I haven't made a post here for a while, so it is time to start again.

I am in the Netherlands on my traineeship, and I have commenced training for my first marathon! It will be on October 19 and it is the Amsterdam marathon. Dad has sent me a detailed running programme and I have started it. It requires me to run 6 times each week. The longest run is on Saturday, and Friday is a rest day.

Tonight, I am going on a 1 hour run. This is the typical Thursday night run - for the next 4 weeks, at least!

In line with my comments yesterday, I decided to go on a longer run today. I went out with the idea that speed didn't matter as much - I just needed to spend some time on the road. And, that I did. The run was 55 mins long and it was at a good pace. I probably don't have time to go for a run tomorrow, because all of the stuff that I'm doing. Perhaps on Wednesday.

If all things go smoothly with my traineeship in the Netherlands, then I am not going to be here for the half marathon that I just entered! I wonder if I can get a refund? I doubt it. So, maybe I could just let one of my running friends take the entry and run in the race for free.

I went for a short run today in the evening. It is nicer to run at this time when the effects of humid weather are not so apparent. My legs felt pretty heavy, though. I think this is because I am not going on any long runs at the moment. If I did, then I would be building up the stamina for running, and my legs wouldn't ache as much.

If I'm not going to be here for the half mara, then I need to look for some events in the Netherlands to enter! That can be one of my goals for the first few months.

I have entered the next Cathay Pacific half marathon. I wonder if I will still be here to compete in it! I could be on my traineeship by then. If I am here, then I am determined that it will be the event where I finally break the 100 minute barrier for a half marathon.

I had a break from running yesterday so I could recover from those 2 runs in 2 days. I went for the Orakei Rd run today, slightly longer than the last 2, but still below an hour's run. It was gently raining, but still very humid! The time was just under 47 mins which is average for this run. On some parts of this run, you can get into a really good rhythm. These are the long, straight stretches of footpath, where you can look into the distance and feel like you are running in a straight line for ages. You can focus on the spot on the horizon and keep the same pace as you get closer to the end of the stretch.

This run is shorter than the One Tree Hill run, but for some reason I find it more difficult. It's strange. Perhaps the One Tree Hill run has nicer scenary, so it feels more rewarding to run?

On the trip to my uncle's place up North with my family, I went for a few runs. The distance from the house to the road was 3 kms! Whoa! For two of the runs, I just ran to the road and back. On the middle run, I ran for 30 mins before turning around and running back to the house. I also established that I need some new running shoes! A runner typically gets new shoes once every year. I have had the same running shoes for at least 4 years - and they have lots of holes in them that weren't there before!

During my road-trip holiday over New Years, I didn't go on any runs. And, to make matters worse, I injured my back on the last day - which made any running-type movement painful. When I got back to Auckland, I just rested for the next few days.

I have been for 2 runs over the past 2 days. Just short runs - I want to ease myself back into running after the break and me hurting my back. It has been an effort because it has been so humid! Just doing stretches in my room and warming up is enough to cause me to sweat liberally! I am getting pretty good at hackey as a warm up activity. I have really improved on the left foot shot - almost to the point of being able to aim it properly.

Today, I did the Seaview Rd run. When I got to Seaview Rd, I only wanted to maintain a good rhythm. I didn't really care about how slow I was, so long as I got to the top without walking. My time was just under 27 minutes - pretty slow overall, but good if the stifling heat is taken into account.

Since handing in my research essay, I have been on 3 runs. Each run has been better than the last, so that is a good sign. Again, I am just going out for time.

Today's run was the one through and to the top of One Tree Hill. As I was rounding the corner after Twin Oaks Drive, I noticed a runner who was about my age on the left. I basically kept pace with him as he ran the same course as me - up to the top of the hill. I may have overdone myself because I almost stopped once I got to the top. But, I persisted. The downhill stretch was a good time for me to catch my breath. I just let gravity do the work.

My time was 54 minutes and 27 seconds. This is about 5 minutes slower than the record for this run, but I am not concerned.

I am going to enter the next Cathay Pacific half marathon. It is on February 23. I am determined to get a time under 100 mins. The training starts now.

On Sunday, November 3, I ran in the Auckland half-marathon. It was the second time that I have completed this event, and I am very pleased with my time.

The course was the same as last year's. It starts on the waterfront at Devonport, then snakes along the streets around the harbour, before reaching the Harbour Bridge. This is the highlight of the run. It is one of the few times that people are allowed to walk or run along the bridge. The official photographers are there too. I did a huge leap in the air for the camera, but I think the photo was mistimed. After the Harbour Bridge, the run continues along to the Viaduct and finishes with a lap around Victoria Park.

Vanessa was waiting for me at Victoria Park, but she was too slow with her camera. Perhaps she thought that I would be slower than what I was on the day! (To tell the truth, I thought that I would be slower too!)

My pace throughout the whole run was comfortable. I maintained a 5 minute km pace. This was easier this year because they posted markers signalling each km. Towards the end, I realised that I had the energy to increase my pace, so I did. At the 17km mark, my time was 1 hour 22 minutes. That would give me another 21 minutes with which to beat my best time - I knew that it was attainable, so I went for it. When I reached Vanessa and Victoria Park, my time was just over 1 hour 38 minutes. I sprinted around the rest of the course, being careful not to run into other people or twist my ankle on the uneven ground. At the end, my time was 1 hour 40 minutes and 23 seconds. A new personal best! But, so close to achieving my goal of breaking 100 minutes.

Who knows what sort of time I would have got if I had trained properly? I am really looking forward to the next half-marathon!

It was the latest in the day that I had been running for a while. Summer is great! It means that you can go for a run at 7:45pm and it is still light for most of the run. Especially, when you are only going for a 25-minute run.

I did my Greenlane 6 k'er tonight. I purposefully set off at a fast pace and tried to maintain it for the whole run. It is good to go for that sort of run, once in a while. It blows the cobwebs out of your system - a great study break! The time was 26 minutes and 23 seconds. An average time.

I went for two decent runs this weekend. And, on each run, I bumped into people that I know!

On Saturday, I set out for the usual run around One Tree Hill. I was making my way down Twin Oaks Drive, when I heard a familiar voice on the other side of the road. It was John! And, he was running with Michael. I cut across to their side of the road and surprised them. They were just doing circuits of the road around the mountain.

I kept going. It was a change running around the mountain counter-clockwise. And, it made me realise how steep a certain piece of road was (when I had assumed that it was flat - when running from the other direction).

I also saw Wee Yeong, but I didn't have time to have a proper conversation.

On Sunday, I did my run which goes down Ayr St. But, this time I decided to start and finish at Vanessa's flat. It was more convenient that way, as we went to Newmarket Pools right afterwards. The run was shorter, because I didn't want to risk running past my house - I wasn't sure if I would have the discipline to continue!

About halfway through, heading into Meadowbank Rd, I heard someone shout out to me "Run faster!" It was Mr. Anderson - my Japanese teacher from college. It had been a long time since we met last (I guess, 6 years), so it was good to catch up. Too bad it was only for a minute.

My legs are still a little saw from the weekend double.

Oh, I have been lazy with this runner's diary, because I have been for quite a few runs since the last posting! I have tended to go running on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For the other days, I have been too busy with University work - I get home too late to go for a run.

However, the runs that I went on were relatively long distance. I did the "2 parks" run again, and that felt good. I am not sure what my exact time was, but it was around 1 hour 20 mins. I have also done the Orakei Rd run, and the One Tree Hill run.

Today, I didn't so much as go for a run, but went for a REALLY long walk instead. I took part in the "Mountain Crawl" organised by Daniel. We started at Mt. Wellington, and the walk encompassed One Tree Hill, Mt. St. John, Mt. Hobson, Mt. Eden and Big King. We did interesting things at the top of each mountain. For instance, at Mt. Eden I timed how long it would take for me to run from the survey marker at the top, to the bottom of the crater, and back. The time was 3 mins 28. One should keep in mind, though, that I had been walking all day, before that! At the top of Big King, we practised doing handstands!

So, my legs are pretty sore. And, I won't be going for a run tomorrow. But, a soak in the hot pool at the Newmarket pools would be good!

Today, I ran for just a shade under 1 hour 25 minutes. A nice long run on a nice sunny day! I am pleased with myself because I kept the same pace throughout the whole run, and at no point did I feel that I had to stop. Obviously, it is still slower than my desired half-marathon pace, but this run is just a stepping stone towards November.

I will probably not go for a run tomorrow. If I did, that would be 3 days in a row, and I am probably not ready for that just yet. Perhaps in a couple of weeks time.

I am increasing the length of my runs. Well, at least compared to the ones that I have been on recently. Today, I went out for time, not for speed. The run was Orakei, and the time was a fraction over 45 minutes. Not a bad time, seeing that I wasn't concerned about getting something fast. I still feel a far way off what I should be for running much longer distances.

I will go for a longer run tomorrow. I will have "running for time" in my mind, again.

On Monday, I went for my 6km run, but at a deliberately slow pace. I wanted to be sure that I could complete the distance! (After the last 2 runs I went on, this became an issue). My time was around 28 minutes. That's very slow for this run as just a couple of months ago, I would be doing a time of around 24 minutes. Still, it's the time on the road running that counts. I want to go for a run on Thursday so I hope I don't come home too late.

This is becoming a bit of a habit now. I had another stretch of 2 weeks where I didn't go for a run. Ostensibly, I was busy with university and AIESEC work. But, I know that I can always find the time, if I really want to.

So, I went for 2 runs last week - on Tuesday and Thursday. The Tuesday run was awful! I set out to run for 6km, but could only manage my 4.8km run. My legs were heavy, I felt tired, and I had the stitch - all at the same time! Still, I had the feeling that if the run were difficult, then it must be doing some good for me. How true is that?

The Thursday run was better - Seaview Rd. I ran the whole way up Seaview Rd, and it felt like a better run than Tuesday's. However, I would not be ready for one of the longer runs. That does it! I am going to run more often so I can do those longer runs! How many times have I said that before? Let's see if I can follow through with this one.

After a week off from running, I went for 2 runs this weekend. I did the One Tree Hill run on Saturday and the Orakei Rd run today. Both were fairly slow, but that's alright. My legs felt heavy today, perhaps because it was so soon after yesterday's run. If I run more often, I should be able to recover more quickly.

It was nice weather for a run tonight. The rain was light for most of the run and it wasn't too cold. Although, I was wearing the black polypropolene top that I "borrowed" from Dad's drawer. The one with the long sleaves. Mum sarcastically said that I had good fashion sense! My philosophy is that you don't dress for fashion when running, you dress appropriate for the weather.

I did the Orakei run, and my time was 47 minutes and 24 seconds. I got the stitch at the top of Orakei Rd, but I solved that by running slower.

Today's run was awful. My legs felt so heavy, and they still ache, even now! Perhaps I ran too early after the 19 km run on Sunday. I am definitely having a rest day tomorrow, but I would like to run again on Thursday.

I have measured that run that goes through the two parks - One Tree Hill and the Domain. It is 14.5 km. That's just over two thirds of a half marathon.

The day after my last posting, my ankle was substantially better. I am putting it all down to the 10 hours of sleep that I had!

Since then, I have been on two runs. Yesterday, I went on my Orakei run. It felt like a lot of work, but at least my ankle was back to normal. My throat was really dry - I wish there were places to have a drink during that run.

Today, I did the 19km run along the waterfront. I ran at a slow pace, with the idea of going out for time, not speed. It was a great day for a run, and there were lots of interesting things to see along the waterfront. The tide was so far out, and you could see all the sea floor and rocks that you wouldn't usually. The effect that the current has on the rocks and sea floor is clear, especially around Kohimarama Bay. Lots of people were taking advantage of the low tide by walking around and inspecting the surface.

The run time was 1 hour 36 minutes. I think that's pretty good for my first decent long run in a while. If I run 6 minutes faster, I'll be back onto the pace I want to set for the next half mara.