Techie post again :)
This morning I went for my Saturday morning run, even though the weather was absolutely dire here in Holland. It was cold, wet and miserable! But never let it be said I am a fair weather person!
I woke up, watched the mornings activity in Melbourne (go Macca's!), drank my fill of cappuccinos and caught up on blogs that I have been kind of neglecting this week due to the amount I have on at the moment. At about a quarter past nine I got up the courage to get ready for the run and leg it into the world.
Today there was a difference.
I always run with a heart meter to make sure that I am running at the optimum pace for what I want to do - most of the time this being keeping fit and keeping the weight down. However, in three weeks I have to run the Hilversum City Run for my company (well 'have to' is a little incorrect here, I want to run the 5km and they enter teams so I *can* run the 5km). I don't think I am going to beat my time from last year but I would like to try and get close...
So for now I am *trying* to run at competition pace, about 160 to 170 bpm to make sure that I can keep it up for the distance required and to try and make sure that the 170bpm actually equals a decent pace. A colleague of mine gave me a tip for an Android application this week: Run Keeper. This uses the GPS of the phone to keep track of your run for you and give you live feedback.
You start it up and put your phone in your pocket, and it gives you updates through your headphones as you go along. Telling the time so far, the distance so far and the average time per kilometer. I found this really useful for the competition training, as I could adjust my pace to both the heart meter and my required pace (today I was going for 5 minutes per km - 30 seconds slower than my pace last year).
And using the machine, the watch and with a bit of will power I managed to achieve it! For the first 5km's I did 5:02 average per KM. Of course this dropped to something like 5:17 average by the time I had finished running at nearly 7 k's - but I can live with that as I am not running a 7km distance so the performance can drop after 5 without me too worried :)
On coming home I found that I can also use it to make training plans, giving it warm up times and then unlimited intervals for fast, normal and slow running. I think that I'll try this tomorrow when running with Mrs Stace.
And finally... When you stop your run it uses Google Maps to let you know where you went - not that much use when you run the same road everyday, but nice when you take a different route and are just running to make the time, you can see where you went for the next time (and where the KM markers are).
Anyway - just thought I'd pass it on to anyone out there who is insane enough to run to keep fit! I thought it was a nice, free app - there don't seem to be that many out there that work this well (I have tried some in the past that were awful, and only worked if you held the phone in your hand for the whole run!)
BTW, one last thing :) If you work out indoors you can still use it, you just have to turn off the GPS mode and work in time rather than distance I think.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Up and down
Today, as they say in football, was a day of two halves.
Due to internal politics and technical problems the morning was less than fun, in fact it had me doubled in pain during a 40 minute walk to work off stress. But I won't go into details, they are both too raw still and it'll just be a rant (I just tried to do it once and ended up deleting the whole post as it got too long and way. way too much of a rant)
I was not happy.
But (always good to use after a phrase like 'I was not happy'), it did pick up. We are looking into a new computer for home. Mrs Stace is using my old laptop and it's starting to get a little long in the tooth, it takes too long to do certain tasks, and the battery is totally dead - if you unplug it it does instantly.
So I am going to do a clean install on mine and pass it on to her, and replace it with a DTR to last another 5 years. Sony is just about to release a new line of laptops using the latest and greatest chips from Intel, with a huge amount of processing power, lots of memory and a fast disk it should be lovely to code on (and to process photo's). We put the order in today, and should be amongst the first to get it when it's released in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed :)
And then this afternoon, in the glorious sunshine, we went for our office run across the country park near the office. 50mins, 500cals and 27g fat later I was quite happy again. There were 5 of us there, me and another girl run ahead, a couple of girls running a little slower and the guy who organises it (and can run us all into the ground - I swear he didn't even break a sweat!) running between the two.
A nice drive in the evening sun, some spinach and pesto past and I'm done...
And now that this is written, I'm off to bed to carry on with 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' - it's just getting interesting!
Goodnight!
Due to internal politics and technical problems the morning was less than fun, in fact it had me doubled in pain during a 40 minute walk to work off stress. But I won't go into details, they are both too raw still and it'll just be a rant (I just tried to do it once and ended up deleting the whole post as it got too long and way. way too much of a rant)
I was not happy.
But (always good to use after a phrase like 'I was not happy'), it did pick up. We are looking into a new computer for home. Mrs Stace is using my old laptop and it's starting to get a little long in the tooth, it takes too long to do certain tasks, and the battery is totally dead - if you unplug it it does instantly.
So I am going to do a clean install on mine and pass it on to her, and replace it with a DTR to last another 5 years. Sony is just about to release a new line of laptops using the latest and greatest chips from Intel, with a huge amount of processing power, lots of memory and a fast disk it should be lovely to code on (and to process photo's). We put the order in today, and should be amongst the first to get it when it's released in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed :)
And then this afternoon, in the glorious sunshine, we went for our office run across the country park near the office. 50mins, 500cals and 27g fat later I was quite happy again. There were 5 of us there, me and another girl run ahead, a couple of girls running a little slower and the guy who organises it (and can run us all into the ground - I swear he didn't even break a sweat!) running between the two.
A nice drive in the evening sun, some spinach and pesto past and I'm done...
And now that this is written, I'm off to bed to carry on with 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' - it's just getting interesting!
Goodnight!
Thursday, 10 March 2011
I can't beleive that he got lost!
On the Thursdays when I am not in therapy I run with a group of people from the office, some are training for the Hilversum 5km run (I'm one of those) and others just want to get fit. We split ourselves into two groups: One 10km group, and one 5km group, go our seperate ways and see each other during the acros the Gooische Hai (can someone who know's Dutch better than me correct that spelling please :p)
Today started badly - I was accosted by a colleague just when running upstairs to get changed so I had to rush in getting ready - almost forgetting my heart band in the process!
We started our run and were busy with the warm up when someone fell and knocked her head on the ground. She was OK afterwards, but decided to head back to the office rather than carry on running. That left four of us. We completed the warm up, did our stretches and then started running - through the neighbourhood where the office is located and then onto the open country side.
In spite of the cold (and boy was it cold in the wind!) is was a nice day for a run, once we got up to speed we stayed warm enough. The wild life seems to have returned to the parkland, thankfully not Melissa's wild life but deer and highland cows - though the cows are not my favortite creatures when you have to run within a few inches of them either!
4 mins, followed by 1 min rest and then we started on the longest run of the day - a 15 min semi competition pace run. All went well - we passed the 10km group as they were coming the other way and made quite some distance. Too much apparently...
My colleague who was doing the organising managed to take a few wrong turns. So instead of 4 + 15 + 8 minute runs taking us +- 5 KM's we added another 8 minutes trying to get back and another 3km's.
I'm not really complaining, I just thought it was funny (until we came across the cows a second time!) and at least I have earnt my cider and wine tonight :)
On a less fun note I have a real problem with my jaw today, it is really painful! I don't know if I have a filling that is going bad (I am going to call the dentist in the morning and try and get an appointment for Monday) or if my nephew managed to cause me some mischeif yesterday when he was playing / struggling to stay in the bath.
He has taken to trying to tickle people constantly, but has yet to learn the difference between pinching and tickling once he gets excited. And yesterday he grapped the flesh under my chin quite hard, and I am wondering if that has caused a bruise. Alternatively... I was giving him a bath last night and he really, really did not want to get out and jammed himself in and gripped the sides making it hard to lift him out. I had to twist into the shower (where his baby bath is put) and try to free him and am wondering if I stretched something wrong trying to do it. BTW contrary to what Mrs Stace thinks, I am not try ing to blame him for the pain I am in right now... More trying to convince myself that the pain is that rather than something with my teeth :)
The reason why I am wondering though is my tooth aches a little, but the pain comes when I hold my head in strange positions. I can touch the tooth, eat normally and tap my jaw with no problem. But when swallowing, or moving my head or touching the fleshy bit under my jaw it hurts. I'm going to get the tooth checked anyway - rather get it checked for no reason than not check it and it turns out that is the problem and it goes even worse...
Today started badly - I was accosted by a colleague just when running upstairs to get changed so I had to rush in getting ready - almost forgetting my heart band in the process!
We started our run and were busy with the warm up when someone fell and knocked her head on the ground. She was OK afterwards, but decided to head back to the office rather than carry on running. That left four of us. We completed the warm up, did our stretches and then started running - through the neighbourhood where the office is located and then onto the open country side.
In spite of the cold (and boy was it cold in the wind!) is was a nice day for a run, once we got up to speed we stayed warm enough. The wild life seems to have returned to the parkland, thankfully not Melissa's wild life but deer and highland cows - though the cows are not my favortite creatures when you have to run within a few inches of them either!
4 mins, followed by 1 min rest and then we started on the longest run of the day - a 15 min semi competition pace run. All went well - we passed the 10km group as they were coming the other way and made quite some distance. Too much apparently...
My colleague who was doing the organising managed to take a few wrong turns. So instead of 4 + 15 + 8 minute runs taking us +- 5 KM's we added another 8 minutes trying to get back and another 3km's.
I'm not really complaining, I just thought it was funny (until we came across the cows a second time!) and at least I have earnt my cider and wine tonight :)
On a less fun note I have a real problem with my jaw today, it is really painful! I don't know if I have a filling that is going bad (I am going to call the dentist in the morning and try and get an appointment for Monday) or if my nephew managed to cause me some mischeif yesterday when he was playing / struggling to stay in the bath.
He has taken to trying to tickle people constantly, but has yet to learn the difference between pinching and tickling once he gets excited. And yesterday he grapped the flesh under my chin quite hard, and I am wondering if that has caused a bruise. Alternatively... I was giving him a bath last night and he really, really did not want to get out and jammed himself in and gripped the sides making it hard to lift him out. I had to twist into the shower (where his baby bath is put) and try to free him and am wondering if I stretched something wrong trying to do it. BTW contrary to what Mrs Stace thinks, I am not try ing to blame him for the pain I am in right now... More trying to convince myself that the pain is that rather than something with my teeth :)
The reason why I am wondering though is my tooth aches a little, but the pain comes when I hold my head in strange positions. I can touch the tooth, eat normally and tap my jaw with no problem. But when swallowing, or moving my head or touching the fleshy bit under my jaw it hurts. I'm going to get the tooth checked anyway - rather get it checked for no reason than not check it and it turns out that is the problem and it goes even worse...
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Here comes the sun!
It's been a mixed bag this week. The rain has slowly died out, and been replaced sun. But also by seriously cold temperatures!
But it was beautifully crisp this morning. The best winter weather as far as I am concerened. I don't kow how cold it was when I left to run this morning, but the cars were still white from frost, as was half the road.
When I reached the lake it was a wonderful winter landscape (minus the snow). Everything was white with frost, and everyones breath hung in the air in front of them. For once I was wearing gloves for running - and didn't take them off until the last 1 or 2 km's. I also kept my running cardigan on - I normally take it off after 3kms (or at the very least undo it and pull the sleeves up. Not today - on and done up until I got home.
But, it was one of those mornings that made me glad to live here - the trees hanging in the slightly misty distace, the first and second bridges (yesterdays picture is number 3) poking above the tree line in the distance, a slightly darker shade of white to the mist and almost like a shadow. Wonderful - I couldn't help but smile whilst running, it makes the distance a breeze to run.
A great end to a difficult week - work has been so rushed. Too many final things for the project, and too many meetings to get anything else done. I did at least manage to go drinking with colleagues again though - it's been a while since I did that, and was an enjoyable hour or so.
Friday was great - it's time for my monthly one to ones with my team and I decided to do a walking talk to take in the sunny weather. Problem was it was about -5 and by then end of the last one my fingers were completely numb! Still I had a good chat with my team members, and we got some nice plans for the short term future that should make their life more interesting, and bring the innovation back to the department. Should be fun for all involved and make the business happy at the same time.
But it was beautifully crisp this morning. The best winter weather as far as I am concerened. I don't kow how cold it was when I left to run this morning, but the cars were still white from frost, as was half the road.
When I reached the lake it was a wonderful winter landscape (minus the snow). Everything was white with frost, and everyones breath hung in the air in front of them. For once I was wearing gloves for running - and didn't take them off until the last 1 or 2 km's. I also kept my running cardigan on - I normally take it off after 3kms (or at the very least undo it and pull the sleeves up. Not today - on and done up until I got home.
But, it was one of those mornings that made me glad to live here - the trees hanging in the slightly misty distace, the first and second bridges (yesterdays picture is number 3) poking above the tree line in the distance, a slightly darker shade of white to the mist and almost like a shadow. Wonderful - I couldn't help but smile whilst running, it makes the distance a breeze to run.
A great end to a difficult week - work has been so rushed. Too many final things for the project, and too many meetings to get anything else done. I did at least manage to go drinking with colleagues again though - it's been a while since I did that, and was an enjoyable hour or so.
Friday was great - it's time for my monthly one to ones with my team and I decided to do a walking talk to take in the sunny weather. Problem was it was about -5 and by then end of the last one my fingers were completely numb! Still I had a good chat with my team members, and we got some nice plans for the short term future that should make their life more interesting, and bring the innovation back to the department. Should be fun for all involved and make the business happy at the same time.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Turning evil...
I've been a little evil today, and really enjoyed doing it!
A colleague and friend wanted to go running with me, and so we started today. He's not fit so I started slowly for him. I said we would do a 3*3 schedule (three minuets running, three walking for three repatitions). After a 5 minute warm up.
Sounds nice doesn't it? And it was meant to be. Then I missed the three minute mark on my stop watch, and asked do you really need stop stop at three? "yes" came the answer. Shame as we passed that point already, give me another 20 seconds and you'll have done four. Well done.
He didn't even swear at me :) I hope he cam move tomorrow - I have a day off to get the car serviced so I won't get to see...
I prefer being the personal trainer than have someone fit telling me what to do. Mrs Stace thinks you have to have an evil streak to enjoy it. Who knows :)
Stace
A colleague and friend wanted to go running with me, and so we started today. He's not fit so I started slowly for him. I said we would do a 3*3 schedule (three minuets running, three walking for three repatitions). After a 5 minute warm up.
Sounds nice doesn't it? And it was meant to be. Then I missed the three minute mark on my stop watch, and asked do you really need stop stop at three? "yes" came the answer. Shame as we passed that point already, give me another 20 seconds and you'll have done four. Well done.
He didn't even swear at me :) I hope he cam move tomorrow - I have a day off to get the car serviced so I won't get to see...
I prefer being the personal trainer than have someone fit telling me what to do. Mrs Stace thinks you have to have an evil streak to enjoy it. Who knows :)
Stace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)