Week 8 and 9...

Week 8...Day 50 - 9/3Run - 10k - recovery...Man, I woke up feeling wrecked this morning.  I was nearly not going to run but decided to head out for an easy 10k.  Went ok, just real steady.  58min 2sec.  Average - 5.48min p/km.  Stepper - 20minWeigh in - 79.5kg.This mornings weigh in was not too bad.  I thought I may have lost more but not too shabby.  Gradual loss is better than no loss, that is for sure!  I am continuing on this journey and looking forward to feeling healthier, losing more weight and getting leaner, increasing my life span and getting faster!  I need to stay positive about the numbers as in the past these are what have driven me and I don't want that to be the case anymore.  I want to be driven by health and long term wellness.This mornings run was rough!  I really didn't feel like doing anything when my alarm went off at my usual time of 4.14am as my body and legs were just tired, but I got out for 10k.  I am quite proud that I listened to my body and didn't do my scheduled 20k as I needed some recovery.  I know it is not conventional but I will try and catch up these k's through the week as I know I will be feeling better and my body got better as the afternoon went on.  Sometimes I am smart...not often but sometimes!  HA!Day 51 - 10/3Run - 25.1k - HAd a good session today and felt a million times better than yesterday.  Three big laps and powered through.  Not a bad average speed with some climbing too.  2hr 22min 49sec.  Average - 5.42min p/km.  Elevation gain - 444m.Day 52 - 11/3Run - 21.2k - Easy recovery run, 11k on my own and 10k with the girls.  Easy morning out.  2hr 2min 11sec.  5.47min p/km.Day 53 - 12/3Run - 16.1k - Quick little session at the Hummock before starting work early.  1hr 31min 40sec.  Average - 5.41min p/km.  199m gain.The last week has been HECTIC and a new focus has been on the cards!  On Monday, I started UNI!  For those who don't know, I am doing Secondary Health and Physical Education and Geography.  I know it is not really a valid reason, but as things have been so crazy and there has been a decent amount of adjusting, I haven't really been focused on my diet.  Again, it hasn't been overly bad, just not as clean as I would expect myself to eat!  Usual story!  Ha!Tomorrow however marks four weeks until the Slam (AHHHHH) and I am looking to really knuckle down with my food consumption/quality, drop a few kilos and get ready to smash this slam up!  I have laid a really good base and just need to lean up a little to be in the best shape I can be at this point in the season.  I have reviewed my goals and am aiming to be under 77kg and more importantly, eating super clean, plenty of good tucker and feeling amazing for the big three days ahead.There will obviously be some continual adjusting with study, training, work, family etc but I am ready!  I 100% know that the healthier I eat, the better the rest of my life functions (especially my brain) so the benefits of my diet goals spread far and wide through my life.  Yes!  Lets keep progressing, keep learning, keep growing (metally, emotionally and spiritually, not physically) and keep encouraging each other to be the best us we can be!  Much love y'all.Day 54 - 13/3Run - 42.2k - That was a ripper confidence builder!  Marathon with negative split back half...including putting the hammer down in the last 7k!  5.19, 5.18, 5.08 then 4k sub 5min pace...super stoked!  3hr 59min 28sec.  5.40min p/km.Today was just an awesomely blissful day!  I started with a ripper run which really built my confidence in my fitness with Buffalo a few weeks away.  We then went into town and caught up with the old Beat crew and their wives which was awesome!  We really had a good time all together when we were working in town.  I then come home and made a start on some of my assignments for uni and relaxed a bit before picking up the kids.  The arvo was busy as always but we had a relaxing night ready to do it all again tomorrow!I did my meditation today just before picking Pria up from school and man it was nice!  Super relaxing listening to the ocean and the wind and just a beautiful way to wind down.Today was blessed.  I ate well, felt good and just enjoyed every moment of it.  I love days like today!Food/drink journal - Smoothie (pear, grapes, two bananas, hemp seeds, cacao, coconut and normal water, iodine drops, three madjool dates, cinnamon), dirty chai, roast veg salad with 3-2-1 dressing homemade, two nectarines, two rice cakes w peanut butter and madjool dates, two coffees, home made falafel wraps with salad and tahini dressing, tea, At One Food bar.Day 55 - 14/3Run - 28k - Long run back up.  Had a real nice morning out.  Did 10ish on my own then 13-14k with Gail and her friend, then finished off with the girls in the pram.  Good windy morning.  2hr 41min 46sec.  Average - 5.46min p/km.Today was again a nice day!  I really enjoyed my run catching up with Gail and making a new friend, Kate.  After this I took Pria and Corlè out for a baby chino and then Pria into Acro, went to Nanas Pantry and then caught up with Mum and Dad.  I then had a little relax before heading to work.Today I fuelled up well and nearly forced good food into me cause I was flat and knew I was depleted from the previous two days.  At work I had too many hot drinks (the downfall of working in a coffee shop!) and was proud of myself as I resisted the urge to snack!  This might not sound like a big deal to a lot of you but it felt like a small victory to me.  I have learnt over time that it is the small victories that compile into big ones!  One small one at a time.  A good day overall with some good k's getting logged this week.Food/drink journal - Brecky in a jar (oats, almond mylk, chia seeds, banana, blue berries, dates, peanut butter), dirty chai, coffee, rainbow chard, pumpkin, leftover falafel with tahini dressing, grapes, two nectarines, four dried figs, roast sweet potato with home made backed beans, two latte and a chai, dark chocolate.Day 56 - 15/3Run - 18.5k - Easy recovery run - Went out for 8.5k on my own and then 10k with dad and the girls.  BAD news though...my left hamstring completely jacked up and is pretty darn sore...will be interesting to see what pans out with it!  1hr 46min 54sec.  Average - 5.46min p/km.Oh, I was SO devo this morning.  After such an awesome week of running and training, my left hamstring got worse and worse through this run and by the end I was running really slow and cautiously.  So sucky!  I don't know if I should take the next couple days off to rest it or head out for an easy run tomorrow and see how it is?  I was only saying yesterday how I feel so fit at the moment and have had the best build up for a race that I have had in a long time!  WHY!?  Anyway, hopefully it is only a passing thing....well see.The rest of the day was good, busy and enjoyable!  I was pretty darn tired though which sucked but onward and upward.  This week has again been a little up and down but over all good.  Training has been awesome but just a disappointing end to the week.  Heres hoping it is only passing!  Looking forward to another ripper week next week...three weeks till race weekend!Food/drink journal - Breaky in a jar (oats, vitabritz, madjool dates, blueberries, banana, almond mylk, cacao), coffee, banana muffins with maple syrup and berries, latte, hot cacao, two dragon fruit, three dried figs, vege stir fry with soba noodles and quinoa, lots of vegan deserts!Week total - 161.1km.  15hr 22min.  919m gain.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Day 57/58 - 16/3 and 17/3The last two days have been more 'adjusting'.  I have had my head in the books, working and 'resting' due to my hamstring pulling up sore on Sunday.  I am going to try and run again tomorrow and see how it is.  Hopefully no pain and training will continue as per normal!  I am being a little cautious though as I have been looking forward to this race for a while now and I want to make sure I am at the start line fit and ready to go!My diet the last couple days has been ordinary again and I don't really have a reason why?  In the past, at times, I have just got in these spirals where I will just eat poorly for a couple of days.  I ALWAYS feel crap when I do it and I honestly don't know why I do it to myself!  I am doing my best to treat every moment as a learning experience though and trying to move onward and upward, fall less and live more.  I will be completely back on board tomorrow and look forward to feeling good and normal again.  I desire to experience and enjoy health to the ultimate degree.  I know I have not even come close to how good I could feel if I clean my diet up completely so I am super excited to continue to move toward this bliss.  Life and health is a process and I know I am on the journey there.  It is only when we give up and stop wanting more and striving for better that we truly fail and I ain't giving up!  There will be blessed amazing days ahead I know that for sure.  Gratitude!Day 59 - 18/3Run - 15km.  Hammy tester.  Run went well this morning.  Hammy felt fine but will keep monitoring it the rest of this week.  10k on my own then 5k with the girls.  1hr 25min 33sec.  5.42min p/km.  Stepper - 20min.Today has been a super busy but fun day!  I head out for a run this morning to test the hammy and it wasn't too shabby.  Hopefully that incident on Sunday was just a one off and won't return!  I gotta get to this race!  I am so so keen for it!The rest of the day I had some good study, rested up before getting the kids at school and kindy and the crazy afternoon ensued!  Wednesdays are always so hectic!  I was a little flat today but got through.For dinner we had a heap of veg with this amazing avocado dressing. The best thing about it was that we had corn and rainbow chard from my garden!  YUM!  So so stoked!  Overall, a good, fun day...one that I feel like I achieved a heap!Food/drink journal - Nicecream (nine bananas, coconut and normal water, cinnamon, three madjool dates, iodine drops), 2x coffee, sweet potato and potato home made chips with lettuce and home made tomato sauce, two dragon fruit, home made mocha, rainbow chard, cabbage, pumpkin, corn, avo dressing, hot cacao.Day 60 - 19/3Run - 16k - Head out for an early loop of the Cano today.  Was a beautiful morning and the hammy felt great!  1hr 30min 16sec.  Average - 5.38min p/km.  196m gain.Today was another busy day.  Leg was good and I enjoyed a beautiful early morning run before starting work early.  Had a good time there then arvo study before my grandmas 80th birthday!  Ripper!  Had a fun time catching up with all the crew.  Overall a good day, not a lot to report, just good!Food/drink journal - Smoothie (nine bananas, blueberries, coconut/normal water, seven dates, iodine drops, cacao), pineapple, latte, leftover steamed veg with avo dressing, dirty chai, latte, three rice cakes with peanut butter and madjool dates, leftover home made clean crumble desert, vegan pizza and wedges, desert after my grandmas party.Day 61 - 20/3Run - 20.1 - 10k on my own then 10k with the girls in the wind.  Easy does it.  1hr 55min 27sec.  Average 5.45min p/km.  Stepper - 20min.Day 62 - 21/3Run - 30k.  22k on my own then 8k pushing the girls.  Hot and humid!   2hr 45min 15sec.  Average - 5.29min p/km.Day 63 -22/3Run - 20k.  Easy Sunday session.  Legs were a bit tired today...I think from the humidity and heat of yesterdays run.  Did 5k on my own, 5k with Nix and Jamie, met the girls and then finished with them.  Good morning.  1hr 58min 8sec.  Average - 5.54min p/km.Holy smokes, the last three days have flown by!  It has been blessed and mainly consisted of study, work and family time!  Uni is going great and I am staying right on top of things which is great.  I have already knocked over an assignment and getting through things nicely.Everything has been going really great with the family and Pria is really excelling at school!  She got student of the week this week so well be going up to parade Monday to see her get her award.  What a champion!  Tegan and I got to go on a date last night which was amazing!  We figured the last time we went on one together has been over two years!  Holy smokes!  We saw the movie Wild which was AWESOME!  Then got some really yummy Indian at Bundy's best location!  Yum!Life at the moment is just going so so well and I feel so so blessed!  We just feel as a family in such a beautiful place.  God has really blessed us since coming back to Bundy.  The only thing I need/want to improve (ok, there are lots of things but the main thing) is my diet. Things have been up and down since starting Uni, probably due to a number of reasons, but I think the weening time is over and I need to step back up my game with my diet and nutrition.I feel like this is an on-going thing and it probably always will be and that is ok.  I have come to peace with that and not putting a heap of pressure on myself.  While I really want to get my diet clean as a whistle, I know it is a process.  Learning, growing and maturing with every day that passes.  I am thankful for this process and I know some of you might think I am up and down, thats ok.  I might be.  But that is also ok.  Life is a journey and I am loving the road.With only a couple weeks till race day, I want to focus on my nutrition, metally preparing for the race and enjoying smashing out some school work before I go away on my next adventure.  Gold!I hope and pray this finds you all well and going strong.  Keep shining, smiling and living life to the max!  If you are not where you want to be in any area of your life (like me!) keep pressing forward.  Dont give up, stay focused on your goal and working toward it full bore!  Much love friends, namaste and many blessings.  Catch you next week.Total - 101.1km.  9hr 34min.  302m gain.