More Downs - No Canberra Marathon

Sun 10th April 2011
Went to Striders 10k Run at Lane Cove on 2/4/11 and ran well to the top of the hill, but started feeling woozy and wobbly kneed, so pulled off the track and sat down to recover. Not much choice really. Then walked back down the hill still not feeling the best. Didn't know why I felt like this.
On Sunday went out for a 15km solo run from Malabar, Lapa, Eastgardens and home. It was a struggle but held 4.2min/km. A few light runs through the week but I felt generally unwell., then on Thu a molar on my left side really started to hurt. My regular dentist was on holidays, so I made an urgent booking with another one. He diagnosed an abscess and said it would take root canal therapy. So he started that and afterwards said you will be fine, come back for round 2 next week.
Felt wonderful with a full load of anaesthetic but about midday it started wearing off and began to hurt. Unfortunately we were already on the way to Canberra in the car by the time my face started swelling up and the pain became intense. It was along night of ice packs and pain killers until we were able to get an appointment at 12.30 with the wonderful Dr Truang in Kambah. what an angel. After quite a bit of drilling, slicing and draining she relieved my pain. But I felt I had gone 12 rounds in the ring. Still I was able to sleep that night and go to the Waters Edge restaurant. (it was great). But no way would I run in the marathon.
Got up and watched the start of the marathon, and then went to the markets with Michele and Serena. Feeling pretty fragile. Went back to the finish to see the winners and stayed till the 4 hour mark. Very few spectators out due to the constant light rain.
Flew back that night and straight into hectic work schedule. Saw the dentist in Sydney again, and he took out what was left of the roots. No pain at all now.
Looking back on it I have been suffering a flu for the last two weeks and pushing myself at work and play ran down my defences. The wobbly knees and the tooth were symptoms. So took the rest of the week very easy. Tried to sleep and did not run.

A few ups and downs

Sat 26/3/11 took Serena to violin and ran from Sophia's via Coogee and Gordons to top of Bronte then to Waverly and along Clovelly road thru Randwick, the Spot and Malabar Rd to Sophia's. 1 hour.
Sun 27/3/11 Sri Chimnoy Centennial Park half. Pouring rain just stopped at start time. Ot was a slow race on a dead track. In about 10th place at the 16k mark when had to stop for an urgent toilet break. That took 10 mins! So I withdrew. Oh well.
Mon 28th - no run really buggered
Tue 29th went down to Pioneer about 7pm after 4am start at work at sea and 5pm finish. Ran strides and then attempted intervals. Pulled out after the first one as my legs were wobbly and I felt woozy. Time for rest. Walked home.
Wed 29th another 4am start and all day at sea, 5pm finish but a little recovered. At 7pm ran down to Pioneer for strides and then a slow run down thru Chifley around the baseball field and back up Bilga.
Thu 30th feeling much better after a quiet day at work. Ran strides at Pioneer and then 4 * 900m intervals on the top circuit. They really hurt. Was going to do 5 but used the excuse of a movie date to wimp out. Actually though I was zonked. Times were 3.10, 3.11, 3.12,3.12. Best time round here is 3.05.
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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.

The Six Foot Challenge

There is nothing like a bet to keep training interesting. My good friend and running inspiration "Corky" is starting an hour and five minutes earlier than me in the Six Foot Track, Last year she ran 5.38 and I ran 4.38 in 2009 on my last try.
So we may be finishing at the same time. I think she will run at least 5.20 so to beat her I will need to run 4.20. I don't know if I can do that, but the challenge is there.

Malabar Lapa 10k Mon 28th Feb

Spent all day out at sea. Thought I would be tired but I am strangely full of energy. Waited out some thunderstorms and went out at 7.30pm for an 'easy run' under a magnificent sunset. The legs were stiff for the first half but after 6k I ran into Bev and friend at Prince Henry then I got a second wind, and as I came back to Malabar I couldn't hold back and I ran the Howe St hill harder and faster than ever before. Strange. Thought I might pass out after I got to Prince Edward but managed to keep striding on to the end. Very pleased to have that much in reserve.

Equaliser 14k

Still felt sluggish but as the race went by felt better and better. Just wanted to maintain a good steady pace. Ran well everywhere and no trouble on the hill to finish in 66. The ran back half way down hill and came up again with Stef.
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Fri 27th Feb

Final day of marine course thank god. Michele is sick so went straight home to give serena a lift to orchestra. Then ran from the spot down to Centennial and one lap of outside track and back to spot.

Sat 28th Feb. Very tired. Out at 6.30 already getting hot and very humid.. No energy. Did slow 7k run to NSW links and back. Then went to Peats Ridge to pick up Kate's new horse.
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Malabar Lapa Circuit Wed 23/2/11

15k hilly run. Started slow at 7.30. Made it to Cathedral by 7.55 and then down to Browns Rock. No fisherman for the first time. Then feeling stronger powered across Congwong beach round Lapa and home. 70 mins all up.
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Wentworth Park Sprints

Still at super boring marine course at Glebe, nice misty rain, started with strides then got in 5 hard sprints on the grass. Not sure on distance, about 800m. First one in 2.55 and the final one in 2.30.

Mon 21-2-11 Centennial Park

Thank goodness a cool southerly came through during the night. After spending the day at the marine course I stopped at Centennial and ran 2 laps of the sand track just inside the boundary. Felt good. Ran the second lap faster. All up 13k in about 55mins.

Sunday 20/2/11

Got out at 5.30am and hoped to do 30k. But it was very warm and humid again. After 5k I new I had nothing. So I did leg exercises at the "Cathedral" as the sun came up and then slowly ran back home. Only 10k! Then off to the boring course. In the evening I had a good 8k run around the old grass skiing park opposit Honor's netball. Ran 5 circuits over the summit. A great place to run.

Lane Cove Ride Sat 19/2/11

Met Graeme at Lane Cove at 6am and did three stiff laps of the 10k circuit. It was very very warm and humid and the sweat was poring off me so badly that my hands were slippery on the bars. Good start to day though. In the afternoon visited Jan and the kids at Drummoyne. Found four black helium balloons up a tree and gave one each to the kids and Jan to make a wish with and let them go.

Wedding Anniversary Run 18/2/11

Still on the boring marine course, ran from Glebe to Neil's office at Annandale to dleiver a key and return. Pleasant 10k run through the leafy streets of the inner west. In the evening Michele and I saw the movie 127 Hours about Aaron Ralston. Was that rock trapping him good luck or bad luck? Good movie.

Malabar Hill Sprints 17-2-2011

After sitting through the world's most boring marine course for 8 hours, I got out for hill sprints up Howe St. Started with 13 strides across Pioneer Park including the knee squat (aargh) and the 10 intervals up Howe St and down Neptune with 2 minute breaks. Felt pretty crappy and dizzy but came good on the last three and ran them without stopping. After a five minute chat with Greg and Ricky finished off with slow jog around Malabar Circuit.