Local Media wrote an article about my wee Adventures!!

Below is a link to an article about my upcoming adventures on stuff.co.nz :-)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/matamata-chronicle/news/8356046/Next-move-inspired-by-Sir-Ed

 

 

My Fundraising Page is Up: Marathon for Hope & Home, Nepal

My marathon is less than a month away now, and if you would like to sponsor me running in the marathon I have now set up a fundraising page. All money raised will go towards the cost of my volunteering at the orphanage, and for supplies for the children (from lice shampoo to games and activities).

Every little bit helps and you can donate at the following Give A Little site:

https://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/hopeandhomenepal

Thank you in advance - every dollar will give me extra motivation when I am running up those horrible hills on the gruelling marathon on Rangitoto Island!

Stirling Sports Half Marathon Race Report

Still looking fresh near the beginning.

Wow, how time flies! Already I have completed my first race and just over a month to go before my marathon.

On Sunday I raced in the Stirling Sports Half Marathon in Auckland and finished in 2:01:16 which I am quite happy with.

The night before I was staying at a friends place (thanks Tash & Mike!) and had my cousin Tayla with me (she was running the 11km on race day), and my little sister Mikaela (she was our support girl, she looked after us!).

My day started waking at 5:30am in the morning to have some porridge with banana and lots of water before the race. I have read everywhere that on race day you NEVER change anything that you have been doing while training. Unfortunately, I seemed to think I was extra thirsty and drank a lot that morning - but more on the result of that later.

Finding the race start was easy and we found ourselves ready to go well before our start times. Normally, when I put on my shoes I am out the door right away. So having to wait an hour before running was torture, I just wanted to get out there! The start times were all staggered depending on your estimated finishing time, and I started at 8:05am. As I stood at the start line 10 minutes before going, I needed to use the loo, 'Hmmm... must just be nerves,' I thought to myself. Well, the race started and I felt great heading off, but it definitely was not the nerves - and no way was I stopping to use the toilet.

In the first 7km of the race, my thoughts were completely revolving around my full bladder, and trying to keep a steady pace. When I checked my phone with Runkeeper in the first few kms, I had been running stupidly fast. I quickly slowed down and remembered what Keegan had advised, 'Nice and steady at the start, then hammer it after half way.' So I wanted to have 'negative splits' where I run faster in the last part of the race.

Between 7km and 11km there were a lot of hills so I struggled up these while feeling ridiculously thirsty. Still, my full bladder was too much to be able to sip on one of my cordial drinks or water. However, once I hit 11km and began to 'hammer' it my full bladder magically disappeared! Now I pushed hard. After some cordial and gaining speed I felt good, really good. Time was absolutely flying in and this is when I really began to enjoy the race - and the views of the Sky Tower and the harbour.

But it didn't last long...

As I hit 16km it started to go downhill - and unfortunately, I mean my state, not the course itself. I got a bad stitch from drinking cordial and water too quickly, and my legs started to really tighten up. I hit my 'brick wall'.

Although I knew I didn't have much to go, I could feel that my body was going to need more pushing than I had ever given it before. This is where it is all about your mentality. However, as I ran along the harbour side I came around the corner and could see the end of the race! So excited I started to speed up and could not believe the last 5km had gone so fast. As I got closer, I'm not sure if it was me recognising where I was, or the 19km sign, that made me aware of my mistake. This was not the finish line. I hit a BIGGER 'brick wall'.

Running along the harbour. In the background is
Rangitoto Island - where I will run my marathon.

The next couple of kilometers were the toughest run, both mentally and physically, I have ever experienced.
I have no idea how I pushed myself during this point, but in my head I made myself not think of how much I had to go. Instead I concentrated on each and every single step. As I came around another corner and saw the actual finish, I got a little teary, not believing I was actually nearly there.

Now I know, usually as you get to the finish line, you start to sprint or run a lot faster. Nope, I literally had nothing left in the tank. I was done, finito. As I crossed the line I felt the hugest amount of relief and pride. Race done.

On completing the race I also saw on my Runkeeper that the race was actually longer than half marathon distance (21.1km/13.1 miles). Using Runkeeper I worked out I completed the half marathon distance in 1:57:59. But I will stick with my official race time of 2:01:16 - I'll beat it next time easily!

So now I am focused on my training for the marathon. Keegan has reviewed my training and of course increased it dramatically. On Sunday I will run 29km on a very hilly route in the outskirts of Cambridge known as Cambridge Hills Sanitorium Loop. I actually can't wait!

Wow, the Dual Marathon sounds AMAZING.. & tough!

 

 

Tomorrow I will do a race report on my Half Marathon I raced in on Sunday. But for now I have been browsing the website of the Marathon I am doing next month. The description of the run itself sounds amazing so wanted to include it on here.  So here is the description of the Dual Marathon as copied from their website www.thedual.co.nz

Starting at Home Bay, Motutapu Island, the Marathon course gets straight into the good stuff. An honest climb to start, rewards burning legs with magical sea views towards the viaduct basin. The following section leads you across farm land, around the southern-most tip of Motutapu Island, Emu Point.

Over the causeway and onto the basalt surrounded gravel roads of Rangitoto Island. You start the slow but steady grind to the top of the 600 year old volcano. On the climb you will divert onto a beauty little single track, that takes you on a loop past the Lave Caves and around the edge of the crater.  You stride out down the direct route through the awesome Pohutukawa Forest to the Rangitoto wharf. Once you're back on deck at sea level it's into the coastal track. This 6km "jungle" like section will keep you on your toes with its technical contours as you follow the historical trail through the lava fields along the coast line. It's magic!

Ticking off the halfway mark and its back to the flowing farm trails of Motutapu. Making your way clockwise around the North-West of the Island you'll have ocean vistas making your way past a number of old World War Two gun emplacements. The Northern Junction turnaround point sees you descending back down to Home Bay through some lush native bush - thanks Motutapu Restoration Trust!

As you pass by Home Bay you have 8km to go, phew - soak up that atmosphere. Following the gravel road you now make your way back over the hill towards the causeway before finishing via a soaring downhill with some inspiring views down to the event base.
The total ascent (vertical metres gained) over the course is 1103 metres.

Course terrain breakdown;

• Gravel road
• Single track (forest & volcanic / lava)
• Grass track & trail

I now completely understand why Keegan has increased my training so much. I think I may have picked a rather difficult marathon to run, but super excited after reading the above - it sounds gorgeous. More motivation to put on my shoes every day!

What You Put In, Is What You Get Out

It is well known that what you put in, is what you get out of anything, just like with marathon training - anyone can turn up to a race, but it's the months of hard training that gets you over the finish line.

And so, with that in mind, I decided to start helping out at a local school called Te Poi Primary School. Working with children prior to working in the orphanage in Nepal makes sense, and I am very lucky that I have been given the opportunity. With work and training every day I don't have a lot of spare time so for now it is every Tuesday afternoon (but hopefully work won't be so busy and I can do more afternoons).

Te Poi Primary School is a very small rural school with Year 1 - 6 children in two classes - the youngest class has 16 children, and the older class has 22 children. It was my very first school and the two teachers, Miss Clark and Mr Van De Molen, were also my teachers many years ago!

Last week I had my first afternoon at the school and I walked in to be asked, 'Would you be able to swim with the children?' So after a quick dash home to get my togs, I found myself in the pool with 16 children, myself at one end of the pool with the youngest of them. There were two boys who were too afraid to get into the pool, while the others happily became 'washing machines' with me. By the end of the swim I had one of the afraid boys on my back swimming around the pool. I was very surprised when he stood in the pool by himself, although not as surprised as he was! My first afternoon absolutely flew in, and I definitely needed a coffee afterwards, but I enjoyed it.

Today, I was back at the school and helped the children with colouring in and drawing themselves, while also doing reading with some of the children. It is awesome seeing them sound out words like 'Wiii, wii, wi ,thh, th, with'. Although they are a bunch of cheaters using the pictures to help them with the bigger words... but I suppose that is how they learn!

So I am definitely going to get a lot out of my time at the school. And after my first afternoon of feeling overwhelmed by so many little people, I felt a lot more capable today. By the time I get to the orphanage, I'll be a children master!

A Little Motivation Please.....

Keegan has updated my training plan and I no longer have any days off from running. So I need a little extra motivation for my marathon training...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Running + Vanity = Impossible

One thing I have learnt these past months is that you can't be concerned about your appearance and train for a marathon. Running is not a pretty sport. I say this for a few reasons that I am now all too familiar with...

• Blisters Feet - No matter how good your shoes are, I don't think you are ever going to avoid blisters when doing long distance running. The majority of my toes now have blisters, and I even have them along the insides of my feet. In fact, I should change this bullet point to 'feet' because I also have many black toenails (ewww...), and just generally freaky feet right now!
• Tan lines - Training happened to start at the start of summer so my tan lines are very confused! I have the very gorgeous sock tan going on - and even better it is also mixed with a very slight flip flops tan too. Running has also given me the appearance of always wearing 'white shorts' with a lovely tan line from my running shorts - it doesn't look too fab with a bikini hehe.
• Hair - I have one day off a week and therefore find I am washing my hair every day. This means blow drying my hair has gone out the window (too hot, and can't be bothered when the next day it will get all sweaty!). And my hair is now always up and pinned back off my face. It is all about practicability not style now!
• Tomato Face - if anyone has run with me, or seen me run, you know I go bright, bright red. And my redness is highlighted by my very sweaty face. I definitely do the best tomato impersonation!

It might sound like I am moaning here but my freaky feet, and sweaty hair actually don't really bother me. I ran my longest distance of 20km on Sunday and felt so damn good afterwards that my appearance just isn't a priority. In fact, it is quite the opposite: I am proud of the big sweat patches on my shirt after a long run, or showing off my freaky feet as proof of the hard work I am putting into my training.

Marathoning is just another form of insanity.

John J. Kelly, winner of the 1952 Boston Marathon

 

Beach House. Travel Doctor. Cruise Ship.

Last weekend I stayed at our beach house at Omokoroa Beach with family - enjoyed just relaxing, eating, drinking, running, and sleeping. On my big run we went to Mount Maunganui and my little sister Mikaela (16), little brothers Jack (12) & Graham (11), and their friends joined me. I was very impressed that both Jack & Graham ran for 1:40, while I did 2 hours to run 18km around the beach. Graham even had a proper face plant fall during the run but just got up and started running again like nothing had happened - I did wait to check he was okay before I cracked up laughing hehe. Mum was waiting for us along the beach with my wee niece Ava, and when I finished the run I didn't bother getting out of my running gear - I went straight into the ocean. It was gorgeous, and we spent ages boogie boarding and body surfing... bliss!

Today I visited the travel doctor I was referred to, and she had actually done Everest Base Camp last year. On her trek a member of her group was bitten by a wild dog so she definitely agreed I needed the rabies shot. She went through everything with me from dealing with leeches, to how not to entice monkeys over to me! In total I will need ten shots, and two blood tests. I need a lot more than the standard trip to Nepal because not only will I spend a long time there in a rural area during monsoon season (hours away from a hospital), but also because I will be working with children.
I have also been prescribed Diomax to help combat altitude sickness. It is a drug that provides more oxygen to the blood. It is used a lot in altitude, and is very well known for its most significant side effect of making your fingers, toes, and lips go tingly and numb - very worth it if it stops altitude sickness having me evacuated from the mountain!
I spent an hour and a half at the doctors and despite all the warnings and vaccinations (which I start getting in the next few weeks) I became ridiculously excited about the trip - not the reaction I had expected. Must add here too, that I would 110% recommend Dr Bailey at Welcome Bay Clinic if you need a travel doctor - she knows her stuff.

Cruise ship at Mount Maunganui over the long weekend -
the same ship that we saw on our run today.

After the doctors, Tayla and I went for a long run around the beach at Mount Maunganui. After around an hour, we were struggling around the Mount but came around a corner to see the huge cruise ship driving by as it was leaving with everyone on the deck waving out! It was a total motivation booster, and we got a massive fright when it tooted its big horn. Very funny, and another random occurrence on one of our runs.... the more we run the more funny little things that happen. Although I have to learn to take note of where I park the car. This time we walked an extra 3km not realising we had walked straight past the car. Duhhhhh... hehe

These babies will get me to the Marathon Finish Line!

Yah... I got my new shoes this week!! And must thank my coach, Keegan, for sorting these out for me.... although am pretty sure you probably just picked the brightest pair you could find haha!

So surely, my runs should be perfect now and no pain or nout.... but unfortunately, although they are well better than my very old pair, they haven't magically made my runs easier. This past week has been probably my hardest week so far when it comes to motivation. Every day I have put on my shoes and done the training set out... but man, oh man, have they been my toughest runs. Keegan said to this, ' Two steps forward, one step back.' Definitely agree with that!

Although did find it funny that after one of my runs I discovered something on the bottom of my shoes (see below). So now I know they were definitely the perfect shoes for me eh!

This week on my day off I had an awesome catch up with my girlfriends in Auckland. Stayed at Tash & Mike's house after having a BBQ and reminiscing about school days - and laughing A LOT. Tash and Mike went to Nepal and did both Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit at the same time of year as I am going. So Tash was telling me all about things to be prepared for including the fact that Nepal doesn't have refrigeration. Her biggest tip for trying to avoid food poisoning is not to eat meat - NO meat whatsoever! Although she has told me of a place by the bungy in Kathmandu that has its own generator (in Nepal, power is turned off often during the day) and they do the best milkshakes. Will be visiting that cafe I think... especially since I am there at the start of monsoon season so 40 degrees heat and no ice cream? How will I survive hehe...

Will add here a congrats to Keegan who came 4th in the Challange Wanaka Ironman over the weekend. That is 3.8km swimming, 180km cycling, and 42.2km running (yes, a marathon too!). His athletes he coaches did awesome too, so I am definitely lucky to have him getting me ready for the marathon and Everest Base Camp.

.....But he does keep increasing my training so not really my favourite person at the moment!

So... the Doctor has confirmed the my worst fears...

...I will have to get injections - and A LOT of them!

When reading my prep pack for Nepal they mentioned vaccinations, something I had stupidly not even thought about! They recommended 6 or so vaccinations for 'roughin it' travel to Nepal.

First of all, I thought rabies was something made up that as kids we used to say other kids had. Nope, turns out it is a jab (in fact, it is the jab that you need when you get bitten by, for example, a random monkey)! And then there is Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Tetanus, etc..... I had a blood test today which will indicate whether I have an immunity to any of the above so I may get away with less jabs :-D fingers are crossed!

On the brighter side of my appointment, when asked about my alcohol consumption and I replied 'errr.. a glass of red wine a day' he actually said, and I quote, "Wow, that's really good - very moderate." So as the doctor orders...

Ooooo... and I don't really know what the blood pressure is all about but he took mine and oooooed and gushed about mine! He said it was amazing! When I told everyone this they asked what it was and I didn't really take note but think he said 95/60..? No idea so must get it done again for bragging rights. Must be the athlete inside of me eh... kickin that marathon's butt already.

The one comment I will ignore from the doctor was in regards to altitude sickness - something that does scare me coz if I get it, they pop you in a helicopter & goodbye my dream of reaching BC. I had said to the doctor that at least with training for the marathon I will be better able to cope with the altitude. He made a wee comment 'it seems to be the fittest of people that get altitude sickness' and then laughed it off and explained there is no way to completely safeguard yourself from it. Ta, Doc... a.k.a Mr Positivity! Forgot to tell him I have my weapon against altitude - Keegan and his altitude training machine (note to self - must chat to him about when I start that!)

I knew training for my marathon would put me out of my comfort zone before I flew to Nepal - but turns out there is more to come with these damn big, gigantic, horrible needles haha... after my blood test today I spoilt myself with a super duper massive bowl of Goody Gum Drop ice cream... so suppose I best make sure the freezer has a good supply! Don't think I have seen an obese marathon runner before?? So should be right eh - calcium for the bones! ;P