No run

No run this morning although I was tempted with the great weather. I have not given much thought to the marathon tomorrow or really any preparation although there is not much you can do to prepare when there is only 6 days between them.

Aim for tomorrow: even splits, nice and steady and just under 4 hours will be fine.

Easy around the Bay

Started off thinking about a firm lap of the Bay but about 2k into it ran into JD & Professor and so stopped and had a chat. Then ran easy with them.

Update

Friday 19 September

An easy 10k but much faster than the day before but only 5.20 pace.

Saturday 20 September

No run

Sunday 21 September: SYDNEY MARATHON : 3.56.28

I felt very relaxed and with a race plan of just under 4 hours I was not sure if it could be done but wasn't really concerned if it didn't happen. I was also feeling very fresh considering the 100 miles in my legs from last weekend.

It was mild at the start other years there has been a chill in the breeze off the harbour. Being mild so early meant it was going to get very warm in the back end. I had agreed to run with Jane aka Seris who knocks out 3.55 marathons like we breathe - with no effort. I did however keep the first half solid in 1.53 and we both needed to check the watch and were continually needing to back off. It was just perfect weather conditions and being fresh it was difficult to keep a lid on the pace.

Soon after halfway the heat began to be felt and was becoming a significant factor. We keep the effort up but the time was just drifting away. It was now not a matter of needing to slow the pace but needing to push much harder to just maintain it. We survived the West City Link and got back in about 2.03.

I have pulled up very well. It was an effort but more in maintaining a steady pace and not a case of pushing to the limit.

Monday 22 September : No run

Tuesday 23 September : No run

Wednesday 24 September : 2 x Bay

A perfect still morning around the Bay. I have no idea why I decided to do 2 laps as hard as I could but trying to maintain an even pace. I think it arose because JD told me on Sunday that he and the Professor have been doing double laps in 33 odd. I was invited down to run with them but said I could not do that pace however I was tempted.

Ran without looking at the watch : first lap 33.40 - impossible he says it did not feel that difficult. Off on the second just knowing it would not be anything like the first - no peeks at the watch on the way around : second lap 33.43. Slow jog home shaking my head. I should be sore and slow today.

Thursday

Yes I managed to get out for run this morning. I left at 6.00am and the sun was already up bringing to life a wonderful crisp, still early spring morning.

I felt I had more energy than yesterday and cruised for 10k including the Bay. Pace was not an issue but I did sneak a look and it was 6 minute k's. I am not sure I will be able to string 42 of them together at that pace on Sunday to keep up with Seris for a 3.55 or thereabouts. I need to do a lot of recovery in the next few days.

I though it would be an ugly hobble but it felt smooth although slow. There is no sorness from the weekend although that is not a sign I have in anyway recovered. The ankle I thought would be screaming in angony but there is no discomfort. Maybe that was the way to solve the issue with it - give it a 162k run !!!

Wednesday

No run today as I am still recovering and I was in Court early. I feel much better today - not so fatigued. In fact I feel quite good and think I will go for a nice cruise around the Bay in the morning and enjoy the early spring weather.

Tuesday

I need to refocus on running again after by my standards being AWOL for some months. By that I mean I have kept running races but have done very little in structured training and that is showing in the times being recorded.

I have really not trained with any consistency and not with any real purpose to each run. I have just put on the shoes and gone running.

I need to fix that for the back end of the year and one way of doing that I think it getting back to blogging each day even if there is nothing to report.

I have no real sornes,aches,blisters or injuries but today but feel very very fatigued. My ankle was a bother in the race but didn't get any worse during it but then again I was cautious. I expected it at least be painful and difficult to walk on but really it is no worse than after a 20k training run. A very strange injury.

GLASSHOUSE 100 MILES

All of my plans involved two aims. First NOT TO GET LOST OUT AT 10 (as I did last year) and second to finish under the cut off. I guess under 24 hours had crossed my mind but I was never going to sacrifice a finish in an attempt at a time that I probably could not achieve because of lack of fitness. With that in mind I had no specific race plan but knew that if I maintained a steady pace that finishing just under the cut off should not be a problem.

So during the day I just ran to feel and kept steady and moving forward as best as the terrain would allow. At CP6 on the way back - did some calculations for the first time and under 24 was out unless I began to push harder. That was a risk and so I decided to revert to original plan and so I relaxed and decided enjoy and experience the run and the event itself.

At the 110k checkpoint I took some time to clean the feet, deal with a blister and change into fresh clothes. I left at 1.00am and was confident that unless I got lost or other issues arose then I would get back in 11 hours or so. I intended to walk a lot as some training for GNW. I had no issues on the eastern loop and kept it steady and was in control all the time. Finished in 29.33.

I ran almost the whole race alone and while I enjoy the company of others it was pleasant to just wonder along at my own pace with my own thoughts. The 30 hours just went so so fast.

I know I need to do a lot of work in the next two months to be fitter than I am now for GNW.