Sydney Marathon 5.25 - Oh dear!!!!

Another great event that for me as regards organisation had no issues. Personally a marathon that I would like to forget as regards time but one I will remember for just hanging in there in difficult personal circumstances. 

Number 15 completed to remain a Blue Line Legend for another year. I hope the rest of us made it as well.

Short story is I started off with my great friend Jane the 4.30 pacer and in my present circumstances thought that might be a stretch but was prepared to give it a go. I was never in from and always as planned just behind. Nicely through the half in 2.15 and at that stage 4.30 was going to be very difficult and the second half was going to hurt. I did not know at the time just how much.

The heart rate was never up at all during the race. It was never above a hard walk. After 25k the legs just become so fatigued that running was painful and slow. No more details are needed another than to say the last 17 k from 25k took just over 2 half hours. At times my running was just barely fact enough to pass slow walkers.

A good lesson in just getting the job done no matter what. No comparison to the 3.31 from last year. I just hope sub 4's have not gone for ever but that might be the case with the hormone therapy medication I am now on for the rest of my life. I wonder if yesterday was a window into my new running life.

Medical Update

I have thought long and hard and spoken to a close friend about whether I would post about my latest developments. Is there a right and wrong thing to post about. I don't know and I don't use social media very often. So what is acceptable and what is not? t. 

That question has promoted me to post. The PSA almost doubled in the three months since I was last tested. A doubling in 6 months raises concerns and will warrant some form of further treatment being undertaken. With me there was no option at the moment but to commence hormone replacement therapy HRT. That will continue for the rest of my life or until I decide to cease it because of the side affects.

Cancer arising from the prostate feeds on testosterone and so this injection ceased the production with the expectation that the cancer will not grow, I had th e first of the 3 monthly injections today (between court, picking up my race number and a meeting). Deep into the muscle so a sore backside. Not sure how that will affect the marathon on Sunday but then again it was not going to anything memorable except for how slow I will be.

I am okay. I accept I cannot change the past and there certainly is no benefit in being concerned about the future, I can't change that either. So just be in the moment like we all should be and value what happens on a daily basis.

Side affects. Many with varying degrees as we are all individuals. But the future is likely to result in me being fat, fatigued and forgetful but to what degree that will only be determined in time. So if in the future you happen to see an overweight, slow and confused runner in a marathoner it might be me.

As I said I am okay and being fat, fatigued and forgetful are fine as long as I am not just alive but engaged with, participating in and enjoying life. With that in mind my family (there adult children and partner) are all off to Europe at Christmas for just on 4 weeks in Italy, Austria and Gemany. Leaving late Christmas Day. I will be back in time to start the 2016 marathon season with the Australia Day marathon in Brisbane and hopefully many more marathons during the year and the following years.

Mudgee 4.20 and Sunshine Coast 4.09

I seemed to have missed reporting on Mudgee due to a hectic week with clients and Court appearances. It was overcast and wet and my time continued the steady improvement since the operation. 

Last Sunday I was at the Sunshine Coast and ran this marathon for the first time. An out and back section and then 3 loops with each one returning to the start/finish line. I have no issues with that set up or any other really. 42.195k is that distance no matter how it is structured. It was pleasant to have turn arounds and see the field before and behind a few times. Also the crowd and cheering is confined to a smaller distance and there was plenty of support.

Started of behind Mark the 4 hour pacer and told him before the start I would hold on as long as I could. That is how it worked out. 

My 5k splits until 25k were all 28.xx and I was feeling okay but knew that was my limited and the last 15k would be a matter of holding on and not slowing too much. I felt the slow down and sure it enough the times started to show the slowing as Mark cruised away and his balloons getting smaller and smaller.

The slow down could have been much worse with the final 3 x 5k splits being 30.51, 30.35 and 31.33. So the sun 4 hours that was never likely evaporated with the 3 minute or so blow out in each 5k.

Still I cannot complain as it was my 7th marathon post op and 6 in 6 weeks. 

Dubbo next week. It is a tough course and the weather can be hot so I maybe lucky to better 4.09.