The Adventures of Wobbly Man

Team Wobbly TdF support vehicle

2008-07-03T00:39:00.001+10:00

November Niggles

2007-11-28T20:07:00.000+11:00

Hmm - let's just say it has had it's ups and downs shall we?

I'm unable to run at the moment due to a minor calf tear I have been trying to ignore that has got worse - you know, when you don't even have to try, you just know you can't hop on one leg? I don't think it is too bad so a couple of weeks (or so) off will do me along with some good massage I hope.

In the meantime I have been cycling to week each Friday 45- 50 mins each way so that has been great.

October - more fun than a barrel full of monkeys!

2007-11-05T20:51:00.000+11:00

Yep - this month was tough, slack, rewarding and surprising and fun!

Due to some ongoing niggly things my training has been limited so I went into the Melbourne Half really under-done and just for the fun of completing the the course. I ran without a watch and I enjoyed this race probably the more than most of those I have done! I cruised around in a comfy pace and had probably way too much gas to spare at the end, but hey - who cares! I ran 2:03:xx which was a little faster than I thought I would and enjoyed a few German beers at Transport with some of the other very cool runners.

A five day work convention up at the Gold Coast was umm...tough. Ok, not really tough, hard...ok, it was fun! I drank way too much, did naf-all running and ate like I was training the house down! Ah well life is short - no point being responsible all the time is there? A little bit of ink on my rear surprised Mrs W and the wobblettes when I got home too!

Around the Bay in a Day - was on the weekend I got home and was great fun. My (now) annual 210k cycle was so much better than last year - I enjoyed pretty much the whole trip (except Reynolds Hill). I was 15 mins quicker than last year and the tough hill work I had done in September really paid off. So did eating about three times as much as last year. I learn Mr Falty, I learn... :)

Enough rambling - here is a peak at one of the CR cap prototypes I had made up (standard old one is on the right) recently. It has reflective piping down the seams. Fully breathable material in centre panel. It also has a reflective rear velcro tab. It's in user testing at the moment. I love it, and it's all mine I tell you! Mine! Mine!! Mine!!!

Sept - 7.5/10 effort

2007-10-02T16:50:00.000+10:00

I ran a little bit - even slipped in two 2hr+ runs but then followed those with excuses the following weekends like "it's too windy, I'll run later" or "It looks like it might rain - I'll do a catch up run tomorrow after work" Hehe - god I'm pathetic! Mostly I am protecting a calf problem (does that sound plausible)

With a half marathon to run on Sunday I am feeling underdone but am not looking at any time target apart from running the first 10k in 60 mins. After that it may be a looong walk home!

Oh and then there is this small bike ride - the 210km around the bay in a day! I have managed about half the planned rides but they all went well so I should be fine right? Right???

Stay tuned for next month's damage report - this 'aint going to be pretty!

Augustus excusus

2007-08-24T15:55:00.000+10:00

I had plenty of them! The Winter blues? The "lack of a goal", Poor motivation, Work, Injuries. In fact, you name them, and I've used them all recently! I'm a shocker!

Some people work better with deadlines. I confess I am one of those folk. I have two new goals - Melbourne Half Marathon (7 October) and Around the Bay in a Day - 210km cycle (21 October). Eeek! October is going to be exhausting!!

The whole miserable tale of the kms run (or rather NOT run) is over there -------> (me bad).

Let's not even start to talk about weight gains!

A jubilant June

2007-06-30T09:17:00.000+10:00

Well almost jubilant anyway. 150kms run and 3 good hard cycles completed.

It's now 6 months post injuries and I feel like my body is slowly getting closer to where it was pre-injury.

By necessity I'm staying away from back-to-back running days (mostly) and not running long distances. My endurance is down but I can rebuild that (I hope) once I have a good base built up without trying (poorly) to "manage" injuries.

The last three weeks I have been cycling 45kms a few times and then throwing on my runners and slipping out for a 10k+ run. While the actual running seems ok (although I really should down a gel or something before the run) the after effect is that my legs feel soooo depleted the rest of the day - I'm hoping this effect reduces with time.

BTW, I have no intentions of doing a triathlon - I am doing this to keep my running going and lessen my chance of injury. Besides, cycling I have decided, is the ultimate sport for someone like me - endless accessories to buy/drool over. I bought myself one of these babies
this week off ebay. Almost half the price of those in the shops and delivered to my door (brand new). I luurve ebay! Ain't nobody not going to see me when I am out in the morning or evening! Bought purely for safety reasons... :) All I need now is a new bike helmet and..... a few spokey dokes...and....

The merry month of May :)

2007-05-29T21:59:00.000+10:00

Does anyone read this anymore? I wonder...(perhaps more importantly, I wondey why) Maybe just a few spammers and a few blogging buddies from when I used to complete this blog and have forgotten to remove me from their Bloglines.

I'm glad you are still there anyway (except you scumbag spammers).

The same shin woes and guess what? I have a new injury too - that one is a permanent thing though, so no point discussing that. Despite those little things, I have managed to build up a good (albeit smallish) base and am beginning to think about doing something silly (and long) again.

I planned to run 140kms this month and ran 139kms - very happy with that. I also slipped onto the bike for a serious cycle last weekend. Around the Bay in October is the plan. I wonder if my backside can stand it again...

See y'all a little while (maybe)..

The last post

2007-03-12T20:11:00.001+11:00

This is the last post for this blog.

Thankyou to everyone who has offered their very kind support, friendship and humour over the past couple of years. It's been a really fun ride and is time now for this wobbly character to wobble off and have a long, long break from blogging.

So long and thanks for all the fish :)

Edit to add I am not giving up running or anything silly like that. I'll still be very much around the Cool Running Aust community and will continue to log my monthly kms. If anything remarkable happens and I get the urge I will post about it.

Comfort zone break out

2007-03-06T14:42:00.000+11:00

A three day break at the start of the month has helped my shins a lot and Sunday morning saw me out with Holly (the ever happy lab) for a long run. On my own, I decided a 6:00/km pace was the fastest I wanted to go and after about 4kms Holly and I settled into a 6:07/km pace very comfortably. I had my fuelbelt loaded with an electrolyte replacement drink, the weather was cool and just a bit windy - no need for any walk breaks and the return trip of 17.7kms was very, very enjoyable. Holly and I just love running our coastal trail.

To push myself out of my comfort zone I put in some hill intervals today. Nothing too serious, but as I could only afford a short break at lunch today, I figured some speed work would do me good and have me back in the office inside 50 mins. Puuurrrfect. I ran 6 x 400m - not timed, but at a very uncomfortable pace up a grassy hill that left me unable to talk while I walked back down the hill to start again. It's funny how I hate doing intervals but love having done them afterwards. I'm going to try and put in a session like this each week for a while. Importantly, the shin aggravation feels much less doing these than my usual plodding style.

Good luck to everyone doing the 6 foot track on the weekend. I hope it's rewarding for all of you and it completes the training/personal journeys that so many of you have been on for the last few months! I wish I could be there to cheers my friends on but the household finances are a bit stuffed at the moment - maybe next year.

Most people I know

2007-02-28T14:25:00.000+11:00

In memory of Billy Thorpe, one of Australia's best hard rock singers who tragically died of a heat attack over night aged 60. A true Aussie rock music legend. I'll be playing some of his music nice and loud tonight!

With the end of month today, I slipped in a 8k run to just reach my target for the month of 100kms. I'm finding that every second day is still a bit much so I am going to try for 3 days a week only and try to get in a cycle session.

While my shins are a little sore they are calming down a little and will get a rest day tomorrow.

Man it's humid here in Melbourne this summer - 60% humidity when I ran today and even though it was only 25 degrees - it was a struggle.

Oh, that's right, Summer is officially over tomorrow. Autumn (insert audible sigh) my favourite time of year - crisp mornings and warm days. :)

Back on track again

2007-02-25T18:35:00.000+11:00

My shins really, really enjoyed my slackness last week. This week however, it was back into it and I ran Monday, Wednesday, Friday and a longer one today (Sunday). My shins are again unhappy so it's more self inflicted shin massage torture to try and relieve some of the fluid build up.

I revised my monthly target back to 100kms this month and with two more runs I will just make that. Amazing really considering I missed two long runs this month.

Wobblette #2 did really well at the 2nd half of the club championships at the Little Athletics club yesterday winning her hurdles and 100m heats. She would have been in the top 4 or 5 for shot put and long jump too. Last year she won her age group so we are very excited that she may have done the same this year. The winners are announced at the end of season BBQ in a month.

Life seems to be racing along these days and I feel the need to have a day off soon just to catch up on some sleep and have a nice restful day. Hmm, maybe Friday so I can have a long weekend....

Going all soft..

2007-02-20T15:24:00.000+11:00

Sorry, move along please....nothing of interest here folks! Please go about your usual activities!

Unlike the rest of you, who no doubt have been doing lots of exercise, I have been a big lazy git!

Why go all soft after a three great weeks of good training? Well, apart from my shin issues, I had a 2 day conference, study, a heat wave followed by oppressive humidity, a migraine and thrown in there was a liberal dose of apathy and an overhang? Some of the above are of course inter-related.

Without a goal I have been enjoying the concept of running for fun and frankly as my shins were steadily getting worse and the weather got hotter and hotter, I thought a mini-break would do me good. I have now skipped two long runs in a row.

I ran 6k yesterday in sunny 23 degrees and about 80% humidity. Phew!!! What a struggle it was. I don't think I have the right make up for exercising in humid conditions....

If you haven't received a comment from me lately on your blog it might be because I am a techno doofus and have tried but can't. It's only happening with blogger blogs and I have also lost some blogs altogether. (Sharon you are amongst them). This all started when I was forced to update to the new blogger version. Grrrr!

Grrrrr!

2007-02-16T14:26:00.001+11:00

What is wrong with people these days?

On days when I'm not running, working, or attending another corporate golf day I often take a 40 minute walk along the Yarra River and through some busy parts of the CBD doing a little "people watching". Two things happen with monotonous regularity on these days:

1. On attempting to exist the lift on the ground floor invariably one or more people will be trying to get past me before I am even past the lift doors. What is wrong with these people? I know we are all in a hurry these days but just because you don't know me does not justify the demonstration of your amazingly bad manners. What's more, it will almost certainly result in me walking directly towards you so you feel uncomfortable. So just quit it you rude "lift people" - it's annoying me.

2. And this is the big one! All because you are important enough to have a mobile phone and I guess doubly important to actually be speaking to someone on it when walking along a foot path, it does not give you some "god given" right to put your head down and ignore all oncoming pedestrians. Your phone does not temporarily incapacitate your feet or legs and nor does it result in temporary blindness (temporary stupidity - maybe). Look up and observe the normal courtesies when walking along a footpath you rude "foot path phone people"!!!

Are we clear on this? Good :) You can now go about your normal activities. ~Message ends~

Caught slacking again...

2007-02-13T12:25:00.000+11:00

I was forced to covert to the new Blogger version last week. Anyone who has really a happy experience with a different blogging tool please let me know.

Last week I got in my Tuesday and Thursday runs okay. In fact the highlight of the week was running with Ellie 80 early on Tuesday morning. Despite my best efforts to get Ellie to stop for a drink we kept on running - about 10k in all along the yarra and around the Tan. Sunday morning rocked along however and it was a different story. As I dropped a foot out of bed I heard the distant rumble of thunder. A quick look out the window revealed it was raining heavily and was blowing a gale. I went straight back to bed firmly of the view that I would run later in the day. Yeah right! As if that was ever going to happen....Who was I trying to kid? In my usual childish manner I am now trying to justify my slackness by calling last week a step back week.

Despite my slow, gradual build up in mileage, my shins are playing up again. It is soooo frustrating to know I took my medicine (12 weeks off any running) last year because of this and the problem has returned in the space of only 3 months. You would think that with only running three days a week, low kms, at an easy pace, on mostly soft surfaces and with new shoes my shins would stay happy, right? Wrong :(

Enough whining. Obviously running sans orthotics hasn't worked so they are going back in. I am also reduce my runs back to nothing over 10k for a month to see if that helps. I will also try and smuggle some more new runners into the house while Mrs Wobbly is looking the other way. I wonder what I can sell on ebay to fund the purchase? Maybe my Timex Speed and Distance.

Watchin you..

2007-02-04T21:28:00.000+11:00

Another great week with three solid runs (7.5km, 10km and 17.3km) into the bank.

I switched this week's longish run to Saturday due to hot weather being forecast and there was no little athletics to do this week with Wobblette #2. I have targeted 120kms for Feb while only running 3 days a week still. I will try to introduce some fartylek this month (a particularly unattractive wobbly version).

With the warm weather due I ran early and had my fuel belt ready and prepacked with Gu (which I didn't use) MP3 player and a good supply of Powerade. I have been lacking in confidence in my stamina lately and had a mini target of 2 x 10k runs without taking a walk break. Thursday I managed 10kms for the first time without walking and was ecstatic about that.

Saturday I ran the whole 17kms without walking!! What the??? I felt like I was just floating most of the time. My fuel belt kept me well hydrated and the MP3 was great for distracting me when the going got a little tough up a slow long hill. I went out hoping to maintain an average pace of 6min/kms the whole trip. I ended up with 5:51 average - woot!! I didn't really pay any attention to my Garmin until the last km when I realised how well I was going.

Trouble is my shins are quite tender now, so they will get a well earned 2 day rest. Apart from that, the running gods are being very good to me and I intend to keep my enthusiasm well under control.

Thanks for the encouragement to stick with my slow recovery plan punters. The slow return seems to be starting to pay dividends.

Guns N' Roses

2007-01-29T16:33:00.000+11:00

Wow! What a roller coaster this last week has been. Despite succumbing to a three day virus, I still managed to get in three good solid runs including a 17.5k run yesterday. Woohoo!!

I know that by saying it I am probably courting disaster, but I think I am slowly regaining some of my long lost fitness. My shins feel a little tender today but are remaining under control so far and with a little luck tomorrow I will finish off the month smack in the middle of my target for the month of between 100 and 120kms :) Mission accomplished for January. February I need to plan out yet...

I ran with my Garmin a couple of times to see how bad my pacing is (still terrible) and to measure a couple of my standard run routes that I have varied recently due to my reduced fitness. Garmin can go away again for most runs except the longer ones - it takes away from my enjoyment and I am valueing that greatly.

It's been great this month to run without a serious plan other than to run three times a week (no more). I suppose without a BIG goal (and the associated training plan) it's easy to slow down and smell the roses. Despite the occasional frustration with my own fitness levels, the roses are smelling great!

I blame the weather!

2007-01-22T13:38:00.000+11:00

The weather here has been all over the place this last week! Days of a blistering 41 degrees with just a few % humidity to night's where the minimum didn't get under 27 degrees and with humidity in the 80-90%.

Thank goodness the firefighters have had some relief the last few days. I see 100 or so American firefighters arrived yesterday to help on the firefronts. Thanks guys, thanks to all of you unsung volunteers (like you Spark Driver)- your blood is worth bottling!

In the last week I have managed only 2 runs but I don't feel guilty. My main aim, while to get consistent with running three times a week, is to stay injury free so I achieved that! My shins had a welcome 5 day break too.

Yesterday was a 14km run and I took my Garmin along for company. I banged out 6:00/kms most of the way and despite needing a couple of short walk breaks averaged exactly 6min/km for the trip. Of great satisfaction was finishing with a 5:15km for the last km. Mr Garmin go away again for a week or so - I just wanted to see how I was going really.

Water - how was it I could guzzle down 2 litres a day with a problem?

I now take a 800ml bottle in the car with me and force myself to drink it all on the 40 minute drive home each work day. I guess I am averaging about 1.5 litres a day now - better than the last few weeks which is good.

After Glow

2007-01-14T23:06:00.000+11:00

Not a whole lot to report really. I managed to get in about 29kms this week and ran three times. My shins feel pretty tender but hopefully will be happy witha day or two's rest. More warm weather is forecast this week so I will need to be flexible with when I can get my runs in (3 planned).

Pretty pleased with my week's effort would dearly love to be able to string a few of these together - I suspect my shins have other plans though.

I managed to pick up a paint brush in anger both days and once again am pleased with the results - thanks goodness the paint tin was empty by 4pm - early drinks and nibbles on a lovely Sunday afternoon after getting in a decent run in the morning.

One thing I have seriously gotten out of the habit of doing is drinking water regularly. I really need to remind myself all day to drink - its just not a habit like it used to be.

I didn't take my camera with me today but here is a photo of a part of the coastal trail I often run. While I didn't actually run this bit today you can get an idea of how pretty it is to run on the
coastal trail near my place.

Next weekend I am hoping to get up to Churchill Park or Ferny Creek for a trail run -that should be fun.

Currently enjoying listening to: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere over the Rainbow

I'm still here....

2007-01-08T14:46:00.000+11:00

Now, I expect that some of you were sitting back thinking there wouldn't be another post from the old Wobbly fella for another few weeks while his post holiday interest level for his training and blog dropped lower than a prostitute's panties. Well those of you that did, were wrong!

Here I am, bright, shiney, far from new, and as excited about my return to training as a randy teenage boy on his first date. I confess though, to being a little unsure about what level of training my body can manage (perhaps again like that randy teen). Unsure, is no far as I have torn my calf and my injured my back through over-training before both reulting in extended periods of being unable to run, and I'm concerned either may break easier next time. Having said that, both times things have broken were at peak training-load times and I intend to be much more careful regarding training loads going forward. I think I am perhaps adopting the opposite approach to a certain fair maiden from the Black Knight's army. While it's very frustrating being unable to run like I used to, what I am doing is very, very enjoyable. I really look forward to my runs and certainly am enjoying the flexibility that low mileage brings with it. It is particularly enjoyable running without Mr Garmin's regular reminder on how slow I have run the last km in.

The trouble is that low mileage means a low amount of calories being burned up and my fondness of food and alcohol over the festive season has resulted in me carrying a few extra kilos that I didn't have at this time last year - Oink, Oink! As I increase my miles the kilos will just fall of me, won't they? Won't they! (please nod with me here readers)

I just ran twice last week, a mid week 10k and a weekend 12k. It's been a bit hot here during the last week so I skipped another run I did have planned.

Any long runs for this month will continue to be limited to 1hr 30 mins and I plan to run about 100 -120kms this month.

Happy New Year everyone!

2007-01-03T11:43:00.000+11:00

Wow, can you believe it is 2007 already?

It seems like so much has happened during my 2 week holiday that it has all become a bit blurry. Maybe that also has something to do with the amount of alcohol and food I have consumed lately. My two week holiday was fantastic although it seemed to flash by (and onto my waist I might add). I guess that is what happens when you have a great time. :)

With the help of my holidays, I managed to re-establish some consistency to my running. Having the flexibility of running pretty much whenever you like doesn't really allow much space for excuses does it? I'm still running without my orthotics and running only every second day (at most). I also have no intention of running with a watch for January unless running a new course and need to measure it.

While I was away I ran with my Garmin to measure my distances and I am soooo glad I did. I have never used the "bread crumb"/map function before but managed to get myself utterly lost while returning from a 10k run in a country town we had over-nighted in. A quick button press onto "map" and I found I was heading at 90 degrees to the direction I thought I was going in. I am sure I would still be wandering around looking for my way back to the motel without it - it is brilliant!

With the new year upon me I suppose some stated long-term goals are appropriate.

1. Stay injury free and run within my body's limitations
2. Get capable of doing marathon training again.
3. If one and 2 are achieved , Gold Coast Marathon in early July is a maybe, and if the moons align perfectly and finances permit then an overseas marathon in the last quarter of the year is possible.

For January however, I will just be continuing to ease my mileage up while protecting and managing my pesky shins.

All the best for Christmas folks!

2006-12-17T23:19:00.000+11:00

I mentioned Wobblette #2 winning her pentathlon last month but forgot the photo - here she is enjoying her moment on the podium.

This morning's run was nothing but fantastic. It was about 11-12kms long and it was cool, sunny and my legs felt great. Holly (the ever happy lab) was by my side and depite a mild over-hang my head quickly cleared and it was just one of those runs where I wished it could have lasted forever. The effort seemed minimal and I think I smiled the whole trip.

We are off for a couple of weeks of (Griswald style) holiday now, heading up to the Gold Coast after a brief stop over in Sydney. I'll back posting again early in the new year so to anyone reading this, my very best wishes to you and your families for a joyous Christmas and a safe, injury free and happy New Year.

I'm aiming at slipping in 60 more kms between now and the new year to finish the month with 100kms and the 2006 with a 1,000kms for the year.

Give a little bit...

2006-12-12T08:32:00.000+11:00

Alright punters, enough prompting! Yes, I promise (again) to blog more frequently and I also promise to comment on your blogs again. My return to running has lamentably been less that spectacular and much more painful (yes shins again) than I had hoped. This has significantly contributed to my lack of enthusiasm for this blog.

From the table over there ------> you will see I have been very slowly easing my way back into running and am currently managing about 2 or maybe 3 runs a week. It's not enough, but that is all I am capable of at the moment. Most runs needs a few walk breaks, my longer runs particularly. MY long runs are no longer than 1hr 30 mins at the moment. One good thing I have discovered is the joy of running without a watch (can't thank you enough for that tip Di!). It has taken me a little while to get used to it, but I no longer think about time or my splits when running. I know the distance of most of my runs so I just head out over a course and don't check a clock before starting - sweet!

I pulled a new pair of shoes out of the cupboard today and will toss out the orthotics and return to "au natural" running for a month to see how that goes. Here's hoping.

Oh, I nearly forgot, Coach Tim says Canberra Marathon in 2007 is off for me without risking injury. I am an outside chance for the Gold Coast Marathon however if I can rebuild my mileage and consistency over the next few months.

Catch you in a week punters! After that, I am off on holidays for a couple of weeks to the Gold Coast .

Ain't Nobody But Me

2006-11-06T10:19:00.000+11:00

It seems my slack ways returned very quickly readers. I have however, turned over a new blogging leaf today. I miss all your funny and supportive comments on my blog and the kinda cathartic experience that blogging is to me. I suppose it makes me stop to review my training and also what is happening in my life in general. Apart from that, I suppose there may be a teensy bit of attention seeking going on too...

After pulling up really well from a 14k (8.7mile) slow, easy run with Holly and Greybeard yesterday, I feel like I am ready to train properly again. My temporarily scabby legs from the shave down have now cleared up and I am niggle free once again.

My main goal at present is to build a sound (aka injury/niggle free) training base before the end of the year for my Canberra marathon push in April '07. My plan is like this:

October - nothing over 8kms (max 3 times a week) and all runs at easy pace on a mix of surfaces. Targeted total 40 kms/25mile (a lower back problem stopped me from running for 2 weeks - total kms = 25kms/15.5mile) All runs without a watch.

November - start to do some faster runs toward the end of the month and building my longer runs (every second week) up to 16kms/10mile by the end of the month. Targeted total 100kms/62 mile All runs without a watch.

December - all going well, build my long runs (still every second week) up to 25kms/15.5mile and a total of about 150kms/93mile (175kms/109mile if I feel it is going really well). All runs without a watch.

My ever so boring exterior house painting continues at home and the highlight of our weekend was wobblette #2 winning her little athletics pentathlon on the weekend. She was so proud standing on the podium!

Enough from me, I am now off to spend some time catching up with all of you via your blogs. Mind you, with 382 blogline posts showing as unread, that "mark all read" button is looking waaay tempting...

Take the long way home...

2006-10-16T11:50:00.000+10:00

It's Monday morning now and following a solid 10hr sleep I am feeling human again.

Life just seemed to intervene over the last two weeks and my riding was minimal (just 1 ride) so I must admit I was approaching the Around the Bay in a Day ride with a mix of both excitement and some trepidation (although I suspect most of the 13,000+ riders were).

My excitement however was ultimately tempered by my decision to shave down. Leaving making this decision until Saturday afternoon was definitely not a good strategy and starting shaving at 6pm in between dinner preparation (when I was in a hurry) didn't exactly help much either. I had thought the hair trimmer on my electric razor would do 80% of the work but all it did was rip the hair out rather than cut it! Plan B was to use my usual shaving razor but I only had one used one and a new one. After one leg and about a 1/2 pint of blood loss, I returned to the kitchen, served a scummy pasta meal and quickly disappeared into the bathroom for another attack. Curiosity about my absence eventually got to the Wobblettes when they found me they were a little shocked to see me with one leg up on the hand basin - hair everywhere and blood oozing down my wet legs. I confess to liking the way my new legs feel now but it is kind of weird that when I touch them I keep thinking of Chrissy Amphlett singing that Diviynal's song "Touch myself". :)

Anyway, back to the ride... After starting at 5:30am in the city, I finished the first 50kms (31mile) at about 30kmph (18.6mph) pace with mostly cross winds. Riding over Oliver's Hill, Mt Martha and Mt Eliza were tough and draining as always so after reaching the Dromana foreshore (apr. 70kms) I stopped at a cafe for a toasted bacon and egg flat bread thing and a cafe latte. Just the tonic!! It was a stiff headwind to Sorrento 100kms (just missing the next ferry cut off) and then a 1hr wait for the following ferry while I ate lunch. I was feeling good at this point, just a little leg weary but the wait helped.
Queenscliff to Geelong seemed full of long undulations that really sapped my strength and I struggled for a while (unable to hang onto any packs) along this leg of the course. I took a break at the rest stop in Geelong and after getting going again found myself with a pack of 30 odd riders. The going up the front was just a bit tough so I slipped to the back of the pack hoping for a bigger draft but it was very disorganised at the back and the pace kept slowing and speeding up so I fell off the back feeling a little dejected. I plodded along for a while on my own at a slower pace and began to find my rhythm again. I remember seeing the 6hr mark come up on bike computer. I had done 165km (102 mile) and was averaging 27kmph (16.7mph) so decided to focus my mind on maintaining that pace to the end. That was a good strategy as it turned out and I finished in 8hrs and 8 mins riding time with an average of 27.1kmph

I can report that 210kms (130miles) on a bike is a looooooong way, my butt is sore but my legs feel pretty good. No punctures and I didn't fall off at all. I think I now consider myself a reasonable, albeit unbalance (in many ways) cyclist!

Oh, and a final note of thanks for everyone on my shaving dilemma.

Today's dilemma

2006-10-12T12:37:00.000+10:00

The dilemma I have today, in preparation for my 210km bike ride is whether I should shave down or not!

Pros:

1. I will look like I am a serious cyclist (least until I fall off by forgetting to unclip)
2. Less wind resistance (I have fairly hairy legs for some reason)
3. Apparently in an accident it is easier to clean a wound (ref 1 above)
4. Mrs W may enjoy it...
5. I may enjoy it and keep them shaved

Cons:

1. If I wear shorts over the next few weeks people may wonder....
2. As the hair grows back my legs might itch a lot
3. It's just not something a real aussie man should do.
4. I may cut myself and bleed to death
5. Mrs W may not enjoy it ....
6. Wind resistance saving is probably not that much

Hmm - will be guided by your comments folks. Oh btw - how far up should one shave? Just to the bottom of the knicks or (blokes) bikini line or....?

Running: 2 x 4k runs this week with Holly the ever happy lab. Nothing much to report except I keep finding myself smiling a lot while running. One small sore spot on shin found yesterday but is gone today - will keep a close on it! Next run Saturday - 6k

Its all good so far...

2006-10-09T09:28:00.000+10:00

With a total of three 4km runs in the last week I am starting to relax that things are all good again.

Yesterday Wobblette #2 and I took off with our pom poms and cow bells to cheer on the 2hr+ half marathoners and the full marathoners that were finishing in up to 5hrs during the Melbourne Marathon. With three hours of cheering my throat, legs and arms were sore and in need of a break - at one point we resorted to laying on the ground and cheering from a horizontal position with pom poms waving in the air. I would have loved to have stayed longer but Wobblette #2 was getting cold and had by then finished saving all the beetles she could find on the nature strip.

After packing W#2 in to the car with Mrs W I went to congratulate the runners and sooth my throat with a couple of ales at Transport pub. It's great to sit with those that were enjoying their post run highs and also great to meet and chat to a few of the interstate runners. Fascinating also to get an insight from one of the massage girls on how their day had been.

I have only 3 small, easy runs planned this week before my 210km cycle this weekend. Following that, I will scale down the riding a bit and slowly build my distances up to about 10kms over the rest of October. If I can run 40kms this month without any issues I will be a very happy puppy

Ha Ha Ha ! The sponsored cyclist....

2006-10-06T23:06:00.000+10:00

complete with business socks!

Hey if you can't laugh at yourself....

Run report :)

2006-10-03T11:05:00.000+10:00

It's difficult to put into words my current sense of excitement! During the past three months while I have been unable to run, I (and my family also) have gone through some changes. I left the company I was working with for the past 2 years (for a much better job) and we have had some issues at home that have now happily been resolved with terrific outcomes for all concerned. Being an emotional person by nature, and with these big changes going on I have to some degree, felt pretty exhausted and not really feeling like I wanted to write much here. I've taken the opportunity to also think about where running "fits" into my life (both now and in the medium long term).

I have on my desk here at work, a description of a butterfly's life cycle - as seen through the eyes of Wobblette #2 (6.5yo) - see below.

Baterfly

Suffice to say I too feel like a new Baterfly today - at the start of another life cycle :)

*SLAP!* - enough naval gazing Wobbly Man!!

My 4km run was fantastic!! Apart from the delay in getting out the door which was caused by forgetting where everything was, I found that within a few mins I had settled into a comfy rhythm and was in a great mental space. Holly (the ever happy lab) had also quickly settled into her rhythm, her tail happily wagging away while she trotted along beside me. I didn't run with, need, or miss my watch (thanks for the very "timely" reminder D).

At about half way, I had a forced myself to have a good think about how my body was feeling. First thing I noticed was how good my legs were feeling (completely pain free), how heavy I felt, how much my waist was jiggling, and finally, that I think I could feel my man boobs bouncing! Thinking of Kramer in that Seinfeld episode with the "Manzierre", or was it a "Bro"?, I caught myself smiling a few times as Holly and I continued our run through, and around, a local golf course. Running is fun!

Holly and I managed the 4km (2.5miles) loop without stopping and I felt great the whole way around - my legs don't feel stiff and Holly's tail was still wagging when we got home.

It's nice to feel like a runner again. *grins*

Edit to thank the various PG, CR and RBF members (you know who you are) who have been there to offer their support over the last few months - you guys/gals are awesome!

One week on and ...

2006-10-02T14:22:00.000+10:00

...this slacker has done virtually nothing when it comes to exercise!

With needing to travel with work last week I couldn't get out on my bike and as it has been a while since I travelled with work, I forgot to take any gym or swimming gear - despite staying in nice hotels with gyms and pools. Doh!!

While away I met with lots of Cool Runners and was kept wonderfully entertained. Thank you Jen, Owl, Kevin, Ellie, Mark, Cirque and Owen for your company in Sydney and Brisbane . What a wonderful running/blogging community I am lucky to be a part of!

Since July 4th, which coincidentally is my brother's birthday (which I forgot again), I have been (not so) patiently unable to run due to my shin "issues" and counting down the days to my next run. Well its nearly 90 days now and my legs feel fresh and as good as new. I think I will go out for a small run tonight after work - just 20 mins worth to see how good or bad my fitness level is. I have chocked on a few extra kilos in the past months too so it's going to be ugly I suspect and best done under the cover of darkness - don't need the general public unnecessarily alarmed.

Thanks everyone for your very kind comments and support following my last post. You folk keep me motivated and inspired and for that I can't thank you enough!

So, its been a while...

2006-09-21T13:03:00.000+10:00

...longer than a month in fact. Naughty Wobbly!! *slaps wrist*

Its my blog though and I have concluded I dont need to apologise for my absence except to those people who have e-mailed me wondering if I was okay.

Since posting last I have been doing such exciting things as riding my bike and painting the exterior of the house. Posting about painting a house I have concluded is about as interesting as watching the paint dry so enough of that!

Riding my bike while fun and providing some challenges (particularly for my rear end) on the long rides is well again just not that interesting. It's about 20 something days until I can run again. My legs and back feel great and my desire to run is stronger than ever. I will need to be patient while easing myself back into it. I have worked out I need to run 150 kms (92 miles) in December to be able to contemplate the Canberra Marathon again in April '07 then maybe (just maybe) an overseas marathon in Oct) Is that an unreasonable ask given my 4 month long lay-off? Holly (our ever happy lab) desperately needs to run again too. She actually was a very lean and muscle bound lab but now she is more the traditional shaped (barrel shaped) lab . She hates it when I go out on my bike and leave her at home. :(

Anyway, enough navel gazing for one day! At least I have posted something right? Oh, and thanks for stopping by my blog - it's great to see you!

Saturday musings

2006-08-12T16:16:00.000+10:00

It's a drop dead gorgeous Saturday afternoon here. I'm not very capable of doing much however as I went for my ride this morning armed with a Grade 2 overhang. I decided I needed punishing for my alcohol fuelled fun yesterday afternoon by riding hard. I was down for a 80k/50mile ride and did exactly that (at an average of 28.3kmph/17.6mph) mostly by myself and mostly because it is harder that way.

The difficulty I now have is that walking is bloody painful and the last time I came down the stairs I felt like crying! Yep, I can hobble through a marathon but the stairs at home make me cry! I wonder what it is going to be like tomorrow?

Mrs W doesn't do massages so I am left feeling sorry for myself. Virtual massages can be sent to the e-mail addy in the profile bar and will be gratefully received! I think I will do a little bit of painting with what is left of the afternoon - ease my way into it as it were.

I wish I was in Sydney for the City to Surf right now. I just re-read my blog entry from last year. What a great weekend that was! I will be thinking of everyone anyway and hope everyone running and cheering have a great time!

The Weekend whiz

2006-08-06T18:57:00.000+10:00

Yes folks, this weekend seemed to spin again by like a whirling dervish. Which by the linked photo somehow doesn't seem like an adequate expression anymore...

Last week I created a road-riding training program which has me riding 4 days a week and increasing long rides most weeks so that I have 4 x 100+km (62mile) rides and including 2 x 130km (80mile) rides before the 210km (130mile) Around the Bay in a Day ride in mid-October. Any guesses on what the final % of completed training will be punters? After 15 October I'll start my running again.

Early in my ride on Saturday morning I was passed by the "Hell Ride" which is a large cycling pack that rolls along Beach Rd at about the same time that I ride. I normally leave big fast packs well alone- particularly the Hell Ride, but this time I thought I would join in for a while to see what the fuss is about. White knuckled, fast paced, adrenaline pumping, wheel-to-wheel riding at about 44+kmph (27mph) is how I would describe it. Wow, what a ride! After 15kms I was spat out the back when I was unable to accelerate quickly enough after a sharp turn. It was exhilarating and left me exhausted and panting. Hell Ride story

My destination on Saturday was the beautiful Morning Star Estate winery which is about 5k past Mt Eliza. It is home of some "to die for" cool climate white wines.
The lure of a cellar door assisted rehydration session was diluted by the fact that it was only 8am by the time I got there. It was an uneventful ride home followed by a very quick shower and change to meet up with fellow cool runner and blogger from Sydney Lulu. Wobblette #2 also came along to provide some entertainment. We went to one of my favourite Japanese cafes in Port Melbourne which didn't disappoint. After a quick coffee in Brunswick Street via a quick trip to the Vic Markets we said our goodbyes to Lulu.

Saturday night Mrs W was away and I had invited my my rat-bag sister to come over for dinner. Fettucinni Carbonara was quickly followed by some yummy chocolate profiteroles with peppermint and chocolate ice cream. With a full tummy I confess I was satrting to fall asleep at the table towards the end - it was a huge day!

Sunday was a good ride down to Station Pier and back with a yummy coffee and custard doughnut at Cafe Racer thrown in on the way back. A little nana-nap this afternoon was perfect. I must set aside some serious time next weekend to do some painting! I keep meaning to start it but never do...

Weekend stuff

2006-07-30T20:36:00.000+10:00

Saturday morning I was up early and despite rain showing on the weather radar I decided to ride anyway. I went down to Mt Eliza village and back again which is a 55km round trip with two monster hills at the half way point. I imagined I was in the TdF (but drug free) and pushed hard up the hills - despite how steep they were. It felt great to have pushed myself much harder than I usually do.

After getting home Wobblette #2 and I quickly went to collect some picnic stuff which I converted into picnic sandwiches and we all piled into the car for the quick trip to the Dandenongs and a rainforest walk
followed by yummy hot chocolates. A very successful family outing.

This morning I enjoyed a delicious sleep-in and then set off at about 9am for a ride down to Station Pier (45k round trip) into a stiff headwind. Fortunately for me a pack of 8 os so cyclists went by early in my ride so I tagged onto their group for most of the trip to Station Pier. A quick late and a custard doughnut at Cafe Racer which was packed and buzzing and I cruised home assisted by the tail wind. The rest of the day has been spent making breakfast for the family, fixing (dog) chewed outdoor lighting cables, washing naughty dog, a quick trip to the hardware store to fill the gas bottle and assembling a secret code door opener for W2. I managed a blissful half hour snoozing on the bed too!

Edit: Susie, can you e-mail me your blog addy please?

Wednesday Envy

2006-07-26T21:48:00.000+10:00

I have spent today feeling envy. I'm not sure why, but this morning I woke really feeling like I wanted to go for a run. I took one quick peak at the box of brand new Adrenalines that have been waiting in the wardrobe for a month now and reminded myself that it is only 28 days since my last run and I have another 79 days before I can start to train again - fucking great!! How am I ever going to cope? I envy my friends and fellow bloggers that are running - even when they write about having a bad run I envy them. Maybe I should put one of those countdown things at the top of my blog to remind me that one day I will be able to run again...

Just to remind me of my inability to run I back out of the drive this morning and nearly bowl over a local runner who was out enjoying the morning mist and not anticipating a car to come screaming out of a quiet driveway at my usual break-neck speed.

I get to work and chat to one of the ladies at the coffee machine who turns out to be training for the Melbourne Marathon this year - I express some interest and she proceeds to download for 20mins on how great her training is going..... fucking great! The most involved I will be this year will be handing out green or blue icy poles around the 35km mark.

In the meantime I will keep putting in the hard rides on my bike so I can finish the 210km Round the bay in a day ride on 15 October. After that I will start back running again.

The Tooth Fairy did indeed visit the other night and left a $2 coin which was proudly taken to "show and tell" along with the sparkly fairy dust that found. Maybe TF couldn't find anything smaller - I dunno, I'm just guessing!

News Flash!

2006-07-24T21:02:00.000+10:00

Not to be outdone by Wobblette#1's birthday celebrations, Wobblette #2 today surprised herself by pulling out (on her own) her first tooth! The adjusted smile is shown here (it was the bottom, front one departed. The top one is soon to follow). Wobblette #2's unbridled joy and happiness at this accomplishment reminds me that parenting (most of the time) is oh so good!

Edit to ask "Susie" if you could leave your blog addy please - it's not showing on your profile.

I'm spent...

2006-07-23T14:54:00.000+10:00

The weekend - phew, I'm totally exhausted!! 6am Saturday (4 degrees C/39 degrees F)-I was out for a 55k ride down beach Rd to Frankston and back. It was so cold that I head to get off in Frankston and rub my toes for 10mins until a bit of feeling came back. When I got home I spent another 15 mins rubbing feeling back into my blue toes, had a quick shower and off to a 9:00am appointment with the tax agent to reconcile my tax matters for the past financial year - (yeah me, the expected tax refund nearly wipes out the unexpected tax bill I received in March from a financial return a couple of years ago). A 10:30am tour of Wobblette #1's new school followed. It looks like a fantastic school and I hope we can get #2 there also in a couple of years. At 12:30 and we went to Nana and Pop's for a quick lunch and farewell as they are heading North for a few weeks into warmer climes.

After racing home it was a quick house clean and ballon inflating to prepare the house for the sleep-over birthday party for Wobblette #1 (now 11). Four additional kids in the house I have have concluded, results in chaos and I gave up pretty quickly (about 7:30pm) trying to maintain any semblance of control, and instead headed upstairs with Wobblette#2 leaving the party to the ever patient Mrs W.

My morning the revellers were in need of something substantial to eat so a pancake breakfast was prepared by the very tired
master chef. Shortly after breakfast it was time for birthday cake and then stuffed and exhausted, (and on big sugar highs) the revellers departed. Wobblette #2 was then treated to a secret lunch with dad at Cafe Racer where inside the world's best brownies and custard filled doughnuts were shared and washed down with a hot chocolate and a latte.

It's now late afternoon and I'm desperately looking for somewhere quiet in the house for a little "nana nap"! Or maybe I just need a stiff drink? Edit to add I opted for the drink!!!

Happy Days!

2006-07-16T22:02:00.000+10:00

The rain continued to fall and fall, but thankfully it did clear a little on Sunday morning - enough for me so slip out on some damp roads for a ride anyway.

I rode down to Mt Eliza this time (total round trip of about 65+kms) and managed to conquer Oliver's Hill the hard way. Yeah me! I did it by riding in a group of about 10 riders of the Bayside Tri Cluband saying to myself on the way up "I was not going to be beaten by either of the pony tails in the pack. Even though I was beaten by them both, they did distract me long enough for me to get me up the hill without stopping.

After the hill they all sped away while I caught my breath and decided to meander into Mt Eliza village. After catching my breath and now oozing with confidence, I turned for home and was quickly picked up again by the Bayside Tri club pack so I tagged on again for the trip back to Black Rock where we all stopped for a coffee. I found out their training rides and runs times and I'm sure to get out with them again.

Just to clarify my previous post, running is my game, not cycling! Cycling, while more social, is a distant second. Sadly though, my shins are not co-operating and the run early last week went for about 500m before the strong boney pain came back. If I stop running now and allow enough time for a full recovery, it will allow me enough time to to get back into it Late Sept/Early Oct) and then rebuild my base enough for another tilt at the Canberra Marathon in April'07. The bike will see me thorough a few months happily (even though I admire/envy all of the runners I pass) and I can still fantasise about running can't I?

Rain, rain go away...

2006-07-15T16:04:00.000+10:00

The forecast for the weekend is rain. Not just a bit of rain but a whole weekend of the stuff! Yes, I know we are in drought conditions, and we desperately need a few big dumps of the stuff to add to the dwindling reservoirs but I had plans to be "happily" tackling Oliver's Hill once again today and tomorrow. Given my abysmal riding skills I don't ride in the rain yet, even though I just luurve to run in it!

Here is the current weather radar picture. Arrowed is about where I live (ie - f'n wet). It's now 4pm on Saturday and the rain hasn't stopped all day. It's not fair! It can rain all it likes during the week or at night but I NEED my exercise time or the Levis I have just bought over ebay (yes, I am an ebay addict) which are somewhat ambitiously one size smaller than my current hole ridden ones are never going to fit!

I took the kids to Cafe Racer for lunch and hot chocolates today and they thought that was just the best. Danny, who runs the show down there has a great flair for creating a great cafe atmosphere and employs the most friendly energetic staff anywhere. The place just has the right "buzz" about it that sits really well with me!

On the running front I have nothing to report except that I have decided to not run for a few months - my stoopid shin is still complaining and I'm sick of it, so it's time to give it all a big rest. I will start again in late September or early October and hopefully be back to my normal, slow self by Christmas. While I am not running I am still fantasizing about it... I'm thinking of ponytails with strong thighs.... *slap*! Did I say that?

The bike should keep me aerobically fit (particularly now I have good night lights) so long as I can used to getting up early in the morning to get a ride in before work. The Tour de France is telecast live here in the middle of the night (generally finishing around 1:30 -2:00am) so I have been going to bed, setting the alarm and tuning in for the last hour before going back to sleep. Needless to say I'm sleeping on the couch while doing this so I don't disturb Mrs W's sleep.

Speaking of Mrs W, she is out with some girlfriends tonight so I am about to start preparing dinner for the wobblettes - marinated chicken stips in tacos (one of their favourites). It's also a great dish to get them involved in the preparation.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Later, Wm

PS Lastly: Does anyone know how to change a recording into a ringtone for a mobile phone?

Weekend update

2006-07-09T19:32:00.000+10:00

No running this weekend as I'm afraid my shin is giving me a little curry still. Maybe Tuesday PM I will go for a wee run and see how things are going.

On Saturday I went for a 60k ride down to Frankston and back. I was supposed to meet a mate but was running late and he and his group had taken off by as I was 8 minutes late. I set off on the planned course anyway and rode on my own the entire way down and managed to get in a good average speed of about 28kmph. Anyway, that speed equates to a fairly hard ride for me and I forgot about my intention to cycle to the top of Oliver's Hill (in the background) before turning around! I got there but I was well and truly done by the top. Man that is one tough hill to ride up! Easy ride home on my own still and then a lazy BBQ at home for some friends we hadn't caught up with for a while.

This morning was a 30k recovery ride to Cafe Racer for an espresso coffee and a custard doughnut.

I cooked our favourite baked parmesan chicken dinner tonight and am thinking an early night might be in order. I hope everyone else had good ones too. Toddles...

Thursday update

2006-07-06T21:45:00.000+10:00

It's amazing how quickly days can slip by when you are on holidays. Seems like I just started my hols and no sooner am I counting down the last few days until I start work again. I'm left wondering how I will ever get the things done that I originally had on my list.

Last entry I went for a five 6k run after a big ride. I followed that up with a 5k TT at the Gunn Runners Tuesday evening run. It was great to get down for a run with that bunch as I have been wanting to for a couple of years but work always seem to intervene. On holidays it seemed like I had no valid excuse - just as well. I had a great time, caught up with Sharon who I hadn't seen in ages and pushed my tired old legs harder than they had in a long time! I have no idea how slow I was but I know I gave 100% and I felt as spent as I have after .....anything! Pity my dear old L shin has decided to remind me that running two days in a row is a definite No No at this point - not without ice and a massage (both of which have been neglected recently).

On the bike front I went and got a lesson on Wednesday PM - just riding basics really, braking, stopping, cornering, balance, where to look etc. All intended to make me a safer rider and one that can avoid accidents rather than creating or being involved in them!

Golf tomorrow followed by finishing off the car detailing. Have a great weekend everyone!

Special hugs to Ms B - you are in my thoughts mate!

Monday musings

2006-07-03T21:44:00.000+10:00

The weekend got off to a great start with a really hard 50k ride into a strong headwind for the first 25k (just one fall to report - no damage except to my already dented ego). Another fall followed - this time I fell into a big heap when I developed a headache from hell - one that left me in a darkened bedroom for 3 hrs curled into a ball. I get these maybe once a year only thankfully. This one I'm sure had a lot to do with me not slowing down earlier in the week when I developed a head cold. Sheez, when I am on a couple of weeks holiday the last thing I want to do is lay around in bed during the middle of the day (unless of course...).

Sunday was rainy for a change so no riding and even though I wanted to run I just couldn't summon the enthusiasm to do it. With the last day of school holidays though the kids were up for any activity so we decided on mini-golf. It was a greeat way to spend a few hours with the kids.

It's lemon season down here and everyone seems to be giving us lemons from their trees so with an ever expanding pile of lemons the Wobblettes and I decided to attempt to make a lemon meringue pie. Result - looked great, the lemon stuff mostly didn't set and the pastry wasn't cooked underneath at all. What's with this blind baking caper anyway? Maybe I should just get blind drunk before baking? Not sure the kids would find that so amusing though!

I had a 50k ride today to Patterson Lakes where I managed to get myself utterly lost and ended up near Frankston. I got myself home finally, de-numbed my toes and then slipped the runners on for a gentle 6k run (my legs were a bit knocked up after the ride so I allowed myself a short walk break at 4.5k). That's two (yes count them: 1,2) x 6k runs in 5 days (without my orthotics) in my old shoes and my shins feel fine!! Woohoo! Yay shins!!! . Rest day tomorrow - maybe some painting.

BTW - Happy 4th of July all you Statesiders! You get a long weekend don't y'all? I hope its fun!

2 week holiday

2006-06-28T21:40:00.000+10:00

I'm the first to admit that I have been indulging a little too much since my injury and the end result of this is extra weight and a big loss of fitness. While I am on holidays for the next 2 weeks I intend to turn this around and get my metabolism back fired up and burning strongly again.

So much for my planned 60k bike ride early this morning, instead I slept in. I think the emotional energy involved with leaving my job and the end of financial year work-load really left me more tired than realized. With the adrenaline levels down - I was feeling zonked.

Despite this I managed a 1hr hard ride and also a 6k run without stopping (yeah me!). I'm sure Holly the lab was equally shocked. What a feeling of accomplishment I got! I didn't use my orthotics and used my old Brooks Dyads as an experiment - if I am only running two or three times a week for a while, I think I will use them and see if my shin responds any better. If not, I will be heading to a new podiatrist for a second opinion on my orthotics and running shoes. Having spent what seems like a bazillion $'s on orthotics/adjustments, physios, osteos and myotherapists and having spent many weeks not running I'm not convinced I have received the best professional advice. I might well be wrong but I need to be sure. I just want to be back running normally again - like I was last year or early this year - I need it!!

A fellow blogger recently teased me about my pajama preferences. It got me thinking that it might be fun to see what sleepwear some of us are using. Here is me trying to avoid showing my double chin to much in my winter PJ's. Now, who's game and who's next?

Tagged again....

2006-06-26T11:36:00.000+10:00

I think I have done this one before but just so I can learn more about my blogging mates:

Four Jobs I have had:
Shoe Repairer/Key Cutting guy
Cocktail Barman
Photo Interpreter
Boat Painter

Four movies I watch over and over again:

Apocolypse Now
Bridget Jones's Diary
Any Arnie Movie
Dead Calm

Four Places I have lived:
Sydney
Hobart
Brisbane
Perth

4 T.V. Shows I love to watch:
Spicks and Specks (music trivia/comedy)
Northern Exposure
Wimbledon (is that a show?)
Motor Cycle racing (is that a show?)

4 Places I have been on Vacation:
Geneva (working holiday)
Las Vegas (working holiday)
Galway
Cook Islands

4 Websites I visit daily:
Cool Running (Aust)
ebay
Bloglines
Google

4 of my Favorite Foods:

Eggs
Oysters
Peking Duck
Cheese

(not sure what sort of dishes you could make using all those but if you could make something I'm yours!)

4 Places I would rather be right now:

In the snow fields
Germany for the World Cup match against Italy tonight
Bed
Beach (somewhere tropical preferably)

4 Favorite Bands/Singers:
Not Drowning Waving
Wiggles
Mental as Anything
U2

4 Bloggers I am Tagging:
Cirque
Hilda
Sekhemet
Spark Driver

Satisfaction at last !

2006-06-25T17:52:00.000+10:00

Since revising my running priorities for the next 6 months I have discovered that Sunday's do not have to start in the dark at 5:45 am and exercise does not necessarily need to commence shortly thereafter. Exploring this new found sleep opportunity (after falling asleep while watching Australia hand out a wolloping to Ireland in the Rugby) I woke at 8:00am, snoozed for another 45 mins and casually got myself clad in the customary cycling lycra.

I decided a blast up Beach Road was absolutely necessary to ensure the custard filled doghnuts had arrived safely at Cafe Racer okay. I am feeling a lot more confident on the bike now (yes, another ride without falling off/over) and I'm seeking out small packs to latch onto so I can learn the "Mason-like" hand signals that help you navigate around cars, pot-holes and basicaly know what the leaders of the pack are doing.

I set out to pedal hard today as it was a shorter trip (40km round trip) and surprised myself. Although I am new to this cycling caper I suspect most cyclists slack off more than I do. I arrived at Cafe Racer with sweat dripping of my nose and steam coming off my shoulders but when I looked at many of the others getting off their bikes they looked like they had just left their driveways! I suspect it might say something about my current level of fitness too, but lets no go there just now....

Anyway, after quizzing some experienced cyclists who had ridden 500kms over the weekend about distance progression etc (being a dumb newbie is coming very naturally to me), devouring a custard-filled doughnut and downing a cafe latte I headed home on my own. After about 3kms I found myself behind yet another blonde haired cyclist of the female variety and again I found myself able to pedal much harder and for longer than I thought possible while keeping up with her. She turned off after about half way home so I quickly returned to my normal pace before a heart attack developed.

All up 85 odd kms cycled again for the weekend. I am hoping to slip in two 6km runs during the coming week as I finish up with my current employer on Tuesday afternoon and will have plenty of time to get out there for a run.

I took Wobblette # 2 for a camel ride this afternoon. She had a grin from ear to ear. Pity I didn't take the camera!

Saturday ride - disappointing for the wrong reasons

2006-06-24T11:43:00.000+10:00

This week at work has been frantic! I am mentally exhausted. The end of the financial year is peak workload time for me. I did however manage a 30 minute run on Tuesday evening - very happy with that. My fitness has fallen away during my break - I needed one walk break this time. Next one I'll will be trying for none.

A last minute txt message received yesterday had me out for an early ride this morning. It seems like I have become the riding apprentice of my running apprentice (life always has balance huh?). This morning we headed out for a ride down to Station Pier and back (a 45km round trip). I was planning on a 30 minute run afterwards but figured that could wait until tomorrow as the ride was faster and harder than last week.

All the way down there I was salivating at the thought of a custard filled doughnut and a strong cafe latte down at Cafe Racer - that is what kept me grinding away up the hills (well that and following a cute blonde ponytail for a while). Arriving early before the crowd we collapsed onto the stools and ordered only to be told that the doughnuts are only available on Sundays - doh!! Two coffees each, a quick chin-wag and we headed off for the last 15kms home. My legs feel really worked now. I love that feeling of having worked out hard at the start of a weekend. No falls again!

Poor Wobblette # 1 is dragging herself around the house today as she has picked up the tummy bug that # 2 had a week ago. The forever to be postponed Yum Cha lunch has now been postponed for yet another week!

I'm off to the Vic Markets this afternoon with Wobblette # 2 to pick up some goodies for dinner this afternoon, With luck we will have time to stop in at Acland street for coffee and a littletreat.

An oldie but a goodie...

2006-06-19T21:54:00.000+10:00

Monday! The sacred day of rest and recovery for runners and (would be) cyclists. Besides, after waking at 2am to watch a World Cup Soccer match I wasn't quite capable of slipping out for a training run or ride - when it was just 3 degrees (37F) at 6am this morning it was not too difficult a decision to make!

With just 6 days work left at Wobbly's "salt mine" I need to ensure I have adequate energy reserves for the 6 lunch banquets to be enjoyed. Enjoy your week team!

Sunday's activities

2006-06-18T18:01:00.000+10:00

What a great weekend it has been. After yesterday's ride/run I slept like a baby and didn't get up until about 8:30.

My legs were feeling a bit sore (my rear-end was faring worse) so what better way to remedy the situation than hop back on the bike. I powered my way down to the St.Kilda mecca for cyclists - Cafe Racer where by chance I met an old work buddy who is my cycling guru and a member of the Bayriders cycling club. I felt privileged to join his group for coffees and custard filled doughnuts (not so good for my waistline but I had to be polite, right?) at their "usual table". I confess to feeling like a cycling impostor sitting with these serious cyclists but had a great time catching up with Glenn and meeting some of his cycling buddies.

Glenn rode with me for a third of the way home and I rode with one of his buddies for the rest of the way to Beaumaris. A great ride of about 25kms a bit faster than expected but great fun.

The afternoon was spent attending at the local hardware store where Wobblette # 2 became a dog and I picked some shower fittings and then read the paper over another coffee! The shower fittings are half fitted but I need smaller screws now because I drilled the holes too small and have already rammed the plugs home. Typical me! What do they say about measuring twice before doing handyman jobs?

While I'm waiting for tonight's BBQ dinner to cool down enough to eat I'm sitting down blogging and enjoying a beer while thinking about if my blogging mate Running Rabbit would be feeling like a drink at the moment! Cheers RR! Two rides and no falls - that's got to be worth celebrating!

The sum of 10 weeks of indulgence...

2006-06-17T13:16:00.000+10:00

while recovering from my injuries is .....*insert drum-roll* ....5kg (or 11 lbs or 25 000 carat [international] if for whatever reason you measure in those units)! Yes folks, despite my suit pants feeling tighter after every trip to the dry cleaners I continued to (over)indulge myself and today after a 2.5 hour exercise session (when I was probably dehydrated) I tipped the scales 5kgs heavier than my April pre-marathon weight. Yikes! Just as well I have recovered (enough) from my injuries and can get back out there and burn some of this "stuff" that seems to have accumulated around my waist and on my back-side.

This morning's session was a 45k (round trip) bike ride down to one of the fantastic cafes in Beacon Cove followed by a small run.

I rode with a friend who is much more experienced than I at this riding caper and it made a huge difference. He taught me loads of things and also gave me some great riding tips. At one point we were overtaken by a pack of about 30+ Bayside Bandidos which initially was very scarey but we decided to hang onto the back of their pack for a couple of kilometers. Our speed went up over 5km/h for the same effort. After 45kms I realise that the increased volume of padding on my backside does not seem to be in the right places for my bike seat - ouch!

After the ride and a quick change, it was out for my first run in three and a bit weeks with Holly the ever happy lab. She was so happy to see me lace on my runners that she was bouncing about with joy but not nearly as much as I was (albeit inwardly)! It was a slow and easy 6kms (with a couple of brief walk breaks) to test out my legs which performed almost faultlessly. The first km was weird though as my thighs and quads just felt (and probably looked) like rubbery blobs from the ride.

So with 2.5hrs of exercise and a couple of errands to the shops done I am now waiting for Mrs W to go and do the weekly grocery shopping with the kids so I can sneak in a mid-afternoon "nana" nap.

On a side note I resigned from my job this week after accepting a better one with a company I worked for about 13 years ago. This move was primarily driven by a distinct lack of job satisfaction in my current role and something that was unlikely to change in the mid-term. I've been a very happy puppy this week, I have drunk too much and had too many long lunches. :)

Sunday Fall # 3

2006-06-11T21:47:00.000+10:00

A couple of e-mails and fellow Cool Runner Greybeard had thankfully agreed to meet me for a bike ride this morning. I was hoping that Greybeard Jnr would come too so he could pass on some tips about riding a road bike but his late shift the evening before unfortunately prevented that. With a strong southerly blowing we headed downwind for 16kms first -questionable logic I agree, but we had a particular cafe in mind. The ride down was uneventful enough although I noticed Greybeard was wisely keeping his distance from me and my somewhat wobbly riding technique (perhaps he has been reading my blog).

With a couple of warming lattes at the cafe and a good chin-wag about what training I have been missing out on while I have been injured, we were soon back mounting the bikes outside the cafe for the return journey. Somehow or other while remounting my gleaming (near) new bike I managed to get one foot clipped in and missed the second one right outside the cafe resulting in a rather spectacular tumble for fall # 3. This fall (somewhat predictably) was right out the front of the cafe and no doubt provided loads of laughs for the more serious cyclists and breakfasters inside who would have had front row seats for the inadvertent entertainment I was providing outside.First blood

I noticed that A Girl Running thinks that running is better than sex (or food)! I'm pretty sure that even at my age I could find a more pleasurable way to inflict an injury like this and not suffer as much embarassment!

The ride back was all tough being all into the wind but it was great to be back exercising with Greybeard. It's been hard to watch my fitness slipping away while recovering from an injury and today I noticed how much I have missed the company of like-minded exercise freaks like Greybeard!

That makes three days riding in a row and am looking forward to riding another 20kms tomorrow and tackling my first easy run next week

First two road riding attempts

2006-06-10T19:55:00.000+10:00

Firstly I need to thank those that have sent PMs and provided comments to help me take my first couple of baby steps with road riding.

After two rides (total 40k) and incurring nil (yes zero!) injuries, my observations so far are as follows:

When walking in cycling shoes with cleats on slate floors don't try to change direction quickly. Fall # 1 and I hadn't even reached the front door.
Water bottle cages are for water bottles - best to put one in it as cycling is thirsty work.
Two pairs of socks will not stop your toes from going numb if it is below 7 degrees Celsius (44F)
When approaching a red traffic light remember to get your shoe unclipped before starting to put your foot down (fall # 2)
Cycling computers were made by strange geeky people that do not appreciate that people like me will try to figure out what button is which while riding.
When trying to figure out what the cycle computer buttons do, remember to look up occasionally - parked cars are probably not soft or inexpensive to run into.

So far so good. I have really enjoyed doing some exercise again and next week will be trying out my new running legs. My shins etc are all feeling good and ready to go again. Mind you, after chocking on 4 kilos (8.8lb)since the beginning of April I'm not looking forward to feeling my man boobs bouncing about again!

Warning - Bike images follow!

2006-06-07T20:49:00.000+10:00

Okay, I guess that by reading this far you really do want to see some bike photos! Sheez, and here is me thinking that my readers were nice non-drinking, church-going folk.....

I am evolving!

Many readers will know my battle with injuries over the past few months leading into and after the Canberra Marathon. Frankly it has been driving me nuts (okay, maybe more nuts)! Despite the Wobbly household's crappy financial position, I have bought a second-hand bike so I can get off my legs and still get some aerobic work done while avoiding running injuries. I suspect I have been so hard to live with that Mrs W has agreed to this purchase just to get me active and happy again! I guess I starting to accept my age and my body's desire to not run quite as far! And yes, I am absolutley accepting the inevitable bike related injuries that are likely to follow. (Although I reserve the right to change my opinion here)

As soon as I got the camera out to take a pic, the wobblettes jumped on the bike - thus the following...
Wobblette #2 with Holly asleep behind
lucky Lance has retired!

Only trouble is, I really don't know what to do next! I have been searching the net for info on starting up cycling like what I need to do before I go for a ride besides the basic bike set-up. I will go and get a professional lesson soon and get the bike set-up done properly after a couple of weeks but what else should I do? I have most of the gear I need but (for example) what stuff should be taken on a training ride? How long should my first ride be? Is an hour too long or too short for a first ride? How long can I expect my nether-regions to be numb for afterwards? Should I pack a pump and repair kit or is that inviting the inevitable? Maybe just a mobile phone and some enough taxi money to get home?

Seriously, any advice for this would-be road rider would be appreciated! Wish me luck!

The running shoe whore

2006-06-03T13:20:00.000+10:00

my running shoe collection
Sometimes Mrs W says that I have too many runnning shoes. How unreasonable! Surely only a runner (or in my case would-be runner) would understand these things and using this line of logic a long time ago decided never to mention her collection of housey magazines.

The thing is I kind of get attached to the old fellas and as I pick them up to throw them out I remember old races/places/people and PBs and think... maybe next clean out. Am I strange?

Please post photos of your running shoe collections so I don't feel so alone....

Friday update

2006-06-02T23:24:00.000+10:00

It's been a quiet week this week. I suspect that the photos from the last few blog entries were slowing down my blog. Since the new month has ticked over (Ugh - it's winter already) it has been fine again. I took a couple of days off work this week while Mrs W was interstate with work and found myself looking after Wobblette # 2 with a bad tummy/bowel. Although she is known for pretending when she is sick, this time she there was no way she could have faked her symptoms!

When I was picking up Wobblette # 1 from school on Tuesday afternoon I was walking down some steps and got distracted mid-step and nearly fell down them. (clumsy fool) Of course I overstressed my bad leg (not the good one) while saving myself from falling down the stairs! 3 days later and my
injured shin is now only just starting to feel like it was on Monday! Regular readers will know that I am known for walking into things and tripping over things while looking at my watch or whatever else distracts me so I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise. So why does it still surprise me when it happens? I swear I was never so clumsy when I was younger. Heck, I'm only 45! Why am I even thinking it could be age related?

No real news to speak of just yet..... stay tuned though for some positive work news in a few days (fingers crossed)!

Apart from that Mrs W is interstate again next week so its going to be more work/school juggling. Although we all miss Mrs W terribly when she is away I secretly find that it's nice to have the kids all to myself and not have to compete as much for attention. :)

Only walking and a bike ride planned if I get a chance this weekend. I need to slip into work at some stage to catch up on some work though (groan). I am missing my running terribly now. It seems so long ago that I was running without an injury. Soon I hope.....

Tuesday update

2006-05-30T22:48:00.000+10:00

Thank you blogger gods for finally allowing me to write this little update!!!

Mrs W has headed off to WA with work for a few days so on Sunday the kids and I headed to the beach with Holly for a walk. I figured we weren't in any hurry so as we walked along skipping stones and admiring shells I suggested we keep going up to our favourite cafe at the Black Rock shops. In hindsight I suppose it's a long way (3kms) for kids to walk along the beach on soft sand especially a 10 and a 6 yo but hey we were having fun. The hot chocolates/lattes and biscuits went down an treat and we stopped at the playground to enjoy the swings etc. Let's just say the walk back seemed longer than it took getting there even though we took the coastal trail that I used to run on a lot to avoid the soft sand. At the same time you need to picture a big rain squall coming in over the bay and we were still a good km away from the car without a rain coat between us.... and here am I begging two very leg weary kids to hurry up or we will get soaked.

We all slept very well on Sunday night - despite my cooking.

I have had a couple off days off work while Mrs W is away - basically ferrying kids to school etc. On Monday I saw Dr Chris (the specialist sports Dr.)who thinks that my shin is not sufferring a fracture but is close to it. PHEW!!! My sub-talar joint however (never knew I had one of those before) needs some physio work as it has become very restricted in movement and may be the cause of the problem. More physio and another 2-3 weeks off and I should be fine to start running again. I wonder if I will remember how to do it?

Special thanks: I want to say a vey big THANK YOU to all of those very kind fellow bloggers who have sponsored Wobblette #1 or wished her well with her MS Readathon fund raising! You guys and gals absolutely rock!!! Your generosity is overwhelming!! Not only are you supporting a very worthy cause but you have all helped make a 10yo girl extremely happy and proud of her fund raising efforts this year. She has decided to start her own blog now (following her new found fame)at: Anna Banana.

Tuesday update

2006-05-23T23:07:00.000+10:00

Many people....well a few .... actually one.... alright nobody has asked why I am not posting any running reports but I'm going to let you know anyway! Seriously though, thank you to those that have inquired recently.

Since the Canberra Marathon in early April I decided I would stop running for long enough to get over the growing list of little niggles/injuries I had been putting up with. During my time off I seem to have managed to injure my shin (I think I did it while running in my business shoes across a Melbourne Street trying to avoid the rain). I ran a week and a half ago (13k) and really enjoyed the run but my shin was very sore the next day (Grrr!). After a few days it felt fine so I waited a week and ran again last Saturday (7k) and again the next day it was very sore in one spot (double Grrr).

I am now waiting to see Dr Chris down at the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Clinic. The earliest appointment I could get is next Monday. I might just be being over-careful but I suspect it might be something worse - thus seeing a doctor rather than trying to ignore it and hope it goes away after a while like I usually do with sore stuff.

Apart from trimming hedges, pruning the roses, transplanting plants, washing/vacuuming cars (hence the rain this week), it was a quiet weekend - nothing worthy of getting the camera out really. The highlight for me was coffee and a hot chocolate with Wobblette # 1 in a cafe on Sunday morning.

Wobblette # 1 has asked me to mention that she is looking for sponsors (or donations) in this year's MS Readathon. This is her fourth year doing it. It started as a great way of getting her reading books and has now grown into her means of helping those less fortunate than herself. If you feel like you would like to help her, please do so via your comments (even if it is by way of encouragement)or you can e-mail her via at: anna.richardson@optusnet.com.au . She has an MS Society receipt book and will cheerfully send a receipt for any donations received (it's tax deductible) and a hand written thank you to anyone making donations.

The rest of Saturday....

2006-05-13T18:51:00.000+10:00

I usually cook a family meal on Saturday nights - my specialty at the moment is the world's best fettucini carbonara. Seems like the family can't get too much of it. I should say it is only the world's best through the ingredients I use (not my cooking skills) and they can only be found in Melb at a few places - my favourite place being the famous Vic Markets. Wobblette #2 and I cruised into town and once at the markets went to the free range egg man (they don't get any fresher unless you live at the farm), to my favourite deli for the freshest and silkiest fettuncini ever created. It also sells the yummiest smokey bacon I have ever had - we got a couple of extra rashers for Mrs W's mother's day breaky tomorrow too. Then to the cheese shop for parmigiano reggiano. Mine obviously is a non-traditional version (using bacon) and I also add some swiss brown mushrooms which I get from a little mushroom merchant.

Ingredients collected we headed to another Melbourne icon for hot chocolate, coffee and cake at-
Peligrinis
a shop that is 53 years old and serves traditonal Italian dishes and magnificent coffee - even if they are a bit rude when serving it. Over the laneway is a little bookshop so we poked around in there for a while.

After getting home I took both Wobblettes down to see the local footy team play (and win in a nail biter). After polishing off dinner and some chocolate mousse cake for desert, I think we will all sleep well tonight.... (if I can ever get that Postman Pat tune out of my head)

The Postman Pat run....

2006-05-13T09:37:00.000+10:00

I had a really crappy night's sleep last night. I fell asleep on top of the bed at about 9:30pm after putting the kids to bed and then woke at 1am and 3am and 4 am and finally at 6:30. Grrr!

After checking the weather on the net I read a couple of blogs and have titled today's post after the evil rubbishrunner who can take credit for putting that darn song into my head!

I haven't run for 4 weeks and have felt great for a week now so a really easy run was in order. Holly the ever happy lab was dead keen to come as always. We took the coastal trail (all the while singing postman pat, postman pat, postman pat and his black and white cat. Early in the morning, just as day is dawning, Pat thinks he's a really lucky man.....) and also ran along the beach for a km or so and then out along the Sandringham Yacht club rock wall. (postman pat, postman pat, postman pat and his black and white cat. Early....) All up it was just over 13kms and nothing hurt the whole way. Woohoo!

Sadly my "queens of the tree" (see last post) have been deposed. The fallen tree was chopped up on Monday and is just firewood now. On a brighter note though we now have a couple of budding dog trainers who drop dog food along the obstacle course while pulling holly over the "jumps".

No big plans for the weekend. With Mother's day tomorrow we will be doing the breakfast and newspaper in bed thing and the slippers we bought on "The Great Shopping Expedition" last weekend will need to be wrapped tonight. Must remember to buy some wrapping paper.

Happy Mother's Day to all the readers who are also mums.

Today's non-running activities

2006-05-07T16:04:00.000+10:00

Today marks the end of the third week where I haven't run. The last time this happened was following my eye lasering operations last April. Back then I enjoyed the rest and used it to rest my body allowing me to fully recover from all the aches and pains that had been building up. I remember my first couple of runs and thinking how wonderful it was to be running completely pain free.

Where I live we back onto a golf course and on Firday one of the big gum trees just behind the back fence decided to turn up its toes. The wobblettes have now crowned themselves "queens of the tree".

Today the weather has been wicked to say the least (rain, hail and snow predicted down to 800m)! Down at sea level however, it was just windy and sometimes rainy. After providing Mrs W's birthday breakfast in bed, Wobblette # 2 and I headed to the local beach to give Holly a run off the lead and collect a few sea shells. Holly just loves it on windy days and chases everything including the froth from the waves as it is blown onto the beach.

With a big rain squal coming in over the bay we headed for the Ricketts Point Tea House for a latte and a yummy hot chocolatewhile it rained.

Bewtween rain squals we quickly headed for the car and were rewarded with the best rainbow ever!.

So ends today's non-running pictorial...

It's finished.... (at last)!

2006-05-04T20:15:00.000+10:00

Some of you will remember the recent renovation of Wobblette # 1's clothes stand (the Paul Frank inspired ) one back in February.

Well, you guessed it, Wobblette # 2 after seeing her father's handywork also wanted her's renovated and updated (new head and base).

I think this little job only took me about 7 weeks to complete.

Even though I got a bit carried away making and painting the new base I have to say I am pretty happy with the final result. It's easy to imagine myself retired, fiddling away in my storeroom with an old radio, a couple of power tools and a paintbrush making stuff like this.

This afternoon I went to the Podiatrist (who is going to alter my orthotics) and followed that with some physio treatment on my left leg. The upshot is that while things are mending nicely, I will wait another week before running again (or until I can hop on both legs without pain) - sounds pretty sensible to me.

Trouble is I am likely to miss the Walhalla Wound up *sniff*

Best caption award from my last post goes to... *insert drum roll* ....2P!. BTW, you didn't really think I would post a photo of me standing naked in a river did you?

Captions please....

2006-04-28T19:05:00.000+10:00

Blogging Holiday

2006-04-22T13:18:00.000+10:00

Yes folks - I'm taking a break from the blogosphere for a while.

For those insomnia sufferers who have been using my blog to send themselves into a semi-comotose state before hitting a pillow, my advice is to read through the archives of my blog - although a word of warning, doing so may well cause permanent brain damage!

Running update: Following my 17k last weekend, I have decided to take at least a fortnight off from any running to ensure all the niggles and aches are completely gone. I intend to spend the time off from training sleeping, planning the rest of my training year and setting some new goals.

As usual when I am not running I am thinking about it and have already started searching my favourite web-sites for shoe bargains etc. My usual two (apart from E-bay): Road Runner Sports and Eastbay have some good deals on Brooks Adrenalines and I may just sneak another pair into the cupboard (for later in the year) while Mrs Wobbly is thinking I am not contemplating any more running purchases. I am also planning on dropping a few old pairs of runners into the charity bins at the same time.

Also on my accessory list for Winter is one of these
LED Light band which may just find its way into an order soon.

Any other suggestions on good web-sites to peruse would be welcome.

Catch you soon...

Memorable Canberra moments and what's next..

2006-04-16T15:46:00.000+10:00

The three amigos - we trained together and all finished. (Wobbly, Cato and Greybeard)

Proof that running a marathon can actually be fun! (Plu and I show-boating for the cameras)

Okay, the pain is now subsiding and the memories of a fantastic weekend are still vivid. :)

This morning was a leisurely medium-long run with Greybeard, Cato, myself and Holly. We cruised up to Green Point and back for a nice little 17.6km round trip. My left knee and hip certainly enjoyed running more on the grass/trail than on the bike path but it was great to get out and get the blood pumping around again! The muscle soreness is almost gone.

I'm still taking my time on what races to run but I am considering some (not all) of the following. My two goals for the rest of the year are basically to try and better my 10k PB from September last year and improve my nearly 3 year old 1/2 PB:

14/5 Walhalla Wound up 19k
20/5 Mt Beauty 1/2
28/5 Williamston 1/2
2/7 Gold Coast Airport Marathon
23/7 Princess Park Half 28/8 Wili 2 Bili 36k
8/10 Melbourne Marathon (if it's on)

11 questions... (tag)

2006-04-14T15:28:00.000+10:00

Here are my answers to 11 running questions:

1. What time of day do you run?

Mostly early mornings. I never used to be a morning runner but otherwise its difficult to be consistent with my training in my current job. About once a fortnight I run at lunch time or in the evening.

2. What are your favourite runs?

I have two favourites - my coastal torture trail (15 minutes from home) which is a 12km trail run with 3 sets of 70 steps plus two tougth hills. My other favourite is The Capital City Trail - a 30k undulating bike trail that circles the city of Melbourne.

3. What is your favorite song to run to?

I don't run with music but occasionally sing while running by myself (much to Holly's dismay). I tried running with an FM radio once but the ear plugs kept falling out and I haven't bothered since.

4. What book are you reading at the moment: I just finished Sucking the Marrow out of Life by John Maclean and have just started Slave by Mende Nazer.

5. When did you start running?

October 2002. I got roped into a 10k run when I chaired and OH&S committee and actually enjoyed it.

6. What's your post-race/post-run ritual?

Long run: A good stretch and something to eat, closely followed by an espresso coffee and then a hot shower and something more to eat. A nice nana-nap on the couch mid-afternoon following a long run is bliss. I gave up having protein shakes as I couldn't notice any difference when I stopped having them.

7. What do you eat before you run?

Normally nothing but for long runs I always have 2 slices of white toast with mashed banana and honey.

8. What's your favorite running accessory?

Easy - my Garmin 201. I love it.

9. What's your motivation for running? (or why you first started running)

It started as weight control but has since become a part of my life that I use to; manage stress, stay healthy, enable me to eat what I want (mostly) and now I can't imagine not being a part of the Melb running community.

10. What are your running shoes?

Currently - 3 pair being rotated:
Brooks Adrenaline 6, Brooks Adrenaline 5 and Brooks Dyad

11. What is your next running goal?

I haven't set a new one yet. Puffing Billy (for fun) and a setting a new half marathon PB are on my list for this year though.

Now - I tag Tesso!

Losing my virginity in Canberra!

2006-04-11T21:13:00.000+10:00

What a weekend - woohoo!! It will bore everyone to tears if I attempt a blow-by-blow description of the run so will try and keep this brief.

The Start: I arrived with about 5 mins to spare and no warm-up. As I was introducing myself to some fellow Cool Runners the gun went off - oops! I hadn't even turned on my running watch so consequently spent the first three mins turning it on and finding the right function - while trying not to elbow too many people along the way.

0- 10km: (55:58) I went out with my Melbourne training buddies Cato and Greybeard. Even though I knew they were likely to be too fast for me I wanted to get through the first 10k with plenty of chat to distract me from my back pain. That worked well and I soon found the Team Wobbly cheer squad near the 10k turn around point cheering like crazy! I grabbed some ibuprofen and a chocolate Gu and thought I was feeling pretty good. Going past the turnaround and the CR cheer squad I seemed to end up beside fellow Cool Runners (Plu and Gasher) so we set off for the second longer loop in search of photo opportunities.

10 - 20km: (54:37) I was still traveling okay, found myself running on my own at about the 15k mark - not sure how and I was feeling that the slightly fast pace was helping my back pain (although this was probably the ibuprofen in hindsight).

20 - 30km: (59:30) Going through the Half Marathon point in 1:53 had me worried but I soon realised I had to add on 3:05 mins because it took me that long to get my watch going after the start - so I relaxed a bit. Just a couple of mins ahead of schedule I was feeling relaxed. I had forgotten to walk though the drink stations as planned because the water tubes are so easy to run and drink with. I felt good just keeping my rhythm going while drinking. I think I took a small walk while going up a hill and stopped to do some back stretches as well.

30 - 40kms: (69:13) Things were beginning to get ugly for me. I stopped at about 34km mark and briefly started to sob. I doubted I was going to finish for the first time. I couldn't keep the pace going and not alter my gait so I slowed down a little, thinking if I kept my form I wouldn't do any damage to my back. I needed to stop and do my back stretches every couple of kms and then every km towards the end. My calves were also starting to cramp. I remember starting to chat to one girl during the final leg home (I guess around the 36km mark and she said she had thrown up three times so far). I didn't feel so bad after that so I walked and ran and stopped and stretched my way to 40kms thinking if I could make it to the Wobbly cheer squad I would be able to finish.

40 - 42.2kms: The Wobblettes ran up to me around the 40km mark and ran with me for about 200m or so - I began to feel good again. Lucky I had my sunglasses on at this point as the tears were flowing again big time. I remember feeling an overwhelming feeling of being part of a team. The realisation that I was going to make it to the finish started to set in. As the girls got puffed I suggested that they meet me after the finish and plodded on. About 200m from the finish I could hear the finish line cheering and wondered if they could see me walking so started running again!! As I rounded the corner into the finish chute I heard the CR cheersquad going berserk and I lifted a final time - things were going in slow motion at this point. Although I don't think I was running particularly upright, I remember hearing my name being yelled out by a number of voices I recognised and realised that I couldn't focus through the tears behind my sunnies.

A blue gloved hand reached out for me and started to guide me past the finish line. I said I was fine and then wobbled and grabbed the hand rail. The medal was placed around my neck and very soon afterwards placed around Wobblettte #2's neck where it stayed for most of the day!

I can't believe how many lessons I learned on Sunday and not all to do with running. Without the Team Wobbly and CR cheering at various points around the course, and the CR fraternity I am sure it would have been a far less memorable experience for me. I was lucky to be able to start and very fortunate to finish and experience finishing a marathon.

Canberra here we come!

2006-04-04T22:24:00.000+10:00

My back has been getting a bit better each day and the lovely Osteo tonight confirmed that it would be reasonable to expect some continued improvement. Given I felt "kind of" comfortable with 7.5k on Monday and it is definitely better today I'm prepared to bank on some more improvement and give it a go on Sunday.

Since the injury I have not been expecting to run on Sunday and now I feel very unprepared mentally. I have a bazillion things to think about now and can't seem to focus on anything. Eg my Garmin wrist band broke a fortnight ago and I hadn't bothered getting it fixed.

With the starting temp tipped to be 2 degrees and getting towards 20 degrees by the time I finish I am also wondering what to wear. Perhaps I will stop and strip off my tights and change to shorts after the first lap? (Out of sight from the cheer squad, small children and old ladies of course).

So much to think about and so little time! 5 sleeps to go...

Saturday smiling?

2006-04-02T17:28:00.000+10:00

As suggested by the physio on Friday evening after his pummelling I went out for a very light 3km jog on Saturday to see how the lower back pain was. It was there but not as bad as before and I ran the whole way with a stupid smile/grimace type expression which I am sure on-coming pedestrians couldn't quite work out. I doubted I could run a marathon though (at any pace beyond walking).

The plan with the physio was if Saturday went okay I would have a longer run on Sunday and see how that went. Armed with a level 3 overhang and a messy house I decided running was perhaps not the best idea and have delayed it so far. I'm feeling fine now but have had a few back twinges through the day and am not sure I am ready to run and perhaps have to accept the fact that my marathon goal is beyond me (for now). I have a secondary plan starting to form of running the Great Ocean Road marathon on 21 May. That might be a reasonable alternative but sadly will be without the CR cheersquad and the many Cool Runners that I was so hoping catch up with in Canberra.

... stay tuned for an update....

Edit: I ran for 40mins on Monday morning around my local streets in ever decreasing loops and most of the time was feeling that the pain levels were more manageable. The thing is I am not sure if I just trying to talk myself into it..... I suspect I am just trying to avoid making the decision.

Wednesday update

2006-03-29T20:07:00.000+11:00

This morning was an early massage from the Myotherapist to get my glutes worked over. She also did some dry needling too.

Walked out feeling really well worked and went to work. Physio was at 3:30 and he worked my S1L1 joint which is causing the problems. Afterwards we could not reproduce the pain so he suggested a small (3k) run this evening to see how it felt. Not good is the report I'm afraid. I got to about 1.5kms and the pain was back so I tried the hip tilting exercises he showed me and it worked for a bit but was quickly back and wouldn't stay away. I ran slowly home with Holly thinking there is just no way I could do this for 42kms.

I'm sitting here contemplating my options at this point - my physio said to call him tomorrow if the pain returned so I will do that and see what he recommends.

I still have about 10 days to be right I guess....

Injury update

2006-03-28T13:55:00.000+11:00

Accodring to my physio the massage therapist was right about what was wrong. No running for me until the weekend at best. I have a massage booked for Wednesday AM for my planned pre-race massage and PM for the serious physio work-over. The physio is "hoping" to have me right by Canberra but its too early to tell and very tight time wise. What's worse is that Ibuprofen or Celebrex won't work on this injury! Serious lower back stretching three times a day. Not enough core strengthening work apparently.

The good news is there is still hope. I guess I also have a good excuse if I can't start (or finish). After all the training though I just want to do it!

I remember very clearly running the Melbourne half in '03 with a little calf injury and made that so bad I couldn't run for three months. I don't think I will be going back there in a hurry!

Sunday Sri Chinmoy 5k

2006-03-26T13:20:00.000+11:00

Since Tuesday, I have run a whopping 14.4km. The intended 10k race this morning was cut short as my lower back pain returned with a vengeance. It originally occurred appeared last Monday while on my long run and until now I have been nursing it hoping it would magically heal given some rest and ample quantities of ibuprofen.

My 10k race started really well and I was though the first km in 4:19 and running in a small group and feeling comfy. By the time I reached the 3kms marker (13:47) even though I was feeling strong and my breathing was well controlled I was enjoying these weird shooting pains through my lower back and left leg. The pain in my back was growing to a point here I needed to modify my stride a little every now and then in an effort to avoid some pain. Thankfully this race is on a 5km loop and at 3.5 k I knew I was in trouble so I put the foot down a little and headed for the 5kms finishing chute.

I'm very happy with my time (Garmin boy says 23:07) but the clock was saying just over 24:00 I think. Whichever it was, each split except the second (4:52) was under 4:45/km pace and I was feeling comfy.

The helping hands massage girls didn't have much of a line of people waiting so I high tailed it over to them and got a good rub down.

Seems like I may have developed a problem with my quadratus lumborum and hip flexors. Or at lest that is what the massage therapists thought. Apparently they need plenty of massage and a bit of rest (well a bit, in so far as that is all they will be able to get for the time being). With the Canberra Marathon just 13 sleeps away - I have most things crossed and am very comfortable about my preparation I just need to get over this lower back thing!

The week ahead is going to be spent on massage tables I suspect. Things could be worse! In the mean time I think I might go and check out the medicine cupboard for some more serious anti-inflammatoryies.

Wednesday update

2006-03-22T07:05:00.000+11:00

Thanks everyone for your birthday wishes!

I had an easy pace 9.4k loop planned this morning as my legs are still a little weary from my 30k run. It was far from easy though. Most of the way I felt like a little old man shuffling along with little energy to call on. I managed to run the whole way though so I suppose that's good.

An interesting side effect of this marathon program has been my weight loss. I expected to drop maybe 1kg of 2 but I only lost 1kg until two weeks ago and since tyhen I have dropped 2kg more in the last 14 days. I have had to use the next hole on my belt which has never been used before. Best I start eating more again as I dont really want to drop any more! What do others reading experience?

The training tale (mosty for Coach Tim) so far looks like the graphs below.

I am considering a 10k race on Sunday or maybe a 20k long run with half at marathon pace. Not sure which yet but the race will be a social thing only if I do it. Anyone need a 5:00 - 6:00/km pacer?

CCT - Long and ugly

2006-03-20T20:51:00.000+11:00

I haven't been sleeping well lately (pre-marathon nightmares) and Sunday's early start and long run quickly disintegrated into a couch potato kind of day with some odd jobs thrown in while the ads were on. I soon talked myself into a day off and then suffered guilt for the remainder of the day thinking this was the first key run I had missed in my marathon program.

I quickly devised a strategy to run today instead, so I have fudged my weekly totals so my training graphs don't look silly - it is only one day, right?

So on my 45th birthday what would be a good thing to do? The Capital City Trail of course! Today was weird - firstly as I started at 1:30pm (normally its at 6:30 or 7:00am and secondly as the Yarra and Docklands were packed with Commonwealth Games spectators. As a result I "show-boated" a bit early (pretending to be a faster runner than I am) and ended up paying for it over the last 10k where I walked, ran, rested and ran. The last 5k were pretty ugly but I made it around in a reasonable time, getting good time on my legs and can now tick off my last long run before my debut Marathon in Canberra (just 19 more sleeps away)!

During last week I got in all scheduled runs despite shuffling rest days around a little.

End of week: 11/14
Scheduled 55.5kms
Run: 55.9kms
Shins: playing up a bit lately
Mood: happy

In a moment of weakness..

2006-03-14T19:41:00.000+11:00

Poor Mrs Wobbly is laid up with a nasty virus at the moment and as a consequence I volunteered on Monday to do the weekly shopping and in a moment of weakness she agreed. No "Biggie" I hear you say?

Well let it be known that I am not then right person to send to do the shopping. Perhaps this is why Mrs W happily does it and rejects any offers I make. She normally says "Its okay I'll do it, how about you just fix the ....and do the ....this weekend" (insert any household breakables and gardening chores) - even though I generally don't have a clue on how to fix/replace/prune/transplant most of them.

Once at the supermarket the kids got sent on timed "search and retrieve" missions for the items on "mum's list" with the not entirely unexpected consequence of nearly bowling over a few frail people. We supplemented the missions with a little education on the economies of buying bigger rather than smaller. Despite many explanations however, wobblette #2 (6yo) still doesn't quite understand why the round crumpets were better value than the square ones. (hmph, women!) We also now have about a 6 month supply of toilet paper filling up two cupboards. :)

Suffice to say we enjoyed our shopping trip and I am happily enjoying all sorts of snacking stuff I don't normally get. Eg Snakes, chocolate, smoked oysters, dips, dill pickles etc etc.

Oh yeah, I also ran an easy 6km recovery run on Monday and 9.6km this morning. This morning's run was at 5:25/km pace.

Kangaroo spotting

2006-03-12T12:54:00.000+11:00

I haven't run at Churchill Park before, so a new place to run is always fun. With the temperature forecast to top 36 degrees here today, Cato picked me up at 6:00am and we headed East to the foothills of the Dandenong ranges in the dark. On the way out there Cato did a great job of describing what a great pace to run it is with dozens of kangaroos and wallabies to be seen but conveniently omitted to describe that the beautiful bush trails were rarely flat and most hills required some walking. Needless to say my legs feel very worked right now and I am looking forward to a restful afternoon followed by a couple of beers with some salted cashews. I think (I know) I need to do more hill work - its just that its soooo hard - so I avoid it like the plague!

Today: 23.5kms of hills in 2:35:41 A really hard workout but I finished strongly again but this time without a (silly) sprint finish.

End of week 10/14
Scheduled: 65.5kms
Run: 62.3kms
Shins 1/5
Toe Nails: getting another black one
Mood: Happy

A quick note of congratulations to all of the Cool Runners who completed the 6ft Track yesterday! I also hear the Cool Running Cheer Squad out-did themselves again! Huge congrats to you guys/gals too - you lot make us all proud to be cool runners!

Midweek update

2006-03-08T06:39:00.000+11:00

Monday's 6km recovery run was tough. I reckon it felt harder than the 34km run on Sunday. I didn't look at my watch at all, instead I ran at an easy pace without feeling like I had pushed hard. Turned out to be 5:45/km pace which surprised me. I don't think I have felt so dead-legged before during a run.

Yesterday was a 7km run along the Yarra river and part of the Tan over lunch. The Yarra river is looking a fantastic with all the Commonwealth Games fish and loads of people about having a good sticky beak. Even the graffiti has been cleaned up this week.

This morning was my usual Wednesday 9.4km loop with the apprentice. I started slowly with some lower leg niggles but they seemed to work their way out after a couple of kms. Surges up all the inclines and home in 52 mins meant a good 5:33/km pace - faster than I thought as the first couple of kms were slow.

Holly the ever happy lab is fast asleep on her mat right now. I love the way she curls up into a ball, she looks so content with her world

Capital City Trail + The Tan

2006-03-05T12:55:00.000+11:00

This morning's long run was my longest run to date and I approached this one with a little more caution and preparation than normal (good diet, good sleep, good hydration and 2 x Gu safely packed into the fuel belt).

Cato and I parked at Como landing and headed toward the city where a lap of the Tan was needed. No problems with that, so we followed the Yarra down past the Commonwealth Games fish and past the Casino where we bumped into AndrewinOz who was also doing the trail but in the opposite direction. A quick hello and a pat on the back and Cato and I set off to enjoy the sights of a photo shoot happening down in the park at Docklands (looked like a Penthouse shoot or something).

Gu #1 (chocolate) was popped at 15kms when we crossed the Tullamarine Freeway as we plodded along at about 5:45 pace. A pace that is a bit fast for me and probably a bit slow for Cato. Gu #2 (banana) was popped at 25kms. I was still feeling strong at that point but I was practicing my Marathon strategy and wanted to see how it went - no problems. :)

We bumped into AndrewinOZ again near Dight's falls and stopped for a slightly longer chat/drink. Once we saw the boat house (where I had parked) I knew I had the run in the bag and was feeling strong enough to put in a fast burst (3:37/km for a couple of hundred meters) without any problems.

In summary, another really rewarding, confidence boosting and undulating 34.6km run. I forgot to restart Garmin Girl midway though the run but I am sure the time was good as most of the time we were a bit below 6:00/kms.

End of Wk 9/14
Planned 65.5kms
Run 70.5kms

This afternoon we are taking the kids to the beach for a picnic dinner and a couple of drinks - I can't wait. Hopefully a brief "nana-nap" will be enjoyed first though.

Oh, for those that have been busting to know more about that aweful sculpture for a couple of posts back, here is the plaque that accompanies it. Need I say more?

Friday's negative split

2006-03-03T07:13:00.000+11:00

As most of you know I am a relatively slow runner and now that I am in the last 6 weeks of my Marathon program I have decided to get more serious about doing more quality work. The hope being that I have made a good stamina cake and now need to ice it with some speed work.

This morning was a make up run for Thursday's sleep in and missed speed work (too hot - sorry coach Tim). I got up, got ready and then slipped back into bed (in my running gear) and then realised this would be my first missed key run if I fell asleep, so I hauled my butt out of bed again, grabbed Holly the ever happy lab and took off into the dark (5:20am).

I managed to negative split by 2mins 19secs over the 13k so I'm happy. Very happy actually as its more uphill on the way back.

34k planned for Sunday - Capital City Trail clockwise this time (plus a lap of the Tan)

Have a great weekend everyone and enjoy those long runs!

End of month wrap

2006-02-28T03:27:00.000+11:00

An uneventful 10k this afternoon finishes off my longest month ever.

Scheduled: 248.5kms
Completed: 248.6kms
Missed runs: 2 (no key runs missed)
Damage Report: loosing right big toe nail, shin splints clearing, lethargy fixed
30k+ runs this month = 2 (1 in Jan)
Energy levels: restored :)
Mood: Happy (about my running)
Motivation level: medium
March focus: more quality seesions

World's ugliest sculpture - photo competition

I made mention in a previous post of what I think is a particularly ugly sculpture that I run by fairly often (in fact it marks exactly 5kms from my place)- here it is in all its, umm..."uglyness"! If you run past a worse one, take a photo of it and pop it in a blog post. Apologies to the artist but I mean really - its just crap! I do admire your ability to get the local council to buy/commission it though (having said that it possibly says more about the local council)

Sunday = another 30k long run

2006-02-26T13:12:00.000+11:00

I have tried hard to keep focused on diet and sleep this week in an attempt to replicate my successful long run from last Sunday. It worked again and I'm happry to report that today's run was as good as last week.

7am out the door to meet up with Greybeard and Cato. I seemed to settle into a decent rhythm and just ran to my Garmin pace indicator allowing the guys to get a bit ahead of me for most of the run. According to the McMillan calculator my long runs need to be at 6:00/km pace so although I could probably run them faster all the books emphasise the importance of doing them at a comfortable pace. The more I train the more I am realising the importance of the purpose and associated pace of each run. Apart from one long hill at the 26km mark where I put the accelerator down for a km I was very happy just plodding along with Garmin girl keeping me company.

I GU'd at about the 16km mark and again really noticed the difference when going through the 20-25kms. By the time I was hitting 30kms though I was getting fairly tired again. Maybe I should be thinking of a 2 Gu strategy for my marathon? Not having done one before I have no idea what people normally do (suggestions from the blogosphere welcome).

I still haven't made my mind up on a reward for finishing my first marathon (tempting fate by even discussing it I guess). The slab of beer and lots of pizza sound great right now (thanks Spark Driver), but I'm thinking of something lasting that will remind me of my "marathon journey". (maybe two slabs of beeer - lol)

WARNING - UGLY FOOT PHOTO ALERT! WARNING - UGLY FOOT PHOTO ALERT!

Big Toe nail update: Here it is - seems we may be parting company soon...

Aren't you glad you scrolled down now? (Don't say I didn't warn you!)

I'm really looking forward to a little nana-nap this afternoon.

Saturday early 10k

2006-02-25T08:38:00.000+11:00

I had a quiet night last night. Just 1 beer to mark the end of a tough working week which was good but I had pizza for dinner. Bad move - this morning I felt really thirsty and lacking in energy.

I had 8k on my schedule for today and seeing as its tipped to warm up today and it had just been raining I thought I would slip out early before little Aths. I love running in the rain - especially when its not cold. Even though I was a bit lacking in energy I plodded along and started to enjoy the run by about 4k. The rest just flew by and before I knew it I was home again. The disappearing kms....?

26k planned for tomorrow and I think that will be plenty for now. Its been a big week for me with 38kms run so far - with 26k tomorrow it will be my biggest week ever again!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Oh, I'm trying to think of a suitable reward for me if I do complete my debut marathon in Canberra on 9 April. Any suggestions welcome...

Mid-week update

2006-02-23T20:51:00.000+11:00

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the photos of the Capital City Trail. Dave - it has just two or three road crossings in Carlton (I think) but each is traffic light controlled from memory - but maybe one isn't I'm not exactly sure.

Thankfully I pulled up really well from my long run on Sunday and despite feeling tired legged for a couple of days there has been no real soreness and my Tuesday and Wednesday runs were great for working out any residual tiredness - both were 9k runs and I ran them at a comfy 5:30 pace at lunch time. Okay, so they were slightly long lunches once you add in a shower etc!

Mixing up my mid-week runs to midday instead of mornings has allowed me to get more much needed sleep this week and has taken away some of the repetition that was creeping into my training. Running the Tan again - which I haven't done for 9 months or so has been really refreshing and reminds me that I need to vary the courses I run a bit more. It is also great to get out of my cube at work instead of working all the time.

I have just got back from a great 1/2hr leg massage from a local Myotherapist. She is great at working out knots before they develop into anything more serious. Having brought forward my rest day to today I will run 10-12k in the morning and end the week on a high. That is provided I don't end up too sore from the massage!

Sweet dreams bloggers!

Capital City Trail (because at first I didn't succeed..)

2006-02-19T16:06:00.000+11:00

Today's run was 32.6kms (my longest so far) and after my dismal attempt at the Capital City Trail three weeks ago I figured I might give it a go again. This time though I had a great week's preparation. Limited alcohol (2 glasses of red wine and 2 beers all week), I have eaten some red meat and lots of mushrooms, got myself onto some B complex vitamins and managed to get some good sleep. I also bought myself some Gu (chocolate) for the 18km mark of my long runs. The end result = a great run. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions - in combination they all worked! I had a good strong run completing 30.8km in 3:02:00!

Now I have blogged before about the Capital City Trail (here) and what an awesome trail it is so I won't bother and promised to take some photos next time I ran it. Here they are some but my photography doesn't do it justice:

Lower reaches of Yarra River around Sth Yarra

Along the Yarra around Abbotsford and Collingwood

Merri Creek Section

(CC Trail on right hand side)

Next to the old tram rail in Carlton into Princess Park then onto Royal Park)

Underneath Expressway along Mooney Ponds Creek

That marks the end of week 7/14 of my program:
Planned: 65kms
Run: 63.6kms (biggest week ever)
Shin Status: Only just 1/5 (nearly gone)
Big toe nail status: Kind of yellowish under the nail now (not particularly pretty).
Mood: happy
Energy Levels: Back where they should be!

Friday make-up run

2006-02-17T17:47:00.000+11:00

I was slack yesterday and didn't run. It was one of those mornings where I layed in bed at 5:15 after the alarm went off and I just kept thinking of ways I could make up the run I wanted to miss and finally convinced myself not to run.

Today I had to pay for it - but not without another long debate.

It was pretty warm this morning (27 degrees) so I took it easy with a 10km trundle along the coastal trail to the world's ugliest sculpture (a photo will follow soon - just to prove it). I didn't take a watch as Mrs W has been using Garmin Girl on her walks and keeps forgetting to turn her off - thus she was not charged up and ready for the run.

Good news - the digital camera has been fixed. $99 was the damage - ouch! Photo of the Wobblette #2's completed Paul Frank inspired clothes stand below....

Half way into my program

2006-02-15T20:49:00.000+11:00

Okay - the graphs tell the story so far. I figured I am about half way through this program and apart from one week I have kept the effort going pretty well. With this in mind I am pretty happy!

Today I bought some Multi B vitamins to see if that can help lift my energy levels and I also slept in again - opting for a run after work. The additional sleep this week (3.5hrs) has been very welcome (and needed).

Today's late afternoon run was my Coastal Torture Trail - three sets of 70 stairs, a big boat ramp and steady pace increase up a fairly long hill. I did this with Holly and although it was fairly warm there was a nice coastal sea breeze and we finished the lot without any walk breaks.

It is forecast to be 31 tomorrow so I am going to skip speed training and see if I can get a run in early or at least by lunch time before it heats up too much. My coastal trail is a pretty hard work-out so that will substitute for speed work this week.

Tuesday midday trundle

2006-02-14T20:18:00.000+11:00

Hi everyone!

After a lovely sleep-in (relative to the alarm time) this morning, I took my gear to work and slipped out of my cube for a lunch time 11k.

While it is a hassle finding time to run in the middle of the day, I have so much more energy in the afternoon. I might try and keep this routine up for a while. Tuesday and Wednesday 5:15am starts have been really taking their toll on me and this might help a bit.

Wobblette #2 gave me a picnic hamper with corn chips, sakatas, tomato sauce and a sandwich (not sure what is in it yet) when I got home today. Its for me and Mrs W - because it is Valentine's Day. Isn't that sweet!

I redeemed myself with Mrs W for forgetting it was Valentine's Day by cancelling the movie night (Munich) I had planned with the the lads and bringing home a cold bottle of bubbles and take-away Thai.

I hope you all had lovely Valentine's days wherever you are.

Long run chats

2006-02-12T15:18:00.000+11:00

Hmm, the end of another week of marathon training and man am I tired! I think my body is taking longer to adapt to the longer kms than most peoples do due to the many years of abject neglect and abuse.

25kms was the required distance this morning and even though it was lovely and cool along the bay early this morning when we started, it really warmed up quickly and I was quite hot and bothered towards the end.

I ran with Cato and Greybeard for the first two thirds of the run down to Mordialloc. We talked a lot about the (Canberra Marathon as we ran and before we knew it we were down past pakdale and had run into a triathlon which was really interesting. (Cirque, I was thinking of you and C1 - wondering how you two were going!) Having never seen one close up, I was amazed at the expensive equipment everywhere and the frenetic activity in the transition area - it was an enduro one with three goes at each discipline and all I could think of was how confused I would be in the transitions wondering what I had to do next! There were lots of people yelling what to do though so I guess being a conformist I would do as I was told and rely on them knowing.

The pace with Ron and Rob was a good solid one averaging my dream marathon pace and I was felt reasonably comfortable doing it. Being a perpetual social butterfly, when we bumped into Ian and Sue on the way back (who were on their way out) I switched trains and jumped onto their's and ran with them for another 5kms or so. Rob and Ron were having a step back week so were going shorter than I needed to.

Once I got to about the 20km mark I really felt fatigued and once again needed a three walk breaks over the last 5km. I managed to finish the last 2kms running so I guess I should be pleased eough with that. It is starting to niggle me that I haven't had a strong long run for three runs :( The heat and giving blood haven't helped I guess.

Fingers crossed next week I will be able to muster up some more energy to go the distance strongly on my planned 30k long run! Capital City Trail I hope! Hopefully the digital camera will be fixed and I can take it with me this time.

End of week 6 (of a 14 week program)
Kms planned: 61
Kms run: 60.5
Shin pain: 2/5 (no worse thanks to ice and ibuprofen)
Big toe nail pain: 0/5 (but starting to turn an odd colour)
Summary: All planned runs completed this week
Mood: good

A Saturday saunter

2006-02-11T16:52:00.000+11:00

Today I was scheduled for 8.5 easy but I couldn't get out until mid afternoon and as it was warming up quite a bit I have to say it was just an very easy jog at my long run pace - just turning the legs over really.

My splits were all around 6:00/km and the loop I took today is a shady one that runs around Sandringham and Royal Melbourne Golf Courses. It is flat for the first 2/3rds and a bit hilly towards the end.

Mrs W is out for the night so I am cooking the kids Pasta (carb loading for me) and then probably watching an Arnie DVD followed by an early night as I have a 26k run planned tomorrow. I have been sleeping poorly lately so an early one will be blissful!

Enjoy your evening and long runs tomorrow folks!

Speed Work/Updates

2006-02-10T23:05:00.000+11:00

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement while my energy levels were low. As hoped for, they are still on the way up so I headed on down to Sandy Aths track for some much needed speed work last night with the HVT gazelles! I can tell they enjoy it when I turn up as the recoveries often start from the last person (me)!

Torture Tim was away so it was Katie's turn to keep the rabble working hard and a fine job she did too. I confess to missing some of the instructions in the second relay thingy and probably messed a few runner up along the way. Sorry guys! Seems we all worked hard though and I felt so good afterwards for having gotten down their for the first time in a month or so since my shins flared up.

Rest day today - mission accomplished

Easy 8.5km on Saturday followed by 26km+ on Sunday with Rob and Cato along the Coastal Trail (distance depends on how fast those two go).

Big Toe update: My nail was sitting at about a 30 degree sideways angle so I stuck a pin in under the nail and a gusher followed. Instantly the pressure was relieved and the nail although not a healthy pink like the other one is no longer looking deep red and the pain has almost gone completely. (Lesson learned: Always make sure my toe nails are trimmed before doing a long run.

My digital camera is being repaired so the "Wobbly" version of a Paul Frank Clothes stand photo will be posted in a week or so when the camera is fixed. Wobblette #2 wants a dog one now so that will be started this weekend.

Mid-week meanderings..

2006-02-09T14:22:00.000+11:00

Good news - my energy levels are returning! They are still not back to normal but are definitely better than they have been!

Monday was a scheduled rest day. That was easy!

Tuesday I took some running gear into work and went for a run at lunch time down along the Yarra and around the Tan. I didn't take a watch but suspect it was pretty fast (for me) as the "ponytail" effect was very strong. I used to run at lunch time a lot and had forgotten how nice it is running amongst other runners. It was a really enjoyable run. It was about 25 degrees and sunny and the elm trees along the Tan are at their glorious shady best. 11kms all up

Wednesday was an early start. Up at 5:15am and out the door by 5:25. I ran with Holly and the apprentice turned up so we had a good run and chatted about goal setting and how important it is to have them. We ran reasonably fast (for us) and the 9.4kms were steady paced with a gradual pick up along the Balcombe Road hill getting down to just under 5:00/km by the time we reached the top. Another great run.

So, seeing as my energy levels are coming back I think I will head down to speed training tonight just to remind myself how slow I am compared to the rest of the Gazelles. Its good for their egos when I turn up you see..

Saturday slacking and Sunday long

2006-02-05T15:38:00.000+11:00

Saturday was spent nursing a medium grade over-hang after the cricket and fooling around with the kids. The Wobbly-built Paul Frank clothes stand is now complete and sitting proudly in Wobblette #1's bedroom. Wobblette #2 wants a dog face for her clothes stand so that will the next project over the next couple of weeks. I had planned a 6k run on Saturday but basically was too tired and unmotivated to do it and thought I would make up for it by adding 6km to the (abridged) long run on Sunday.

Sunday morning I enjoyed a healthy sleep in and got out a little late at about 11am (it was 24 degrees and the sun was out). Went out fine with Holly and arranged for her pick up at the 15km mark. I struggled home with a few walk breaks feeling the heat and generally a bit lacking in energy. I completed the 22k but it wasn't a run where I felt strong except for a couple of kms where I upped the pace slowly to 5:00/kms and felt comfy until I hit an incline and faded quickly.

End of week: 5/14 (9 weeks to go)
Distance planned: 62.5km
Distance run: 58.5

Mood: Lethargic - probably a combination of giving blood and upping my kilometres so much over the last month or so. Hopefully my energy levels will return or I have to revise my "A" goal time from sub 4:00 to about 4:30. Time to eat more healthily and get more sleep.

Well I could still do it - but I did go slower!

2006-02-02T23:42:00.000+11:00

I slept in big time this morning and consequently missed my planned run. I spent lunch time beside the Tan track eating a sandwich watching the runners wishing I could be running too.

I passed the blood bank and felt guilty about not having donated for 6 months so slipped in. As the nurse was finishing off she said to me "Now, no tennis tonight okay"..."Huh, what about running though?" was my concerned response. "Oh maybe in a couple of days".... Wobbly mumbles obscenities at himself for not thinking about things before acting impulsively and then sits down for a milkshake and a party pie feast.

So I waited until 9:30pm tonight after drinking lots of water all afternoon and went for a slow (6:12/km pace) 15 km run along Beach Rd to Hampton and back. Its nice running late at night as the paths are all your own - well mine and Holly's anyway.

Rest day tomorrow, with the afternoon at the cricket at Telstra Dome. I'm still on track for kms this week despite my planned reduction in my long run to about 18kms to rejuvenate and recover from last week's long one fully.

Shins: 1.5/5
Big Toe: 2.5/5 (deep red for half the nail - not pretty, I guess it will go soon)
Mood: Happy wobbly

End of Month Tuesday

2006-01-31T10:13:00.000+11:00

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

2006-01-29T23:44:00.000+11:00

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

2006-01-28T11:52:00.000+11:00

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!

2006-01-26T16:18:00.001+11:00

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

2006-01-24T09:38:00.000+11:00

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

2006-01-23T22:05:00.000+11:00

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

Saturday long run

2006-01-21T13:04:00.001+11:00

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

2006-01-17T06:56:00.000+11:00

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

2006-01-14T13:24:00.000+11:00

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!

2006-01-12T23:27:00.000+11:00

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!