Just a few little tips I have picked up in the training for and completing my half-marathon that they dont tend to write about in the happy go lucky training books;
- If you pin your bib number to a cotton t-shirt and then run 21.1km, likelihood is that you will have 4 holes in your shirt by the end of the run.
- If after having a shower you don't think you have any chaffing, jump into an Epsom salt bath just to check. Assure your husband that you are in fact fine, despite yelling "motherf*&ker" loud enough to make the neighbour blush.
- You might gain weight, be it the extra serving of lasagna you grab because "I ran 15km this morning" or that thing they call muscle, whatever it is, its a kilo or two extra that you need to cart around that bloody course.
- You can never use too much vaseline. Buy a big tub when you start training, you will not want to run out.
- After a long run, wear a clean pair of compression pants for the rest of the day, sleep in them if need be. Your legs will thank you the next day. Just be sure not to leave the house because you do not look sexy at Woolworths in compression tights.
- On race day, the adrenaline and excitement of actually doing the half-marathon will spur you on. This may lose momentum around the 15km mark, especially when everyone around you is either walking or running at a pace slower than your walk. Then you make your own motivation by overtaking people one by one. Its even better if you overtake them walking when they are running.
- Both during and immediately after the race, you will tell yourself that you are done, that you are never running that far EVER again. Until you find yourself at home that evening googling the ways to gain entry into the New York marathon.
Any other pearls of wisdom anyone would like to share?
May 23, 2012
May 21, 2012
So, yeah, I ran a half-marathon...
After at least 2 weeks of very restful sleep, we woke up at 5:30am on Sunday morning and put on my very attractive full-length skins and black and pink clown shoes. Mr Olive kitted up in his best support crew outfit, yes my husband woke up at 5:30am to come and support me for my first half-marathon, he is a keeper thats for sure!
I was an absolute ball of nerves, I almost burst into tears when I had to head off to the start-line but I bid farewell to Mr Olive and set off to join the 15,000 others who were crazy enough to do this race. Apparently it was the biggest half-marathon ever, don't quote me on that though. As I was huddling in with the other members of the red group, the guy on the microphone asked if there were any debut half-marathoners in the crowd? My hands went up and as I looked around I realised that NO-ONE else had raised their hand, I put mine sheepishly back down and hoped that everyone else was just too cool to put their hand up or didn't hear him ask?
The gun fired, I didn't hear it. It didnt matter, the crowd in my group surged forward and then came to an abrupt halt. We had about 300 metres from our start line to the official start line where our bib timing chips would activate. So there was definitely an increased pace as soon as we went across that line! We were off, I was running my first half-marathon.
The first 4km was pretty much downhill, which was heaven for my tight despite countless evenings on the foam roller calves, then down around the newly re-designed Barangaroo it was time to head over to Pyrmont and as I was coming up Kent Street I saw Mr Olive for the first time for an encouraging high-5! (High-5's make you go faster, its scientific fact). I was right on track to be clear for the first cut-off, the 7km in 50 minutes, so I was pretty happy. Although it was also the point when we had seen the runners in the lead heading down towards the 13km mark, they were running faster than I could over 100m yet they had been doing it for a lot longer and judging by their times, they continued to do it for the full 21km!
Across the freeway was a difficult one, it was on quite a slant and was quite tricky to run on, something I was not expecting, but it wasnt too long so I was able to get past that easy enough. Coming off the freeway there was a little hill and I was about at the 45 minute mark so I decided to have one of my gel shots to keep my energy up. Luckily shortly after that I saw Mr Olive again, this time he had run into a mate of his from his old work who was also cheering on his girlfriend in the race. Down past the 7km marker and who should I see? My friend, the bike rider stuck in the middle of a river of runners going in each direction. My "morning" was met with a casual "morning" reply, a swift knock to the shoulder before he realised it was me and I got some more encouraging cheering.
As I turned around in Pyrmont and headed back along the same track but on the other side of the road, I realised that I was not in fact coming last. So many people had passed me on the route I was too scared to look behind me. There were people still running at the 7km mark when I reached the 10km marker, so I didnt feel too bad. Although I was a little worried that I was only at the 10km marker when I should have been at the 11km marker in order to avoid the cut off. A short while later I sailed past the 11km mark without a course marshall in sight.
At around the 12km mark (personal photo)
From the 11km to the 14km mark was a blur of pavement, St John's ambulance people, dodging gel sachets and realising I still had about 8km left.
At the 15km mark I entered unknown territory, my longest training run was only 15km, so getting an extra 6km under my belt was relying on the energy of race day and the fact that I HAD to finish this race. This was also my first sighting of the race marshall and a sign with the cut off time - I was 2 minutes under the cut off... eep! I wasnt stopping to chat, I just kept on running up onto the Harbour Bridge and down around and onto the Cahill expressway, I wish I had my camera, it is such a beautiful place to run, looking out over the harbour.
Up and into Hyde Park to go PAST the finish line, that would have been mighty depressing except for these wonderful fairy's from Lululemon in Mosman with their awesome signs. There was actually a guy on the other side of the road with a sign saying "Keep going, Keep going (that's what she said)" - seriously had me giggling for another half a kilometre.
The team from Lululemon Mosman
Up ahead was a drink station, as I had run out of water and gatorade, I grabbed a slurp of each and pushed on. I saw my husband for the second last time and it was at this point I had passed the last cut off point and I knew I could do it. I said with a huge smile on my face; "I can do it!", until that point I really wasnt so sure. Although there was not a lot of people still around at that point. Here I am just before the 18km marker, less than 4km to go!
I can do it! (personal photo)
The next 3km were the hardest and the easiest. Mentally they were the easiest, I was so close to the finish line, I could taste it. Physically, my legs had carried me further than they ever had before, nothing was giving me a lot of grief, but I was just out of gas for lack of a better term. Still, I managed to jog most of these remaining kilometres there were so many people at this stage of the course cheering everyone on that you got cheers if you were running but not so much if you were walking - I needed all the cheers I could get!
I also realised how devestating it would have been to be coming last, as I rounded the 20km marker, there was a woman going down into the last leg (about 18km mark) who was coming last. She had 2 police on motorbikes behind her.
It was a mater of rounding the last marker, then burning along the finishing stretch! One (probably the only) advantage of being at the back of the field is that the announcer says your name as you approach the finish line, so then you have all the crowd yelling "Go Sarah!!!" as you muster a little more speed and get to the finish line and... stand there? I just finished a half-marathon!! I wanted my medal dammit! I thought the medals and the fruit and some water would all be right there but nope, I just wandered towards the exit and realised it was all further along. Yay! Medal time!!
Shattered (personal photo)
My aim was to finish, which meant doing it in under 3 hours due to the road closures. I finished and I managed to sneak under 3 hours by 8 minutes, a definite win in my book!
Yesterday I was telling myself I was never going to do it again, but I am already considering trying again next year and seeing if I can run faster and beat my time.
May 18, 2012
Favourite Phrase Fridays
Sorry for the missed post last week, but here is the Friday Phrase back with a vengeance!
Considering my big run on Sunday, I thought a good running quote would be rather topical but then I couldnt just pick one, so here they are a bunch of running quotes to get you fired up if you are running this weekend:
Considering my big run on Sunday, I thought a good running quote would be rather topical but then I couldnt just pick one, so here they are a bunch of running quotes to get you fired up if you are running this weekend:
Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head.
Joe Henderson
Putting miles in your training log is like putting money in the bank. You begin to draw interest on it immediately.
There is only one runner in this race, and that is me.
You feel good while you're running and you feel even better when you're finished.
You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming.
May 17, 2012
Is this happening?
So, its almost here. The day where I have to carry myself around 21.1km of Sydney. Yep, I really am doing this. Can you detect a hint of disbelief in my words? Truthfully, I did not think that I would get through my training. Given my lack of long-distance training in the past, I thought I would have pulled this or strained that and have been unable to run. Nope, I am here with 3 days left to remain injury free and then I will be on the 6am train with Mr Olive into the city to be running before sunrise.
I am excited, but I am also scared as hell. In my practice runs I only just make the first cut off and do not make the second one at all, but then I easily make the rest of them. I hope that my early start and an awesome cheer squad of Mr Olive will help get me through. Although as Ironwoman Physio said on Monday night as she was digging an elbow into my achilles, that just getting to the start line is the hardest part. She also uttered something along the lines of "pain is temporary" - clearly she hasnt noticed that I have come wimpering to her everytime I have the slightest twinge.
This is a little of a rambling post, but I am full of mixed emotions about this half-marathon. Hopefully on Sunday I will be celebrating finishing it, but I am honestly not sure. The 11km cut-off is 75 minutes, for an ambler like me its going to be tough. I will be a little frustrated if I don't finish because that will mean I have to do another one to tick it off my list.
My compression tights are washed, my gels are in the cupboard, I pick up my race day bib on Saturday and Sunday is GO time....
May 14, 2012
Cutting it off again?
I often to and fro between short and long hair. when it is long, I get annoyed with taking 20 minutes to blow-dry it and when it is short I get frustrated that I cant make it curl or look nice for special events.
Until I see an awesome short hairstyle when my hair is currently long, then I forget all about the short hair worries! That is exactly what happened on Saturday night as we were watching Oceans 12 and I caught sight of this awesome cut:
As a reference, here is a photo of me with my friend's (friend of baby shower cake fame, Laura) baby yesterday, he arrived just in time for Mothers day!
Until I see an awesome short hairstyle when my hair is currently long, then I forget all about the short hair worries! That is exactly what happened on Saturday night as we were watching Oceans 12 and I caught sight of this awesome cut:
So, currently, my hair is not that much longer than CZJ? I am not sure that I have the hair thickness to pull off that look though? I might have to put a call into my superstar hairdresser, she will make it work!
May 10, 2012
Bean Bruschetta
This bean bruschetta is amazing and reasonably healthy, although the "little bit of olive oil" is questionable. This is another recipe from the cooking lesson that we had at Cucina Italiana cooking school, so I dont have permission to reproduce it however I did find a similar one here.
Making sure to let the red onions sit in water for about an hour or so, makes them delicious but without that makeyoureyeswateruntilyoucanteatanymore issue.
We had it on turkish for dinner, it was delicious! Little mix up from the usual tomatoes.
Making sure to let the red onions sit in water for about an hour or so, makes them delicious but without that makeyoureyeswateruntilyoucanteatanymore issue.
Then you mash together the rest of the ingredients and a delicious dinner/lunch/snack is born!
May 7, 2012
Tips for travelers
I travel.... a lot...
On average I am on a plane 2 times a week, so that is about 100 flights a year over my 6 year career, you can do the math. It's a lot of flying. It's enough that Mr Olive and I have taken a business class trip to the USA and another to Europe on my reward miles (and I already have enough for both of us to go business to Europe again). So, the reward miles are the good element.
The bad elements are;
- getting up so early you feel physically sick from the little sleep you had.
- spending an increasing number of hours waiting in line barefoot waiting to go through security
- missing your dear friends hens night because you were flying back from Spain, missing your friends birthday because you were flying back from Singapore, missing St Patricks day with your very own leprechaun because you were flying to New York.
You get the idea.
So, after all this who would have thought that I could still agree with the statement:
"getting there is half the fun!"
Except when there are a few weary travellers needing some tips to help everything run smoothly! Here are my top tips for travellers to help make a long haul flight and the airport much more enjoyable:
Hydrate - You have heard it a thousand times right, well it is true. Flight attendant guidance is to drink a glass of water every 20 minutes! I try to drink at least a 600mL bottle per hour, however on a long haul flight all I want to do is sleep so I pre-hydrate. All that time you spend sitting around in the airport - drink drink drink! Water of course...
Pack a good carry on - your passport and travel documents should be easily accessed, your liquids in their plastic bag and your laptop at the top, or at least within easy reach. My go-to carry on bag includes:
Then maybe you will agree with my love of travel, well to a certain extent!
The bad elements are;
- getting up so early you feel physically sick from the little sleep you had.
- spending an increasing number of hours waiting in line barefoot waiting to go through security
- missing your dear friends hens night because you were flying back from Spain, missing your friends birthday because you were flying back from Singapore, missing St Patricks day with your very own leprechaun because you were flying to New York.
You get the idea.
So, after all this who would have thought that I could still agree with the statement:
"getting there is half the fun!"
Except when there are a few weary travellers needing some tips to help everything run smoothly! Here are my top tips for travellers to help make a long haul flight and the airport much more enjoyable:
Hydrate - You have heard it a thousand times right, well it is true. Flight attendant guidance is to drink a glass of water every 20 minutes! I try to drink at least a 600mL bottle per hour, however on a long haul flight all I want to do is sleep so I pre-hydrate. All that time you spend sitting around in the airport - drink drink drink! Water of course...
Pack a good carry on - your passport and travel documents should be easily accessed, your liquids in their plastic bag and your laptop at the top, or at least within easy reach. My go-to carry on bag includes:
- Passport and Travel documents, including itineraries and addresses. Also, bring a pen! You have to fill out so many documents it is handy to not have to wait for someone else
- Liquids Bag - check out this guest post for information on liquids
- Entertainment/Communication - I usually bring everything; laptop, iPad, Kindle, book and iPod.
- Warmth - Planes are ALWAYS cold, I bring a pashmina and a jumper (sweater) usually, plus a pair of socks to keep your feet warm.
- Change of clothes - I am renowned for not having my luggage arrive. Despite being a top-teir frequent flyer, it never turns up. Particularly through Heathrow airport if I am travelling on to other parts of Europe. At the very least, pack a change of underwear.
Security Negotiation - Get everything out before you get to the X-ray machine. I am the one standing there with my shoes off, laptop out, liquids baggie and jacket off before I am even at the front of the line. It minimises stress at the carosel and gets you through quicker. Lets face it, you usually have at least 5 minutes standing in line.
Make sure you have your computer, passport and anything that you took off or out of your pockets before you leave security! A tip I use is count how many things I took out/off then make sure I put the same number back in/on.
Smile - a sweet smile, a please and a thank you will get you everywhere. I am not even kidding. If there is something that you need help with, or if you would like to change your seat or you might want an extra blanket? Be nice. If you think it will help - flattery gets you everywhere!!
Then maybe you will agree with my love of travel, well to a certain extent!
May 5, 2012
Blog Tag
Another blog tag, this time from Strawberry Blonde Life! Jill actually tagged me some time ago, but too much blog tag doesnt make for a happy blog so I thought I would wait a few weeks to reply!
Here are the questions from Jill!
1) If you could live in any chapter of US history, which would you pick and why?
I am getting very into Mad Men at the moment, pretty much the only thing that I like about it though is the fashion. I am a massive fan of the 50's and 60's in general though.
2) If you could win a gigantic shopping spree to any store (brick and mortar or online), which would you select?
I am going to be totally boring here and say Myer, an Australian department store, hello Manolo and a Sony TV!
3) What's your biggest pet peeve?
Being that I travel, a lot, one thing that really frustrates me are people who continue to use their electronic devices after the crew says you cant. I am not the best flyer, so having some guy next to me (its ALWAYS a guy) chatting away on his mobile when we are pushing back makes my palms more than sweaty. I have been known to dob them in...
4) What's a skill you'd love to possess?
I would love to be able to speak another language, Italian would really help with my gelato ordering.
5) What tangible item are you most afraid of?
Not really afraid of tangible items, heights arent ideal though.
6) What is a popular travel destination you honestly have no interest in visiting?
If I am truly honest, I have already been there a few times it is a necessary evil when almost all flights from Australia arrive there, however London has to be it... I probably wouldnt have stayed except for my friend living there at the time? A lot of Australian's spend a lot of time in London, living and working, however I just find it a bit blah. I much prefer Rome (refer to Q4).
7) What's the best vacation you've ever taken?
Our honeymoon was pretty kick ass awesome! Maui involved waking up, breakfast, swim, relax, lunch, swim, relax, afternoon nap, dinner, bed! It was perfect.
8) If you could meet three celebrities (real or dead), who would you choose?
Gregor Mendel - Yes, I am a complete nerd, but I love genetics and his work with the pea flowers is truly amazing.
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark - the changes in her life must be unbelievable, I would love to hear all about it.
George Clooney - this one doesnt need an explaination.
9) What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
A recently discovered flavour actually - cake mix! with sprinkles from cold rock/stone! Yum! I could really go an icecream now..
10) If you won the lottery, how would you spend your winnings?
This is actually a very common topic of discussion in our house, wishful thinking much?
The first thing I would look at would be a new house, a huge one right near where we live now, with views over the city and a nice big fish tank. I would also like a new car, a fancy handbag, one of those TVs that pops up from a cabinet, a gas stove top, a big fridge with an ice dispenser, a pizza oven for the backyard, a dog for the backyard (wait, make that 2 dogs), a space pen (you can write upside down), a hammock, ok have I gone too far?
Of course Hubs and I would also be off on a grand tour of the world!
11) What has been your life's proudest moment?
Im not sure actually, this one threw me a little bit. Im going to be all non-commital here but truly I am very proud of where my life is right now. I have a wonderful husband, a job that I love, we own a great apartment and I could not be happier.
However, I will be pretty proud of myself if I make it through this half-marathon in a few weeks!
Im not going to tag anyone, but if you answer these questions, let me know!
Here are the questions from Jill!
1) If you could live in any chapter of US history, which would you pick and why?
I am getting very into Mad Men at the moment, pretty much the only thing that I like about it though is the fashion. I am a massive fan of the 50's and 60's in general though.
2) If you could win a gigantic shopping spree to any store (brick and mortar or online), which would you select?
I am going to be totally boring here and say Myer, an Australian department store, hello Manolo and a Sony TV!
3) What's your biggest pet peeve?
Being that I travel, a lot, one thing that really frustrates me are people who continue to use their electronic devices after the crew says you cant. I am not the best flyer, so having some guy next to me (its ALWAYS a guy) chatting away on his mobile when we are pushing back makes my palms more than sweaty. I have been known to dob them in...
4) What's a skill you'd love to possess?
I would love to be able to speak another language, Italian would really help with my gelato ordering.
5) What tangible item are you most afraid of?
Not really afraid of tangible items, heights arent ideal though.
6) What is a popular travel destination you honestly have no interest in visiting?
If I am truly honest, I have already been there a few times it is a necessary evil when almost all flights from Australia arrive there, however London has to be it... I probably wouldnt have stayed except for my friend living there at the time? A lot of Australian's spend a lot of time in London, living and working, however I just find it a bit blah. I much prefer Rome (refer to Q4).
7) What's the best vacation you've ever taken?
Our honeymoon was pretty kick ass awesome! Maui involved waking up, breakfast, swim, relax, lunch, swim, relax, afternoon nap, dinner, bed! It was perfect.
8) If you could meet three celebrities (real or dead), who would you choose?
Gregor Mendel - Yes, I am a complete nerd, but I love genetics and his work with the pea flowers is truly amazing.
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark - the changes in her life must be unbelievable, I would love to hear all about it.
George Clooney - this one doesnt need an explaination.
9) What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
A recently discovered flavour actually - cake mix! with sprinkles from cold rock/stone! Yum! I could really go an icecream now..
10) If you won the lottery, how would you spend your winnings?
This is actually a very common topic of discussion in our house, wishful thinking much?
The first thing I would look at would be a new house, a huge one right near where we live now, with views over the city and a nice big fish tank. I would also like a new car, a fancy handbag, one of those TVs that pops up from a cabinet, a gas stove top, a big fridge with an ice dispenser, a pizza oven for the backyard, a dog for the backyard (wait, make that 2 dogs), a space pen (you can write upside down), a hammock, ok have I gone too far?
Of course Hubs and I would also be off on a grand tour of the world!
11) What has been your life's proudest moment?
Im not sure actually, this one threw me a little bit. Im going to be all non-commital here but truly I am very proud of where my life is right now. I have a wonderful husband, a job that I love, we own a great apartment and I could not be happier.
However, I will be pretty proud of myself if I make it through this half-marathon in a few weeks!
Im not going to tag anyone, but if you answer these questions, let me know!
May 4, 2012
May 3, 2012
Olympic team outfits
Finally! Our Olympic team has a good looking uniform! A nice crisp blazer, and Dunlop volley's!! What else could an Olympic team ask for?
Pasta Sunday
I made pasta, from scratch, it was delicious! We actually received a voucher for an Italian cooking class from our friends for our engagement party and part of that class was to make pasta. We made a roast pumpkin and parmesan ravioli and a beetroot ravioli during the class and the clear winner for us was the roast pumpkin. So, one sunny Sunday I decided to crank up the Kitchen Aid and pasta my way into a delicious Sunday meal.
We used the recipe from the cooking school, however all pasta recipes are virtually the same and a similar one can be found at Taste.com.au but be sure to knead the dough until it is not sticky, then it needs to be left under a bowl for 30 minutes or so.
Once it is ready to go, you can put on your daggiest clothes and a lovely pink apron and flatten that dough out to a big lasagne sheet.
Fill the pasta with your roast pumpkin mixture, we used roast pumpkin, parmesan and a little salt and mushed it together to make pumpkin mash consistency. Be sure to remove all air pockets when making the ravioli.
Allow it to air dry, cook it up in a big pot...
Add some sage butter sauce and sit back and realise that it just took you 5 hours to make 2 bowls of pasta. Pretend it is totally better than the supermarket stuff that takes 10 minutes.
May 2, 2012
Weekend in the Capital.
No, I dont mean DC - I mean the capital city of Australia - Canberra!!
It is actually a bit of a joke of a town to most Sydney siders, it is mainly filled with people working for the government or in the armed forces. It is, however also home to Mr Olive's best man;
So, last weekend we headed down to enjoy a weekend of running, golf and brunch. Ok, so I brunched and ran and Mr Olive golfed. The main reason for the trip was a 10km fun run through the city of Canberra as part of my half-marathon training and I was able to recruit a few other team members to run with me.
It is actually a bit of a joke of a town to most Sydney siders, it is mainly filled with people working for the government or in the armed forces. It is, however also home to Mr Olive's best man;
Photo by MMPhotos
My maid of honour, Alison is also currently residing in Canberra aswell, and she is soon to move to the USA though to be with her fiance. She was inconveniently out of town when we came down for a visit.
So, last weekend we headed down to enjoy a weekend of running, golf and brunch. Ok, so I brunched and ran and Mr Olive golfed. The main reason for the trip was a 10km fun run through the city of Canberra as part of my half-marathon training and I was able to recruit a few other team members to run with me.
We also had a great girls night on the Saturday night while the boys went to the Rugby, it was slightly saddened by the fact that we had a few of us affected by some type of stomach virus or food poisoning or something.
Great weekend in Canberra with a great run to keep the training up!
May 1, 2012
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