Tan Marathon on Sunday

Sunday is running the TAN track in Melbourne for another marathon. Lots of laps of the iconic running venue in Melbourne.

For me marathon #190 and #20 for the year. That is the most marathons I have ever run in a year and and only 5 to go to get to my planned 25.

The body has no issues and fingers crossed it stays that way. As is usually the case I ran very early this morning before having a warm shower and a slight sleep in. Nice 4.30 pace for the 7k around the Bay.

Sunday will be steady with a planned time of between 3.55 - 4.10. If it slower i will not mind. Plan to do some of the later laps with my daughter who lives in Melbourne. That will probably be walk run and so the time might be much slower if that happens but we will have fun.

Here:

http://www.trailsplus.com.au/tan/

Mudgee Marathon

This article was published in the local newspaper this week:


http://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/2514049/on-a-mission-running-festival-regular-hoping-to-run-his-200th-marathon-by-april-next-year/?cs=1611

Mudgee Marathon: 3.35.37

Mudgee put on an absolute glorious day on Sunday. It was about 9 degrees at the start and that is much warmer than the the usual zero or below. There  was some early light cloud but by mid morning it had gone with the warming sunshine evaporating the clouds

Last week I slowed really badly in the second half and was wondering if It would happen again. I ran through the half in just under 1.47 with the hardest section over. There is along steady  climb from 10k and It is not over until about 19k. Then a long and mainly downhill run to the finish although there are many rises and falls. The falls do not help, as the race progress the speed generated (if any) by the falls seems to be never to be enough to compensate for the slowing ion the inclines. 

I kept waiting for the pace to slow and the fatigue to set in. As each k went by and the pace was being just maintained. As the race progressed towards the finish  I was becoming more hopeful that it might not occur at all or much later than last week. 

In the end I did not slow and finished in 3.35.37. Only a minute or so slower than last year. Happy.

No run today but I will ease back into a slow trot around the Bay to embrace the pre dawn. Next week the Tan Marathon in Melbourne. Many laps but I don't mind that. It is historic and I enjoy the challenge of Anderson Street hill. It will be steady on just either side of 4 hours. The following week is the first Dubbo marathon so I have no idea about the course but that should be steady as well to ease into the Glasshouse 100 miler the following weekend. Just all about survival for the next few weeks. 

        

Easy 15k in damp overcast conditions

I thought the rain in Sydney had gone but no it was back this morning. Just light but enough to make running a little unpleasant. It didn't stop the rowers being out or the sun just peeking over Iron Cove Bridge in a gap in the clouds before disappearing  behind them.

I feel a little fatigued from the trail marathon but at least i am out running and enjoying the freedom and absolute basic pleasure of running. Today had nothing to to with recovery, training or anything other than sheer pleasure.

Some rowers in the far distance and one with a red light with the lights of Leichhardt Oval showing

Not clear but the sun rising over Iron Cove Bridge before disappearing behind the clouds

Wagga Wagga Marathon : 5.04.22

Another great weekend away travelling to Wagga from Sydney.

I arrived in Wagga about 5 pm on Saturday with beautiful blue clear skies and sunshine for the sat half of the 5 hour drive down. Rain was predicted but certainly did not look like it. However t steady light rain started in the early hours of Sunday morning was still happening as I was getting ready for the early 7.30 start (provided to the over 60 runners). A slight wind required thought about the selection of clothing. Opted for tights and light hooded jacket and long sleeve top underneath. You can always take off a lawyer. I was pleased I did as the light jacket stayed on the whole time and I never felt uncomfortable. Then again I was not moving too quickly either. Shoes were not an issue it was always going to be trail.

The week leading up to the race was one where my energy levels ebbed and flowed more that usually. Partly I think being the recovery from the previous double marathon weekend. I was also very busy with work and my usually good eating routine was out late in the week. 

I felt strong and comfortable until about 23k into the marathon. Just after that the 4k of very tight technical section starts and I am not good on them. Too much of a fairy. Was also feeling a little fatigued and light headed and on reflection i was probably a bit dehydrated. Anyway not an excuse. If I was it was my fault. Just an explanation. 

I struggled through the technical section and it did not get much better from 30k to the end. I kept moving forward as quick and as best as I could but it was not pretty. I am not used to that struggle after 30 as I usually come home strong but that is what happens in marathons. 

The 5.04 finish was slower than I expected but then again the course in parts was full on mud and the going was slow. Overall this marathon did not leave any pleasant positive feeling as some do.Despite my difficulty with technical trails the run was enjoyable in regard to running through some great countryside and I did take the time to take some pics. 

Yes there were many hills and no this is not the tight technical sections. I enjoyed the rolling hills and the wide track. The technical came later and I was just in the mood at the time to stop for pictures. 

I need to recover and get mu head in a good space for Mudgee next weekend. I know the course well and hope I can fix the things I did not watch last week in the lead up. 

 

Preparation for Wagga marathon on the weekend

The answer is none, well really I have done very little running since the double weekend 10 days ago. I thought I needed some recovery time both physically and mentally. So I have only run easy a few times. I not really concerned as I think I needed to ease off for a short while and take whatever that means in regard to the loss of fitness if any.

Last year I ran this with a friend and we finished in 4.59. She is not with me this year and so I expect to be a little quicker although the marathon the following weekend at Mudgee is more of a focus. 

Also I have been a little distracted over the last 10 days or so with not good news about the cancer. Tests etc are still being done and some more definite news might be coming late next week when I have another appointment with the oncologist.

Next week I am about to start a major detox that should last 4 weeks. It is quite tough and is being done with guidance but I am not sure how it will affect my running and training. Not the best time to start but we have decided we should try now and if it becomes too much with training and running marathons we will suspend it for a month but I would prefer to start now and maybe just maybe I can get through and the marathons without too much slowing down.

Two days two marathons: 4.25 and 3.46

Two days, two marathons, two different results and feelings. 

Saturday  was the Bridge Walk Marathon that is a very low key event aimed at raising money for a charity and most of the entrants are walkers although they tolerate us runners. 

I felt slow and was. I felt fatigued and 6 minute pace was too quick and I could not sustain it for more that the first few k's and then really struggled the whole way despite it being very flat. It was through a lot of wetlands on a cycle path and board walks at times.  Then the last 12k or so along Morton Bay.

I finished in 4.25 and was pleased to have a very tiring and really unhappy run over. It was a struggle most of he way and was so pleased to finish but I was concerned that if Saturday was like this Sunday could be much worse. There were no positive thoughts flowing after this run. 

 Wetlands

 Bike path

Low tide on Morton Bay - finish in the far distance on the right - loooooong way 

I did  what I could overnight to rest and recover.

Sunday was the Brisbane Marathon with 650 starters as well as the company of the half marathoners  for half the distance. I felt fresh with no stiffness and decided to start off with a pace for a sub 4 finish although I thought that would not happen but it would be a nice challenge to see how long I could maintain that pace. 

I stayed just behind the 1.55 half pacer for the half marathon. I felt I was running within myself but near maximum effort. I felt that was not going to continue in the second half but then again that is why I run marathons. To face such a challenge and see what I can do mentally and physically over the next 2 hours or so. If it was easy it would not be such a challenge.  

The half marathoners finished to the left of the first lap and the marathoners went right for the second lap. I was between the 3.45 and 4.00 hour pacers and on my own with the marathoners well spaced out. For reasons I cannot explain I was feeling stronger the further the race went on BUT was waiting for that final step you take running and then without a conscious thought or decision you start walking. I kept thinking it could come at anytime and was really working the mental side hard to stay positive. 

As usual at about 30k I was in a position to know the really hard part was starting. I was still feeling good and decided that I would up the effort so as to just maintain my pace. I then started passing other runners rather easily. That is so positive and so the next 12k's just rolled by without a thought of possibly walking. 

The stats back that up. In the 20/30k split I was 191st in time. Between 30/41.1k split I was 85th in time. I finished overall 135th so I was much quicker over the last then my over all position. Amazingly I was 3rd in the 60 - 69 age group and just 30 second behind 2nd.

A week off before marathons at Wagga, Mudgee, Melbourne and Dubbo in consecutive weekends, the the following weekend at Glasshouse 100 miler and the next weekend the Sydney marathon. So a busy time ahead.