Sunday looong run

Up early again this morning with a 7:30 meeting arranged with Greybeard and then down to the beach to hook up with AndrewinOz. The morning started overcast and gradually cleared to be lovely and sunny as we were finishing. Perfect weather for a long run.

Even though I didn't sleep well I soon found a good steady rythm and was comfortable for the majority of the day's run. We went out at 5:50/km and came back at 5:56/km according to Andrew's Garmin. It was great running with Andrew for the first time - I hope you can make it again with us!

25kms roughly for the morning and although I am feeling quite spent now I am sure I will pull up okay as the pace seemed comfortable the whole way.

23k 2:30mins (roughly)

Rest day tomorrow - yippee!

Next run: Tuesday AM 9.5k

There was an old man...

...who swallowed fly!

Yep, that was the most memorable thing about my run this morning!

Up and out the door at 6:45am for a medium effort 6k but at about 1/3 into the run after tackling a hill I swallowed a fly!. Cough, spit, splutter (repeat x3)! After that I found my pace was slower and I was mentally distracted so I figured I better concentrate on something and put in some fartlek surges that lasted about 500m each and then backed off untill my breathing was back under control. I repeated this all the way home. I must do more of this it might toughen me mentally (my weakest component in my running).

As Lance Armstrong said in one of his books, "when I am not out there training - my competition is and they will be catching me" or words to that effect anyway. So Go Chick, I think I have you covered- today anyway!

Today: 6kms Untimed
Tomorrow: 23k LSD

Sandy Aths - speed work

Tonight torturous Tim was at the Inagrural Milers meet in Box Hill so I thought I was in for a semi-slack night of warm up , casual fartlek and then warm down. Grey Beard was onto my lark and quickly suggested we do some 400's with a 90 sec break between each. "Okay" I said - thinking "some" meant 3 or 4. "6" he promptly suggested and before I could mount a protest we were doing a 800m warm up after our 3k warm up!

400 #1 was okay = 95secs, #2 was hard = 95 secs, #3 was real tough = 95 secs, #4 was spent trying to trick myself into thinking there was only one more to go = 95secs, #5 was thinking okay I really only have to do 1 more = 95 secs, #6 was all out knowing it was the last = 90 secs!

Gasping for breath, I waved the boys off for the first warm down lap while I struggled to stand up and then did a warm down lap and then some stretches.

It was a really hard effort for me tonight and one that wasn't helped by the two pieces of cold pizza from the fridge before heading down there. But hey, if I am going to stay ahead of Go Girl I know I will have to put in some hard days (she has got age on her side).

Next run Sat AM: 8km Medium effort

(and for those asking after my previous post - it was a brunette pony tail)

Windy Wednesdays

Being slack I didn't run on Tuesday as planned so I went out this morning wanting to push it a bit. Met the apprentice 1/4 of the way around and we set off at a nice steady clip. On turning onto Beach Rd we spied a ponytail a fair way ahead and decided we would see is we could catch her. We ran at about 10k pace for 3-4kms into a strong wind and never did catch her although we did get closer. It sure was a solid effort to catch up just a bit.

We backed off for a while to get the breathing back under control and again pushed it while going up the last long hill on our Wednesday loop.

It was a good solid effort and a nice one to have in the bank. It seems like spring is really here - 18 degrees at 6:30am. My hayfever thinks so anyway!!

9.4kms untimed

Next run: Thurdsday Track - fartlek session

10K PB Blog Challenge update: I looked through the calender last night for a 10k race and there is just one that I could find - Sri Chinmoy Williamstown in early Dec. Its leaving my run (pun intended) a bit late as last year that was a very warm morning. I hope I can find one a little earlier but if not it will have just one shot at it only.

Monday (nearly) long run

After the successful 5k wobble yesterday I decided to slack off for the rest of the day.

That meant that seeing as the Go Chick has accepted my 10k PB challenge I had better get off by lardy backside and put in some kms. I hadn't run since Wednesday.

This morning's longish run was down to Green Point along the coastal trail (my favourite run destination). I went easy out and having nor run for 4 days was completely niggle free! No slacking on the way home however so I came home hard with a 1 minute negative split over the 16-17 odd kms along the bay. The bay was picture perfect with loads of people walking, running and fishing etc. Just the lightest of breezes and loads of warm sunshine.

What more could a wobbly man want? Particularly when I have the day off with the kids? Only down side was I forgot to tape up and consequently have red raw nips. You know your alive when you hop in the shower afterwards let me tell you!

16.5km 1:39

Next Run: Tuesday AM 6km

A slacker's check in...

Okay, so I was supposed to run Thurday night speed work with the Bayside runners and didn't. I got caught up a bit with late work and couldn't get away as planned - note to self make a permanent Thurday afternoon appointment out of the office (and ensure its on the home side of town) so I can not get caught again.

Feeling mild twangs of guilt I got my running gear out last night so I could get out early this morning.......I swear I just meant to hit the snooze button once but must have hit the off button by accident even though its very difficult to do by accident.

Seems like Go Chick is up for my CR blogger challenge and already has a head start! I will have to time my 10k attempt well and put in some hard yards overe the next few weeks. Ahh, new goals - its nice without one for a while but it sure does bring the slacker out in me!
http://gorunninggirl.blogspot.com/

Wednesday's mid-week bliss

A cracker of a morning today and I got the best of it - from sunrise. Still, mild and cloudless. The birds were/are singing their heads off and the bay is like a sheet of glass. The bay is dotted with loads of little fishing boats all sitting just outside the marine park hoping for a good catch of snapper (I hear there are loads of them at the moment).

The run which was thankfully much more comfortable today but because of the weather the run became almost secondary while I was being absorbed into my surroundings. Watching the Spirt of Tasmania coming up the bay made me wonder if I should take a weekend off again and just do something for myself (I have been wearing my grouchy pants a bit too much lately).

Goal setting update: I am going to train for and run my first marathon in the first half of next year. I am undecided on if it will be the Great Ocean Road Marathon in May or Canberra in April. For the reminder of '05 I would like to reduce my new 10k PB a little further and keep up my 150kms per month.

9.4k 52:37

Next run: Thursday PM speed work

An uncomfortable run

An early 5:30am start for an easy 8k around the golf courses this morning and I was soon settled into a good rythm. It is super foggy today so the atmosphere of running amongst the tree lined streets is just great. Although still a little cool at 10 degrees this morning. Come on Summer - hurry up!

My breathing and pace were good and relaxed until I started to think that I need a toilet stop. There is a kids play park about halfway around this loop and I remember there is a public toilet there so no problems - I just press on and try not to think too much about it. Doh! I get to the park and there is no public toilet - I was thinking of the wrong park! It was a most uncomfortable run home and I think I was actually running with a rather perculiar gate towards the end...

I used to think I would get bored running but I never have - every run is different.

Tag - your it!

It seems lovely Lulu has tagged me in the CR Blog game!

As I have blogged about my run this morning already I will give you the remainder of my Sunday.

Following the run and shower I cooked up bacon and eggs for Ali and Keeley and myself - Anna was too tired (read emotional) to figure out if she wanted some or not. I trimmed half of the edging hedge (leaving the rest for next weekend and tidied up some stuff I had left oput from last weekend.

Kelely and I went down to Brighton bathes to measure out the 5k wobble for next weekend. It was a beautiful mornming and the ride around the bay in a day cyclists had a perfect day for it. Fortunately the 5k run is out and return so once we had our km points and turnaround rpoint right we walked back along the beach together.

A nanna nap in the late afternoon and I'm about to get to bed for a well earned sleep.

CR Blog game:

Here are the rules:
1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (or the closest one to it)
4. Post the text of your sentence in your blog along with these rules.
5. Tag five other people.

My 23rd post was on may 20th this year and was about an early morning run - the first run for Winter where I thought I should have worn gloves. Sentence 5 reads: " 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."

That sentence is pretty much reflected most mornings. Getting out of bed to run is a struggle for me often - I wish it was easier for me who but I am getting better at it.

Who will I tag? My hero Brother - Bob (in Canada), Luckylegs, Jen-Runs, Cirque and Gronk.

Sunday's easy wobble

A picture postcard perfect morning down here today and armed with a mild over-hang I bolted out the door to meet up with Greybeard at 7am.

An easy pace to work the muscles a bit was the go and before we knew it we were down at Mordi Pier and thinking it looked like a long way home. We bumped into Pastyboy along the way home so we stopped and chatted for a while contemplating future marathons etc. It was getting harder and harder to get going each time we stopped. My legs felt like lead when we started again but soon got back to normal after a minute or so.

Its was nice to get out again without a goal to think about and just enjoy the run on a beautiful morning. I still haven't decided what my next goals will be - maybe next week....

14k Untimed

Saturday's guilt trip

Okay- I should have run on Friday morning but I have been sleeping so poorly and have been enjoying my week of relative rest so much I thiught hang it. Trouble is I had these guilt feelings all day about not having run.

Therefore I hoped aout of bed at 6:30 and enjoyed a beautiful 10.5k run along the bay. That is until I got to Rickett's Point (where the half mara started last weekend) and saw all the rubbish everywhere. I saw about 50+ empty gu sachets & empty drink bottles. I stopped and picked some up and dropped them in the bins which were all of about 10m away max and will keep doing this on morning runs for a while.

I felt embarrassed to be a runner this morning. Surely we can do better next year? I will drop a line to the MM organisers so they can be aware of the state of the area. I dare say local residents will have complained.

Wednesday recovery

It was planned as an easy run this morning but I felt like I was dragging two spare tyres behind me the whole way! The gentle hills around my place felt like mountains.

The sun was out - it is 7 degrees and a perfect morning for running - its just a pity my legs didn't feel the same way. They feel very very depleted and although not very sore they are just tired "old man's legs".

I'm glad I got the legs ticking over again but am looking forward to my energy levels returning. I I have planned an easy week while I think of new running goals to set and I doubt I could do much else anyway.

9.4km 52:25

Next run: Friday 8kms (maybe)

Melb Half '05

Where do I start with this one?

I had a great lead up with this race and tapered pretty well. I am not so sure that I should have done the track work quite so hard on Thursaday (yes Tim - I should have listened to your advice more closely).

Slept surprisingly well - almost too well, and had to rush a bit to get to the start line on time which is all of 2.5 kms away!

I started well, albeit by myself, and at the first km mark I was up on time by about 30secs and starting to settle into a good rythm. I soon reealised I had messed up my watch settings and couldn' t get splits or cumulative totals. I found myself following a blondish ponytail (with short red shorts) which was keeping my pace a little fast and by Brighton Bathes (half way) I was about 1:30 mins up on my expected half way time. A big hooray from the Lost boys was received at about the 16k mark- thanks Ian and Sue! I took my one and only gel at the 14km mark and hoped for the best knowing that I was likely to struggle soon. By the 18km mark I took a short walk break. Once I hit St. Kilda Rd - I was wondering how far it was to go and had forgotten what the last km mark was so I just kept trying to maintain a pace that kept me with the runners around me. Once I "rounded" the shrine I upped my pace and finished with very little left in my tank.

The run down St Kilda Rd was great. The atmosphere towards the line was awesome and I well to a 1:51:03.

Catching a few CR's finishing their halves was great then Greybeard pointed me toward the baggage collection - a quick change, followed by a coffee and muffin (intertwined with capsicum spray) and we headed toward the finish line to see the 3:30-4:00hr runners finish. Those marathon finishers have my absolute respect.

Transpot was open by this stage so we headed over with Blue boy and family for a rehydration session. I had a birthday party drinks session to head to and to be honest if I had another schooner I was likely to fall over, so it was onto the train with Greybeard and Cato for a train ride home.

It was a great day for me (second fastest 1/2 mara) and one that reminds me why it is that I get up early to do my training runs! Thanks to all who yelled and supported me along the way- you lot are awesome.

To all the (too many to mention individually) interstate CR's who made it down - you guys rock! Most it seemed had a good run and I look forward to seing you at Canberra or Gold Coast next year!

Thursday track work - pyramid session

I arrived late to miss the warm up jog tonight so instead did four laps or so of the track to warm up. The wind tonight was positively arctic although after the first 300m I didn't notice it apart from thinking there was a headwind at each end of the track! Maybe I was running so fast that it really was a headwind each way? Hmm, that would be different!

300m, 400m 500m, 500m, 400m, 300m intervals were run with a 2 min break between each. My 400's were 2 minutes flat and my 300's were 91 (or therabouts). Tim stopped timing my 500's I think as I was too slow - either that or I was so deleriously tired I was unable to here his time call (probably the later when I think about it).

At least this time I managed a cool down lap - but used the excuse of having to head off early to change for tennis. Its nice to have gotten through my last hard work. Just a really easy 5k on Sat morning to go before the Melb Half now.

Aprox 6kms? 40mins

Tuesday - Springy run

Spring has sprung. The mornings are light enough now at 5:30am to not have to wear my flashing bike light and the wattle blossom is making quite a heady mix in the air around the coastal trail now. Its even a bit warmer these mornings - 9.1 this morning!

I succeeded with my task this morning to get out for an easy 9.4kms bumping into Warren along the bike path - odd to see him out training that early in the morning.

Melb Half this weekend and I feel well prepared with just Thursday evening and a very light Saturday morning run to complete. No niggles and no excuses (but I am sure I can make one up if the need arises on Sunday)!

9.4k 51:30

Next run: Thurday evening

Sunday's squeezed in run

It was a perfect Spring day down here today - Melbourne at its beautiful best.

I had lots or things to do today as well as nurse a mild overhang from a birthday party last night. Cooked up a poached eggs and bacon breaky for the family after dashing to the shops for a paper and a flat white espresso.

Feeling a little retored I washed the cars with Keeley, fixed a couple of things and fertilised the lawn in between sneezing fits. Aghh, hayfever returns for another year!!

Following a little nana-nap on the couch I made the kids dinner and slipped out the door for a quick 5.9km around the golf course at a comfy 5:30 pace.

The long range weather forecast has MM Sunday as 19 degrees - if the weather is good I will be hoping for a 1:50 half.

5.9k 32:05

Next run: Tuesday AM 9.4k

Saturday almost long run

It was a quick jaunt down to Green Point along the coastal path and back with Greybeard this morning to start my taper. Perfect weather - a slight headwind going out and a tail wind coming home.

It seemed like there were loads more people out enjoying the morning sun on the bay this morning including a bunch of middle aged women out in a big group. Nice to see..

Lots of runners getting in medium/long ones this morning and looking like they were starting their tapers for the MM next week too.

We took it relatively easy both out and back and Rob even managed to save a baby ring tail possum from a couple of mean looking magpies.

A quick shower and change and I was off to little aths to ses the kids compete - its the first day of the season. Keeley won her first ever race - she is so proud!

16.75kms 1:45

Next run: Maybe an 8k tomorrow afternoon