MorseyRuns

2008-02-28T13:18:00.001+11:00

I have a new blog- send me an email at sara.a.morse@gmail.com and I can redirect you there.

Making up for yesterday

2008-02-17T08:28:00.002+11:00

Bella and I had an early night (she wasn't allowed on the bed again) and got to the lake at 6am this morning for our run/walk. The week 2 sessions have me running 2 minutes and walking two minutes for 30 mins. It was nice to be able to get into a bit of a rhythym before the alarm went off. Bella had her usual run around like an idiot- rolling around in the grass and carrying on. The grand prix works are coming along and I won't be able to run there for much longer.

I went home and grabbed my bike and went out for a ride- I was down on Beaconsfield Parade and realised that I could see the triathlon cycle leg - I kept an eye out for Alison and Andrew but had no luck- hope you had a great morning- it was beautiful out there. I rode around for a bit then into work.

Tomorrow I am hopefully meeting up with the guy who sold me the cycle computer- I can't get it to work no matter how much I fiddle with the sensors- he kindly offered to have a look at it for me in the morning.

Yesterday in my toxic state I managed to half shut the car door before I had completely made it into the car- whacked myself in the head. Such a loser. The thing is that the headache I get from a hangover only lasts about five minutes, I don't really suffer from a traditional hangover, just a nasty toxic feeling but after whacking myself in the head I had to go lie down and now I have a massive lump.

So many questions:

2008-02-16T16:58:00.002+11:00

Why does my head hurt? Because you drank too much beer yesterday
Why is my handbag full of chips? Because you search for crap food when you drink too much and then you struggle to put them in your mouth
Why are there so many Nandos serviettes in my handbag? Because you stopped off for more junk food on the way home
Why do my feet hurt? Because you refused to get a cab and walked from North Richmond to Prahran with a bag of chips for sustenance
Where is my phone? Under the pillow (and a quick check reveals no inappropriate text messages or phone calls to inappropriate people- hurray!)
Where is Bella? Asleep on the bed- she loves it when I come home smashed so she can sleep on the bed.

Had a very good catch up with a mate last night with the usual results- the walk home wasn't part of the plan, nor was the crap food but both are inevitable when I drink- I have been very well behaved for a while so last night was a bit of fun. Sadly I had to work today and it hasn't been very productive. Planning an early night and a better day tomorrow. I didn't run because my knee and ankle were a little sore from last nights jaunt so I will be back at the lake tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Bella

2008-02-15T09:59:00.004+11:00

It is Bella's 3rd birthday today but she is still a bit unwell (though I did give her birthday treats)- the Vet says if she is still playing and being her usual self and eating, drinking etc then not to worry but I am off to the vet tomorrow if she doesn't get any better. We had a quiet walk around the park then I went for a swim at the local pool. It would have been better for me to go to MSAC but it is too far and I always make excuses as to why I can't go. I just swam a km and then it was time for work.

I have to work this weekend too so I am trying to plan my exercise so that I don't make excuses. Week two starts on Monday for my recovery. My ankle is a bit sore at the moment so I will probably keep the voltaren going (and the quickease).

Did anyone else learn to count using cuiseniare rods? We were discussing the fibonacci sequence at work (we aren't nerds but it was in the "little paper" quiz, I said something about the rods and no-one knew what I was talking about. I loved those little coloured rods. Do they still use them at school?

Just so you know, despite yesterdays post, I am not a fan of Kevin Rudd or his cohorts, or his state colleagues by any stretch, but I hope I am evolved enough to know which way is forward.

2008-02-14T08:17:00.002+11:00

Bella and I went to Caulfield Park for intervals this morning- she has been sick for the past day and I wanted to leave her off the lead so she didn't get dragged around feeling like crap just because I wanted to run. Turns out she wanted to run and run and roll in things and chase birds despite stopping to vomit every minute or so. It was like she had her own intervals to do.

I have been struggling to time the intervals - using my watch or phone as a stop watch but this morning I came up with an ingenious plan! I used the cooking timer I got free with a Donna Hay magazine- just reset it after every interval and ran/walked until the buzzer told me that my muffins were ready.
I am meeting the girls for brunch but I can't decide whether to have a swim as well.

I am pretty happy about yesterdays apology to Indigenous Australians- still can't believe the ignorant responses that I heard at work about how everyone will be lining up for compensation, they should be happy that they were removed from their family etc.
(It is quite simple to be informed about such important issues, but if you are a right wing red neck then just read Andrew Bolt and stick you head up your own ar$e and come and work in my industry, you will fit right in.)

2008-02-12T07:18:00.000+11:00

I know dreams are boring for other people but I had a very traumatic one this morning- I dreamt that you had to be married to run around the Tan so I went to the Botanical Gardens in Hamilton where someone tried to rob me, then I married someone who was an ex boyfriend (but wasn't an ex in real life) just so I could run around the Tan. Woke up screaming. I always dream about violent crime, but this was horrible.

This morning Bella and I went to the Lake for a run (don't even need a boyfriend to run there) we did our usual intervals and then walked the rest of the way. I love running pain free- though I do have pain in my other foot, but closer inspection revealed a blister deep below the surface. I have tried sticking needles in it but it is too deep and I don't have the nerve. Will google this later- gotta head to work.

Sun is shining, birds are singing

2008-02-10T09:39:00.000+11:00

Bella and I were up at 5.30 this morning and heading to the lake. I am supposed to do my running on the flat so I thought the lake is a good option until they block it off for that stupid environmentally damaging car race. We did our 1min/2min jog/run thing and then just walking the rest of the way around. On the beach side of the lake I let Bella off and she runs around like a complete nutjob, chasing birds and looking like she is having a ball.
My running went well- just a small pain in the instep which is new. I wasn't breaking any speed records- 7.15 min/km but that didn't really bother me, it is supposed to be a jog.
Then home to get the bike. I went back to the lake then along Beaconsfield Parade then back for another lap of the lake and home. I was absolutely starving when I got home and just polished off scrambled eggs on toast- that is my normal post long run breakfast and I haven't had it for AGES!
I have so many questions about the bike riding such as why my fingers go numb? The funniest thing I saw was four portly blokes on mountain bikes wearing matching pink and white Brunetti jerseys! I think that need a KFC one.
It is such a beautiful morning.

RUNNING!

2008-02-09T13:16:00.000+11:00

Saw the sports doc this morning and she is super happy with my recovery so she has designed me a running, walking program:
Week One:
Alternate days - walk 2 mins, jog 1 min for 20 mins

Week Two:
Alternate days- walk 2 mins, jog 2 mins for 30 mins

Week Three:
Alternate days- walk 1 min, jog 2 mins for 30 mins

Week Four:
Alternate days- walk 1 min, jog 3 mins for 30 mins

She was very happy with my VMO whatever that is so I confessed to cycling and she was very happy for me to keep cycling as much as I can. So tomorrow morning it is out for the jog/ walk then off for a ride!
I have made another appointment in four weeks and I have no idea what happens after that. Must go look for my running gear!

Why I have no money- behold new bike stand:

2008-02-07T13:38:00.000+11:00

Still no closer to my question of "why cyclists dress the way they do" but I haven't yet worked up the courage to ask them online yet. I have joined a number of forums since becoming addicted to this internet thing- bike forums, running forums, forums for runners (2), triathlon forums and dog owner forums. Gotta tell you that the runners are the most friendly- the bike forum is just the pits- I started a thread and got nothing, not a hi, how are you etc. I am too frightened to post on the triathlon forum but when I get the courage up (after I do my first ironman just to get some credibility) then I will ask them WHY???

Quiet morning for me- arvo shift today so Bella and I had a huge sleep in, a massive walk and some cleaning. I just went and saw my friend Sav and her beautiful baby- am I clucky?? Are you kidding?? Ohmigod yes (especially when Abbey was sleeping peacefully).

Knee is very sore today- so I will tram to work and give it a break. I was keen to get out for a cycle this morning, but when I was about to get up at 5am I remembered that I have no lights for the new bike and my old lights are very connected to the MTB. Back to sleep for me. Last night I attached the second hand cycle computer to the new bike (that I bought from someone on the aforementioned triathlon forum)- and I cannot get it to work.

Edit:
Follow up message to the triathlon guy has yielded results- he forgot to send me part of the cadence sensor bit.

from a runner with an ankle problem to a cyclist with a knee problem?

2008-02-03T09:43:00.000+11:00

Took the new bike out for a spin this morning- but I am not strong enough to loosen the bolt that holds the seat post so I didn't go for long because I feel ridiculously cramped. I felt like I was going so fast (despite being passed by every man and his buddy in lycra along Beaconsfield Parade) and I was just so happy with having a light responsive set of wheels. I can even get my feet clipped in with a minimum of hassle - though it took a while to get that right because I couldn't break and release my foot at the same time so I had to decide which was more important at the time.
Very very happy with the purchase but I can't help but wonder if I have just gone from a runner with an ankle problem to a cyclist with a knee problem.
(girls, the flat bar hybrid is not mine- it belongs to someone who once lived here and is currently the subject of threats to put it on ebay to remove it from my gym!)

I was a little late getting out this morning because I was a little late getting home last night- Pruesy and I went to the races yesterday and I had an amazing run of luck (or good form analysis) and no I didn't meet a 6ft gorgeous stranger with too much money and a fondness for overweight excitable short haired girls, but I collected on every race- including the last when we put $5 each way on Dad's tip despite the fact he has never ever tipped a winner- and it paid $20! So then it was off to Chapel Street for dinner and home. Drinking all day didn't stop me from taking Bella out for a walk last night but don't ask me where we went because I have very little recollection of that. Thankfully she let me sleep in until 6am this morning before we had to head to the park.

I have to slow down in school zones

2008-01-31T12:30:00.001+11:00

Finally there it is, tucked away safely in the "home gym".

I picked it up this morning- you know when it was pouring rain this morning and it looked like a proper wintery day- well I was riding my brand new bike home right then. I have to tell you that I have changed my opinion of Lawrencia Cycles- after thinking how wonderful they were, I realise that there sales staff were fantastic, but their other staff are buffoons. They simply wheeled my bike out, looking like it did when it came off the sales floor and said 'there you go." I bought a new helmet as well and that was a MAJOR inconvenience for this particular staff member and you should have heard the huffing and puffing when I suggested that I might have the bike fitted to me. The seat went up three times and it is still too low, the handlebars have been tipped up so that they are ridiculously tilted and changing gears is almost impossible. The toe clips have been threaded through all twisted so I could barely get my foot in.
My next bike will be bought from the internet and I will fit it myself because I could definitely do a better job than the loser at Lawrencia Cycles. (and NEVER let a bloke recommend a womens seat- I can't believe I was so silly)
I have to take it back to get all the cables tightened in 6 weeks and I might have calmed down by then.

On the plus side I loved riding home- it is so light and responsive and just so nice to ride after my mountain bike. If it wasn't for the rain I could have ridden all day- it was so easy. I need to work out the gears though- and I think I need some more! Alison are you talking about the cog things at the front when you talk about triple rings at the front? Because it only has a double and I want a triple!

(I dried my new bike completely before I put it away - don't tell the mtb because it never gets looked after like that! I am riding mtb to work- need to sort out the insurance before I take it to work). Been on hold to optus for about 42 minutes right now and I am giving up on their "customer service" as well.

2008-01-29T20:33:00.000+11:00

I spent yesterday re-qualifying in all our operational safety "options" (ranging from just shouting to the more lethal variety)- usually they stretch it all out into two days with LOTS of breaks but this time it was one day so it seemed a lot more fun- and there was no first aid which usually puts me to sleep in the first half hour.

Bella had her usual three walks yesterday- two that were fun-filled and involved frolicking happily and one that ended with Bella pinning an enormous black Labrador to the ground by its throat. Needless to say we left the park shortly after that. A young boy had brought his dogs squeaky toy to the park and was just standing there squeaking it while Bella worked herself into a frenzy trying to get it and then when the lab thought he would take advantage of Bella while she wasn't looking and he ended up with an angry lesson in domination. Bella gets very focused on squeaky toys. I did see it coming but I was too far away and by the time I got there Bella was in full nasty mode. More time on the lead in parks by ourselves coming up.

I got the tram to work this morning for the first time in ages- I have been riding most days but my knee is still very sore so I think a bit of a break will do it wonders.
Arvo shift tomorrow so I am going to get my bike in the morning- can't wait, though my nasty head cold seems to be coming back so a sleep in might be on the cards too.

Bought myself another bike

2008-01-28T16:06:00.000+11:00

Yep, I didn't go back to bed- well not right away. I went to lawrencia cycles in Hawthorn (after the Prahran shops gave me NOTHING in the way of customer service) and got myself a Gitane Mach 1600. I do love it- but because it isn't a brand I was very familiar with I am a bit scared now that I will find out they are made in slave labour camps out of cardboard so I have been a bit shy about it.

I went in to buy the Giant OCR2 which has sora groupset (bottom of the range) and no carbon but is a nice looking bike. I came out with the Gitane which has Tiagra (next up the line) groupset and carbon forks.
It has been a long time since I was on a racer - it felt soooo little and light compared to my mountain bike- and they make different seats for girls now! Not just mens seats in pink either- ohmigod- what will they think of next!
A long time ago- before I got my licence, my BFF Catie and I would cycle everywhere everday of our holidays- 120 km round trips just for the sake of it were not unusual. I know that I am just keen to get back cycling because it reminds me of those olden days and because it will take my mind off how much I wish I was running.

Rode to work today and it was the start of the office get fit campaign which meant that instead of an over long coffee break, the boys and I got changed and went down the road to the gym for a half hour today. I did 10mins on the rower, recumbent bike and the funny runner thing. It was good to see the new mentality taking over and I was impressed that they went through with their plan after talking it up all week.

The bad news is that my patella tendon is very sore again- I have been doing a lot of walking recently and I think it is time to scale it back a bit- Bella could probably do with a break too! She has been walked all over Melbourne recently.

Advice for getting sick

2008-01-27T11:25:00.000+11:00

Don't do an ab work prior to getting some sort of respiratory sickness- every cough and sneeze will cause you great pain
Likewise don't do any squats or lunges if you are going to get some sort of gastro that involves sitting a lot (I am just guessing for this one)
Don't live by yourself because then you have to ring people for sympathy and if you have no voice they will wonder why you rang at all.
Make sure you have enough chocolatey treats in the house so that if you do ever feel like eating then you don't need to go to the shops in your pyjamas.
If you do the right thing and keep your fluids up, make sure you haven't done lunges and squats because those extra 35 trips to the toilet a day are going to hurt.
If you tell your mum that you have aches all over then you should also add that it is unrelated to your cold but a direct result of the weights used at group training.
Don't get sick on a Friday when the Monday is a public holiday because the boss is NEVER going to believe that one- better to go in, spread the germs and get sent home.
Don't get sick on a fun long weekend, even if you have to work the Monday, you can sense everyone having fun while you lie groaning in bed.

Still all snuffly and disgusting but I made it out of the house this morning to complete the ride for the online triathlon- my only option was the bike at the gym and it was awful but I stuck at it for 15km no more- just scraped in under 30mins but it isn't a proper time really, because unless I was at a velodrome then I wouldn't be able to ride like that. Home for some weights- though everytime I lie down on my weight bench to do some sort of chest thing Bella jumps up runs over and licks me right in the ear.
I was nearly stuck on the weightbench when I realised I could lie down, but my stomach muscles hurt too much to get back up! Bella the wonder dog couldnt be relied on to go for help so I managed to sit up sort of sideways.
The muscle soreness from Thursday night is bad- I haven't hurt this bad for years. The only bad bit is that I think the lunges were no good for my knee.

Can't decide whether I should go back to bed or head to the bike shop.

I sound like Marcel Marco

2008-01-25T09:25:00.000+11:00

Home sick from work today- I was all snotty and horrible all night and then when I woke up I still had the sinus headache and my voice had gone! While I am sure the boys would have loved me coming to work with no voice I don't know if they would be happy if I turned up as the snot monster. I am a big one for not sharing the love around the office- especially because they all have little kids.

Last night I went to group training with StepIntoLife- despite the initial mix up where the instructor tried to tell me that this session was booked out and she had told me that all ready- she then insisted that I stay. We had a decent warm up then it was shoulder work with hand weights- I had just picked up the lightest dumbells but the instructor decided it looked too easy for me and swapped my weights for someone elses heavy ones :(- the other girl was VERY happy.
I was such a sweaty mess by the end of it- arms, back, shoulders and legs all got a workout before it was time for crunches then planks. I was so sweaty that I kept slippping off the mat. I didn't notice anyone else being sweaty at all.

I am supposed to be dragging Prue along to these sessions soon- and I do feel a bit bad because it is hard work- though I guess I pushed myself and made sure I did all the reps whereas a lot of the girls (only one guy) weren't doing all the reps (yes I was counting theirs and mine because I am a nerd!)

Not sure about the swim tomorrow- it might be a morning decision because if I feel like this I don't think I will make it, but I am predicting a massive recovery- fingers crossed and back to bed for me.

2008-01-24T08:49:00.001+11:00

Thanks for yesterdays comments- I know what the physio means- but I also think I won't know until I try. Maybe I need a 100 week marathon plan instead of 26. I am liking the idea of triathlon as I continue to search for a bike. I am considering doing a swim at Williamstown with Alison but will wait and see if I am confident enough.

Caught up with my old boss and workmates last night and I have woken up with a sinus headache and horrible chesty feeling. After the conversation last night I had very tortured sleep with more murder and mayhem than normal so I am sure I will be fine with a good nights sleep.

Bella and I walked around the lake this morning- we did the beach side on the grass which I was loving until I twisted my bad ankle in a hole. I was lying on the ground feeling like everything was wrong with the world then I realised that it didn't hurt as much as I thought and I just got up and kept walking. Will ice it when I get home (before I head to first group training session).

Bella loved the walk and finding new places to sniff- I had her off the lead until she charged towards the water and I had images of me having to climb in to get her out (like last time) so I managed to call her back and she was on the lead for the rest of the time.

2008-01-22T18:01:00.000+11:00

I have quit the gym! Woo hoo- no more stinky butt Fitness Last/ Finance First- but having said that- I am allowed to transfer my membership so if you know anyone that wants to join FF in Prahran I only pay $18 a fortnight and it is transferable so if I let them know by the 20th of Feb then someone else can have a substandard experience too!

Something the physio said last night has been bothering me....when she was talking about the recovery she said that maybe my biomechanics will mean that I won't be able to run great distances EVER AGAIN. She said that with my biomechanics I shouldn't run more than 10kms. It is almost like she doesn't want my money! I sort of laughed it off and said just one marathon, once and then back to half marathons. She went back to the biomechanics line again and said that it wasn't in my make-up.
This is the second medical professional to tell me that I am not built for running. I think the first doctor was insinuating that I was fat (and he should talk!) but Mary wasn't- just more that I have been put together wrong for running - or something.

Initially I was all angry and determined to prove her wrong, but in the end I decided that it is quite likely that she is right. Maybe I do need to cross train more and not place such an emphasis on running. (So then in my mind I was training until I was whippet thin and tackling a half iron man as the enormous goal)

Not sure but I guess I need to rethink my attitude to running.

This morning I walked around the Tan like I was running- I took Bella, strapped on footpod and had a big walk. I have missed it a lot. I also rode to and from work again- it is getting very easy now. I will have tomorrow as a rest day because my legs have been getting a bit of a workout recently and they are sore!

The boys at work have gone from the stupid argument about how you only get so many heart beats and there is no reason to waste them exercising to planning to visit the gym for a cardio session three times a week. Not sure how long it will last but I am going to join them and see if we can't keep it going.

Alison- will message you my mobile on FB so I can catch up Saturday if I am going to join you!

2008-01-21T20:55:00.000+11:00

Just got back from the physio- ultrasound and massage followed by some strengthening exercises. The physio suggested I ice my ankle tonight as well, but I am not far out of bed. She was very supportive in my attempts to get some time in walking in the next three weeks.

When the alarm went off this morning I was very unhappy- it took me a few minutes to get out of bed during which time I had convinced myself that I would swim this evening instead of on my way to work. Of course half way through my walk with the naughtiest dog in the world I remembered that I had a physio appointment and wouldn't have time to swim. The timing is crucial in the morning- and if I make my lunch (as I am now a slave to the mortgage) then I need to be organised.

Anyway I did have time for a swim because we left work early but I used the time wisely by checking out my local bike shops- I am nearly convinced that I need a Giant OCR 2- if I can't get one on ebay then I will go back to the bike shops (though I really wanted to spend $400 not $1000)- I figure I can try to get a new helmet etc if I go to a bike shop.
Am definitely looking forward to pushing my new bike up the westgate!

Preparing to run

2008-01-20T18:32:00.000+11:00

I decided I should get some time on my feet for when I am allowed to run- so Bella and I did a lap of Albert Park yesterday and a 6km walk today. I followed each walk up with a session in the home gym which now boasts a bench as well as some dumbells after I thew saving to the wind yesterday and went shopping!
I love the new bench- so much that I went to the gym today and made an appointment to quit (not happy that I have to book in to quit but no matter how hard they make it, I am quitting!). My gorgeous friend Kendra has a month pass to Melb Sports and Aquatic Centre for me so after that surely I can get a two week trial at the 6 different gyms in my area- as well as my free Women's Health toning sessions- I should be looking a treat in no time!
My ankle is a getting better and I have spent some quality time massaging it with as much intensity as I can bear.
Yesterday I "accidently" nearly bought a bike on ebay- fortunately someone outbid me with five minutes to go. Today I did a bit of research, realised I could buy half the bikes new at the prices they were asking and have decided to buy a bike soon. The reason is this.
You get to ride over the Westgate- I remember deciding to do the Run4Kids because you got to run through a tunnel- now I would like to start cycling so I can ride over a bridge. Who wants to join me??

Sports Doc visit again

2008-01-19T10:16:00.001+11:00

I had my appointment yesterday and thankfully escaped anymore cortisone! After my prodding and poking that caused me immense pain the Doc recommended self massage along the tendons that run under the ankle bone on both sides, as well as the boney bit that does nothing but sit there - calcineaus (something like that okay). I have also booked in a couple of physio sessions for some ultrasound and some strenthening exercises for my ankle.
The SD said I should come and see her in 4 weeks- and I said so no running or anything planned soon? And she said, "Okay come and see me in 3 weeks". Then I felt like I was pressuring her a bit - when really, I haven't run for a LONG time so one more week won't make any difference but she explained that she wouldn't let me rush my rehab but she is a runner too and knows that it isn't fun to be sidelined.

I am REALLY struggling with the self massage- while I was doing it I was worried I wouldn't have the ability to hurt myself like the SD does. But this morning my ankle is swollen and a bit bruised so it appears that my fears are misplaced. I don't know if I should keep massaging it while it is like that - I really don't think so. Anti inflams might be the answer.

Had a work lunch again yesterday- way too much beer then home before I went out for dinner with Mum, Dad and Pruesy before heading out to see a band. Sadly the band didn't float my boat as much as I thought it would so I really only caught a couple of songs before I heard my bed calling and left. Even when I turn up I am a piker. Nothing planned this weekend- I am trying to save some cash for my September holiday.

Ausrun online summer triathlon

2008-01-17T20:04:00.000+11:00

I was up at the usual hour this morning- walked Bella then rode to the pool for the first leg of the ausrun online summer triathlon. I decided just to do the 500m swim this morning because I was very under-prepared thanks to the no carb thingy while I am trying to get my weight down. (It is only no carb if I can easily avoid them- no point having carbs when I don't need them)

Anyway I was a bit late to the pool and it was pretty busy so I just got straight in and started powering away- I started swimming just after about seven blokes had all turned and started their next lap thinking that it would be a while before they lapped me and came up behind me. However, because I was concentrating on speed I realised that I was going to be overtaking them- and I did on the second lap. It must have made them realise how slow they were going- because they all sped up and overtook me, but then they slowed down and I was back to tickling the toes of the bloke in front of me.

Gradually I just picked them off again until I could swim without worrying about running into someone.

I did the first 500m in 10.25 which is pretty bad, but I haven't been swimming very regularly- but I thought that it hardly seemed worth the effort if I was going to get out of the pool after that so I did the next 500m as fast as I could- not very fast again- 11:35. So I made my 1km time 21:55. Plenty of room for improvement.

Then I rode to work and started my working day a little bit weary.

I rode home a different way after the boys at work convinced me that there was a bike lane on Clarendon Street despite the annoying hook turns. No bike lane and lots of strange traffic manoeuvres before I got onto the bike lane around Albert Park Lake with a charming head wind. The cycling route problem is not yet solved.

Pilates and HIIT

2008-01-16T12:29:00.000+11:00

Just got back from the gym where I did pilates and then a quick HIIT session- I rode there and back too. Pilates was great- the instructor is amazingly beautiful and she is bossy too so you feel like you have to keep trying harder to impress her (I always do that with beautiful people, that, and hate myself).
I don't think she was impressed when my phone rang and it wasn't on silent but I suddenly had superhuman speed because I untangled myself from whatever pose I was doing and grabbed it and silenced it before re-contorting myself into some sort of shape that probably looked like the drawer where I keep all my cords and chargers- phone, ipod etc.
I apologised after the class but she was so beautiful that she didn't even notice it ring.

Afternoon shift today- which means no bike ride to work because the cover of darkness does nothing to enhance my safety. You know those crazy over competitive streets where everyone has a million christmas lights and it hurts to look at it for too long- well that is what I could look like as I cycle home at night and I would still be sideswipped. (But it would look very funny if I did ride to work with a couple of well lit reindeer strapped to the bike- maybe in 11 months time).

Crackle and Pop

2008-01-15T18:06:00.001+11:00

There are a few problems with cycling home from work- the easiest way to go is up Chapel Street from the Yarra- but that means contending with oh so many fools. There are several fools in Chapel Street but these are the ones I hate the most:

Any fool, with enormous sunglasses or not, who decides to cross the road from between parked cars and who steps into the bike lane without looking and nearly cleans me up.
Any fool, in their stupid Mercedes 4WD or not, who decides to do a left hand turn, without indicating or looking, and nearly runs me over.
Any fool, in their hotted up, lowered piece of sh1t car or not, who decides to bags himself a spot in the congestion by half exiting a parking spot and parking in the bike lane.
Any fool, with 8 of their mates or not, who turns left into Chapel Street without looking and nearly cleans me up.

(I also hate the ones who are pilled off their heads queuing outside clubs at 10am on a Saturday morning too but that is a whole other rant)

And don't get me started on the non looking door openers who plague my ride home.

But the alternative route has so many big hills and it really makes me ride home unpleasant- normally I would suck it up and tackle the hills but the sports doc is any cycling out of the saddle- and it is damn hard to get up those big hills sitting down watching pedestrians pass me.

I did my home made weights program when I got home- the Lateral Thigh Trainer might not be the answer because I have one knee that CRACKLES and one knee that POPS so it sounds awful (and not unlike a chocolate milkshake only crunchy- but I don't want to add a SNAP to the repertoire). The knee that pops is the one that has never given me any trouble but it is a very loud pop and I don't want to start making problems during my rehab. I did all the other weights though and am hoping it is a bit cooler outside so I can take Bella to the park.

Steve- sorry, but your swipe card won't get me into the girls showers- now you know, so there should be no embarrassing mix ups. And today we had problems with numerous computer systems and half the squads were locked in their offices- which was hilarious until our office was then locked in our office AT 4.20PM. I was hyperventilating at the thought of overtime, the walls were closing in, everyone was breathing my precious oxygen and I was busting for the toilet. So we had to "break the glass in case of an emergency" and escape through two other squads next door. Unsafe worksite?? I bet you really miss it now!

Back in the city

2008-01-14T20:53:00.000+11:00

Pruesy and I got home last night- I think I managed to put on all the weight I lost in just those two days. (And I am blaming the booze because I really didn't eat that much).

I rode my bike to work today- then had to sit around the office for an hour or two because they couldn't enable my swipey card to let me into the showers. Not nice for me, not nice for my co-workers. Finally I got to shower and managed to be out in time for the morning meeting. It is mainly the hair that bothers me- it is short and messy most of the time but after putting a hat on bed hair it really doesn't look so funky anymore. I am considering growing it- especially after I trimmed the bit over my ears last night and it just kept getting shorter and shorter while I tried to even it up.

I rode home again then took Bella for a massive walk and we are about to go for another one. My buns are still killing me from the garage work out but I figure it is time to try the "Lateral Thigh Trainer" that I have borrowed from Pruesy- (now you know who buys that stuff they advertise on TV). I am sad to report the demise of my fitball- I don't know what happened when I was cooking the bbq for my friends the other night, but the fitball has been getting smaller and smaller ever since- I pumped it up yesterday and it is squooshy all ready.
Sports Doc on Friday and I have to report the ankle pain is still present- on the outside just under the ankle bone.

2008-01-12T17:22:00.001+11:00

I am at the farm and it has been a beautiful day which I have spent doing the following:

Mum's ironing
Any crossword I can find
Looking at every Delicious magazine that Mum has bought in the last 12 months
Helping Pruesy make dumplings for dinner
Designing a home gym workout for Mum to do in the garage
Checking to see if Bella has made her way out of the trough yet (no, is the answer to that, even while the horse is drinking out of it- yum!)
Checking the backyard for more snakes

Mum's workout was a bit of fun to do, but really it is a bit like the blind leading the blind. Dad has a punching bag suspended from the roof in the garage and a weight bench. I made a list of every major muscle group and so Susie has a program that features:

bicep curls
upright row
overhead presses
chest presses
tricep presses
shoulder presses
some sort of leg quad thingy
butterfly plies
lunges
planks

I am hoping that it won't take her too long- and as long as Dad doesn't leave his enormous weight on the bench then she shouldn't have a problem. Dad just does power lifting- it cracks me up- one rep, once a day.

I have been trialling the workout in the Womens Health magazine plus Mum's workout so I have to tell you that my buns are killing me all ready- damn those butterfly plies.

I lost 1.1kg at Fat Club on Thursday night- that was with two massive blowouts as well. (including my first parma in ages on Saturday night)

Pruesy picked me up from work yesterday after collecting Bella and my bag which was stashed in the garden shed- but Pruesy asked me if I left the garden shed open and why my shorts were on the lawn. The answer to that is that Bella opened the shed door and then got into my bag which wasn't zipped shut and she obviously thought my shorts needed some time on the lawn. I unpacked my bag with trepidation and now I am expecting to find three pairs of socks stashed in Bella's kennel when I get home. She has a crazy sock fetish and will steal them from the clothes drying rack and hide them in her kennel when I am not watching.