I have a new training program which Brad has helped me to develop.  This morning was a shorter distance run but the goal was to run the entire time and walk ONLY if I cannot go on.
Having completed my 3.5km run in 29 minutes and only walking 200 metres, I am super chuffed!!!
First next session is on Friday, LSD as on the weekend I am doing another trail run. Â This will be my last 5km trail run, time to move onto longer distances.
How is your training? Â What is your next race?
So my good friend, Carol, who convinced me to try trail running and got me hooked on that, managed to convince me to do the Impi Challenge.
So I have just over a month to train, although I am not entirely sure what training I should be doing for an event like this. Â Check out this YouTube video of the 2011 event.
What interesting challenges have you done?
Whilst doing my LSD on Saturday afternoon, I realised how much I have done and achieved since starting my training in October 2011. Â For those of you that know me and for those that don’t, I have never done sport at all, always been a couch potato. Â Now I get excited at the tought of running 8-10km on a Saturday afternoon and doing trail running. Â Actually the best part of a recent trail run that I did was a floating bridge. Â The marshal informed me as I approached it “Run like the wind or you will sink” – well that was motivation!!
I am always looking for someone to run with on the weekends, so if you are keen, let me know. Â Remember though, I am still slow and take lots of walk breaks. Â Have a look at my LSD from Saturday on Garmin Connect and you will see.
Your comments, tweets and inbox messages keep me very motivated, so please keep them coming.
Have fun out there!
This was my first ever night race and first ever night trail race.  AWESOME!!! is the only was I can describe it.
The event organised by @trailrunseries was the first one at night and the organisation was supurb.  Registration took less then 60 seconds with an awesome goodie bag from @biogensa.  Then it was chilling on the lawn at the Toyota MTN Cycle Park (@cyclepark) whilst chatting to mates, making new ones and sharing in some good laughs.
I did the 5km route with my good friend Tanya. Â Ready and waiting with our headlamps on, we set off on the route which I felt was challenging and exciting. Â Trail running really works so many different muscles in your legs, back and core that I have really fell in love with it. Carol, who got me to my first one, gave me the “I told you so speech” on BBM 
So going forward I am most certainly going to incorporate at least one trail event a month in my race schedule and training. Â Best I get myself a proper pair of trail running shoes as I have been using my normal road shoes. Â Easiest way to get started till you hooked – only took me two races. Â Anyone know anyone at a trail shoe company or running store that want to sponsor me – wink wink.
If you have not done it and want to do it with me, just holla and we can go together.
Check out the photo album on Facebook.
Today I did my first ever 10km road race 
The best part of this achievement is that I did it with a great friend that I met last year. Â She was in the January 2011 Runners World magazine and inspired me to acheive my goals through running. Â This fantastic person is Madelyn.
There was a good mix of hills and flats and we had so much fun. Â I am testing out a new running gadget, a Garmin 310xt and the data this produces in amazing. Check it out here.
The immense support that I am getting from my facebook, twitter and other running friends keeps me going and is absolutely awesome. Â Thank you to each and every one of you. Â The words of encouragement are more valuable to me than you can imagine.
I finally gave in and listened to Carol. Â This morning was my first trail run.
Wasn’t quiet sure what I was letting myself into here. Â Anyway, my alarm goes off at 4:30 (still battling with the early morning wake ups). Dressed and breakfast in 20 minutes and out the door to the north of Pretoria.
En route, I wasn’t paying attention to the road signs, travelling along at a good 120km an hour when it dropped to 100km (I think) and FLASH my picture was taken. Â So if the medal is not enough proof that I was there, a traffic fine in the mail in a few weeks time will be extra proof.
Anyways, I go through the Zambezi toll gate, pay my dues and head to the venue for the run. Â Upon arrival, I meet with a few pals and get registered for the event. Â In total they say there were 600 people, so it was nice and small group. Â First the 12km runners set off on the long trail. Â With about a 10 minute head start the 7km runners lined up. Â At this point I would like to point out that we ALL thought it was a 5km event. Â Wildtrail and their surprises.
Off we go, bit of a slow start, shuffling and all until the pack thins out a bit. Â The first 500m or so into the event, splash, I step into the siffest smelling puddle. Â So now my shoes have been baptised in kak water (I think) and into the forest we go. Â This point of the event we are all single file, up and over logs, rocks and through trees. Â Rough stuff. Â I am starting thinking “What the hell have I done?”
I forgot to mention that I am running with a high school pal, Jen. Â We are about 1.5km in the run, when we need to cross a river over a floating bridge, about 30 metres long. Â If we don’t run over it, it will sink is what we are told. Â So now our shoes are flooded and shlosh shlosh shlosh is all you hear for the next kay or so.
Up hills, over rocks, slippery terrain, roots, shrubs and natures toilet is all going passed me as I am concentrating on where to place my foot and to ensure I don’t do the dreaded “ankle roll”. Â Being so technical for a newbie, I was going a little slower than my usual road running time, which I expected, and that is when I looked up and Jen was gone. Â She was about 500m ahead and then disappeared into the distance.
The next 4km where tough single track through chest high reeds and up and over streams, rocks and more roots.
Nearing the end I was feeling really good, very tired as I am working all my different leg muscle groups every few minutes and now very thirsty. Â In case you didn’t know, there are NO water tables on trail runs.
The last 50m before the finish is yet again another floating bridge! Â RUN RUN RUN is what the marshal is shouting, or it will sink. Â Over the finish line, photos taken, medal received and congrats from my pals and Jen who finished just 5 minutes before me.
What an awesome experience and lots of fun.
I have now completed my 2nd race of 2012 and absolutely loved it.
On Thursday I collected my race number and temporary licence. Â I was very confused as to why I needed a temporary licence for a 5km event as I was always under the impression it is only needed for 10km and longer. Â After much Twitter debate, it was discovered that this event an officially timed road race and therefore temporary licences are required (thanks to @BigBradBrown, for the answer).
So this morning my alarm goes off at 3:55am (yes that is before the sun rises). Â I get up, get clean, have something to eat and head out to pick up my running mate (@sheldondelport) for today’s event.
I was warned that there will be thousands of people, well 6000 people entered the 21km event and I wasn’t sure how many for 5km, so Sheldon and I arrived nice and early. Â Already there was a traffic build up. Â So I found a parking lot about 1.5km from the start and we walked to the stadium. Â Was actually nice doing this as it was a good warm up.
The amount of people blew me away. Â You see my previous too events probably had 1000 people at best, so with this being possibly 7000 I was very intrigued to see what will happen. Â It was superbly organised, well manned with marshals and people to help you in the right direction etc. Â My hat off to the organisers.
After the mandatory loo visit, we made our way to the start line. What an awesome vibe with super friendly people and everyone greeting each other. Â I took this snap of the people behind us as we were about 4 row’s from the front of the pack for the 5km. Â As you can see, hundreds of people and very overcast. Â Being overcast and little cooler was fantastic as it made the run much easier for me.
My goal in this race and races going forward is to improve  on my finishing time, even if it is just by a minute or two.  So I shared this goal with Sheldon, who took it as a personal challenge and we charged ahead.
To my surprise and absolute glee, we finished the race in 42min and some change. Â This shaved a whopping SIX MINUTES off the 5km race I did on the 2 Jan. Â I was beaming!
With medal in hand, and having met a new a twitter friend (@biggestbossfan) as well as saying howzit to @Bronyw, it was time to head on home. Â I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will definitely do this race again next year, the only difference is next year will be the 21km
A guy calls a company and orders their 5-day, 5kg weight loss program.
The next day, there’s a knock on the door and there stands before him a voluptuous, athletic, 19 year old babe dressed in nothing but a pair of Nike running shoes and a sign around her neck. She introduces herself as a representative of the weight loss company.
The sign reads, “If you can catch me, you can have me.”
Without a second thought, he takes off after her. A few miles later puffing and puffing, he finally gives up.
The same girl shows up for the next four days and the same thing happens.
On the fifth day, he weighs himself and is delighted to find he has lost 5kg as promised.
He calls the company and orders their 5-day/10kg program. The next day there’s a knock at the door and there stands the most stunning, beautiful, sexy woman he has ever seen in his life. She is wearing nothing but Reebok running shoes and a sign around her neck that reads, “If you catch me you can have me”.
Well, he’s out the door after her like a shot. This girl is in excellent shape and he does his best, but no such luck.
So for the next four days, the same routine happens with him gradually getting in better and better shape.
Much to his delight on the fifth day when he weighs himself, he discovers that he has lost another 10kg as promised.
He decides to go for broke and calls the company to order the 7-day/25kg program.
“Are you sure?” asks the representative on the phone. “This is our most rigorous program.” “Absolutely, ” he replies, “I haven’t felt this good in years.”
The next day there’s a knock at the door; and when he opens it he finds a huge muscular guy standing there wearing nothing but pink running shoes and a sign around his neck that reads, “If I catch you, you are mine.”
He lost 33 kilos that week.
So this is not quiet a running post but something that I battle with. Â Not only with running but all aspects of my life. Â I find it hard to accept compliments.
Maybe you are one of those people.
I find all sorts of reasons why I am not worthy of receiving praise from others for what you have done or accomplished. So often I will down play it or even ignore it as I know that I am not anywhere near ready to receive such praise.
What I need to learn to do is when others compliment me, thank them sincerely and believe that they mean every word they say. Let their compliments affirm and build me up.
This is something for me to work on in 2012.
This morning I did my first 5km event for 2012. Â It was at the beautiful Pretoria Botanical Gardens at 7am. Â Having drummed up some support from my twitter pals (twunners) and a few friends, I have decided this year will be the year I achieve many of my fitness and health goals. Â So doing a race the day after new years I thought was a great idea.
From the time I arrived, everything was well organised and sign posted (except for the start).  The track was within the gardens, 2 x 2.5km loops.  As we started it took sometime for the pack to thin out a bit and for the runners to be allowed space through the hord of walkers.  I used my run/walk technique and was feeling good until the first of 2 massive uphills hit.  Hills are meant for walking, I was told  (hey Carol).
I finished the event according to me Suunto (click on the button below for more details) in 48m having done 5.5km. Â Now I am not sure if my foot pod is over compensating or if the organisers miscalculated. Â In any event, it was a great morning and start to the year.
What I learnt from this event is that I can do this, I now have a time to work on improving and that I have also booked two more races for January. Â What seriously impressed me was the number of little ones walking with their parents and also an 80 year old walker that I could just not catch, no matter how hard I tried. Â Wow that granny was FIT!!
My first 2012 medal is a reminder that I can and will be able to achieve my running goals, thanks to all for your support.
How is your training? Â What is your first race?