The long-awaited fifth episode of the Geek Girl Runner podcast is now available! Sorry about taking so long. (I explain what I’ve been up to in the meantime in the show.) This one is particularly interesting in that I recorded the whole thing in a single take! Extemporaneous speaking FTW. Thanks again to everyone who’s been sending in feedback. This episode features: my training update; emails, comments, and shoutouts; and a small rant about whether podcasts are, in fact, a vanity project. (Spoiler: OF COURSE THEY ARE.)

Show links:
Sydney Royal Easter Show
Sydney Half-Marathon
Mother’s Day Classic – join the Geek Girl Runner team!
Triathlon Mind Training – podcast and blog by Ironmanjay
Crazy Floridian – blog of Adam Culp
CORSO LA META – podcast and blog by Jimbo_W
You Don’t Have to Run Alone – podcast by Ted Beveridge
Phedippidations – podcast by Steve Runner

Thanks as usual to Nick Arthur for the use of his song “Little Donut Party”. Please give me some feedback and let me know what you think!

Apologies for missing last week’s entry. I’ve just been a bit stressed and down lately. My running is going really well though, and I think it’s helping me to cope. I have managed long runs of 11km (7mi) and 13km (8mi) in the last two weeks without too much trouble. I’m also doing two morning runs each week and a cross-training session at Spudds. I’ve been gratified to see the pace on my morning runs has slowly been improving after the two weeks I took off for my cold and injury. My foot is feeling much better, and I’d say it feels 95% recovered. I’m still running in my New Balance though; I haven’t returned to the Newtons since the injury. (I’m still doing a midfoot strike though even though it’s more difficult in these shoes.) On to the numbers…

Mar. 20: 5.23km
Mar. 21: 13.14km
Mar. 24: 5.41km
Total this week: 23.78km (14.8mi)
Total in 2010: 236.91km (148mi)

To meet my 1000km goal, I should be at 230.7km. So I’m about 6km ahead of pace right now!

I’m still experiencing the after-effects of the Public Nudity Epiphany, I think. For the past 15 months, I’ve been struggling with the rowing machine at my weekly Spudds session. There’s always at least one station on the circuit where you do two 20 second rowing sprints separated by a 10 second rest. The goal is to get 100 meters in 20 seconds. I’ve done it a few times in the past year, but I’ve never been able to get two in a row. My form is improving though, and I’ve been closing in. (Last week I had 101 and 98.) Yesterday I stood before the machine and took a few seconds to visualise myself doing it. Then I sat down and strapped in. The first 20s felt good, and I was well within pace. I got 101m for that one. Spudds came over to congratulate me and told me to “stay loose” during the 10 second rest. “Back yourself!” he yelled. And I was off. My pace was slower, and my technique was definitely sloppier. But he stood over me shouting that I could do it, and I gave it everything I had. As the buzzer sounded, my distance slipped upwards… and stopped on 100m. I gave a shout. It was as satisfying as finishing my first half-marathon. He gave me a high-five and told me that I was the first female to do it. (I’m a little doubtful of that; I’m sure some of the women in his evening classes could do it. Still, it’s a big accomplishment.) I tweeted afterwards: “I feel like I can do anything.” I really do. This whole “self-confidence” buzz is intoxicating.

But hey, running is what this is all about, right? Because of my continuing issues with my right foot, I’ve dropped my running back to three days a week (rather than four). With my Sunday distance increasing, I want to give my arch as much rest time as possible.

Mar. 5: 5.27km
Mar. 7: 10.16km
Mar. 9: 5.43km
Total this week: 20.86km
Total in 2010: 191.27km (119.5mi)

To meet my 1000km goal, I should be at 192km. So right on track!

Things are getting better! Each run my foot seems to be improving. This morning I only had a little niggle, with no tenderness under the ball of my foot at all. Unfortunately my speed is still way, way down from being sick. If I keep my heart rate below 145, my time per kilometer is anywhere from 30-60s SLOWER than it was a month ago. It’s frustrating, but it’s oddly gratifying to know that I had that fitness to lose in the first place. I’ll get it back.

Feb. 26: 5.18km
Feb. 28: 8.06km
Mar. 2: 5.14km
Total this week: 18.38km
Total in 2010: 170.41km (106.5mi)

To meet my 1000km goal, I should be 173km. So I’m pretty much right where I need to be!

The fourth episode of the Geek Girl Runner podcast is now available! There’s no radioactivity in this one, but there is quite a discussion of public nudity. (I’m serious.) Thanks again to everyone who’s been sending in feedback. This episode features: my training update; emails, comments, and shoutouts; and a discussion about body image and self-confidence.

Show links:
Photos from trip to Kiama
Sydney Half-Marathon
Mother’s Day Classic – join the Geek Girl Runner team!
Running the Narrow Path – podcast by Krister Wilhelmsson
Triathlete’s Coffee Shop and Run That by Me Again – podcasts by Mango
You Don’t Have to Run Alone – podcast by Ted Beveridge
“Sydney Stripped Bare for Opera House Shoot”
Gallery of photos from the photo shoot

Thanks as usual to Nick Arthur for the use of his song “Little Donut Party”. Please give me some feedback and let me know what you think!

Entries are now open for the Sydney Half-Marathon! Get in before March 19th to get the early bird rate.