Saturday 15.06.19: Sri Chimnoy

Sri Chimnoy running event on Saturday with many events of various times - 6, 12 and 24 events plus the marathon. 

For me it was the 4th in 4 weekends it was all about firstly to finish, secondly under 5 hours and to enjoy the event on a track (so different from the usual marathon) so you see the other competitors as the laps are run. Each of my aims was meet with a 4.40 with splits of 2.17 & 2.23. 

A few weeks rest before the next one.

Friday 14 June 2019 Update

It was a beautiful crisp morning at the Bay. Just the hint of a breeze. Decided I might set down some times for for favourite runs and distances and I approach the last few days of my 60's. A lap of the Bay was an obvious choice - I haven't been under 40 or a 6 weeks or so but then again I have not run one flat out in that time either.

A k or so warm up and as is usually the case the 7.30k pace seems too fast to sustain but ..... it is warm up mode and body and mind are in that mode.

Warm up complete and a few deep breaths and I was away. Too dark to be able to see the pace other than a glance every now and then as I passed into the light of a distant light pole. But it would not have made much difference as I could not have gone quicker anyway.

I am pleased with 38.20 @ 5.32 pace. There is more pace to be gained over the next few weeks but it does put a mark in the sand for the last to go with my 5k of 26.15 earlier in the week. 

Marathon Saturday 

A track marathon among other distances with the Sri Chimnoy people at Blacktown It will be my 4th n 4 weeks and the aging body does not recover from that sequence as well as it did in the past. So 101 or so laps is not my preferred way to complete 42.195 but it is what it is. Others can run for days around track and seem okay. 

It is also unusual to be starting at 11.00 am. A little challenge in itself. 

No time being pushed for but just under 5 hours will be fine to keep the 4.xx times going.

09.06.19 South West Rocks Marathon: 4.37.07

My wife and I drove to South West Rocks (on the coast from Kempsey NSW) on Saturday afternoon. It is an easy and comfortable 5 hours north of Sydney and an express way after getting past Hornsby.

This is the 14th time I have run this event. This year there was a new course of 2 out and back laps. I did enjoy the old course of an out and back along the river but issues with running a long a country road that was not closed to traffic has caused the change so that only one dead end public road was involved. The surface varied from concrete paths, grass and road and all things in-between but it is what it is. No complaints.

There was light rain as we drove into the region and the forecast was it would clear during the night. That happened and it was a perfect morning to run a marathon or just be out and what the beautiful sunrise overt he water. No wind at the start and just some scattered clouds for a short time. Then the clouds disappeared and it got warm but not enough the have a significant affect on running. 

I finished in a time that I was happy with in the circumstances. This was my 3rd in 3 weeks and 5th in 6 weeks. The old body does not recover as quick or as well as it did in the past.With disasters in Newcastle and Canberra with 5.59 and 5.23 respectively I am pleased to be back under 5 hours in the last 4.

Another marathon on Saturday on the track at Blacktown then a weeks rest before a hectic July/August.

Western Sydney Marathon 4.31

I ran the Western Sydney Marathon yesterday that is held at the Olympic Rowing centre at Penrith - 6 laps to be exact. Its 42.2k no matter how you run it but I prefer an out and back or point to point course bit it is what it is.

I had just 6 days recovery from the last one. With a lack of a solid base of fitness because I have not put in the months of solid consistent training then running them was always going to be a challenge. Also dare I say as I get older recovery is slower that in the past.

I squeezed in just two 17k runs on Wednesday and Thursday. 

The conditions were perfect. 10 degrees, sunshine and no wind. The maximum at mid morning was not going to be high so the weather was not going to be an issue. This event was usually held in late September when the temperature was generally a significant issue late in the morning. 

I ran hard the first half just to see what I could  I could do and passed through the half in 2.10 - my quickest for a while. I knew the second half was then going to be a challenge to hold that pace and not have the wheels really fall off. I managed to hold the pace in the second half much better than I expected andwas very surprised to run 4.31 and a few minute  quicker than last week. 

2nd in the 60 + age group three weeks off 70. Another marathon next t Sunday when I travel to one of my favourite small marathons at South West Rocks on the coast just out of Kempsey.