Things are not going too well

My training for Boston is disastorous. I did 25k yesterday and had to walk the last three. Bung right foot and bung left knee. Never mind. I am determined I am going to finish and get my medal in Boston.

Happy New Year

I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since the 27 Nov. I have been running but not with any consistency. My left knee is giving me trouble at the moment. I just want to get out there and run. Enough of my moaning.

I had a very wonderful Christmas, shared with my son and daughter and their families. Missed the oldest of my seven grandchildren though. He spent Christmas in Perth.

I am looking forward to the New Year. I trust that you are too. May your New Year be happy and blessed.

Rob

Struggle

I am not completely over this nasty virus yet. It has really set me back. I didn't run on Sunday.  On Tuesday I set out hoping to get to 14k, 7 out and back, but turned around at 5.5, so only managed 11. Even then I ran/walked the last 2k.

This morning I went to Limestone Park in Ipwich and did some interval training with Chris Gale's group. I am so unfit. I came home, had a shower and some breakfast then slept for 2 hours. I was so stuffed. 

Crook

:-( I haven't run since Sunday. I've been crook with some sort of virus. Starting to feel a bit better and hopefully will be right for my Sunday run.

Sunday run

I met my buddies at Park Road at 5:00 am. We ran a loop out to UQ, across the green bridge, over Highgate Hill, along Dornoch Terrace, around to and along Riverside Drive, my buddies cut off at the GoBetween Bridge and I continued onto the Victoria Bridge before heading back to Park Road. That gave me 18k at 5:38 pace, the whole of which was pain free. Maybe I will getaway without that cortisone jab after all.

A slower but better run

I did an easier 14k out and back course today. It took me a while to settle into the run. I felt pretty good on the return journey. As I reached the crest of a long hard hill a couple who were out walking offered me some water. I must have looked like I needed it. I had my own water but stopped and had a quick chat.

I averaged 5:35 per k for the run and managed a 4:52 for the last k. Feeling good at the end of the run was a bonus.

14k Loop from home revisited

In my injury free days I had a favourite 14k loop which I used to run up to 4 mornings per week. I would be upset if I didn't complete it in under 1H 10Min. I decided t have a go at it this morning. Gosh it was a hard run. It took me 1h 17min. That is 5:29 pace. I have a lot of work to do.

Sunday run

At last! 18k this morning at 5:41 pace. A fair bit of pain during the last 4 k's but managed to keep going OK. I can't believe how satisfying it was to have completed 18k. I remember what a buzz it gave me when I first ran 18k about 12 years ago.

Good to get out

It was good to get out on one of my favourite 14k runs from home this morning. At 5:36 pace it was slower than I used to run but it was pain free so I arrived back home feeling quite satisfied with my effort.

Dentist

I have an appointment at the dentist today for the start of some serious work on teeth that have already cost me a fortune over the years. I hope it won't be a setback to my training.

I did 12.5k yesterday and am hoping to do the same tomorrow. If my tooth has to come out I can't imagine being able to run tomorrow.

Let me have another crack at blogging

It is so long since I posted anything on my Blog that I had trouble remembering the name so that I could sign in. Hats off to you bloggers who have faithfully blogged year in and year out.

I have an iPad now and so have much less hassle actually getting on line.

Now, here is something I haven't shared with too many people, I have a guaranteed entry in the 2014 Boston Marathon through Travelling Fit.

I have not run or trained for a marathon since the 2012 Gold Coast Marathon. I had hoped to run my 10th GC in 2013 but Plantar Fasciitis and Morton's Neuroma (MN) got in the way. The plantar fasciitis has been fixed but the MN is another story. I have some options re the MN. A) operate and cut the nerve between my second and third toe on my right foot, B) a Cortisone injection which only lasts for 6 weeks, or C) experiment with various shoe inserts, orthotics etc.

At the moment I am working with option C and was able to run 15k this morning with relatively no pain. My previous pain free distance was around 10k. I have a doctors referral to have an ultra sound guided cortisone injection and may have to resort to this in order to build the K's needed to be Marathon fit i.e. able to finish, time is not that important. Option A) is an absolute last resort and one I am not willing to even consider.

My 15k this morning was run at 5:31 pace. This is much slower than I used to run but, nevertheless I was pleased with my effort. I will concentrate on improving the distance week by week. Hopefully as distance and fitness improve, the average pace will improve also.

Another great day

I had a really good day today helping my son, Anthony, install outdoor clear plastic blinds to his patio. I am tired and worn out but glad of the rare opportunity to spend the day with Anthony.

Out of Touch

Wow! I just can't believe how out of touch I have become.

Yes, I am still running, but only just. I am having a lot of trouble with my feet. So much so that the pain has really taken away my joy of running. This year I have run the Canberra and Gold Coast marathons and the Ipswich Park 2 Park Half Marathon. All of them in considerable pain. I still meet my friends at Park Road in Brisbane on Sunday mornings and run about 15 Ks but have not been running through the week.

I am hoping that I will be able spend the time and money to get my feet sorted out. At 60 years of age, I think I have a lot of running left in me yet. I long to be able to enjoy my running again.

Japan

My heart goes out to the people of Japan. Such devastation. Such suffering.

First day on the road to Canberra

I started from Park road at 5.30AM and ran along the Brisbane River to New Farm park and back, a total of 18K. It was incredibly humid and I really was struggling. I was very surprised to find on my return that I had run at a pace of 5:06. No wonder I was stuffed. I didn't think I had it in me.

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