Pretty Perth

Just arrived in Perth last night. Flew from the Gold Coast. From splendour in the grass. 
So my training for the weekend??? The festival workout - 
Slow jogging around a field
Sprint intervals to catch the next band.
Stretching to see around the tall guy in front.
Rolling out in the mud.
Carb loading at the Hare Krishna food tent.
Hydrating with cider!

I was staying at a beautiful property near Byron bay so managed a few sun salutations to the sunny skies on Sunday morning. Had my spiritual moment. Zen. 

& this morning I went out for an awesome run in Perth. I ran down to the water & did a loop across 2 bridges but along the water all the way. I was out for 11/2 hours so think I ran a good distance. Feeling good. Good dancing, good yoga, good travels, good running, good vibes xox

Not me best run

Ran Melbourne yesterday. Not very well though. Sad face. Tired legs. Disappointed psyche. 

I got in at 1.47... 7 minutes slower than my goal. The 1st 10k split was 49.43 which was on target, but I felt sluggish from 3k. Wanted to vomit at 6k. Nearly stopped at 8k. Legs felt sore from 11k. Had tummy pains from 15k. Didn't get into my groove at any k. & slowly shuffled over the finish line at 21.1k.

I just didn't have the power in my legs. & then I just didn't enjoy it. & I know a lot about distance running is a mental thang. Kinda feel disappointed but my body & brain just said "chill out petal" Next time maybes...

Or maybes not. Also it did get me thinking. I'm not sure I enjoyed the half marathon event, the city streets & jostling for a stride. I want to run in nature, on trails, I love the camaraderie out there, the endurance mentalness, the ultra bug has got me. So after a bit of recovery I'm going to get my ultra runners back on. 

Speaking of recovery. I found a whole jar of gingerbread botanical ice cream (dreamy) was worth the all pain... Check out the Australian raw vegan range by Botanical. It's all natural. It's all amazing. Cheeses, ice creams, pestos, chutneys, yummies...

Run Melbs Pink

Tomorrow morning is run Melbourne half marathon!! & I'm getting pre race nerves. I'm also getting race prepared, I've washed my fave skins & matching sports bra, I've got my lucky pink buff out (it's going to be chilly when I set out at 6am to start the race at 7am) I did an ashtanga yoga class this morning to give my limbs a stretch. I've dyed my hair pinkish (a race superstition) & I've eaten all super foods all week, lots of juices, nuts, green soups, raw veggies. I've just made my fave quinoa with peas & beans in roast tomato, pepper & rosemary sauce to carb load for the morning. I've made my music playlist. I've trained, sprinted, sweated until I was nearly sick. I've got my number out, safety pinned & am currently choosing which pink top to wear. I've got a power bar for breakfast at 5am & have got my GU gels packed to power me up. I've got an old jumper to keep me warm at the start line. I've set my alarm for 4.44am for breakfast in bed & 5.55am get outta bed (on a Sunday!!!) I am ready to run Melbourne =) 

I'm going to be thinking of this Paul Tergat (awesome Kenyan marathoner) quote tomorrow morning..... 
Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'. 

runnin just as fast as I can...

I ran my fastest ever kilometre last night. After a crazy busy day at work, I styled a catwalk show of 36 outfits in 1 day which meant 1 day with 36 times more stress!! Sometimes it's awesome to run it off & sometimes it is hard to even run!! Last night was the latter. But I had my last personal training session before I 'run Melbourne' half marathon this Sunday. So I ran to the gym & tried to run a fast k. I got tired with 200 metres to go & stopped!?! Why!?! Because that meant I had to try again & at the end of my session! But try again I did. &&&&&&&& I ran my k in 4mins12secs - I will break 4mins soon. 
So I have tried different training techniques, done my speedy sessions, stretched & rolled, & changing from super long distance training but not running further than 20k on a Sunday. Well I think I can get close to 1 hour 40 mins for 21.1k this weekend. I'm going for it anyhoo. & am I going to continue the speed freakin? Erm maybe. I have got the 'tan ultra' 50k coming up in August so may focus on more endurance for a couple of weeks. & then we will see what the next runny challenge may be.......

hill sprints for fun!

hahahaa hill sprints - so much fun yeh right!

Well that's actually how I felt last night. I have ran to & from work everyday this week & last night was the same as usual easy run home except it wasn't. I decided to do some fast hill sprints. Spontaneous sprinting I thought why not! Some awesome tunes came on my ipod & I ran rave danced to the top. & I felt super strong & made it to the top 3 times =) I never thought I would ever enjoy them & certainly never thought I would be writing - I loved hill sprints!!! There, said it! Whooop ready to rock this weekend! 

& to kick off the weekend I knocked up some new bliss balls. Blissin' out as I type! With a new improved recipe....

1 cup raw pistachios
1 cup dates 
1 dessert spoon coconut oil
1/4 cup raw cacao
1tsp pink himalayan sea salt
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp cardamon
dessicated coconut (for rollin')

blend all until sticky n smooth, roll in to balls & into coconut. Yum energy yum luv! 

lean & mean...

running machine!! is what I want to be. & that's what all my friends & colleagues believe me to be. They see I run every day, I do intervals & a long run once a week every week. I have completed 3 ultras & 7 marathons. But sometimes I feel like I'm not really a proper runner!!! 
I think it's because I don't really know anyone in running circles, I don't chat about my running with anyone. At work I talk about fashion & with friends I talk about life & luv & food & fun but nothing about me on the run. I'll just bore my blog with my fitness fables!
So I ran on the treadmill last night & reached 18.5k's an hour which is pretty fly. But I can't run that fast for long (longer than 30 seconds in fact) & so I feel a little lacking in running confidence.. Like I should try another hobby - hmmm I do love knitting!! 
But knitting doesn't keep off the middle age spread. In fact it keeps you warm & goes hand in hand with eating cake! & I don't want to look my age (a young 37 year old) I want to look as hot as when I was 27! & running gives me that slimmer leaner waistline, toned legs & a youthful glow =)
I just need to get a bit better, train a bit harder, run a bit longer & eat a bit lesser, sprint a bit quicker, feed a bit healthier, stretch a bit stronger!!! Right, I'm running out the door. I love that I've got running in my life, even if it's like a secret affair. xox

rockin n rollin

ow! it hurts. After all the miles I have ran I have never really rolled out the knots & muscle tensions & build up of tightness. This form of massage therapy with a knobbly roller loosens the limbs & works on problem areas. So I tried it. & it sure hurts. But sure works too. My calf muscles were feeling strained & after 2 painful sessions of applied pressure to the area, they feel a lot better. Magic. So now I am building a bit of rock n rollin' into my training everyday....

Rainy runner goes bananas

When I left work tonight the heavens opened & rain pelted down on me, cold & wet in the dark along the road I ran. So I challenged the sky to a duel, if it rains harder I run faster, when the rain softens I go slower, simple rules. Sky won. I had to run fast for 2/3 I reckon of the run. I should be thanking above for the impromptu speed session! 

So I treated myself to making some vegan banana bread!! Well it's winter & I ate it warm from the oven & it tasted of heaven... & bananas are good for me ;) 

Vegan banana bread
1/3 cup walnut oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups wholemeal flour
11/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 smashed bananas
1/2 cup almond milk
1 tsp organic vanilla
1/2 cup desiccated coconut

Mix the oil & sugar, add the flour & other ingredients mix in. Bake in oven 220* for 50 mins... Bliss. Beauty. Bountiful bananas!! Boom. 

But oh. I have been watching Wimbledon & Glastonbury on tv, getting good vibes from my beloved motherland & somehow the banana bread has well, just been eaten. By me. Oh indeed. All of it. Well it was bloomin lush!