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.

Back at Last

Hi Everyone,

Please forgive my long absence from my Blog. I am sure I could offer many excuses but I don't want to bore you. I have everyone had a very merry Christmas. I sure did.

I have started my training for the London Marathon. The Virgin London Marathon will take place on 25 April 2010, ANZAC Day. My late Dad was a returned serviceman. He served in the RAAF in New Guinea during the 2ND World War. I will be dedicating my running of the London Marathon to him.

On the Sunday prior to the Marathon I hope to run a half marathon in Vienna. I was tempted to do the marathon but think it best to conserve my energy for London and treat Vienna as a final long run. Normally I would run only 16K a week before a marathon but I am going to stretch that a bit this time. The marathon package has been booked and paid for through Travelling Fit and the flights to London and Vienna have been booked.

I am travelling with my friends Darryl and Michelle with whom I traveled to the Us and Canada in 2008. We will also be travelling to Germany and Finland.

Tigger's training for Cradle Mountain in February is at full throttle at the moment. She is covering a lot of off road territory and clocking up a lot of K's.

Happy New Year

Rob

The start of a tough Summer

My Mum is home again after a week in hospital undergoing all sorts of tests which did not show up any problems. She is frustrated with her total lack of energy but says that if there is nothing wrong with her then she just has to get on with life. Quite a statement from an 87 year old.

My running has been going OK over the past couple of weeks. On Sunday 8th I tackled a 28k from Park Road. My buddie Tigger was not able to run because one to the Tigger cubs was very ill in hospital and the other was very ill at home.

Thursday 12th was the Cool Night Classic, a 5.2K race in Brisbane City. I did my first CNC in 2001. That was my first ever race and the start for my running life. On Thursday I finished the 5.2 in 22m18s and came third out of 35 in the M55-59 category. I was pleased with that.

On Sunday 15th Tigger and I set out from Park Road at 5AM. Tigger has been successful in gaining entry to the Cradle Mountain 82k Ultra in Tasmania in February 2010. Yesterday was the first day with the mandatory back pack so time had to be taken to get the pack adjusted properly. this is really important and running with a pack is a vital part of Tigger's training. I anticipate some tough long runs during summer which hopefully will see Tigger ready for Cradle Mountain and me ready for a good London Marathon.

Australia's Favourite Soccer Mum

My best mate Darryl has a wonderful Mum. She is a finalist, one of six, in a competition to be voted Australia's Favourite Soccer Mum. Merle is a very special lady. You can take my word for it; Merle deserves that title. You can go on line and vote for her (as many times as you like). Just click on Merles picture for the link to register your vote(s).

Catching up.

Wow! It is over a week since I ran the Lamington Classic. What a great weekend it was. What a tough race. I have absolutely convinced myself that I am no trail runner. The idea is very appealing but the experience is is something else altogether. I found that return trip from Binna Burra to O'Rielly's on Sunday much easier than the the Saturday run because I new the trail and was able to pace myself. However, I was only 4 minutes quicker on Sunday. My total time for the weekend was 4h 51m and seemed to me to be incredibly slow. Give me the bitumen or a concrete path any day. Even as we were driving home down the mountain I saw a concrete path my immediate reaction was to wish I could get out of the car and run on it.

I missed my long run on Sunday. Robyn and I drove up to Bundaberg to visit my 87 year old Mum who was admitted to hospital on Saturday. The doctors are still doing tests to find out what is causing her stomach and back pains and fatigue. I think she is just wearing out.

Time to do some training

I think it is time to get down to some serious training. On the 24th and 25th of this month I have the Lamington Classic and on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of November I have the Endeavour 500 Summer Relay.

The Lamington Classic is run in sub-tropical rain forest betwenn Binnaburra and O'Reilly's on the Lamington Plateau which is west of the Gold Coast and very close to the Queensland / New South Wales border. We run 21k out on Saturday and return on Sunday, staying overnight in a bunkhouse. The event is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is the oldest trail run event in Australia. The field limit is 75, a special concession this year. It is usually limited to 50 runners.

The 500K relay is a fund raising event for the Endeavour foundation. I think this will be my 5th. I missed last year because I was overseas. The event is run over three days and this year will have about 17 teams of about 18 runners each. It is very enjoyable but very tough. I usually finish the weekend feeling absolutely stuffed.

Spring has Sprung

What incredibly crazy weather we have been experiencing. Heat, dust storms and gusting winds seem to be heralding a scarily hot summer. I went to bed last night during another dust storm laden with tonnes of dust from central Australia (the storm not my bed), this much milder than that on Wednesday with its choking, blinding dust, thinking that I would it would prevent me from doing Sunday long run. However, on waking at 4.30 this morning it appeared that the dust had moved on (to the Town of 1770 perhaps). I set off to Park Road to head off on my run by myself as Tigger is holidaying with Mr. Tigger and the young Tiggers.

By the time I started at 5.23 it was fairly light with the sun not yet visible on the horizon. A lovely cool southeasterly was blowing in form the coast. It was an absolutely beautiful morning for running and I felt better than I have since the Gold Coast Marathon in early July. I headed along the Brisbane River to Newstead, the mouth of Breakfast Creek in fact, and enjoyed every step of the 14 kilometers. Truly Spring has sprung. I felt compelled to greet everybody along the way with a cheery "good morning", tough not all seemed to share my sentiments.

As I headed back I hoped for a repeat of the enjoyment I experienced on the outward trip. I was not disappointed. In fact my running improved and I enjoyed it more. This was supported by the fact that my average pace continued to improve and ended up at 5.08 per K, the 28 K run having taken 2:23:33.

My total for the week was 63 K. My highest for many weeks.

Still taking it easy

I have been miserable with a rotten head cold so haven't been doing much. Even the 14 k with tigger on Sunday was a bit of a struggle. I'm starting to feel a bit better.

I have entered the 30k at Glasshouse on Sept 13. Tigger starts her 100K there the day before.

Brisbane Marathon

What a day! Winter is not officially over yet and today during the marathon we had to endure temperatures around the 30C mark. A bit of a shock to the system. However that was only secondary to the problem which slowed me the most. From about the 15K mark I started suffering excruciating pain in my right foot. I feel as though a nerve is being pinched and runs in a line form the tip of my second toe back through the middle of my foot. It is an incredible pain and very hard to manage while running. I eventually finished the run in 3:42 and was extremely relieved.

I thought the course was pretty terrible. Especially the second lap where we had to back track under the Story Bridge. That almost did my head in. The marathon recovery area a the finish was the best I have experienced in my, now, 17 marathons. They had people waiting on us hand an foot, treating us like kings.

Thanks for the encouragement along the way Robert Song. It was really appreciated.

I think the sudden high temperatures really took there toll today. There seemed to be a few causalities. Tigger stopped to render assistance to one young fellow who looked quite dreadful when I passed.