Be as you wish to seem...

Confident, strong, self-assured OR completely terrified of what is going to commence this weekend. In around 36 hours I will be starting.

My 100k run. I wonder what philosophical advice Socrates would give me about that!

Training done. Now the race is to be run. So I will be confident (of finishing at least), strong (I've put in quite a few miles), & self-assured that yes, I can do this... & a little bit of pre-race nervous excitement  / terror is good mental preparation I reckon.

& physical preparation, wow, I have that in abundance! I was up until gone midnight making my nutrition for my mission. Packing & checking my bag. & then again this morning! This is where I'm at...

Spirulina balls rolled - check

Running outfit + spare tops & socks - check

Runners & rock blocks - check

Choc oat energy bars made - check

Vaseline for the fight against the chafe - check

Garmin programmed (for laps & k's) - check

Race pace targets set 6.30 min k's - check

Energy bars baked - check

Hair dyed PINK - check

2 litres of Endura - check

1 pair of legs with lots of spring in their stride - check

About to board a flight to Melbourne with my bag of race goodies.... 

To be continued.... 

this life...

Need I say anything more? 
Well I must. Today I've been making the most out of my life ~ spending it how I want to ~ living it ~ happily & healthy. Doing my favourite things - running & eating goodness. No hating, no regretting, no dieting, only giving myself good nutrition, Running, yes but after my dreams & running for me. 
& I'm thinking ultra running has an element of bravery attached to it, going into the run knowing that you're going to be tested, physically & mentally, you know that you will be feeling the pain, that is inevitable. But being brave & pushing through it, until it feels good (at the finish) & taking the rough with the smooth along the road, just like in life.
This morning I ran a divine 18k alongside the ocean in the sunshine; sea air, drum'n'bass beats, beautiful beach views & endorphins!  
& followed that with a visit to my fave Sydney eatery - Sadhana - organic, whole foods, vegan & pretty rad. I had the raw tacos, my friend, the raw pad thai. Washed down with beetroot & veggies cold pressed juice. & then we both had the caramel slice for just desserts. Delish nourishment. 
& the week ahead. I'll be believing in myself. Readying myself for this next week, a full working diary of amazing challenges & then preparation for my other amazing challenge; this time next Sunday I hope I'm on the final bend of my 100k ultra run. & when I cross that finish line, I'll be mightily proud. & probably quite knackered! =)

 Stunning running

Luvly lunch & beetroot juice

& heavenly ending...

supercaliswagilisticsexyhelladopeness

HAPPY FRIDAY FLOWERS !!!

Hoping all our weekends are super fly.. I hope we all run long & strong with swagger, hope we all are aware of the beauty in the world around us right now, hope we all have a special someone to share weekend fun & laughs with & I really hope you all make these sexy vegan 'snickers' for Friday chocolate cravings ~ 

Rad Peanut caramel:
12 mejdool dates (pitted)
2 tblsp coconut oil
2 tblsp peanut butter
Blend up to a caramel texture..

Dope Chocolate:
2 tblsp raw cacao
2 tblsp coconut oil
2 tblsp maple syrup
melt all together..

In a silicone tray line each cube with the chocolate, fill in with the caramel mix then stick a few peanuts in & top off with more chocolate. Warning: these little critters will make your collective weekends magical! Um, did I just eat them. ALL!

Wet & wild

& so my run this morning. Let me enlighten you. I arose as the sun starting giving the gloomy skies a glow. I had my hot green mint tea & set off around 7am, a reasonably early Sunday start. As soon as I got outside the heavens opened. Sydney's showers seem to go on for hours with strength & vigour - these qualities I like to be associated with running, but not when it is pouring all over my head. 

When I reached Coogee beach I realised I was the only mentalist braving the rain storm. I came across a few fellow runners as I battled my way to Bronte with knowing smiles of acknowledgment of the craziness & commitment. The drops felt like sharp shards pelting my face & I was soaked to the skin before I reached my half way point at a deserted Bondi beach. I weirdly enjoyed my wet run this morning, the moments of calming soft drizzle in sheltered areas & then confronting the elements on the exposed coastal cliffs. 

I ran a powerful 20k, & when I finished I felt like I really had cleansed & washed away any negativities that may have been lurking within... Now back from the organic whole foods store with fragrant spiced dahl / cashew cheese ingredients & a cosy lazy Sunday ahead... Have a beautiful weekend, now the sun is shining & the sky is clear blue. Of course it is. Ah well. Good vibes xo

My soaked surroundings this morning, the waves were crashing as I was dashing - utilising the faster you run, the faster you're done tactics!!

successful sums

I've just been for my Saturday morning run in Melbourne today, re-acquainting myself with the tan track there - to be the setting of my next ultra challenge in 2 weeks - the 100k tan ultra *eek* so I ran a cool 15k with hill sprints & I'm now en route back to Sydney eating hummus & chips courtesy of Qantas' business class buffet. 
I've also just been reading the guardian online (my weekend ritual) & devouring the snacks & the sports section - the optimistism surrounding Sunderland's start to the English premier league season & the European athletics championships. 
I am amazed, proud & inspired to have read about Jo Pavey's gold medal, the 40 year old British lass has been competing for 17 years & this is her first major win, & let me reiterate, at 40 years old. Go supergirl. Makes me feel empowered to be a nearly forty female runner too & concurs that we're only just reaching our zenith, well done to Jo & here's to prime time fitness & fastness.
It's all those years of focus, of repeatedly putting in the efforts, of the belief. & I believe I can be my best ever running self in my 100k because of all of the years of miles & hills & legs rotations & mornings in motion. 
I'll be relaxing tonight with my other ritual remedies of epsom salts & lavender oil bathing, green smoothies, mung bean pasta & yoga-nidri. Getting set for my long one. The ocean path at dawn. Around 20k. Exciting times. 

AWESOME JO & haway Sunderland!! XO

Training hard

Training. Getting fit. Mentally as well as physically. For this next week, I'm going hard. Because life is never that easy, you must be strong to deal with it everyday. 

Last night I did my intervals - 30 mins - 1 min on 16k speed (fast) & 1 min on 10k speed (slow)

& this morning I awoke with the stars before 5am. I ran in the dark for half an hour. To see the sun rise over the cloud cloaked horizon. Stunning moodiness. I stood on the rocks as the dark & stormy waves rolled in, the sea winds blowing a hoolie & practised my qi gung moving energy mediations. What an amazing way to start the day. Energised, I ran 20ks before I got to work & embarked on a planning meeting marathon day at house of quirky! That is what I need to train for! Hump day humped.

Tomorrow. Yoga. Namaste...

fit toned healthy strong lean happy

FIT, TONED, HEALTHY, STRONG, LEAN, HAPPY... This is my intention for this week... To be all of the above...

I ran in City2Surf 14k run on Sunday & it left me feeling a little flat to be perfectly honest. Well at least now it's ticked off my list & I won't be doing it again.. 
I need to be running in nature, in solitude, in the moment, with intention & in thought. My running life is not about skipping around crowds of people & fancy dressed lego men. Although I do appreciate the running for generous donations to good causes & that is what the run was all about. But for me the actual art of running that I luv got lost in the melee. I ran home from the race off road feeling tension but soon as my feet hit the trails of the parklands, I felt happy, free & destressed.
Likewise treadmill pounding, just not my happy place. I'll be doing 20 mins of intervals on it tonight, something which I will think of every excuse not to. I know I have to for speed & strength & all of the words in today's motivational mantra. I know that if you always run slow, you will always be slow. & I do want to get fitter & faster!
But then tomorrow morning at 5 am I'll be more than happy to get up in the dark, strap on my head torch, run out into the pitch black & I'll be running along the coast path when the sun rises. Heaven. For that I can not wait. Everyone's crazy is unique to themselves! 
Early morning energy creating FITness, leading to TONED legs, followed by a HEALTHY breakfast smoothie, giving me STRONG intentions for the day, keeping me LEAN & ultimately HAPPY! 

Learning...

Learning is one of the greatest gifts in life. I learned a lot last month, here are some of my lessons / blessings.

* I am not invincible but I am incredible! - My joint injury inherently showed my body has weakness, I gave my body the best possible treatment & nourishment, which gave me the strength to run 70ks last weekend, that is pretty awesome I think!

* Always listen to your inner wisdom, your intuition is 100% right. - I knew I shouldn't have lifted the old sewing machine that way (the wrong way) that little voice in my head told me so. & wow, the pain also showed me so. I endeavour to follow my sixth sense.

* If you are feeling less than 100% - REST. Your body will thank you for it by recovering stronger. - When I was struck down with flu I struggled through, I would have been much better off tucked up in bed, I would have recovered much quicker. & been much happier in the interim!

* The human body & mind are your most amazing creation, put it to good use. - the energy that exuded from me last Sunday propelled me to some important smart decision making in my work, that time spent running / focused, gave me creative thought making mind tools.

* I am smarter than I gave myself credit for. - we always put ourselves down, we wouldn't speak to a friend/colleague like how we berate ourselves, give yourself a compliment & some encouragement. 

* Running really does make my heart soar. - in every sense, I was listening to music during my mega run last week, I felt so uplifted when the Lion King's 'circle of life' came on!! (I just lost my cool factor yeh) I felt beyond alive, my heart was exploding pink sunbeams to the world. For real.

* If you really want something, you will find a way. - 4 weeks ago I was down & out. I was in pain, one of my legs was literally longer then the other, I was completely out of alignment. I nourished & I nurtured. I regrouped, my joint recovered & I redefined my impossible.

* A fresh whole food diet increases happiness. - I promised to nourish, giving myself as much nutritional luv, fresh, whole foods, raw, vegan, balanced, healthy diet as I can possibly give my body & in return it thrived, I fuelled my body with plant based goodness.

* It's never too late to live a life you're proud of. - I have pretty much given up the toxic vices of my younger days, yet feel more youthful & I am finding more truth & meaning in every day. Running/yoga make me a better human being.

* You need to give yourself a purpose. A friend had been suffering last week, I told her I was running for her, I meant it, I wanted to show her that anything is possible. Believe. Be. 

* The power of now. We have to be present. I have so much planning to do for work, thinking ahead, forecasting the next trend. But I have to be in the moment to create the future.

* BE GRATEFUL. I am. If you want to know what lucky feels like. Take a deep breath. xox

I LUV running..

on perfect running days, when the sky is the clearest hue of blue, the sun still has a winter chill & when everything falls into place - pace, strength, endurance & spiritual energy. So this is me... 

...crossing the finish line of my run today - 70k in 7hours40mins, not a bad effort considering the powers that have tested me & my fitness over the last month. I ran my marathon in 4hrs30, my 50k in 5hrs20 & 64k in around 7hrs which gives me an unofficial PB.
& I loved every second...
The early morning start, at 3am slurping my smoothie & scoffing homemade energy bars watching eastenders!! 
The walk in the dark across an unlit park at 5.30am with my head torch & spooky sounds echoing around. 
The running, the pace setting, quietly breaking it down & the rush of endorphins as the run progressed.
The friends & supporters who had my back, Careen & her pink vibes, Kim & her "tired legs = sexy legs" signs, Kelly, Andy & Stuart for the laps & laughs.
& my actual back for withstanding the pressure & my sacroiliac joint too, thank you!
The smiling faces of the volunteers, friendly & motivating & a few I fancied!
The strength I found my body to possess & the moments of beauty & purpose & fulfilment.
That's what I loved about today.
A perfect running day xox