Thursday, February 28, 2019

I am back !!!!!

After almost 2 years of no posting I have decided I now have the time and reasons for returning to my Blogg and posting. 

During that period I have continued to run marathons with 59 in the last 2 years. At one stage I was becoming very slow and 6 hours or close to it was almost becoming the normal and I began to look at  the cut off times. Sometimes 'leaning' on a RD for an early start of being allowed to continue after the cut off. That did not happen often but I did not want it to happen at all. 

So the solution was to get quicker. So in 2018 the training distances and intensity both increased. The hard work paid off because by mid year I was hovering around the 5 hour mark. That resulted in early starts and cut offs not being an issue any longer. 

By mid 2018 I decided to be very proactive with the 3/4 kgs that I had gained in the last few years as a side affect to the Lucrin injections I get to keep the cancer under control. Prior to that I just accepted the weight gain. Now I wanted to try and do something about it. Not really a diet (that is not a good word) but a strict eating plan that was very effective and within a few months I was down to just below 65kg and very much my ideal racing weight.

The increased training and reduced wight resulted in some results under 4.30 and for the second half of 2018 that was were they stayed with the best result being Melbourne in October and a 4.04. That sub 4 was within my grasp until the last 7k. I had started a little too aggressively and was about 2 minutes up at halfway and that caused the slow down. Just off even pacing but enough to blow the sub 4.

Sub 4 is back in my sights in 2019 but not for a few months and the right course and conditions. Maybe Gold Coast provided the weather is right.

Why you might ask have I come back. A few reasons. I miss the opportunity to reflect at length as FB does not provide that nor does Coolrunning (yes I still post). Also mid this year I will be 70 and I thought it might be interesting to records my running experiences, hopes and failure as I approach that milestone. 

I already value the health and wellness I have. The gift I have been given to have no age related degeneration of the body - yes the knees are fine, thank you. So if I record my inner thoughts I ask for forgiven in advance. 

Come along the ride and see where the next few months and further take me. 

This morning from around my much loved Bay Run at Drummoyne.