tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350010412024-02-19T07:36:28.323+02:00CathrunMy running blog. I started running short 5km fun runs a few years back in an attempt to get fit, Now I have done hundreds of half marathons, and lots of marathons and 4 out of 6 Comrades!cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-86452486823712849532016-04-13T22:27:00.001+02:002016-04-13T22:27:27.829+02:00A wee run, big decision
It was a fresh Autumn Saturday morning and a comfortable energy spread across us 400+ runners as we waited for the start of the 52km run from the foothills of the Drakensberg into the town of Ladysmith. It was my second start of this under-rated race, and I was a touch nervous at the enormity of the task. I needed to get to the town in 6 and a half hours, so I could confirm my entry into this cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-16689715257463089782015-10-19T13:49:00.000+02:002015-10-19T13:49:19.002+02:00Loch Ness Marathon
A year ago a Facebook friend posted some lovely photos of a race taking place in Scotland. Being the land of my birth, my curiosity was prickled and I went looked at the 'Loch Ness Marathon' online and saw lovely sunny photos with happy faces plastered all over it. 'Could this be real, sun in Scotland?' I thought. After years of being 'rejected' by the London Marathon lottery I thought cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-29055798550251219342015-06-30T18:48:00.002+02:002015-06-30T18:48:50.618+02:00Speedy?
I know I said I wanted to get faster, but gosh it is hard work! We went out to run some hills. Sister Coach and bouncy hubby are fan-tastic supporters of mine and I know they mean well, but I could have used my arms to cause (their) bodily harm instead of bring my hands up to my chest!
On the uphill I was told ‘lift your knees’. At first I couldn’t hear them because my heartbeat wascathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-22776671194447983262015-06-22T15:13:00.001+02:002015-06-22T15:13:17.540+02:00Winter Running
Running is a very strange phenomenon. Three weeks after Comrades, I found myself back on the road with a new race in mind. But three weeks of ‘rest’ means that my mind reverted back to ‘default’ thinking. Ten kilometres is far! But that is what my program says and hubby is my biggest driver at the moment, almost forcing me out on the road. Ten kays. My inner voice starts screaming at cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-56193458889837207892015-06-17T11:09:00.002+02:002015-06-17T11:09:54.571+02:00Comrades 4 and 3 quarters
The long weeks after Comrades. Sigh. Cranky, delightful, irritated and peaceful- yup that sums me up right now. The past 16 days have been rather trying for my hubby as he tries to figure out if I am really okay after my most recent Did Not Finish (DNF) on the 90th Comrades. I truly am - I think!
The race this year pointed out some serious internal beliefs that I am in the process of cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-42776125492051220252015-05-25T12:10:00.000+02:002015-05-25T12:10:04.196+02:00Running 2015 BCIn 2008 I lined up for my first ever Comrades, a couple of weeks shy of my 42nd birthday. I was going to 'try the Comrades'. I had trained well, had lots of guidance, my good running friend was with me, I was all set to try. I never realised how much that mind angle would affect me. There is no 'try' in Comrades. I needed to 'do it' much like the advertising slogan says. Fast forward to current cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-31227234558568332022015-03-23T11:23:00.000+02:002015-03-23T11:23:32.703+02:00Run, walk, run
Run, walk, run
In the wonder full sport of long distance running, I have learned many things. Things about people, life, exercise, and myself. I know that I continually surprise myself, and yet I get confused because my hubby doesn't understand me! I experienced a new aspect of myself this past weekend while doing a long run round a dam.
I have learned that if my body is resistant longer than cathievrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03243763360668534631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-58621058107467843292014-06-17T22:48:00.001+02:002014-06-17T22:48:17.307+02:00A wee 12 hour jog with my comrades
2am I wake up with a start. I am surprised that the alarm woke me because that meant I was sleeping. I blink in the darkness a couple of times and then smile. ‘It’s here-finally’
I jump out of bed and start the day with a mix of excitement and trepidation. It feels like the morning of Christmas, except I had a two year wait for my present. We bundle into the hired car following the usual Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-68362034508201801562014-06-17T22:45:00.004+02:002014-06-17T22:45:58.885+02:00A tribute to my sister, coach... friend
I am blessed to come from a large family and I have an abundance of older siblings. I only have one ‘little’ sister, Debbie, and I am honoured to call her sister. As siblings, there was a love-hate relationship and for most of my young years it was more of a ‘hate’ or at least- despise. She was untidy, young, and whiny and I was responsible for her. We shared a bedroom and I had created an Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-6444386617607206392014-02-17T13:50:00.000+02:002014-02-17T13:50:58.640+02:00Twenty Fourteen!
I haven't written much about my running this past while, because
there hadn't been much running. When I first started running, I started
writing, and this had a
reciprocal effect almost to the point that I needed the motion of
running to get my creative side flowing. Coming out of an
injury-plagued spell I am back on the road and feeling compelled to
write.
Two Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-48606927384318188022013-09-11T20:55:00.000+02:002013-09-11T20:55:23.920+02:00Slogrun
No matter how old, young, skilled, the shape, running history, natural talent or ability, all runners struggle with the same one distance. From zero to 5km. New runners, experienced runners coming back from injury all share the same 'symptoms'.
The first symptom is lethargy. The initial few steps are fine but after 100 steps the 'tharge' kicks in. By this time the chest has started a Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-36774690229256161772013-03-11T11:40:00.002+02:002013-03-11T11:40:45.631+02:00Secunda running!I managed to qualify for this year's Comrades marathon by finishing my marathon on Saturday with 5 minutes to spare. We have to run a standard 42.2km marathon under 5 hours in order to run the 89km distance in June. Two weekends ago, I did the 42km distance but was way over time and spirit. I was getting concerned about my running 'mojo' as my sugar levels had not settled and I ended up with an Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-58531923454107872622013-03-03T18:52:00.000+02:002013-03-03T18:52:49.411+02:00Triangular running
I really seem to be only get my mileage up on weekend runs. Last weekend I slogged my way through the Township marathon and finished with one of my worst marathon times ever, another free ice-cream and more real estate lodged in my knee after a fall. Wait, it must have looked more like a somersault by the strange location of bruises. No real damage done other than my ego, once again, after one Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-39057864592454031362013-01-16T14:27:00.002+02:002013-01-16T14:27:56.877+02:00New Year Running!
The grey wall of cloud moved towards us with such a speed, catching us unaware as we reached our waterpoint. Rumbles jumped at us as the wind tried to push us further away from our cars. Then it was completely still. I could almost hear the cloud inhale before it dropped its contents on the four of us. I could be talking about New York's hurricane Sandy, but I'm not. We were Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-44561846011265599342012-06-09T11:08:00.001+02:002012-06-09T11:11:29.885+02:00Comrades running!This year was my fifth time I came down to KZN to start this awesome race, which means that for 5 years I have run a standard marathon 42.2km in under 5 hours. I read somewhere that 'If you qualified, you can do it'. This was very encouraging because there are moments in the days building up, when the enormity of the task hit me. Two out of my 4 years I didn't finish. Once because I was tooCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-88758568103658121702012-05-28T11:48:00.001+02:002012-05-28T11:48:09.099+02:00It's the final countdown! There are no more Sundays left to train, no more panic training runs to catch up on. It's just me and the 89,9km. Okay perhaps another 18 000 others too! This year I have to get my revenge on the 'down run'. In 2010 I bailed at 62km. I know what it feels like to bail, not to finish, and get two medals. I prefer the medal option now. So it's takkies on and chin up. Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-59319184815081926662012-05-08T12:03:00.000+02:002012-05-08T12:03:37.200+02:00In my six or so running years, I have always found things to inspire me. I was amazed by the different shapes and sizes of runners and how 'unathletic' most people seemed to be. This encouraged me in the early days, because I certainly don't look like the athletic type. The most inspiring thing though, must be the ages of some runners. I started running at the age of 39 thinking I was old. I soonCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-61614224558280714142012-04-29T23:16:00.000+02:002012-04-29T23:16:06.751+02:00It has been several weeks since I last wrote, but I am pleased to say I have still been running! It seems as if the year has gone whizzing by, and I am still wanting to wish people 'happy new year'! Yet when I think of all races run, and miles done, it has been a steady year. Five weeks till we run the Comrades, and the 'fun run' fever is hitting the running community. By now most of the bigCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-41936995202834917802012-03-05T14:37:00.000+02:002012-03-05T14:37:19.850+02:00Strange days indeed! Accommodation shifts and a cyclone promise meant that at the last minute our planned trip to Nelspruit became unplanned. These things happen. It also meant that in order to do the 42km distance, I would have to return to the town of my roots, and my marathon nemesis, the Vaal. It has been a love/hate relationship with that race, being my first ever (worst) marathon, as Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-89267237223109211162012-02-07T17:11:00.002+02:002012-02-07T17:11:48.784+02:00Last week saw an absence of my feet on the tar, pretty much due to my shoulder and hip having seen too much of it in my well executed fall the week before! I had planned to do an easy week anyway due to the full marathon I was planning on the weekend, so I didn't 'mind' not running! Saturday early morning, (or was it Friday night?) we get up at 3am to confuse the dogs and give them Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-51483216515670157192012-01-30T12:15:00.000+02:002012-01-30T12:15:21.641+02:00January is almost done, and I must say I've had a good month of running. Almost 200km's and for me that sounds great, and the best thing is that I'm feeling clear headed through most of them! (Apart from the first 4kays- sigh!)
I have also done 3 races this month and returned to the scene of my first ever funrun at the popular Dischem race. 6 years ago, I did the 5km funrun, never ever believingCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-61290591903233135842012-01-09T09:41:00.000+02:002012-01-09T09:41:58.374+02:00I can now officially say 'last year' when it comes to Comrades. There is a strange division of the year for us runners who do Comrades, and once it has come and gone, it's like a 'new year' starts in June. So now I can talk freely about 'last year' without correcting myself!
The good news for me is that I started the year off with a run. I even impressed myself after 3 hours sleep as ICathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-83149582606484800582011-10-17T09:32:00.000+02:002011-10-17T09:32:10.507+02:00I have been so scarce with both running and my writing, that the perceived effort of both seemed to keep me hiding in Winter. But seeing that the earth is tilting in our (Southern hemisphere's) favour, I have broken through my invisible barriers. It is strange running at this time of the year, because Comrades is over 200 days away, so the goals feel so 'loose'. Running friends have been trainingCathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-53326999626085414102011-06-06T17:38:00.000+02:002011-06-06T17:38:01.547+02:00Facing the rest of the year without the goal of Comrades leaves a big empty space. It can lead to a case of 'post-comrades-blues'. Logbooks linger vaguely around, teasing me with the realisation that it doesn't matter anymore. Now I know that I should be upbeat and full of post-medal glory, and don't get me wrong, I am feeling positive, it's just such a strange feeling knowing that for now, it's Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35001041.post-37444329981805418342011-06-01T10:50:00.000+02:002011-06-01T10:50:13.928+02:00Comrades Running!
I did it, I got my revenge on the 'Up' run!
In 2008 I started my novice Comrades in Durban. I ended up being too slow on that day, even though I made the last cut-off on the dreaded Polly Shorts 8 km's away from the finish. This year however, I made it with lots of time to spare!
But back to the 'recent' beginning. As the clock slowed down in the last week before the race, Cathiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05985517677007361158noreply@blogger.com0