Sunday , "rest" day - yeah right...

After a big vietnamese banquet last night with friends and perhaps one too many red wines I woke this morning with a slightly hazy outlook. I had promised the girls banana pankakes for breakfast (like from Joe;s Garage) so set about making those with the help of the youngest. The pancakes were a pale comparison to those at Joe's but I learned a few things and will do a better job next time - having said that there were three empty plates so they weren't all that bad.

A 40 minute walk with Keeley and Holly followed. Holly had fun meeting some new dogs - Keeley was was great company once she got out of her bad mood. Thought it might loosen up my calves but it didn't. We stopped and gazed at the pair of owls that have returned to the tree next door for a while - one is now called Hedwig.

Rode down to the school with Keeley for 1.5 hrs of gardening at the working bee followed by a 3/4 hr snooze on the couch while the Car racing on TV which topped the afternoon off nicely.

For the last 4 weeks I have been trying to perfect Fettucini Cabonara. A restaurant could not serve up a better one than the one I cooked tonight! It really helps when you use the great Vic Markets produce though.

Meals cooked = 3, Shin pain= 1/5, Calf stiffness = 3/5 - in need of a massage asap (where are the helping hands girls when you need them?)

Saturday long run

It didn't take much to get going this morning - as I have lots to do today and I really wanted to get a run in early. 7:30am I was out the door and I was nearly blown over by the wind! It was gusty and was head on for the first half. I decided to run the exposed coastal trail which winds its way along the cliff tops and as the weather this morning was so different (windy and cloudy) from the stuff I have been normally running in (still and clear). Its great to see the bay in bad weather lots of froth and chop and birds beating hard to make headway against mother nature's breath. The moon was going down but was as clear as anything inbetween the low cloud and has now reduced its visible self to about 2/3rds (very clever - wish I could do that sometimes). Sometimes I wish I could carry a camera while running.

I decided to run into the wind for the first 50mins and then came back through the boring streets of suburbia which although they were out of the wind they were equally unispiring. I need to be close to nature on my runs long runs - it makes me feel at peace and a part of something. Coming back was a big drudge and very draining. My legs felt heavier and I hate having to constantly watch for traffic, curbs, driveways etc etc. Once I got back onto the track through the golf cources I lifted again and found myself surrounded with happy thoughts.

Shin pain = 1/5, Time = 1hr 52, Distance = 17kms, Ave heart = 160

5:30am - A non-run

The alarm was set, it went off and I was about to get out of bed when I heard the weather - windy, raining and no doubt cold. Reset the alarm clock and dozed for an hour or so.

I have now managed to construct an elaborate excuse for myself for why I didn't push myself out the door. I will now run a long one on Saturday morning as I have a boozy dinner to go to Saturday night and won't feel like running at all on Sunday. I will also be nicely "aligned" to do three runs during the working week. Oh, and I also get to rest the shins another day - they like it when the have two days off in a row.

I know its slack and I should have run but after all this great weather we have been having its going to take BIG pushes to get me out the door in the dark, cold, wind and rain for the first few times. Ah, *sigh* winter in Melbourne.....its nearly here.

I went to the optometrist for my one month post-laser surgery check-up and my eyes are now both better than 20/20. No problems at all and I just need to go back one more time in two months for a final review.

Wednesday morning

5:30am - It was easy getting out of bed - I wanted to run this morning. Wednesdays I usually run with my "apprentice" and his back is now better so we went out for an easy recovery run. It was about 14 degrees and a little windy- the wind felt odd as over the last couple of months it has been very still inthe mornings. There was a clear sky and a beautiful full moon this morning. Bright and white and happy. With my new eyes I noticed that I can see the craters much clearer than before and almost tripped over a couple of times while gazing upward instead of looking where I was going.

The plan was not to run too hard. It was just on the uphill parts where we stopped talking briefly. 54:53 = 9.5km

The evil newspaper delivery man (i have named him Syd - after the character in Toy Story) nearly caught me towards the end of my run - I could here the thumps getting closer and closer as I turned into my street.

Shin pain = mild

I seem to be enjoying my running more at the moment - not quite sure why?

Williamstown Half Marathon

I won't bore you with the terrible night's sleep I had, but it finished with a dream that I was in Sydney for the SMH half and couldn't find the start.

When I woke - it was dark and I prepared my favourite pre-race breakfast - smashed banana on white toast - and another water bottle. Got to the start with heaps of time met stacks of fellow cool runners and latched onto Courtlylove and SlowJo as they seemed happy to run at around my expected pace for the day.

After a quick touch of the Goodwill Baton we were off and through the first 7kms reasonably comfortably. The second 7 was comfortable also but SlowJo was struggling with her cold so we took a couple of walk breaks so she could regain her breathing. The last 5k or so I went ahead and left SloJo (sorry mate) and was surprised to be feeling so strong - I wasn't passed and even passed a few runners that had passed me earlier. It was nice to catch a nice young British lady we had been chatting to for a while at about the 8km mark - she seemed quite interested in Cool Running so maybe we will hear from her on the web-site one day.

I finished really strongly and enjoyed the pancakes with honey, bananas and apple crumble. The ladies in the massage tent were awesome!! Not sure why I got the extended treatment compared to others but I am sure grateful for it. The beer at the Atomic Pub afterwards was great too - I just wish I could have stayed longer.

The weather was ideal - and the organisation was awesome except the km markers after the half way mark were all set up for the marathoners (shrugs). My splits are a bit of a guess but look like: 5k =28:51, 10k=58:15, 15k 1:30, 20k=1:58, 21.1k=2:03:48

After feeling a little doubtful about my preparation for this half I am eternally grateful to SlowJo for keeping me from going out too fast too early. Thanks mate - even though I was trying to help you through the tough bits you also were helping me control my pace.

A really enjoyable day for me and although my time was way off my PB I wasn't expecting anything more than a good finish and I got better than that. (2:04 roughly)

Spent the rest of the day on the couch...

The Friday 5:30 folly

Well, I have always suspected that I wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but this morning I confirmed it to myself. Knowing I was planning a 6k run I set my alarm for the 5:30 (my 10k run alarm time) and went to sleep. Why I didn't set it half an hour later is beyond me. Beep! Beep! Beep! I look at the alarm and lay in bed wondering what it would have been like to sleep for another half hour and then decide to get my gear on and take Holly the wonder dog out with me.

My 6k loop runs around Royal Melbourne golf course and is very quiet and often poorly lit. It was darn cold and clear this morning but Holly was overjoyed about coming out with me and this helped me enjoy the run which I palnned to do at a firm pace.

The evil paper delivery man had already been around this part of the suburb this morning, throwing his rolled up, platic wrapped bad news into driveways and onto the footpath for people to unwittingly trip over on and twist and ankle.

The sky was clear and the stars were beautiful this morning. Holly (the eternally happy lab) was happy to be out and kept up really well - no need for me to slow for her in the last third. It was bloody cold though! Its time to get the running gloves and beanie out of the bottom draw I'm afraid.

Next run: Williamstown Half on Sunday

Temp = 4.2 Humidity 93%

2km Splits: 10:54, 11:32, 10:01

Foggy Fun at 5:30am

This morning's run was planned to be easy and was really just for getting the legs turning over for an hour. It was just that and now there is just one more run (Friday) before the Williamstown Half.

It was very foggy this morning and each exhale made a big plume of vapour. The kid came out of me for a while as I tried to look like a steam strain blowing my exhales upward while going up a hill like a stoked-up steam train. It was very quiet and almost surreal running throught the heavy fog around the golf course and there was just the odd internal house light on to remind me I wasn't the only one awake in Melbourne.

My apprentice has back problems so didn't turn up so I ran alone today. I soaked up the atmosphere and really enjoyed the solitude. Aside from a few cyclists along Beach Road the suburb was pretty much mine. I left it to the the newspaper delivery man who seemed intent on following me for the last km or so breaking my solitude with the thud of rolled newspapers arriving in people's driveways.

57:50 over my usual 55:00 run was nice and easy. My right shin reminded me it wasn't happy about 2/3rds of the way through but will ice it tonight.

Temp = 8.1 98% humidity

Sunday morning - long run

Well it was kinda long anyway. I headed out at 10am after a lovely espresso (thanks to Mrs WM),two slices of toast with mashed banana and the Sunday paper (bliss) in bed. I guess Mrs WM is well disposed to me after she stayed overnight at her best friends while I entertained and fed the kids. :)

The run was uneventful and comfortable - I almost neg split 40:21, 40:52 for the 14+kms along the bay on the coastal trail. I found a new bit of trail behind the Sandy footy oval that has wonderful views over the yacht club and hardly anyone seems to use it.

The yachties looked like they were in for a long day with hardly a breathe of wind this morning but they were all heading out nonetheless as its such a beautiful morning today.

After getting home and after cooling down I took the kids jogging around the block twice as they have decided they want to do enter the 5km Sri Chinmoy run at Como Landing in 5 weeks time. I hope they stay as enthusiastic as they are at the moment. I am so looking forward to entering and running it with them.

Will head down the beach with the dog and the kids on the bike later and give my legs a bit of a soak to help prevent any inflamation on my shins.

Golf = cross training right?

I didn't run today as originally planned as I had a corporate golf day to attend.

Today, as I went from one side if the fairway to another and back again, I concluded that golf - while a very pleasurable game from an aesthetic point of veiw would need me to practice too much to become even slightly good at it.

Instead, I think its a lovely, relaxing way to take in some nature and enjoy some low impact exercise (4hr walk). Particularly in this beautiful Autumn weather we are having. I also realised today that for some odd reason I am not the slightest bit competitive at golf (in a mental way). I have little desire to score better or improve (that is a bit odd for me).

The golf day concluded with semi formal dinner, a couple of light beers and two glasses of wine. A really enjoyable day!

Maybe I will do my long run tomorrow instead of Sunday...

Autumn by the Yarra river

It was sooo beautiful out along the yarra at midday today! The air was crisp the sun was shining, the light was mostly soft greens, orange and yellows as the dappled light fought its way through the few remaining autumn leaves. The yarra was surprisingly quiet and still too.

I ran alone todY as I couldn't find a last minute running buddy and was so glad I did - I picked a nice easy pace and just enjoyed the trip.

Lots of people out running and walking but didn't see any cool runners. Just a few runs left until the Williamstown half. I'm a bit under-prepared but I am happy just to be in a position to run it as I havent run this one before and I lurve those pancakes at the end or Sri Chinmoy runs!

An easy long run

Well it was supposed to be easy anyway. It was my first run in three weeks and I needed to get in a lomg one so I can be in a position to do the Williamstown half without risking injury.

I confess to feeling a little concerned about how I would go so I figured I would start slowly and set out for a 14-16k run along Beach Rd. Aafter 5mins I was feeling great and amazed at how easy it felt to run without any shin pain and my nice soft new runners.

I was still feeling good at the 7k turnaround point so I pressed on to the Greens Park bubbler (8k turnaround point). My heart rate at the half way may point was 168bpm. About 2/3rds of he way home I started to tire so I slowed down a little more and just jogged the rest. I guess it was a unremarkable run - not many runners said hello and nothing unusual happened. All the same, it was great to get back out running (with my new eyes) and I am feeling much more relaxed about being able to complete the Sri Chinmoy Williamstown half on the 22nd. Oh yeah, I wore my CR hat and CR singlet and I didn't get one "Hey coolrunner!" :(... I suppose that was remarkable..

Why I am not running

The eye surgeon said to stop running for two weeks - well two weeks are nearly up and I didn't run for 5 days prior. I ran around the garden on the weekend with the Holly dog and my shin pain came back very quickly. Its not shin splints so I am resting them as much as possible. I will go for an easy, slow, long one (16k) on the weekend and see how I pull up after that. I want to get a couple of long runs in before the Williamstown half. If I don't run soon I will have to pull out of that one too. After missing this year's Puffing Billy I don't really want to miss another race I had "ear-marked" myself to run - most were new ones and picked because I wanted to run new or fun races.

My "new" eyes are just wonderful and I have had vurtually no side effects from the laser work. I count myself a very lucky man to been able to get them done!