TM, do you listen to anything while you run? You mention you focus on the run. That’s great. Keep your mind on your body and check in with form often but relax and don’t think much more than that. There’s a great app that coaches you while you’re running that I like and thought I’d mention. You may know about it. It’s the Nike Run Club app. It’s great and nice to have an encouraging voice with you while you run. It’s made a lot of my runs more enjoyable and I’ve learned a lot.
Monster’s diary
- Thread starter Truffle Monster
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Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
Hey mate, no I don’t listen to anything. I’ll check out the app you mentioned though. Thanks!
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
Well it’s taken a while but I finally got the link to officially register for the great cycle challenge. I’ve registered and have started fundraising.
Not sure if im allowed to share the link here but here goes ... if anyone would like to donate to the challenge or take up the challenge yourself any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
FYI this cause is very important to me personally as I lost my mother to breast cancer in 1998, and my father is battling pancreatic cancer now. I was with him in Intensive care after he came out of his pancreatic section surgery and he was visibly upset. He said to me he can only imagine how sick kids must feel because even he as a 76 year old man was scared and feeling very vulnerable. He said it’s not fair that a child should have to suffer through what he is suffering through.
It was at that moment I knew I had to do whatever I could to support ill children and help in at least some small way the innocent children that are dealt such a poor hand.
Help Peter Fight Kids' Cancer!
Not sure if im allowed to share the link here but here goes ... if anyone would like to donate to the challenge or take up the challenge yourself any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
FYI this cause is very important to me personally as I lost my mother to breast cancer in 1998, and my father is battling pancreatic cancer now. I was with him in Intensive care after he came out of his pancreatic section surgery and he was visibly upset. He said to me he can only imagine how sick kids must feel because even he as a 76 year old man was scared and feeling very vulnerable. He said it’s not fair that a child should have to suffer through what he is suffering through.
It was at that moment I knew I had to do whatever I could to support ill children and help in at least some small way the innocent children that are dealt such a poor hand.
Help Peter Fight Kids' Cancer!
We are allowed to share links in our diaries for fundraisers/events we are personally involved in.
Good luck with the fundraising.
Every year before my mother died of cancer (2 months ago) she would participate in the snowy mountain motorbike ride raising money for kids with cancer.
Good luck with the fundraising.
Every year before my mother died of cancer (2 months ago) she would participate in the snowy mountain motorbike ride raising money for kids with cancer.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
I’m sorry to hear that.
That’s great that she was so active with her chosen fundraiser.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
Well I haven’t been on a run or a ride for a few days. Yesterday my partner accomplished something she never thought she would. We went up mount lofty together. It was hard for her but she made it. She kept on struggling and didn’t give up. I’m very proud of her.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
Aaaaand I probably won’t be doing much exercise this weekend. My cars waterpump has sprung a MAJOR leak. So I’m going to spend the weekend under the bonnet at this stage. Fingers crossed it doesn’t rain. Not looking forward to this job.
alligatorob
Respected Member
I don't envy you, I've changed a few water pumps in my day. On the older cars it wasn't too hard, but on the new ones with everything packed so tight I am not even sure I could find it. Last water pump I changed was on an inboard boat engine, a Chevy 283 motor, it was a real pain to reach.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
This one isn’t too bad at all really. It’s a 4wd hilux. I think you guys call them Tacumas? Remove radiator, shroud, fan, heater hoses, idler pulley, timing cover cover and the pump is in the open. I’ll be doing the timing belt at the same time while it’s all out in the open.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
I grew up in a very DIY family. We basically don’t use any professionals at all (except plumbers/gasfitters and electricians).
Also thanks Cate but she did the hard work. It was hard for her to bring herself there (I think self consciousness mainly) but I’m very proud of her for making it up. She says she’s not doing it again but ... she will.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
Cars are getting less and less within the skill set of the home mechanic.
But to more cheerful topics - brilliant that your partner made it up Mount Lofty! I hope that a long rest at the top was on the program.
And cheers and solidarity to you for the fundraising!
Yes they certainly are. There’s a reason I only drive older cars. This Toyota is the second newest car I’ve ever owned and I don’t plan on ever getting a newer one. I’ll keep this one for ever and just replace the engine at some point. It’s 21 years old and (apart from the water pump now) runs like brand new with 350,000kms on the clock. Look after and maintain them properly and an old Toyota diesel will easily get 600,000. Try doing that with a cherry or Great Wall!
Also thank you re the fundraising. I’ve received 2 anonymous donations (I’m pretty sure they’re from here). I’m so grateful for the donations and support. I’ve replied to all the donations but I don’t know if the reply goes to the individuals or just gets posted on my page?
Up to $333 of the $500 target already!
Cate
Long term member
A little encouragement does go a long way though. I have a great backup with G & it really does make a difference.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
Well after a long time out I went for a run. At first I was hoping to do a long (long for me) run but I didn’t think it wise as my stomach had been feeling a little poorly today but I felt really good when setting off ... until the 3km mark when stomach cramps started so I thought I’d click over to 5km and get home. When I got to 5 I felt really good so pushed to 8 then realised I needed to tick a strava goal of 10km run so pushed it out to 10 but miscalculated the distance and needed to do an extra little loop ... ended up being 13km. Half of that though is down a 1-3% gradient and the other half is up.
Feeling it in my legs now though. The weather has cleared up now so I think I’ll switch back to the back for a few days from tomorrow.
Feeling it in my legs now though. The weather has cleared up now so I think I’ll switch back to the back for a few days from tomorrow.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
That sucked!
Just got back from a ride. My legs were still sore from the run last night but I hadn’t been on the bike in 10 days so I pushed it. Went too fast too early and simply ran out of fuel on the way back. My legs were aching for the last 20km and all I wanted was to get home.
I’m home now so time to cuddle up with a nice hot plate of curry and watch the cricket. Day one of the second ashes test tonight! Really hoping England can claw back and get a win. I’d hate to see Australia win another one. They just don’t deserve it (with the three cheats back in the team). I just cannot support Australian cricket any more.
Just got back from a ride. My legs were still sore from the run last night but I hadn’t been on the bike in 10 days so I pushed it. Went too fast too early and simply ran out of fuel on the way back. My legs were aching for the last 20km and all I wanted was to get home.
I’m home now so time to cuddle up with a nice hot plate of curry and watch the cricket. Day one of the second ashes test tonight! Really hoping England can claw back and get a win. I’d hate to see Australia win another one. They just don’t deserve it (with the three cheats back in the team). I just cannot support Australian cricket any more.
alligatorob
Respected Member
That's a game I sure don't understand. The only cricket I have ever seen was in the Philippines, I was sitting in a bar at the beach and a group of Australians were playing cricket on the beach right in front. I am not sure how authentic it was but they seemed to have all the right equipment, and they seemed to be having great fun. Under the circumstances it was pretty entertaining. Maybe a little like our baseball, to the uninformed it appears to be a slow and hard to understand, but to those who grew up watching it a great game. I suppose baseball and cricket probably evolved from some common ancestor.
I think you are right what you call the hilux is what we call the Tacoma, Toyota's smaller pickup. I used to have one, back before the Tacoma name, it was a great truck. Mine did not last so long, it had serious rust problems, I think a lot of Toyota's 70s and early 80s trucks did, the US models anyway. So it rusted out long before it wore out mechanically. So I replaced it with a Datsun, now we call them Nissan pickup. I also do a lot of DYI stuff, less than I used to, but some. Back in my 20s I built a house pretty much by myself, even did all the plumbing and electrical work. So far as I know the house hasn't burned down so it seems to have worked out ok. I still do smaller stuff, and would like to think I could fix anything, but know I can't. I would not attempt a water pump on our new cars.
Thanks for your advice on my diary, I am not sure I have ever really felt the endorphin high from exercise you describe.
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
It’s been a bit quiet on the cycling front here for a while but I rode to work this morning. On the way back I stopped at a couple of places 1/ to get a part for my car and 2/ for lunch. A nice spinach and cheese pasty.
The ride in was HARD. a 30km/h absolute block headwind had me under 20km/h for much of the ride but by the time I left and headed home the wind had turned to a tail/cross wind and died down somewhat so unfortunately I didn’t get the strong tail wind I was hoping for.
It feels good to be back on the bike though. I’ve got a fair bit of housework to do now so I’ll get it done and hopefully get out for a ride tonight before the wild wet weather sets in for a few days (starts tomorrow).
The ride in was HARD. a 30km/h absolute block headwind had me under 20km/h for much of the ride but by the time I left and headed home the wind had turned to a tail/cross wind and died down somewhat so unfortunately I didn’t get the strong tail wind I was hoping for.
It feels good to be back on the bike though. I’ve got a fair bit of housework to do now so I’ll get it done and hopefully get out for a ride tonight before the wild wet weather sets in for a few days (starts tomorrow).
Truffle Monster
Active member, Cyclist
What an excellent day, TM. You always sound so much happier when you have had a good ride, even (especially) when it's a tough one. More wild weather coming your way?
Thanks Cate.
A good tough ride always blows out the cobwebs.
Yep. It’s to be 13, wet with a chance of hail tomorrow. I thought about a run up mount lofty but my legs ache too much for that. Not sure what I’ll end up doing. Maybe just an extended weights session?
I’ve just cleaned my kitchen, vacuumed the house and done the washing. I’m now waiting for the steam cleaner to heat up and I’ll scrub the bathroom. I do love a nice clean house. There’s something cathartic about cleaning too.
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