A few days off

Mon 21st. Achilles quite sore. Very tired. No run
Tues 22nd - Ditto
Wed 23rd - 8 strides at Pioneer but Achilles still sore. So did no more than that,
Thu 24th - Beautiful autumn evening. 8 strides at Pioneer, Achilles much improved. Ran 10 ^ 500m intervals around Pioneer footy field. Slowest in 1.48 fastest 1.40. Very stiff at first but last few were OK.

Runs the Week after Six Foot

No runs Sunday.

Monday I was back in Newcastle for work and had light 8k run from Hamilton to Lambton shops and back. Felt surprisingly energetic.

Tue ran from Hamilton through Lambton Heights to Blackbutt Reserve and back down through the Reserve, about 12k.

Wed ran thru Banksmeadow to Charlestown and back through Kotara 16k all up. Very pleasant run. Newcastle has some beauttiful homes. Buggered at the end. Bought Spagetti Napolitano from the takeway and two tubs of yoghurt and demolished them.

Thursday back in Sydney, did strides at Uni fields, but too stuffed to do any more. and walked home.

Friday pleasant 11k run to Lapa and back.

Saturday morning repeated Friday's run a bit faster but could only run in bursts. Very tired and a bit of tummy trouble.

Sunday was torrential rain so did not go to planned STAR run. In the afternoon I ran the Malabar/Bondi Star in reverse but an ankle strain forced me to walk the last 10k. I strained it just walking at work and it started to flare up during the run. So rather than push it I simply walked home on a beautiful afternoon. Very hungry when I got home.

Weight down to 71.6kg.

Six Foot Track 2011

A rather complicated plan came together and I travelled straight from Newcastle to Blackheath to meet Michele, Hon,Serena at the italian restaurant.
After dinner I gave Michele my bag and she carried on to the Jenolan cabins. Right after she left I realised I left my running shorts with her D'OH. So fortunately K-Mart Katoomba was still opened and I was able to purchase another pair.

Slept well and got to the bus stop about 7.15. Met Mike and we hung around till my start at 8.05. Had a pleasant run to the river in about 80 mins. It was sunny and warm so I dived in and swam the river.

In 2009 I ran the whole Mini Mini hill but this time I thought I should walk/run. Felt good all the way and plenty in the legs. Ran well to base of Pluvi. At the first steep pinch I walked and then walk ran to the top. Still felt good at top but arrived in 2.50. I was now 7 mins behind last time. Mmmm?

So along the Black Range...after about 1km I had left the strain of the Pluvi behind and seemed to be running well. Started overtaking a lot of people. Came upon Spud who always seems to be a similar pace to me and went passed as we exited the national park. Light rain had begun to fall, conditions were excellent. I had run the whole range and was feeling good as I got to the camp ground at about 3.45.

Then the dreaded deviation and its three hills. First hill no problem, second hill my right quad cramped and then my calves started going and it was a matter if managing the cramps to the end.

This meant stopping often to massage and walk it out. I didn't feel especially tired. So the last ten k became a constant stop start, and runners started overtaking me. Including Spud.

I could see the minutes slipping by, but I didn't mind too much. I saw a lot of others suffering worse than me.
Finally got to the downhill in a line of about six runners but I couldn't take advantage of it. Just jogged down the hill as the others pulled away.

Happy to come in at 4.47. Got a great cheer from Michele, Hon and Serena, as well as surprise from Ron Yvette Sophie and Maddy. And then Kath and Geoffrey arrived.

Delighted to find Stef at the end with a big smile having run the wonderful PB time of 5.20.

This inspired me to go back up the hill to wait for Mike and phone in his arrival to the others. He came in 5.26 a 20 min PB. What a champ!

Boy there will be some competition in that household this year.

I felt fine afterwards and played a game of ambushes with Geoffrey Maddy and Sophie at the cabins. Unfortunately cut short by a thunderstorm.

Had a lovely BBQ looking back over the track. The next day it was a beautiful morning and Geoffrey and I went on "dawn patrol" around the forest behind the cabin. Then we went to Oberon Market and finally vintage clothes shopping in Katoomba.

All in all a great weekend.
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Hamilton Tue 8th March

No run Mon. Felt like I had been hit by a bus. Maybe overdid it on weekend. Calves very tight and sore. Big day at work.
Tue I was in Hamilton. Lovely evening. Ran strides then 5 * 400m intervals on the grass in the park across from the Tudor Inn. Yowser, the legs were heavy.
Did not time them.
Then a leisurely 8k run to Broadmeadow and back.
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Striders Balmain 25k Sun 6/3/11

Beautiful morning for run. The sunrise over the Harbour Bridge from Balmain Wharf was majestic. Joined the 6.20 group for STAR thru Balmain, Lilyfield, Petersham, Hurlstone Park, Summer Hill, and back up the northern side of bay run.
Started at 5 min av. pace for first 10k and ramped up to 4min/k pace for final five.
Bit tired at the end. Last night I also snuck in 5 laps of Cerntennial in 36mins on the bike.
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Strider North Head 10k 5/3/11

First 10k since July so wasn't sure how I would go. Weather was perfect. Cool, overcast with a moderate southerly. Big crowd. Started off by attaching myself to the guys who usually just beat me. Very fast start. I didn't look at my watch much but knew I was at least a minute up at the half way.
From 5k Suffered badly from need to go to loo. I got overtaken a lot between 5 and 8k. Just focussed on each step. At 8k I recovered a little and picked up the pace. Started overtaking people. But suffering level was 9.9 out of 10. At 9k I was just hanging in there but Strider Mark popped in front of me so I hung on to his heels to the finish in 38m 50s.
Never felt worse after any event. Just lay on the grass for five minutes panting. At least I know I put in 100%.
Mike and Stef both ran personal bests which bodes well for six foot next week. The bookmakers are tipping them both for 15 to 20 min improvements.
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Wed 2/3/11 Maroubra Beach 13k

No run Tue as wacked from being at sea and diving all day.
Decided I better start running in mornings to be in sync with the Six Foot so staggered out at 5.30am. Nice easterly wind blowing with misty rain. Ran along Long Bay and down Anzac Pde, Beauchamp then Broome St then to South Maroubra. Pitch Black. Then ran length of soft sand along Maroubra Beach. Ghostly figures of clubbies runnning the other way passed me on the wide beach. We were all working to hard to acknowledge each other so we passed like ships in the night. Then continued on around Lurline to South Coogee cemetery before turning round and following my footsteps home. As I came down to Maroubra it was just getting light, and I saw another guy about 100m in front. Decided to try and catch him along the concourse. Once by him I held the extra pace to the top of Broome St and ran well all the way home. Feel good. 13k all up.