Sydney Marathon 2011

My personal best here is 3.05 in 2009 and I had hoped to better that. But instead I agreed to volunteer as a 3.45 pacer. And I am glad I did as conditions were brutal after 30k with temps over 30 degrees.
As it turned out I had a very pleasant run and for the first time in a marathon I chatted, looked around and generally had fun.
I also saw first hand the mistakes people make running marathons, many of the same mistakes that I have made.
Especially going out too hard so they hit the wall, not being trained, ignorance of the pace, no nutrition, overweight, over dressed, over gadgeted.
For the first 21ks I had a group of over 20 in a tight group around me. We didn't overtake anybody. Then we started losing people, and soon waves of runners were coming back towards us as they slowed down and we maintained a steady pace of 5m20s.
It was sad to see the forlorn looks on runners faces as we went past them. I knew how they felt.
By the start of the expressway rise I lost everybody. I made a point of stopping and walking every drink stop until finally there was no one there. In the last 5k I picked up a few people and encouraged them to hang in there, but the runners who I overtook were mostly on a death march. I have never had the time to look at the compete exhaustion of the runners before as I am usually feeling it myself. Its scary.
It made me extra keen to train hard and avoid total a state of exhaustion in the last 10k.
At the finish I came in at 3.44.56. I waited at the finish for the members of my "group" but apart from my fellow pacer Roland there was no one.
To keep the pace I had a 1k interval pace card that I laminated and my Polar watch. We got to about 40s up on gun time at the half way point but otherwise we were spot on.
Interesting experience and one I wouldn't mind doing again one day.
It was nice to finish feeling good. Next day no DOMS at all.

Mt Wilson to Bilpin 27/8/11

I really felt dead at the start after no sleep on Tue and hectic days following including diving all day Friday.
So away we went and when I saw Michele/Honor/Serena at 5K I called out "This is a crazy sport" and I meant it. I would have loved to have stopped.
So I decided to take it easy and hope for a recovery. I was overtaken a lot in the first half to the bitumen road, but then I started feeling better and was able to push along the bitumen and caught four runners. Then another three down to the river.
Up the other side I did the old man shuffle but I didn't stop. Overtaken at the top by one guy and strider Georgie. Pretty tired for the run down Bells to the finish. Time 2.50.50. Happy to take that.
In the afternoon we went to the Comet Inn for lunch and I hikes the 16k's up Lawson's Long Alley to the house at Mt Victoria
On Sunday enjoyed a pleasant slow 12k run to Mt York and back

Pymble Pushover Star Aug 21 2011

Large group turned out for this super hilly run. Most remarkable sight was a group of 12 bush turkeys just loitering at Pymble Station. Also invited to breakfast at the Sikh temple. Last hill was a killer and I walked a bit of it. Otherwise ran well.

City to Surf August 14th 2011

Up till 10pm sneezing with the flu. Completely congested so I got some Codral with pseudoephidrine from the late night pharmacy. I had to go through the hoops to get the real stuff. Michele said I looked like drug addict because I was untidy and skinny!
Anyway the pseudoephidrine was an instant fix. Within 10 minutes the congestion was gone and I woke up feeling not too bad.
Got to the start at 7.20 and stood about 10 rows back in the rain. Fortunately had warm throw away clothes and didn't get cold.
Over the mat 20s after the start. Felt dead till Rose Bay. Really struggled to 10k then started overtaking people. Came home strongly to finish in 57.38.
Then ran back to find Honor and Serena at Diamond Bay. Walked down to the finish with them and then on to the car at Bronze.

Steady Training

Thu 14th - Intervals on Pioneer Top oval. Five by 900m between 3.20 and 3.14
Fri 15th - 12 k lapa malabar circuit
Sat 16th - 20k Malabar - Lapa - Pagewood circuit. Ran strong.
Sun 17th - Rocks Push 25k
Mon/Tue/Wed no run. Blame work, Tour De France or wild weather. Take your pick.

Mon Tue 11/12 July

Mon - Easy 10k to Lapa and back. Absolutely freezing. Ran with the hoody on.
Tue - Strides at Pioneer then 5 * 900m on top oval. First time that I have felt pain free. Still not very fast. 3.35,3.25,3.20,3.14,3.16. Best I have done was this time last year 3.05. Reckon I will get back to that soon. 3.00 is a good goal.

Sri Chimnoy 10k Dolls Point 10/7/11

Very cold windy morning. Accompanied by Coach Amy. A smaller turnout than usual no doubt due to weather.
Enjoyed the run. No injuries or strains at all at the moment. First 5k in 19.30 and home in 39.30. So lost 30s in last 5k.
Did 5k cool down with strider Nick afterwards.
Through the week did slow 12k with Hon on Mon, no run Tue/Wed, Intervals at Pioneer top on Thu, no run Fri. Sat 17k to Cape Solander.

Striders Homebush 10k 2/7/11

Very unmotivated but Somehow dragged myself out. No 40min pacer today, and very few people I knew, but just wanted to run to how I felt. First 5k in 19.33 feeling the strain but OK.
Unusually I was all by myself in the second half. One guy stayed 30m in front but it was 200m to the next guy behind me. So I wasn't pushed.
At. the end I noticed an ache down left glut but Otherwise OK.

Woodford to Glenbrook 26/6/11

Almost no running for several weeks and coming off big offshore diving job there wasn't a lot in the fuel tanks.
Mike the Hammer was there and I fell in with him fir a pleasant run at a bit under 5 mins k. Mike came in for 9 min PB of 2h 1min. I then ran back 5k to meet Kayla who ran it off the couch and was struggling a bit when I found her at 20k.
She bravely walk/ran to the end. Gutsy effort.
Rewarded ourselves by going to Common Ground with Honor