Well, we are just suckers for punishment.
Back two Saturdays ago, J and I went down to do the Lake Taupo relay again. We went down on Friday night, J stayed up all night and ran 10km at 5am. I went to sleep. And then we drove back to Auckland at about 9am.
Got back to Auckland around 1pm, J had a quick nap, and then we were off to Mike and Andree's wedding ...
Now this weekend we went with J&K to Rangitoto. We kayaked across - about 45 minutes there, walked up to the top, and then kayaked back again (1:15 or so). I was so stuffed by the end of that.
Spent all Sunday lying round feeling tired, and now i'm back at work - still tired.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Monday, February 21, 2005
the weekend
was a success. Very big sporting weekend for J.
First of all we drove down to Taupo on Friday night, in preparation for the Great Lake Relay. http://www.relay.co.nz. J was panicking a little (as she does) but I must say that she is more relaxed pre-race than she used to be. We got in to Taupo around 9pm-ish, met up with the team, and then went out to get some food.
We rose 5am on Sat morning so that we could meet up with Helen and get out on the course at around 6:30am. She was walking the 3 legs before J's turn - in fact I think it was around 25km.
Did the support thing and distributed water, cheered her on etc.
J remarked that it was a lot more sedate this year, because GC had only entered one team, and there were less people around.
J started her leg around 9 or 10am and turned in a great effort of 65 min for her 9.8km run.
She said that it was a lot better this time round cause she made an effort to pace herself, and not burn out at the start.
Then it was quickly back into the car and the drive back to Auckland. We picked up a hitchhiker on the way, he must have been around 16-17. He fell asleep in the car which was kinda funny ...
Got back home around 5pm, and had to quickly load up the bike and drive to Okahu bay for registration for the Auckland Special-K triathlon http://www.tri.co.nz.
It was a real mess trying to get through the traffic, and then queue up with the other hundreds of women all registering.
Anyway, so up early on Sunday to get out to the course at 6am to setup the gear in transition.
Parked at Kohimarama, and skated/cycled round to Okahu Bay. We saw the amazing site of 5000+ women and supporters all busily setting up and psyching up.
It was a really great event atmosphere-wise, but actually too crowded and busy to actually go out and set a really fast time. Soooo many women, all shapes/sizes/ages ... but importantly all giving it a go.
J did really well, clocking a final time of 58 min-something.
She told me the swim was just so crowded, she ended up wading most of it (about 12 min to T1). Then she powered through the cycle leg (28 min to T2). Unfortunately she cramped up in the run - not surprising after Saturday's effort, but still managed to beat the 1 hour mark.
I was exhausted myself after all the driving - somewhere like 800 km over 2 days.
I don't think we'll try the 2 events in 1 weekend again ...
First of all we drove down to Taupo on Friday night, in preparation for the Great Lake Relay. http://www.relay.co.nz. J was panicking a little (as she does) but I must say that she is more relaxed pre-race than she used to be. We got in to Taupo around 9pm-ish, met up with the team, and then went out to get some food.
We rose 5am on Sat morning so that we could meet up with Helen and get out on the course at around 6:30am. She was walking the 3 legs before J's turn - in fact I think it was around 25km.
Did the support thing and distributed water, cheered her on etc.
J remarked that it was a lot more sedate this year, because GC had only entered one team, and there were less people around.
J started her leg around 9 or 10am and turned in a great effort of 65 min for her 9.8km run.
She said that it was a lot better this time round cause she made an effort to pace herself, and not burn out at the start.
Then it was quickly back into the car and the drive back to Auckland. We picked up a hitchhiker on the way, he must have been around 16-17. He fell asleep in the car which was kinda funny ...
Got back home around 5pm, and had to quickly load up the bike and drive to Okahu bay for registration for the Auckland Special-K triathlon http://www.tri.co.nz.
It was a real mess trying to get through the traffic, and then queue up with the other hundreds of women all registering.
Anyway, so up early on Sunday to get out to the course at 6am to setup the gear in transition.
Parked at Kohimarama, and skated/cycled round to Okahu Bay. We saw the amazing site of 5000+ women and supporters all busily setting up and psyching up.
It was a really great event atmosphere-wise, but actually too crowded and busy to actually go out and set a really fast time. Soooo many women, all shapes/sizes/ages ... but importantly all giving it a go.
J did really well, clocking a final time of 58 min-something.
She told me the swim was just so crowded, she ended up wading most of it (about 12 min to T1). Then she powered through the cycle leg (28 min to T2). Unfortunately she cramped up in the run - not surprising after Saturday's effort, but still managed to beat the 1 hour mark.
I was exhausted myself after all the driving - somewhere like 800 km over 2 days.
I don't think we'll try the 2 events in 1 weekend again ...
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Quick life update
Just an aside as to what's been happening:
* I haven't been training
* J has (sort of) for a triathlon in January
* Been to the gym a bit, and have made it back to 70kg
* Want (don't need) new car audio stuff, like
* Infinity Ref component speakers
* Rockford Fosgate P1 subwoofer
* PowerBass Extreme components?
* Want some new cds
* Not going away for Christmas
* Saw Adalia last night, she's growing up fast. 4 months old now.
* Want (don't need) a new mountain bike
* Want (don't need) a new road bike
* Want (don't need) a few things fixed on the car. Like, new rocker cover gaskets, new rear shocks, new water pump, new cambelt, new engine mounts. Next service (200km) should be a cracker.
* Want (don't need) a new job.
* I haven't been training
* J has (sort of) for a triathlon in January
* Been to the gym a bit, and have made it back to 70kg
* Want (don't need) new car audio stuff, like
* Infinity Ref component speakers
* Rockford Fosgate P1 subwoofer
* PowerBass Extreme components?
* Want some new cds
* Not going away for Christmas
* Saw Adalia last night, she's growing up fast. 4 months old now.
* Want (don't need) a new mountain bike
* Want (don't need) a new road bike
* Want (don't need) a few things fixed on the car. Like, new rocker cover gaskets, new rear shocks, new water pump, new cambelt, new engine mounts. Next service (200km) should be a cracker.
* Want (don't need) a new job.
Lets drag this out a bit ...
It's now December, traditionally the month for sun, sand, surf and drunken teenagers all around the Coromandel. Only, this year summer has gone on holiday, and winter's decided to have another go. It hailed severely over the weekend, especially on Sunday, when we were driving to the Sky City bus station to drop Tiffy off.
In fact, it was like driving in snow - you could clearly see the tracks of cars in front of you, and at one stage I floored it in second gear to see what would happen. All four wheels started to spin ...
As Dan says, maybe it's a little judgment on a country that has by and large decided it has had enough of anything divine.
In fact, it was like driving in snow - you could clearly see the tracks of cars in front of you, and at one stage I floored it in second gear to see what would happen. All four wheels started to spin ...
As Dan says, maybe it's a little judgment on a country that has by and large decided it has had enough of anything divine.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Late as always
So I was running really late, not just usual Friday morning lateness, but real bad.
Moby - "Play" was in the CD player ... kept me reasonably relaxed, although I do tend to get a bit worked up over slow drivers when I'm running late. Case in point - I get to the expressway part - 80km zone, but everyone does 90-100km/hr. Except the two people side by side, blocking the two lanes at 70km/hr ... in front of me. Finally got past them ... squeezed through, and then had to slow down as a motorbike ahead of me decides to pull into the fast land. I think I scared him though, cause he pulled back in, and I went past him.
Beautiful day in Auckland though, truely stunning. Summer is ever so almost here ...
Moby - "Play" was in the CD player ... kept me reasonably relaxed, although I do tend to get a bit worked up over slow drivers when I'm running late. Case in point - I get to the expressway part - 80km zone, but everyone does 90-100km/hr. Except the two people side by side, blocking the two lanes at 70km/hr ... in front of me. Finally got past them ... squeezed through, and then had to slow down as a motorbike ahead of me decides to pull into the fast land. I think I scared him though, cause he pulled back in, and I went past him.
Beautiful day in Auckland though, truely stunning. Summer is ever so almost here ...
Friday, October 29, 2004
driving to work, listening to U2
So I was driving to work this morning, running late as usual. Popped U2's Joshua Tree cd into the head deck and just cranked the first 3 songs. There's so much emotion in there, I almost feel like crying ...
It made for a very unproductive start to the day, because I logged onto epinions.com and checked out the reviews for this cd. I like reading reviews of some of my favourite cd's just to see what others thought of them. Often the more eloquent literary-minded reviewers can bring so many more nuances to the surface, they uncover some of the more hidden meanings and feelings that lazy listeners like myself miss.
so, without further ado ...
David Martin - epinions reviewer -> http://www.epinions.com/user-divad23
His Joshua Tree review -> http://www.epinions.com/content_133394632324
It made for a very unproductive start to the day, because I logged onto epinions.com and checked out the reviews for this cd. I like reading reviews of some of my favourite cd's just to see what others thought of them. Often the more eloquent literary-minded reviewers can bring so many more nuances to the surface, they uncover some of the more hidden meanings and feelings that lazy listeners like myself miss.
so, without further ado ...
David Martin - epinions reviewer -> http://www.epinions.com/user-divad23
His Joshua Tree review -> http://www.epinions.com/content_133394632324
Thursday, October 28, 2004
writing
Sometimes all I want to do is write stuff down. It doesn't have to be coherent or meaningful ... I just want to write things down. Usually it's feelings - almost like I'm giving these emotions and ideas a little bit of immortality. It's almost like I have to do this cause then I'll feel a sense of accomplishment - in a sense I am then able to release those thoughts and move onto other stuff because I've fulfilled my self-imposed obligation to record them in a concrete manner. The written snapshot of the blog has captured some of the fleeting perpetually changing liquid thoughts that constantly flow through my consciousness ... in an imperfect manner, but hey, so long as I can preserve the essence of those reflections ... it is enough.
my running diary
Ok, while I was off not blogging, i was keeping a running diary.
It's over here: http://www.realrunner.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=18054&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
It's over here: http://www.realrunner.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=18054&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
it's spring
I don't know why - I just feel like revisiting this blog thing.
Maybe it's just because I like re-reading what I wrote a month or so back, and thinking "yeah, matt you were onto it then ..." or "yes, that was right and you did well with that post" or "mmm, not so much ..."
My running phase has come and gone I think. For the summer anyway ... I loved it, but the main drawbacks were that:
- 1.) Makes me sweat a lot. Duh, no surpise there, but it really irritates my skin ... i have eczema and it gets really bad sometimes. To the point where I finish a run, and all I can feel is stinging around my neck and arms.
- 2.) Takes a lot of time - which in summer I'll spend at the gym and surfing and other stuff.
- 3.) Its antisocial - none of my friends really run (well, J runs but we can't run together cause we run at different speeds.)
- 4.) Motivation is dropping. To keep running I need to have a goal, for example a race. I ran two 10km races plus a 13km leg in a 42km relay, plus 3 casual 5km races this year. However, I'm at a stage now, where I need somebody else to train against. Or at least compete against in a given race, so that I have the challenge to motivate myself with.
- 5.) Makes me lose weight! Obviously this is a big positive for most people, but in my current state, it's making me really skinny. Not so good.
So what now? Guess I'll wait and see.
Maybe it's just because I like re-reading what I wrote a month or so back, and thinking "yeah, matt you were onto it then ..." or "yes, that was right and you did well with that post" or "mmm, not so much ..."
My running phase has come and gone I think. For the summer anyway ... I loved it, but the main drawbacks were that:
- 1.) Makes me sweat a lot. Duh, no surpise there, but it really irritates my skin ... i have eczema and it gets really bad sometimes. To the point where I finish a run, and all I can feel is stinging around my neck and arms.
- 2.) Takes a lot of time - which in summer I'll spend at the gym and surfing and other stuff.
- 3.) Its antisocial - none of my friends really run (well, J runs but we can't run together cause we run at different speeds.)
- 4.) Motivation is dropping. To keep running I need to have a goal, for example a race. I ran two 10km races plus a 13km leg in a 42km relay, plus 3 casual 5km races this year. However, I'm at a stage now, where I need somebody else to train against. Or at least compete against in a given race, so that I have the challenge to motivate myself with.
- 5.) Makes me lose weight! Obviously this is a big positive for most people, but in my current state, it's making me really skinny. Not so good.
So what now? Guess I'll wait and see.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Even the opposition gets it right ...
I'm no Roman Catholic. But I do agree with Cardinal Tom Williams
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
28
Ok, I may have lied when I said I wasn't going to blog anymore. This is one last post from the grave so to speak ...
It's my birthday today - I'm 28. I have to say it's not the most exciting thing in the world. I don't know why but I feel either depressed or unhappy right now, not heaps but it's there. Reminds me, I heard on the radio maybe a month ago, that people are being prescribed anti-depressants when they're actually just unhappy.
There is a difference ...
28. I wish ... I don't even know what to wish for. I don't want anything, and yet sometimes ... maybe I want to go back into the past and relive some of the fun times ... back when life was simpler and dreams were bigger.
It's my birthday today - I'm 28. I have to say it's not the most exciting thing in the world. I don't know why but I feel either depressed or unhappy right now, not heaps but it's there. Reminds me, I heard on the radio maybe a month ago, that people are being prescribed anti-depressants when they're actually just unhappy.
There is a difference ...
28. I wish ... I don't even know what to wish for. I don't want anything, and yet sometimes ... maybe I want to go back into the past and relive some of the fun times ... back when life was simpler and dreams were bigger.
Monday, May 31, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
5km race
I ran the Loaded Hog 5km race last night, and clocked a 19:52. Not my best effort (I'd previously run a 19:33) but all things considered I'm happy with that.
New shoes were all good - I fine tuned the inner-soles (ie, cut them up with J's sewing scissors) last night and I think they're as perfect as can be now.
This morning, went to the gym and started over on RHC Month 1.
New shoes were all good - I fine tuned the inner-soles (ie, cut them up with J's sewing scissors) last night and I think they're as perfect as can be now.
This morning, went to the gym and started over on RHC Month 1.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
New shoes ...
I got some new running shoes on the weekend :-)
They're Nike Air Structure Triax, for overpronators, and they were half price ... can't go wrong with that! Just went to Rebel Sport today to get some inner-soles, to get that completely perfect fit.
They're Nike Air Structure Triax, for overpronators, and they were half price ... can't go wrong with that! Just went to Rebel Sport today to get some inner-soles, to get that completely perfect fit.
Monday, May 24, 2004
Apple Based Products
I've taken up baking. In a small way.
I've started on apple & pear crumbles, brought on by the fact that J's dad brought a whole box of fruit up last time he was here. What better use to put them to, than to whip up a quick crumble.
I used the iconic Edmond's cookbook, and achieved good results the first time. Now I'm off to eat the fruit of my endeavours for the 2nd time (& the crumble too.)
I've started on apple & pear crumbles, brought on by the fact that J's dad brought a whole box of fruit up last time he was here. What better use to put them to, than to whip up a quick crumble.
I used the iconic Edmond's cookbook, and achieved good results the first time. Now I'm off to eat the fruit of my endeavours for the 2nd time (& the crumble too.)
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
A unique sport
Running is a funny kind of sport. All ages and all abilities can enter in the same race (unlike most competitions where you need to be of roughly the same ability, or it all turns into a one-sided waste of time). You can be as competitive as you like, or just do it for fun. You can compete against the clock or against other runners. And there's the whole calendar side of it, where the competition is on a particular day, and then you do all this training and everything in advance, and the race outcome is almost determined by what you've been doing for the past month.
At least in soccer or cricket, you play every week, and you might train once or twice a week but the whole complete game only happens on Saturday. In running, the whole race distance might be covered twice or three times in one training run.
I've often commented how quickly time goes by, which is generally a sad sort of thing, but for running it's quite good, because you commit to a 4 or 8 week plan and before you know it, it's over and you're ready to race. Delayed gratification ...
At least in soccer or cricket, you play every week, and you might train once or twice a week but the whole complete game only happens on Saturday. In running, the whole race distance might be covered twice or three times in one training run.
I've often commented how quickly time goes by, which is generally a sad sort of thing, but for running it's quite good, because you commit to a 4 or 8 week plan and before you know it, it's over and you're ready to race. Delayed gratification ...
Monday, May 17, 2004
It's the weekend
J's mum & aunt came to stay Friday & Sat. That was nice for a catch up, I think J really enjoys having family stay. I went for a run on Sat morning, another 16km in 1:20 ... building up to the Tuesday LH 5km.
Friday, May 14, 2004
Go to Orcon for your free website
Alrighty, didn't run in the morning, went to the gym instead and did Pump. Pleased to know that I haven't become too much weaker, in the month of doing no gym ... although, I can't do widegrip pullups like i used to. Struggle to do one set of 10.
Anyway, I signed up for free webspace at Orcon, but I can't get my website to work. I can edit the default homepage but I can't access any other files I've uploaded via ftp. Dunno if it's me or if it's Orcon's fault.
And then, as Royce just asked, how do we get up early in the morning? J is motivated to stay in shape, and that gets her up even though she's often tired these days (I suspect iron deficiency). I get up early when I feel like it, and sleep in when I don't. It works out to about 1-2 days running, and 1-2 days gym during the week (say 3 days total). It's a habit thing, it was freaky at first waking up at 5:30am, having never done it before in my life, but over time it has become normality.
One of our pastors was talking about finishing the race last night, and talked about some marathons, in particular one Olympic Games in Helsinki (I think) where this guy came running into the stadium minutes ahead of everyone else. But he collapsed on the final lap, and although he tried to struggle on, he eventually had to be helped off by his coach with half a lap to go. How heart breaking would that be ... running 41.8km, only to not be able to finish the final 200m.
Anyway, I signed up for free webspace at Orcon, but I can't get my website to work. I can edit the default homepage but I can't access any other files I've uploaded via ftp. Dunno if it's me or if it's Orcon's fault.
And then, as Royce just asked, how do we get up early in the morning? J is motivated to stay in shape, and that gets her up even though she's often tired these days (I suspect iron deficiency). I get up early when I feel like it, and sleep in when I don't. It works out to about 1-2 days running, and 1-2 days gym during the week (say 3 days total). It's a habit thing, it was freaky at first waking up at 5:30am, having never done it before in my life, but over time it has become normality.
One of our pastors was talking about finishing the race last night, and talked about some marathons, in particular one Olympic Games in Helsinki (I think) where this guy came running into the stadium minutes ahead of everyone else. But he collapsed on the final lap, and although he tried to struggle on, he eventually had to be helped off by his coach with half a lap to go. How heart breaking would that be ... running 41.8km, only to not be able to finish the final 200m.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Mid-sized run
ok, went for another ~9-10km run this morning. Took about 42 minutes - i've taken to running sans watch, cause my skin gets really irritated by the watch strap.
I'm enjoying this running thing because it's generally nice and quiet in the morning, unlike Pump which has loud thumping music. Usually I like loud thumping music, but not at 6am ...
I'm enjoying this running thing because it's generally nice and quiet in the morning, unlike Pump which has loud thumping music. Usually I like loud thumping music, but not at 6am ...
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