My days off work have been great. I think I needed a break away from work, and just some relaxation. Not that I had any sleep in's, I was up again this morning before 6.30am and went out for a short jog.
I'm feeling a lot better about things - I think I'll still have to fight my way through the next few weeks of winter though. My hip is a bit sore this evening, and I've noticed niggling pain during my runs. I am pretty sure it is related to my unexpected slide across the back deck a couple of weeks ago (ended up with me doing the splits and hitting the deck hard). I forget that if there is a heavy frost the deck freezes over.
So I'll just get out there and run as long as I feel I can - maybe I'll work out some interval running or something. I'm looking forward to getting outside and running tomorrow morning...if it's not pouring with rain.
I need to just decide that if the weather doesn't let me get outside I have to get on the exercise bike instead - not just stay in bed. I'm looking into hiring a decent treadmill for a few weeks too.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Running off the birthday cake
So I survived another birthday yesterday. And even managed to get myself up and out for a nice easy 4km jog. I was lucky I got myself out of bed before 7am, as it started raining about 7.30am and continued steadily all day. I have another day off tomorrow, but not sure if I'll run - I've got a few aches and pains so I'll take Daves advice - I should dust off the stationary bike that is sitting taunting me from the corner of the living room.
I think I just need to find a new winter exercise routine. Maybe mix it up a bit, a few days on the exercise bike, at least one or two runs and some yoga should do it. And I need to restart the 100 push ups program too. I'm a little disappointed with myself for not getting back into it after my holiday to Aussie.
Now on to more fun things - my uber-geeky birthday cake. I mentioned that I'd never had a Star Wars themed cake as a child (my mum did do some neat cakes, but never a Star Wars cake) and it was decided that you're never too old to have a Han Solo frozen in Carbonite birthday cake. I didn't have to do the boring bits (bake the cake or make the buttercream and frosting) but was responsible for creative direction and sculpting. It was the first time either of us had attempted fondant icing, or anything this "creative" for a cake. And after all the work I was rather impressed with our efforts.
The cake itself was one of my mum's recipes for Chocolate cake - I wanted a chocolate/orange flavour, so we substituted orange essence for the vanilla the recipe asked for. It's a really nice moist dark chocolatey cake - I don't know if it's because it's made using buttermilk, but it tastes REALLY good. The buttercream filling (and layer of "crumb coat" under the fondant) was orange flavoured, and a very bright orange colour. The fondant was a recipe I found on the internet for Marshmallow Fondant, it doesn't taste too bad, but it's a bit sugary, but that might be because I used a budget bag of marshmallows. Next time I'd splash out and buy Pascals instead of Home Brand.
I think I just need to find a new winter exercise routine. Maybe mix it up a bit, a few days on the exercise bike, at least one or two runs and some yoga should do it. And I need to restart the 100 push ups program too. I'm a little disappointed with myself for not getting back into it after my holiday to Aussie.
Now on to more fun things - my uber-geeky birthday cake. I mentioned that I'd never had a Star Wars themed cake as a child (my mum did do some neat cakes, but never a Star Wars cake) and it was decided that you're never too old to have a Han Solo frozen in Carbonite birthday cake. I didn't have to do the boring bits (bake the cake or make the buttercream and frosting) but was responsible for creative direction and sculpting. It was the first time either of us had attempted fondant icing, or anything this "creative" for a cake. And after all the work I was rather impressed with our efforts.
The cake itself was one of my mum's recipes for Chocolate cake - I wanted a chocolate/orange flavour, so we substituted orange essence for the vanilla the recipe asked for. It's a really nice moist dark chocolatey cake - I don't know if it's because it's made using buttermilk, but it tastes REALLY good. The buttercream filling (and layer of "crumb coat" under the fondant) was orange flavoured, and a very bright orange colour. The fondant was a recipe I found on the internet for Marshmallow Fondant, it doesn't taste too bad, but it's a bit sugary, but that might be because I used a budget bag of marshmallows. Next time I'd splash out and buy Pascals instead of Home Brand.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Winter
So winter has well and truly started. It's dark, cold and pretty wet. It makes it very difficult to get out of bed at 5am to run on the weekdays. I've been running sporadically over the past couple of weeks. I'm still keen to get out there but I was suffering a bit of SAAD this week and just wanted to get a few more hours sleep.
It didn't help having a couple of nights of broken sleep, getting up to watch NZ play in the football world cup.
I made up for a couple of low mileage weeks with an epic 1 hour 40 minute run this morning...just over 12km. New time/distance record. I was pretty slow, but mentally I felt good. It was nice to wake up early - it was 5C, so not too cold, and I could see that it was a clear morning. The sun came up as I ran the streets and it was a lovely clear sunny morning. Not even a frost.
I really should have stopped at 9km, but I was so close to 10km. Then I hit 10km and I was just under 2km from home. So instead of walking, I ran. Or rather stumbled, rather slowly. Had to run past the house to hit 12km - then had a short 500m walk back to the house. Oh, my legs - I was doing a very good impression of a ultra-distance runner and that wobbly walk once they cross the line. For me 12km is ultra-distance running! For now, anyway.
Since it was Saturday, I did have to get out of the house by mid-morning and run some errands. So more walking...sore feet and all. But it was better than sitting for too long - think I would have seized up.
Over all, I'm a litte sore, but very pleased with myself. Hoping to get out for a short walk tomorrow and then the usual weekday runs. But the weather doesn't look like it will cooperate :(
It didn't help having a couple of nights of broken sleep, getting up to watch NZ play in the football world cup.
I made up for a couple of low mileage weeks with an epic 1 hour 40 minute run this morning...just over 12km. New time/distance record. I was pretty slow, but mentally I felt good. It was nice to wake up early - it was 5C, so not too cold, and I could see that it was a clear morning. The sun came up as I ran the streets and it was a lovely clear sunny morning. Not even a frost.
I really should have stopped at 9km, but I was so close to 10km. Then I hit 10km and I was just under 2km from home. So instead of walking, I ran. Or rather stumbled, rather slowly. Had to run past the house to hit 12km - then had a short 500m walk back to the house. Oh, my legs - I was doing a very good impression of a ultra-distance runner and that wobbly walk once they cross the line. For me 12km is ultra-distance running! For now, anyway.
Since it was Saturday, I did have to get out of the house by mid-morning and run some errands. So more walking...sore feet and all. But it was better than sitting for too long - think I would have seized up.
Over all, I'm a litte sore, but very pleased with myself. Hoping to get out for a short walk tomorrow and then the usual weekday runs. But the weather doesn't look like it will cooperate :(
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