Wednesday, September 26, 2007

A Recovery run ? 26k

Beautiful morning around the Bay.

Met up with JD, Tess and AK which has been the usual for a number of weeks. We cruised an talked at about 5.20 pace. The others left at various stages and I continued for a bit further. I was not expecting to go so far but it all felt too easy.

Thanks for the company.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Monday, September 24, 2007

No run

Sydney Marathon : 3.52.xx

Two weeks after Glasshouse I ran this yesterday. I have recovered well and have been training well. However I am aware you can feel okay but still not be fully recovered so I was happy to run with

Aunty
K and the aim of each of us having a good easy run and to enjoy the day.
I want to stay injury free for GNW and she wants to stay injury free for Busselton Ironman in early December.


We both thought between 3.50/3.55 would be just nice and that we did. She had all of a one day taper and I had the Friday off for a one day taper as well. The marathon concluded a 148 k training week. It was a great event and with an improved finish much more user friendly.


Two more marathons - Melbourne and Fitzroy Falls to conclude the marathons for the year. I have not decided how I will run Melbourne but as it is the last road one for the year I think I will give under 3.10 ago. Then onto GNW in the second week of November.

Glasshouse 100 mile and the DNF

For what it is worth here is the d very much delayed report of a very disappointing result.


My preparation was as good as it could have been and I really never had an option in my mind of a DNF. Maybe foolish or maybe just wise to be positive . I and some others had a pleasant Friday being driven around the area.


I was fine up to checkpoint 8 at about 45k although I had a slight lean and some intermittent back pain caused by the lean. Managed the two loops and only got lost one one which was my first navigational issue for the day. The weather was warming up and the lean and pain were getting no better. The next easy section of about 20k was very difficult - the lean was more pronounced and the pain increased and did little running and was slow.


From 85 to 100 I was able to run steady but with quite a bit of discomfort.


Second navigational issue was going off course in the 4k along Hamburger Hill and taking almost 1 hour instead of 30 minutes. Arrived at the 100k checkpoint in 14 and half hours which was much slower than expected.


A quick in and out and the last 60 was started. Again lost direction down Hamburger Hill and again took and hour. The discomfort was increasing and it was impossible to run. So a revised finish time was set and I gritted my teeth for a loooooooooooog walk. I got to Checkpoint 9 managing about 5k and hour and so it was just going to be a matter of keeping going. The discomfort was manageable by walking but not so running.


Blue Dog was to 'run' some sections with me and we meet at checkpoint 9. He had other things to do early in the morning and a quick calculation meant at my pace he might not get him back in time so we agreed I would continue alone. His parting last words were 'don't get lost' !!! Steady walking got me to Checkpoint 10 with still with plenty of time to finish under 30 hours. I left Checkpoint 10 about 2.00am and then about 5/6k into the loop I lost the course and could not find it again It sounds stupid which is was but that what can happen out in a pine forest about 3.15 am . It was a beautiful starry night and some pain killers I took at Checkpoint 10 kicked in and I was able to run and I must have got into a trance and completely missed the course markings.


A sixth sense told me I had run too far. I went back the track split and I could not remember the split and I had to make a choice. I did and it was the wrong one as I went up that track and could not find any makers and when coming back I was again presented with a divided track. I thought it was where I had been before so I went left but still could not find any markers. By now I was hopelessly disorientated and lost. I just kept moving hoping to see a course maker but didn't.


About 4.15am I phone Blue Dog to tell him I was okay but lost so that there would be no panic about whether I was injured. I just kept moving and was waiting for the sun to come up so that I could get my directions. As it turned out I had run back to the start but on the other side of Steve Irwin Drive.


I was bitterly disappointed but I learnt a lot from what occured.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Easy Bay Run

Cruised around just as a wonderful sunrise was coming over the Iron Cove Bridge and I was at Rodd Point. The orange seemed to capture the whole of the eastern sky and then it quickly disappeared behind the low clouds.
I then spent sometime doing stretches and just enjoyed the moment and the morning.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

LKL 68.14 @ 5.14 + LKL 63.51 @ 4.54

One last longish run before Glasshouse.

A steady but firm first lap and then a bit more gas on the second lap. All went well. No for some short steady days until Wednesday. I fly north early on Thursday so I will propably not run and start the few days of tapering.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

First day of spring and LKL in 68.19

What else would you want to do early on the first day of spring - lots of different things for lots of different people but for a runner very close to the Bay Run it would have to be out before the sun is up and a run.

Well that is exactly what I did. My LKL is the Bay run with some extra loops and hills added around the dog loop and Lilyfield hill. I ran it for the first time earlier in the year with a great friend and it always gives me a wonderful feeling to run it even if that friend is not running it with me. It was for many reasons a great morning to be out and to cruise around as the day was getting lighter and the sun came up.

Just such a fantastic way to start the day off, the weekend off and spring !!!!