A Big, Big catchup.

 Yet again a couple of months since I last posted. But as usual life gets in the way.
I can't begin this post without acknowledging the sad loss of my 16 year old pooch Lachlan just before Christmas. It was a devastating blow and to be honest I just haven't had ability to post until now.
But on a happier note we were very happy to welcome a new Doggie to our family. Meet Feebee, pictured above. She is a 4 year old Shit-zu who we have rescued from SA Dog Rescue. This organization retrieves dogs from the various pounds around our state who have not been adopted and are on the put to sleep list. She is the most beautiful and gentle little lady who is already giving us so much love. Can't understand why her previous owners dumped her.

 Me running the Portland half marathon in November, with weight loss well on the way.

Over the last 6 months I completely reviewed my eating habits and decided to stop acting like a dog and rewarding myself with food. Given the amount of running and training I was doing I should of been quite trim. But this was sadly not the case. I think I was making the same mistake  many long distance runners do ; that being putting in the long miles but filling up on carbs and junk food after because I was always so hungry. So with the help of a personal trainer I completely changed the way I was eating. 
I significantly increased my protein intake at the same time as gradually reducing my carb loading.The first 2 weeks were tough, with continual sugar cravings and feeling generally crapulent. But gradually the Brain fog began to lift, my energy levels soared and I began to lose about 500grams a week. I'm happy to tell that I have lost 8kgs, God knows how many inches and am really enjoying the type of healthy eating plan I now follow.
Also since my weight loss I have run 3 personal bests and am shaving massive amounts of time off my runs.

 Learning to climb ropes in the gym with my personal trainer.

As well as the long distance running I am still enjoying taking part in many of the bike rides we have here in Adelaide. The photo above is me with dear friends Jaqui, Lil, and Tracy just before we did the Gear up for Girls Bike Ride in early December.

This picture is of dear friend Sonya and I running together in the Glenelg Classic  just recently. I was almost at my goal weight here and for the first time in a couple of years ran 10 km. in under an hour at 59:12.

My next exciting achievement was only a week later in the Road Runners Christmas Fun Run and club championships. A 10 km. run which I ran in 56:39, a personal best for me and I won a medal for coming first in my age group. Plus I achieved this while dressed up as Mrs. Christmas in a very prickly dress.

Tracy and I in the Christmas Fun Run.

Me hamming it up for the photographer nearing the end of the run.

 

Best Friends, Tracy and I.

 

Me with Tracy's children. All three of us won our age groups on the day.

I then started the year off with a brilliant trail run; The Summit to Sea. This is a 33km. trail from the top of Mt. Lofty down to Brighton.This is the first time I have done this run without the Chubby Hubby in tow. Because of my new improved times I really wanted to see what I could achieve by myself. And as the Chubby likes to take very frequent walk breaks I have decided not to run with him anymore. Luckily Susi no Bum acted as course sweep for this event so the Chubby tagged along with her. She is recovering from recent surgery so was quite keen to take it slowly.

I had a massive result with this event and finished the 33km. in 4 hours 20. That's 1:50 hours quicker than last year. Needless to say I was mega excited. Below is a photo of running friend Nina and I together at the finish line. We finished together last year, both lost weight last year and this year ran the last 10 km. together and finished together.

Til next time folks, which I promise will only be a day or so as still have lots to share. My new year's resolution is to be a better blogger.

Cheers Karen.

Barossa Duathlon.

One of the goals I set for myself this year was to take part in a triathlon. Now this hasn't happened yet, but there is still time. However on October 16th. I competed in the Barossa Duathlon which was part of the Master's Games here in South Australia.

One of the main differences between the Chubby Hubby and I is that he is very cautious whilst I will have a go at anything and think of the consequences later.

The Chubby Hubby usually gets support from our Dear Friends John and Lil. Lil is very much like Daryl and tends to be more hesitant while John reluctantly joins me in my latest pursuit and hopes the Hell everything will work out. And so it was that I coerced John into doing the duathlon with me.

 

The duathlon involved a 5km. run, followed by a 20km.bike ride and finished with another 2.5km. run.
Both John and I are runners, although he prefers the shorter distance sprints. And we often go out for long bike rides on the weekends as a group. So on paper it all looked easy peasy and I couldn't see that it would be difficult.

 

The first 5km. run was a breeze and although I am more used to the much  slower pace of an ultra marathon I managed to keep up with the pack and came second in my age group in this leg at 27:40

I was a bit nervous about the transition which is where you have to go from running straight into the 20km. cycle leg.

 

Coming into transition.

The first 500 metres of the cycle leg was tough until my legs adjusted to the different muscle groups being used. But once the quads were warmed up it was manageable and I really enjoyed the challenge.There were a few gentle hills but with strong head winds they were hard work at times especially on my little hybrid bike.

I completed the cycle leg in 1:02:39, first in my age group.

 

Absolutely nothing could have prepared me for how my legs felt in the last leg however. Getting off the bike after a 20 km. cycle and going back into a run was hard. My legs felt like jelly and it was a weird feeling trying to get the legs to do what you wanted them to. I had very little awareness re how my legs were moving, however I again came first in my age group in14:32

My final overall time was 1:44:50, 2nd in my age group. And guess what, it was dear friend John who beat me.

Crossing the finish line on legs that felt like jelly.

John and I happily sitting in the gutter after finishing, and both of us very happy and pleased with ourselves.

Cheers and thank you for visiting,
Karen.

Yurrebilla Ultra Marathon.

 

I had unfinished business with this race this year. The Yurrebilla Ultra is a grueling 56 km. through the Mount Lofty Ranges in Adelaide following the Yurrebilla Trail. This was the 3rd year that I have taken part in this race. Two years ago I successfully completed the run but last year withdrew at 21 km as I  was really unwell on the day.

I was very nervous about this year's race as last year was such a disaster for me and was very disappointing. Apart from being unwell last year I also made some very poor choices on the day. I went out far too fast, over heated, dehydrated and had a bad reaction to my pre race nutrition which for some stupid reason I changed on the day. One thing I've learned about doing ultra marathon events is that pre race preparation is more than just simply putting in the miles on the trails.

Dear friend Susi no Bum really got stuck into me this year about my poor hydration and nutrition during a long event . I've always had issues with drinking and eating during a long run as I completely loose my appetite and consequently have had issues with dehydration and loss of energy. I must stress this is about the only time I loose my appetite but during a race is not the time to diet !!

 

So this year I completely revamped my approach to preparation and race time nutrition. The day before I increased my carb. load moderately and also hydrated on electrolyte replacement fluids. I was quite anxious about the pre race carb load as I have always been a carb addict. Over the last 2 months I have been on a lower carb eating plan, have lost 5 kg. and so was concerned a high carb meal would undo all the hard work I have done.
On the morning of the run I had my usual high protein oats and 600mls. of Endure drink before the start. 5 km. into the run I ate a high protein muesli bar. I had to really force this down but Susi's idea was that if I ate before I lost my appetite I may just be able to take in enough calories to prevent energy loss.

 

At the 35 km. mark and feeling great.

 

The Yurrebilla is well known for being the only ultra where you can actually gain weight. This is because there is a check point every 5 km. and all provide buckets of food. Now whilst I just couldn't do the pastries, sandwiches, pizzas etc which were available I did make myself have a slice of watermelon at each stop and a pear at 21 km. The sustained me really well for the whole run and I had plenty of energy throughout. There was also coca cola at each stop and the caffeine hit that gave was brilliant. It was also a nice change from the Endure drink.

 

The Chubby Hubby at 35 km.

 I also approached the start of the run differently this year. Instead of going out too fast as I did last year, I went out slowly and paced myself with the Chubby Hubby. I allowed myself to warm up gradually over the first 6 km.and once the legs and I had settled in,  I took off and felt great for the rest of the run. I had a support team following me but they just let me go as they could see I was on fire.

What interested me was that I reached the 21 km. point this year faster than I did last year when I went out too fast.

That's me coming up in the background. This is nearing the top of Black Hill, 52 km. into the event and everyone has nightmares about this climb.

 

These signs were all along the course and always bought a smile to my face.

 

Whoo hoo, made it to the top of Black Hill and now only 3 km. to go.

 

 This is one speeding fine I would love to get.

The Chubby Hubby gets to the top of Black Hill.

Four of our running team entered this race this year; Moi, Susi no Bum, my Chubby Daryl and Susi's Chubby Mike. This year it was Susi's turn not to finish. Unfortunately she had a severe gastric upset on the day and withdrew at Morialta. So I was the first of our team to finish in 8:55, a massive 2:30 hours faster than my first year. I was absolutely stunned with my result. Mike came in next about 90 minutes after me and Daryl finished about 2 hours after me. They both finished well in the qualifying time.

Somewhere along the trail Mike lost the concept that it was a race and he crossed the finish line with 4 young ladies he had collected on Black Hill. Unfortunately that photo didn't work out but here he is with one of his girl's !!

 

 Happy running to all,
May the trails be with you.
Cheers Karen.

3 Beez in TuTu's.

Here in Adelaide, like most capital cities in Australia we have our annual City to Bay Fun Run. Adelaide is only a small city but this year record numbers took part in the run. There are 3 distances to attempt; the full 12 km., 6km., or 3km. We had just over 34,000 people take part this year, and for many it is the only run they will attempt all year. For a lot of folk this event is about just getting to the finish line without dying in the process ! Many charities use it as a fundraising opportunity and various groups of people enter just because. You always have a small collection of serious runners but for most it is just a great day out and an excuse to celebrate at the end having breakfast with friends.

It is not uncommon to see people in fancy dress for the event and prizes are awarded for the best costumes on the day.This year I went dressed as a Bumble Bee with dear friends Margot and Sonya.

 

 Margot, Moi, and Sonya.

It all started with Sonya winning entry tickets to the event. However one of the conditions for winning was to run dressed in a TuTu. Margot, Sonya and I are all part of the South Australian Trail Running Club so we got together and Sonya devised the idea of dressing as Bees. We borrowed 2 TuTus off fellow running sisters and I very quickly made a third. I googled a pattern for a no sew TuTu and ta da, it took only an hour to make.

All it took was 1" elastic made into a waist band. ( which I did sew to make a seam ) Then 12 metres of tulle cut into 6" strips and tied and knotted over the elastic waist band. I then put it on and the Chubby Hubby cut it to length. Easy Peasy. Sonya found some Bees wings and antennae in a costume shop and Margot covered us in body glitter. We were all pleased with the results and we had lots of photos taken of us on the day. We even made the Channel 7 news.

 Here we are with another Bee who found us at the starting line.

This picture was taken during the run along the Anzac Highway, and that's the Chubby Hubby turning around to see where I am. I ran with him for the first 7km. and then could stand his snail pace no longer, so shot off and left him. You can see quite a lot of folk walking in the picture as 12 km. is just too far for many to run.

 

Daryl and his friend John at the finishing line and feeling very pleased with themselves.

 

 Dear Friend Susi no Bum and I at the finish line together. Susi and I always run back to the city after to make it a decent distance and in a true test of friendship she stayed with me in my costume  all the way back.

This is the 3 of us with a local radio station. They asked if they could use this photo on their web page.

 Here's hoping that wherever you are,  your running days or sewing days are filled with fun.
Cheers Karen.

Adelaide Marathon Festival.

I feel I have been neglecting my blog of late and have been away again far too long. But once again life has interrupted my blog posts. I have been using Face Book mostly for regular updates and find I enjoy the more immediate interaction with people that goes with Face Book.
I've been running a lot, much more than usual, but this hasn't left much time for blogging or stitching.

 Friend Cathy, Chubby Hubbys Mike and Daryl and Susi no Bum at the start of the half marathon.

Last year many of my blog posts were focused around our training sessions out in the hills, and whilst we are still doing the same training there are only so many photos of the trails that can be shown. And so this year my blog posts have been mainly about the various events that the Twisted Sisters take part in. Our most recent event that we all took part in was the Adelaide Marathon Festival. We all made the decision to run the half rather than the full because we are all running in the Yurrebilla Ultra on September 25.

   Dear Friend Bette and I waiting to start the half marathon.

The route was very pretty and it was a lovely cool but sunny late Winter morning. Perfect running conditions really. The first 10 km. was along the foreshore of our local Adelaide beaches. I was feeling really good and was able to maintain a fairly consistent pace.

 

After about 10 km. the run then headed up Linear Park along the River Torrens and back into the city of Adelaide. This path is very pretty but is deceptively undulating. Those small hills start packing a bit of a punch after about 15 km.

 

My time was going really well and at the 18 km. mark I was confident I could come in at 2 hours. However from then on I really slowed down for some reason and just couldn't maintain my pace. The back was screaming and my legs felt very heavy.

 

 Running the last 3 km. along the River Torrens.

The Chubby Hubby in action.

 

The run finished at Adelaide oval, or for my overseas readers, the iconic Adelaide Cricket Ground. I finally came in at 2:16. Bit disappointing but I was still happy to finish.
 

Take care folks,
Happy running.
Cheers Karen.