Got up early this morning to go for a run. My aim was to try and complete 25mins continuously but only got through 20mins.

I had started well and went through the first 10 minutes comfortably but after hitting the little hill, things got very difficult and all I could focus on was the pain. My breathing was ok and my leg muscles weren't particularly sore so I guess by pain, I actually mean fatigue. I was going so slowly and lost considerable speed and was well behind where I should have been at the 20 min mark. Bearing in mind tonight's PT session, I felt it in my best interest to call it day.

I used iMapMyrun for the first time and although the GPS worked fine and I was happy with the 5 minute voice over of time, distance, current and average pace, it failed repeatedly to connect to the server and upload my run. I still can't get it to connect. :-(

Despite that, I shall hang on to the app until I can find something that does the job a little better.

Yesterday I received the schedule for the UBTP (Ultimate Body Transformation Program). Looks like it is going to be one heck of a month. Looking forward to Boot Camp on Saturdays while hoping to shine during Fitbox.

The morning sessions are only 45 minutes so things shouldn't be quite as tight as I had previously anticipated. Next week will allow me to get a feel for what to expect before trying to work in the hike to work in the morning.

From the email addresses it looks like most of the clients are girls. Hoping the boy won't feel too outnumbered. Bit concerned also about the part that says something along the lines of us being assigned a workout buddy. Want to stick with the boy cause it will motivate me to train hard and push the limits. Although someone else who may not be as strong will be great for my ego, I need to work hard so that I'm in form for December.

A little unsure what some elements will be like and suspect 45 minutes of core will be hellish but play it by ear.

Running will probably hit the backburner but will assess again when I know what's involved.

Last day of work today and off to a slow start. Looking forward to the weekend but still feeling generally apprehensive about life. At least I'm getting sleep.

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Think I've finally managed to bring my body back up to speed.  Despite a sluggish session on Monday night, last night's senior training went well.

I made a concerted effort to keep hydration at an optimal level and have been doing all the right things in terms of nutrition. Sorted out a good time line for fuelling and loading prior to class and found my energy levels to be much more consistent.

Had a chat with my RM prior to class to get a bit of feedback and basically got told to keep doing what I'm doing and that I'm on the assessment list.  I can expect that the big day will be in either the first or second weekend of December.  It's going to be hot!  But, that works for me because Resultz will all be over and I can rest as I need to before jumping in to it.  Hopefully, I won't lose much while I'm doing Resultz.  Either way, I think with Rave in the mix, I should be right.  The only thing I will really need to worry about as a pre-assessment if they do end up having one.  But I'll play it by ear until then.

This morning was my last PT session. Hitting it with Tri-Matrix was good and really helped to jack up the intensity levels.  No burn... just failure.  A feeling I have been unfamiliar with for a while!  I have to admit I'm feel both sad and hesitant about the end of this union although didn't realise it until walking away.  I like my PT but I think I'm more concerned because of what they represent in terms of my personal goals and achievements.

There is a lot of unknown in the future right now and I don't particularly like it...

Random:  Got a call from rosters at 06:30 asking if I could work.  Thought they said "Optus" and couldn't get a handle on why they were calling at that time.  Either way, couldn't commit because of the expected delivery.  Hopefully, it comes and then gives me enough time to go and grab an exercise mat or two for Monday. I'm looking forward to using a machine which can handle the basics again but at the same time not much feeling like doing all the work to transfer things across.

In other news... the neighbours moved out yesterday.  Another Boo...   Didn't really feel it until coming home from training last night and realising George and Milo weren't about.  I'll miss them and the neighbours of course.  They were friendly and secure.  Who knows who will turn up next.   Part of me really wishes that someone my age or there abouts would buy in...  Sometimes I feel lonely.  Don't have a huge circle of friends and often accessibility is a problem.  I guess part of me dreams for the buddy next door living along a similar time line with life, death, marriage and children.  Reality is unforgiving sometimes....

So for the rest of this week:

Tomorrow - Rest
Friday - AM Run
Saturday - Workout
Sunday - PM Briefing and Testing with Resultz

Last two days at my current work location tomorrow and Friday.  Wish I had a few more days off... ah well. Nine day break after this.

After having a seven day break from all things physical, my body definately felt training on Thursday night and a gym double on Friday.

Thursday night didn't go as well as I would have liked and by the end of the stance combo, had just about abandoned all grading related hopes. I felt better as the night progressed but was still all to aware that my body hadn't taken kindly to the session. While I suspect an element of dehydration, I am concerned about a fitness loss and have vowed to get my nutrition back on track.

Yesterday's gym sessions went well considering but was cactus by the end of the afternoon. I'd like to go for a run tomorrow morning but I worry that I'll still be too sore and perpetuate fatigue. I'd like to be good by Tuesday for the trip up the coast.

Yesterday afternoon was weigh in at Resultz Fitness. I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to this bootcamp style program. There will be 30 of us there and I hope to be amongst the fitest there. Bit concerned about how I'll go for the physical trial a day after endurance though. Ah well.

Work has been slow as anything today and have had two occasions where I've been left to my own devices for prolonged periods. Looking forward to going home and then looking forward to tomorrow.

Anyhow, time to get back to focus me thinks.


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Been away for a while and fallen off track somewhat. Having been sick has been good and it has also been bad. (Yes, I'm fine now... thanks for asking).

I've realised that I am unhappy with my current direction in life. My life is not balanced and hasn't been for quite some time.  It seems like I am torn between the realms of fitness and my work life with very little in between.  The house is a mess and I am constantly chasing the down time.  In effect, it is time to reorganise my life and regain control.

To a degree, I will attain some form of this control when the new roster kicks in during November. I am choosing not to focus on what will occur after November.  In terms of the fitness schedule, personal training and C25K will go on hold until after the Resultz Program is finished.  Afterwards I think it will be time to do something drastic with the personal training and attached gym membership... theoretically, it will save us $170 per fortnight, possibly more.  My new schedule will provide me with time to do karate, have a PT and run without having to rigidly structure my week. I believe the new flexibility and reduced pressure will be productive.  It is my hope that the changes will inspire me to become for highly motivated in other areas of my life and maintain a better diet.

I'm worried about this grading coming up.  I know they are looking again. It means there has been word and it is getting close.  I am hoping it won't be until November because I don't feel in good mental or physical shape for November.  Not to mention I worry about performance when doing a six day a week program.  I think I could perhaps do with another six months or a year...

I'm looking forward to setting the change into motion.  I know I've been getting further off track with life and also gained a bit of weight.  Fortunately, I don't think it is yet externally obvious but it is something I am still aware of...

On the brighter side, I got a case for my new phone!   It is black and red.  Little bit annoyed with screen protector.  Two came with the case. First one didn't properly line up with the earpiece and home button.  The second one had bubbles.  Not really noticeable when using it but will probably looking at getting some more soon.  Changed a few settings so that the battery lasts longer and am already noticing the difference.  Love this new toy!  Love it, love it, love it!  Worthwhile investment!

Last night I joined some of my fellow karate folk in a small out at Rothwell to compete in a trivia night raising funds for our local selected candidates for the Special Olympics Australia IX National Games to be held in South Australia next year. 


It has been a while since I've been so deeply engaged in activity that hours have flown away into the night.  

Trivia is not my strong point.  I don't retain general knowledge well and can only really contribute to my fields of speciality... i.e. all things medical! Although, there were a heck of a lot of Geography based questions which generally let our table down.  Mind you, the average age of our table was much younger too.  Although we lost (and were rewarded with a packet of Tim Tams each)... dead last... we did discover the we had talents in other activities and by the end had a very impressive collection of Tim Tams and mixed lollies.  Actually, at one point we were so far behind the general population that even if we doubled our score we'd not have come second last.

I laid down $40 in raffle tickets and it paid dividends... three times.  Ironically, when they were selling the last batch six, I thought about it and had gone I would have also scored a slow cooker... which is what one of my counter parts picked up!

Last night I walked away with:

• Garden knee cushion
• Travel hair dryer
• 2x fancy tea towels
• $50 voucher for Candles Cakes and Skin Care
• FloorFillers Patry Anthems 2009
• Cold Play Viva La Vida Prospekt's March Edition
• Keith Urban Defying Gravity 
• Katy Perry One of the Boys
• Video Hits First
• Memories are Made of This "Over 90 Solid Gold Hits" 
• R.M. Williams "Fillies" cap
• Cranberry (i.e. old lady) lipstick by Bloom
• Bright red nail polish from Napoleon
• Napoleon mascara

"It's just a flesh wound!"

Yes indeed.  *snort*  *sniffle*

I was feeling optimistic this morning. I got up... looking in the mirror and decided that I was not quite the pale swollen mass that I had been yesterday.  Yesterday being the day that I spent five hours awake from 5pm-9pm.

I figured that I'd hang out for the meetings and then go home... lucky that I rang to confirm because as it turned out there was no reason for me to be there at all and within 10 minutes of my start time got told to go home for a third time.

It's not really that bad.  My nose is running quite a lot... just thin, watery stuff.  My throat is only a problem when I yawn and I am far more energetic. It is more the culmination which makes me look miserable.

I have some Zyrtec and Phenergan.  When I get tired of the sniffles I'll have have the Zyrtec and when I want to sleep, Phenergan all the way.

Rest for me now...

Body wasn't happy with me this morning...    It was really hard to get out bed, the muscles weren't overly sore but definately sluggish and I was then plastered with a lower GI upset for the what number time this week?

Despite all that, I went and ran.  W6D1 comprises of the following format:

• Run 5 minutes
• Walk 3 minutes
• Run 8 minutes
• Walk 3 minutes
• Run 5 minutes

Feeling pretty good today!

Had a bit of a downer in the morning yesterday but was on track by the end of the day. I did eventually gain a little perspective on the runs.  I seem to remember writing in this blog about my epic fail attempt at running the day before I started C25K.  I'd estimate only getting 500m before having to stop and walk.  Considering this, my development has been pretty damned impressive.  Suppose I wasn't exactly unfit before I started though.  Guess all that resides is the apprehension for next time.  When I get to W6D3 it will be 25 minutes continuously and all walk breaks are banished forever more!  Cross that bridge when I get there...

Secret squirrel training went well in the afternoon.  Ended up largely repeating what I'd done last time and I can see definitively that I was stronger, faster and more efficient.  I can also say that after increasing pyramid style through lizard walking, crab walking, lunges, duck waddles, wheel barrow walks, jumping, hopping and sprinting laps back to back without rest, holding a bridge position with a 5kg plate on the back for a minute...is challenging.  Then I got to throw some bicep curls on the end after that....

The face pull, bench jump, pushup, leg raise combo after that also went reasonably well.  It is after the second set that I usually start feeling decidedly sick.  I think I am beating the bench jumps though.

Had a reasonably reflective evening after catching up with the old A team after the boy trained last night.  I've been working hard to get better and am looking forward to my big day. My current program is working wonders for me and I hope that I can perform at my own expected standard.  Found myself thinking about how things were when I started, the present and the future. Maybe something to elaborate on elsewhere...  

Just lost the blogging drive so going to call it quits for today.  Think the body is back on track... I'm sore but better than expected.  Going for a run again tomorrow... start of week 5.

Sooooo... W5D3....  I'd like to say that it was just simply so awesome but I'm not really that happy with it. 

Although significantly improved, I was still sore this morning and my warm up produced a few aches and my L) hamstring cramped.  I knew it wasn't going to be my best run and that it certainly was not.

I couldn't get my technique on properly and my hamstrings and calves were playing up and by the seven minute mark I was feeling uncomfortable.  I was disappointed at that point because my last run I'd hit eight minutes and was cruising. Wasn't going to give up though and kept going.  The uphill sections were hard and I was worried that I wouldn't make it to the end... still kept going through.  My legs were the big issue, the cardio was coping just fine.  Having said that, the second half was very slow and I was reasonably certain I could have walked faster.  Eventually my brain locked into karate mode and I absent-mindedly stared ahead.  The very last stretch was largely down hill. I wanted to pick up the pace to end but there wasn't very much left.  I pushed but not a great deal.  Completed my 3.5km in 20 minutes and seven seconds averaging 10.44 km/hr.

Disappointed.  Yep.

I know that my body hasn't been doing well these last few days.  I know that I was sore but I still was hoping for a lot better.  I suppose I am on track to get my 5km in the 30 minutes...  Still...

Unhappy calves, achilles and R) ITB.

Secret session this afternoon... should be looking forward to it... not right now.

It's hard to avoid the negative self talk that rattles around telling me that I was never meant to be a runner etc...   Transient.  W6D1 next time.

Today I am feeling sore.  Yesterday I was also feeling sore...from karate?!    This is not normal...  I become suspicious when I don't make a recovery from normal exercise.  Last time that happened I got savaged by a illness pre-wedding.

Yesterday's sessions went pretty well.  After declaring I couldn't possibly do clapping pushups I was told to just do it and sure enough... by set five I was managing to complete my three reps of clapping pushups - on my toes! Nice!  Apart from that, my box jumps went up a stack and managed to do my snatch grip deadlifts off the platform and increase the weight.

The afternoon's endurance also saw some improvements.  Think I'll be ready to hit the 20kg mark for the farmer's walk next time. Ran a little further on my first two sets of the sandbag run. Increased the number of burpees I was able to do before my legs would only allow me to stand rather than jump from the squat. I went for the 6kg plate to replace the medicine ball throw down but it was also too easy. 10kg next time I do it from home.  The bear walk was a lot stronger and more coordinated this time but I was shattered by the end so it was tough to maintain.

Tomorrow morning I am going to do W5D3.   I am looking forward to it!  Going to get up super early and just run!  20 minutes non-stop!  I'm feeling confident and excited.  The program starts to track rapidly upwards from here but I can say that as long as I can get through this then the rest should be more than manageable.

Picked up my new ID card from work yesterday!  The difference between late 2007 and now is quite remarkable. My face and neck are have lost a noticeable amount of girth.  It will be good to have an ID that says my married name and also describes me as qualified rather than student paramedic.