Week in review and Mudgee Marathon

The week as regards running has gone well. I ran as usual on Wednesday, Thursday and this morning. I do the same runs each week (I know boring but ...) and the times have been coming down over the weeks although the perceived effort is the same.

Today was my just under 14k loop that has plenty of hills in the back half. Go out too fast and suffer badly no the run home. Anyway 2 weeks ago i ran this loop in 94 and today 81. Huge improvement and pleased that fitness is returning. Today I felt okay running this quickly whereas over the last few weeks just running at a much slower pace was a real struggle.

Mudgee on Sunday. No chance and no hope of getting under 4 hours. So in the first time ever in this event not a 3 something finish. Weather seems as if it will be runner friendly. Hoping to be comfortably under 5 hours. 

Glenbrook Marathon # 207 : 5.33

What a great morning for running with a great course with forever changing scenery. Always challenging whether it was on the narrow winding technical sections in shaded rainforest deep in the valleys or the exposed hot dry sections that were also technical to the long up hill inclines and off course downhills on the dirt roads through the National Park.

Yes it is all within a National Park about 50 minute drive from Sydney central in the very lower lower Blue Mountains.

It was very chilly at the start but that was soon forgotten as the hard steep uphill climb commences within a k or so of the start. It is a congo line up the winding track that cartooning gets you warm quickly and quite breathless.

I ran almost the whole by myself and was happy with that. I was very happy to be in the moment and take into account the surroundings and not be distracted by conversation or music. Amazing how quickly 5 odd hours can go. 

My aims were under 6 hours and to run all the way including the long inclines. Achieved both so I was pleased as it goes well for my plan to start GH 100 miler in a few weeks. I do not need to be quick but to be able to stay moving forward to 27 odd hours anon longer than the cut off of 30 hours. 

Next weekend Mudgee. One of my favourites. I was there for the first one in 2001 and have run 12 before this one. All have been under 4 hours. I doubt that will happen this weekend bit I might just start out at 4 hour pace and wait for the crash and burn slow down. Still If I am expecting it I will not be supervised when it happens or the slow time. 

Week in review and thoughts on Glenbrook marathon

I can tell the routine of life has returned to usual as I am now running marathons weekly. The routine might have resumed but the times are far from the usual of the recent past.

This week the usual recovery after the marathon. No running Monday & Tuesday and then 2 days of 10k and a longer run this morning of 14k. Noe are quick but each were quicker than on the same day last week for the same run. Perhaps my recovery is getting quicker and maybe following form that I am getting a bit fitter as each week goes by. 

Trail marathon in Sunday at Glenbrook in the lower Blue Mountains. No plan or possibility of challenging for quicker than 4.45. Last time when I was fitter I ran about 5.30 so at my best and the weather might be a factor, the same time would be a good result and no worse that 5.59 - hopefully.

# 206 : Tan Marathon 4.45.xx

So a week later and 70 minutes faster. I can give no reason why other than it happened. At Centennial Park I felt fatigued from the start and I think starting a walk/run from about 12k to the end. At the Tan     I felt comfortable all the way. 

I did not walk a step except to get a drink. The 11 laps and so 11 times up Anderson Hill were all run - perhaps slowly but it was a running stride not walking. So no walking was the first aim - ticked. The second was to run steady. 

I really thought that just under 6 hours would be the best I could expect. The loop in about 3.9k and I thought maybe start out at 30 minutes a lap and if I could hold on that would be 5.30 or so. First lap in 27 and it felt comfortable that was about 6.42 pace. I then decided that I would try to maintain that pace for as long as I could. It felt comfortable and not pushed.

The 11 laps take well ... 11 laps. They seemed to go more quickly that the time. Anderson Hill is about 750m from the start/finish and the drink station. So run into the drink station and take what was needed and start running again and mentally prepare for the hill that is maybe 600 metres. Get to the top and it is flat or downhill to the start finish and that section is about 2k. So relax and stride out back to the start finish and repeat 11 times.

Never boring.  

All my laps were between 25/27 minutes. So steady all the way with a finishing average of 6.45 per k. Not quick but i achieved what I set out to do and as a bonus a huge time improvement.

Recover and get ready for a trail marathon at Glenbrook on Sunday. In the lower Blue Mountains just west of Sydney. So sleep at home and an hours drive to the start. 

Week in review and pre Tan Marathon thoughts

As recovery there was no run on Monday and Tuesday.  Ventured out on Wednesday morning for a lap of the Bay on what was reported to be the coldest morning in Sydney for some years. It felt okay but then again I had a few layers on, beanie and gloves.

It was a beautiful still morning with no wind chill factor. Unfortunately the run was not as pleasant as the weather and sunrise. It was to be expected as it was getting over the marathon. Thursday was another lap of the Bay and it was quicker and the body was working much better.

This morning a 14k loop that as as many long inclines and steep hills that I can find while never being far from the Bay run and touching on it in places and then moving away for some hills and back to it. It is always moving around the Bay and is quite challenging in the second half where the steep hills are found. 

I felt very good and the over pace was not much slower that Thursday's lap of the Bay that is flat and half the distance.

Tan Marathon on Sunday. Many laps of that iconic running track. No aim other than steady, as little walking as possible and under 6 hours so I have time to get to the airport and flight home. 3 in 3 weeks and not sure if some fitness is coming or I will be fatigued because of lack of fitness. Only 4 more in the next 4 weeks to go then GH 100 miler (still not decided) and then the following week the Sydney marathon. 

Centennial Park Marathon # 205: 5.50

Decided not to travel to Brisbane and run a double. At the time when I made the decision I was not sure whether it was the right one. It was. 

What a glorious late winters day in Sydney. The temperature was as high as about 25 degrees at about 2 pm. I finished just before then and did not find the temperature an issue.

It was 11 laps of the park with a 100k, 50k and 12 hour events being run at the same time. A very small number of hard heads (take that at about 5/6 opted for the marathon). Thank you to the organiser who allowed us to run even though it was not scheduled as an event.

The plan was to run about 5 hours but after a couple of laps I felt very fatigued and know it was going to be a long hard day. I then changed plan to a 6 hour finish and alternating running with walking and then trying to finish off strong. Also in the last two marathons as I have become fatigued I have commenced to lean rather noticeably and I thought moving forward for 6 hours might start to work on that issue.

So it was for 8 laps walk half and run the other half. That took about 34/35 minutes. I was lapped many times but when you are slow on a circular track what do you expect. With 2 laps to go I had just under 70 minutes to be under 6 hours. Started running - ran the last two laps both just under 30 minutes and no lean.

Another finished and hopefully some more endurance in the legs and body.

Probably in Melbourne next weekend for the Tan Marathon. I think another marathon of about 10 laps of the iconic running venue in Melbourne. I have to think seriously about the recovery running this week.