15!

Last week's somewhat creative icing. Need to buy myself a couple of bags of peas, Bratwurst is not doing the job satisfyingly.

I started this week being exhausted from working to much with too little sleep. The result was me sleeping Tuesday and half of Wednesday; so wasteful. At least I coaxed myself out on a run Wednesday; my bestfriend Sunniva was coming over to run with me, so I had to. Running dates are a smart thing, after all.

But she was late, so I ran a loop first with the Dog, and then a second with her. Was fun, though a little slow. I'm not good at running AND talking. Maybe I'm not so girly? (Everybody knows girls can do several things at the same time, and that boys can't.)

Week 9 (I think) - Wednesday

5.37 km - 31:47 min
Max speed: 13.1 - Avg. speed: 10.1
Km splits: 05:54 - 06:00 - 06:14 - 05:53 - 05:32 - (02:12)
Avg: 05:54

Then with Sunniva:
5:01 km - 30:50 min
Max speed: 15.8 - Avg. speed: 9.7
Km splits: 06:16 - 06:31 - 05:56 - 06:16 - 05:44
Avg: 06:09

Total: 10.38 km
I had a small break (10 min) between the two, so I feel like it doesn't count as a long run. Bleh.
It's nice with company, but I do like running alone better.

Week 9 - Friday

Got off early from work today. And it was sunny and perfect temperatur for running in thights and tank top. My earphones are wacky, and that annoyed me to no end, but I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I'm proud. Please do not insult my pride by pointing out how slow I am, KTNXBY.

15.04 km - 01:35
WOW! 15! !!!!!! Beware, 21 km mark, I'm comin' ta get ya!

Max speed: 11.6 - Avg. speed: 9.5
Km splits: 06:12 - 05:51 - 06:13 - 06:10 - 06:30 - 06:24 - 06:35 - 06:24 - 06:12 - 06:44 - 06:27 - 06:32 - 05:49 - 06:13 - 06:23
Avg: 06:18

Ran on Bygdøy, but didn't bring a camera other than the iPhone. It's a shame, because it was BEAUTIFUL.

The Dog, being all pretty as usual.

Blurry, on-the-run-photo.

The average isn't too shabby, I feel. This is the longest I've ever run, and I don't know how to pace myself. The Dog doesn't either. He pulled a little in the beginning, but not after my legs started to tire.

I also tried Maxim gel today. It tastes craptastic, and the feeling of it in my mouth and throat is horrendous. I washed it down with some water, and it actually stayed down. I think it helped, maybe that's why km 13 was the fastest, even though I was seriously tired and my feet had started aching.

Maxim Energy Gel. Bleh.




The Dog, too tired to move, for once. It didn't last long, though.

Now I'm off to celebrate the British Royal Wedding some more. I crave Catherine's dress, btw. SO. EFFING. PRETTY!

Easter Shmeaster

No holidays for this working girl. All work and no play makes at least some money. And since I work back-to-back 12 or 13-hours shifts, it's not easy to fit in a run. My shins splints will probably thank me for the extra resting days, but I've recently started getting restless and fidgetty if it gets too many days between the runs (as in 2-3 days).

Week 8 - Tuesday

I geared up, grabbed the Dog and set out in the beautiful, warm weather. And before we had gotten more than little over a mile, he was limping slightly. It was nothing else to do but to walk him home and start over again. I only paused the Polar; I guess that is cheating considering the break I got, but I don't really care. I ran out on beautiful Bygdøy; I need to run there more often, but only when the mommy mafia isn't...

The Dog posing like a pro. Don't mind the birds, I was bored. They didn't catch anything at all, actually.

6.82 km - 42:25 min

Max speed: 11.3 - avg 9.6

Km splits: 05:59 - 06:10 - 06:00 - 06:21 - 06:15 - 06:27 - (05:11)

Avg km splits: 06:12

It was much harder to run without the Dog than I anticipated. Since I started running outdoors, I have always brought him, just because my heart tears up over the fact that he has to spend the time I use on running mostly alone. And he could really use some exercise himself. I figured it wouldn't do so much harm, because he only pulls for the first km, and not very hard. The rest of the run, he keeps my pace, sometimes running beside me, and often stopping to sniff and pee at every lamppost in the world. But he must have pulled me more than I believed, because I struggled after only 3 km, and I finally gave up after what I thought was only 6 km, but was really almost 7. Had I known, I would have kept on for another 180 meters...

My plan was to run 10 km, and although I failed at that, I ran almost 7, and then walked 1.5 km to the bus. Good thing I didn't decide to walk the 5 km home, because it had started blowing whilst I was sheltered by the forest, and I had only a thin longsleeve on (it is after all only April).

A crappy run is better than no run.

And scuba diving certainly beats crappy running, and even a normal run. It does not, however, beat the best runs, between those it's a tie.

Tonight I started on my long strech of night shifts. Man, I don't like night shifts. I feel terrible the whole time, not sleeping well enough or long enough, and TMI-topic; my digestion system is all in an uproar. Bleurgh. But it brings money in the wallet, and I do need a second pair of running shoes. Don't ask, I really don't know. I blame it on the fact that it's 4.40 in the morning, and I'm almost going into comatose.

Summer, holidays, wine, the Boyfriend - my favourite things in the world - though not necessarily in that order...

Reaching a Goal While Missing It

First things first. I ran home from work Monday. As in Monday morning, after working a 11-hour nightshift. Props to me!

Week 7 - Monday

5.86 km - 33:13 min

Laps: 05.57 - 05:48 - 05:51 -05:43 - 05:35 (-04:18)
Max speed: 13.1 - avg speed: 10.6

Ran almost the same route as I use to, but cut out a portion of it. I felt fast (although I'm really not). This morning, as I was homeward bound instead of the other way around, I ran downhill. I think that's why the km splits are faster than they normally are. Oh well, I'm happy.

Moving on. I had a second run Thursday. BEFORE work. As in I got up at 5.45, was headed to work at 6 and on the treadmill at 6.30. I didn't have much time, so I only ran 3 km, but the fact that I actually managed to squeeze in a run that early is enough to celebrate.

Week 7 - Thursday

3.40 km - 19:16 min

Laps: 06:18 - 05:34 - 05:28 -01:55
Max speed: 13.3 - Avg speed 10.6

Was seriously delirious at this point, so I dont't think there's that much to say, other than that I had a faboulous runner's high.

Tired, me? This picture is taken before the run, can you tell?

Week 7 - Friday

At work I discovered a half marathon that is in June, at Beitostølen, and all of a sudden I was all in a frenzy. I wanted to run. Like, now. And far. It lasted until I got home, and then it met some resistance. The boyfriend tried to lure me into staying on the couch with a glass of wine, and it was sooo tempting. I conquered the couch potato in me, and geared up. The dog of course went along.

I had planned on a route that would take me longer than I normally run, but with options of quitting if my shin splints were killing me. I ended up running longer than I had planned. I kept saying: Maybe I can run 10km? I was getting there, adding extra loops to add kilometers. Then I had to stop to redo my shoelaces, and I paused the Polar. When I started again, I realised that I had actually managed to turn it off completely. FML. I started a new workout, without checking how far I'd actually run. So I ran another 5 km, and thought I had managed 10 km.

I was wrong....

Week 7 - Friday

All set and ready to go. Especially the Dog. All the pictures of me are fugly, all the pictures of the Dog are all angels and rainbows and unicorns. Life's unfair.

(I had to do some maths here..)
First part:
4:38 km - 26:30
Splits: 05:42 - 06:11 - 06:17 - 05:55 (-02:24)
Avg split: 06:01
Max speed: 12.1 - Avg speed: 9.9

Second part:
5:37 km - 31:40 min
Splits: 06:02 - 06:05 - 06:01 - 05:49 - 05:40 (-02:00)
Avg split: 05.55
Max speed: 13.8 - Avg speed: 10.2

Total km: 9.75..... So very, very bittersweet. It's by far the longest run in my life, and sooo close to the round number 10...

I was quite disappointed, but still so energetic and happy, so it didn't matter that much. At least now I know I can actually do it.I still got wine, though, after the run. Wine + ice = killer combo. A very happy girl at this point.Too much wine?

Very pretty dog. I was rolling sore muscles with a tennis ball, that is never popular. All tennis balls hail Mr.Darcy. End of story.

Ooh, very long post. Got to go drink more wine.

Stupid Viking City Planners...

I wish I could go 1000+ years back in time. I need to speak with the people responsible for Oslos location. Why would anybody think that it's a good idea to put the city in the bottom of a "bowl"? Because that's what Oslo is. It is impossible to find good, flat routes from Frogner. Either I have to start with running uphill, or I have to finish my run uphill. And that sucks majorly, when I'm all winded, having to huff and puff my way up home. Like today.

I went for my "long" run before breakfast today. Luckily I didn't feel to hungover, and I was stoked enough to consider the slightly longer loop around Frognerstranda. It was sunny, warm (almost too warm) and not too much wind.

Week 6 - Saturday

6.3 km - 36:44 min (This is not correct, I paused my Polar when the Dog had to poop, and I forgot to start it again, only to remember it after 3-4 minutes. So the distance is about right, but the time is not.)

Km splits:
Km 1: 6:18
Km 2: 6:06
Km 3: 6:13
Km 4: 5:59
km 5: 6:22
Km 6: 05:44 ( 0.91 km)

Max speed: 11.7 km/h - avg. speed: 9.7 km/h

Overall not too shabby, but I still have a long way to go before hitting that 21.1 km mark.

Stretching, icing and "foam rolling" - using a tennis ball. With an audience.

This is Why I Run

The run today felt like a fast one. I know, I know, I'm not really fast at all. It didn't feel effortless, but it felt easier than it normally do. The only "problem" was the choice to bring Maxim Electrolyte Energy Drink on the run. At best, it felt like breathing through jello after each sip. At worst, I choked and had to struggle to breathe. All this because I have a slight cold, and my airways gets filled up with mucus (Too much information? Probably..), and obviously mucus and Maxim don't go well together.

Week 6 - Thursday

4.04 km - 24:11 min

Yesterday I was frustrated with my Polar, but a quick Google search later, I was back to looooving it. I thought I had to manually punch the laptime button, but all I had to do was set it to auto. Duuh. Feeling stupid? ......yeah.

Km 1: 06:23 min
Km 2: 05:54 min
Km 3: 06:00 min
Km 4: 05:39 min (this was up a long "steep" hill. Man, I felt it. But I was almost home, so "no qutting, keep on running".)

I ran along the faboulous Frognerstranda, and the slow pace at km 3 was because of the headwind. At least I like to think so.



The Dog and I, all ready to go. I borrowed/stole the Boyfriends sunglasses, although I look like an überdork in them. Oh well, I have to live with it until I a)get a sponsor or b) can afford to buy my own not so dorky-looking.




Post-run; trying icing my legs for the first time. It's hurting in a really good way. I don't have a foam roller, but I massaged my shins with a tennis ball (the Dog did NOT like that - all tennis balls are his tennis balls.), and it felt really good.


Post-run fueling. White wine and water. And then, homemade italian pizza and red wine. And post-blogging? More red wine and some chocolate. Yummm....

Some Days, Running is FUN

What's my excuses for being such a lousy runner? ...Eeerhm. Working? Saving the world Superman style? General lazyness?

Week 5 -Friday

I squeezed in a run before the nightshift. I had planned to run 5 km, but after 2 km I realised that I was running out of time (pun intended, I'm sorry), so I sped up a little and finished after only 3. I stretched, and then barely had time to shower. Note to self: plan better next time. At least I ran. That's something, isn't it?

3.24 km - 31:34 min.

Max speed: 12.9 km/h

Avg. speed: 9.0 km/ h

Km splits: 7.33 - 6.06 -5.57 -1.57 (0.24 km)

I always start slow to warm up and it affects the time, but I won't bother with warming up and then start running "seriously", I'm waaay too lazy.

This week I worked Monday and Tuesday, and both days I practically ached to go running, but I had no time after work. Today, however, I am working the afternoon shift, so I had "plenty" of time to run before work. I brought the Dog, and he is showing some improvement, running-wise.

Week 6 - Wednesday

I used Google Maps to find a suitable route with the right distance. I slept in today, so I wanted to make sure I had time to cool down and shower before work (so gross not to shower, I know, but sometimes I just forget. Or, it used to happen when I lived alone. Totally gross, I know. I guess it's one of the single-syndromes...).

It turned out to be a magnificent run. I loved it, absolutely no hating at any point, which is unusual. My shin splints ached the first 500 meters, and then my legs felt great until I had about 600 meters left. Then the right shin decided to let me know that there's still problems down there, but it was only momentary. It was sunny, I had fun, and I "only" had to blow my nose 5 times. I wanted the run to last longer;I actually wanted to run longer.

More runs like this, please?!?

4.42 km - 27:48 min

Max speed: 13 km/h

Avg. speed: 9.5 km/h

I definitely felt like I ran faster than I did Friday, although the average speed is almost the same.

Five minutes ago, I thought how much I've started to love my Polar. "It even finds the km splits, which is SO fun" and bladibla,bladibla. It seems I was wrong. I have to manually punch the "lap" button at every kilometer, I think. That is like a slap in the face. I guess I have to buy a Garmin after all...

My not so much beloved Polar RS200. I have to find out if it can automatically save laptimes for me, but I threw away the user manual a looong time ago. Stupid me.

Btw, I want to become like http://www.skinnyrunner.com/. Not having to work, only run. And live in SoCal.

Edit: I totally forgot that in addition to the 4 km I ran today, I discovered that my round at work is another 4 km. Like, seriously? 4 km? That means I walk more than 8 km at each of my weekend nightshifts... That's radical...