Over the past two weeks I have noticed ‘the plan’ as it were coming together and have had success on my long runs. For me success is no injuries, being able to maintain a good rhythm during my long runs, positive self talk when running and the fact that I can still walk the next day.

I was lucky enough to be at Lake Alexandrina for Labour weekend so got the opportunity to explore this beautiful part of the country while out for my 30km trot.  I initially ran part way round the lake but after 5km had to turn back as there was a rather curious and large bull that was intent on following me.  I couldn’t back myself to outrun it, so I headed back the way I came (rather quickly!)  The rest of the run was done on the roads around Lake McGregor and out towards Glenmore Station. Very serene and stunning countryside – exploring and soaking up our amazing scenery is one of the best bits about long runs. I had decided from the outset that I wasn’t going to focus on my time, but rather  focus on my form and being present in the moment as I find the more I stress about my time, the less enjoyable the run.  By the end of 30km I was soooo pleased to see the hut we were staying in as I was starting to feel like a little old lady as I hobbled/ran up the last hill.  My time was still quite slow but I enjoyed the run and I had a more even pace and rhythm compared to my previous 30km run.  A quick submerge in the lake soon sorted out my legs and after some much needed lunch we were off for a walk over the hills.   Amazing what your body can adjust to.

Last Saturday I completed the Mission Mt Somers run which is an off road run with quite a technical downhill aspect.  This was probably one of the most challenging runs I have ever done and even though I was just over my projected time, I was elated to finish the run happy and in once piece.  It was a great run to work through pre-race nerves, practice my nutrition as well as being quite a hard work out!

As I have discovered through trial and a lot of error, nutrition plays a huge part in training and recovery.  This past month I have changed my breakfast plan slightly to include chia seed pudding (I know – pudding for breakfast! How good is that!) as well as my usual peanut butter and toast.  I have also started fuelling for long runs 3 hours before which means I get up at 6am to eat – much to the astonishment of my family.  I have found that eating at this time sets me up well for my run.  I am still experimenting with how many carbs I need to consume on my long runs and I find that this varies with each run.

Queenstown marathon is less than three weeks away and before I know it I will be on that start line with thousands of others ready to tackle my BHAG. I am starting to feel prepared mentally as well as physically – after all running long distances is really just an argument between your body and your mind.

With the postponement of my event for a whole year I’ve done some really hard thinking about the elements of my life that are focused on that event and how to make them serve, not only a solo attempt at Coronet Peak regardless, but also taking a slightly longer term view that isn’t quite so obsessed! This way I get rewarded all the time in little ways that make event generated motivation somewhat irrelevant. I love best the moments of adventure and discovery, the views from the hills, the sights and sounds and smells of getting out and about in all weathers.

This week I’ve been along the Summit Rd including the track under the Gondola. I haven’t been up there since ‘that day’. It was heartening to see so many cyclists along it but still a stark reminder of how much so many have lost.

The next day I was hoofing it up the Bridle Path. That’s one steep road! The views are spectacular though even if the sheep look a little unusual. I am guessing this is a particular breed, the lambs sure are cute!

It’s about four weeks since Spring Challenge. Everything has been a little bit chaotic; I’ve had six overnight field trips for class in five weeks, many assignments and not much time to fit in training. I’m finally getting chance to write about Spring Challenge. I raced in the TeamCP Adventure Chicks team in the 9 hour Spring Challenge race with Kathryn Bunckenburg (previous teammate) and Nicole Ranger (new to the team). We had an absolute blast running, mountain biking, rafting and navigating around the 110kmish course in Wanaka.

On Friday we collected our maps, attended the race briefing and were getting excited about the pending race. We poured over the maps checking the course, working out the best routes and highlighting them. We had it all planned – who was doing what, were clear on our team goal to make the top ten, and to have fun. We finished sorting our gear and then headed to bed knowing there would be an early start.

We got up not long after 4am to prepare for the day and were ready at 6am on the start line. Straight off the start line the pace was quick, with the front team still in sight. It was a fast 2km to hit the rafts. We were quick enough to be one of the first few teams on the water. Then the battle began. It was a mostly flat paddle this year with a few other rafts nearby so we were constantly changing places and fighting it out against them. We got out of the rafts after having heaps of fun and ran a short distance to the transition.

After a quick transition, we headed off on the 64km mountain bike ride. We started on some awesome trails around Deans Bank. We quickly fixed a tiny navigation error near the start. Nicole did the navigation on the bike – a great decision as she nailed it throughout the race. Thanks Nicole! J We were surrounded by several teams, which was exciting and kept the pressure on. We got slick at punching controls. I looked after the control card and clipped it while Nicole worked out where we were going next. As soon as I had clipped the card, we were off to the next control.

After a flattish section, we had a nice big hill. After a little bit of hill on the road we had a quick water refuel and were then off again – up, up and up. It was a slog up the hill but also a lot of fun. By this point, the teams had spread out. We could see a team in front of us just up the hill but couldn’t see anyone behind us. We guessed we were at the back of the top teams. I managed to ride some of the hill. Eventually I joined my teammates walking their bikes as it turned out we were still a long way from the top + I had a sore butt! We were slowly catching the team in front. Eventually we reached the trig at 1444m to find an amazing view of hills partly covered in snow, and the team in front just leaving! It was exciting to start riding but disappointing to find that it was difficult riding in snow. Once we could finally ride again we go to blast our way downhill picking up a few controls and got to transition after 6hours 23minutes of biking. On the final part of the downhill something felt weird on my bike and I looked down to see a flat tyre. The transition was in sight luckily so I just kept riding!

After changing into running shoes and shoving down a banana (my favorite race food) we left running for the hike section. Kathryn took over the navigation and since we had two maps I backed her up. For the first section of this leg we were mainly by ourselves or surrounded by 6 hour teams. We kept moving and gained some ground on some teams. With some good navigation we caught up to another team and were near them for a few controls. We ended up with in a bunch with two other 9 hour teams but lost them when we got stuck behind some 6 hour teams on a section of hill with a rope we had to follow.

We came into the transition keen to get back onto the bikes. Our support crew had fixed my flat tyre but my bike appeared to be making funny noises once we got riding. Luckily, nothing went wrong with it. This was the last leg for the day so we were all ready to go hard and smash it to the end. Nicole nailed the navigation on the last leg and we got to ride some fun single track. We powered along the last section, dropped our bikes, I punched the last control and we ran to the finish line to complete the race in 11hours 44 minutes. We were all super excited when we discovered we had finished 5^th place in our category and 7^th overall! We didn’t think we were doing that well – it shows you just have to keep pushing and not give up because you never know what can happen in an adventure race. 🙂

Nicole, Kathryn, Rachel

I was going to write this update last week but due to unplanned events my head space wasn’t where it should have been.  Recently I have become acutely aware of that all-important mental aspect to persevering when things get difficult and the thoughts and the self-talk that goes on in my head can seriously affect my running.

Several things have happened in the past couple of weeks that has reminded me that running/training isn’t always fun and sometimes we need the negative from which to grow and improve. Training recently has become a bit of a struggle as all the important factors like sleep, nutrition, positive mental awareness haven’t been aligned.  Last week I had a recovery week and when it was first scheduled in, I thought ”Nah I don’t need a recovery week!” as everything was going well and I felt good mentally and physically.  How quickly things can change. I thought that on a recovery week I would feel fantastic as the mileage was less, and not so much mental pressure to get out and do a long run.  However it turns out I felt tired the entire week, my legs felt like they had been dipped in lead when I did run, and mentally I was beginning to doubt that I should have ever entered a marathon in the first place!

Another contributing factor to my negative self-talk was comparing myself to others.  I lost sight of why I was doing the marathon distance and ruminated too much about how others were doing.  I asked others who are doing the Queenstown marathon how their long runs were going.  Transpires my 30km time was the slowest.  This freaked me out a little and I started if I had done enough to get myself to the start line. So, this week I have been working on just enjoying being out running and have been managing the negative self talk.

So as it turns out running is not always rainbows and unicorns and that actually training for a big event is hard work mentally and physically. Another wee learning curve for this novice runner!

It’s that time of year again when the magpies see cyclists as imminent threats to their nests and test the qualities of one’s cycle helmet. I was very pleased that mine kept the claws off my head and also showed no ill effects from the repeated onslaughts. I gave this particular individual lots of practice as I was going up and down Hoon Hay Valley Rd. This was Saturday morning as the weather turned abruptly southerly and rained on me as I headed out to Lincoln. I won’t repeat details here, see my everyday hero page, and whilst over there get a load of the new total! I’ll keep shifting the goal posts as long as I can!

This morning I took off early up Mt Vernon on the Dry Ridge Track. Cue another of my growing collection of photos of steps. These were particularly nuggety and fun. I got rained on again but was well away when the NW gale blew through. I should put a big shout out to John Bull Cycles here where I picked up a winter weight cycle vest in their sale. These are excellent for walking trails for the same reasons they work on the bike, big back pockets to stash stuff in, windproof and showerproof chest protection, grippy hem, zip up/down to suit etc.

I began yet another challenge today too. That is ’40 days to personal revolution’ at Apollo Power Yoga. I am already a nearly daily yoga practitioner but I am particularly interested to see if I can integrate meditation and some structured introspection into the mix. I think this will be particularly interesting given that the event I have totally engaged in has been postponed for 12 months. Onwards and upwards, one step at a time!

A few years ago my husband Mike ran the Gold Coast marathon, I ran the Half. We had bought a bottle of Moët duty free and had it waiting on ice in our hotel ready to pop the cork and celebrate our success after the race. Unfortunately Mike ended up on an intravenous drip after crossing the finish line, he had been sick leading up to the race and had started vomiting at about the 10k mark. I still don’t know how he managed to finish the marathon but he did. Hence the Moët for left for another day! But this started a tradition. The Moët Club was born!

So this time next week I will have drank a few glasses of champagne and will be feeling fabulous!! I hope!! The post race nutrition kind of goes out the door and I will eat what ever I fancy. Hot chips are always good. French fries and Moët are meant to go together!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I still have to run 42.2 k’s first. I have already started my prep. My hair was cut and coloured last week – not going to Melbourne looking shabby! You may ask what has that got to do with race preparation. Well a lot actually. Whilst at the salon the very first article I read was about Geoffrey Mutai the fastest man to run a marathon. He ran the Boston Marathon in 2 hours 3 minutes. I do a half marathon in that time on a good day! Ok so we may be on different levels but I did get some good tips from him, the most important one was to be brave.

Running is all about being brave. Right from the very first time you put on that sports bra or sign up for your first race you are being brave. Running on the road, instead of hiding inside on the treadmill, going for a run up on Summit Road, trying to swallow energy gels without throwing up all require me to be brave. And guess what, I’m actually doing it! Last week I become a member of a very exclusive club – the Ellesmere Road Runners 100 Club, which means I have run around the streets of Leeston on a Wednesday evening for at least 100 weeks. I am very proud of this, as I never, ever would have thought I would run one kilometre let along join a running club. If you had asked me a few years ago or any of my friends if this would happen we would have laughed in your face. Not Pauline, she wont run, they don’t make sports bras big enough, she has massive feet and an inkling for alcohol!

But like my mate Geoffrey I have been brave without really knowing it

I will be thinking of Geoffrey Mutai when I run on Sunday, I know I won’t be breaking any records but I do hope to make new friends on the course and be grateful that I finish without incident (thanks Imodium my new best friend)!

Thanks Geoffrey for reminding me to be brave, sometimes we need to acknowledge that we are doing better than ok. Although, I am glad you are not part of our Moët Club because by the time I finish my race you will have eaten all the chips and drank all the champagne!!

It’s been a really extreme week for highs and lows. High because I’ve reached my first $1000 donated to my mission, gutted because the event I am training for has had to be postponed for a year. I understand the logistical road block (NZ Golf Open) that has occurred for 12 March 2016 but at the same time I am really disappointed too. However there was no decision required of me here, I am climbing that road up Coronet Peak on my bike in March 2016 even if there is no one else there. I am on track to raise the next $1000 too. I thought that Fanfare might be an appropriate picture. I keep climbing stairs, struggling up hills, trying to understand my own head, attend hospital appointments, go to work, practice yoga and just keep going. I can’t stop now. I am not going to stop now. I am still on a mission. Nothing has changed in respect of that.

 Besides I also have to keep challenging Fleur to find more steps in the hills.

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At this current moment I am a professional runner, and by professional runner I mean that I am currently not working so have all the time in the world to run….

I was recently made redundant and finished working last week. I said to Richard until I manage to get myself another job that I would become a professional runner – perfect timing considering I have just over 6 weeks till my first marathon run! Just a shame I am not getting paid to professionally run….I need to find myself a sponsor or two (funny thing is I went into Shoe Clinic earlier in the week and brought a heap of Clif bars and gels and the lady said are you running one of their events? I said no I just like their products….so if you are from Clif I would love to get stuff for free and run with your logo…that is if you are looking for a semi-professional first time marathon runner….? No? damn)

In my first week as a professional runner I have actually read a book about a professional runner, Paula Radcliffe. Paula: my story so far. It was a great read and really put into perspective that no matter how professional you are or not so professional you are (like me) that we all experience the same sort of emotions, problems, injuries, lows and highs that other runners do. She is one incredibly lady, so many injuries that the average person would have no idea about! Recommend the book to anyone!

As I said, I am just over 6 weeks out from the marathon and I am feeling pretty good. I completed my first really long run on Sunday. I did my first every 30km run, it was tough, but I survived! Thanks in large part to Pauline who encouraged me the whole way, she was doing her last long run (21km) before her marathon in Melbourne next weekend and I am just starting the first of many long runs in the next few weeks before I taper.

The advantage of being a professional runner is that you can literally run whenever you like, no need for getting up super early to run before work and no need to leave your runs till the late afternoon after work. So far I am enjoying this flexibility and the ability to run whenever I like! Is this what it is like for the real professional runners? I have a feeling that their regimes could be slightly more hard out than mine!

We will see how my life as a professional runner goes over the next few weeks…..I do have some pretty long runs coming up (35km…ekkkk) wonder how real professional runners feel when they have to do these sort of runs…guess I will find out soon!

Below are some pics of my recent runs….incase you wanted to see!

I look and cringe as to when I last blogged and it was 20^th August!! Time really does fly.

It has been a really, really REALLY busy time which has made for interesting training times and locations over the last month.

August

We had Spring Challenge on 30^th August at the Raspberry Cafe in Tai Tapu which was a really fun way to get together and meet fellow CPers and the other bloggers. It was interesting and inspirational to catch up with fellow bloggers Pauline, Jennifer and Isobel and learn more about their training and goals in the coming months. We all agreed it is useful not only being accountable to a CP coach but also to the wider community. I think the main highlight of the day was having cake for breakfast and trying out my very fancy new Sunnto Ambit 3R GPS watch. It has been a really good investment and has helped me quantify what I’m capable of doing.

September

Spring time arrived along with a sneaky half marathon and visiting family and friends for three weeks. Simon plotted for me to partake in the Kaikoura half marathon on 12^th September. I wasn’t the only CP face in the crowd – Pauline, Tom, Lauren and Cathy all ran too. I ran the Christchurch half marathon in June and clocked up a personal best of 1.59.09. The pressure was on to beat this time but there was the added challenge of the “slope” (Simon’s words not mine!) at the 15km mark. At that stage of the race a ramp would have felt like Everest! I crossed the finish line in 1.54.24. The new watch was helpful in letting me track distance and speed during the race. For the first time after finishing a half marathon I didn’t get the dreaded cramps and general sick feeling but actually felt well. This race taught me the importance of race preparation and making good decisions. For the first time I ran the race with both water and electrolytes. I sipped both throughout and it really made a huge difference to how I felt during the race and at the end. Preparation nutritionally for the race included eating nothing spicy or herby and to start hydrating two days beforehand. My new PB has definitely put a spring in my step.

Two days later family arrived for a three week visit. Our first weekend away was in Te Anau and Doubtful Sounds. Running in a new place is always fun and a great way to get to know somewhere in a different way. I took the opportunity to run part of the Kepler track and of course it was totally amazing. I look forward to running the whole thing one day. The following weekend we were based in Christchurch and I ran in Halswell Quarry along C2, Crocodile Track and Kennedy’s Bush. It was my first “proper” uphill trail run in quite some time and it was fantastic…especially the downhill part. Last weekend we travelled to Tekapo and ran along Lilybank Road taking in the breathtaking views of the lake and mountains. During this run I also took on nutrition for the first time. I have a delicate disposition and usually have to eat 1.5 to 2 hours before a run and sometimes that even isn’t enough. I gingerly bit off a morsel of a Rhuburb and Crumble Nakd bar and it sat well. I’m keen to try some other flavours too. It was my longest run to date 25km. Another milestone on the get Emma to 50km journey. On Sunday I ran up Mount John when the winds were in full swing. I reached the steps before the top and thought it was OK, not too windy then got to the top and the wind almost stripped me of my clothing…prime example of a bad decision!

October

The month ahead brings all sorts of fun and adventures. Now that daylight savings has arrived it means longer runs during the week are on the cards. Simon has scheduled some sandwich sessions. I initially thought this might involve taking a sandwich on the runs however that would be a no. Sandwich sessions involve doing the race distance over three days For example, Saturday can be 15km, Sunday 25km and Monday 10km. Just to make things interesting I am travelling to Brisbane and Wellington with work for two weeks, so again lots of discipline will be required to ensure I fit in all sessions, get lots of sleep, eat the right food and drink the right drinks!! Race day is 14^th November and I am feeling that with the end goal in sight, I will be prepared on the day and will be able to enjoy the race 100% in the knowledge that I have adequately and sensibly prepared for it. And of course, I have already set sights on my next race!! I have signed up to be one half of a whole for the Coast to Coast. My team mate Anna will complete the 55km bike on day one and the 67km kayak on day two. I will complete the 33km run on day one and the 70km bike on day two. So after the 14^th November it will be time to pull the bike out of the shed and get ready for the next adventure.

Until next time…

Joined in my first CP group cycle ride this week, we had fun with wacky races and a bit of clowning around in good company. This addition to my timetable has meant I have had to experiment with altering the timing  and content of my meals so I am neither full nor hungry at 6pm. Beck and I have been working on me becoming much more intuitive around diet and sorting out what is genuine hungry eating and what is non-hungry eating. I get to practice both sides as I have to eat when not hungry in order to be able to handle the 6pm group ride but then revert back to hungry eating again later. I got it mostly right this week, more fine tuning will help. If anyone is interested in this approach get hold of “If Not Dieting, Then What?” a book by Rick Kausman. I found this really transformative.

This weekend I had a longer, flatter ride to start building some more endurance. I was caught up just after the ‘downs’ by a really nice Ironman. We chatted all the way along OTT road and on to Ellesmere Rd. I got to show him the quiet alternative Peryman Rd from Tai Tapu that avoids most of the main road to Lincoln that is often so busy. Thanks again for your company Ironman. We agreed that cyclists are much more likely to join up and chat like this compared to runners or walkers; with swimming it’s out of the question really! Lots of friendly waves and nods from cyclists coming the the other way too.

Sunday morning and I’m off exploring Bowenvale and found the Hidden Valley track to challenge my fitness and balance up the rocks and steps. In places I even had to uncover the track from all the spring growth! Loads of crazy, fast MTBers to watch on the other side of the gulley. Fleur promised me off road and a bit more rugged, I sure found it. I love this more challenging walking, the steps you have to take vary constantly and I find my balance is awful! This is great strength training too. Found some pretty flowers to make a good excuse for a breather and to take a picture!

Can’t be that Hidden if I can find it!

I am going to have a great collection of photos of steps at this rate.

Keep ’em coming Fleur!