Photos not running related.

[lexi6]

This is a photo of a native Tui, or parson’s bird as the early settlers to New Zealand called them. Its sitting in our Japonica opposite our laundry window and the bottom pic is their true colour. Beautiful to look at, but very territorial and noisy, but its just lovely to have them back in our gardens again. We never really saw them around the suburbs until the Zealandia eco sanctuary was established and the predator fence around their perimeter has kept rodents and pests out, so native birds are back in the city and thriving, the not so little guy in the bottom photo his family are also multiplying. Peter Jackson’s digital studio was named after the weta, which although it looks frightening is harmless. Even though I knew that, I still had to get OH to prise one off my hand when it had somehow hidden itself in my tea towel and then attached itself to me when I started to dry the dishes. My screams could probably have been heard halfway down the street!

After a 2 day rest from my Sunday 10k I ran on Wednesday and decided to cover up my watch again as I had for my 10k race and trust myself to count each 1k notifications buzz and stop at 5km which I did and discovered I was just 20 seconds outside of my recent parkrun PB.

I loved the freedom of not looking at my watch checking my pace and I’m going to do that more often as it makes the runs way more fun. Ran intervals on Friday and finished off the week with a 6km. I couldn’t resist though looking at my splits for last Sunday’s run and from the 4th kilometre, even accounting for the jelly baby drop scramble and a few seconds more for the bottleneck at the 8th kilometre marker (we had to move to the footpath for returning half marathon runners and faster 10k runners using the road) they were negative splits and I even managed a 200 metre sprint finish. Today my Vo2 max went up to 41, if it had gone down I would have said its a rubbish measure anyway, but its gone up so it must be accurate eh? 🙂 Here’s to a less windy and wet conditions for you all and for all of you on the IC, 🥰 you’ll be back x

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Beautiful creatures and a beautiful story about coming back. I don’t check, I just run, unless I’m feeling like I’ve had enough and sometimes I’m close to something that refuels me for a little bit longer. The surprise afterwards is what I love the most. Good or bad, we always know we’ve done it! ✅ 😍

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to Fabulous450]

Hey Fab, you’ve captured the feelings beautifully. I found the run really freeing and plan to make more of my runs just about getting out there and enjoying it. 😊 x

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Yes it’s the best feeling when it’s just what you do and it is what it is. 🤩❤️ Xx

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That is a lovely photo of that native Tui, really good to have them so close to your home, RNZ Concert have a recording of bird's singing at the top of the hour before the news.

It's good for you not to use those timing devices and not worry about pace and enjoy the run as you enjoyed your recent 10K

Where I live in Central Scotland Sunday is sunny with a few snow showers, the winds have moderated. 😊

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

They have so many different voices Alan and are incredible mimics, “beauty and brains.” I think in future I’ll only check my watch at parkrun, which I’ll go to on Saturday being the 29th of Feb. I hope I’m still around for the next one in 2048 aged 94😂 glad the wind has dropped your way Alan. We have a very sunny, calm day here, perfect running conditions but its a rest day today.

[Jell6 Graduate10]

I enjoyed reading this post 😊 and it is a lovely bird lexi, not so sure about the other critter though 😱

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to Jell6]

Thanks Jell, yep! I’m not really a fan of wetas, (on my person at least)but I’m very grateful we don’t live in a place where you have to watch out for snakes and venomous spiders. Aaaaargh!

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Lexi, what a beautiful bird. Gorgeous colour. 😍 The bug is ....... big. Harmless or not, I’d be happy to look at one, really close up if necessary, but there’s no way I could pick one up. I’m not surprised you screamed finding one in your tea towel! 😳😱😱

No run for me today. Did a very windy PR yesterday and I’ll venture out tomorrow. Maybe intervals, probably not as my route for them is very exposed to the elements! This weather of ours is appalling, and I can’t wait for spring. In the meantime, lovely posts from our distant VRBs definitely help! Thank you. ❤️

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheeky I definitely prefer the bird to the weta. They’re not usually as big round home as the one in the picture, but it still spanned my hand. Reckon he must got in through the cat door, 😂 😂he was way too big to fit under the door! Your weather has been truly terrible and you must be due for a beautiful, early spring. Enjoy your intervals tomorrow. 😊

[Debston Graduate10]

Love the pics of the tui bird, I have never heard of those before. And the bug - not surprised you screamed!

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

Thanks Debston. I’ll take the bird anytime but at least wetas can’t fly!

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

I thought that after a 10k race you would need a slow recovery run, but it sounds like you were turbo charged. I would struggle coconut up to 5 while running! Also I am wondering whether that VO2 max puts you in the top 5% for your age group, if so well done to you. I haven't looked up much about it. Mine goes up and down! My runs are also so variable. I just do not understand my body at all! Why is my heart rate so variable and sometimes running is so much harder than other times. Even my slowest seems a struggle some times. All part of the intrigue!

Thank you for showing us the Tui and the weta. 🦅 🐜😊

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks over61, don’t know where the energy came from to be honest as I was back to normal snail with my 6k yesterday. I have an android phone which doesn’t give me the stats that a iphone does regarding Vo2 it just tells me I’m in the superior range, but I’ll take that with a pinch of salt (unless it goes up again instead of down 😂). Mine goes up and down too and its very disappointing when it does drop, but I think we are amazing bad or good runs. 🥰

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Yes! Let's go with amazing! A lovely word indeed! 😊It's my Garmin that gives me VO2max and it kindly puts me in the superior range as well, I suppose most 63 year olds don't exercise as much as our 3 runs a week habit plus strength and flex routines. I don't feel superior and still don't feel seriously fit. Have a good week. 😊🌸

[lexi6 Graduate10]

It feels pretty good these days , especially thinking back to how exhausted I was Run 1 of C25 😂. Hope your runs are going well? 😊

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Excellent for a recovery run. A good week all round, and super photographs of the wild life. Good thing OH is brave 😄

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie, I squealed pretty loud and just couldn’t get it to release its hold on my hand, really freaked me out. Was feeling pretty good about my week and have just climbed into bed after doing my planks. Its going to take a while to master the side planks and could be a while before I get past 30 seconds! 😕

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

Poor little thing will have been frightened to death and hanging on for dear life!

I managed 15seconds on one side and not quite that on the other. V difficult.

[lexi6 Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

😂😂😂 I felt really sorry for it - not! Those side planks are killers aren’t they? I guess with practic(s)e they’ll become easier?

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to lexi6]

I hope so!