Archives for July 2014

Do you want to be great? Then start having fun.

OperationMove · July 30, 2014 · 1 Comment

I think it’s natural for slow runners to have a preoccupation with being fast. In the beginning you can notice that gap between yourself and others. And it’s that distance that you notice. It seems to stand out, screaming at you: this is why you aren’t a ‘real’ runner, or this is why you aren’t naturally gifted, or this is why you are less. And that difference can extend if people who you started running with, eclipse your efforts.

After awhile though, it’s not the difference that you notice. It’s what you have in common. Yes, even with that 10k speedster who can run 10km in 40 minutes. You have a lot in common with them. And sometimes, they see it more than you do. In the beginning at least. They don’t see how you are slow. They see your passion for running, which they share.

If like me you started running when you were carrying some extra weight, then progress can seem slow too. But of course it is. It seems amazing that I could take 30 minutes of a half marathon time in nine months but when you think about the fact that I no longer have to carry 30 extra kilos 21.1 kilometres it’s not that surprising.

People new to running might often say. I’ll never be fast. As if fast is some kind of measure of a runner’s greatness. You will be fast if you decide to be. But, I think the measure of a runners greatness is not speed. And some of the average times of road runners might surprise you.

To me, greatness is measured in getting out of bed to run when you really don’t want to. It’s in being willing to better yourself. It’s the person who stops running to support someone else. For me the greatness is in the shared experience of our sport. And ultimately if I think I was encouraging people to try running, as I tend to do being a bit runligious, I wouldn’t advocate that people try running so they can be really fast. Try running so you can experience the amazing capabilities of the human spirit on a daily basis. Try running so you can start the day in the fresh air. Try running so you can find your tribe. Try running so you can have fun. Fun is what will attract people to a sport, and it’s what will keep people engaged with a sport. And that’s why I’m all about fun.

Fun can be slow. Fun can be fast. Choose your fun.

Don’t love hills? Here’s a workout that you might like

OperationMove · July 25, 2014 · 2 Comments

Almost everyone starts off with a pathological fear of hills. Which is totally normal. In the beginning running is hard enough without actually having to run up hills as well. But there are few things that will do as much for your speed, endurance and strength as hills will. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Where I live it’s all hills. No matter where you go. Probably the flattest 10km run I could do around here would still be around 130m of elevation. And I’ve really learned to love them and not just because I don’t have a choice!

The thing is going downhill is really, really, really fun. It’s almost as much fun as you can have as far as running is concerned. What you notice if you ever have a heart rate monitor too is that going downhill, even if you are sprinting, your body is recovering and your heart rate will drop accordingly. And although there are so many things to be gained from running uphill there are significant benefits to downhill as well. And one of those things in particular is that you are showing your body what it feels like to go really fast, probably faster than you would be capable on the flat. And your body will remember that and replicate that. Which is pretty cool!

Most people are pretty familiar with hill repeats and a lot of it involves sprinting up hill which can be a bit intimidating at first because it feels a bit like dying. And while I still think you should do that, here is a workout that can introduce you to the fun off hills.

You can either find a hilly course, or just use one hill to go up and down that’s completely up to you and it depends on where you live and what’s available. But the trick is to pick a course – can be 5k or 8k or 10k – whatever you are comfortable with and take it really easy up the hill – walk occasionally if you need to, but just aim for a nice consistent easy pace up the hill and then bolt down it as fast as you can.

Yep! It’s that easy. You might find that you even start to love those hills a bit too.

Without the team I would never have gotten off the treadmill

OperationMove · July 23, 2014 · 5 Comments

I was checking out my timehop the other day, as you do when you have heaps of stuff to do and therefore are in desperate need of procrastination and I found a run from last year. No photo to go with it, just the entry on strava, which I have to say is excessively odd.

Do you see that one thumbs up? On Strava that’s called Kudos, and the person who gave me kudos for that run was Kate. Now if we fast forward to a year later and I have this. You’ll notice there’s an instagram picture for this one. Much more familiar territory.

I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that I can now run 21km in the time it used to take me to run 14km. Or the fact that in 9 months I’ve taken 30 minutes off my half marathon time. But the fact is I have had people holding my hand from the very beginning.

At first it was just Kate, but now it’s the community she created as well. In my world, running is a team sport. The team is what gets you out the door when you really don’t want to. The team is what gives you self belief when you are wavering. The team will encourage to do things that you are scared of and they will make sure you rest when you need it. And without the team I would never have gotten off the treadmill. I am certain of that.

And when you say to the team the idea of going out and holding a 5:10 pace for 21.1km makes me want to vomit, they will tell you that you will do it anyway. And you will do it anyway, because they told you that you would. And when you do achieve a goal, no one will cheer more loudly than them, because they know how much you worked for it and what it means.

I would struggle to remember the time I did for my first half marathon now. I know it was around 2:18 or something but I don’t actually remember what the time was. I do remember crossing the finish line holding Kate’s hand. Because that’s what meant something to me.

And now when I go out for a great run I know that if I take a cool picture Emily is the one who is going to appreciate it and if it’s hilly then Taz will understand the awesome.

I highly recommend a team for learning to run. They will propel you forward, they will keep you on track, they will cheer you harder than anyone else and one day you will look around and realise it’s not a team, it’s a family.

Register now for our next Learn to Run Course, beginning August 1.

Meet a Mover Monday – Zoey

OperationMove · July 21, 2014 · 5 Comments

Welcome to Meet a Mover Monday! Everyone has a story, and each week we will introduce you to one of our OpMovers so you can learn a little bit about theirs. We are all at different stages of our journeys, but we all started in the same place.

>We’re beginning the series by sharing the stories of the Operation Move exec team. These are the women working away at course development, site content, and of course supporting our community across our various platforms.

This week, say hi to Zoey.

Who are you?

I live in Northern NSW with my husband and the two awesome humans we created.

I’m a writer, a social media strategist, a crocheter, a baker and I take a lot of photos.

When did you start running and why?

I started running when my youngest (Piper) was about three months old and it became obvious that to lose my pregnancy weight, breastfeeding wasn’t going to get the job done. Which was excessively disappointing to me, because it had worked so well with my first. The realisation that I was actually going to have to work for it, was not an entirely welcome one.

Being scientifically minded, I quickly worked out that I could burn the most calories in the least amount of time by running. And given I hated exercise, it seemed like the way to go.

The thing was though? I didn’t hate it. I actually loved it. Once (with the support of the Operation Move community) I made the leap to running outside, I really loved it. And I haven’t looked back since then.

You could not possibly measure what running has given me. Running me saw me through a bout of severe clinical depression. Running redefined my body. Running completely rewired how I thought about myself and my body. Running gave me some of the best friendships you could ever ask for. Running helped me to quit smoking. Running showed me who I really was and it’s still the best fun I can have on any given day.

What is your favourite distance?

I love long distance. The definition of long distance changes as you run more! Once upon a time 10km was a long run but now 25km is a really lovely distance for me. It’s time to really enjoy my running without being stuck to a strict time or pushing myself for speed. For me all the freedom of running comes from long distances. And I think that I enjoy that push-pull between mind and body on the longer distances.

Top 3 must have gear:

Could we go a top 20?

If I had to pick my top 3 I’d go with my Garmin – the other day it told me I had a new V02 Max of 49. I don’t exactly know what that means, but it sounds good doesn’t it? Also as I’ve launched into heart rate training it definitely comes in handy. Also I’m a Strava achievements junkie so it comes in handy for that.

Next up would be my Hoka shoes. I love them so much I would MARRY them. Once I started upping my mileage they made it so much easier to do that in terms of recovery time and impact on joints. For me they help me to enjoy my running more and that’s got to be a good thing, right?

Finally, my current favourite thing is Lululemon crops with pockets on the side of the legs because I can put my phone in there for more photos without having to have it in a zippered pocket. So great.

Fave post run fuel?

Coffee. Obviously.

What do you listen to when you run?

My husband says my playlist sounds like Ibiza. I fail to see how that is a bad thing. I’m a music lover. I use Spotify which is great because I can change up my music on a regular basis.

Tech lover or naked runner?

If it’s not on Strava, did it even happen?

Words of wisdom to new runners?

Walking will do more for your running than slogging your guts out will. And if you can run 5, you can run 8. If you can run 8, you can run 10. If you can run 10, you can run 15. If you can run 15, you can run a half marathon. If you can run a half marathon, you can run a full. You might not want to, but you could if the mood took you.

Sometimes your goals will seem impossible in the beginning. You can’t ever imagine running 10km under an hour and then one day that’s your easy run on hills. So I guess what I’m saying is it will happen even if you can’t see how. Relentless forward progress.

I wish I could…….

Never have a rest day. Necessary evil. Pity.

I am most proud of…

Being batshit crazy. Picking goals that really I have no right to achieve and somehow getting myself over the line. The hard is what makes it great.

Speed is not everything it’s cracked up to be

OperationMove · July 9, 2014 · 5 Comments

Speed isn’t everything.

That might seem strange coming from someone who regularly works on improving their speed.

Speed really doesn’t matter. For me, speed isn’t an ultimate goal. It’s something that will deliver me to my goal. Let me explain. You know what my favourite types of runs are? Long and slow. Those runs are liberating and joyful and they make my spirit dance. That is what I live for. I tolerate speed runs as a necessity. But my true love will always be long runs. As I’ve progressed as a runner, those runs have become longer. So now I wouldn’t really consider 20km or under as a long run for me anymore.

My goals have changed from when I started. Now my goal would be really to find out how far could I possibly go. How far until I reach my limit. Will it be a marathon or 50km or 100km? I don’t know but I’m putting the training in place to find out just how far I could take my passion for long distance running and see where I end up.

For me now, speed work is purely about building endurance for longer distances. That is the entire purpose of speed. My interest in running a really fast 10k or 5k is passing at best. And if I’m being really honest I have a love-hate relationship with racing in general. I love being able to put myself in a place to absolutely test every single one of my physical and mental limits. I love the environment. I love seeing other people. I love the atmosphere. But there are nerves to contend with beforehand. I almost have to convince myself that I can’t do it, so I will prove to myself that I can. The actual race is brutally hard, because it’s a race and that’s what pushing every limit you possess feels like. And while I love doing that, I wouldn’t necessarily say it is enjoyable.

Not everyone shares my love for long distance and for some people speed is their favourite type of run and driving to become faster is the ultimate motivator. But for me it is not. I think when you are thinking about your running and what your goals are it’s important to know why you are interested in doing something.

It’s easy to think that by default the goal is to get faster or tackle the next highest distance. But I think that the goal should be to find that thing that you love in your running and hold on to that. The best kind of running is the kind of running that you love. If I have a brilliant long run on a Saturday and I’m out there feeling alive for three hours do I actually care how slow or how fast it was?

What I do care about it is endurance. Which means I have to care about speed and probably cut-off times. But speed will never be the standard by which I measure my running. As it turns out, joy isn’t measured in minutes per kilometre.