Run baby run: Part 4

Whoever suggested that exercise curbed your appetite was either anorexic or had never run a day in their life. My appetite has been gigantic since taking up the running gig. Strangely enough though, all this pushing my body to it’s limits has developed a new respect for it ... I want to look after it, nurture it and thank it for all it does for me. I have been fueling my body with good quality food as frequently as it demands. Which, at the moment, is every 2 hours. Not exactly the recommendations Bandsters are advised to follow … but what the hey. I am trying to listen and become more attuned to my body. I am going to try to take the focus off the scales for a little while.

And now, let me bang on about the actual running thing. I know. You lucky, lucky devils! On Sunday I ran/walked a 5km circuit. The time? 45 minutes exactly. Okay, not a pocket rocket time but that did include walking the hill sections and the pedestrian footbridge over the train line with 45 stairs each side. At times, the running was not always comfortable but I persisted … and although the time was slow, I was pretty proud of myself. Think about it, folks ... in spite of my weight loss, I am still 15-20kgs overweight (depending on whether you want to follow my recommended BMI or a weight range like WW) and I have a severe congential scoliosis. So, to drag my partially disabled bulk around the full circuit at all is amazing. I hope to get my run/walk down to 35-38 mins by race day in July. Here's hoping.

I have already devoured the two books I bought on running. They will now be my bible, the sacred reference books on all things running. Both books were interesting, informative reads and quite inspiring. It was through reading these books that I learnt that I should only tackle one running element at a time ie. build up endurance before running hills or speed workouts, that is unless I fancy sustaining an injury or experiencing physical burn out. So that was the primary reason for not running the hills on my Sunday run … not because I didn’t want to try but I because I don’t really want a whacking big injury before I’ve barely beguan!

I really do believe that running is going to change me – not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Weird you say? Have a read of what John Bingham writes in “Marathon Running for Mortals”:

“Crossing the starting line may be an act of courage, but crossing the finishing line is an act of faith. And faith is one of the most powerful emotions you can experience. Faith is what keeps us going when nothing else will. Faith is the emotion that conquers fear. Faith is the emotion that will give you victory over your past, the demons in your soul and all of those voices that tell you what you can and cannot do and can and cannot be.”

How can you not be inspired to run after reading that?

The reading matter of Bandit Girl

I was curled up reading my newly purchased book on "Running for Women" tonight when it suddenly occurred to me.

I love books (okay ... that part didn't just occur to me!). I surround myself with them. Library books. Purchased books. Borrowed books. Free books. Thick books. Thin books. Reference books. Fictional books. Love 'em. Every one of them.

Prior to my band I owned a swag of weight loss books. And I mean a swag. Everything from the psychology of eating self help books, diet specific books, books on super foods, calorie counting books, intuitive eating books. On and on the list went. My library of such material grew to mammoth and rather ridiculous proportions (in hindsight, of course!).

However, over the past 9 months since surgery and with the slow but steady success of the band, I have pared down my collection of these books. And I am left with but one. Good ole' Gillian McKeith's "You Are What You Eat". And now? Well, let's just say there is a definite sea change! I have oodles of books on fitness & health (not dieting) - yoga books, a book on anatomy for strength and fitness training, weight training books, books on running, beauty books (make up application and hair styling) and photography books. Gone are the Weight Watchers and Slimmers magazines; replaced with Practical Photography, Bravissimo catalogues (lingerie) and fashion magazines like Red & Grazia (I don't buy these often but when I plan for a lazy weekend they are the bomb!).

And as for the matter that covers my fridge. Previously, it would be on the calorie values of some of my favourite foods and 'diet' sayings to try and prevent me from eating (as if that was going to stop me! Ha!). Now I have magnets that have inspirational sayings (basically affirmations acknowledging how far I have come); a flyer from the local organic food store; a yoga time table and snippets on travel locations/hotels and an article on the newly opened Sex Academy.

I guess some would shrug and say, "Big deal, Bandit Girl". But to me it is a big deal. It's a monumental change. I have, without even being completely aware, moved from being focussed on food, calorie counting and weight loss to being far more interested in health, fitness, my hobby and learning to look like a gorgeous goddess. I really love this change. I love feeling like a normal, healthy human being. Not an obsessed, hung up, waiting-for-my-life-to-begin-when-I-lose-40kg human being. Sweeeeet!

Run baby run: Part 3

I hurt. Everywhere. My back. My knees. My ribs. My boobs. My eyes. My arms. Any movement seems to elicit pain. Not uncomfortable pain. But rather the type you get when you know you've pushed yourself hard and you feel a certain sense of satisfaction.

I went out hard today and feel a great sense of achievement in spite of pain and the exhaustion from a long night vigil for my family.

I literally had to pick my arse up by it's cheeks and drag it to the gym this morning at 6am. To my pleasant suprise, I found that my usual Body Pump class had been increased from 45 min to an hour. Yesss! I lifted heavier weights. I completed more repetitions than usual despite the screaming protests of my muscles. I worked hard. I even had the sopping wet t-shirt to prove it!

I took a little more time and care with getting dressed and made up and felt like one hell of a classy chick cutting up the pavement on my way to work. I may have even 'minced' into the foyer of the hospital.

Then, after work I went on the much feared run with the running group. I ran for almost an hour .. I may have walked for a total of 15mins. Admittedly, at times my running was barely faster than walking. But I would like to point out that the Oxford dictionary defines running as: moving at a speed faster than a walk ... albeit just! My back was killing me. And at times I thought I would pass out ... but maybe some of that had to do with the lack of oxygen I was able to inhale due to the fierce constriction of my new running bra! But I just kept going.

You know what? I kind of enjoyed it. It was complete hell but the fact that there were 10 women of varying abilities, shapes, ages and running ambitions made it a hoot. We did split runs (fast/slow), fast relays and a fun, fiesty game of 'tiggy'(tag) on the way back to the hospital. I loved it. I loved the camaraderie. I loved the support ... these women encouraging me, supporting me, cheering me on yet being understanding enough to jog at an almost non-pace when my back pained too much to run. I think I may be hooked. It's social. It's outdoors. And dammit, it may just end up being more fun than I could imagine.

So here's to uber sore muscles tomorrow and pushing the boat out of the harbour of comfortable and familiar.

Must. Read. One. Chapter. Of. Running. Book. Before. Falling. Asleep. Maybe not.

If only it were April fools

It's 11:40pm Sunday night in the UK. I have just got a frantic text message from my mum saying a tsunami warning had been issued for Cairns. I text her back and said, "Are you sure it's real and not a belated April fool's joke?". Unfortunately, it isn't. I've logged onto the Bureau of Meteorology website and sure enough there is a massive warning for coastal towns of the east coast of Australia from the northern penninsula to Brisbane for a Tsunami strike.

I have received a message from a friend who's parents and their catamaran (which they lovingly built from scratch) were moored in the Solomon Islands. She has told me that her parents and the boat are okay but the island of Gizo is completely wiped out.

I cannot believe it. Only yesterday did my mum tell me with much excitement that she was coming to visit me in the UK for two weeks in June. This is huge. My mum has never travelled outside Oz before. I sent her a text message a week ago asking if she'd consider coming over to visit me but I figured she wouldn't have the cash, the time or the desire to visit me overseas before Rob and I headed back to Oz to build a little nest. But to my great suprise and joy, she has decided she is going to take the plunge and come in the next lot of school holidays (as she works at a school). I have been on cloud 9 ever since she told me.

Now I'm in a state of panic. I'm trawling the internet. Calling her. Texting her. Texting her again. Gawd, I can't believe this. It's completely nuts. I cannot do anything to help. I feel rather helpless. There is no way I can sleep till I know everything is going to be okay ... or not. Please keep my family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Run baby run: Part 2

I think I need to lie down. I can't believe I'm planning to do some serious running. Am I completely nuts? Trust me, I'll keep you informed!

I now own two books on running. "The Complete Book of Running for Women" (Claire Kowalchik) and "Marathon Running for Mortals" (John Bingham & Jenny Hadfield). I have already devoured half of the Claire Kowalchik's book in one day. It is so full of information and inspiration. Just reading makes me want to run! I have trawled the internet for a load of websites on running for women and bookmarked them into my one of my favourites folders labelled "Health & Fitness".

I am also the proud owner of a contraption of sorts. A sports bra with bells & whistles, hooks & velcro. It feels a little like a chastity belt for my boobs ... I am not yet convinced that prolonged wear won't induce an asthma attack! To say it's a little firm would be an understatement of sorts!

And, I even contacted a friend of mine who regularly goes along with the running group formed by a bunch of people that we work with ... and I have kinda committed to going along tomorrow night. Gulp. A couple of the running club members run marathons every couple of weeks ... for fun! Ha! This is going to be interesting. Fingers crossed I make it home ... without suffering a coronary or a bra induced asthma attack!

Bandit Girl is going to become a runner ... okay, clearly not the stereotypical tall, lithe, lean, long striding runner but one day soon you'll see me out there doing something a lot like running. I would like to think it will be in a manner that will not draw public smirking and finger pointing! But that is a very real possibility.

Who knows ... maybe one day those internet websites on running may have their very own folder labelled "Running". Maybe.