Australia Day Marathon: 4.07

First the weather was kind. Good cloud cover for most one the race with a good breeze that was cooling and a few light showers. They were not long enough or heavy enough to have any real effect.

I decided to start off at 4 hour pace and see what happened. The 2.2k in run in a loop at the start and the it is 4 x 10k so you can gauge your pacing as you pass the finish clock on each lap. I was running about 57 minute 10k laps and was able to maintain that for 3 laps or to 32k. However I thought that I would slow on the last lap and sure enough I did to run just under 64 minutes and all of my + 4 hour time was in the last 10k. Isn't always the case.

So overall I was pleased to have been able to maintain the 4 hour pace as long as I did. Also pleased I was so fatigued that. I had to walk at all. The last lap just became slow no matter what effort I put into it.

Finished with no issues and I fact on Monday afternoon because the weather was so nice and I could I went for a run around the Bay. But today I rested. A few easy days and then focus on the Caboolture marathon in a few weeks. That is on a track half a k long and starts at 6pm along with other events of various length.

I cannot get my head around the 84 laps and the start time. It has very pleasant picnic atmosphere so a real cruise for just under 5 hours is the current plan.

First marathon for 2014: Australia Day marathon Victoria Point

Well I know that the marathon running season has really started because I have the first one for 2014 on Sunday. At Victoria Point about 45 minutes south east of Brisbane on the Coast. This is my third year in row that I have this event. It starts at 5.00 am to miss as much as you can the oppressive humidity that occurs this time of the year north of the boarder.

The last two years I have been just under and just over 4 hours. I am not sure I am fit enough to start of with a 4 hour pace or ease back to a say 4.30. Honest answer I just don't think it is in my DNA to run slower that what I can. In other words if I think I could run 4 hours I will pace myself to that instead of really easing off to 4.30.

I think I a close to 4 hour fitness and may just start off with that aim and expect because of the lack of long runs it might drift out to 4.15. Also a lot depends on the weather conditions on the day.

Anyway it's the start of the season and I am looking forward to the challenge of the marathon and in particular that last 12k.

Almost a 'hot lap of the Bay' morning

JD and I have not been running these for about 6 months mainly because I think he was having a short break and I was recovering from an op. Then we just did not get them set again.

We set this morning . It overcast and wet and pleasantly cool quite the contrast to the hot humid conditions over recent times. The lap has been changed to 5k along the 5k challenge course. It has been probably 12 months that I ran a session that anywhere near approached a 'speed session'. This would for me at least qualify as one.

I though I would not get much under 25 but held on for about 23.15 for about 4.38 pace. At 3k i said to JD I would start to fall off his pace as he was setting it. That was said again at 4k but I managed to stick in his slipstream to the end. We were also joined by Rach. 

Nice morning.

Here goes 2014

A long absence from blogging with a lot happening. 

Short story is that in late November I had my prostrate removed because of cancer. At the same time some close by lymph nodes were removed and pathology showed the cancer had spread to most of those removed. Also the pathology showed that all of the cancer in the lymph nodes was removed .

The unknown is whether the cancer has spread further. So as a precaution in a few weeks I am starting radiotherapy that is like being rayed. The treatment last for 32 sessions 5 days a week. The side affects during and after can be significant. Most will have gone away a month or so father the treatment has finished. One side affect is significant fatigue. Not sure how badly I will be affected and how it will affect my training and my planed marathons.

Anyway we will wait and see.

 

The removal of the prostrate also has short term and long term side affects. I am working through those at the moment.

Happily about 4 weeks after the operation I was able to resume light running and have been over the last 4 weeks been  able to increase the length and intensity of the runs. Today I ran a half marathon at SMC in 1.47 which is not much slower than my best from last.

My first marathon back post op and for 2014. Next weekend just out of Brisbane. No expectation of time. I will just be happy to finish under 5 hours. That should be achieved provided the very high humidity does not become a greater factor than in the last few years. This is the 3rd year in a row I have run this and each time a shade either side of 4 hours.