Monday, July 27, 2015

# 204 M7 : 5.05.56

I planned to run each half quicker than Dolls Point and not even splits. Idea is that I need to treat some of these early marathons after the operation as training runs. That is push hard for the first half and then hold on otherwise I will have the same intensity for the whole marathon and I don't want that at the moment.

I hoped for a 5 hour marathon with 2.15 and 2.45 halves.  I had 2.17 and 2.48 so I am okay with that as it was about as planned/expected. Also at halfway I was 141st position and ended up 138th. So despite the slow up compared to others I gained a few positions. 

What more can I say this is just one marathon on the way to getting back to a sub 4 on a regular basis. I have two choices for next weekend. Try a marathon on Saturday and Sunday at Brisbane or run one in Sydney. Undecided and I will decide by Wednesday to see how I feel. If I run the double they will be both slow and in the Sunday one I run the chance of not making the end by the cutoff or worse still a DNF.

Either way I may through my slow movement towards regaining fitness out. Maybe I should be happy to run a marathon on consecutive weekends and not put myself in a position where I could seriously injure myself or at least do some serious damage to muscles that are just not that strong at the moment. 

Friday, July 17, 2015

# 203 Dolls Point Marathon: 5.26.39

I ran this last Sunday. The weather was predicted to be cold and windy. It was but not as bad as it could have been but for me it was still a beanie and gloves for the whole event. I never felt too warm as I was not moving fast enough for that to be an issue. 

I was really worried at the start that near the end it would become very ugly. That did not really happen and whilst I was slow I was always managing the fatigue and tiredness so that I knew I would finish it was just it was taking so long. In fact 2 hours slower than last year.

I started off with Jane and we ran about 7k together but she was moving at just over 6 minutes a k pace and I know that I could not last too long at that speed so I told he to go ahead. I was happy to run alone in my thoughts. I always planed to run the first half without walk breaks and to run it as quick as I could knowing I had another half to go. 

Yes I know even splits are the way to go but really this and the next few marathons are more about training that running them for only a time. So push hard for the first half and run/walk the second half. Hopefully to finish in under 6 hours. 

Splits were not even but that was to be expected with the race plan I had. 2.23 + 3.03.

Next marathon on Sunday week. Hopefully with the same plan just under 5 hours. 

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

A marathon at last !!! Dolls Point this Sunday

No Barrosa Valley marathon
No Glow Worm Cave marathon
No Macleay River Marathon
No Gold Coast Marathon 

Life is more that running a marathon but that sums up that part of my life for the last almost 2 months. BUT I do plan to make a return to marathon running this Sunday with the Sri Chimnoy event at Dolls Point on the shores of Botany Bay within sight of the city skyline.

So what has happened to my last post. Well off course in hospital. Some post op issues that seen my almost taking up a room permanently or at least until late May. Discharged and 4 days later back in because of further complications for another 3 nights until that was sorted out.

Post op the pathology was what was expected. Of the 4 lymph nodes detected with cancer three were removed and the other could not. Post op the PSA reading had not reduced. It was expected to do so but .... not what we were hoping for but maybe the test was too soon but after the usual time. Another PSA in early September and until then just carry on life. 

Thankfully all of the post op issues are resolved and life has just about returned to normal. 

Running has not been regular and what there has been has been very slow. But I am grateful to be well enough to have a choice in the morning of whether i run or not. There may come a time in the future when I do not have that choice and I am not well enough to run. Hopefully that is a long way off in the future. 

I will take each day as it comes. Reminds me of AA and ' A day at a time' philosophy. 

Sunday and the marathon. A finish in under about 6 hours 30 minutes will be a bonus. Secret hope just under 6 hours but really i have no idea how long. It will be a run/walk strategy from early on. I just hope I have the patience as well as fitness to last 6 hours.