Sunday morning is fast approaching and the anxiety is building. The carbo loading is underway and the little doubts are beginning to niggle and eat there way into the sub-conscious. Some positive thinking will sort them out though.
I thinking of all my friends who are doing various runs on Sunday and hoping that all is going well for them. One friend flies in from Germany tomorrow and is doing the 10K on Sunday. He'l have World Cup fever I reckon.
30 June, 2006
26 June, 2006
M762
M762, that's my GCM bib number. Now all I have to do is play it cool for the rest of the week and get to the starting line.
I ran the BRRC 10K championships yesterday. 41:35, av 4:10 pace. It helped clear the cobwebs, not as Clairie said to me about her race, "I didn't want to clear the whole spider farm!". Also, unlike Clairie, I didn't get Gold. I came second in my category. I well and truly trounced again by Ron Peters. I don't mind though, Ron is always so gracious. He is one of the running's true gentlemen.
I ran the BRRC 10K championships yesterday. 41:35, av 4:10 pace. It helped clear the cobwebs, not as Clairie said to me about her race, "I didn't want to clear the whole spider farm!". Also, unlike Clairie, I didn't get Gold. I came second in my category. I well and truly trounced again by Ron Peters. I don't mind though, Ron is always so gracious. He is one of the running's true gentlemen.
24 June, 2006
One week to go
I am heading into West End tomorrow to compete in the Brisbane Road Runners 10K Championships. It should be a very good run. I won't be trying for a PB as I want to keep myself in good shape for the Gold Coast Marathon. At this point in time I am feeling really good.
After the race tomorrow I will have coffee at Park Road then head to South Bank to collect my GCM race kit. Pretty exciting.
After the race tomorrow I will have coffee at Park Road then head to South Bank to collect my GCM race kit. Pretty exciting.
18 June, 2006
2 weeks to go
Yes, only two weeks to the Gold Coast marathon. I am enjoying the reduction in pressure the Taper brings and went ou t for a pleasant run with friends this morning. We did do 28.7K but it was nice and easy.
I am looking forward to the Marathon. There is nothing more I can do training wise so it's just a matter of waiting. I will do some lunch time runs just to keep in tune, elite athlete that I am ;).
I am looking forward to the Marathon. There is nothing more I can do training wise so it's just a matter of waiting. I will do some lunch time runs just to keep in tune, elite athlete that I am ;).
11 June, 2006
Marathon Pace....but
20 Mile race at Brisbane Road Runners Club this morning. That's 32.2 K's. I had plans of getting there early and doing 5 K before the race but arrived a bit late and only mangaed 2.5K. Just plain slack, I know.
This is the last big hit out before the Gold Coast Marathon which is only three weeks away. I had plans of running about 4:50 pace today but once I was out on the road I found I was settling into a quicker pace so decided to see how I would go. I am hoping that I might manage a PB in the GCM this year and that means running at about 4:40 pace. I did manage this for the 32.2K's today, but I didn't feel as if I had another 10K in me at that pace. As a matter of fact I didn't feel I had ioK's at any pace. I have felt pretty drained all day after this morning's effort. How I handle my taper, diet etc. over the next three weeks will be very crucial to my being able to keep up the 4:40 pace for the whole 42.2K's.
It was good to share a race with Robert Song again and a big bonus today was a big hug from Clairie.
This is the last big hit out before the Gold Coast Marathon which is only three weeks away. I had plans of running about 4:50 pace today but once I was out on the road I found I was settling into a quicker pace so decided to see how I would go. I am hoping that I might manage a PB in the GCM this year and that means running at about 4:40 pace. I did manage this for the 32.2K's today, but I didn't feel as if I had another 10K in me at that pace. As a matter of fact I didn't feel I had ioK's at any pace. I have felt pretty drained all day after this morning's effort. How I handle my taper, diet etc. over the next three weeks will be very crucial to my being able to keep up the 4:40 pace for the whole 42.2K's.
It was good to share a race with Robert Song again and a big bonus today was a big hug from Clairie.
09 June, 2006
A Long 20 Miles
I have finally made up my mind to run the 20 Mile race at West End on Sunday. That will be 32K's. I am planning on doing a 5K warmup so that will take me to 37K.
I have only had one run since the Queensland Half last Sunday. I did 11K in my lunch break yesterday (49 Minutes).
I have only had one run since the Queensland Half last Sunday. I did 11K in my lunch break yesterday (49 Minutes).
06 June, 2006
Maybe next time
I am still nursing a desire to run the Half in sub 90. My PB which I ran twice in a row, Doomben and Noosa, is 90:07. That was in 2004. Last Sunday at Doomben I ran 90:33 (official time, 90:30 by my Garmin). I would hate my watch to have recorded 89:58 only to have the official time recorded as 90:31. That would devastate me. It makes me realise though, that in oder to get an officially recorded sub 90 I realy need to aim for at least 88 to be on the safe side.
I loved the run on Sunday. As Tesso said, the conditions were perfect. I didn't think I had it in me to run the pace I did and was truly astonished (but pleasantly surprised) to be running ahead of Robert Song and Toasty - poor Toasty thought the curry would help him hurry but instead it caused him some worry and to the loo he had to scurry.
It was great having Tesso out there again at long last.
What an effort Davo and Cirque put in. Did I love that!!!
It was also fantastic to be able to cheer and be cheered by so manr CR's, running buddies and specially my friend Gidget, Darryl, Megs, Sherilee and her Dad Mark, and Dave.
I loved the run on Sunday. As Tesso said, the conditions were perfect. I didn't think I had it in me to run the pace I did and was truly astonished (but pleasantly surprised) to be running ahead of Robert Song and Toasty - poor Toasty thought the curry would help him hurry but instead it caused him some worry and to the loo he had to scurry.
It was great having Tesso out there again at long last.
What an effort Davo and Cirque put in. Did I love that!!!
It was also fantastic to be able to cheer and be cheered by so manr CR's, running buddies and specially my friend Gidget, Darryl, Megs, Sherilee and her Dad Mark, and Dave.
02 June, 2006
29 May, 2006
Where did my energy go?
After another run in the lunch break on Friday (5.2k in 21:09) I was, as usual, lookin forward to my Sunday long run.
At 5:00AM Sunday morning we set out from Park Road to do 32K. I felt pretty good and was enjoying the run, heading out along the river to Breakfast Creek at a fairly steady pace. We turned around at Breakie Creek ( a little over 14:3K) and headed back on the the same course. By the time we had reached NewFarm Park my legs were feeling really tired with about 11K still to go to mke up the 32K. I had consumed to GU's by this time and they didn't seem to have had there usual revitalising effect. I was getting wearier by the step.
We had decided to run over the Story Bridge, around Dockside, through Southbank to the Grey Street bridge and back along the river to Park Road. Running under the cliffs on Kangaroo Point I was feeling knackered, with about 6.5 K's to go. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. You would have thought I was running the last couple of K's of a marathon. With a great deal of relief I evenually made it to Park Road. My average pace was 5:34.
When I got home I was feeling exhausted. I had a shower and had to have a little lie down and took it easy for the rest of the day. I slept well last night and feel good today.....could probably run forever.
When I compare yesterday's run to my run last Sunday, it is hard to comprehend the difference. Last Sunday I was able to finish 30K with a good solid workout.
I hope it was just an Off day. I Have entered the Doomben Half next Sunday so am hoping for another On day.
At 5:00AM Sunday morning we set out from Park Road to do 32K. I felt pretty good and was enjoying the run, heading out along the river to Breakfast Creek at a fairly steady pace. We turned around at Breakie Creek ( a little over 14:3K) and headed back on the the same course. By the time we had reached NewFarm Park my legs were feeling really tired with about 11K still to go to mke up the 32K. I had consumed to GU's by this time and they didn't seem to have had there usual revitalising effect. I was getting wearier by the step.
We had decided to run over the Story Bridge, around Dockside, through Southbank to the Grey Street bridge and back along the river to Park Road. Running under the cliffs on Kangaroo Point I was feeling knackered, with about 6.5 K's to go. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. You would have thought I was running the last couple of K's of a marathon. With a great deal of relief I evenually made it to Park Road. My average pace was 5:34.
When I got home I was feeling exhausted. I had a shower and had to have a little lie down and took it easy for the rest of the day. I slept well last night and feel good today.....could probably run forever.
When I compare yesterday's run to my run last Sunday, it is hard to comprehend the difference. Last Sunday I was able to finish 30K with a good solid workout.
I hope it was just an Off day. I Have entered the Doomben Half next Sunday so am hoping for another On day.
25 May, 2006
Out and Back
Yeaterday I did an out and back totalling 12k in 57:15. No Dogs.
Today I bought my gear into work and am going to run at lunch time. I'll see how this goes. I am always a bit pushed for time. But I like running when and where their are others running too.
The dark cold mornings get a bit lonely and eerie.
After Lunch update:
I had a very pleasant run. I aran from the Edward Street entrance of the City Gardens along the River Until I had been going 20 mins. That took me to about 250 Metres beyond Oxley's on the River Restaurant. I arrived back to give me a time of 39:57 for 9.38K. An average pace of 4:16.
Today I bought my gear into work and am going to run at lunch time. I'll see how this goes. I am always a bit pushed for time. But I like running when and where their are others running too.
The dark cold mornings get a bit lonely and eerie.
After Lunch update:
I had a very pleasant run. I aran from the Edward Street entrance of the City Gardens along the River Until I had been going 20 mins. That took me to about 250 Metres beyond Oxley's on the River Restaurant. I arrived back to give me a time of 39:57 for 9.38K. An average pace of 4:16.
23 May, 2006
Running doggedly
I went out on my 12K circuit this morning. Being very pleased with the way I was running, my mind was off in Tra-la land.
There is, at about the 9K mark, a house where two very nasty dogs live. They used to have a go at me from the other side of a very dodgy fence. The big dog, something like a Ridgeback only smaller, in particular used to have a teeth bearing, viscious snarl. The smaller dog, a bit like a Staffordshire Terrier, put on a very scary display of visciousness.
One morning I ran buy and the fence had been demolished and work strated on a new fence. I could hear the dogs barking from the house. That was good. The fence plus retaining wall construction has been at standstill for some months and the dogs have continued barking from the house. That was good.
This morning I came back from Tra-la land with a thud when I heard the dogs sounding more like they used to when the dodgy fence existed. There is still no fence. There are viscious dogs very near. I kept running. I was no match for them so I used my tried and true defensive tactic. I turned and yelled at them...YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I have a very loud yell. I kept yelling. They hesitated. I ran for a bit. They kept coming. I turned and yelled. The big one stopped and turned. The smaller one kept coming. I kept yelling. I stood my ground bent over until my face was about 30CM from it's face. It was very nasty. I thought If I stop yelling it will have me, I have to keep this up until it gives up. I was thinking this dog could just lunge at me any second now but I can't turn away, I have to call it's bluff. I won. The adrenaline was pumping.
The dog turned. I ran.
The rest of the run was rather uneventful but there was no return vist to Tra-la land.
56:43 this morning.
There is, at about the 9K mark, a house where two very nasty dogs live. They used to have a go at me from the other side of a very dodgy fence. The big dog, something like a Ridgeback only smaller, in particular used to have a teeth bearing, viscious snarl. The smaller dog, a bit like a Staffordshire Terrier, put on a very scary display of visciousness.
One morning I ran buy and the fence had been demolished and work strated on a new fence. I could hear the dogs barking from the house. That was good. The fence plus retaining wall construction has been at standstill for some months and the dogs have continued barking from the house. That was good.
This morning I came back from Tra-la land with a thud when I heard the dogs sounding more like they used to when the dodgy fence existed. There is still no fence. There are viscious dogs very near. I kept running. I was no match for them so I used my tried and true defensive tactic. I turned and yelled at them...YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I have a very loud yell. I kept yelling. They hesitated. I ran for a bit. They kept coming. I turned and yelled. The big one stopped and turned. The smaller one kept coming. I kept yelling. I stood my ground bent over until my face was about 30CM from it's face. It was very nasty. I thought If I stop yelling it will have me, I have to keep this up until it gives up. I was thinking this dog could just lunge at me any second now but I can't turn away, I have to call it's bluff. I won. The adrenaline was pumping.
The dog turned. I ran.
The rest of the run was rather uneventful but there was no return vist to Tra-la land.
56:43 this morning.
22 May, 2006
Sunday fun day
I love Sundays. I love Sunday long runs. Yesterday was no exception. I left Park Road with my runnning buddies at 5:30AM and headed down river to Newstead and continued over the Breakfast Creek bridge until we hit the 15K mark, turned round and headed back the same way. 30K in all.
What spectacular running weather. It is so delightful to go out on such mornings and just enjoy the moment.
What spectacular running weather. It is so delightful to go out on such mornings and just enjoy the moment.
19 May, 2006
Even though..........
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed my run on the Magical Mountain last Sunday and I wasn't sore afterwards, I have has a tough week since.
Monday morning was on eof those Oooooooooooooooooooooooooh! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! mornings. Ouch! I was hurting. Now, that's a good thing of course.....No pain - No gain. Tuesday I was still sore so gave the run a miss. Wednesday I managed 12K in 1:00:58. Thursday I felt so tired in the morning I again gave the run a miss, then slept in, missed breakfast, and just made the train. Friday, today, I ran 12K in 1:00:31.
It hasn't been a good training week but I still alive and kicking. Next week will be better.
Monday morning was on eof those Oooooooooooooooooooooooooh! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! mornings. Ouch! I was hurting. Now, that's a good thing of course.....No pain - No gain. Tuesday I was still sore so gave the run a miss. Wednesday I managed 12K in 1:00:58. Thursday I felt so tired in the morning I again gave the run a miss, then slept in, missed breakfast, and just made the train. Friday, today, I ran 12K in 1:00:31.
It hasn't been a good training week but I still alive and kicking. Next week will be better.
14 May, 2006
Oh what a run!
I am feeling so good after my run this morning. It must the Magical Mountain I ran this morning.
My running buddy, Tegwen, and I..no one else would join us.. set off from Park Road at 5:00AM today and headed up Milton Road to Mt Coot-tha. The section from the entrance to the Botanical Gardens to the junction where the loop round the mountain (big hill really..anything a couple of hundred metres above sea level is called a mountain in Queensland and it probably was a mountain 300 million years ago) meets up is the steepest part of the run. The next section, from J C Slaughter Falls to the summit, is about 3K's of steadily climbing, winding road. It's always good to turn the last bend and see the Channel 10 sign which is illuminated and a welcome sight in the dark.
Once the summit has been conquered the worst is over but there are still a couple of smaller challenges on the way down. We completed one lap (9.6K) and then did the same again. I found the second climb a real challenge. My legs were screaming by the time I hit the top. However, it is always a good feeling to have met the challenge and be heading down again.
We returned via Sylvan Road because it doesn't have any hills. In all we covered 28K in 2:35. I was surprised how good I felt and even after sitting for a while, chatting over a cup of coffee, I didn't feel any soreness when I got up to leave.
All in all, a great morning.
12 May, 2006
Ho hum
12K in 56:34 today. It was cold but there was no chill in the air. Sometimes, not this morning, when I run through the hollows the temperature drops noticeably.
10 May, 2006
On a different path
Yesterday I ran my old faithful 12K circuit in an old faithful time of 57:01.
This morning, thinking about Tuggeranong Don's policy of running a different course each day, I decided to go on an adventure. I ran over hill and dale, well some hilly streets at least, not exactly knowing where the next turn would take me. I had a general idea of course, and did make it home eventually. I had to struggle with a few more hills than I had planned but I was taking it easy and just enjoying the experience, be it in the dark.
My total excursion lasted 1:05:05 and was 12.5K in all. I arrived home feeling good and glad I had tried something different. Thanks for the inspiration Don.
This morning, thinking about Tuggeranong Don's policy of running a different course each day, I decided to go on an adventure. I ran over hill and dale, well some hilly streets at least, not exactly knowing where the next turn would take me. I had a general idea of course, and did make it home eventually. I had to struggle with a few more hills than I had planned but I was taking it easy and just enjoying the experience, be it in the dark.
My total excursion lasted 1:05:05 and was 12.5K in all. I arrived home feeling good and glad I had tried something different. Thanks for the inspiration Don.
08 May, 2006
Slack Sunday
You wouldn't think I was training for a marathon if you saw me running yesterday. I was taking it pretty easy. In fact it took me 1:40 to run a whole 18K. I had better start getting serious.
05 May, 2006
Still working up a sweat
Even though it is cool I am still working up a sweat...probably because I am old..ish. Another good run this morning. The cold and dark don't bother me greatly. As long as I can see the white lines in the middle of the road I am right.
12K this morning in 56:12.
12K this morning in 56:12.
03 May, 2006
Invigorating
I love the cool. My run this morning was invigorating. Runs like this morning refresh my love affair with running. Sorry girls...running is the other woman...just ask Robyn.
12K in 58:27 this morning. I enjoy the return section the most because I am warmed up and feeling good.
12K in 58:27 this morning. I enjoy the return section the most because I am warmed up and feeling good.
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