A windly, wattle-filled Wednesday

Its still really windy down here. You would have thought it would have blown out over the past three days but still it blows!

My Wednesday apprentice didn't show so it was just Holly and I this morning battling the stiff North Wester along the bay. The cloud cleared while we were out and it was like somebody turned a light on - it really is getting much lighter now in the mornings. Our run starts in darkness but is almost daylight when we return.

After yesterday's great run I didn't bother timing this run and with Holly being preggers I we took it nice and easy anyway.

This morning I noticed how much wattle has come into bloom now. I love the smell of wattle when out running - good weather and good times ahead!

9.4kms untimed

Next run: Friday AM 9.4km

The odd angy run.... Tuesday 30/8

Okay, so I had a bad day at work where my boss caved on me instead of standing tall. I got home early to have two kids screaming at each other and I am still a little annoyed about my Sunday DNF.

Answer= go for a run! I set out on my six km loop (which I haven't done for a few months) and at the first turn I looked at my watch and thought hmm, must be angry I am going hard, by the time I get to the next turn I am still ahead and still thinking about my crappy day. Yada, yada, yada I get home and beat by previous PB by 20 seconds! Woohooo!!

I think I have now buried my weekend DNF well and truely and can put it behind me happily. To all who have offered kind words of encouragement - thank you - your support and wisdom has helped me keep my running in perspective!

5.9km 27:58

Next run Wednesday am 9kms easy (if the weather isnt as bad as forecast)

Devil Bend Half....a disappointing effort (DNF)

In the past I have really enjoyed this run and was looking forward to it a lot as I missed it last year.

The nice Nike people were offering free demos of the Nike range so I laced on a pair of demo Nike Air Pegasus for the event - I tried to get any twists out of the laces but time was against me. CR's Kevin and Chilliman were at the event and we set off together but after 1km I realised their "easy pace" was a little faster than my PB pace so I bid them farewell and watched them ease away while I struggled on - by the time I got to the first turn around (5k) I knew something was not right (was it the twisted laces? was it the three bad night's sleep in a row? food, hydration and mini-taper seemed okay - whatever it was I felt bad)!

I was passed by an older guy who said he was also feeling terrible - but as he also started to ease away from me I started to think about him more - if he was feeling bad I should at least be able to keep up with him! I tried to catch him back up and after about a km was hanging on his tail for the next 4kms. Each of the rolling hills toward the dam were killing me and each step was becoming a real struggle.

I wasn't feeling any better (in fact I was feeling worse - mostly lacking in energy) at the 10km finish turn off.... so I quit! (insert audible sigh here) I feel really bad about quitting now - its the first time I have let my head take over like that in a race but I have done it now and can't undo it.

I have no idea what went wrong - my training has been going really well since May so I will just try to put it down to "one of those days". I have some speed work in my pseudo schedule leading up to the Melb half so hope this will give me a bit of a boost. I had been toying with the idea of doing the full marathon but not now.

10km 51:51

Next run: Monday am 10k

Wednesday 24th mid-week easy pace

No problems getting out of bed this morning thank goodness.

Out the door on time and Holly and I met the apprentice a tad early for a change. 9.4degrees and humid. The mornings are getting much lighter now.

An uneventful run - Holly lagged a little going up the last hill so that will be her last longer run for a while. I will need to do some shorter runs to try and work on my form/speed anyway so that will suit both of us I guess.

9.4kms Untimed

Next Run: Friday 6k- followed by the Devil Bend Half on Sunday

Tuesday drizzly dribble

This morning was a struggle. It was a struggle to get out of bed, I got half dressed for my run and had second thoughts started to get undressed and then changed my mind again and got finally dressed and out of the door with Holly.

A new route (well a new combination) was woeked out on ther run as I have been running the same ones for a while now. It was a bit windy again and drizzling and 9 degrees.

Once we got going we quickly found a steady pace and were finished before we knew it. A pretty uneventful run on a drizzly morning.

Apr 8kms Untimed

Next run Wednesday 9.4km

Sunday's Long Wobble

After hastily sending an e-mail around earlier in the week to try and find someone to run with I was amazed to find 12 eager runners down at the Brighton Bathes this morning! Wow, the power of e-mail!

After holding up the faster runners a few of us opted to "retie shoe laces" letting the patient faster runners slip past and get going. Many drink stops later we turned around near the Beaumaris pub and headed for home. It was at about this point that I realised we had been running with a good tail wind all the way and that going home was going to be much tougher!

I tried every mind game I could think of while running into that headwind. From thinking I was a tennis raquet and the wind was just blowing through my strings to attempting to think I was a piece of steel - impervious to the wind's slowing effects - neither worked very well and we walked a little on the way back but finished strongly running the last 2kms.

I had a ball and even though I was mightily stuffed at the end of it I was glad we all got together and got out there to run together. Chatting to new friends on long runs sure makes the kms go quicker!

23.5kms (roughly) in 2:50 (or so).

Next run: Tuesday morning 9.4 (last longer run for Holly)

Windy Warm Friday

We went 9.4k instead of 6 this morning as I couldn't sleep much last night. I suppose it was a combination of work worries and an abnormally warm night that found me turning the light on and reading for an hour during the middle of the night.

Our run was enjoyable abeit a bit windy in places (35kmph) where the bay path is exposed to Northerly winds. There were noticeably more runners out than normal this morning. I wonder if there are a few "would be" Melb Marathon runnners amongst them?

Holly seemed to relish the run this morning and is now fast asleep across my feet.

Not much news otherwise - I have pulled up without any problems following the C2S and am still on a bit of a high from last weekend. The Devil Bend Half is my next race (Sunday week) and I'm looking forward to a medium hard run there on on one of my favourite courses.

9.4kms Not timed (easy pace)

Next run Sunday: Long run 2-2.5hrs

Wednesday comfy run

Out with Holly a little later than normal at 5.55am to a star filled morning. 4.5 degrees had me heading straight back inside to put some gloves on and then off for our 9.4km loop.

An uneventful run with a little more light than normal which made the bay more interesting.

I feel a bit out of routine at the moment with my running (2 races in 2 weeks probably) and am looking forward to my weekend long run to feel back in the groove.

9.4 kms Untimed

Next run Friday 6.4 kms

2005 City 2 Surf (long - sorry)

Oh my gawd! What a great weekend I just had! A friend recommended that I run the C2S a year or so ago on the basis that it was a great run to do just for fun. I approached it that way and it certainly didn't disappoint!

Picked up at the hairyport and chauffered to Kirribilli by the lovely Owl - drinks on the deck with her and superwoman (aka Jen) and then over to Leichhardt to meet the equally lovely Caro. This was followed by a rather forgettable meal with great company and an unusual steamed vegetable desert at a pub with more CRs . Sparkie - I'm sure glad you knew where the pub was mate as none of us had any idea where you were going! Fortunately for me it was time to go before I had too many "schooners" and after a fun bus ride back to the city chatting with Cook Islander driver, I managed to get back to my digs at the yacht club to find a wedding party in full swing directly under my bedroom - the joys of staying at a yacht club I guess (no, I am not complaining!). Fortunately it was over by about midnight so I did get some sleep.

Breakfast wasn't on until 8am so it was off to meet Jen and Mr Jen at Kirribilli for a stroll across the bridge to the race start. I foraged around the shops in Kirribilli and devoured a half ripe banana for breakfast while waiting for Jen and Dean. I think Dean Jen and I solved most of the problems of the western world by the time we got to the start on the other side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (all except why Ricky Ponting is still retaining the captaincy of the Aust. cricket team anyway).

We quickly found Lulu, Caro and Owly and I retireved my race pack and hat and we jumped into a portaloo line which was possibly the slowest moving portaloo line I have ever been in - but at least it took our mind off how cool it was. Jumpers and and excess clothes tossed (for the charities) before the start we were soon away at a blistering 27 then 12min/km! Then it slowed a bit and I soon realised my task was to find a path though the walkers for the others to follow. Ducking, weaving and even elbowing a few walkers out of the way we meandered down to Double Bay where a Beetles cover band was playing on top of a hotel verandah. Not much time to dance but it reminded me that I was here for fun (and attempt to pace two superwomen). Heartbreak hill seemed to come and go without too much drama for any of us so I started with my distraction techniques to get the girls off thinking about how tired they might be feeling fromHeart Break Hill. What is the name of this suburb? How much is a house around here? What would you like to eat right now ... or later? That worked for about a km and by then I think the girls knew they had it in the bag as when I stopped to adjust a shoe lace they took off and I needed all the speed my little legs could muster just to catch up. At this point I tried to talk an Ambulance driver into giving me a lift but he wouldn't even wind down his window to hear my plea. A few down hill bits and we soon realised all realised we had this run beat so "on the run" pinky promises were made to finish together and we sped down hill towards the finish only to nearly lose the Owl who had spied the Cheer Squad and was attempting to skittle every runner in her way to get high fives from the very impressive (although musically challenged) CR cheersquad.

Only a few hundred meters further we picked up Lulu and we all managed to cross the line together! What a run! What an experience!

A quick cool down and Sparkie promply led us to the Sydeny Striders "tent" where I met so many CR's that my brain started to spin! A quick cuddle from Lucky Legs (yes, I am a very lucky Wobbly) and a few photos and we were off to the pub to practice rehydration techniques and few more photos!

The need for food was overwhelming by about 4:30pm so Owl led us all to a very humerous and hearty feast of wood-fired anchovies on pizza bases. This was followed by a successful search for Gelato. We then moved on to Owl's nest and enjoyed a quiet cuppa while we enoyed some Kiwi folk music from some of Owl's fellow countrymen above.

Realising we were all pretty tired we headed back home and I walked across the harbour bridge enjoying the memories of my day and back once again to my temp digs!

To all of you who made me feel so very welcome - thank you. I can't wait for my next running trip and catching up with so many of you again!

Wednesday recovery

An easy recovery run - easy pace but maybe it was anything but easy! My legs are still a little weary from Sunday's race and the wind this morning was blowing at about 20kmh (gusting to 30Kmh). It made it hard going particularly uphill into the wind.

At least I knew where gloves were this morning as it was a tad chilly at 5.5degrees and the wind chill seemed to make it even colder.

Holly was happy all the way around but the vet last weekend said I need to take it easier with her with running soon. I guess I will just take her on shorter runs from next week and the just walks.

Distance: 9.4k (not timed)

Next run: Friday 6k

Half on the Park

It was really cold this morning and for some odd reason I thought it would be a good idea to wear shorts and a singlet! Got out of the car at the venue and wondered what ever possesed me to think I wouldn't be cold dressed like this. A quick hello to the CRs and I slinked over to the massage ladies for a quick leg rub.

Before I knew it we were being marshalled to the start and were off - the sound of 50 or so watches beeping as the stop watches were started made me smile - what techno junkies we all are!

After a busy start, lost boy and I managed to have the four of us on time after the first km split. I figured that a rather svelt young lady with pony tail was travelling at the right pace up ahead so I eased up behind her and her partner as the headwind was making it hard going. I stayed with them for three of the four 5km laps until they sped off in search of the 15km finish. After looking around and realising I was on my own I concluded that I needed to catch someone so I didn't have to face the headwind on the last leg. I think this paid strategy paid off well and I even took the lead half way so they could draft off me if the wanted to.

I felt strong and happy to be able to maintain the pace most of the way. I even managed to not be passed over the last 4kms and actually past a few myself (quite a novelty) towards the end. I know there are better times ahead if I can keep this training up and don't get impatient with myself.

I stuffed up my splits toward the end of the race but what I do have are:

1st 5km 5:32, 5:11, 6:21, 5:01, 5.11 = 27:16 (loop 1)
2nd 5km 5:06, 5:14, 6:13, 4:45, 5:13 = 26:47 (loop 2)
3rd 5km 5:01, 5:06, 6:08, 4:56, 5:14 = 26:35 (loop 3)
4th 5km 5:52, 5:16, 5:00, 5:07, 5:23 = 27:08 (loop 4)
1:1 5:23
Total 1:53:09 I think - but the last couple of splits are guesses..

(looks like the 3rd km marker might have been out of place)

So much for my promise to SloJo to make sure she got over the line! At least she was well supported by the Lost boys who all managed to come in around the 1:58 mark. Well done Jo - I wish I had your determination!

Thanks to all for the good wishes leading into this race - it really helps.

It was also great to see a good turnout of CR's today with some new (and not so new) faces to to say g'day to.

A paticularly big thank you to dad for making a surprise cheer squad visit! Thanks dad - the last loop was made easier knowing you had come out to see me run (particularly on such a cold morning)!

3.7 degrees and I couldn't find my gloves...

Well lets just say my hands were so cold that they hurt for the majority of this run. I realised about a third of the way into the run that I had put them over an obscure heating vent in the lounge following a wash.

I ran an easy 35mins with Holly who doesn't seem to mind the cold at all but is now so excited about the propect of a run in the morning, that she wakes the rest of her house as we try and creep down the hallway to the front door. Her tail wags so profusely it slaps against the plasterboard walls.

Received an offer to run a pair of greyhounds each morning from a kindly old gent who was looking decidedly cold but otherwise it was an uneventful run. 1 x 600m interval just to stretch out little on the way home.

6.5kms 35.08

Next Run: Sunday 21.1km (Half on the park) Hoping for under 2hrs

Wednesday's midweek jaunt

A mild morning was waiting for me with 12.2 degrees registering and hardly a breathe of wind. The few scattered clouds there were were doing a terrible job at hiding what was a star filled sky without a moon.

Holly is home again so we took off with her tail wagging and quickly settled into a comfy pace before linking up with the apprentice. The bay was still and the Tassie ferry (which makes its way across the bay at this time of day) must have provided a silky smooth crossing of Bass straight last night to its passengers.

A good steady pace all the way around with Holly entertaining us by running straight into a bush while watching another dog being walked on the other side of the road (and I thought it was only me that did things like that)!.

A nice enjoyable run.

9.4km 53:20

Next run: Friday 5-6k (before the HOTP on Sunday).