End of Month Tuesday

First day back at school for the kids today! I usually take the kids on their first day back (now Grade 1 and 5) so this meant I could sleep in a little and get in a good length run as well! Woohoo!

I was surprised how fast I went out along Beach Road this morning but when I turned around I realised I had been running with a strong tail-wind and now it was all head-wind back. Heads down, Holly and I pressed on home and came back with a 12k average of 6min/km.

I'm pleased with today's effort although I seem to have now developed a big toe nail problem. It is quite sore and red under the nail. During the 30k run on Saturday it felt quite uncomfortable but I thought it was just my mind complaining and wanting to stop running.

Today concludes my first month of training for the Canberra Marathon with my biggest monthly km total ever and also my longest run to date. All mid-week medium long runs and long runs were completed and I juggled my way around the remainder with the heat/humidity and work commitments.

Planned: 247.5kms
Completed: 234.6kms (95%)
Shin pain: 1/5 (probably because the toe hurts more)
Big Toe pain: 2/5
Mood: Pretty pleased with myself

Late night wobbling

I rarely run at night but I really wanted to run today after yesterday's struggle.

This morning I woke to 21 degrees and 95% humidity. As the day wore on, it got down to about 60% humidity but got hotter so I waited and waited and waited until 9:30pm (22 degrees and 83%humidity) to get in 11.6kms around Beach Rd Beaumaris.

Holly was jumping for joy at the prospect and despite the warm weather and high humidity easily made the distance with me. My legs felt weary to start with but were good over the last 4kms. I just wanted to get out there tonight and enjoy the run - mission accomplished (albiet slowly). I didn't take my watch and was glad I didn't.

(Note to self -run without a watch at least once a week!)

End of Week: 4/14
Planned: 62.5kms
Accomplished 60.5kms
Mood: Happy Wobbly
Shin Pain: 2/5

Capital City Trail

I should have known it wasn't going to be a good day. First I couldn't find my hat and then I ended up running late to pick up Greybeard. It pretty much went down hill from there.

The Capital City Trail is a path that circles Melbourne (30.4kms)and is used by walkers and cyclists alike - today it was also used by three would be Canberra Marathon runners. Well, two runners actually and a Wobbly Man doing a very poor impersonation of a runner.

It was my first time on the Trail and wow - what a great place to run! An ever changing vista starting at the new Docklands, down past the casino and up along the tranquil Yarra river with its many rowers, past Dights Falls, along the meandering Merri Creek and up along an old tram route ending up underneath a huge elevated freeway in a kind of surreal futuristic combination of creek, concrete and railway (I will definitely take a camera next time). It is a fantastic long run route and one I will definitely do again - hopefully in better form though. It is undulating and has ample shade most of the time.

I felt okay for about the first 10kms and then felt like cr*p for the last 20! Thank you Rob and Andrew for your eternal patience with me as I took my many walk breaks and rests. I'm not sure why I was in such poor form. The last time this happened I came down with the flu - I hope that isn't the case this time. I think the long run step-back in my program that I ignored last week will be very welcome next weekend. I will drop it back to about 18-20kms.

Tomorrow I will try and put in an easy 10k run just to turn over the legs.

Aussie Day - Yeah!

I ran yesterday morning at 5:15am on my 9.4k loop around Beaumaris and the Coastal Trail. Nothing much happened, the apprentice was a no-show again and seems to have lost interest since November. I think I better rev him up a bit - it helps to keep me honest too.

Today is Australia Day though; so please crack open a beer, chuck another prawn on the barbeque and enjoy singing our national anthem at the top of your off-key voices!

While you are at it, spare a thought for those brave and hardy souls who are out there defending homes and townships out on fire fronts which are being fanned by 40 knot winds in 40+ degrees in rural Victoria. Those guys and girls epitomise the Australian Spirit!

Tuesday's struggle

Oh, it was so hard to get out of bed this morning. I will be so glad when the Aussie Open tennis is over and I can start going to bed at a reasonable hour again! Wow, that Federer/Haas match was a great game.

Have you ever woken up 1/2 an hour before the alarm clock and wondered what you would do now? That was me this morning. 4:30am is just too early to lace on some running shoes and start pounding pavements. It is also hard to go back to sleep knowing that you need to be awake enough to haul your butt out of bed in half an hour. So I lay there entertaining random thoughts for a while and eventually fell asleep, only to be abruptly woken by the alarm and then lay there for another half an hour trying to think of ways to manipulate my program so that I could go back to sleep.

Eventually I figured there was no way out of it while keeping my required program intact so out the door I went with Holly the ever happy lab. 10kms later I was back and very glad I had gotten out as my legs really needed a good stretch after Saturday's 27k. Holly and I bumbled along at about 5:45/km and even managed a slight negative split despite the strong headwind on the return trip.

Shin pain level: 2/5 manageable but uncomfortable

Blonde Joke

I don't normally like blonde jokes but Laura's is a great one!

Saturday long run

Okay, I confess! I am a wimp and I don't like running in hot conditions. A didn't run on Wednesday because I was too tired after the tennis, Thursday because it was too hot, Friday becuase it was too hot and tomorrow is also forecast to get to 41 degrees (way too hot).

Today I felt was my only realistic opportunity to do my long run in temperatures less than 25 degrees so it was up early and out along the coastal trail to Point Ormond and back - total 27.1 kms (that was 3kms more than my program suggested but because I have been a bit slack this week I thought I had better pay the price). I started okay at 6:30am and was at Point Ormond 13.5km turnaround averaging 6min/kms and without having had a rest stop. The trouble was it was already about 22 degrees by then and my fuel belt was nearly empty already. Plodding back in the heat I kept checking Garmin Girl wishing the kms away. I walked a couple of times when I felt like I needed to - its much easier to take a walk when running on your own I have found (unfortunately) and I see little point bursting a "fooffer valve" in a training run. It was getting quite hot by 9:30am (towards the end of my run) with a hot Northerly wind picking up. Its now midday and already 36+ degrees. One odd thing I noticed was that every km that was a prime number I began feeling tired and lethargic. What does that say about my numerology I wonder? Anyone?

To those interested in the Paul Frank clothes stand progress - you will have to wait until the digital camera is fixed but suffice to say it is coming along okay. You too A Running Girl re-the fridge photo tag (you may regret that one!!

Also for those that asked, the tennis was great, perfect weather, I ate lots of food (including 6 deserts) and drank lots of beer and watched Martina Hingis, Kym Clisters and Leighton Hewitt play. I didn't get home until after 1pm though so it was a late night given I had been up since 5am that morning for a run.

Seems I have also been tagged by Hilda so in response to your tag;
1) What were you doing 10 years ago? I wasn't running at all. I was heavily into Hang Gliding and our first bub was only 6 months old - and knew nothing about raising kids - I wonder how she ever survived!
2) 5 snacks you enjoy? Plain almonds, salted cashews, Corn Thins, plain yoghurt and smoked oysters
3) 5 songs you know all the words to? Any Mental as Anything song.
4) 5 things I’d do as a millionaire? Pay off the house, pay off all family member's mortgages, go on a cruise with the family and then another little one with just Mrs Wobbly and myself and get someone to do every little job I have to do on the house and buy the new Garmin (oops that's 6).
5) 5 things you like doing? Time out with the family (when they are in good moods and not tired), running, eating, drinking, time with friends.

Who do I tag now? The Owl

Tuesday 12k

I dragged my mid-week medium long forward to this morning as I am hosting some clients at the Australian Open tennis tonight. Somehow I doubt if I will feel like running in the morning!

It started to rain a little on the run along Beach Rd this morning (too dark to run the trail) but not enough to cool me down.

Bumped into Ian and Sue also out pounding the pavement but didn't stop as they were going the other way and if I stopped I wouldn't have been able to start again- today was quite an effort to keep running. If I think about it, I saw lots of runners this morning despite it being so early. Maybe everyone is getting serious about knocking off their Christmas gains?

Saturday Long Run

I am playing golf tomorrow so I slipped my long run in today instead of the usual Sunday. Poor Holly looked so sad that she was being left behind with her nose pressed against the window...

Running a long run alone today I knew I would be challenged mostly by my brain rather than my body, so I made a point of staying at a comfy 6:00/km pace for the first half of the run and made a point of enjoying the scenery. I ran down to Elwood beach following the coastal trail and on the way back noticed a wedding about to happen at Green Point. Great spot for a wedding - here is the view/backdrop they had while they were surrounded by old and large Cyprus pines on one side and the bay on the other.

This was happening at about km #17 so the slacker part of my brain had no trouble convincing my running brain to stop/rest have a drink and stretch and also have a little sticky beak at the guests that were all dressed up and milling around waiting for the bride to arrive (the groom looked very nervous). Seems like handkerchief hems are all the fashion for big occasions huh? I noticed a runner that I had passed earlier on my run about to pass me so I took off and thought about weddings for a while (I love going to weddings - just not mine).

At about 22kms I stopped in a little park for a small rest and a good stretch and then plodded my way home realising I had miscalculated the turnaround point in Elwood as consequently was 1 km short but was too stuffed physically and mentally to care. My brain does not function at all well on long runs (no comments from the gallery thank you)!

Its a good confidence booster to have completed that run on my own and its nice to have my long run out of the way so early on the weekend so I can enjoy a drink or two tonight - not that I have anything on and Mrs Wobbly is heading out with the girls for a night out in St.Kilda (insert violin music).

Week 2/14 completed; both weeks completed okay and my wicked shin hasn't gotten any worse (touching wood). Time to ice...

I promised Wobblette #1 I would make here a "Paul Frank" clothes stand this afternoon if she helped me - that should be interesting! Pictures may follow if ever completed...

Back on track!

Being the slacker I am, once again I set the alarm for 5am, organised my gear, went to sleep and then turned off the alarm when it went off and slept fitfully (ridden by guilt) for the next hour and a half. I then spent most of the day thinking that if I didn't run this evening my effort for the working week could only be described as crap! So I invented a client meeting and happily drove home at 4pm and went straight out for a run! Any co-workers who read this are hereby sworn to secrecy!!

I went out with Holly and ran down the coastal Trail to Hampton Life Saving Club and then on went on to Sandy Aths to catch up with Coach Tim to confess my running sins!

Following the spiritual cleansing with Coach Tim (thanks for the advice Tim), I ran home feeling much happier until this guy who was jogging on the other side of the road past me. I glanced at Garmin Girl who advised I was already going well at a steady clip of 5:35/km. (Pretty fast for me on a medium/long run actually!) So of course I upped my pace to overtake him (albeit on the other side of the road), I had to get below 5:00/kms to eventually pass him. Thankfully I had to turn towards home after about a km, so once around the corner and out of sight I slowed right back to catch my breath. Holly wasn't sure what was going on but was sure grateful for the slow down.

Anyway I snuck in about 14+kms this afternoon. Put my program for the week right back on track and thoroughly enjoyed the whole run - even throwing in an 800m interval at 4:35/km pace in the last 2k from home. Happy Wobbly!

Some days I just don't want to

go out for my run but unless I can think of a good excuse I push myself out of the door and usually struggle the whole way. Today was one of those days.

After 15 mins of deliberation and listening to the unusual sound of rain, I got my running gear on and went out with Holly. What was planned as a medium-long run was never going to be, so I took the first return route home and completed just 5.8kms.

I ran slowly and not particularly well but I did get out there and that is about all that is worth saying about it.

(This is week 2 of a 14 week marathon program and already I'm slacking!)

Click ...Beep.. Beep... groan

It was really hard getting out of bed this morning. I got carried away last night reading a book and did not want to get out for my run this morning.

10 minutes later I rolled out out and grabbed Holly (the ever happy lab) and we were off into the darkness to the Coastal Trail. The first kms or so were more a case of pain management until I loostened up a bit but it was about 20 degrees at 5:30 so I soon realised it was going to be a bit of a slow plod this morning. I don't normally do the Coastal Trail this early in the morning as the first one through the trail gets all the cob-webs that have been made overnight. Today was no exception and I spent a lot of time checking or wondering if I had a spider on my arm/leg/hair etc..

The bay was ultra-still and was being used locally by just the one swimmer and about 10 sea kayakers all in a "pod". Perhaps they were life savers doing some training or something but they don't usually get out so early...

Anyway it was 10.6kms at more than 6min pace today. A bit more than required by my program (but slower). Seeing had the opportunity I thought why not ..and it was much nicer running without an over-hang!

Friday 10k and today's long run

Feeling guilty for not attending speed training on Thursday night I thought I should get out and pound the coastal trail with Holly for 10.2kms on Friday. The sun came out and it warmed up quite a lot but we managed a negative split coming home anyway. An uneventful run really....

Following a farewell party for some friends yesterday the morning didn't start awfully well as armed with a medium grade over-hang I belted out the door with my fuel belt and car keys to catch Greybeard and AndrewinOz. We started at a nice 6min/km pace and eased our way up over the 21+ kms. Rob was feeling strong towards the end so put in a couple of kms at 5min pace - while I upped the pace for a km to try and match him but he is a faster runner than I and my poor preparation for the days run caught up with me. We then sauntered home which is mostly uphill at about a 6km pace for the last 2kms.

That completes the first full week of my Canberra Marathon training program. 66kms run - the furthest I have run in a week to date. While I missed speed work on Thursday evening I slipped in a catch-up session on my rest day (Friday). My evil shin in holding up okay and isn't bothering me as much as I thought it might (so far).

Dear Tim (running coach).....

Dear Tim,

Please belatedly excuse Wobbly Man from tonight's Speed work. You should not consider Wobbly's absence from speed work tonight to be a sign of his lack of commitment to his running or the recently dubbed "latte" running group.

Wobbly was absent from the track tonight because:

1) His shin feels a bit sore and he didn't want to push it hard today - particularly after his 16k mid-week run yesterday which seemed to go really well.

2) Mrs Wobbly unexpectedly bought Wobbly Man 1/2 dozen oysters for a little "treat" before dinner! Wobbly therefore didn't want to miss a chance to enjoy said oysters and any "little treats" that may follow....

Signed,

Wobbly's Mum

Medium/long mid-week effort

I slept so badly last night that my 6am alarm was promptly turned off and I slept through until about 9am. Its quite unusual for me to sleep in but after watching a bazillion adds for Tele-cafe and Lava life (where singles click) I think I needed the sleep after all.

As a consequence of the sleep in and a flat Garmin battery I didn't get out until about 11am. Today was the first of some key runs on my Marathon program so even though a rest day was my preferred option I figured if I didn't have a rock solid excuse I should get out there. I'm so glad I did. The weather was perfect and Holly and I made our way around the 16.1km out and return to Green Point fairly comfortably.

Mrs Wm and Wobblette #2 then joined me for lunch at Brighton Bathes and after a chilled Boags Beer and a chicken caesar salad my body is now telling me a little snooze on the couch while "watching" the cricket may be in order. Best I ice my shin first. My shin is still bothering me but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse so I am just training as normal and waiting to see what happens (if anything).

Speed work tomorrow - I'm not looking forward to that after about two months off!

Post New Year Catch up!

New Year's day I went for a late 8k run with Brigid (from Canberra) and Holly (our ever-happy lab). We kept a fairly slow pace and I ran a couple of laps around the Half Moon Bay ramp to get my heart and lungs really working while Brigid checked out the half sunken HMVS Ceberus and caught her breath. We ran all the way back but Holly started to slow so we both eased off the gas a little and found our way home. A great start to the new year and a similar one to my last New Year's day.

Yesterday I couldn't sleep so well so gave up and went for a run at 5:15am. It was a lovely 10.4k run along the coastal trail to Sandringham with Holly. The temperature was lower (around 15 degrees) and Holly was much more comfortable and full of energy.

I just had enough time to stop sweating after the run, have a quick shower and headed off for a round of golf at 13thbeach with Matt and Sean. It was great to catch up with those two - Matt lives in Hong Kong now and I only seem to catch up with him once a year. I took Garmin Girl along to see far a round of golf actually is, and for those interested it was 7.8kms (I don't find the fairways very often though - so that included a fair bit of searching for balls).

A few beers after the golf topped off a pretty exhausting day and one that I hope will help ease off some off those extra kilos I have added since the break from running and my annual Christmas pig-out!