LONG long absence - so a brief update

I am embarrassed that my last post was in August. The months have flown and I suppose I have not posted because really there was not much to report. My last report was the Mudgee marathon where I was 5.35 and marathon #235.

I am now up to marathon #240 having run Carcoar on the weekend. 

Since Mudgee I have run the following marathons:

Dubbo 5.39

I thought I would run well but it did just not go that way. It is essentially 3 loops. Halfway around the last loop it became a real struggle with more walking that running. The time was close to Mudgee but this one had more walking in the back end. I no doubt went out too fast then lost it all in the slow second half. Sometimes you just never learn from experience. Too fast too early. 

Sydney 5.22

A much more even paced run. Still slower in the second half compared to the first half but they were close to each other. The second half was nice and steady with no walking and never felt like i would. Overcast cool weather was a huge help.

Western Sydney 5.17

About time I focused on some steady even paced halves. The are not quite even as I am still going out  a bit too fast in the first half but improving. Again ran all the way. Full sunshine so the weather/increasing heat was a slight factor. 

Melbourne 5.19

Love the race. Love the buzz of starting off with about 6000 other marathoners first the biggest marathon in Australia. People line most of the course that is on the roads (Albert Park) is a bit quiet but then again you are just trying to get into a rhythm at that stage. 

The course is flat but the wind of the Bay can be an issue. I could the conditions not really and issue. I really struggled from 32/33k (who doesn't) and it was a very uncomfortable run/walk until Federation Square and about 2k to go and the head lifts, the stride lengthens and the pace increases knowing the quicker you go the sooner the pain and agony will be over. 

Maybe out a fraction too quick and paid for it suffering at the end but not much damage done to the end time.

Carcaor 5.01

The course is hills, hills and more HILLS. There is off course 2 halves but it is useless to time one against the other as the second half is much tougher and just after 32k there is a 3k hill that at best you can only walk up and briskly might at that stage be an ask that the body and mind cannot meet.

I walked it, knowing I was bleeding time big time but not concerned about that issue at all. I just wanted to get the top and start what is an up and down section to the finish line with more down that up. I had not idea of my time. I know my overall pace but was in no way capable at the time of even guessing at a finishing time.

Crossed the finish line and someone said 5.01 and I thought they were wrong. It should not have been  quicker that any of the previous ones because the course is brutal. But I will talk it.

I have not training a lot between marathons and so to maintain a finishing time does surprise me. A few more to run before the end of the year and then folks we do it all again. 

Belated update

Yes it has been a while since I updated. In some ways not a lot has happened and in other respects a lot has happened.

So I ran the marathon on Saturday 2 July at Kingscliff near the NSW/Qld border for a charity. It fitted in well s I was running the Gold Coast marathon on the Sunday. I felt good on Saturday and ran steady in 5.25 and I felt as good as you can after it.

The next morning at the GC marathon I felt good and ran well until 18k then I just could not run and so walked yes walked the rest. The were some very focused attempts to run after that but a few hundred meters was the best i could manage. So almost last and just under the cut off with a 6.32 finish.

I have marathons planed for each weekend in July and August as I usually do. Dolls Point, M7 and hunter to name  few. I did not run and could not run. Mentally and physically I could not run. So I did not run a step in July after GC. I was not well anyway and needed to deal with that and i was just in place mentally that I had not been in before and needed to deal with that. It is still being dealt with. 

Anyway I thought maybe one way out of the deep hole was to get out was by returning to running. So early August I ran a few time mostly 1k walk and 1k run with the total maxing out at 10k. Off to Melbourne to spend a weekend with my daughter and throw in the Tan marathon on the Sunday.

It was a huge risk to start as the possibility of my first DNF for a marathon was high but I couldn't resist the temptation of running 11 laps of the TAN in an event put on by a great friend.

So with some hesitation I started with the plan to run 3k and walk about 1k of the almost 4K loop. In have run this event before and I wanted to run the challenging Anderson street hill each time. A hill and the loop made famous as the training loop for Herb Elliot and others who trained with Percy Cerutty - any way that is another wonderful story.

I have to say the loops and plan went like clockwork. 9 laps at about 33 minutes each and at then end of the 9th lap a possibility of getting under 6 hours with the time at 4.54 I could run the last two in under 64 minutes. I decided that to keep the same run/walk strategy might result in me going just over 6 hours which time is really meaningless in itself but as runner we all know little things like that can drive us on.

Anyway the last two laps all run well jogged and finished in 5.54. After just a few days running in the last week or so being the only running in the last 6 weeks I was more than a little surprised.  

No running in the week and then last Sunday the Mudgee Marathon.    Brutally cold at the start. Just below zero. Then then expected quick rise in temperature followed as is usually the case. The cut of was 5.30 and that was always going to be a huge challenge to meet. Thankfully as I have run this marathon 13 of the 15 times it has been run then I was allowed to finish in 5.35. A much tougher course that last week with laps of the Tan and this week 19 minutes quicker. 

Dubbo next weekend.    

Short update and the ending of the 'Wednesday hot lap of the Bay'

Its been quite a while since my last entry. A discussion on Tuesday remind me that I still have a Blogg and that some do read it. I also have FB page but that is not really appropriate for reflections. At one time it was a daily entry on the mornings run. But the mornings runs do not occur daily any more and really who is really that interested in that minute detail.

So irregular updates it is.

So last posted about the Barrossa Marathon. Nice time 4.34 and a good feeling run.

I then ran 3 in 5 days at North Head. They were scenic and never meant to be quick but just to last the    3 in good shape. Each was quicker than the previous finishing with a 4.58. A week off and off to South West Rocks and a nice 4.40 at a great event that has been held for I think 35 years. 

Next weekend down to Melbourne to run a marathon and as well to spend time with my daughter who lives there and works as a panel operator and on air announcer at FOX FM. After her on air shelf on Saturday we were lucky enough to have a tour and look at the studio she works out of. Very proud of her achievement and her drive to be successful 

A marathon on Sunday that would be best forgotten. Started to high hopes of a tome at least equal to South West Rocks as it was flat and 17 laps. It didn't take long for me to realise that the mind was willing but the body was not willing. Struggle, struggle, walk some, run some. So pleased to have it over in about 5.48. Now forgotten.

Then:

• a birthday that was very quite;
• hormone injection and a very sore backside for a few days;
• and the funeral of my great mate and running buddy JD.

For almost 10 years we would meet almost weekly on Wednesday at the Rowers at 6.00 am for a lap of the Bay the we affectionately called a hot lap of the Bay. The mornings run was usually r]posted here as it was the only run during the week that I shared with another runner. They did not occur as often over 2015 and not at all in 2016.

Sadly on the 16 June he took his own life. Such a shame to lose such a great person and friend in such a way. He is gone but my memory of the runs and trips we shared together will not be forgotten. 

I know he would have expected all who knew him to continue with their life and not have his death become a burden. Much easier said than done. But JD as best as I can as time moves on I will try to move on but never forget how much your friendship meant to me. 

This weekend up to Gold Coast on Friday morning. We will visit my son and his partner at their cafe and pecan farm just out of Lismore on Friday. A marathon on Saturday morning and then the Gold Coast marathon on Sunday. No idea of the time as I have no idea where the body and mind will be on the day.

I need a strong mind and body as I have planned a marathon each weekend until the 28 August at Dubbo and then a short break to Sydney.

Barossa Marathon : 4.34.50 and a review of the last 12 months

Barossa Marathon 

Well well. That time was some surprise. Hoping to run close to 5 hours does not translate into that time without having some underlying fitness. I thought I was going some over the last few weeks but doubted if I had the endurance to hold the second half if I went out much quicker than previously. 

I decided that just under 5 hours was the best time. So I ran at that pace or a bit quicker - like all runners trying to squeeze a pace a little quicker that is wise but somehow hoping it will work. My 5l splits were just on 32 minutes so a couple of minutes faster than was wise. Through half way in about 2.14 and 20 minutes faster than my usual for this year. Then I have been running (if that is what it is called) lets say the second half shuffle of 3.15 plus putting me close to 6 hours. 

The second half 5k splits were slowing but only in the 33/34 minutes range. The second half a very pleasing 2.20 for the 4.34 finish. It is a 2 loop course of a half marathon for each loop so please to be almost even after for so long being well out of balance.

Review of the last 12 months 

In early May last year I had major surgery to remove some cancerous lymph nodes. The stay in hospital was expected to be less than a week. Over three week later I was finally discharged with my planned marathons being missed. Barossa, South West Rocks and Gold Coast were all missed because I was still recovering and trying to get fit. 

Returned to marathon running with Dolls Point in early July with a shuffle of 5.26 (little did I know what was to come with regards to time). By August things were travelling well with 4.09 at the Sunshine Coast Marathon.

Some tests in early September showed the operation had totally failed as the cancer with again on the increase. No more operations because we did not and do not know exactly where the cancer is. So onto 3 monthly hormone injections to stop my body producing testosterone as the cancer I have feeds of that. It worked !!! but the side affects for me were extreme fatigue and sudden weight loss that has thankfully stopped increasing but remains with me.

My marathon time quickly went to 6 hours plus. 

I did some serious training and watched carefully what I ate over the last month. Although I was told watching what I ate would not necessarily reduce the weight as this was a hormonal issue not diet. Still I did it as it mad me mentally feel better that I was doing something rather than just accepting the situation. I have not really lost any weight but ...

So onto the Barossa and 4.34. 

Where to now. I have no idea but it will be interesting to see how far I can go (maybe no where but backwards) and how far I can get towards the 3.24 in Melbourne 2014. Not close I suspect but closer than I am at the moment. 

Another marathon on Sunday but for various reasons that will on purpose be a 5.30 jog. 

Long over due update

Almost a month since my last post. Nothing reported because nothing much to report.

It said I was going to run two marathons in the weekend. Run might not be classed as running. The first was for the Cancer Council around a running track some running some walking with family and friends and completed in about 6.30.

Early next morning a 40 minute drive to the Royal National Park south of Sydney. Very scenic bushland. Happy with 6.25 but so slow !!!!!

I then took about about 10 days off with no running just to refresh the body before the June/July/August period when I have a marathon on all but one weekend. After the 10 days I felt refreshed and have had few weeks of good training. In fact maybe the best since I stated with the hormone injections last September. 

That black of good training gives me some confidence going into the Barossa Marathon on Sunday. It would be nice to have a 4.55.xx or so time. At this stage that will be the starting pace. Lets see how it goes. 

A double weekend coming up

A testing weekend coming up. Bob Fickel the head of the Australian 1oo m Marathon Club has given approval for a marathon that is being run as part of the Sutherland Relay for Life (supported by the Cancer Council of Australian to be counted as an official marathon. Nice work Bobby.

So I am of for another track marathon ..grrrrrrr... Did I swear that the one a few weeks ago was the last one I would do or at least would do this year. Well not so. Maybe I will deal with 105 and half laps better that I did last time. Lets hope so.

The Sunday a trail marathon ... another of my worst nightmares when it come to running marathons. Trails and me and marathons are not the ideal combination. Give me a black surface with a broken down the centre and I am fine .. rocks, tree stumps, mud, water for ever changing running surfaces and I am challenged. A Sri Chimnoy in the Royal National Park just south of Sydney.

4th time I have run it so I know what to expect.

None of these comments should be considered as complaining just they the type of course just adds to the challenge on the day and when finished the greater since of achievement and satisfaction. If they were all road marathons I would complain wanting variety. Well I have variety this weekend.

Again time is no goal. Off course to finish is the first objective, then enjoy the atmosphere on Saturday supporting the Cancer Council with a lot of other like minded people and on Sunday the scenery on the course could not be so different to Saturday and to pinch myself at the start to look and take in some iconic Australia bush.

Marathon at Toowoomba

Another marathon yesterday at Toowoomba in south eastern Queensland. 

I have not been in that area before so it was all new. It is a charity marathon supporting Autism for children. A tough course with hills, hills and just a few more hills until the last 10k. Well organised with 4 x 10.5k loops that each came back to the starting line. The weather was very pleasant at the start but soon warmed up.

A challenging course. Very pleasant city worth the slightly less than 2 hours drive west of Brisbane.

I did not have any time expectation because I did not know the course. I was pleased to complete it in 5.52 for the 3rd in 3 weeks. A week off before an off road marathon in the Royal National Park just on the southern outskirts of Sydney.

Canberra Marathon 2002

Where has 14 year gone????

Canberra Walking Festival - marathon

So how did it go walking a whole marathon. Tougher than running one but in different sort of way that is hard to explain. It is not so much the time taken its definitely something but I am not sure what ...

I have to confess I did run some short parts but just to change my stride etc. I would say 40k was walked. I enjoyed the experience and know I need to do more walking in training so that it is not so uncomfortable in a race. I am sure I will have to walk me often in marathons as time goes on.

Time for hills and on a trail 6.45.02 I was pleased as all I wanted to do was be under 7 hours.

Some recovery and a few easy runs during the week before the Canberra (running) Marathon on Sunday.

Short update

I did not go away at Easter and so was able to do 4 mornings of some solid running. Increasing the distance of the run to just over 18k up from 13k. As I increased the distance each day I was able to also reduce the overall pace. Overall a pleasant break from work, some pleasant things seen and done around Sydney in the 4 days and a nice short block of training to get me back into it.

The training continued into the week with just Wednesday off for rest and recovery. A quick lap of the Bay (6.9k) in 38 minutes. I am okay with that for where my fitness is at the moment.

Later this afternoon I am back in Canberra for a WALKING  marathon. It is part of a walking festival and it against the rules to run. I have never ever walked that far and it should be interesting to see if I can do it under 7 hours. That is Saturday.

The following weekend back to the Canberra marathon that is off course all about running. No doubt during the event all I will want to do is walk.

No rest as the weekend after that a marathon in Toowoomba.  Yes the marathon season for me has certainly started.

Another month another 4 marathons completed

Yes I have been very slack in providing updates. I am not one to first think of a Blogg update when i have finished a run. As indicated I was planning to run a double weekend and that was done and went much better than expected.

On a hot sunny Saturday morning I ran 6 laps of the Bay and a little to make the marathon distance in 5.53. I had no real time plan but was I guess hoping to be under 6 hours. Quickly home showered and then the 3 hours drive to Orange for the marathon on Sunday. I was a bit still after the drive and some negative thoughts about not finishing under the 6 hour cut off or worse a DNF.

Those fears of a horror morning did not eventuate. I ran steady the whole distance and finished in 5.40. A very surprising quicker time on a hill course compared to the Bay being flat. Go figure what sometimes the body can do when asked.

A two week break and it was off to Melbourne for an off road marathon not far out of Melbourne at Brimbank Park. Some tough hills that have to be walked. Nice 5.20 finish. That gave me a steady improvement in the last 4 marathons since the horror of almost 7 hours at Caboolture.

With just 4 days rest I was off to Canberra on Friday to run in a weekend of track ultra running. It was supporting the Prostate Council of Australia and I was asked to run. It started on Friday at 12 noon when I started with those running the 48 hours event. I was the only running a marathon by special arrangement with the RD. 6.03 hours later i was finished. It was never about a time but sharing 6 hours with a wonderful group of athletes and may friends acting as crew.

Another two weeks before a marathon in Canberra that must be all walked as part of a woking festival and then back the next week for my 17th Canberra marathon.

Nice pic of Melbourne in the distance at the highest point in the course

Where did the month go ??????

Almost the end of the month !!!

No blogging because not much has happened during the month. I ran/walked the Caboolture marathon a few weeks ago in a time best quickly forgotten but at least I finished. Took a week to run another step and it has been some reasonably frequent training once I got started.

My weight is still higher than I want. I need to be more focused on getting not so much what I eat but maybe the portions are a little too much for the reduced running. But increasing the running will need a slighter larger portion size. Why does being healthy and fit seem to be very complicated and maybe requiring some degree of control quite a lot of the time.

Anyway a BIG weekend. I always has planned to run the Orange marathon on Sunday then I discovered there was a charity event with a marathon conducted as laps of the Bay on Saturday morning. I have debated since I found out if I could do the double with all of my lack of fitness. I was very undecided and then as they say 'bit the bullet' and entered this morning.

Worst outcome I withdraw and walk home early.

I do not usually highlight and article but ...

Central Western Daily

New month, new focus. Hopefully ?

A new month and a new focus to get back into regular training. This is going to be somewhat of a battle as a side affect of the hormone injections I am now receiving is FATIGUE. I am experiencing that as I have very little desire to run. Let me put it this was I want to run and train but fighting against that in my mind is that I a am tired (physically not from lack of sleep) and running is just too difficult.

Hard to explain exactly what goes on in my head but the result is that despite being up and wanting to run I don't. This was happening all through November and December and I thought I would move through it.

I am not sure if I have or haven't but my intention is to get a streak going and going and going and .....

Anyway my streak stands at 2. 2 laps of the Bay in 2 days. It is a start. A bit like when I got out of detox and rehab there was day one of being booze free and then day 2 and so on. Now at 18 years. 

First run in 2016 and some thoughts

Well ! Well ! This morning I actually gathered the mental resolve to attempt a lap of the Bay. Despite my much loved lap of the Bay being a core part of my life for almost 20 years I have not visited it for about 7 weeks. My absence was a result of a slight muscle strain that would not fully recover, fatigue from the hormone treatment and well just being plain lazy.

I had missed it but I also I knew I was not really ready to start up serious training. My concern was that if I did not start soon I would just fall into a no running lifestyle.

Thankfully I worked hard on my mental attitude yesterday and ran the Bay this morning in the early morning heat haze. Having not run for that 7 weeks my thought was there would be a lot of walking although I intended to resist that for as along as I could. Therefore it was with great deal of trepidation that I clicked the the start button on my Garmin, took a large breadth and started.

After a short distance the negatives thoughts started and the option to start walking become a real possibility. Then the worst 'wimp' came to mind and so the lap progressed. Thankfully a great friend could me about halfway round and our non stop chat from then got me to complete the lap without a walked step. A very positive outcome and completely unexpected.

The time was not relevant - really. No runner says that and means it. It would be nice if that was true sometimes for some runs but not this time for me. I needed a benchmark to measure my starting positing and where my efforts might take me relative to the past. So 48.15 is now the stating line in the sand.

I am eyeing my first marathon that is in 2 weeks so I have a focus that is close that hopefully will get me motivated and focused.