With 2006 fast drawing to a close I thought I would dust off the blog and give it a spruse up for the new year! I love a new year and starting a fresh. For the past 10 years I have thought, "Heres my chance... a new year, I am going to do it right this year".... so far it is yet to happen. But that is the fun part. When I stop and look back we have had a lot of ups and downs but it has been one amazing ride! I actually struggle to reflect on this year.... so much seems to have happened. The highlights for me have been
* spending the year watching my spectacular neice grow and change
* watch my husband change jobs, loose weight, start to run and be so amazing
* see mum a bit happier
* develop some special friendships
* start the violin
* feeling happy, content and ready to start a family
Last year I set some running goals and I am ecstatic that I was able to achieve almost all of them.....
* Canberra Marathon- Goal sub 4hrs, acheived 3:48~ the most awesome experience!!!!
* Sydney marathon- not quite the time I wanted but amazing learning!!!! 3:56
* Particiapate in Cross Country season for Striders
* Half Marathon PB- I managed to take 5mins off my previous pb. 106 mins at Gold Coast and 103 mins at Central Coast.
* Run the last 4kms with Deanne in her Debut Marathon
* Sub 70min city to surf- acheived 68:54
* 5km PB- I managed to take 2 mins 20 secs off my time in the past year
Next year the big goal is to complete the 6ft track marathon and then who knows!
So I am looking forward to a year full of new challenges and experiences and once again I am sure to stuff up, make mistakes, put my foot in it, judge people and throw a hissy fit or two BUT I will also have fun, be silly, laugh way too much, love my family and friends, run, run, run and make the most of evrything thrown my way. We are only here once and who know for how long so enjoy!!
I am going to share what Ray put in my Christmas card this year because I like it :-)
" There is always some madness in Love. But there is also always some reason in madness" Friedrich Nieteche
" Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr Seuss
" All we have to deciude is what to do with the time that is given to us..." JRR Tolkien
Happy new year to you all!!!! Here is to a year full of joy and happiness and a few PB's would not be too bad either!!! Back to running stuff in 2007 ;-)
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Still here....
I just thought I should pop in and say Hi! Life has been pretty hectic recently and fitting it all in can be a juggling act and unfortunately the blog was the first to be sacraficed. Between running, work, family and the violin..... fitting in the blog reading and updating is hard! Things are great at the moment and I am loving my running and enjoying being able to share it with Ray. So the blog will be a little quiet for a while but I will try and pop in and update.
Nothing too exciting at the moment.... just lots of running. I am feeling back to my usual self and am really enjoying it. I am aiming for the Central Coast half and 6 ft track.... and a few other races inbetween.
Watch this space.......
Nothing too exciting at the moment.... just lots of running. I am feeling back to my usual self and am really enjoying it. I am aiming for the Central Coast half and 6 ft track.... and a few other races inbetween.
Watch this space.......
Saturday, October 28, 2006
CR Challenge
Friday 28th October
Today: 6km
Week:51km
Month:270km
Year:2399km
Met the girls this morning for a easy 6km run around the park. We checked on the geese....they think we are stalking them!!! I could not find any ribbons so I found a very noice pink flower for the hair....almost got sighted by radio national who were broadcasting in the park ;-) The girls are very hard to satisfy and feel that as nice as the flower was it is not a ribbon.... so watch this space for the ribbon debut.
Saturday 28th October
Today: 12km
Week:63km
Month:282km
Year:2411km
We did the CR 5km cahleenge this morning and I was quite excited because I had felt so good on thursday I wanted to have a good run today. I had decided to aim for 23mins (my best is 22:35). It was sooooo windy at the bay and the first 3km were into a really strong headwind. At one point I almost felt stationary!!! I was having to work twice as hard to maintain my pace. I felt good from the start and did the first km in 4:23.... the next two kms were slower thanks to the wind and then I tried to make up some time in the 4th km. I thought that was it for the wind, but as I ran under the bridge into the last km bang there was the wind again! the fast guys were passing me with 400m to go and I was trying to use them to drag me along. finished in 23:30 and felt really happy with my time given the wind. I felt pretty good running and my new shoes were heaven!!! Average pace was 4:40/km. It was so nice to be feeling back to my usuall self today :-)
On a side not the violin is going well!!! My lesson was heaps of fun and I have been practicing away..... I can only imagine how bad it must sound for Ray!!! So I am becoming an expert at Twinkle Twinkle little star...... it is quite the performance :-)
Today: 6km
Week:51km
Month:270km
Year:2399km
Met the girls this morning for a easy 6km run around the park. We checked on the geese....they think we are stalking them!!! I could not find any ribbons so I found a very noice pink flower for the hair....almost got sighted by radio national who were broadcasting in the park ;-) The girls are very hard to satisfy and feel that as nice as the flower was it is not a ribbon.... so watch this space for the ribbon debut.
Saturday 28th October
Today: 12km
Week:63km
Month:282km
Year:2411km
We did the CR 5km cahleenge this morning and I was quite excited because I had felt so good on thursday I wanted to have a good run today. I had decided to aim for 23mins (my best is 22:35). It was sooooo windy at the bay and the first 3km were into a really strong headwind. At one point I almost felt stationary!!! I was having to work twice as hard to maintain my pace. I felt good from the start and did the first km in 4:23.... the next two kms were slower thanks to the wind and then I tried to make up some time in the 4th km. I thought that was it for the wind, but as I ran under the bridge into the last km bang there was the wind again! the fast guys were passing me with 400m to go and I was trying to use them to drag me along. finished in 23:30 and felt really happy with my time given the wind. I felt pretty good running and my new shoes were heaven!!! Average pace was 4:40/km. It was so nice to be feeling back to my usuall self today :-)
On a side not the violin is going well!!! My lesson was heaps of fun and I have been practicing away..... I can only imagine how bad it must sound for Ray!!! So I am becoming an expert at Twinkle Twinkle little star...... it is quite the performance :-)
Thursday, October 26, 2006
She wore ribbons in her hair....
Today:10km
Week:45km
Month:264km
Year:2393km
Today we had wild wally on the program and I was a bit nervous. I have not done any hill stuff since before the marathon. We warmed up and did the drills and strides and then started the session. I had 7 reps of the hill today, which was also a first. I usually only have 5. I made sure I did not go too quick on the fisrt rep but was surprised by my time. Sean wanted us to get faster on each rep and I was not sure if theis would be doable. Linda and I were working together... she is better on the uphill and I am stronger on the downhill. I felt great today... the first session in ages that I have felt like I had the oomph to put in 100%. My 5th rep was 3:03 and I decided I would aim for sub 3mins for the last two. I worked hard on the 6th rep and when Sean called out 3:03 I could not believe it. Bernie then reminded me of the girls who ran the marathon in hot pants and ribbons and said I would have to wear ribbons if I did not do a sub 3mins. I surged up the hill but at the top the legs felt like jelly so I was not able to be as quick as usual on the down hill. I could hear Sean counting down and I put in 100% and cross..... yep at 3:03!! Can you belive it??? Well that is consistancy for you :-) So it looks like I need to invest in some ribbons :-) I was really pleased with the session. It was the fist time I had done 7 reps and I managed to keep my times pretty consistant. My best wild wally time is 2:58 so I am pretty happy with my times today!!
Splits: 3:11, 3:09, 3:07, 3:06, 3:03, 3:03, 3:03
Week:45km
Month:264km
Year:2393km
Today we had wild wally on the program and I was a bit nervous. I have not done any hill stuff since before the marathon. We warmed up and did the drills and strides and then started the session. I had 7 reps of the hill today, which was also a first. I usually only have 5. I made sure I did not go too quick on the fisrt rep but was surprised by my time. Sean wanted us to get faster on each rep and I was not sure if theis would be doable. Linda and I were working together... she is better on the uphill and I am stronger on the downhill. I felt great today... the first session in ages that I have felt like I had the oomph to put in 100%. My 5th rep was 3:03 and I decided I would aim for sub 3mins for the last two. I worked hard on the 6th rep and when Sean called out 3:03 I could not believe it. Bernie then reminded me of the girls who ran the marathon in hot pants and ribbons and said I would have to wear ribbons if I did not do a sub 3mins. I surged up the hill but at the top the legs felt like jelly so I was not able to be as quick as usual on the down hill. I could hear Sean counting down and I put in 100% and cross..... yep at 3:03!! Can you belive it??? Well that is consistancy for you :-) So it looks like I need to invest in some ribbons :-) I was really pleased with the session. It was the fist time I had done 7 reps and I managed to keep my times pretty consistant. My best wild wally time is 2:58 so I am pretty happy with my times today!!
Splits: 3:11, 3:09, 3:07, 3:06, 3:03, 3:03, 3:03
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Thats what frineds are for....
Today: 16km
Week: 35km
Month: 254km
Year: 2383km
I met the girls this morning at the park for our mid-week run.... we all had different times from 30mins to 9o mins. so we picked up and droped off all the way around the park. I had a great run.... the body felt great andI finished feeling on top of the world! We were all in fine form this morning and there was lots of banter and good fun! Somethimes I do not think they know how important there friendship is... hard to tell people without sounding like a stalker!! Bernie and Bec were moving a bit better this morning.... although we were still not very sympathetic :-) Hills tommorow **groan**
Week: 35km
Month: 254km
Year: 2383km
I met the girls this morning at the park for our mid-week run.... we all had different times from 30mins to 9o mins. so we picked up and droped off all the way around the park. I had a great run.... the body felt great andI finished feeling on top of the world! We were all in fine form this morning and there was lots of banter and good fun! Somethimes I do not think they know how important there friendship is... hard to tell people without sounding like a stalker!! Bernie and Bec were moving a bit better this morning.... although we were still not very sympathetic :-) Hills tommorow **groan**
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
800'm
Today: 8km
Week: 29km
Month: 238km
Year: 2687km
I had 800m reps this morning and I was feeling keen to have a good session after a crappy week last week. I warmed up with Bernie and heard all about her heroic effort on Sunday..... finishing again with blood flowing! We slowly warmed up to let her body adjust to the rude shock she was going to make it run after such a huge effort! We did the drills and then the strides which felt pretty good. We got going and I was surprised that I felt pretty good. My aim today was put in a good effort and try to keep the times consistant. After the 4th rep I was feeling pretty pooped and had to work really hard in the 2nd 400ms to make up some time. I felt great once we finished...I love that feeling when you have worked really hard and you feel satisfied and pooped. So there are about 6 weeks to go til the central coast half which is my next goal. I would really like to improve my 1:46:24 that I did at Gold Coast in July. I think I can do 1:45 and am going to give it a good crack! I am looking forward to the 5km CR run on saturday..... mainly tosee how Ray goes :-)
Splits: 3:43, 3:43, 3:37, 3:41, 3:39
Week: 29km
Month: 238km
Year: 2687km
I had 800m reps this morning and I was feeling keen to have a good session after a crappy week last week. I warmed up with Bernie and heard all about her heroic effort on Sunday..... finishing again with blood flowing! We slowly warmed up to let her body adjust to the rude shock she was going to make it run after such a huge effort! We did the drills and then the strides which felt pretty good. We got going and I was surprised that I felt pretty good. My aim today was put in a good effort and try to keep the times consistant. After the 4th rep I was feeling pretty pooped and had to work really hard in the 2nd 400ms to make up some time. I felt great once we finished...I love that feeling when you have worked really hard and you feel satisfied and pooped. So there are about 6 weeks to go til the central coast half which is my next goal. I would really like to improve my 1:46:24 that I did at Gold Coast in July. I think I can do 1:45 and am going to give it a good crack! I am looking forward to the 5km CR run on saturday..... mainly tosee how Ray goes :-)
Splits: 3:43, 3:43, 3:37, 3:41, 3:39
Monday, October 23, 2006
update
Saturday 21st oct
Today:2okm
Week: 69km
Month: 219km
Year: 2668km
Ray and I headed to Lane cove to do our long run today instead of the internal half tommorow. We ran teh 10km course and then another 10km in the bush and all over the place. It was perfect weather to run, nice and cool. There were a couple of cyclists doing laps in the park and one of them was particularly bad on the hills. They hooned past us on the way out and then we caught her running up Scribbly and then again on the other hill. She said to us ...."how embarrasing being caught by runners..." I just reassured her we were super fast :-) Over all covered 20km in 1hr 55min.
Sunday 22nd October
Rest day :-) We helped out at the internal half today which was really fun! Deanne and I went with a green and white them and made cupcakes and muffins and spounge cake and iced them in green and white. We also got green m&m's and milo bars (green paper).... plus all the healthy stuff! Seemed to go off pretty well and my highlight of the day was watching Deanne keep guard while I sliced the cakes, swating Indian Miners with a red flag!!
Modnay 23rd October
Today: 11km
Week:11km
Month: 230km
Year: 2679km
Ray and I went for a run nice and early this morning..... after I coaxed (dragged) him out of bed :-) Nothing too exciting to report, just a spectacular morning and good company! We ran 11km in 1hr. I am desparately needing to get new shoes this week and try to arrange a massage! I have my first violin lesson tonight and I am a bit nervous!! I have not played for 15years!!!! The teacher also told me I will have to play in the Christmas concert to build my confidence!!! How will having a bunch of younger kids whip my butt help with my confidence.... a lot like running with Sean really!!! Should be fun..... so Ray will need his ear muffs handy from tonight!!
Today:2okm
Week: 69km
Month: 219km
Year: 2668km
Ray and I headed to Lane cove to do our long run today instead of the internal half tommorow. We ran teh 10km course and then another 10km in the bush and all over the place. It was perfect weather to run, nice and cool. There were a couple of cyclists doing laps in the park and one of them was particularly bad on the hills. They hooned past us on the way out and then we caught her running up Scribbly and then again on the other hill. She said to us ...."how embarrasing being caught by runners..." I just reassured her we were super fast :-) Over all covered 20km in 1hr 55min.
Sunday 22nd October
Rest day :-) We helped out at the internal half today which was really fun! Deanne and I went with a green and white them and made cupcakes and muffins and spounge cake and iced them in green and white. We also got green m&m's and milo bars (green paper).... plus all the healthy stuff! Seemed to go off pretty well and my highlight of the day was watching Deanne keep guard while I sliced the cakes, swating Indian Miners with a red flag!!
Modnay 23rd October
Today: 11km
Week:11km
Month: 230km
Year: 2679km
Ray and I went for a run nice and early this morning..... after I coaxed (dragged) him out of bed :-) Nothing too exciting to report, just a spectacular morning and good company! We ran 11km in 1hr. I am desparately needing to get new shoes this week and try to arrange a massage! I have my first violin lesson tonight and I am a bit nervous!! I have not played for 15years!!!! The teacher also told me I will have to play in the Christmas concert to build my confidence!!! How will having a bunch of younger kids whip my butt help with my confidence.... a lot like running with Sean really!!! Should be fun..... so Ray will need his ear muffs handy from tonight!!
Friday, October 20, 2006
I need more Bran!!!
Time flies when your working, buying a new car, running, learning violin, playing with your neice etc etc! I have been so slack with the blogging and after a few lovely enquiries checking I had not fallen off the face of the earth I thought I had better update :-) I took the week off from training and have just enjoyed running around home and keeping it nice and relaxed. I was feeling a bit flat and needed to have a break and recharge the batteries. I need more Bran ion this blog to keep me regular!!!
Friday 13th october- Easy 6km run. Nothing spooky happened.
Saturday 14th October- 12km. We drove down to Fitzroy falls in the lovely new car to do the 10km off raod race through the fire trails in the bush. It was about 35 degress and soooooo HOT!!! Ray ran with me to keep me motivated and it was a tough run! Bernie had promised it was not too hilly, but running must be like childbirth and you forget the pain once you finish! I swore at Ray the whole time..... especially when on one hill he was walking as fast as I was running!! But he kept me going and believe me I really wanted to stop! The hills just seemed to keep coming.... I have no idea how they ran a marathon on that.... yuck!! I put in a big effort in the last km to pass a lady I had been tossling with and finished 53:30. No where near my 10km time, but I was really happy with my effort. I had not a drop left to give and I was so happy not to stop and walk on the hills! A bit scary to think that 6ft will be 35 more km of that!!!
Sunday 15th October- 20km (am) and 2km (pm)
If yesterday was not enough hills Ray and I headed out in search of a few more. We missed the star because we needed a sleep in so got out to run just after 8am. We started at the park and ran to Coogee and then along the coastal path to Bondi, back up Bondi Rd, through Queens park and back in Centenail park to finish off the 20km. We kept a good pace and averaged 5:50 for the whole run. The legs were pretty tired and Bondi Rd was cruel after so many hills! In the evening we took Bec for a run. She ran for 1km and then walked a little way and then we made her run for 1.5km without stopping! She did really well and ran at about 6:30 pace! The goal is to be running 4km for the Australia day run! She is on her way!!
Week: 71km
Month: 149.5km
Year:2598.5km
Monday 16th October
Today: 10km
Week:10km
Month: 159.5km
Year: 2608.5km
Easy 10km run around the area. Tried to avoid hills unsuccessfully, but then told myself to stop whinging it would all help with 6ft!
Tuesday 17th October
Today: 10km
Week: 20km
Month: 169.5km
Year: 2618.5km
Today started really badly.... I had a terrible night sleep and we then got ready for training and I had lost the car keys!! Spent the next 30mins looking for then and then got back into bed.... too late for training. I then decided to take the rest of the week off training and recharge the batteries. I ran in the afternoon with Ray and had a great runa round the are. He sets a good pace and kept me honest, hovering around 5:30 pace.
Wednesday 18th October
Today: 14km
Week: 34km
Month: 183.5km
Year: 2632.5km
I had 1hr 18mins on the program.... go figure??? That was meant to be 13km but I ended up doing 14km in the same time. It was really hot this evening and I was pretty happy to finish! I forgot how annoying the flies are!! Again averaged about 5:35/km pace.... legs are feeling pretty good!
Thursday 19th October
Today: 10km
Week: 44km
Month: 194km
Year: 2643km
I set out tonight thinking I felt really tired and not keen to run, but once I got going I felt really good! It was much cooler and there was a nice breeze. I jsut decided to head out and run where I felt like and see where I went and for how long. I ended up with 10km average pace 5:28/km. I felt so much mroe relaxed when I got home..... and then was greeted with a really nice bunch of flowers!!!
Friday 20th October
Today: 5km
Week: 49km
Month: 199km
Year: 2648km
Ray and I met Bernie, Kulinda, Kerry at the park and had a really easy 5km run around the park. We checked on the baby gooslings.... amke sure DJ has not BBqéd any (heheh) and gossiped our way around the park. My lower back was sore today and I could feel evry footfall, I think it is time for some new shoes!!! I am going to do my long run tommoroe because I have agreed to host the internal half on Sunday!! Deanne and I are going to bake some green and white goodies!!
Well that was a marathon blog!!! Sorry to all of you who percievered and read the lot! I promise to be more regular!!
Friday 13th october- Easy 6km run. Nothing spooky happened.
Saturday 14th October- 12km. We drove down to Fitzroy falls in the lovely new car to do the 10km off raod race through the fire trails in the bush. It was about 35 degress and soooooo HOT!!! Ray ran with me to keep me motivated and it was a tough run! Bernie had promised it was not too hilly, but running must be like childbirth and you forget the pain once you finish! I swore at Ray the whole time..... especially when on one hill he was walking as fast as I was running!! But he kept me going and believe me I really wanted to stop! The hills just seemed to keep coming.... I have no idea how they ran a marathon on that.... yuck!! I put in a big effort in the last km to pass a lady I had been tossling with and finished 53:30. No where near my 10km time, but I was really happy with my effort. I had not a drop left to give and I was so happy not to stop and walk on the hills! A bit scary to think that 6ft will be 35 more km of that!!!
Sunday 15th October- 20km (am) and 2km (pm)
If yesterday was not enough hills Ray and I headed out in search of a few more. We missed the star because we needed a sleep in so got out to run just after 8am. We started at the park and ran to Coogee and then along the coastal path to Bondi, back up Bondi Rd, through Queens park and back in Centenail park to finish off the 20km. We kept a good pace and averaged 5:50 for the whole run. The legs were pretty tired and Bondi Rd was cruel after so many hills! In the evening we took Bec for a run. She ran for 1km and then walked a little way and then we made her run for 1.5km without stopping! She did really well and ran at about 6:30 pace! The goal is to be running 4km for the Australia day run! She is on her way!!
Week: 71km
Month: 149.5km
Year:2598.5km
Monday 16th October
Today: 10km
Week:10km
Month: 159.5km
Year: 2608.5km
Easy 10km run around the area. Tried to avoid hills unsuccessfully, but then told myself to stop whinging it would all help with 6ft!
Tuesday 17th October
Today: 10km
Week: 20km
Month: 169.5km
Year: 2618.5km
Today started really badly.... I had a terrible night sleep and we then got ready for training and I had lost the car keys!! Spent the next 30mins looking for then and then got back into bed.... too late for training. I then decided to take the rest of the week off training and recharge the batteries. I ran in the afternoon with Ray and had a great runa round the are. He sets a good pace and kept me honest, hovering around 5:30 pace.
Wednesday 18th October
Today: 14km
Week: 34km
Month: 183.5km
Year: 2632.5km
I had 1hr 18mins on the program.... go figure??? That was meant to be 13km but I ended up doing 14km in the same time. It was really hot this evening and I was pretty happy to finish! I forgot how annoying the flies are!! Again averaged about 5:35/km pace.... legs are feeling pretty good!
Thursday 19th October
Today: 10km
Week: 44km
Month: 194km
Year: 2643km
I set out tonight thinking I felt really tired and not keen to run, but once I got going I felt really good! It was much cooler and there was a nice breeze. I jsut decided to head out and run where I felt like and see where I went and for how long. I ended up with 10km average pace 5:28/km. I felt so much mroe relaxed when I got home..... and then was greeted with a really nice bunch of flowers!!!
Friday 20th October
Today: 5km
Week: 49km
Month: 199km
Year: 2648km
Ray and I met Bernie, Kulinda, Kerry at the park and had a really easy 5km run around the park. We checked on the baby gooslings.... amke sure DJ has not BBqéd any (heheh) and gossiped our way around the park. My lower back was sore today and I could feel evry footfall, I think it is time for some new shoes!!! I am going to do my long run tommoroe because I have agreed to host the internal half on Sunday!! Deanne and I are going to bake some green and white goodies!!
Well that was a marathon blog!!! Sorry to all of you who percievered and read the lot! I promise to be more regular!!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Farting around the park....
Today: 8km
Week: 35km
Month: 113.5km
Year: 2562.5km
Today was a fartlek session and I had to do 4 1km loops.....but on hearing that those of us racing on saturday we could do 3! Woo Hoo! That suited me as I am still not feeling back to my usual self yet. The session actually went really well and I was not feeling as tired as I thought. I planned to put in a hard effort but not 100%. The first lap I could really feel last nights leg work out but then it faded away. I fished the 3km in 14:25 and averaged 4:50/km. Ray did the 4 laps and had his first nipple chaffing..... makes me so proud :-) He averaged just under 4:30/km and looked pretty cruisy. The girls even got a flash of his hairy belly.... hehe nothing is sacred!! I might book him a day at the waxer!
I got the violin last night.... very exciting! Ray looks lovely in his ear muffs, although I thought a bit over the top that he kept them on through dinner ;-)
Week: 35km
Month: 113.5km
Year: 2562.5km
Today was a fartlek session and I had to do 4 1km loops.....but on hearing that those of us racing on saturday we could do 3! Woo Hoo! That suited me as I am still not feeling back to my usual self yet. The session actually went really well and I was not feeling as tired as I thought. I planned to put in a hard effort but not 100%. The first lap I could really feel last nights leg work out but then it faded away. I fished the 3km in 14:25 and averaged 4:50/km. Ray did the 4 laps and had his first nipple chaffing..... makes me so proud :-) He averaged just under 4:30/km and looked pretty cruisy. The girls even got a flash of his hairy belly.... hehe nothing is sacred!! I might book him a day at the waxer!
I got the violin last night.... very exciting! Ray looks lovely in his ear muffs, although I thought a bit over the top that he kept them on through dinner ;-)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tuesday 10th October
Today: 11km
Week: 11km
Month: 89.5km
YEar: 2538.5km
Ray and I ignored the alarm this morning and decided to run this afternnon instead. We met Berni and did an 11km loop from Olds Park in Peakhurst, through Mortdale, Oatley and across the bridge to Como and back. It was a really pleasant run and there were quite a few ups and downs to make up for the missed session :-) We ran at a nice slow pace and averaged about 5:55/km.
Wednesday 11th October
Today: 16km
Week: 27km
Month: 105.5km
Year: 2554.5km
This morning I met up with Kerry and Bernie at the park for 16kms. We stayed pretty much in the park and it was a brilliant way to start the day. We ran in all sorts of directions searching out new parts of the park... we even had a hobit like moment as we ran through some pine trees. This week we were admiring the cute little baby geese instead of the swans! I even confronted my childhood fear of nasty geese and got up pretty close for a sticky beak. We averaged about 5: 42/km.
Now I must mention the brilliant debut run of my sister on Sunday. In all my excitment I forgot :-) We bullied her around for a grand total of 2.5kms. And she managed her first full km in 6:20 secs! Not too shabby given that was her first km and she has not attempted to run in over 4 weeks! I will get her running yet!
Today: 11km
Week: 11km
Month: 89.5km
YEar: 2538.5km
Ray and I ignored the alarm this morning and decided to run this afternnon instead. We met Berni and did an 11km loop from Olds Park in Peakhurst, through Mortdale, Oatley and across the bridge to Como and back. It was a really pleasant run and there were quite a few ups and downs to make up for the missed session :-) We ran at a nice slow pace and averaged about 5:55/km.
Wednesday 11th October
Today: 16km
Week: 27km
Month: 105.5km
Year: 2554.5km
This morning I met up with Kerry and Bernie at the park for 16kms. We stayed pretty much in the park and it was a brilliant way to start the day. We ran in all sorts of directions searching out new parts of the park... we even had a hobit like moment as we ran through some pine trees. This week we were admiring the cute little baby geese instead of the swans! I even confronted my childhood fear of nasty geese and got up pretty close for a sticky beak. We averaged about 5: 42/km.
Now I must mention the brilliant debut run of my sister on Sunday. In all my excitment I forgot :-) We bullied her around for a grand total of 2.5kms. And she managed her first full km in 6:20 secs! Not too shabby given that was her first km and she has not attempted to run in over 4 weeks! I will get her running yet!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Update!
The last blog was only 5 days ago but it feels like an eternity!! The last 5 days have felt like a whirlwind! The week before the marathon I had something happen between myself and my Dad which has caused me a lot of stress! I have found it really hard to just keep bouncing along like usual and it really got under my skin. Thankfully I am feeling back on top of things and I have to be so thankful for such wonderful family and friends. My lovely husband and sister have kept me afloat and I can not really express to them what they mean. But the other saving grace has been some brilliant people in my life whom I run and chat with all the time. I will not name and embarress them but they know who they are :-)
Then on saturday at the striders run Ellie gave me a little book which was FANTASTIC!!!! It is called "The little book of Joy" and it gave me heaps to think about. Life is too short so I did two things I have been mulling about for a while. I bought a brand new car and a viloin! I used to learn the violin when I was younger and then stoped which I have regretted. So in the spirit of making the most of life I am going to learn again!! I am really excited about this and can not wait for it to arrive! We have been thinking about a car for a while and finally made the plunge!! So a snazzy new red holden is on the way :-)
The other great thing was running withEllie and a few girls at the striders 10km race on Saturday. Now it was a tough day and Ellie had a hard run BUT I found it such a fantastic experience to run with them and have the chance to encourage someone. sometimes the focus is on how fast, what was the time, was it a pb??? I just really enjoyed running with the girls, mucking about and having fun!
So enough soul searching and I will update the running stuff :-)
Friday 6th october
5km easy run with Ray
Saturday 7th October
2km warm up, 10km race. Deanne and I ran with Ellie and some others and finished in 56:56. This was not the pb Ellie wanted but she certainly had a gutsy run and finished with style!!
Sunday 8th October
Week: 68.5km
Month: 78.5km
Year: 2527.5km
2hr run with the girls! We covered 20km and it was hot and tough!! We were all tired and there was a fair bit of grumping and swearing :-) hehehe we finished in one peice and then had a yummy breakfast and swim at Clovelli.
Monday9th October
Rest day!!
So this week feels like a bit of a new start!! I am feeling happier and relaxed again and am looking forward to the next 6months and the build up to 6ft!
Then on saturday at the striders run Ellie gave me a little book which was FANTASTIC!!!! It is called "The little book of Joy" and it gave me heaps to think about. Life is too short so I did two things I have been mulling about for a while. I bought a brand new car and a viloin! I used to learn the violin when I was younger and then stoped which I have regretted. So in the spirit of making the most of life I am going to learn again!! I am really excited about this and can not wait for it to arrive! We have been thinking about a car for a while and finally made the plunge!! So a snazzy new red holden is on the way :-)
The other great thing was running withEllie and a few girls at the striders 10km race on Saturday. Now it was a tough day and Ellie had a hard run BUT I found it such a fantastic experience to run with them and have the chance to encourage someone. sometimes the focus is on how fast, what was the time, was it a pb??? I just really enjoyed running with the girls, mucking about and having fun!
So enough soul searching and I will update the running stuff :-)
Friday 6th october
5km easy run with Ray
Saturday 7th October
2km warm up, 10km race. Deanne and I ran with Ellie and some others and finished in 56:56. This was not the pb Ellie wanted but she certainly had a gutsy run and finished with style!!
Sunday 8th October
Week: 68.5km
Month: 78.5km
Year: 2527.5km
2hr run with the girls! We covered 20km and it was hot and tough!! We were all tired and there was a fair bit of grumping and swearing :-) hehehe we finished in one peice and then had a yummy breakfast and swim at Clovelli.
Monday9th October
Rest day!!
So this week feels like a bit of a new start!! I am feeling happier and relaxed again and am looking forward to the next 6months and the build up to 6ft!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Laps of the lake.
Today: 10km
Week: 31.5km
Month: 41.5km
Year: 2490.5km
Another tough session this morning!! I have no idea how some people can baounce back after a marathon so quickly???? I am feeling really good, no injuries and feel like I could run all day at 5:30 pace BUT try to go quicker and my heart rate sky rockets and I feel crap!! Today we had speed work around the lake. The lake loop according to the garmin was 1.5kms. I had to do 2 laps with a recovery and then 1 lap. After the first lap of the lake I was feeling pretty pooped but just focused on Bec in fron of me to maintain my pace. So I did the first 2 laps in 13:55. Ray had done 3 laps and had ran really well..... but it meant he got no recovery at all before Sean sent us off for the next lap. That is TOUGH!!! Deanne and I worked together in the last lap... both of us are not a 100% at the moment. As we got to the final 200ms I egged her on and we put in a big surge to finish and crossed the line together :-) The single lap was 6:58. For the 3 loops we averaged 4:48/km pace..... but it felt like we were running much harder than that!!! I tell you what I am looking forward to feeling back yo my usual self... not that I am impatient :-)
Week: 31.5km
Month: 41.5km
Year: 2490.5km
Another tough session this morning!! I have no idea how some people can baounce back after a marathon so quickly???? I am feeling really good, no injuries and feel like I could run all day at 5:30 pace BUT try to go quicker and my heart rate sky rockets and I feel crap!! Today we had speed work around the lake. The lake loop according to the garmin was 1.5kms. I had to do 2 laps with a recovery and then 1 lap. After the first lap of the lake I was feeling pretty pooped but just focused on Bec in fron of me to maintain my pace. So I did the first 2 laps in 13:55. Ray had done 3 laps and had ran really well..... but it meant he got no recovery at all before Sean sent us off for the next lap. That is TOUGH!!! Deanne and I worked together in the last lap... both of us are not a 100% at the moment. As we got to the final 200ms I egged her on and we put in a big surge to finish and crossed the line together :-) The single lap was 6:58. For the 3 loops we averaged 4:48/km pace..... but it felt like we were running much harder than that!!! I tell you what I am looking forward to feeling back yo my usual self... not that I am impatient :-)
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
A great way to start the day!!!
Today: 13.5km
Week: 21.5km
Month: 32.5km
Year: 2480.5km
When the alarm went off at 4:40am this morning I was seriously questioning my sanity! I dragged myself to Centenial Park feeling really unmotivated. Work has been really busy and some personal suff has been stressing me out ++ so I was feeling really flat today. That is until I met up with Deanne, Bernie, Kulinda, Kerry, Bec, Horrie and Belinda. We had a really great run! The sun was up early and the park was full of runners and walkers and all the cute little baby swans! By the time I got to my desk this morning I felt great.... shame I have to stay at work though ;-) It took me a few kms to warm up after I found some new ab muscles which were complaining about last nights fit ball class!! Once they stopped whinging the run was a really comfy pace. Overall we covered 13.5km in 1hr 15 mins. Average pace 5:35/km.
Week: 21.5km
Month: 32.5km
Year: 2480.5km
When the alarm went off at 4:40am this morning I was seriously questioning my sanity! I dragged myself to Centenial Park feeling really unmotivated. Work has been really busy and some personal suff has been stressing me out ++ so I was feeling really flat today. That is until I met up with Deanne, Bernie, Kulinda, Kerry, Bec, Horrie and Belinda. We had a really great run! The sun was up early and the park was full of runners and walkers and all the cute little baby swans! By the time I got to my desk this morning I felt great.... shame I have to stay at work though ;-) It took me a few kms to warm up after I found some new ab muscles which were complaining about last nights fit ball class!! Once they stopped whinging the run was a really comfy pace. Overall we covered 13.5km in 1hr 15 mins. Average pace 5:35/km.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The tortoise and the hare....
Today: 8km
Week: 8km
Month: 19km
Year: 2467km
Well I was definately the tortoise today!!! We had 6 x 800m reps on the program and I was not looking forward to it. The oval is off limits at the moment so Sean had marked out a path around the park. We all started in different spots with the faster guys doing the longer reps. The forst 800ms I felt pretty good and was happy with my 3:28. It then just got worse each 800ms. The final one I felt like a tortoise with hundreds of hares! Ray came this morning and seemed to really enjoy chasing the faster guys. I pulled the pin after 4 reps.... there just did not seem to be anything gained by grinding out two more crappy 800ms. I think it is far smarter to just to listen to my body and back off when I need to. Then cindy finished with a hilarious tale about Sean misreading my email and thinking I had run 20:30 for the 5km! I can not believe he even took that seriously..... nice that he thinks it possible one day ;-) In my dreams perhaps!!
800m's- 3:28, 3:32, 3:35, 3:35
Week: 8km
Month: 19km
Year: 2467km
Well I was definately the tortoise today!!! We had 6 x 800m reps on the program and I was not looking forward to it. The oval is off limits at the moment so Sean had marked out a path around the park. We all started in different spots with the faster guys doing the longer reps. The forst 800ms I felt pretty good and was happy with my 3:28. It then just got worse each 800ms. The final one I felt like a tortoise with hundreds of hares! Ray came this morning and seemed to really enjoy chasing the faster guys. I pulled the pin after 4 reps.... there just did not seem to be anything gained by grinding out two more crappy 800ms. I think it is far smarter to just to listen to my body and back off when I need to. Then cindy finished with a hilarious tale about Sean misreading my email and thinking I had run 20:30 for the 5km! I can not believe he even took that seriously..... nice that he thinks it possible one day ;-) In my dreams perhaps!!
800m's- 3:28, 3:32, 3:35, 3:35
Monday, October 02, 2006
Wake me when September ends!
Sunday 31st September
Today: 11km
Week: 56km
Month: 274km
Year: 2459km
After a fantastic dinner to celebrate Owl and Tesso's birthdat I was quite happy to only have an hour on the program. Ray had 2 hours so we got to the park at 7am and he and Deanne took off for their first hour and would meet me again at 8am. I took my fit ball with me and spent the next 45 mins in the sun and fresh air doing my core and strength exercises. What a brilliant way to exercise!!! so much nice than stuck in the gym thats for sure. It amazes me how versatile the fit ball and theraband is.....you can pretty much do all the exercises you do in the gym with weights and machines. The best thing is the ball makes you use all your abs for all of them.
Ray and Deanne picked me up for the second hour and we did the outside l;oop of the park in reverse. It was such a perfect day and I just loved being out in the sun with Ray and my very special friend Deanne! Seeing we were running later in the morning by the time we got back to the car I was STARVING!!!! I was so hungary I was salivating at the thought of my bran flakes.... a bit sad I know!!!
We finished off the day at my sisters and had a wonderful day with my precious neice. We played, we sang, I got projectile vommitted on...... all good fun!! She makes you appreciate what is truely important. She makes me appreciate Ray and my wonderful mum and sister sooooo much!
Now bring on October!!!!!
Today: 11km
Week: 56km
Month: 274km
Year: 2459km
After a fantastic dinner to celebrate Owl and Tesso's birthdat I was quite happy to only have an hour on the program. Ray had 2 hours so we got to the park at 7am and he and Deanne took off for their first hour and would meet me again at 8am. I took my fit ball with me and spent the next 45 mins in the sun and fresh air doing my core and strength exercises. What a brilliant way to exercise!!! so much nice than stuck in the gym thats for sure. It amazes me how versatile the fit ball and theraband is.....you can pretty much do all the exercises you do in the gym with weights and machines. The best thing is the ball makes you use all your abs for all of them.
Ray and Deanne picked me up for the second hour and we did the outside l;oop of the park in reverse. It was such a perfect day and I just loved being out in the sun with Ray and my very special friend Deanne! Seeing we were running later in the morning by the time we got back to the car I was STARVING!!!! I was so hungary I was salivating at the thought of my bran flakes.... a bit sad I know!!!
We finished off the day at my sisters and had a wonderful day with my precious neice. We played, we sang, I got projectile vommitted on...... all good fun!! She makes you appreciate what is truely important. She makes me appreciate Ray and my wonderful mum and sister sooooo much!
Now bring on October!!!!!
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Update!
Well I have had a really great two week recovery! I have spent the time resting, sleeping in and doing lots of relaxed easy runs. It has been so nice to just run for the love of it and not worry about time, hills, reps, splits etc! The legs have felt really good and thankfully no niggles or injuries to report ( touch wood!). I did not bother to blog because it would have been pretty boring reading " another easy run...". I am going back to training next week and am really looking forward to getting stuck back into it and aim for the Central Coast half and ultimately 6ft track in March. I have spent a fair bit of time in the gym on the fitball and really working hard to get really strong in the core and butt/legs. I am hoping that will help me with all those long hard hills come march :-)
Past 7 days: 61km
Month: 263km
Year: 2448km
Saturday 30th September
Today: 12km
Week: 45km
Month: 263km
Year: 2448km
This morning was the CR 5km challenge. The legs were feeling really good and I was not sure if I should try to race it or just have a relaxed run. I am wanting to run the 10km next week so opted to run with the 28min group. As we lined up I notice Ellie was also running 28min group. Now seeing I train twice a week with Ellie I was pretty sure that she could do under 26mins. I asked her what she wanted to do and under 26mins was the goal. so I decided to run with her and encourage her to get in under the time. Now I am not a good pacer and so I kept a close eye on our pace, which was pretty even. We hovered around the 5:05 pace and I kept encouring Ellie that if she could try and maintain what she was doing she would easily come in under 26mins. I probably drove her crazy but she was running like a champ and did not have a lot of breath to tell me to shut up! I was so impressed she really dug in and worked really hard.... with no complaints! Far more graceful than me!! We got to 2km to go and I told her this was just 7 laps of Mckay oal which she has done a heap of times! She picked it up and crossed the line in 25:39! It was so much fun to run with her and share the PB!!! I have no doubt Miss Ellie will improve a heap in the next few months.... it is amazing what happens when you know you can do it!!
Splits: 5:05, 5:00, 5:07, 4:59, 5:10, 16sec (72m) Average 5:03/km
Well done Ellie!!! Then we got to cheer the faster guys home..... which included Ray flying home for a 20:30!!! Thats about a 1min 30sec pb!! He ran so well and is improving evry week!! It is so much fun watching him run and improve! I am so proud of him!!! But I will let him describe his run :-) A huge thanks to Blue Dog for pacing him.... after a 4hour training run the day before- the effort is soooo appreciated!!!
Past 7 days: 61km
Month: 263km
Year: 2448km
Saturday 30th September
Today: 12km
Week: 45km
Month: 263km
Year: 2448km
This morning was the CR 5km challenge. The legs were feeling really good and I was not sure if I should try to race it or just have a relaxed run. I am wanting to run the 10km next week so opted to run with the 28min group. As we lined up I notice Ellie was also running 28min group. Now seeing I train twice a week with Ellie I was pretty sure that she could do under 26mins. I asked her what she wanted to do and under 26mins was the goal. so I decided to run with her and encourage her to get in under the time. Now I am not a good pacer and so I kept a close eye on our pace, which was pretty even. We hovered around the 5:05 pace and I kept encouring Ellie that if she could try and maintain what she was doing she would easily come in under 26mins. I probably drove her crazy but she was running like a champ and did not have a lot of breath to tell me to shut up! I was so impressed she really dug in and worked really hard.... with no complaints! Far more graceful than me!! We got to 2km to go and I told her this was just 7 laps of Mckay oal which she has done a heap of times! She picked it up and crossed the line in 25:39! It was so much fun to run with her and share the PB!!! I have no doubt Miss Ellie will improve a heap in the next few months.... it is amazing what happens when you know you can do it!!
Splits: 5:05, 5:00, 5:07, 4:59, 5:10, 16sec (72m) Average 5:03/km
Well done Ellie!!! Then we got to cheer the faster guys home..... which included Ray flying home for a 20:30!!! Thats about a 1min 30sec pb!! He ran so well and is improving evry week!! It is so much fun watching him run and improve! I am so proud of him!!! But I will let him describe his run :-) A huge thanks to Blue Dog for pacing him.... after a 4hour training run the day before- the effort is soooo appreciated!!!
Friday, September 22, 2006
Recovery....
Week: 8km
Month: 202km
Year: 2387km
I pulled up really well after the marathon. A few sore muscles but no injuries or sore bits!! I have had time to reflect on my effort on Sunday and am feeling really proud of myself. My net time was 3:56 and I came 24th in my age category. I feel 100% satisfied with my effort on the day and have learnt HEAPS for the next one.
Monday I had the day off and seeing I had the tooth pulled in the morning I just slept and rested most of the day. The body really appreciated the rest and I am sure has helped with my recovery.
Tuesday I went for a really slow 3km run. The legs felt really good and I kept to 6min pace and kept the heart rate really slow. I then spent ages stretching. Wednesday, I went for a nice easy walk and some stretching at the gym. Last night I went for another really relaxed 5km run. Again I kept to 6min pace and just enjoyed turning the legs over. I finished with a walk and some stretching. Overall the legs feel good. I will now just be guided by how I am feeling and just do all my runs nice and relaxed.
My goals for the next 6 months:
· Striders 10km in November- sub 48mins
· Central Coast Half Marathon- 1hr45mins
· 6ft Track Marathon
Month: 202km
Year: 2387km
I pulled up really well after the marathon. A few sore muscles but no injuries or sore bits!! I have had time to reflect on my effort on Sunday and am feeling really proud of myself. My net time was 3:56 and I came 24th in my age category. I feel 100% satisfied with my effort on the day and have learnt HEAPS for the next one.
Monday I had the day off and seeing I had the tooth pulled in the morning I just slept and rested most of the day. The body really appreciated the rest and I am sure has helped with my recovery.
Tuesday I went for a really slow 3km run. The legs felt really good and I kept to 6min pace and kept the heart rate really slow. I then spent ages stretching. Wednesday, I went for a nice easy walk and some stretching at the gym. Last night I went for another really relaxed 5km run. Again I kept to 6min pace and just enjoyed turning the legs over. I finished with a walk and some stretching. Overall the legs feel good. I will now just be guided by how I am feeling and just do all my runs nice and relaxed.
My goals for the next 6 months:
· Striders 10km in November- sub 48mins
· Central Coast Half Marathon- 1hr45mins
· 6ft Track Marathon
Monday, September 18, 2006
A marathon effort and a little less wisdom....
Today: 42.2km
Week: 73km
Month:194km
Year: 2379km
I am sitting her pondering my efforts yesterday and mourning the loss of my wisdom tooth..... which I opted to have removed today thinking I would already feel sore so whats a little more pain. The tooth was a whopper and at one point I was wishing I was back running the marathon. I asked to take it home with me, so for all you gruesome types I will put a photo of it on my blog :-)
Where to start..... What a day! This was my second marathon and first attempt at the Sydney course. My Sydney experience could not have been more different to my Canberra debut.... but is just as memorable!
I have trained really hard for this run and can not blame being under prepared or injured. I was well tapered, well fueled, confident and ready to go. I arrived at the start early to cheer the half marathoners off and met up with Helen who was feeling really nervous. This took my mind off beong nervous and we chatted with other striders and Cr's before lining up at the start. Now my goal was to aim for 3:45, which would be a 3 min PB on a tougher course, but I felt ready for the challenge. I lined up behind the 3:45 pacer and we were off.
Now the next 10 km is where I made my mistake and broke the most important rule of marathon running.......... Do NOT start too fast!!! I am not sure how I managed to make this mistake as I was so conscious of it for Canberra. It was not until I reached the 10km marker that I realised I had not only made up the 20secs lost at the start but was now a minute ahead of my splits for 3:45. I don't remember even looking at my watch I just got a little caught up in the excitment and I felt really good..... so I did not notice that I was hovering around 5:10 pace with a few 4:55km's thrown in!!! At this point I thought to myself " I am going too fast" but I just kept running. I was feeling fantastic and loved running through the domain and centenial park. It was great to see lots of Cr's and strisders out on the course.
I got to the half way point and I was still 2mins in front of my schedule but I suddenly became aware that I was feeling really hot and there was not a hope in hell I would be able to maintain 5:09 pace the rest of the way. I ripped off my pace bands and decided I needed to change my goal from 3:45 to firstly finishing, secondly not walking and finally try and come in under 4hrs. I remeber just looking at the average pace on my garmin telling me 5:11/km and thinking "how did I let that happen?". The sun felt really hot by the 21km mark and there was not a lot of shade and I panicked because 21 km is a long bloody way to run in the hot when you have just dug yourself a nice big hole to try and crawl out off! For the next 5km or so I became really preoccupied with how I was going to maange to do this.....I could either try to maintain the faster pace and potentially walk the last 10kms or back off- so I slowed down and made sure I drank heaps of water at each drink stop.
Once I was heading out onto the western distributer I relaxed and just focused on my form and watched all the other runners coming the other direction. It is great to get to see the faster runners. At about the 30km mark people were suddenly stopping and walking. I remember Cindy (seans wife) telling me that Emma Murray had said to her before the Mountain champs that when she feels bad she just tells her self to just keep going. That became my mantra.... just keep going. Dont stop!!! People were walking up the hills so, I was aiming to catch and pass people and use that as motivation to not walk up the hills. At 36kms I decided to have some Jelly beans for a bit of a sugar hit but after 5 mins of trying to convince myself to swallow them I had to spit them out. Haha there was not a chance in hell my stomach was going to let me swallow them!
Deanne and Bernie met me at 37kms and I was so relieved to see them. I can not really explain how I was feeling.... I was just so overwhelmed to see them I was fighting off tears. We ran along and they chatted away and reassured me that I would finish. Just before the hills at the 41 km mark I had to have a short walk break because I started to cry for no reason and I needed to get myself under control.
I had been worried about those hills at 41km up to observatory hill but I could not have cared less at that point. I did not really notice them to much all I could think of was we were so close. At the top of observatory hill I was desperately asking Bernie how long a marathon is I had forgotten and could not work out if it was 41 or 42kms long. Damm 42km was the answer but I was reassured that we just had to get down the corkscrew and Ray and my family were waiting on the Cahill expressway. Once I popped out onto the Cahill I could hear my sister screaming. It was such a surreal feeling.... I felt like I was going to laugh and cry at the same time. Suddenly Ray was next to me and was ready to run the last 800ms with me but I strated to really cry and told him to go away. Thankfully he is understanding.... but just the sight of him was too overwhelming at that point. Ray and Bec need a special mention here. No one could ask for two people to love and support me more than they do. They put up with all my crap and still think I am great..... haha yes they are as crazy as me :-) Seriously without these important people in my life..... well it goes with out saying!!
Now the CR cheersquad deserves a special mention!!!! All I can remember is a sea of yellow and blue and a lot of chanting my name. Now if I had been thinking clearly I would have acknowledged all my lovely CR/Strider running friends but I felt like a stunned rabit. I think I muttered "oh my god" and Bernie said to me just focus on the road. I felt quite embarrassed that evryone was witnessing me looking like a complete wreck boo hooing as I ran along! Haha I still managed to hurl some abuse at an official that was trying to tell Bernie and Deanne that they were not on the right side of the cones and that they would not finish if they did not move..... I think I yelled "They ran the half, can't you see their bibs, stop yelling?". The final chute was amazing!! So many people all yelling and cheering! I saw Ewan from training in the crowd he gave me a big cheer and I almost cried again. I gave Amanda a smile and crossed the finish line and the I think the clock said 3:56:?? I did not turn my watch off straight away so I am not sure. To be honest I did not give a shit about the time, I was just so relieved to have finished!! Deanne and Bernie were there again and got me some water. I could not thank them enough!!!! I was really not thinking clearly the last 5km and I think I would have lost it with out them. It is an amazing feeling to know that there are such wonderful people who are there ready to give you support and lift your spirits even when you are covered in sweat, cry for no rational reason and have gu and chewed up jelly bean stuck to you! Deanne, Bernie, Bec, Kerry, Ali, Alison, Helen, Kulinda, Amnanda, Karin, Mark, Ewan and all my running friends (Striders and CR's..... you know who you are)- thankyou!!
That last 10km was hard work just to keep going. I did not feel woozy or sick, I just felt sooooo tired and emotional. All I wanted to do was cry for no reason. It was like I was watching myself but not really in control.
Finishing Canberra and more than achieving the goal I had set myself was an amazing feeling but today felt just as special. Yes I completely mucked the marathon up and would have preferred to not run it that way BUT I can not explain the sense of achievment I felt yesterday. I certainly earned my finishers t-shirt thats for sure!!! I could have easily given up and stoped and walked to the finish but I was determined to see it through. I kept telling myself this is what its all about.
Will I do another one...... for sure!!! Would I run Sydney again..... definaltely!!! Would I do it differently..... without a doubt!!! That was one tough course and I would love to do battle with it again some day. Oh yes and I will remeber the first and most imoportant rule- do not go out too fast!!!
Splits: 5:36, 5:03, 4:55, 529, 4:56, 5:07, 5:18, 5:16, 5: 35, 5:09, 5:17, 5:12, 5:11, 5:09, 5:09, 5:08, 5:17, 5:09, 5:23, 5:14, 5:14, 5:34, 5:36, 6:05, 5:40, 5:27, 6:19, 5:25, 5:56, 5:20, 6:04, 5:49, 6:01, 5:58, 5:26, 6:06, 5:47, 6:17, 5:51: 6:13, 6:43, 5:53, 3:34 (5:27 pace)
5km-26:01
10km- 52:28
15km- 1:18:23
20km- 1:44:36
25km- 2:12:46
30km- 2:41:15
35km-3:10: 35
40km- 3:40: 51
42km-3:53:27
Finish- 3:57 ( take off about 20sec for the start)
Week: 73km
Month:194km
Year: 2379km
I am sitting her pondering my efforts yesterday and mourning the loss of my wisdom tooth..... which I opted to have removed today thinking I would already feel sore so whats a little more pain. The tooth was a whopper and at one point I was wishing I was back running the marathon. I asked to take it home with me, so for all you gruesome types I will put a photo of it on my blog :-)
Where to start..... What a day! This was my second marathon and first attempt at the Sydney course. My Sydney experience could not have been more different to my Canberra debut.... but is just as memorable!
I have trained really hard for this run and can not blame being under prepared or injured. I was well tapered, well fueled, confident and ready to go. I arrived at the start early to cheer the half marathoners off and met up with Helen who was feeling really nervous. This took my mind off beong nervous and we chatted with other striders and Cr's before lining up at the start. Now my goal was to aim for 3:45, which would be a 3 min PB on a tougher course, but I felt ready for the challenge. I lined up behind the 3:45 pacer and we were off.
Now the next 10 km is where I made my mistake and broke the most important rule of marathon running.......... Do NOT start too fast!!! I am not sure how I managed to make this mistake as I was so conscious of it for Canberra. It was not until I reached the 10km marker that I realised I had not only made up the 20secs lost at the start but was now a minute ahead of my splits for 3:45. I don't remember even looking at my watch I just got a little caught up in the excitment and I felt really good..... so I did not notice that I was hovering around 5:10 pace with a few 4:55km's thrown in!!! At this point I thought to myself " I am going too fast" but I just kept running. I was feeling fantastic and loved running through the domain and centenial park. It was great to see lots of Cr's and strisders out on the course.
I got to the half way point and I was still 2mins in front of my schedule but I suddenly became aware that I was feeling really hot and there was not a hope in hell I would be able to maintain 5:09 pace the rest of the way. I ripped off my pace bands and decided I needed to change my goal from 3:45 to firstly finishing, secondly not walking and finally try and come in under 4hrs. I remeber just looking at the average pace on my garmin telling me 5:11/km and thinking "how did I let that happen?". The sun felt really hot by the 21km mark and there was not a lot of shade and I panicked because 21 km is a long bloody way to run in the hot when you have just dug yourself a nice big hole to try and crawl out off! For the next 5km or so I became really preoccupied with how I was going to maange to do this.....I could either try to maintain the faster pace and potentially walk the last 10kms or back off- so I slowed down and made sure I drank heaps of water at each drink stop.
Once I was heading out onto the western distributer I relaxed and just focused on my form and watched all the other runners coming the other direction. It is great to get to see the faster runners. At about the 30km mark people were suddenly stopping and walking. I remember Cindy (seans wife) telling me that Emma Murray had said to her before the Mountain champs that when she feels bad she just tells her self to just keep going. That became my mantra.... just keep going. Dont stop!!! People were walking up the hills so, I was aiming to catch and pass people and use that as motivation to not walk up the hills. At 36kms I decided to have some Jelly beans for a bit of a sugar hit but after 5 mins of trying to convince myself to swallow them I had to spit them out. Haha there was not a chance in hell my stomach was going to let me swallow them!
Deanne and Bernie met me at 37kms and I was so relieved to see them. I can not really explain how I was feeling.... I was just so overwhelmed to see them I was fighting off tears. We ran along and they chatted away and reassured me that I would finish. Just before the hills at the 41 km mark I had to have a short walk break because I started to cry for no reason and I needed to get myself under control.
I had been worried about those hills at 41km up to observatory hill but I could not have cared less at that point. I did not really notice them to much all I could think of was we were so close. At the top of observatory hill I was desperately asking Bernie how long a marathon is I had forgotten and could not work out if it was 41 or 42kms long. Damm 42km was the answer but I was reassured that we just had to get down the corkscrew and Ray and my family were waiting on the Cahill expressway. Once I popped out onto the Cahill I could hear my sister screaming. It was such a surreal feeling.... I felt like I was going to laugh and cry at the same time. Suddenly Ray was next to me and was ready to run the last 800ms with me but I strated to really cry and told him to go away. Thankfully he is understanding.... but just the sight of him was too overwhelming at that point. Ray and Bec need a special mention here. No one could ask for two people to love and support me more than they do. They put up with all my crap and still think I am great..... haha yes they are as crazy as me :-) Seriously without these important people in my life..... well it goes with out saying!!
Now the CR cheersquad deserves a special mention!!!! All I can remember is a sea of yellow and blue and a lot of chanting my name. Now if I had been thinking clearly I would have acknowledged all my lovely CR/Strider running friends but I felt like a stunned rabit. I think I muttered "oh my god" and Bernie said to me just focus on the road. I felt quite embarrassed that evryone was witnessing me looking like a complete wreck boo hooing as I ran along! Haha I still managed to hurl some abuse at an official that was trying to tell Bernie and Deanne that they were not on the right side of the cones and that they would not finish if they did not move..... I think I yelled "They ran the half, can't you see their bibs, stop yelling?". The final chute was amazing!! So many people all yelling and cheering! I saw Ewan from training in the crowd he gave me a big cheer and I almost cried again. I gave Amanda a smile and crossed the finish line and the I think the clock said 3:56:?? I did not turn my watch off straight away so I am not sure. To be honest I did not give a shit about the time, I was just so relieved to have finished!! Deanne and Bernie were there again and got me some water. I could not thank them enough!!!! I was really not thinking clearly the last 5km and I think I would have lost it with out them. It is an amazing feeling to know that there are such wonderful people who are there ready to give you support and lift your spirits even when you are covered in sweat, cry for no rational reason and have gu and chewed up jelly bean stuck to you! Deanne, Bernie, Bec, Kerry, Ali, Alison, Helen, Kulinda, Amnanda, Karin, Mark, Ewan and all my running friends (Striders and CR's..... you know who you are)- thankyou!!
That last 10km was hard work just to keep going. I did not feel woozy or sick, I just felt sooooo tired and emotional. All I wanted to do was cry for no reason. It was like I was watching myself but not really in control.
Finishing Canberra and more than achieving the goal I had set myself was an amazing feeling but today felt just as special. Yes I completely mucked the marathon up and would have preferred to not run it that way BUT I can not explain the sense of achievment I felt yesterday. I certainly earned my finishers t-shirt thats for sure!!! I could have easily given up and stoped and walked to the finish but I was determined to see it through. I kept telling myself this is what its all about.
Will I do another one...... for sure!!! Would I run Sydney again..... definaltely!!! Would I do it differently..... without a doubt!!! That was one tough course and I would love to do battle with it again some day. Oh yes and I will remeber the first and most imoportant rule- do not go out too fast!!!
Splits: 5:36, 5:03, 4:55, 529, 4:56, 5:07, 5:18, 5:16, 5: 35, 5:09, 5:17, 5:12, 5:11, 5:09, 5:09, 5:08, 5:17, 5:09, 5:23, 5:14, 5:14, 5:34, 5:36, 6:05, 5:40, 5:27, 6:19, 5:25, 5:56, 5:20, 6:04, 5:49, 6:01, 5:58, 5:26, 6:06, 5:47, 6:17, 5:51: 6:13, 6:43, 5:53, 3:34 (5:27 pace)
5km-26:01
10km- 52:28
15km- 1:18:23
20km- 1:44:36
25km- 2:12:46
30km- 2:41:15
35km-3:10: 35
40km- 3:40: 51
42km-3:53:27
Finish- 3:57 ( take off about 20sec for the start)
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Update!!
Sorry I have been very slack with blogging... too busy running, eating and working :-)
Friday 8th September 2006
Today: 6km
Week: 46km
Month: 87km
Year: 2272km
Easy 6km run…. Legs are feeling great! Am getting quite excited! Average pace5:15/km. Nothing exciting to report.
Saturday 9th September
Today: 10km
Week: 56km
Month: 97km
Year: 2282km
Ray and I met Deanne at Homebush and did some secret training J Both Ray and Deanne have not run the Homebush striders course…. So we did some undercover work!! It was pretty early and rainy so there were no walkers or runners out…. We had the whole place to ourselves…. Except the frogs J We cruised around easily at 5:30/km pace.
Sunday 10th September 2006
Today: 9km
Week: 65km
Month: 106km
Year: 2291km
Ray and I met Deanne, Kerry for an hours run around the park. It was freezing cold and I got Ray to zip me into his coat to keep warm. We warmed up pretty quickly once we got out of the wind tunnel! About half way through the run the rain bucketed down and Ray was beaming! He was loving running along in the park with the rain and the birds going crazy! Feels good to be alive!
Monday 11th September 2006
Today: 6km
Week: 6km
Month: 112km
Year: 2297km
Today was a really relaxed 6km run from home. It was nice and dry when I started an then the rain started to fall and got really heavy. It was a fantastic feeling!!! I had a crappy stressful day and the the feeling of running in the rain was just what I needed!
Tuesday 12th September
Today: 9km
Week: 15km
Month: 121km
Year: 2306km
Final track session before the marathon and we had instruction from Sean to take it easy. Helen and I did a 1800m rep and 600m rep and just kept it really relaxed and comfortable. The 5 ½ laps were a lot more fun chatting and laughing than putting in a 100% We then just did a nice long easy cool down run. I am feeling really good and I can feel the huge difference the less km make! I am getting excited now about Sunday and starting to feel confident about my goal. I will have my usual cheer squad to cheer me home and Deanne is going to run the hill with me... what a hero!!
Friday 8th September 2006
Today: 6km
Week: 46km
Month: 87km
Year: 2272km
Easy 6km run…. Legs are feeling great! Am getting quite excited! Average pace5:15/km. Nothing exciting to report.
Saturday 9th September
Today: 10km
Week: 56km
Month: 97km
Year: 2282km
Ray and I met Deanne at Homebush and did some secret training J Both Ray and Deanne have not run the Homebush striders course…. So we did some undercover work!! It was pretty early and rainy so there were no walkers or runners out…. We had the whole place to ourselves…. Except the frogs J We cruised around easily at 5:30/km pace.
Sunday 10th September 2006
Today: 9km
Week: 65km
Month: 106km
Year: 2291km
Ray and I met Deanne, Kerry for an hours run around the park. It was freezing cold and I got Ray to zip me into his coat to keep warm. We warmed up pretty quickly once we got out of the wind tunnel! About half way through the run the rain bucketed down and Ray was beaming! He was loving running along in the park with the rain and the birds going crazy! Feels good to be alive!
Monday 11th September 2006
Today: 6km
Week: 6km
Month: 112km
Year: 2297km
Today was a really relaxed 6km run from home. It was nice and dry when I started an then the rain started to fall and got really heavy. It was a fantastic feeling!!! I had a crappy stressful day and the the feeling of running in the rain was just what I needed!
Tuesday 12th September
Today: 9km
Week: 15km
Month: 121km
Year: 2306km
Final track session before the marathon and we had instruction from Sean to take it easy. Helen and I did a 1800m rep and 600m rep and just kept it really relaxed and comfortable. The 5 ½ laps were a lot more fun chatting and laughing than putting in a 100% We then just did a nice long easy cool down run. I am feeling really good and I can feel the huge difference the less km make! I am getting excited now about Sunday and starting to feel confident about my goal. I will have my usual cheer squad to cheer me home and Deanne is going to run the hill with me... what a hero!!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Wind up my tail.....
Wednesday 6th September
Today: 8km
Week: 29km
Month: 70km
Year: 2255km
It was so nice this morning to have only 45mins on the program instead of an 1hr 45mins! We got some extra doona time which was nice. We plodded around the park taking it really nice and easy. Again a really pleasant run with the girls and Ray who was able to join us this morning :-) Today is our 12 years together anniversary and 6 years since my beautiful Nan died. I regulalry think about my nan and pa.... they played such a huge part in mine and my sisters life. There are certain people who have a profound impact on your life and they have really shaped who I am and what I hold as important. I miss them dearly but get a nice warm feeling because I am sure that they are still watching my sister and I and I often run for them.
Thursday 7th September
Today: 11km
Week: 40km
Month: 81km
Year: 2266km
This morning when the alarm went off there was thunder, lightening and buckets of rain! But the clincher was the wind!!! Now the crazy Kittykat that I am.... I tend to get even more scatty with the wind. Ray often tells me the wind gets up my tail. Needless to say I got reaquainted with the doona and pillow and blissflully slept through it! Ray and I went out this afternoon and had a good session. We did a 3km warm up including drills and strides (heheh Ray is as uncoirdinated with the drills as he is dancing!). We then did 4 laps around the football field. We surged down the long side and floated around the shorter end. So we did 8 surges and 8 floats. On one of the long surges we were running straight into a really strong head wind..... it gave me the shits! It almost blew me over at one point!! I averaged 4:20/km pace for this part of the run.... given the wind I was really pleased!! Then we ran home which was just over 5km. We ran a really good pace on the way home sitting at just over 5min pace for most of the way. The legs felt great tonight..... I could have run all night! So that is the end of any of the quicker stuff. For the next 9 days I will be taking it easy and eating. So evry one say a little prayer that the wind stays away on race day :-)
Today: 8km
Week: 29km
Month: 70km
Year: 2255km
It was so nice this morning to have only 45mins on the program instead of an 1hr 45mins! We got some extra doona time which was nice. We plodded around the park taking it really nice and easy. Again a really pleasant run with the girls and Ray who was able to join us this morning :-) Today is our 12 years together anniversary and 6 years since my beautiful Nan died. I regulalry think about my nan and pa.... they played such a huge part in mine and my sisters life. There are certain people who have a profound impact on your life and they have really shaped who I am and what I hold as important. I miss them dearly but get a nice warm feeling because I am sure that they are still watching my sister and I and I often run for them.
Thursday 7th September
Today: 11km
Week: 40km
Month: 81km
Year: 2266km
This morning when the alarm went off there was thunder, lightening and buckets of rain! But the clincher was the wind!!! Now the crazy Kittykat that I am.... I tend to get even more scatty with the wind. Ray often tells me the wind gets up my tail. Needless to say I got reaquainted with the doona and pillow and blissflully slept through it! Ray and I went out this afternoon and had a good session. We did a 3km warm up including drills and strides (heheh Ray is as uncoirdinated with the drills as he is dancing!). We then did 4 laps around the football field. We surged down the long side and floated around the shorter end. So we did 8 surges and 8 floats. On one of the long surges we were running straight into a really strong head wind..... it gave me the shits! It almost blew me over at one point!! I averaged 4:20/km pace for this part of the run.... given the wind I was really pleased!! Then we ran home which was just over 5km. We ran a really good pace on the way home sitting at just over 5min pace for most of the way. The legs felt great tonight..... I could have run all night! So that is the end of any of the quicker stuff. For the next 9 days I will be taking it easy and eating. So evry one say a little prayer that the wind stays away on race day :-)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
update
Sunday 3rd September
Today: 19km
Week: 81km
Month: 41km
Year: 2226km
We met at Centenial Park this morning at the blissfull time of 7am :-) We had a great run this morning! We all were feeling tired from yesterdays efforts so we kept a really slow pace and chatted- it was so nice to to just be out in the sun and enjoy running. We ran into the city and practiced our finish down Maquarie st, then through the gardens and back through Kings cross and fisished around the park. We got lots of cheers from all the partiers around the cross.... always an experience. Average pace 5:45/km
Monday 4th September
Today: 11km
Week: 11km
Month: 52km
Year: 2237km
Headed out this evening for a nice 11km run around home. It was lighter this eveinng and I just cruised along to my i-pod. I put some sappy love songs on so I would keep to a nice recovery pace. I felt really good today... the nose is cleared up almost completely- Thankgoodness!! The legs felt good with the shorter run yesterday!!
Average pace: 5:24/km
Tuesday 5th September
Today: 10km
Week: 21km
Month: 62km
Year: 2247km
I had a great session this morning. We had 3x 1200m reps on the program but after our first rep Sean told Deanne, Bernie and myself we had to do the 1600m reps with an active recovery. I was chasing Deanne and was really excited as she was not too far in front. I could really feel the difference having a shorter run on sunday.... more oomph in the legs. The final rep I was a few secs slower because I started to daydream in the second loop and then when Sean called out mysplits I thougt "shit where did the extra 7 secs come from?". So I had to dig deep to make up the time. I was also really excited that my average pace for the reps were 4:14/km pace.
Splits: 5:20 (1200m), 7:11 (1600m) and 7:13 (1600m)
Today: 19km
Week: 81km
Month: 41km
Year: 2226km
We met at Centenial Park this morning at the blissfull time of 7am :-) We had a great run this morning! We all were feeling tired from yesterdays efforts so we kept a really slow pace and chatted- it was so nice to to just be out in the sun and enjoy running. We ran into the city and practiced our finish down Maquarie st, then through the gardens and back through Kings cross and fisished around the park. We got lots of cheers from all the partiers around the cross.... always an experience. Average pace 5:45/km
Monday 4th September
Today: 11km
Week: 11km
Month: 52km
Year: 2237km
Headed out this evening for a nice 11km run around home. It was lighter this eveinng and I just cruised along to my i-pod. I put some sappy love songs on so I would keep to a nice recovery pace. I felt really good today... the nose is cleared up almost completely- Thankgoodness!! The legs felt good with the shorter run yesterday!!
Average pace: 5:24/km
Tuesday 5th September
Today: 10km
Week: 21km
Month: 62km
Year: 2247km
I had a great session this morning. We had 3x 1200m reps on the program but after our first rep Sean told Deanne, Bernie and myself we had to do the 1600m reps with an active recovery. I was chasing Deanne and was really excited as she was not too far in front. I could really feel the difference having a shorter run on sunday.... more oomph in the legs. The final rep I was a few secs slower because I started to daydream in the second loop and then when Sean called out mysplits I thougt "shit where did the extra 7 secs come from?". So I had to dig deep to make up the time. I was also really excited that my average pace for the reps were 4:14/km pace.
Splits: 5:20 (1200m), 7:11 (1600m) and 7:13 (1600m)
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Striders 10km North Head
Today: 15km
Week: 62km
Month: 22km
Year: 2207km
Over the last month I have felt like my training has all been coming together and my times in training and racing have been coming down. My goals so far this year have been a sub 4hr marathon- 3:48 tick, a 4km pb- done, 5km pb- done, a sub 70 city to surf- 68:54 tick, half marathon pb- tick. Today I had grand plans of smashing my 10km pb of 48:43. For some reason I really struggle on the 10km distance. I think I can run the distance quicker, but it always eludes me. today was no exception. I managed a 8 second Pb which I am happy about but it was not what I was aiming for and it was a tough day at the office! Now I could use my cold and marathon training as an excuse but I have run really strongly all week..... so it was just not my best day. As the wise Don Juan has said to me before "thats running!".
We did a 3km warm up and I knew it was not going to happen. The legs and body just felt tired. It was really exciting geeing Ray up for his first 10km race and trying to guess his time. We took off and did the first km a bit too fast..... now my initial plan had been to go as hard as I could and see what happend, but I knew from the warm up that would make it a hard day. So I backed off a bit and just tried to keep good form. At the 5km mark I was feeling really tired and worked really hard to try and hang on the Bernie. She tried to urge me to stick with her but I felt like I had lead legs. Each time I tried to pick up the pace my breathing and heart rate when through the roof and my legs did not seem to go any quicker :-) The 50min pacer was running at 4:30 pace for at least the first 7km (they finsihed in 47:30) and I found this unsettling.... I had to keep checking that I was not running that slowly. Mentally my head was fine. I just told myself this was a crap run but not the end of the world. I just concentrated on maintaining my pace and not slowing too much. I picked up the pace for the final 1km and was pretty happy to finish. It was a spectacular course with great views. It was a great course to run a fast time so I can't wait to have another crack at it!!
It was soooo great to see Ray running in the other direction and he looked really comfortable. He gave me a wink and a clap as he flew by. All I kept thinking was I cant wait to finish and see what time he did!! Bernie and Deanne had great runs bithe smashing there pb's.... so two out of three is not too shabby :-) Now a highlight was cheering Kerry who finished really strongly taking another huge chunk off her last time..... she has had about 12months off with a ruptured achilles and is running so well and improving all the time!! Ohhh and my other highlight was being past by the strider who was cruising along......juggling as he went!!! I am not kidding.... juggling and looking like he was just taking it easy ( I think he finished 45mins).
We finished off sitting on the beach having yummy fruit toast and coffee, soaking up the sun and paddling in the water! Very nice!!
In the theme of being positive..... the good things from the run were-
* seeing Ray do a great debut 10km
* running at a spectular part of Sydney with great friends
* not quitting when you feel like crap and want to sit down on the curb
* Mentally dealing with feeling bad but just working hard anyway
* being past by a juggler for the first time :-)
10km- 48:35 Average Pace 4:50/ km :-(
Week: 62km
Month: 22km
Year: 2207km
Over the last month I have felt like my training has all been coming together and my times in training and racing have been coming down. My goals so far this year have been a sub 4hr marathon- 3:48 tick, a 4km pb- done, 5km pb- done, a sub 70 city to surf- 68:54 tick, half marathon pb- tick. Today I had grand plans of smashing my 10km pb of 48:43. For some reason I really struggle on the 10km distance. I think I can run the distance quicker, but it always eludes me. today was no exception. I managed a 8 second Pb which I am happy about but it was not what I was aiming for and it was a tough day at the office! Now I could use my cold and marathon training as an excuse but I have run really strongly all week..... so it was just not my best day. As the wise Don Juan has said to me before "thats running!".
We did a 3km warm up and I knew it was not going to happen. The legs and body just felt tired. It was really exciting geeing Ray up for his first 10km race and trying to guess his time. We took off and did the first km a bit too fast..... now my initial plan had been to go as hard as I could and see what happend, but I knew from the warm up that would make it a hard day. So I backed off a bit and just tried to keep good form. At the 5km mark I was feeling really tired and worked really hard to try and hang on the Bernie. She tried to urge me to stick with her but I felt like I had lead legs. Each time I tried to pick up the pace my breathing and heart rate when through the roof and my legs did not seem to go any quicker :-) The 50min pacer was running at 4:30 pace for at least the first 7km (they finsihed in 47:30) and I found this unsettling.... I had to keep checking that I was not running that slowly. Mentally my head was fine. I just told myself this was a crap run but not the end of the world. I just concentrated on maintaining my pace and not slowing too much. I picked up the pace for the final 1km and was pretty happy to finish. It was a spectacular course with great views. It was a great course to run a fast time so I can't wait to have another crack at it!!
It was soooo great to see Ray running in the other direction and he looked really comfortable. He gave me a wink and a clap as he flew by. All I kept thinking was I cant wait to finish and see what time he did!! Bernie and Deanne had great runs bithe smashing there pb's.... so two out of three is not too shabby :-) Now a highlight was cheering Kerry who finished really strongly taking another huge chunk off her last time..... she has had about 12months off with a ruptured achilles and is running so well and improving all the time!! Ohhh and my other highlight was being past by the strider who was cruising along......juggling as he went!!! I am not kidding.... juggling and looking like he was just taking it easy ( I think he finished 45mins).
We finished off sitting on the beach having yummy fruit toast and coffee, soaking up the sun and paddling in the water! Very nice!!
In the theme of being positive..... the good things from the run were-
* seeing Ray do a great debut 10km
* running at a spectular part of Sydney with great friends
* not quitting when you feel like crap and want to sit down on the curb
* Mentally dealing with feeling bad but just working hard anyway
* being past by a juggler for the first time :-)
10km- 48:35 Average Pace 4:50/ km :-(
Friday, September 01, 2006
Update
I have been a slack tart with the blog this week..... thought I should puul my finger out :-)
Monday 28th August
Rest day!! Woo hoo! Celebrated with a well earened massage from Tiger..... always hits the spot!!
Tuesday 29th August
Today: 11km
Week: 11km
Month: 336km
Year: 2156km
Today was 1km reps and I felt full of energy.... even Sean noticed commenting I was in for a good session. I had 5 1km reps with an active recovery. I had decided I wanted to keep them all under 4:30/km and aim to get quicker each rep. Once we got going the legs felt fantastic and the pace felt really good! I really enjoyed the session this morning.... although the legs were pooped at the end! It was great to see Kerry and Ellie running so strongly.... getting promoted to the longer reps!
1km reps: 4:29, 4:25, 4:24, 4:23, 4:20
Wednesday 39th August
Today: 19km
Week: 30km
Month: 355km
Year: 2175km
Yeah... the last of the wed long runs :-) We had instructions to take it easy today, which was good because the legs felt heavy from yesterdays efforts! I met Bernie and Deanne and we plodded around the park. I covered 19km in 1hr45mins, average pace 5:38/km.
Thursday 31st August
Today: 10km
Week: 40km
Month 365km
Year: 2185km
Today was Wild Wally- about a 700m hill loop that we have to atack the up and down and then have a 2 min active recovery. I was determined that I would go under 3 mins today.... even if it killed me :-) Sean started us half way up the hill this week.... which was great to break the hill in two bits. I really tried to work hard on both the up hill and down hill today.... I really noticed I was able to really hammer the downhills which I am usually a bit too scared to do. By the 4th rep I was pooped and had no idea if I could crack the 3min barrier. Deanne Myself and one of the yonger girls had been working hard together. I said to them I wanted to get under 3 mins so we needed to work really hard. We took off at top speed up the hill... I was trying to get a few seconds in the bag. I flew down the downhill section and then my legs let me know how tired they were feeling as I tried to pick it up in the final up hill section. I could hear Sean counting it down and dug in and lunged for the line.... 2:58 Woo Hoo!!! Deanne and I were ecstatic..... such a good feeling when it all starts to click!!
splits: 3:15, 3:10, 3:06, 3:03, 2:58 (** still smiling**)
Friday 1st September
Today: 7km
Week: 47km
Month: 7km
Year: 2192km
The first day of spring is here and 17days til the marathon :-) We met at 5:45am at the bay and did a really slow lap, just turning the legs over. It was a spectacular morning and the rowers were all out on the water. Deanne, Bernie and myself are all really excited about the striders run tommorow. The plan is to go out hard and try and hold on :-) We are all feeling great at the moment and I am wanting to have a final hard/fast run before the big one. So once saturday is over I am going to try and make sure all my runs are at an easier effort and just focus on the mental stuff. I am really excited about this marathon..... especially since I found out that spud will be doing the 3:45 paceing duties!!! I can't wait :-) Touch wood.... evrything is looking good :-)
Monday 28th August
Rest day!! Woo hoo! Celebrated with a well earened massage from Tiger..... always hits the spot!!
Tuesday 29th August
Today: 11km
Week: 11km
Month: 336km
Year: 2156km
Today was 1km reps and I felt full of energy.... even Sean noticed commenting I was in for a good session. I had 5 1km reps with an active recovery. I had decided I wanted to keep them all under 4:30/km and aim to get quicker each rep. Once we got going the legs felt fantastic and the pace felt really good! I really enjoyed the session this morning.... although the legs were pooped at the end! It was great to see Kerry and Ellie running so strongly.... getting promoted to the longer reps!
1km reps: 4:29, 4:25, 4:24, 4:23, 4:20
Wednesday 39th August
Today: 19km
Week: 30km
Month: 355km
Year: 2175km
Yeah... the last of the wed long runs :-) We had instructions to take it easy today, which was good because the legs felt heavy from yesterdays efforts! I met Bernie and Deanne and we plodded around the park. I covered 19km in 1hr45mins, average pace 5:38/km.
Thursday 31st August
Today: 10km
Week: 40km
Month 365km
Year: 2185km
Today was Wild Wally- about a 700m hill loop that we have to atack the up and down and then have a 2 min active recovery. I was determined that I would go under 3 mins today.... even if it killed me :-) Sean started us half way up the hill this week.... which was great to break the hill in two bits. I really tried to work hard on both the up hill and down hill today.... I really noticed I was able to really hammer the downhills which I am usually a bit too scared to do. By the 4th rep I was pooped and had no idea if I could crack the 3min barrier. Deanne Myself and one of the yonger girls had been working hard together. I said to them I wanted to get under 3 mins so we needed to work really hard. We took off at top speed up the hill... I was trying to get a few seconds in the bag. I flew down the downhill section and then my legs let me know how tired they were feeling as I tried to pick it up in the final up hill section. I could hear Sean counting it down and dug in and lunged for the line.... 2:58 Woo Hoo!!! Deanne and I were ecstatic..... such a good feeling when it all starts to click!!
splits: 3:15, 3:10, 3:06, 3:03, 2:58 (** still smiling**)
Friday 1st September
Today: 7km
Week: 47km
Month: 7km
Year: 2192km
The first day of spring is here and 17days til the marathon :-) We met at 5:45am at the bay and did a really slow lap, just turning the legs over. It was a spectacular morning and the rowers were all out on the water. Deanne, Bernie and myself are all really excited about the striders run tommorow. The plan is to go out hard and try and hold on :-) We are all feeling great at the moment and I am wanting to have a final hard/fast run before the big one. So once saturday is over I am going to try and make sure all my runs are at an easier effort and just focus on the mental stuff. I am really excited about this marathon..... especially since I found out that spud will be doing the 3:45 paceing duties!!! I can't wait :-) Touch wood.... evrything is looking good :-)
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Last of the long ones.....
Today: 36km
Week: 100km
Month: 325km
Year: 2145km
Today was the last of the long runs before the marathon..... ooooh and the start of the taper :-) I wanted to have a really consistant run today so I decided to meet the girls at the bay..... which meant I avoided map reading, getting lost and bush. I was keen to see how I was going with all the training and if I am on track for 3 weeks. I started out early at 5:30am and planed to run 15km before meeting the others at 7am. I headed off around the bay for a spectacular sunrise! The water was perfectly still.... like a mirror and this huge pelican flew in really close which gave me a buzz! We watched wolf creek again last night so my imagination went wild when I saw a man running towards me witha back pack and what looked like a shovel...... haha he was heading around to the dragon boat races with his harmless oar :-) I got into a great rhythm and really enjoyed running by myself..... apart from the mick look alike there was hardly anyone around the bay! I guess 5:30am on a sunday is pretty early!! I did the bay and canal plus some extra loops around the streets to make up the 15km. I met the girls (and bluedog) and did another two laps of the bay and canal. I loved the run today! It was one of those days it all clicks and you feel great! I could have easily kept running and managed to cover the 36km in 3:17.... average pace was 5:28/km. The pace was perfect and I felt I could have run all day! I managed to convince the girls it was a good idea at the end of the run to run up Balmain Shores hill to practice for race day..... I reckon it is one of the nastiest hills in sydney!! If I can get up that hill the hill at 41km will be a breeze ;-)
We sat chatting and stretching in the sun for a while after the run and then headed for some well deserved fruit toast and hot chocolate!! A perfect morning with some brilliant company :-)
Week: 100km
Month: 325km
Year: 2145km
Today was the last of the long runs before the marathon..... ooooh and the start of the taper :-) I wanted to have a really consistant run today so I decided to meet the girls at the bay..... which meant I avoided map reading, getting lost and bush. I was keen to see how I was going with all the training and if I am on track for 3 weeks. I started out early at 5:30am and planed to run 15km before meeting the others at 7am. I headed off around the bay for a spectacular sunrise! The water was perfectly still.... like a mirror and this huge pelican flew in really close which gave me a buzz! We watched wolf creek again last night so my imagination went wild when I saw a man running towards me witha back pack and what looked like a shovel...... haha he was heading around to the dragon boat races with his harmless oar :-) I got into a great rhythm and really enjoyed running by myself..... apart from the mick look alike there was hardly anyone around the bay! I guess 5:30am on a sunday is pretty early!! I did the bay and canal plus some extra loops around the streets to make up the 15km. I met the girls (and bluedog) and did another two laps of the bay and canal. I loved the run today! It was one of those days it all clicks and you feel great! I could have easily kept running and managed to cover the 36km in 3:17.... average pace was 5:28/km. The pace was perfect and I felt I could have run all day! I managed to convince the girls it was a good idea at the end of the run to run up Balmain Shores hill to practice for race day..... I reckon it is one of the nastiest hills in sydney!! If I can get up that hill the hill at 41km will be a breeze ;-)
We sat chatting and stretching in the sun for a while after the run and then headed for some well deserved fruit toast and hot chocolate!! A perfect morning with some brilliant company :-)
Saturday, August 26, 2006
CR challenge
Today: 10km
Week: 64km
Month: 289km
Year: 2109km
Headed to the bay this morning for the CR 5km challenge. I have spent the past 3 days with a yucky cold so was not too hopeful about the run. I gave CR Lonewolf (?) a lift to the other end to drop off his car and on the way back to the start drove past Ray, Deanne and Bernie already running...... ooops missed the start. So I jumped out of the car and took off just before the 19min group. hahaha I was going to be sooo last! After the shock of throwing my body into running at race pace I settled into a nice rhythm and surprisingly did not feel too bad. I decided to try and maintain 4:40/km pace and not thrash myself too much. I really want to run a good 10km next saturday so I want my cold to go..... so thought holding a bit back would be sensible. Befor I knew it I was heading under the bridge for the last km. I still felt pretty comfortable and was not dying like I usually do.... although still cursing all the bends that trick you into thinking the finish is not too far. Finished 23:11 and felt really happy. I had definately worked hard but felt like I had some left in the engine..... so I guess thats what Sean means when he says "go 80%". So I am looking forward to the 10kms next week! I have not raced 10km since march this year, where I ran 48:40. I REALLY want to knock some time off this.... so there will be no 80% next week!!!
Splits: 4:36, 4:40, 4:44, 4:37, 4:33
Week: 64km
Month: 289km
Year: 2109km
Headed to the bay this morning for the CR 5km challenge. I have spent the past 3 days with a yucky cold so was not too hopeful about the run. I gave CR Lonewolf (?) a lift to the other end to drop off his car and on the way back to the start drove past Ray, Deanne and Bernie already running...... ooops missed the start. So I jumped out of the car and took off just before the 19min group. hahaha I was going to be sooo last! After the shock of throwing my body into running at race pace I settled into a nice rhythm and surprisingly did not feel too bad. I decided to try and maintain 4:40/km pace and not thrash myself too much. I really want to run a good 10km next saturday so I want my cold to go..... so thought holding a bit back would be sensible. Befor I knew it I was heading under the bridge for the last km. I still felt pretty comfortable and was not dying like I usually do.... although still cursing all the bends that trick you into thinking the finish is not too far. Finished 23:11 and felt really happy. I had definately worked hard but felt like I had some left in the engine..... so I guess thats what Sean means when he says "go 80%". So I am looking forward to the 10kms next week! I have not raced 10km since march this year, where I ran 48:40. I REALLY want to knock some time off this.... so there will be no 80% next week!!!
Splits: 4:36, 4:40, 4:44, 4:37, 4:33
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday 24th August
Today: 6km
Week: 44km
Month: 269km
Year:2099km
I am still nursing a yucky cold so missed training this morning- instead doing an easy 6km on the treadmill at the gym. I tell you what running on that stupid, boring treadmil tests my patience!! On a good note, happy to have my pre-marathon copld out of the way :-)
Friday 25th August
Today: 10km
Week: 54km
Month: 279km
Year: 2109km
Feeling better today, but still not 100%. I headed this afternoon and did a 10km loop around Hurstville. I was really widy this evening..... and being the scatty Kat that I am- it gave me the shits :-) If you can believe it I tend to get a bit loopy with the wind :-) The legs are feeling good but I am looking forward to my massage on monday. CR challenge tommorow.... I do not hold out any hopes for good run with this stupid cold!! I will leave that to Ray!
Today: 6km
Week: 44km
Month: 269km
Year:2099km
I am still nursing a yucky cold so missed training this morning- instead doing an easy 6km on the treadmill at the gym. I tell you what running on that stupid, boring treadmil tests my patience!! On a good note, happy to have my pre-marathon copld out of the way :-)
Friday 25th August
Today: 10km
Week: 54km
Month: 279km
Year: 2109km
Feeling better today, but still not 100%. I headed this afternoon and did a 10km loop around Hurstville. I was really widy this evening..... and being the scatty Kat that I am- it gave me the shits :-) If you can believe it I tend to get a bit loopy with the wind :-) The legs are feeling good but I am looking forward to my massage on monday. CR challenge tommorow.... I do not hold out any hopes for good run with this stupid cold!! I will leave that to Ray!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Today: 18km
week:38km
Month: 263km
Year: 2093km
The cold felt better today but I headed out to do my mid week long run with the plan to stop if I felt tired and crappy. It was actually great to be out in the sun and I felt better and better as the run went along. I cruised around for 18km average pace 5:25/km. I was meant to run for 1hr 45mins but I had covered the distance in 1hr 38mins... I decided this was more than enough for one day! Only one more really long run to go this sunday and then the taper begins. The time has flown by.... about 3 and a half weeks to go. I feel so much more relaxed about the marathon this time around.... no where near as scary as Canberra. Life feels good at the moment.... quick touch some wood!
week:38km
Month: 263km
Year: 2093km
The cold felt better today but I headed out to do my mid week long run with the plan to stop if I felt tired and crappy. It was actually great to be out in the sun and I felt better and better as the run went along. I cruised around for 18km average pace 5:25/km. I was meant to run for 1hr 45mins but I had covered the distance in 1hr 38mins... I decided this was more than enough for one day! Only one more really long run to go this sunday and then the taper begins. The time has flown by.... about 3 and a half weeks to go. I feel so much more relaxed about the marathon this time around.... no where near as scary as Canberra. Life feels good at the moment.... quick touch some wood!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Rudolf....
Today: 10km
Week: 20km
Month: 245km
Year: 2075km
.... has a very shiny nose! Well so do I courtesy of the sandpaper they call tissues! I debated whether to go this morning but decided I would see how the cold felt after the warm up and maby just go for a slow run. By the end of the strides I was feeling half human so gave the track session a go. I had 1x 2200m, 1x 1200m and 1x 1000m with an active recovery. I decided to hold a bit back and see how I felt. I was quite surprised that my times were about what I have been doing in the previous sessions and I certainly did not put in 100%. I just aimed to do each rep a bit quicker than the first and to try and do each lap a bit faster for each rep. So I was pretty happy with this session..... pretty pooped though.
2200m- 10:35 (4:43, 4:48, 63sec)
1200m- 5:34 (4:33, 1:01)
1000m- 4:28
Week: 20km
Month: 245km
Year: 2075km
.... has a very shiny nose! Well so do I courtesy of the sandpaper they call tissues! I debated whether to go this morning but decided I would see how the cold felt after the warm up and maby just go for a slow run. By the end of the strides I was feeling half human so gave the track session a go. I had 1x 2200m, 1x 1200m and 1x 1000m with an active recovery. I decided to hold a bit back and see how I felt. I was quite surprised that my times were about what I have been doing in the previous sessions and I certainly did not put in 100%. I just aimed to do each rep a bit quicker than the first and to try and do each lap a bit faster for each rep. So I was pretty happy with this session..... pretty pooped though.
2200m- 10:35 (4:43, 4:48, 63sec)
1200m- 5:34 (4:33, 1:01)
1000m- 4:28
Monday, August 21, 2006
Mondayitis......
Today: 10km
Week: 10km
Month: 235km
Year: 2065km
I awoke this morning with a sore throat and a stuffy nose.... I think courtesy of mt beautiful little neice who was also coughing and spluttering over the weekend. Now when any one else share their germs I am not a happy camper.... but I reckon Alex could do anything too me and I would lap it up :-) So a cold from Alex I will take gracefully! I actually feel completely fine.... just a bit stuffy. Headed out for an easy 10km this evening and then to the gym for core, abs and upper body. The body felt pretty good and I maintianed a nice comfy pace. 5:30/km seems to be where my body settles for my easy runs at the moment. I cracked open the new shoes... I had noticed a few niggles popping up and when I added up the kms my previous pair were just about dead. I think I will wear the old ones on the grass at Centenial park but wear the new ones on the road. On a really exciting note..... ray got a new job- WOO HOO!!!
Week: 10km
Month: 235km
Year: 2065km
I awoke this morning with a sore throat and a stuffy nose.... I think courtesy of mt beautiful little neice who was also coughing and spluttering over the weekend. Now when any one else share their germs I am not a happy camper.... but I reckon Alex could do anything too me and I would lap it up :-) So a cold from Alex I will take gracefully! I actually feel completely fine.... just a bit stuffy. Headed out for an easy 10km this evening and then to the gym for core, abs and upper body. The body felt pretty good and I maintianed a nice comfy pace. 5:30/km seems to be where my body settles for my easy runs at the moment. I cracked open the new shoes... I had noticed a few niggles popping up and when I added up the kms my previous pair were just about dead. I think I will wear the old ones on the grass at Centenial park but wear the new ones on the road. On a really exciting note..... ray got a new job- WOO HOO!!!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Update
Thursday 17th August
Today: 10km
Week: 43km
Month: 170km
Year: 2000km
Fartlek session at the park- 5 x 1km loops. Legs still felt pooped from city to surf. Aimed to stay under 5min/km. Completed 5km in 24:15. Tough session today!!
Friday 18th August
Today: 11km
Week: 54km
Month:181km
Year: 2011km
Met Deanne, Bernie and Ali at the bay and did the bay run and canal/dog loop to make up the hour. Legs felt much better today.... finally! Maintained a nice comfortable pace.... nothing exciting to report.
Saturday 19th August
Today: 12km
Week: 66km
Month: 193km
Year: 2023km
Ray and I went into Centenial park to do a nice relaxed run. We ran the outside loop and then headed into Queens park I left Ray at this point as he was doing a shorter run and did a few more loops of Queens park. It was a bit like pitt st.... bumped into lots of the sweat crowd and Seans scary fast runners doing their saturday session. I ran with Jenny doing her warm up.... she came 5th in the city to surf! Lets just say her warm up was my race pace and I managed to run with her for about 1km before I sent her on her way :-) Covered 12km averaged pace about 5:35/km.
Sunday 20th August
Today: 32km
Week: 98km
Month: 225km
Year: 2055km
This morning was an absolute spectacular run!!! Myself, Helen, Ray, Bernie and Deanne headed down to the national park and started at Grays point and ran along the honeymoon track, across audley weir and along lady carrington drive. Helen and I had 32km on the program and the others were doing 2hrs. So Helen and I took off and she set a mean pace for the run. I knew today would be a tough run especially given we had to head back up the 1.6km of steps after running 28km :-) Bernie had given me insteuctions about the extra loop at the other end of lady carrington drive to make up the kms and said we could not get lost. So when Helen and I were crossing a fast flowing creek which Bernie had not mention I was wondering about my navigational skills!! As Helen is from England she was a little worried about snakes but was relieved to hear they would be curled up somewhere warm. We got to run along for a while with two Lyre birds, who were a lot more graceful at running than us :-) My whole body screamed in protest as we ascended those awful stairs..... Helen trying to convince me that this will make the hill at the 41km mark seem easy!! We got back to the car and had run 32km in 3hrs and 4mins. Apart from the stairs we pretty much averaged 5:15/km and I was soooo happy to be back at the car :-) Helen ran like a machine.... she will have an awesome marathon!! Todays run gave me a huge boost! One more really long run and then the down hill run to start line :-) We finished off back at Bernies where Wayne cooked us the BEST pancakes I have ever tasted!!!! They wer cooked to perfection..... we even had freshly squeezed juice!!! I tell you what the hospitality at the Gregories will keep me coming back for more :-)
Today: 10km
Week: 43km
Month: 170km
Year: 2000km
Fartlek session at the park- 5 x 1km loops. Legs still felt pooped from city to surf. Aimed to stay under 5min/km. Completed 5km in 24:15. Tough session today!!
Friday 18th August
Today: 11km
Week: 54km
Month:181km
Year: 2011km
Met Deanne, Bernie and Ali at the bay and did the bay run and canal/dog loop to make up the hour. Legs felt much better today.... finally! Maintained a nice comfortable pace.... nothing exciting to report.
Saturday 19th August
Today: 12km
Week: 66km
Month: 193km
Year: 2023km
Ray and I went into Centenial park to do a nice relaxed run. We ran the outside loop and then headed into Queens park I left Ray at this point as he was doing a shorter run and did a few more loops of Queens park. It was a bit like pitt st.... bumped into lots of the sweat crowd and Seans scary fast runners doing their saturday session. I ran with Jenny doing her warm up.... she came 5th in the city to surf! Lets just say her warm up was my race pace and I managed to run with her for about 1km before I sent her on her way :-) Covered 12km averaged pace about 5:35/km.
Sunday 20th August
Today: 32km
Week: 98km
Month: 225km
Year: 2055km
This morning was an absolute spectacular run!!! Myself, Helen, Ray, Bernie and Deanne headed down to the national park and started at Grays point and ran along the honeymoon track, across audley weir and along lady carrington drive. Helen and I had 32km on the program and the others were doing 2hrs. So Helen and I took off and she set a mean pace for the run. I knew today would be a tough run especially given we had to head back up the 1.6km of steps after running 28km :-) Bernie had given me insteuctions about the extra loop at the other end of lady carrington drive to make up the kms and said we could not get lost. So when Helen and I were crossing a fast flowing creek which Bernie had not mention I was wondering about my navigational skills!! As Helen is from England she was a little worried about snakes but was relieved to hear they would be curled up somewhere warm. We got to run along for a while with two Lyre birds, who were a lot more graceful at running than us :-) My whole body screamed in protest as we ascended those awful stairs..... Helen trying to convince me that this will make the hill at the 41km mark seem easy!! We got back to the car and had run 32km in 3hrs and 4mins. Apart from the stairs we pretty much averaged 5:15/km and I was soooo happy to be back at the car :-) Helen ran like a machine.... she will have an awesome marathon!! Todays run gave me a huge boost! One more really long run and then the down hill run to start line :-) We finished off back at Bernies where Wayne cooked us the BEST pancakes I have ever tasted!!!! They wer cooked to perfection..... we even had freshly squeezed juice!!! I tell you what the hospitality at the Gregories will keep me coming back for more :-)
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Mid week long run.
Today:16km
Week: 33km
Month: 160km
Year: 1990km
Met Helen, Deanne and Bernie for our long run this morning. We did two 8km loops around Centenial Park. It took me a few kms to warm up and all the niggles to disapear and then we settled into a nice run. We covered the 16km in 90mins and averaged 5:38/km. The legs felt better today, but still a bit tired. There is about a month to the marathon...... this year seems to have flown by! The training definately seems a little easier second time around.... haha hopefully the race will follow the same pattern :-)
Week: 33km
Month: 160km
Year: 1990km
Met Helen, Deanne and Bernie for our long run this morning. We did two 8km loops around Centenial Park. It took me a few kms to warm up and all the niggles to disapear and then we settled into a nice run. We covered the 16km in 90mins and averaged 5:38/km. The legs felt better today, but still a bit tired. There is about a month to the marathon...... this year seems to have flown by! The training definately seems a little easier second time around.... haha hopefully the race will follow the same pattern :-)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Update
Monday 14th August
Today: 7km
Week: 7km
Month: 134km
Year: 1964km
Went out for my run this afternoon to give the legs more time to recover. The first few kms were very slow and gentle. My calfs were feeling the hills from yesterday and I really had no inclination to make them work hard today!! After a few kms they warmed up and the rest of the run was really relaxing. I am really pleased with my run yesterday.... it is great to actually do what you set out to achieve. I was also happy I did not do my usual trick of backing off when it feels hard. The hills were challenging but I could really feel all the training and hard work I have been doing on hills and core strength.... It is all looking good for the marathon. 7km- average pace 5:30km
Tuesday 15th August
Today: 10km
Week: 17km
Month: 144km
Year: 1974km
Today I could have easily stayed in bed but eventually dragged my self up and headed into the park. I met Bernie at the gate and we slowly ran into the oval and did a nice long warm up. Even after the drills and strides my legs were feeling really tired. Sean gave us the option of up to 7 x 800m reps or a recovery run. I opted for the recovery run as the calfs were still feeling tight from Sunday and the last thing I need is a stupid injury from being a stupid runner.... so I listened to the body and took it easy. So the girls and I had a lovely relaxing run on the grass. By the end of the run all the muscles felt nice and loose and I felt like I could have ran all day..... unfortunately work interfers :-) I was really excited to see the results in the paper and I was placed 3961 :-)
Today: 7km
Week: 7km
Month: 134km
Year: 1964km
Went out for my run this afternoon to give the legs more time to recover. The first few kms were very slow and gentle. My calfs were feeling the hills from yesterday and I really had no inclination to make them work hard today!! After a few kms they warmed up and the rest of the run was really relaxing. I am really pleased with my run yesterday.... it is great to actually do what you set out to achieve. I was also happy I did not do my usual trick of backing off when it feels hard. The hills were challenging but I could really feel all the training and hard work I have been doing on hills and core strength.... It is all looking good for the marathon. 7km- average pace 5:30km
Tuesday 15th August
Today: 10km
Week: 17km
Month: 144km
Year: 1974km
Today I could have easily stayed in bed but eventually dragged my self up and headed into the park. I met Bernie at the gate and we slowly ran into the oval and did a nice long warm up. Even after the drills and strides my legs were feeling really tired. Sean gave us the option of up to 7 x 800m reps or a recovery run. I opted for the recovery run as the calfs were still feeling tight from Sunday and the last thing I need is a stupid injury from being a stupid runner.... so I listened to the body and took it easy. So the girls and I had a lovely relaxing run on the grass. By the end of the run all the muscles felt nice and loose and I felt like I could have ran all day..... unfortunately work interfers :-) I was really excited to see the results in the paper and I was placed 3961 :-)
Sunday, August 13, 2006
A hot date.....
Today: 24km
Week: 81km
Month: 127km
Year: 1957km
I had said to Bernie last week we had a hot date with sub 70mins coming to us ..... for a while there it looked like we might get stood up, but Mr 68 and Mr 69 came through in the end! We lined up nice and early and had a great spot on the start line. The time flew chatting with all the CR's and Striders and before I knew it the gun went off. It took me a while to warm up.... I had a stich and felt really stiff for the first two kms after all that standing around. Then I settled into a really comfortable pace and just aimed to maintain it. My goal was to reach the top of hear break hill in 40mins and the 10km mark just under 50mins. I thought if I could do that I had a good chance of a sub 70min finish. The kms seemed to fly by and it was the beginning of hearbreak hill. By now I was feeling really hot and decided to just focus on my form and not look up at how far to go. The hill was tough but I was holding back.... Sean had warned me not to use evrything up on the hill so I could run fast the last few km's. I was passing heaps of people which gave me a boost. At about the top of the hill I started to feel quite nautious and really hot. Evry time I tried to pick up the pace I thought I would be sick. So I just backed off a bit for a few hundred meters and then it disapeared... phew!! I got to 10km in 49:40 and thought Yes I can do this. I let the breaks off and ran hard on the down hill section..... again I was passing heaps of people and I was feeling excited. Just as I was turning into Campbell Pd Deanne appeared..... what a sight for sore eyes! I then just focused on keeping her just in front of me. I looked at the watch and had a quick calculation and knew I had a sub 70min in the bag and thought if I can keep this pace I might get under 69mins. Theat last km seems to go on and on and on and I was desparately looking for the turn. I could see the clock said 68:10 so I put in a good surge and had my eyes glued on the clock as the seconds clicked over. I crossed the finish line and the guy gave me a card that said 68:54..... WOO HOO!!! A 2min 20sec pb and a sub 70mins...... I was very happy, very pooped and soooo happy that was over :-) All the swaet girls ran really well!! Lots of PB's and happy faces :-)
We sat around in the sun and caught up with evryone before heading home to eat and have a rest. Once I was showered, fed and watered I felt great and headed out with Ray for a nice easy run and the a really good stretch.... and then ray gave my calves a nice massage :-) The legs felt really good after this afternoons run and stretch.... haha although I was pretty pooped. I kept thinking all good practice for that last 3kms in the sydney marathon.
Splits:
1km 4:46
2km 4:57
3km 4:53
4km 4:52
5km 4:37
6km 4:49
7km 5:30 (heartbreak hill)
8km 5:28 (heartbreak hill)
9km 4:52
10km 4:56
11km 5:03
12km 4:43
13km 4:12
14km 4:47
100m 26sec (4:00/km pace)
68:54
Week: 81km
Month: 127km
Year: 1957km
I had said to Bernie last week we had a hot date with sub 70mins coming to us ..... for a while there it looked like we might get stood up, but Mr 68 and Mr 69 came through in the end! We lined up nice and early and had a great spot on the start line. The time flew chatting with all the CR's and Striders and before I knew it the gun went off. It took me a while to warm up.... I had a stich and felt really stiff for the first two kms after all that standing around. Then I settled into a really comfortable pace and just aimed to maintain it. My goal was to reach the top of hear break hill in 40mins and the 10km mark just under 50mins. I thought if I could do that I had a good chance of a sub 70min finish. The kms seemed to fly by and it was the beginning of hearbreak hill. By now I was feeling really hot and decided to just focus on my form and not look up at how far to go. The hill was tough but I was holding back.... Sean had warned me not to use evrything up on the hill so I could run fast the last few km's. I was passing heaps of people which gave me a boost. At about the top of the hill I started to feel quite nautious and really hot. Evry time I tried to pick up the pace I thought I would be sick. So I just backed off a bit for a few hundred meters and then it disapeared... phew!! I got to 10km in 49:40 and thought Yes I can do this. I let the breaks off and ran hard on the down hill section..... again I was passing heaps of people and I was feeling excited. Just as I was turning into Campbell Pd Deanne appeared..... what a sight for sore eyes! I then just focused on keeping her just in front of me. I looked at the watch and had a quick calculation and knew I had a sub 70min in the bag and thought if I can keep this pace I might get under 69mins. Theat last km seems to go on and on and on and I was desparately looking for the turn. I could see the clock said 68:10 so I put in a good surge and had my eyes glued on the clock as the seconds clicked over. I crossed the finish line and the guy gave me a card that said 68:54..... WOO HOO!!! A 2min 20sec pb and a sub 70mins...... I was very happy, very pooped and soooo happy that was over :-) All the swaet girls ran really well!! Lots of PB's and happy faces :-)
We sat around in the sun and caught up with evryone before heading home to eat and have a rest. Once I was showered, fed and watered I felt great and headed out with Ray for a nice easy run and the a really good stretch.... and then ray gave my calves a nice massage :-) The legs felt really good after this afternoons run and stretch.... haha although I was pretty pooped. I kept thinking all good practice for that last 3kms in the sydney marathon.
Splits:
1km 4:46
2km 4:57
3km 4:53
4km 4:52
5km 4:37
6km 4:49
7km 5:30 (heartbreak hill)
8km 5:28 (heartbreak hill)
9km 4:52
10km 4:56
11km 5:03
12km 4:43
13km 4:12
14km 4:47
100m 26sec (4:00/km pace)
68:54
Saturday, August 12, 2006
A stack and a date with Karma!!!
Today: 7km
Week: 57km
Month: 103km
Year: 1933km
Ray and I had a really nice easy run around Centenial park. The sun was out and we had a blissful sleep in :-) We were cruising around the outside loop chatting away til BANG Ray stacked it!! Once I checked he was ok I had a good laugh for the next 500ms! I can always count on my clumsy husband to have a stack....there are too many great ones to list! The best though would have to be on the climb back down Mt Lidgeberg on Lord Howe Island. The lead guy was telling us to be carefull as we crossed over this big wet slippery rock ledge...... CRASH! Ray literally flew up in the air and landed on his hip and the huge noise was his bone! I have no idea how he did not break his hip..... although he was very proud to announce all his milk drinking had just paid for itself!! So I would score this morning about a 5 out of 10..... but a very classy recovery :-) I need to be carefull as I will have a date with karma one of these days..... but Ray appreciates a good stack!
Week: 57km
Month: 103km
Year: 1933km
Ray and I had a really nice easy run around Centenial park. The sun was out and we had a blissful sleep in :-) We were cruising around the outside loop chatting away til BANG Ray stacked it!! Once I checked he was ok I had a good laugh for the next 500ms! I can always count on my clumsy husband to have a stack....there are too many great ones to list! The best though would have to be on the climb back down Mt Lidgeberg on Lord Howe Island. The lead guy was telling us to be carefull as we crossed over this big wet slippery rock ledge...... CRASH! Ray literally flew up in the air and landed on his hip and the huge noise was his bone! I have no idea how he did not break his hip..... although he was very proud to announce all his milk drinking had just paid for itself!! So I would score this morning about a 5 out of 10..... but a very classy recovery :-) I need to be carefull as I will have a date with karma one of these days..... but Ray appreciates a good stack!
Friday, August 11, 2006
easy run....
Today: 8km
Week: 50km
Month: 96km
Year: 1926km
I met the girls for a nice easy lap of the bay... it was pretty cool and the moon was still shining. We plodded around nice and slowly..... very relaxing. Lots of chatting- very enjoyable :-) Nothing exciting to report! We covered about 7.7km, but I am claiming 8km :-)
Week: 50km
Month: 96km
Year: 1926km
I met the girls for a nice easy lap of the bay... it was pretty cool and the moon was still shining. We plodded around nice and slowly..... very relaxing. Lots of chatting- very enjoyable :-) Nothing exciting to report! We covered about 7.7km, but I am claiming 8km :-)
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Fartlek
Today: 11km
Week: 42km
Month: 88km
Year: 1918km
Today was continious 1km loops done as a fartlek session. We usually do 7 but we only had 4 today in deference to the city to surf :-) Sean wanted a good effort but to hold back some in reserve. I decided I would run just under 5 min pace. I stuck with Helen most of the way, who was obviously taking it very easy! Each rep I picked up the pace and finished feeling great. 4km- 19:30 Average pace 4:49. We then finished off with a nice 3.6km cool down. It is sooo good to see Kerry running so well at the moment... I cant wait to see her blitz the city to surf :-)
Week: 42km
Month: 88km
Year: 1918km
Today was continious 1km loops done as a fartlek session. We usually do 7 but we only had 4 today in deference to the city to surf :-) Sean wanted a good effort but to hold back some in reserve. I decided I would run just under 5 min pace. I stuck with Helen most of the way, who was obviously taking it very easy! Each rep I picked up the pace and finished feeling great. 4km- 19:30 Average pace 4:49. We then finished off with a nice 3.6km cool down. It is sooo good to see Kerry running so well at the moment... I cant wait to see her blitz the city to surf :-)
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Disqualified!!
Today: 13km
Week: 31km
Month: 77km
Year: 1907km
Well now I can understand how the female olympic swim relay team felt after our not so dramatic disquaification at the relay event in Woolongong!! No bernie and I did not muck up our baton change or block another runner!! Apparantly a runner can not run as part of the open A and open B team.... so the B team was disqualified as Jenny ran twice to make up the numbers. I am understandably crushed (NOT!!!) What a classic.... I love a bit of contraversy :-) So in my devestated state I managed to drag myself out for a run and covered 13km in 69mins~ averaged 5:22/km. It took me a while to warm up today, but once I was in a good rhythm I felt fantastic. It was dark when I was running and after hearing about that disgusting rape in darling harbour I was being particularly hypervigilant.... crossing the road to avoid all males!
Week: 31km
Month: 77km
Year: 1907km
Well now I can understand how the female olympic swim relay team felt after our not so dramatic disquaification at the relay event in Woolongong!! No bernie and I did not muck up our baton change or block another runner!! Apparantly a runner can not run as part of the open A and open B team.... so the B team was disqualified as Jenny ran twice to make up the numbers. I am understandably crushed (NOT!!!) What a classic.... I love a bit of contraversy :-) So in my devestated state I managed to drag myself out for a run and covered 13km in 69mins~ averaged 5:22/km. It took me a while to warm up today, but once I was in a good rhythm I felt fantastic. It was dark when I was running and after hearing about that disgusting rape in darling harbour I was being particularly hypervigilant.... crossing the road to avoid all males!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Monday 7th August 2006
Today: 8km
Week: 8km
Month: 64km
Year: 1894km
Nice easy 8km run today.... felt great! It was one of those days you could run forever. I had a massage with Easy Tiger which the legs were very thankful for. Covered 8km in about 42mins.
Tuesday 8th August 2006
Today: 10km
Week: 18km
Month: 74km
Year: 1904km
This morning we had 3 x 1600m reps with a two minute active recovery. The legs felt heavy and a bit sore after last nights massage so I decided to not push it too hard today and try to just do the three reps at a consistant pace. The first two felt pretty good, but my third felt much harder to maintain the pace. At the 1200m split I was about 15secs off my earlier splits so I had to dig deep and put in a good final 400ms. I tried to reel Kulinda in and made up a fair bit of ground. I could not quite catch her but was close :-) I am really looking forward to City to Surf! I am aiming to get under 70mins and am feeling confident that I can do it.... bring it on!
1600m- 7:28, 7:25, 7:27
Today: 8km
Week: 8km
Month: 64km
Year: 1894km
Nice easy 8km run today.... felt great! It was one of those days you could run forever. I had a massage with Easy Tiger which the legs were very thankful for. Covered 8km in about 42mins.
Tuesday 8th August 2006
Today: 10km
Week: 18km
Month: 74km
Year: 1904km
This morning we had 3 x 1600m reps with a two minute active recovery. The legs felt heavy and a bit sore after last nights massage so I decided to not push it too hard today and try to just do the three reps at a consistant pace. The first two felt pretty good, but my third felt much harder to maintain the pace. At the 1200m split I was about 15secs off my earlier splits so I had to dig deep and put in a good final 400ms. I tried to reel Kulinda in and made up a fair bit of ground. I could not quite catch her but was close :-) I am really looking forward to City to Surf! I am aiming to get under 70mins and am feeling confident that I can do it.... bring it on!
1600m- 7:28, 7:25, 7:27
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Weekend update :-)
56kmSaturday 5th August:
Today: 8km
Week:67km
Month: 56km
Year: 1886km
I headed to Lane Cove this morning like a crazy person and stood in the rain volunteering at the Striders 10km race this morning, before heading down to Woolongong for the ANSW road relays. We had 3 female teams and our open B team was Amanda, Myself, Bernie and Jenny. The rain held off but it was sooo windy! We had to do 2 x 2km loops and for about 1.2km we were running straight into a head wind. I felt really good today and was not too nervous until I was waiting in the hand over section waiting for Amanda. Last year I ran 18:55 and so my aim today was do run quicker than this. I felt really relaxed and comfortable in the run, although running into the wind you felt like you were not getting anywhere! I was happy to gop through the 2km mark in 9mins and then really focused on just maintaining that pace. The last 300m is up an incline and felt like it would never end! I was desperately trying to crack the 18 min mark but Bernie seemed so far away! I crossed at 18:05.... a 50 sec PB! I was very happy! Ray also ran a 3km and did a fantastic time.... I will let him blog about it. It is sooo exciting watching him do so well :-) We finished off with a really nice dinner with BErnie and Blue dog..... a great day!
Sunday 6th August 2006
Today: 20km
Week: 87km
Month: 76km
Year: 1906km
Today we met at Greys Point with a bunch of CR's and did the Honey moon steps and Lady Carrington Drive. It was an absolute spectacular run! Lady carrington drive was a beautiful fire trail through the national park, surrounded by bush and birds. The ground was so nice and soft to run on and bliss on the legs. We had 2hrs easy on the program to give the legs a rest before city to surf next week. It was soooo nice to have a shorter run after the last 4 big weeks. I really loved this run.... soul food! The honeymoon steps on the way back were a challenge! They are about 1.5 km of steps, steps and more steps. I decided I was going to run the whole lot.... good mental preparation for the awful hill at the end of the marathon. The glutes and quads were burning by the top but I made it in one piece! So a fantastic start to a sunday!
Today: 8km
Week:67km
Month: 56km
Year: 1886km
I headed to Lane Cove this morning like a crazy person and stood in the rain volunteering at the Striders 10km race this morning, before heading down to Woolongong for the ANSW road relays. We had 3 female teams and our open B team was Amanda, Myself, Bernie and Jenny. The rain held off but it was sooo windy! We had to do 2 x 2km loops and for about 1.2km we were running straight into a head wind. I felt really good today and was not too nervous until I was waiting in the hand over section waiting for Amanda. Last year I ran 18:55 and so my aim today was do run quicker than this. I felt really relaxed and comfortable in the run, although running into the wind you felt like you were not getting anywhere! I was happy to gop through the 2km mark in 9mins and then really focused on just maintaining that pace. The last 300m is up an incline and felt like it would never end! I was desperately trying to crack the 18 min mark but Bernie seemed so far away! I crossed at 18:05.... a 50 sec PB! I was very happy! Ray also ran a 3km and did a fantastic time.... I will let him blog about it. It is sooo exciting watching him do so well :-) We finished off with a really nice dinner with BErnie and Blue dog..... a great day!
Sunday 6th August 2006
Today: 20km
Week: 87km
Month: 76km
Year: 1906km
Today we met at Greys Point with a bunch of CR's and did the Honey moon steps and Lady Carrington Drive. It was an absolute spectacular run! Lady carrington drive was a beautiful fire trail through the national park, surrounded by bush and birds. The ground was so nice and soft to run on and bliss on the legs. We had 2hrs easy on the program to give the legs a rest before city to surf next week. It was soooo nice to have a shorter run after the last 4 big weeks. I really loved this run.... soul food! The honeymoon steps on the way back were a challenge! They are about 1.5 km of steps, steps and more steps. I decided I was going to run the whole lot.... good mental preparation for the awful hill at the end of the marathon. The glutes and quads were burning by the top but I made it in one piece! So a fantastic start to a sunday!
Friday, August 04, 2006
Bay run...
Today: 7km
Week: 59km
Month: 48km
Year: 1878km
This morning we ran early and missed the rain :-) We did a nice relaxed run around the bay.... yes chatting away. The calfs were a bit tired after the hills yesterday, but warmed up pretty quickly. We have the 4km relays tommorow in Woolongong and with a bit of shuffling there should be 3 female strider teams... hopefully it is not raining.
Week: 59km
Month: 48km
Year: 1878km
This morning we ran early and missed the rain :-) We did a nice relaxed run around the bay.... yes chatting away. The calfs were a bit tired after the hills yesterday, but warmed up pretty quickly. We have the 4km relays tommorow in Woolongong and with a bit of shuffling there should be 3 female strider teams... hopefully it is not raining.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Big Bertha.....
Today: 10km
Week: 52km
Month: 39km
Year: 1869km
It was big bertha this morning and thankfully I got a good night sleep and had a bit of energy this morning. I met Bernie at the gate and we ran in for a warm up and then over to the hill. We did the drills and strides and then 10 laps of Big Bertha. My legs felt great this morning, courtesy of a brilliant massage from Ray last night. He found a big knot in my hamstring and beat it out.... I am sure the neighbours wondered what all the screaming was :-)
I was really happy with this session and felt quite excited about City to surf. I felt strong on the uphill and practiced leaning into the downhill. The splits for each lap was pretty consistant..... and finished with 22:34. This is pretty close to my best BB time..... I finished pooped but happy :-)
Week: 52km
Month: 39km
Year: 1869km
It was big bertha this morning and thankfully I got a good night sleep and had a bit of energy this morning. I met Bernie at the gate and we ran in for a warm up and then over to the hill. We did the drills and strides and then 10 laps of Big Bertha. My legs felt great this morning, courtesy of a brilliant massage from Ray last night. He found a big knot in my hamstring and beat it out.... I am sure the neighbours wondered what all the screaming was :-)
I was really happy with this session and felt quite excited about City to surf. I felt strong on the uphill and practiced leaning into the downhill. The splits for each lap was pretty consistant..... and finished with 22:34. This is pretty close to my best BB time..... I finished pooped but happy :-)
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Today: 19km
Week: 42km
Month: 29km
Year: 1859km
I was up at some ungodly hour this morning to meet the girls at 5:20am for our run. We ran Centenial park, moore park golf course and finished off back in the park. I covered about 19km in the 1 hour 45mins and felt pretty good. We started out at a nice pace and picked it up towards the end. I did not feel as stiff after last nights fit ball class... finally :-) There were lots of people in the park this morning.... hmmm you can tell city to surf is coming up! We bumped into Louise out and about with her snazzy leather gloves which had proved helpful after she had a fall in the dark... she is tough though, no tears :-) There was a beautiful pink sunrise this morning.... worth getting up for!
Week: 42km
Month: 29km
Year: 1859km
I was up at some ungodly hour this morning to meet the girls at 5:20am for our run. We ran Centenial park, moore park golf course and finished off back in the park. I covered about 19km in the 1 hour 45mins and felt pretty good. We started out at a nice pace and picked it up towards the end. I did not feel as stiff after last nights fit ball class... finally :-) There were lots of people in the park this morning.... hmmm you can tell city to surf is coming up! We bumped into Louise out and about with her snazzy leather gloves which had proved helpful after she had a fall in the dark... she is tough though, no tears :-) There was a beautiful pink sunrise this morning.... worth getting up for!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Track....
Today: 10km
Week: 23km
Month: 10km
Year: 1840km
This morning we had 5 x 1km reps with an active recovery. I did a warm up and the drills and really struggled on the strides. The hamstrings felt really tired. I was pretty happy with the session today.... the splits were pretty even and all got quicker each rep. Helen was running really well and we were all chasing her.... on the last rep I egged her to try and do a sub 4:00, which she managed- very exciting! The last two were tough as the hamstrings were really tired and let me know about it the whole way :-) I was happy to not get lapped by Mark on the last rep ;-)
1km- 4:39, 4:36, 4:35, 4:32, 4:28
Week: 23km
Month: 10km
Year: 1840km
This morning we had 5 x 1km reps with an active recovery. I did a warm up and the drills and really struggled on the strides. The hamstrings felt really tired. I was pretty happy with the session today.... the splits were pretty even and all got quicker each rep. Helen was running really well and we were all chasing her.... on the last rep I egged her to try and do a sub 4:00, which she managed- very exciting! The last two were tough as the hamstrings were really tired and let me know about it the whole way :-) I was happy to not get lapped by Mark on the last rep ;-)
1km- 4:39, 4:36, 4:35, 4:32, 4:28
Monday, July 31, 2006
Doona monster....
Today: 13km
Week: 13km
Month: 360km
Year: 1830km
I was trapped in bed this morning by the Doona Monster..... no not Ray :-) I opted for the extra 2hrs sleep and headed out this afternoon after work. I had 70mins on the program and covered 13km~ average pace 5:29/km. It was hilly loop around home and it was pretty cold and windy tonight. The hills are becoming easier which is nice..... all is going well in my mission to make hills my friend :-) Unfortunately the shenanigans with the doona monster mean I do not get much recovery for my speed work tommorow..... no rest for the wicked. On a different note.... has any one experienced loosing your appetite when training for a marathon? I am getting very hungry but have not a lot of desire for anything in particular. This happened at about the same point before Canberra.... am I just fussy?
Week: 13km
Month: 360km
Year: 1830km
I was trapped in bed this morning by the Doona Monster..... no not Ray :-) I opted for the extra 2hrs sleep and headed out this afternoon after work. I had 70mins on the program and covered 13km~ average pace 5:29/km. It was hilly loop around home and it was pretty cold and windy tonight. The hills are becoming easier which is nice..... all is going well in my mission to make hills my friend :-) Unfortunately the shenanigans with the doona monster mean I do not get much recovery for my speed work tommorow..... no rest for the wicked. On a different note.... has any one experienced loosing your appetite when training for a marathon? I am getting very hungry but have not a lot of desire for anything in particular. This happened at about the same point before Canberra.... am I just fussy?
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Hills, hills and more hills!
Saturday 29th July
Today: 12km
Week: 74km
Month: 314km
Year: 1784km
Today was the CR 5km challenge.... which was very exciting as it was Rays first 5km race. We headed into the bay and did a warm up and then chatted with the usual suspects. I decided to aim for 23mins this morning- if I could do this I would be pretty happy. This week has been a heavy training week, so I thought it would give me an idea of how I was going. I lined up with Ray and his pacer Blue Dog and Deanne. As soon as we started I realised Ray and Blue Dog were quicker than 23min pace, so Deanne and I let them glide away :-) Ray looked very comfortable and I was so happy to be able to be chasing him. I felt really comfortable and just focused on maintaining the pace. At the 4.5km mark I felt really pooped and just wanted to stop. Deanne had been sitting just behind me until this point and then took off.... I just could not go with her. So I finished with 23:13 and was really happy with the run. The splits were pretty even....and even though I felt the last km was really slow it was the same pace. Ray had managed a 21:59 for his first 5km and did it comfortablty..... I was sooo excited! I can't run fast so I may as well live it through him. If he can do this after 9 weeks running, I cant wait to see him in 6months! After the run back we finished off with a yummy breakfast.
Sunday 30th July
Today: 33km
Week: 107km
Month: 347km
Year: 1817km
A whole group of us met at the park and ran through the park, into the city, onto William st and then ran the city to surf course, then up Bondi rd, along to Queens Park and back into Centenial park to finish off. I had started earlier and done an extra 20mins to make up my distance. It was a spectacular morning, not too cold, clear blue skies and a great sun rise! I soaked up the views because I will not be particularly interested in two weeks :-) I felt pretty comfortable for most of the run, even the hills did not feel too bad. I was pretty pooped for the last 20mins and was very happy to see my little car!!! We bumped into a disapearing Lulu and steve topwards then end and am sure we looked like wrecks! Benrnie did really well, managing to do her 30km run with a cold.... and provided well deserved coke at the end :-) Once I had a good stretch I felt pretty good and went to Deanne's for a lovely breakfast and lots of talking!! So this week I did 107km which is the most I have ever run in a week. The legs feel fine and I am happy to report I have handled the kms pretty well! I have another big week next week but I get a shorter sunday long run... woo hoo! I feel really confident about the city to surf after todays run. If I can feel ok up those hills with 107 km's in the legs, race day should be a bit better....I hope :-)
33km- 3hrs 09mins Average pace 5:44/km
Today: 12km
Week: 74km
Month: 314km
Year: 1784km
Today was the CR 5km challenge.... which was very exciting as it was Rays first 5km race. We headed into the bay and did a warm up and then chatted with the usual suspects. I decided to aim for 23mins this morning- if I could do this I would be pretty happy. This week has been a heavy training week, so I thought it would give me an idea of how I was going. I lined up with Ray and his pacer Blue Dog and Deanne. As soon as we started I realised Ray and Blue Dog were quicker than 23min pace, so Deanne and I let them glide away :-) Ray looked very comfortable and I was so happy to be able to be chasing him. I felt really comfortable and just focused on maintaining the pace. At the 4.5km mark I felt really pooped and just wanted to stop. Deanne had been sitting just behind me until this point and then took off.... I just could not go with her. So I finished with 23:13 and was really happy with the run. The splits were pretty even....and even though I felt the last km was really slow it was the same pace. Ray had managed a 21:59 for his first 5km and did it comfortablty..... I was sooo excited! I can't run fast so I may as well live it through him. If he can do this after 9 weeks running, I cant wait to see him in 6months! After the run back we finished off with a yummy breakfast.
Sunday 30th July
Today: 33km
Week: 107km
Month: 347km
Year: 1817km
A whole group of us met at the park and ran through the park, into the city, onto William st and then ran the city to surf course, then up Bondi rd, along to Queens Park and back into Centenial park to finish off. I had started earlier and done an extra 20mins to make up my distance. It was a spectacular morning, not too cold, clear blue skies and a great sun rise! I soaked up the views because I will not be particularly interested in two weeks :-) I felt pretty comfortable for most of the run, even the hills did not feel too bad. I was pretty pooped for the last 20mins and was very happy to see my little car!!! We bumped into a disapearing Lulu and steve topwards then end and am sure we looked like wrecks! Benrnie did really well, managing to do her 30km run with a cold.... and provided well deserved coke at the end :-) Once I had a good stretch I felt pretty good and went to Deanne's for a lovely breakfast and lots of talking!! So this week I did 107km which is the most I have ever run in a week. The legs feel fine and I am happy to report I have handled the kms pretty well! I have another big week next week but I get a shorter sunday long run... woo hoo! I feel really confident about the city to surf after todays run. If I can feel ok up those hills with 107 km's in the legs, race day should be a bit better....I hope :-)
33km- 3hrs 09mins Average pace 5:44/km
Friday, July 28, 2006
Update:
Thursday 27th July
Today: 10km
Week: 52km
Month: 292km
Year: 1763km
After yesterdays long run I had a really sore glute... not enough stretching. It was still sore this morning so I gave hills a miss. I decided to give it a good stretch and run in the afternoon if it felt fine. By the afternoon it felt great so I did a 10km hilly loop from home and surged all the hills. There was about 10 hill surges, so I feel I made up for this morning. Finished off at the gym and then lots of stretching. 10km- 53:30, average pace 5:23/km
Friday 28th July
Today: 10km
Week: 62km
Month: 302km
Year: 1772km
I met some friends at Leichardt and we did a run down to around the water and back. There were some good hills in this run as well.... all good for city to surf! The view was spectacular this morning and well worth the early rise. The glute felt fine this morning.... no sign of the mysterious tightness. This run was almost the same as yesterday- 10km 53:40, average pace 5:25/km. Tommorow is the CR 5km at the bay.... I am going to gice 23mins a go. My last cr 5km before canberra was 22:30.... boo hoo I am not in that form!
Today: 10km
Week: 52km
Month: 292km
Year: 1763km
After yesterdays long run I had a really sore glute... not enough stretching. It was still sore this morning so I gave hills a miss. I decided to give it a good stretch and run in the afternoon if it felt fine. By the afternoon it felt great so I did a 10km hilly loop from home and surged all the hills. There was about 10 hill surges, so I feel I made up for this morning. Finished off at the gym and then lots of stretching. 10km- 53:30, average pace 5:23/km
Friday 28th July
Today: 10km
Week: 62km
Month: 302km
Year: 1772km
I met some friends at Leichardt and we did a run down to around the water and back. There were some good hills in this run as well.... all good for city to surf! The view was spectacular this morning and well worth the early rise. The glute felt fine this morning.... no sign of the mysterious tightness. This run was almost the same as yesterday- 10km 53:40, average pace 5:25/km. Tommorow is the CR 5km at the bay.... I am going to gice 23mins a go. My last cr 5km before canberra was 22:30.... boo hoo I am not in that form!
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Theres nothing wrong with us...
Today: 20km
Week:42km
Month: 282km
Year: 1753km
Met up with Bernie, Kulinda, Helen and Deanne this morning for our mid week long run. I know it is politically incorrect but I was a little dissapointed to run in the rain again. I knew winter marathon training would break the drought. Bernie and I had 1hr 45mins on the program and we did our usual outside park loop and then around the golf course and then back into the park to finish off. We were all very chatty intially, but then as we all got tired we got very quiet. Bernie and I got to 1hr 44mins and she announced either 1 min to go or 700m to make 20km...... haha not a lot of thought we both opted for the 700ms~ nothing wrong with us, we just like whole numbers. Thankfully Bernie managed to get her foot off the fence this week :-) After last nights fitball class the glutes were really tired and I felt them ++ this morning, especially towards the end of the run. We maintained a really good pace, which felt comfortable except the screaming glutes! So I am sitting here in my skins under my pants.... I feel like a superhero :-)
20km- 1hr 47:30 Average pace: 5:23/km
Week:42km
Month: 282km
Year: 1753km
Met up with Bernie, Kulinda, Helen and Deanne this morning for our mid week long run. I know it is politically incorrect but I was a little dissapointed to run in the rain again. I knew winter marathon training would break the drought. Bernie and I had 1hr 45mins on the program and we did our usual outside park loop and then around the golf course and then back into the park to finish off. We were all very chatty intially, but then as we all got tired we got very quiet. Bernie and I got to 1hr 44mins and she announced either 1 min to go or 700m to make 20km...... haha not a lot of thought we both opted for the 700ms~ nothing wrong with us, we just like whole numbers. Thankfully Bernie managed to get her foot off the fence this week :-) After last nights fitball class the glutes were really tired and I felt them ++ this morning, especially towards the end of the run. We maintained a really good pace, which felt comfortable except the screaming glutes! So I am sitting here in my skins under my pants.... I feel like a superhero :-)
20km- 1hr 47:30 Average pace: 5:23/km
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
A not so speedy speed session!
Monday 24th July
Today: 12km
Week: 12km
Month: 262km
Year: 1733km
Punishment for not getting out of bed this morning was having to run this evening after work. I felt so much better today and it was a really nice night for a run. I had an hour on the program and finished 12km in 63mins. I then headed to the gym for my core and ab exercises.
Tuesday 25th July
Today: 10km
Week: 22km
Month: 272km
Year: 1743km
I felt really tired this morning despite a really good night sleep. Headed to the park and the rain held off *phew*. We had 2200m, 1600m and 1000m reps this morning with an active recovery. I had a good warm up, drills and strides and felt pooped by then end if it.... I knew it was going to be a tough session. I just had no oomph in the legs today. The rest of me was willing but there was no get up and go! I just gritted my teeth and grinded this one out today. I was really happy to just keep a pretty consistant pace and get this one done. I really focused on keeping good form and lifting my knees..... haha helped take my mind off my burning legs :-)
2200m- 10:33, 1600m- 7:35, 1000m- 4:36
So next week when the alarm goes off on Monday morning and I want to stay in bed I will remind myself how tough a speed session is on tired legs. The lovely blue dog is going to pace Ray on Saturday for the CR challenge... thats exciting!
Today: 12km
Week: 12km
Month: 262km
Year: 1733km
Punishment for not getting out of bed this morning was having to run this evening after work. I felt so much better today and it was a really nice night for a run. I had an hour on the program and finished 12km in 63mins. I then headed to the gym for my core and ab exercises.
Tuesday 25th July
Today: 10km
Week: 22km
Month: 272km
Year: 1743km
I felt really tired this morning despite a really good night sleep. Headed to the park and the rain held off *phew*. We had 2200m, 1600m and 1000m reps this morning with an active recovery. I had a good warm up, drills and strides and felt pooped by then end if it.... I knew it was going to be a tough session. I just had no oomph in the legs today. The rest of me was willing but there was no get up and go! I just gritted my teeth and grinded this one out today. I was really happy to just keep a pretty consistant pace and get this one done. I really focused on keeping good form and lifting my knees..... haha helped take my mind off my burning legs :-)
2200m- 10:33, 1600m- 7:35, 1000m- 4:36
So next week when the alarm goes off on Monday morning and I want to stay in bed I will remind myself how tough a speed session is on tired legs. The lovely blue dog is going to pace Ray on Saturday for the CR challenge... thats exciting!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
No tears...
Today: 10km
Week: 80km
Month: 250km
Year: 1721km
Well there were no tears and I managed to not drop Alex in the holy water :-) We had a fantastic day and despite teething Alex was wonderful in the church..... all the time for that matter :-) I will get Ray to put some photos on for me. This morning I headed to the bay with Ray to do some secret training for the CR challenge next week. It will be his first one and he was keen to sus it out. I felt really heavy in the legs after yesterdays efforts and Ray was bounding along next to me obviously finding the run a breeze. I can not believe how well he is doing. Any way he dragged me around for ten kms in 52mins averaging 5:15/km. This was quicker than I intended and I had to tell Ray to run ahead for the last 2 kms because I was struggling to keep up...... hehehe I had better get used to that I think!!! So I can' t wait for next week when I will get to chase him down.... a bit like the old days :-) I am getting ready to get my butt kicked...... can't wait!!
Week: 80km
Month: 250km
Year: 1721km
Well there were no tears and I managed to not drop Alex in the holy water :-) We had a fantastic day and despite teething Alex was wonderful in the church..... all the time for that matter :-) I will get Ray to put some photos on for me. This morning I headed to the bay with Ray to do some secret training for the CR challenge next week. It will be his first one and he was keen to sus it out. I felt really heavy in the legs after yesterdays efforts and Ray was bounding along next to me obviously finding the run a breeze. I can not believe how well he is doing. Any way he dragged me around for ten kms in 52mins averaging 5:15/km. This was quicker than I intended and I had to tell Ray to run ahead for the last 2 kms because I was struggling to keep up...... hehehe I had better get used to that I think!!! So I can' t wait for next week when I will get to chase him down.... a bit like the old days :-) I am getting ready to get my butt kicked...... can't wait!!
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Long one!
Today: 33km
Week: 70km
Month: 240km
Year: 1711km
Tommorow is the christening of my beautiful niece and Ray and I are God parents so I decided to move the long run to today ~ otherwise I might drop Alex in the holy water! I met Deanne at the park and she ran the first 45mins with me. I then settled into my run and cruised around the park listening to my i-pod. The legs felt heavy after my massage but they felt pretty good. At about the 16km mark I started to struggle mentally.... only half way, this is going to be a struggle. So I had a bit of a stretch and then ran into Kerrie. I was so happy to have a bit of a distraction. We plodded around together for 20mins and then I headed off again. I felt in a really good rhythm for the rest of the run and maintained a pretty good pace~ I mainly ran around Centenial park, Queens park, the golf course and then back into Centenial park to finish off the 33km. I much prefer having a big loop course where you can head towards home, rather than having to keep looping around to make up the km's. I also spotted Don Juan, Mohammed and Sparkie all looking much speedier than me :-) The last hour it started to rain, but it was not heavy and it was really enjoyable. Overall covered 33km in 3hrs 3mins~ average pace 5:33/km. Now I get a sleep in and a nice easy run tommorow :-)
Week: 70km
Month: 240km
Year: 1711km
Tommorow is the christening of my beautiful niece and Ray and I are God parents so I decided to move the long run to today ~ otherwise I might drop Alex in the holy water! I met Deanne at the park and she ran the first 45mins with me. I then settled into my run and cruised around the park listening to my i-pod. The legs felt heavy after my massage but they felt pretty good. At about the 16km mark I started to struggle mentally.... only half way, this is going to be a struggle. So I had a bit of a stretch and then ran into Kerrie. I was so happy to have a bit of a distraction. We plodded around together for 20mins and then I headed off again. I felt in a really good rhythm for the rest of the run and maintained a pretty good pace~ I mainly ran around Centenial park, Queens park, the golf course and then back into Centenial park to finish off the 33km. I much prefer having a big loop course where you can head towards home, rather than having to keep looping around to make up the km's. I also spotted Don Juan, Mohammed and Sparkie all looking much speedier than me :-) The last hour it started to rain, but it was not heavy and it was really enjoyable. Overall covered 33km in 3hrs 3mins~ average pace 5:33/km. Now I get a sleep in and a nice easy run tommorow :-)
Friday, July 21, 2006
A grease and oil change....
Today: 6km
Week: 37km
Month: 207km
Year: 1678km
Today was an easy 30min run. I turned the alarm off at 5am and decided another hour in bed was needed. Then at 6am I had an overwhelming urge to get back into bed.... the pillow looked so comfy! I layered up and head off into the dark to do a 6km loop around home. You know when your car needs a tune up and it pings.... well that was me this morning. My whole body felt tired after yesterdays hills and I am sooooo looking forward to my massage this afternoon. It has been ages since I saw Tiger so the legs are in need of a tune up! Once I warmed up I felt pretty good and was home in the hot shower pretty quickly :-) 6km, average 5:38/km
Week: 37km
Month: 207km
Year: 1678km
Today was an easy 30min run. I turned the alarm off at 5am and decided another hour in bed was needed. Then at 6am I had an overwhelming urge to get back into bed.... the pillow looked so comfy! I layered up and head off into the dark to do a 6km loop around home. You know when your car needs a tune up and it pings.... well that was me this morning. My whole body felt tired after yesterdays hills and I am sooooo looking forward to my massage this afternoon. It has been ages since I saw Tiger so the legs are in need of a tune up! Once I warmed up I felt pretty good and was home in the hot shower pretty quickly :-) 6km, average 5:38/km
Thursday, July 20, 2006
No rest for the wicked.....
Today: 10km
Week: 31km
Month: 201km
Year: 1672km
This morning was a hills session and woo hoo the rain held off! We had on the program 3 sets of 3 hill reps with a 2min active recovery. The aim was to attack the uphill and float the downhill. Sean told me when I arrived I had to do 4 sets of 3 reps..... no rest for the wicked. We warmed up and did the drills and strides and then into the hill. I pretty good, I was a bit worried about the weights at the gym last night. The first set I felt pretty good and finished in 7:01 for the three reps. The so called 2 min recovery was based on when the speddies finished so my recovery was 20secs... aghhh! I worked really hard this morning and tried to keep really upright on the uphill. The glutes were burning by the third set. We finished the third set and 10 secs later Sean was saying " up on the line".... this was very tough with no recovery. I thought I would either cry or vomit..... lucky I did neither! I was so pooped at the end but really enjoyed the session. I found it great to break the 12 up into 4 sets.... seemed a lot less daunting. So city2surf here we come!
Reps: 7:01, 7:01, 6:58, 6:56
I have also been tagged by DJ.... so here we go
4 Jobs:
Deli hand at Bi-lo
Personal Care assistant in Aged Care facility
Welfare worker at Homeless drop in shelter
Social Worker Aged Care Psychiatry
4 Movies I could watch over and over:
Pirates of the Carrabian
Lord of the Rings
Strictly Ballroom
The Castle
4 Places I have lived:
Newcastle
Brisbane
Morriset
Narwee
4 TV shows I like
Seinfield
The Simpsons
House
Greys annatomy
4 Holidays
Vietnam
Lord Howe Island
New Zealand
Japan
4 Web sites I look at daily
Cool running
Hotmail
4 places I'd rather be
Running anywhere
Lord Howe Island
Tasmania
Africa
4 Favourite foods
Chocolate
Cereal
Tofu
Bananas
4 bands I like
Missy Higgins
Midnight Oil
Split Endz
Pink Floyd
4 bloggers I tag
Bernie G
Rebelecka
Running Widow
Gronk
Week: 31km
Month: 201km
Year: 1672km
This morning was a hills session and woo hoo the rain held off! We had on the program 3 sets of 3 hill reps with a 2min active recovery. The aim was to attack the uphill and float the downhill. Sean told me when I arrived I had to do 4 sets of 3 reps..... no rest for the wicked. We warmed up and did the drills and strides and then into the hill. I pretty good, I was a bit worried about the weights at the gym last night. The first set I felt pretty good and finished in 7:01 for the three reps. The so called 2 min recovery was based on when the speddies finished so my recovery was 20secs... aghhh! I worked really hard this morning and tried to keep really upright on the uphill. The glutes were burning by the third set. We finished the third set and 10 secs later Sean was saying " up on the line".... this was very tough with no recovery. I thought I would either cry or vomit..... lucky I did neither! I was so pooped at the end but really enjoyed the session. I found it great to break the 12 up into 4 sets.... seemed a lot less daunting. So city2surf here we come!
Reps: 7:01, 7:01, 6:58, 6:56
I have also been tagged by DJ.... so here we go
4 Jobs:
Deli hand at Bi-lo
Personal Care assistant in Aged Care facility
Welfare worker at Homeless drop in shelter
Social Worker Aged Care Psychiatry
4 Movies I could watch over and over:
Pirates of the Carrabian
Lord of the Rings
Strictly Ballroom
The Castle
4 Places I have lived:
Newcastle
Brisbane
Morriset
Narwee
4 TV shows I like
Seinfield
The Simpsons
House
Greys annatomy
4 Holidays
Vietnam
Lord Howe Island
New Zealand
Japan
4 Web sites I look at daily
Cool running
Hotmail
4 places I'd rather be
Running anywhere
Lord Howe Island
Tasmania
Africa
4 Favourite foods
Chocolate
Cereal
Tofu
Bananas
4 bands I like
Missy Higgins
Midnight Oil
Split Endz
Pink Floyd
4 bloggers I tag
Bernie G
Rebelecka
Running Widow
Gronk
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Its raining, its pouring.....
Today: 11km
Week: 21km
Month: 191km
Year: 1662km
I met Miss Bernie and Deanne this morning for an hour in the rain. It was not only wet but Brrr cold! We ran 11km in 61mins and felt really comfortable.... average opace 5:33/km. It took me a while to warm up, felt really stiff and sore all over courtesy of the fitball class tuesday night. It is brilliant for the core but you feel it the next day..... this morning I could feel evry bit of my ab's protesting away :-) Bernie and I discussed the injustices that happen to good people the whole way around.... we might become vigil anties :-) Hills tommorow, that should be fun!
Week: 21km
Month: 191km
Year: 1662km
I met Miss Bernie and Deanne this morning for an hour in the rain. It was not only wet but Brrr cold! We ran 11km in 61mins and felt really comfortable.... average opace 5:33/km. It took me a while to warm up, felt really stiff and sore all over courtesy of the fitball class tuesday night. It is brilliant for the core but you feel it the next day..... this morning I could feel evry bit of my ab's protesting away :-) Bernie and I discussed the injustices that happen to good people the whole way around.... we might become vigil anties :-) Hills tommorow, that should be fun!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Brave Heart!
Today: 10km
Week: 10km
Month: 180km
Year: 1651km
This morning it was the brave and hardy that got out of bed and braved the rain and wind. I met Bernie and Wayne at the gates and waynes umbrealla almost blew away. It was pouring with rain and really windy and I was questioning our sanity!! We did a few laps of the oval wondering how we would manage 1600m reps in the mud. Sean decided instead we would do two laps of the park (3.7km) at 10km race pace with a 5 minutes active recovery. I felt great in the first lap and the pace felt easy to maintain.... but I was not sure I could do 2 laps at that pace. I decided to not back off and just try to hang on in the second rep. Parts of the path were completely flooded and almost ankle deep water.... the shoes felt about 5kg heavier. As soon as I started the 2nd rep I knew it was going to be hard going. My breathing and cardio was fine but the legs were feeling the 32km run from Sunday and yesterdays gym work! I felt myself slowing 3/4 of the way through and just tried to hang on. I felt like I was going much slower but ended up 10secs slower than the first. I felt really satisfied at the end of the session.... I worked really hard on both reps and did not fade as badly as I thought in the 2nd rep. We only saw the backs of the fasties ever so briefly as they disapeared into the rain :-)
3.7km- 17:58, 18:08
Week: 10km
Month: 180km
Year: 1651km
This morning it was the brave and hardy that got out of bed and braved the rain and wind. I met Bernie and Wayne at the gates and waynes umbrealla almost blew away. It was pouring with rain and really windy and I was questioning our sanity!! We did a few laps of the oval wondering how we would manage 1600m reps in the mud. Sean decided instead we would do two laps of the park (3.7km) at 10km race pace with a 5 minutes active recovery. I felt great in the first lap and the pace felt easy to maintain.... but I was not sure I could do 2 laps at that pace. I decided to not back off and just try to hang on in the second rep. Parts of the path were completely flooded and almost ankle deep water.... the shoes felt about 5kg heavier. As soon as I started the 2nd rep I knew it was going to be hard going. My breathing and cardio was fine but the legs were feeling the 32km run from Sunday and yesterdays gym work! I felt myself slowing 3/4 of the way through and just tried to hang on. I felt like I was going much slower but ended up 10secs slower than the first. I felt really satisfied at the end of the session.... I worked really hard on both reps and did not fade as badly as I thought in the 2nd rep. We only saw the backs of the fasties ever so briefly as they disapeared into the rain :-)
3.7km- 17:58, 18:08
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Western Wanderer.
Today: 32.5km
Week: 76km
Month: 170km
Year: 1641km
This morning was spent running around the inner wester suburbs of sydney. We started at Brett Park Drummoyne and ran around Five Dock, Chiswick, Abbortsford, Canada Bay, Cabarita, concord, and back through Five Dock, Rodd Point and around the bay. The first half of the run was in complete fog and we could have been anywhere.... no water in sight! The 6am striders group were great this morning.... started in a big group and stuck together for quite a while before breaking up. I settled into a group of 4 who were running a little faster than I wanted but I was feeling comfortable and I thought I would see how long I could stick with them. Then at about 20km I got a second wind which was good because as we got closer to home the pace picked up. We end up running 32.5 in just on 3hrs~ average pace 5:38/km. The legs felt great today and the hamstring and calf tightness was no where to be seen.... hahaha maby I should have run harder yesterday :-) I felt really strong running today.... amazing how the body remembers all the Canberra training. The wonderful Bernie had hidden me a diet coke which was much appreciated~ you all know how I crave this after a long run :-) Now I am off to my sisters for some yummy vego lasagna for lunch....mmmmmm lasagna!
Week: 76km
Month: 170km
Year: 1641km
This morning was spent running around the inner wester suburbs of sydney. We started at Brett Park Drummoyne and ran around Five Dock, Chiswick, Abbortsford, Canada Bay, Cabarita, concord, and back through Five Dock, Rodd Point and around the bay. The first half of the run was in complete fog and we could have been anywhere.... no water in sight! The 6am striders group were great this morning.... started in a big group and stuck together for quite a while before breaking up. I settled into a group of 4 who were running a little faster than I wanted but I was feeling comfortable and I thought I would see how long I could stick with them. Then at about 20km I got a second wind which was good because as we got closer to home the pace picked up. We end up running 32.5 in just on 3hrs~ average pace 5:38/km. The legs felt great today and the hamstring and calf tightness was no where to be seen.... hahaha maby I should have run harder yesterday :-) I felt really strong running today.... amazing how the body remembers all the Canberra training. The wonderful Bernie had hidden me a diet coke which was much appreciated~ you all know how I crave this after a long run :-) Now I am off to my sisters for some yummy vego lasagna for lunch....mmmmmm lasagna!
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Update
Friday 13th July
Today: 6km
Week: 34km
Month: 128km
Year: 1599km
Easy 6km run tonight- my right calf and hamstring felt a bit tight, I am really needing a massage! covered the 6km in 31:30. Felt nice and relaxed.
Saturday 14th July
Today: 10km
Week: 44km
Month: 138km
Year: 1609km
Today was the state short course cross country at The Crest at Bankstown. The girls had to do 5km and the course looked really wet and muddy. We arrived a bit early for Ray to run his first race in the 4km fun run ( I will let him blog about it).... all I will say was it was very exciting to see him out there running and he finished really well! I am so proud of him...... a muddy cross country is not the easiest runs for your first race. I then did a warm up run keeping an eye out for Bernie who had not arrived yet! finally I spotted her *phew* and we did another quick loop before lining up for the start. I was a bit worried about my leg feeling tight but once the gun went off I forgot all about it. I knew the course was muddy as all the earlier races the kids had come in covered in mud! We had to do a 2km loop then a 3km loop and most of it was on muddy tracks. There were a few steppish downhill sections in the first 2km loop and people were slipping and sliding all over the place. I decided to just go for it and if I fell who cares. By some miracle I did not slip over.... haha despite a few very close calls! As we turned around a sharp bend the girl in front came crashing down, but she jumped up unhurt. I was quite disorientated and was not sure which direction we were running in and was really surprised when I realised we were almost finished. We popped out onto the synthetic track and I put in a really good spurt to sprint the last 200m. I LOVED this run! I finished in 24:25 which I was really happy with the time,especially given how slipperry, muddy and rough parts of the course was. I felt really strong today and really enjoyed the run. There were lots of great runs again today and I can not blieve how well craig ran so soon after the marathon...... impressive! All good fun :-)
Today: 6km
Week: 34km
Month: 128km
Year: 1599km
Easy 6km run tonight- my right calf and hamstring felt a bit tight, I am really needing a massage! covered the 6km in 31:30. Felt nice and relaxed.
Saturday 14th July
Today: 10km
Week: 44km
Month: 138km
Year: 1609km
Today was the state short course cross country at The Crest at Bankstown. The girls had to do 5km and the course looked really wet and muddy. We arrived a bit early for Ray to run his first race in the 4km fun run ( I will let him blog about it).... all I will say was it was very exciting to see him out there running and he finished really well! I am so proud of him...... a muddy cross country is not the easiest runs for your first race. I then did a warm up run keeping an eye out for Bernie who had not arrived yet! finally I spotted her *phew* and we did another quick loop before lining up for the start. I was a bit worried about my leg feeling tight but once the gun went off I forgot all about it. I knew the course was muddy as all the earlier races the kids had come in covered in mud! We had to do a 2km loop then a 3km loop and most of it was on muddy tracks. There were a few steppish downhill sections in the first 2km loop and people were slipping and sliding all over the place. I decided to just go for it and if I fell who cares. By some miracle I did not slip over.... haha despite a few very close calls! As we turned around a sharp bend the girl in front came crashing down, but she jumped up unhurt. I was quite disorientated and was not sure which direction we were running in and was really surprised when I realised we were almost finished. We popped out onto the synthetic track and I put in a really good spurt to sprint the last 200m. I LOVED this run! I finished in 24:25 which I was really happy with the time,especially given how slipperry, muddy and rough parts of the course was. I felt really strong today and really enjoyed the run. There were lots of great runs again today and I can not blieve how well craig ran so soon after the marathon...... impressive! All good fun :-)
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Fartlek
Today: 8km
Week: 28km
Month: 122km
Year: 1593km
This morning we had the outside loop on the prgram but when we turned up we saw that sean was marking out the 1km loop which meant a tough session was on the cards. This fartlek session involves you surging and floating but the floats are meant to be a bit slower than 5km race pace.... so you end up working hard the whole session. I enjoyed this the last time we did it, but I get nervous when I know I have a tough one...I always worry I can't do it. Sean let those of us doing the cross country short course on Saturday do 4km instead of 7km. Once we got going I felt pretty good and decided to try and stick not to far behind Kulinda. I worked pretty hard to put in a good surge and my floats felt harder and harder. I averaged 4:40min/km and finished 19:16. Again once it was over I really enjoyed it! It is a nice feeling when you know you have put in a hard effort. My body felt a bit stiff today.... I did a fitball class which worked all the core muscles, so I need a good stretch!
Week: 28km
Month: 122km
Year: 1593km
This morning we had the outside loop on the prgram but when we turned up we saw that sean was marking out the 1km loop which meant a tough session was on the cards. This fartlek session involves you surging and floating but the floats are meant to be a bit slower than 5km race pace.... so you end up working hard the whole session. I enjoyed this the last time we did it, but I get nervous when I know I have a tough one...I always worry I can't do it. Sean let those of us doing the cross country short course on Saturday do 4km instead of 7km. Once we got going I felt pretty good and decided to try and stick not to far behind Kulinda. I worked pretty hard to put in a good surge and my floats felt harder and harder. I averaged 4:40min/km and finished 19:16. Again once it was over I really enjoyed it! It is a nice feeling when you know you have put in a hard effort. My body felt a bit stiff today.... I did a fitball class which worked all the core muscles, so I need a good stretch!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Easy run.
Today: 11km
Week: 20km
Month: 114km
Year: 1585km
I had to drag myself up this morning to meet Bernie and Deanne for our mid week run. Bernie is on holidays and was being a champion for running with me so early... so not going was out of the question. It was really mild again this morning and we had an hour on the program. We ran around the outside of the park, it is still too dark to run on the grass. We chatted the whole way and it was a great way to start the day. My right calf felt a bit tight this morning, needs a bit more stretching. We bumped into Helen in Queens park so we had some extra company. We covered 11.3km in 63mins ~average pace 5:39/km.
Week: 20km
Month: 114km
Year: 1585km
I had to drag myself up this morning to meet Bernie and Deanne for our mid week run. Bernie is on holidays and was being a champion for running with me so early... so not going was out of the question. It was really mild again this morning and we had an hour on the program. We ran around the outside of the park, it is still too dark to run on the grass. We chatted the whole way and it was a great way to start the day. My right calf felt a bit tight this morning, needs a bit more stretching. We bumped into Helen in Queens park so we had some extra company. We covered 11.3km in 63mins ~average pace 5:39/km.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
800's
Today: 9km
Week: 9km
Month: 103km
Year: 1574km
I had 5 x 800m reps with 1:30 min active recovery on the program this morning. It was not as dark or cold which was a nice change. There was a big crowd this morning with Horrie making an appearance. My aim today was to try and do all 5 about the same pace and put a hard effort in for each one. I was able to do them all around the same pace and worked pretty hard on the 4th and 5th rep. The recovery seemed to go very quickly especially as Sean wanted us to keep up a good paced jog. I was really pleased with how quickly I recovered at the end of the session.
800's- 3:39, 3:39, 3:35, 3:33, 3:34
Week: 9km
Month: 103km
Year: 1574km
I had 5 x 800m reps with 1:30 min active recovery on the program this morning. It was not as dark or cold which was a nice change. There was a big crowd this morning with Horrie making an appearance. My aim today was to try and do all 5 about the same pace and put a hard effort in for each one. I was able to do them all around the same pace and worked pretty hard on the 4th and 5th rep. The recovery seemed to go very quickly especially as Sean wanted us to keep up a good paced jog. I was really pleased with how quickly I recovered at the end of the session.
800's- 3:39, 3:39, 3:35, 3:33, 3:34
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Ten bridges
Today: 29km
Week: 70km
Month: 94km
Year: 1565km
Today was one of my favourite Striders run called the Ten Bridges. It starts off in Lane cove and runs through Lane Cove, Woolstencraft, North Sydney, Lavander Bay, past Lunar park, up onto the Harbour Bridge, through the city, through Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, over the Anzac bridge, through Glebe, past the Bay back onto Iron Cove Bridge, Victoria rd, Hunters Hill, acros Byrns bay rd bridge and then back to the start at Lane Cove. It was a spectacular morning, cold and clear blue skies. The sunrise and running across the bridge made the 4:50am get up all worth it! I ran the first 15km or so with Bernie.... the others doing the full 30km had all dissapeared very quickly! The last 15km I was pretty much on my own.... that was ok though I was really enjoying the run. Thankfully the faster guys came through at one spot where I was a little directionally challenged and then I could keep them in the distance so I didn't get lost. I was quite excited to have caught a few of the other runners only doing 24km... theres a first! I was really nervous about this run today. It is the first really long one since Canberra and I was not sure how I would handle it. I am happy to report apart from the usual aches of 3 hrs of running the body and legs feel fine. I definately need new shoes.... I could almost feel the road through my shoes. I covered the 29km in 2:48 running time.... but I was out there for 3 hrs including my map reading stops :-) I felt really comfortable for most of the run and there are some pretty good hills in there too. So I am a happy girl today.... I am sure to need a nana nap before dinner tonigh!
Week: 70km
Month: 94km
Year: 1565km
Today was one of my favourite Striders run called the Ten Bridges. It starts off in Lane cove and runs through Lane Cove, Woolstencraft, North Sydney, Lavander Bay, past Lunar park, up onto the Harbour Bridge, through the city, through Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, over the Anzac bridge, through Glebe, past the Bay back onto Iron Cove Bridge, Victoria rd, Hunters Hill, acros Byrns bay rd bridge and then back to the start at Lane Cove. It was a spectacular morning, cold and clear blue skies. The sunrise and running across the bridge made the 4:50am get up all worth it! I ran the first 15km or so with Bernie.... the others doing the full 30km had all dissapeared very quickly! The last 15km I was pretty much on my own.... that was ok though I was really enjoying the run. Thankfully the faster guys came through at one spot where I was a little directionally challenged and then I could keep them in the distance so I didn't get lost. I was quite excited to have caught a few of the other runners only doing 24km... theres a first! I was really nervous about this run today. It is the first really long one since Canberra and I was not sure how I would handle it. I am happy to report apart from the usual aches of 3 hrs of running the body and legs feel fine. I definately need new shoes.... I could almost feel the road through my shoes. I covered the 29km in 2:48 running time.... but I was out there for 3 hrs including my map reading stops :-) I felt really comfortable for most of the run and there are some pretty good hills in there too. So I am a happy girl today.... I am sure to need a nana nap before dinner tonigh!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
A'hoy there...
Today: 8km
Week: 41km
Month: 65km
Year: 1566km
Met up with the woodstock guys this morning for a nice social run to Canada Bay. It was a beautiful morning to be out in the sun.... mmmmm followed with yummy fruit toast at Bowen Island! Averaged 5:30/km pace for the run and felt not too bad. Me feet were feeling the pounding today.... added up my shoes and time for a new pair. So tommorow some retail therapy. Pirates was great!!! Lots of action and lots of Johnny Depp :-) Although Keira Knightly had a very wrong fake tan happening. Ooooh now I have to wait for the third one! Tommorow is the first of the long runs in the lead up to Sydney...... 3hrs *gulp* haha I fogort I actually have to do the long runs for the marathon. I have a few weeks of 3hr runs and then the distance will drop back and build up again. Seans program worked a charm for Canberra so here goes. I am sure to be a zombie tommorow!
Week: 41km
Month: 65km
Year: 1566km
Met up with the woodstock guys this morning for a nice social run to Canada Bay. It was a beautiful morning to be out in the sun.... mmmmm followed with yummy fruit toast at Bowen Island! Averaged 5:30/km pace for the run and felt not too bad. Me feet were feeling the pounding today.... added up my shoes and time for a new pair. So tommorow some retail therapy. Pirates was great!!! Lots of action and lots of Johnny Depp :-) Although Keira Knightly had a very wrong fake tan happening. Ooooh now I have to wait for the third one! Tommorow is the first of the long runs in the lead up to Sydney...... 3hrs *gulp* haha I fogort I actually have to do the long runs for the marathon. I have a few weeks of 3hr runs and then the distance will drop back and build up again. Seans program worked a charm for Canberra so here goes. I am sure to be a zombie tommorow!
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