The Best Laid Plans

To keep up with the Blog Challenge, I still have some work to do...

But I also have some marathon training to do, which today will involve a recovery swim in a fantastic outdoor pool with a view of the Catalina Mountains and Pusch Ridge...

And also a session from Richard Nerukar's book: Marathon Running, From Beginner to Elite. 2nd edt.
It's a great marathon book, with snippets of information from Richard's own running career sandwiched between advice on training and staying healthy during the marathon run-up :) There are simple 12 week training plans in the back, but the only slight problem is there isn't a 3 hour target time plan so I've been switching back and forth between the 2:45 and the 3:30 programmes - trying to do more from the 2:45 programme. With my marathon personal best clocked at  3:03 from 2008 the aim right now is to dip under 3hrs - which I would be over the moon with, but there are still quite a few key training weeks to go - so with those words, I'd best be off!

Grounding Intervals

And I do mean grounding intervals, not grinding - as might be expected :)
Interval training is hard work but a pretty essential part of any runner's training plan so today I ran a pyramid of intervals on a hilly dirt road: 1min, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1 - all with 1 minute recovery between...

The grounding aspect I imported from yoga teaching, let me explain...As the length of the interval started to increase, and the tiredness started to set in, instead of collapsing I tried to stay grounded, steady and upright, to get as much air as possible into my lungs.
Then during the recovery between the intervals I tried to stay relaxed and rooted...Often in a yoga class a teacher will tell you to 'root' down through your feet whilst keeping the shoulders relaxed in a standing posture. This aspect will mainly help to a runner to prepare for the next interval coming up.

Maintaining good posture during and between efforts in an interval session will help to build stamina and strength and keep your airways open. All in all increasing your potential as a runner! Bingo! But easier said than done...The key is stay relaxed during intervals and things will come together.

New Balega Socks!

Brief post about some new socks I was just given! They are produced by a South African company called Balega. If it hadn't been for a post on My Run Australia I might not have remembered to say how good they are!! I don't often rave about socks but the Balegas are light, noticeably comfortable and really breathable - ideal for warmer climates but they are also seamless so no blisters :)

The company also have a great ethic and have created The Lesedi Project (meaning Light & Enlightenment), with four community initiatives - one contributes to a scholarship fund for a school positioned along the Comrades Marathon route.

Even if you just check out the website, listen to the music and read about the Balega work you can't go wrong!

Thorny Trails

After a great, refreshing four days on the water today was a day to connect with dry land. With a few extra miles to log this week I've started doubling up, and am really enjoying it! The morning run is an easy shake/ wake up, the evening run a more steady, upbeat kinda thing :)

At the moment at least one run a day is along a trail. It's such an ideal way to experience the great outdoors but occasionally there a few problems, especially when you head out in road style shoes, not quite designed to withstand thorny subjects...see below...it did literally stop me in my tracks!!

In an attempt to catch up with the blog-challenge it will be a multi-tasking blog post tomorrow...watch this space...

River Running?

Day 3 blog challenge: a picture of the cast from your favourite show...

Umm...tricky...it would have to be something like The Vicar of Dibley or Black Adder - no pictures I'm afraid, but the Yoga Journal website has a pretty good and very informative TV channel! Excellent for times when you need alittle extra inspiration...

Today a few of us are heading out on a river trip and I'll be taking a brief hiatus from marathon training, which I think my legs are ready for after 13 days on the trot and plenty of miles. We're going to float, paddle and camp our way down the Gila River and look out for desert big horn sheep along the way. I might also sneek in a few Sun Salutations.

The new moon on Thursday also marks the festival and celebration of Maha Shivaratri - which people around the world, and on the Gila River, will be marking by fasting, keeping fireside vigils and blessing the Hindu Deity Shiva.

What will you be doing for Maha Shivaratri?

Running, People & Time...

Blog Challenge Day 2 - a photo of you and the person you have known the longest...

It's really tough to think of the one person you have known the longest!
It should naturally be your mother, or father, or parents, or even grandparents.
Your best friend. Your dog.
Or maybe just yourself?!

But if you're lucky enough to have one or two siblings then surely they fit into the relationship category that hits pretty high on the time tree.

When it comes to running, some of the best runs (swims, hikes, and times) I have ever been on were with my brothers and sister.  Below are a few pictures from memorable times with them.

Catching the sunset at the end of hiking Suilven in Scotland with my brother (3x London marathon finisher, 2:42pb - worth taking notes from)!











Back on Beadnell beach after a sea swim with my tri-sister

Goofing around with my little brother, who sometime rolls out of bed for a half-mara...

NB: A further challenge is see more sibling time on the yoga mat :)

March Challenge

Today is a big day: March 1st! Spring is in the air, and lots of other things...

Such as Maha Shivaratri - the Hindu festival of worship devoted to Lord Shiva, renewal and liberation aligned with the new moon.

In the spirit of renewal and I have accepted a blog challenge, in an attempt to write more often and more from the heart about yoga and running:
http://caitmanock.blogspot.com/p/30-day-blog-challenge.html

It all fits pretty well together so here goes...
Challenge Number 1: a photo and ten facts

1. The above photo was taken in Mexico, in the cafe of a wonderful garden where I worked in return for yoga classes. The couple who ran the garden were devoted to creating green spaces - all without electricity.

2. I was once belonged to a cross-country running club called 'The Waders'...think mud...
3. Virabhadrasana II or Warrior II is one of my favourite yoga asanas - grounding and opening - named after a warrior who was a reincarnation of Lord Shiva.
4. Being vegetarian now seems natural but it wasn't till a few years ago that my brother and I decided to start eating more consciously after a deep conversation in a cafe in Cologne.
5. The first ever yoga class I took was at Newcastle University, with a fellow marine biology student - my lovely friend Jane.
6. When I first started practicing yoga a downward dog made my arms shake - yikes!
7. The first ever yoga class I taught was on Rapa Nui - only because the real teacher didn't turn up! It was an eye-opening experience and called for drastic improvements with my spanish vocab...
8. Running happened by accident - I was a swimmer at the time but was then offered free entry to the local running club: Darlington Harriers after a schools competition - dilemma when you're 11yrs old.
9. Thankfully running has taken me to some great places, including Northern Arizona University!
10. Yoga has taught me how to breathe properly - a great help if and when you need to relax :)