In the long run...

Yesterday was my first long run after the marathon - not that long in the grand scheme of running - 14k in fact, but the fact that I felt good, light & fast on my feet showed me that my marathon recovery has passed & again I have to train my ass!

I have a half marathon booked in the 1st weekend of December, could this be a good opportunity to run fast? To try & beat a PB perhaps? With some intervals & healthy eating over this next month it could be possible...

I made delicious seeded bread with coconut & banana for when I finished. & then for dinner I had some gnocchi with a 'botanicals' walnut bolognese with roma tomatoes & peas!! Quite a lot of carbs & quite delicious =) & this morning I made an apple, ginger, lemon & kale juice with vital greens. Kick starting my healthiness. 

& tonight. I'm running to St. Kilda the beach area in Melbourne, to see friends but excited that I can run along next to the water & feel the sun on my skin & breathe some sea air, perfect tonic for a Monday eve. So might a glass of pinot noir be =)

Friday hooray

LUV Fridays... I look forward to the weekend of yoga & running & brunches & running & shopping & running. 
I have had another productive week of fashion forecasting & running so Fridays are fabulous for rewarding vegan cherry ripes & rosie bubbly wine...

& serve with a chilled glass of sparkling rose preferably Verve Cliquot!! Enjoy xo

Move, nourish, believe.

A mantra that really resonates - move, nourish, believe. 

Tonight my MOVEment was personal training - strength with lunges, kettle bells, pull ups & other painful manoeuvres! Preceded by 45 mins on the X trainer - I apparently climbed Kilimanjaro on the machine. Hey it was a lot easier than the last 7 day trek up to the peak of the biggest beautiful mountain in Africa that I did!

Tonight my NOURISHment was a quick quinoa dish with chick peas, tomatoes, lemon juice, olive oil & sea salt. Simple yet still delicious & nutritious. & for naughtiness extra sweeeet nourishment 'botanicals' sticky date pudding mmmm. 

Tonight I BELIEVE I will sleep well!!! & that you get out of life what you put into it. If you don't push yourself you will never make positive progress in whatever you do. Here's to good strength, energy & a peaceful existence.

Philosophy of running...

I am going to take on Aristotle's philosophy. We are what we repeatedly do. & I certainly repeatedly run, every day in fact. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit. I will strive to be the most excellent version of me that I can be & that me is in the habit of running as excellently as I possibly can (not that fast nor with the perfect heel strike) but I run with heart & soul which I think is excellent!

I have just entered the 'two bays trail' race on January 12th. www.twobaystrailrun.com
It will be my next big run as I can't get to Tasmania next month due to work commitments, so a 56k down in the Mornington peninsula, Victoria will be my first ultra of 2014. I will endeavour to run my very best, whilst praying for temperatures below 40 degrees! I will be training with Aristotle's mantra in mind. Trying to do 56k in 51/2 hours is pretty damn excellent too!!

Take me to the trails to ponder more philosophies & to work on the habit of being excellent...

The big red (pink) run

Here it is..

https://bigredrun.worldsecuresystems.com/brr2014/index

The next maybe challenge!! A 6 day 250k run thru the Simpson desert!!
Truly testing my everything. I have 8 months to prepare if I dare. 
It sounds like a life changer & head re-arranger & many would say 
you would have to be deranged to even attempt such a super crazy 
ultra. But confident I have the commitment, I THINK am going to 
enter & I am going to turn that red outback PINK!!!
I met a guy who had participated & he made it sound so romantic, 
sitting around the fire at night, watching the stars... Reality 
maybe less romanticised; blisters, sore muscles, sweaty camping, 
mental breakdowns!! 
But WOW what an experience it could be, to explore Australia's red 
desert & to run THAT far...  

TBC.

OMG.

EEK!

XOX

12 reasons I run

Monday food for thought... Why do I run, I think this list could extend forever for running brings so much positivity into my life. But for now, 12 reasons I run...

1) I now believe I was given these legs to run, far
2) As pushing through the pain brings emotional release
3) To gain fitness for a planned race
4) To feel at one with the earth, in nature, a natural existence
5) To breathe, to listen to my breath, to be
6) To wake me up & to run my day off
7) For that heightened happy medative mind blissful bit
8) To get from A to B in a conscious way
9) For when I'm running I feel truly free & alive
10) To relieve, achieve & get the goals set
11) Running gives me confidence in my every day
12) It gives me time to think, to let my creativity flow

& one more I couldn't resist: I started running when I was going through relationship break ups that affected my heart. Running made me & my heart stronger.

Resting & writing

Happy weekend! As promised the awesome cauliflower & chick pea curry very very gooooood vegan wholesome delish dish.

3 tblsp coconut oil
1 large onion
1 large chilli pepper
2cm ginger slice - grated
1 sweet potato - chopped into cubes
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tin rinsed chickpeas
1/2 cauliflower head cut into small florets
4 cups water
4 tblsp chopped fresh coriander
1 lime juiced
2 tsp sea salt 
Sauté the onion in the oil on a medium heat in a large pot.
Add the ginger & chilli & sweet potato.
Add the spices. & then the water.
Add the cauliflower & chickpeas & simmer on low heat for 20 mins.
Remove from heat & add the coriander, lime & salt. Stir & stand.
Let all the flavour become fragrant. 
I serve with brown rice & chia seeds.

This weekend I decided to have a free weekend from running, although as the Sunday afternoon advances I am seduced by the sunshine & starting to think about a swift sashay around the tan track. Yesterday ashtanga yoga was a sublime start to the weekend & I had a beautiful afternoon with sisterhood & sparkling wine glasses. & today have been writing, ideas & paragraphs, short stories of sorts all inspired & ruminated when I have been running. I'm putting together a new blog that documents other passions in my life, fashion & writing....
Here's to creative Sundays of cauliflower curries & reading & relaxing with maybes a little running.

keep running...

After 2 days of rest & recovery I ran into work this morning, I just couldn't wait to put on my runners & hit the pavement. I pulled up pretty well after my epic marathon on Sun & thinking I have my recovery down pat, my routine -

Sunday...post race, walked home to stretch out, hot shower then 30seconds of cold intervals (more intervals aaarrgh!!) put my feet up, kept stretching, took some nurofen before bed.

Monday...epsom salts bath am, walked in my compression skins & floated in the pool pm.

Tuesday...power plates stretching/massage session.

Wednesday...light 5k jog am, organic yoga class pm.

& after putting my body through such exertion, I have been rather ravenous since Sunday. I have had some super tasty meals, awesome recovery foods I've had - 

Breakfasts - macro fruity muesli (sugar free) with almond milk

Vegan nachos - with my tomato bean & coriander chilli

Baked sweet potato with felafel & tomato, bean & coriander chilli.

Lunches - avocado, tomato, cucumber, lettuce rye wraps

Cauliflower & chick pea curry with brown rice !!! Amazing recipe coming up.

My marathon photos

Here are a few photos of my Melbourne marathon... Thanks to Deej for the pics & the support. That's me with the cape & goofy smile =) 

Saying hello to the girls at 36k's, yoohoo!

Running SO fast I'm all motion blurred...

See you at the finish line!!! xox

Don't stop me now...

Melbourne marathon 2013

Fastest k 4.37

Fastest mile 7.54

Fastest 5k 26.16

Fastest 10k 53.07

Fastest half 1.54.29

Fastest marathon 3.53.35

My alarm went off at 5.25am on a Sunday morning!! So my first thought was to hide under my duvet & dream on. But then I remembered I had to get up for my marathon, that my Freddie Mercury inspired pink super power cape was ready to rock & run.

So I reluctantly rose & got myself race ready = vaselined against the chafe, put on all my fave pink running gear, skins, sneakers & said cape, had my vital greens shot & some electrolyte hydration.

I had a 20 minute walk to the MCG on this mild morning so boosted my energy stores with a banana & was there with 50 minutes to spare before the start at 7am, I was eager and excited!! 

When I got to the start area one of the motivational speakers was talking about personal bests, at which I thought 'well that won't be me, just taking it easy' & then plonked my place at the 4 hour marathon pacer, I would just see how I felt & go with the running flow, kind of with a mental challenge in mind.

I had my new garmin programmed to 5.40min k's, 4 hour pace & that felt good, easy for the first half of the race, It kept beeping at me that I was 'ahead of pace' so I would slow & ran my first half steady in 2 hours on the nose. I loved the novelty of my new running technology & it kept me entertained but most importantly paced to perfection. 

I got thinking & visualising... I was feeling pretty awesome & strong, I started to really believe I could finish around the 4 hour mark. I started picking up my pace ignoring my garmin telling me I was running too fast & started running just that, fast! Mostly around 5.30min k's give or take a few seconds. My fastest k (sorry garmin for ignoring your pacing but I have fallen in luv with you really & your vital statistics are second to none!!) so my fastest k was at kilometre 36! A 4.47! 

That may have been when I got a super boost seeing my beautiful support girls bouncing along beside me & cheering & giving me much luv & luvly energy. By this time I knew I was going to make it in under 4 & running a PB was looking likely if I could just keep it up for another few k's. I passed the 4 hour pace group with a spring in my step & I now had a new running friend, Liz, & we ran the last leg (literally) together which helped me through the tightness & toughness. I did it & though the last k was pretty hellish when the heavens opened & my legs locked but I still managed a last 5.10k ;) & finished in my fastest ever marathon time 5.53.35. 

Happy beyond with my effort. & I was just taking it easy! In recovery = vegan nachos & cacao mousse + stretching out & sleeping. & dreaming of my next running adventure.....

Personal besties

W O W E E ! ! !  3 . 53 ! ! P B =) 

So very pleased with myself. So very tired! So LUV my new garmin!! 

Race report & photos to follow. & now - recovery... X O X 

Race ready Freddie

My Freddie Mercury inspired super power cape is ready. & I am ready.

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time, I feel Aliiiivve.
And the world it's turning inside out yeah,
I'm floating around in ecstasy...
So don't stop me now. Don't stop me
Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time...
I'm a shooting star leaping through the skies 
Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity
I'm a racing car passing by like lady Godiva 
I'm gonna go go go. There's no stopping me...
I'm burning through the sky yeah.
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me mr. Fahrenheit 
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic man out of you.

Don't stop me now
I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball
Don't stop me now 
If you wanna have a good time
Just give me a call
Don't stop me now
Don't stop me now
I don't wanna stop at all!

I'm a rocket ship on my way to mars
On a collision course I'm a satellite 
I'm outta control
I'm a sex maching ready to reload
Like an atom bomb about to oh oh oh oh explode

I'm burning through the sky yeah
Two hundred degrees
That's why they call me mr. Fahrenheit 
I'm travelling at the speed of light
I wanna make a supersonic woman outta you

Don't stop me
Don't stop me
Don't stop me
Hey hey hey!!!

Let's hope this song inspires me to a good run tomorrow morning!! 
Good luck to all melbourne marathoners ;) see you at the start line.

Expo goodies

Shit just got serious! My new pink Garmin just got bought at the marathon expo ;) & some new super socks; I have found these experia socks to get me through ultras with happy feet & another fluoro pink sports bra from zenzah for spirited support. I'm ready to run.....

Carb loading

With 2 days to go until I put on my pink power running suit & run the Melbourne marathon, my preparation is positively peaking.
I'm collecting my number bib today at the event expo, I always get very excited at these exhibitions & ultimately leave with various new pink running gadgets & gear. I'm thinking of investing in a pink garmin (GPS & heart rate monitor) think it's about time my training got techno! 
& this luvly sunny morning I joined my 'sportsgirls' on a 5k walk as a fun team event to launch our new active range. I'll be wearing a pink sportsgirl sweat band on my run on Sunday for a little luck & of course to promote my beloved brand. 
LUV my job. Check us out.....

That's me in the middle jumping the highest, clearly very excited about our matching 'work it out' tee shirts! & now I'm getting that marathon buzz feeling for the weekend whoot whoot !!!

full of beans

Last night I went to my fave ever restaurant in Melbourne (a city with many amazing eateries) I try to go as often as I can, I pretty much have had everything off the menu, in fact they once asked me if I had a kitchen!! as I took my usual spot on the communal table.....
the Vegie bar on Brunswick st. in Fitzroy...

The place is always packed out, buzzing with a bunch of vegetarians & non veggies alike. The food is always delicious, I LUV 'the duo' a chickpea curry & a dahl with rice & roti, the burrito is brilliant, the pizzas are pretty special, the lentil & tofu burgers tantalising, the stacked salads truly scrumptious, the daily specials (the indian thali, the sweet & sour stir fry, the raw pizza) all dreamily awesome!! 

I had the raw taco last night, a dehydrated seeded shell filled with a spicy bean filling with salsa, avo, lettuce & cashew cream. So tasty. & I left with a raw coconut & cacao slice so richly delish to munch on my meander home through the night lit streets of my neighbourhood. & so a luvly healthy happy night was had by all at the vegie bar, vegan dreamworld...

run wild!

Strength & sweat

My personal training routine has undoubtedly given me extra strength & fitness to achieve my running goals. I have a sense of dread/excitement at the prospect of circuits & intervals every Tuesday. & I know that without my trainer Stevie's encouragement & persuasion I clearly wouldn't motivate myself through another round of push ups or pull ups!! But I always leave the gym feeling highly satisfied & amazingly energised & significantly sweaty!!!

My exercises tonight -

X12 squat & shoulder press
1min treadmill :: 30secs@10.5k speed + 30secs@17k per hour (fast)

30 secs core & upper body work on a block
1min treadmill :: 30secs@10.5k speed + 30secs@17k per hour (fast)

X12 step ups on bench with weight bar
1min treadmill :: 30secs@10.5k speed + 30secs@17k per hour (fast)

X12 pull ups using straps from nearly horizontal
1min treadmill :: 30secs@10.5k speed + 30secs@17k per hour (fast)

X12 rotation pulls on both sides keeping arms straight & twisting
1min treadmill :: 30secs@10.5k speed + 30 secs@17.5k per hour (faster)

Repeated all the circuit exercises then...
1 min treadmill :: 30secs@10.5k speed + 30secs@18k per hour (super fast!!)

Finished off with a roll around on the massage setting on the power plate for 10mins. Happy to be done for another week. Feeling fit. 

Divine diary

My diary for the week, looking good!!

Monday..... 8k run + power yoga
Tuesday.... 10k run + PT strength & intervals
Wednesday.. 5k run
Thursday... 5k run + Pilates reformer
Friday..... 5k run + 50mins spin class
Saturday... Ashtanga yoga + 1k swim
Sunday..... 25k run 

= 58 total k's xoxoxox

Feeling fruity

After my 25k run out this morning I am feeling fruity indeed. I felt pretty good all the way along the Yarra river trail. Running all the way at a 4 hour marathon pace (5.40min k's) just to see how it could feel next week & feeling positive that I can put in a good effort.

What maybe helped was the thoughts of the homemade bread baking at home as I was running. Gluten free with quinoa, chia seed, coconut, almonds, dates, cardamom, cinnamon & all spice freshly baked with brazil, cashew & almond butter spread on a warm slice (or half a loaf!!) A M A Z I N G ! ! 

Washed down with my ginger, lemon, apple, carrot, celery fresh pressed juice. I LUV Sundays! 

& with a good stretch out after my run & i'm now watching the football (& writing this) with my legs inverted (lying on my back with my legs vertical against the wall) awesome for lactic acid regulating I think. Also had an Epsom salts bath with some lavender essential oil, I am feeling relaxed & radiant. & maybe ready for a marathon in 7 days & counting....

Now, about that marathon superpower cape. It's going to happen! Just u wait & see! 

Melbourne marathon

It's the Melbourne marathon next weekend. & I just entered! 

Bib no. 8193!

I am going to use it as a training run (& get a medal for it) No pace setting, no clock watching just slow steady running maybes even with a 25:5 run:walk & enjoying the event.
Ok I might go for around 4 hours but I know the marathon can be a friend or foe & you must respect the distance. Exciting though. & good training for my ultra in 8 weeks. 

So for this week, training as normal, with lots of yoga thrown in. & a 25k tomorrow. & a carb free week until Thursday then good carb loading. I have discovered quinoa & rice pasta so thinking this will be my meal of choice carbing.  

I might even make a cape.. Can't wait.. Xo 

challenge yourself

My juice today is packed full of gorgeous ginger & va-va voom vital greens for extra ooomph! & awesome apple, crazy carrot, sassy spinach, cool as a cucumber & luscious lemon. 

& I'll need the extra power for tomorrows training double whammy! 

Pilates + 6k run in the morning & PT strength & intervals + 5k in the evening! 

After a relatively restful day today of just a 5k run into work I will be ready for an exercise challenge.

'do a little more each day than you think you can possibly do'

& to help you do it - my brown rice salad recipe.....

cook 11/2 cups brown rice & chill all day or night.

add chopped PINK lady apple

1/2 cup crushed walnuts

1 cup cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup coriander

1/2 cup parsley

1 can rinsed cannellini beans

1/2 finely chopped red onion

2 stalks sliced celery sticks

then drizzle over with - 

1/4 cup freshly squeezed apple juice 

1/4 cup coconut oil 

& mix it all up & enjoy this healthy grainy juicy crunchy yummy food.