! We tried on clothes in our running gear without having a shower!

Serves that stupid shop right for not having any nice clothes for those of us who are on the more rotund size.

FAT RANT WARNING: Lorna Jane should be ashamed of itself for not providing work out gear for girls heavier than your average model. I may not be a size 10, but I'm certainly not enormous. I'm a size 14-16 (10-12 in US sizes I believe - man I need to move to the US!! Oh to be a size 10...!) in most places. How dare they not have something that will fit me nicely? Have now decided to boycott them when I do get skinny. Hurrumph.