M7 Marathon : 3.38.58

As usual a well run event. It along the cycleway next to the freeway with a lot of rolling inclines. I have no issue with the cycleway etc. In fact I hardly noticed the traffic etc.

I wanted to give 3.30 a shot but it was clear at 15k that I do not have the current fitness level to do that so I eased off. I am not sure what time I ran through the half probably about 1.47 and so the second half in 1.52 and I am fine with that. It was bitterly cold at the start but after a few k's that was not an issue. The sun was soon out but it never got warm so that was also not an issue.

The time probably fairly reflects my fitness level and I am not sure if over the next two months I will have much of an opportunity to do any training other than at best maintain that. Brisbane next weekend.

 Grinding away somewhere on the second half 

Wednesday Bay: 31.12 @ 4.30

A heavy fog over Sydney this morning and not too cold. As usual meet up with JD and Rach. 

JD led all the way and I think we both run a bit quicker than expected. I have not recovered from the marathon it just feels like it. I know despite only minor stiffness etc the muscles are damaged and need time. Its fine line between adequate recovery (a few weeks at least) or as is usual at this time of the year I just run on. 

Taper & Hunter Valley Marathon: 3.51.15

I missed running on Thursday as a taper. However I ran the Bay on Friday and Saturday morning. Each at about 4.35 pace. Should I have been in recovery/taper mode - probably yes. Why did I run ? I felt like it.

I drove up to the event on Sunday morning. Just on 2 hours from home. Nice to sleep at home before the marathon but needed to be up at 3.30am but that really was not an issue. The drive is traffic free and just short enough not to be a burden. I was surprised how many cars were about as I drove through the city.

No fog or dew but overcast with grey threatening clouds. A slight breeze that certainly increased the wind chill factor and made it feel much colder. I therefore ran in a long sleeve top and tri-top over it thinking that as it got warmer the long sleeve could be taken off. It never got warm and in fact at the start of the second lap the wind picked up the cloud cover increased and despite being warm from running it was still bitterly cold on the skin.

I thought 3.50 and had 3.51.15 @ 5.28

It was a firm 1.53/1.58 split. That was okay as I passed many in the second half and was passed by none. So a few slowed down more than me. It was not a quick time but I as pleased as I ran all the way and maintained 5.30 pace over the last 17k when there are some tough hills and the possibility to blow time. It was pleasing to maintain the pace over the back half. 

A couple of days of no running and then a few days of a lap of the Bay each day. Predictions for the M7 marathon on Sunday. I don't have any speed but I do think I have acquired some endurance/stamina so I should be able to maintain a good pace in the last 10k because it is essentially down hill. Problem is I will start with the 3.30 group which might burn me out early resulting in  slow down over the last stages. I am prepared to take that risk to put me in a position for a 3.30 finish. 

If I blow up - well at least I was in there with a chance and gave myself the option. No thrill in starting off with a 3.45 in mind and finishing with that. The excitement will be seeing if and how long I can hold on. That is the challenge that should keep the morning interesting. 

Wednesday: Lap of the Bay

The usual Wednesday lap of the Bay with JD joined by Rach. As always on the warm up jog across Iron Cove Bridge all systems felt slow and heavy. After a short chat we were away.

As usual as soon as we were underway there was more of a spring in my step. A nice 31.15 for 4.30 pace. A good improvement from Saturday and it just goes to show what some company does for lifting the pace. 

I just need to give some thought about the taper in the next 2 days. 

Update

The Hunter Valley Winery Marathon is on Sunday. It is a double loop course with some long inclines. Yes I know what you go up you go down on a loop or out and back course but the rest on the way down never seems to match the perceived higher effort on the way up. So a toughish course with something around 3.50 being okay.

The following Sunday is the M7 marathon and I want to try and stay on the 3.30 bus for as long as I can so this Sunday I will keep something in reserve for the following weekend. 

On Saturday I ran a lap of the Bay (7K) at 4.45 pace. For various reasons I did not run on Sunday and has a sleep in.

I have run on Monday and Tuesday and on each day the same hilly 14k loop. Averaging just under 5 minute k's. That's all I want this week. Less distance and a nice firm pace for the taper week. 

Short update

Not much to report. I have run each day this week except Wednesday. Two 14k's and 20 this morning. All just a bit slower than 5.30 per k but I am happy to cruise at that pace for the moment. I will not improve with that but then again I will not over train and be injured. 

I do not want any injury interruption to the marathon schedule I have planned for the rest of the year all really in preparation for GNW and C2K. November & December runs and still a while away but I just cannot afford the physical as well as mental blow from an injury - any injury no matter how slight. 

Update since GC Marathon

I felt a little flat in the few days after the marathon. Recently I have felt okay and have run on the Wednesday but not this week. I passed on a run on Wednesday and felt no better in the following few days so I happily left off running until Sunday. 

I was okay with that decision.  

Sunday was a nice easy 21k at 6 minute pace. Today another easy 14k at the same pace. This is not training but just some easy runs to ease into a very busy July/August. 

I am having a nice dinner tonight with Mrs Eagle - 35th wedding anniversary. Where did that time go. It worries me to think about time between us as I meet her when she was in her last year of high school and I was in my second year of Law School - that was a scary 43 years ago but really hardly an angry word bewteen us in all that tiime. Somewhat more remarkable as for almost 20 years we worked together in our small legal firm which we still run. Yes she is lawyer as well. 

6 hour track event and Gold Coast Marathon

Sri Chimnoy 6 hour: 61.822k

A perfect winters day with clear blue skies and no breeze. My wife came out to crew for me. She was sitting track side and could read the newspaper and every 20 minutes hand me a drink and food. Every 2 hours I changed shoes to make sure the same muscles were not over worked on the flat track.

The run was mentally tough and I did have a bad patch just after 3 hours to about 4 hours. During that time I ran with no purpose and so my paced dropped of just slightly. I was aiming to run 63.6k that would have created an Australia Age record. To be honest with the 3.34 at Kemspey Marathon I thought that would be achieved. I did not achieve that and was disappointed but I suppose pleased to have run over 60k in the 6 hours. 

A friend of mine from AURA who is a bit compulsive with numbers and stats says it is ranked 15th in the world this year with a big bunch between me and 64k. It was an interesting experience and if the opportunity came again and the venue and time were okay I would run another one. 

Gold Coast Marathon: 3.42.41

I guess the day for the marathon went as I should have expected. I was thinking on a very good day to go close to 3.30 although that should have not been even a thought with the run the week before still very much in the legs. 

So I started of behind the 3.30 ballons but never focused on staying with them, I was pleased to run very even splits of just over 5 minute k's to 25k. Then the fatigue really set in and the running quickly changed from a light gilde to a heavy plod. The next 5k splits went 27/28/29 minutes and thet felt tough the running was like running with sticky honey on the soles of the shoes.

So with 1.46/1.56 splits for a 3.42.41 it was expected. This run was not about even splits but pushing hard for a long as I could on fatigued legs and then pushing through the rapied decline. I assume others were suffering worst as at 25k I was in 1571 position and finished in 1257 position. It seems some 300 odd runners slowed more than me.

I ran fresh last year for 3.50 so a nice improvement. All goes well for the longer term goals for later in the year.