Canberra Marathon 2011

Today I entered the 2011 Canberra Marathon. The event will be held on Sunday 10 April 2011. This will give me something to focus on and prepare for. It will be my 6th Canberra Marathon and my 20th in total. Canberra is my favourite marathon and I am really looking forward to it. I turn 59 in January so this will be my last year in the 55 - 59 category. I plan to run my 8th Gold Coast in 2011 and 1 other as well, maybe Melbourne.

Still on the Planet

I hardly know how to begin. It is so long since I have updated my blog or even read the blogs of my blogger friends (supposing they still deem me as such).

After my overseas trip I seem to have completely dropped my bundle. I sure can't explain what has happened to me. I haven't been injured or sick so I have no physical reason. Though I have been functioning and keeping up appearances for work and family and some close friends anything beyond just doesn't seem to have been within my ability to muster the wherewithal to do. It's not that I haven't thought of you all often.

I ran the Gold Coast Marathon and the Ipswich Park 2 Park Half, both with little training beyond my Sunday long run.

I am hoping that the fact that I am actually typing this post is a positive sign that the cloud is lifting. I hope to catch up with you all soon.

Vienna Half Marathon

I have finished the Vienna half marathon. What a great event. The organisation is fantastic. There was a total of 33,000 competitors for both the half and full. The full also included a relay. The half and full runners ran together until about the final few hundred metres of the half.

Due to running the London Marathon next Sunday and the fact that I have been ill for a couple of days I did not run a very good time. 1:51 is is my slowest half time. The course and my times can be viewed via the link below.

Whilst running we saw a Jumbo jet fly over. That gave us some hope of getting to London which are due to do on Wednesday.

Vienna is certainly a beautiful city. The only drawback is the lack of non-smoking regulations. It makes dining out very unpleasant.

Vienna Half Marathon by robdrichards at Garmin Connect - Details

London - 4 weeks

I had a good run this morning. I headed out from Park Road with Tigger. Tigger ran 25K at Mt Coot-tha yesterday so didn't need to run hills today. We ran out to Newstead, 14k where Tigger set off back again while I continued on for another 2k before turning back. I ran 32k at 5:01 pace.

3 weeks until the Vienna Half and 4 weeks until the London Marathon.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Sunday Long Run from Park Road Milton

Back in Blog Land

Hi everyone, sorry for my absence. Life has been a little hectic.

It was good to have my running buddy, Tigger, back on Sunday. I was not feeling the best due to having spent most of the day on Saturday in the toilet......painting and tiling. working in cramped conditions took their toll on my back and legs.

Our run didn't get off to the best start. Tigger had some shoe issues so we ran via her home to sort out her inner sole. We then decided to proceed though Chelmer and Yeronga but on the way passed a sign that warned that we would be haring the road with thousands of cyclists so we turned back and headed to St Lucia. At the University there were more warning signs. We decided to not cross the Green bridge and headed back to Park Road instead. At the traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing on Coronation Drive we had to yell at the cyclists, there were many celebrating bike week, to stop at the red light just so we could cross. The run was not quite 25K but that was enough.

London is less than 5 weeks away and Vienna Half (haven't upgraded) less than 4 weeks.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Sunday Long Run from Park Road Milton

Tunnel Run

The tunnel run is over. 10.435 K in 47min 35sec. Never again to be experienced and an experience not quickly forgotten. It was a very tough and very hot run. I was so glad to exit that tunnel.

Tunnel Vision

I had a good run this morning. I was pleasantly surprised when I finished to find that I had run the 14k in 1:08. That makes me fell better about the 10k run in the Clem7 Tunnel on Sunday.

Running the Clem7 tunnel, a new 4.8K tunnel under Brisbane City, is a once off opportunity. The tunnel opens to traffic next month.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

A Hug from Tesso

During my long run yesterday, I was fortunate to bump into Tesso who gave me a hug and some encouragement.

I hadn't planned on 34K when I set out at 4:40AM from Park Road but that what I ended up doing. I was pleased with my 5:06 average pace. I am breaking in my new shoes and, as always happens to me with new shoes, the soles of my feet become very sore and painful. I have to persevere though, because I want them well and truly ready for London.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Sunday Long Run from Park Road Milton

A little cooler

It was a little cooler this morning but the humidity was still high. I ran my Augusta Parkway out and back course this morning. I felt like I was running faster than I actually did. I don't think that is good. It is better the other way round.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

Sunday not funday

my Sunday long run started from Park Road at 4:55AM. I could tell straight away that it was gong to be a tough run. the humidity was very high. Once the sun rose over the horizon I started to feel like I was really battling. I stuck to the river and the flat course. I was surprised that I was able to maintain an average of 5:12 per k. I was very glad to arrive back at Park road.

Toasty and his mates ran past me like I was standing still.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Sunday Long Run from Park Road Milton

A pleasing run

It was another beautiful morning in paradise. I ran out along the Augusta Parkway past the Brookwater Golf Course. A glorious concrete footpath all the way. I started out a bit slow but managed to pick up the pace and finish with an averae pace of 4:58 for the 14K. So I am smiling. I am conscious that London is getting closer. This Sunday I have 34K on the schedule and am still unsure as to which course I will run from Park Road.
Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

My Sunday Long run

I ran a 32K circuit from home today. It is undulating country so I found it a bit tiring. All the gory detail are available via the attached link.
Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

I had a message from Tigger this morning. She is not happy. She dislocated her knee and broke a rib at the 60K mark.

New Shoes

On Sunday 24 January I got on the wiggle.co.uk site and ordered a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 shoes. They were $100 cheaper then what I can buy locally and delivered free. They arrived yesterday and this morning they had their first run. That's not bad is it.

I recently bought a Lumix camera on line and saved over $200 against local prices. Robyn is very impressed and says I can do all the Christmas shopping on line this year.

Once again I have uploaded my Garmin to Garmin connect and you can view the course and results of this mornings run. This was my 14K circuit from home.

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Training run form Bellbird Park

31 January 2010 Activity Details for Sunday Long Run from Park Road Milton

I started my run at 4:42 but was already sweating by the time I had run 1k. The humidity was incredible and the running seemed heavy going even though running along the Brisbane River is probably the flattest course you can run in Brisbane. As you can see on the Garmin Connect link below, I ran out and back. On the return stretch it poured rain. What bliss!

Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Sunday Long Run from Park Road Milton

All the best for Cradle Mt Tigger.

London Countdown 15weeks

15 weeks out from the London Marathon.

Last week I ran a total of 71Ks. My highest for many months. My average pace for the week was 5:12 per K. I am very happy with that.

Today I ran 24K at an average pace of 4:57. I started ran from Park Road at 5:00AM and headed along the Brisbane River for 12K and back along the same route. It was getting quite hot towards he end.

My running buddy Tigger was off playing Hares and Hounds at Glasshouse. Her training for Cradle Mt. seems to be going well.

Good start to 2010

I am pleased to be able to say that I have managed to stick to the program this week. 42K so far. There is hope for me yet.