October to December 2008 Archives
UNDER COINSTRUCTION....
from blog post here
...
Me, 17km into the 2008 6 inch, 2hrs 6min gone...MORE photos HERE
Thursday 25th December 2008 A.D.;
Ran approx. 9km in 56min 42 secs Heart rate 156 at end.
3x 2km laps of Hull Park course + 3km reid hwy sandhill and limestone trail out and back.
2km splits; 10.53/10.16/11.01
Was not sore in quads or hammys this week as I normally would be after 6 inch or a marathon race. This is a bit surprising really, as I thought I went out fairly solid in the first 22km-30km of 6 inch 45km (46km) on the weekend... Guess my theory that I finished with "a lot in the tank" at 6 inch is very correct, perhaps more so than I realised. I'm pretty sure now that if the ankle had been up for it, I would have smashed the 6hrs 25 PB. So I expect nothing less than big PB's in 2009, if I am 100% fit.
After being a lame limping cripple for the first 2 days of this week, with my ankle being very sore! especially in the mornings, due to the torture I inflicted on it for the last 3 hours of 6 inch on Sunday, it seemed to be just fine yesterday (Wednesday). Had to work in the Callcentre, and then finalise some christmas related stuff in the evening, so didn't get out last night, but after eating too much christmas food at work I was keen to get a run in today, as I expect with the family gatherings today and tomorrow, I will be piling on the fat.
Ankle seems to have settled which is very good news. No problems on the run today really from it, so that was a huge relief, and it was such a good feeling running along into the southerly wind, nice conditions, feeling good. Felt very blessed, and I really enjoy! running along the reid hwy limestone trail with the view of the Darling hills in the east.
So a nice relaxed run. Perfect way to freshen up, start Christmas day off on the right note before Kathryn and Jacob wake up, which should be any moment now.
Ankle is not fixed though as when I do a quads stretch I feel pain in the medial area, so I am convinced that I need to continue to be careful and when the time is right if still not healed get some treatment on it.
Have to catch up on the bills (sorted a few out yesterday, but still the electricity,car rego,radiology (from my thigh scan before melbourne), and dental stuff to go, plus rent next week to go before my meter reading money kicks in again in mid january, (no meter reading in december so no pay from that in december) and if I can hold onto my callcentre job as well (with the increased hours I have been getting this month expected to continue), I'm planning to be settling into a full-bore 60hrs a week+ routine again in January (from the 2 jobs), so our money should pick up again...So then I can try and find time to get ankle sorted out properly which I really need to make a priority for 2009, although it certainly has improved a lot with the break from meter reading this month.
We got a very large! anonymous cash gift in the mail this Tuesday, which was a very welcome surprise for Kathryn and I at a time we were struggling with the whole Christmas gifts expenses versus bills to pay thing, so whoever that was huge thanks to them, and Thanks God! (from whom all blessings come!).
Hoping for a big year in 2009, some trackwork and a triathlon approach, plus monthly long runs is my tentative plan for the next month or two...
will add 6 inch photos to this post in the next few days...........
So now to go undo all the good work this morning and enjoy the excitement of celebrating the birth of the Christ thousands of years ago, who is the most important person in all HIS STORY. see 2 ways 2 live, also looking forward to the Boxing Day cricket test, Bring it on!
from blog post here
Sunday 21st December 2008 A.D.;
Ran my third 6 inch 45km in 7hrs 00min 58secs.
Official complete results are HERE
My Timechecks along the way;
--Scarp Rd cnr Whittakers Rd; 26min.
--Whittakers drinks spot 36min (38min in 06)
--17km Del Park Rd; 2hrs 6 min. (2hr 20 in 06, 2hr 17 in 05)
--22km Scarp Rd drinks spot; 2hrs 38min. (5km split 32min) (2hr 57 in 06)
--30km?? Oakley dam turnoff cnr Scarp Rd; 3 hrs 28min? (8km? split 50min)
--35km drinks spot Scarp Rd; 4 hrs 49min. (5km split? 1hr 21min!!!) (5hrs 00 in 06)
--"40km" Marrinup (before long drop toilet visit);6hrs 02min, 6hr 10min after toilet stop. ( 5.25? in 05)
Shows I was 11min ahead of what I did for the first 17km in 2005 when I finished with 6hr 25, and 19min ahead of what I did for first 22km in 2006, and still 11min ahead of 2006 time at 35km (even after all the walking from 30km-35km). Actually did the last 5km 8minutes faster than I did in 2005 , when I walked a lot at the end that year. So I reckon if ankle hadn't blown up a sub 6 hr would have been possible...
My second fastest time on this course, looked to be well on track to beat my 6hrs 25min PB from 2005, in the first 4 hours with my pack-free strategy working perfectly in in perfect weather conditions. Unfortunately my ankle got tired and the ache which started about 3 hours in become so persistent it had become pure and utter torture to try and run from about 4 hours onwards. However I was keen to avoid another DNF (like Melbourne Marathon), and walking was pain-free this time, so I walked for a bit, and then ignored the pain and tried to stumble along in some sort of run, with my right leg doing most of the work. This was very energy-sapping but with the encouragement from my Dad, and the absolutely wonderful support people like Trent!, Julie and Kate, I persisted with a tough run-walk pattern for about 3 hours.
Took two carboshotz gels a bit close together (40min), and I think this resulted in diahorrea coming on at Marrinup. Spent 8 minutes there making use of the "palatial?" (well it was for a trails run!) "long-drop" toilet facilities, which cost me a sub 7 hr effort in the end, although I probably could have pushed harder in the maze of paths in the last 5km...
My first 30km was right on track, pretty much what I wanted. Ran to the front at the start with my led torch in the 0540am darkness, and enjoyed "10 seconds of fame" leading the race (and let Dave K know about it...HAHAHAHA)...Then settled back. Worked hard up goldmine hill initially in 5th spot , but Bernadette eventually pulled away and past me, although not straight away. Towards the top of the hill Coops caught me, and soon went off. had my first of many no 1's toilet stops here. Also stopped to get gravel out of my shoes I reckon about 20 times which also cost me at least 30 minutes for the day in total. I am pretty sick of what feels like excuses, but anyhow those are the facts. After making sure a few runners behind me went the right way near Whittakers, I ran strongly through here, and hit a really strong rhythm for a long while.
About 90minutes in I was feeling a bit spaced out mentally (maybe due to finishing work at midnight, then driving to Dwellingup for 45min sleep in car from 0345-0415), and the hard running was starting to feel well hard to keep going. About this time John Nuttall caught up for a bit, and then he dropped back. About 20 minutes later,John, and later Lyndie, Rob, Roy and one other? caught me at about 110minutes. One of the WAGS?? (Wives and girlfriends)walking up the trail from Del Park Rd told me I was 8th just before John, Rob, Roy and Lyndie caught me, and then suddenly I was 12th. My plans of getting to Del Park road 17km in under 2 hours had only just failed, as I ran out of steam in the legs around this time a bit.
Dad came out to take the first of many photos (looking forward to seeing and posting them online soon!), as I hit 17km Del Park in 2hrs 6min (which I knew was a bit quicker than the 2hrs 17min in 2005). Grabbed my second gatorade for the day from Dad here, which I really needed, and probably if I had carried a second one with me, may have helped me get under 2 hrs? or not?
I think if I do it again I would do the following things different,
1.forget about the hydration pak altogether.
2. take 1 gatorade and one water bottle with gel for first 22km.
3.Take 1 gatorade and one water with gel at 22km, and maybe
4.take another gatorade, and water bottle (with optional gel) at 35km.
Felt good as I ran alongside Scarp Rd, keen to try and make it to 22km drinks stop somewhere between 2hrs 34min and 2hrs 45min. Had to stop to get gravel out of my shoe and Kristin Doust almost caught me up. Soon after Dave C and irishman Jason went past at a good rate (they had some navigational moments apperently early on)...
Got a good pace going again on the nice wide open downhill of Scarp Rd, to get to 22km in 2hrs 38min and feeling ready to smash the PB! Felt on top of the world!!! at this stage...
Beautiful scenery, running well, Dad there to see it, and nice cool weather (no rain either), plus a huge field of 20 amazing legendary runners from various parts of the world, including some good mates, what more can one ask for. Perfect place to be after a long tough week at work (46 hrs in a callcentre this week, including a 1600-midnight shift the night before an 0530 start race, which I tried to swap but couldnt find any takers)...Enjoying my 2008 6 inch experience a lot at this point.
So I saddled up with 4kg of fluids in my hydration pak, ready to attack some more and the plastic clip promptly broke on me! Duh! Probably cos I am getting too fat, needed to loosen the strap... Back up to 80kg again now after getting down to 74kg around July this year. while trying to get more gravel out of shoe and fix hydration pak, Kristin doust catches up. Had a bit of a chat. Then see Lyndie joins us after a pitstop, and the convey of support cars comes past us all. Pushing up Scarp Rd, pine plantation of left, still feeling good, and hydration pak seems to be staying in place. Going well again. Crossed another bitumen rd soon after this (north Spur Rd?), worked hard up hill after this with Lyndie. Kristin dropped back again here.
Could hear the Alcoa conveyer belt humming along nearby, as Lyndie and I ran-walked our way up the long straight hill section with the various trees. Could see and hear Mark,Suzy, and old Duffer catching us up this hill. The first of some awesome scenic views down to plains in nthe south section of the course here! Down the steep hill of the gravel Scarp Rd with old Duffer, me, Lyndie, Mark and Suzy taking turns to drive this tight group of the five of us down and then up some significant hilly action. Soon we see the Oakley Dam turn-off and as my watch hit 3hrs 28min I still felt elated, and ready to go hard. Ankle had been aching a bit in the last 20-30min but nothing major.
Worked hard down towards Oakley Dam, until we got to the hilly bit (now known as python country after the 2007 incident with Nathan and Mark)..
I really struggled up this hill and ended up walking all of it, legs just really tired, didn't have much energy to push with, and ended up having to let the other 4 runners go ahead. Was disappointed, but figured I would try to get going again when the trail flattened out. Kristin Doust caught and passed me soon after, and then my ankle started to ache big-time, and every time I tried to run it just wouldnt function properly...
So here I am, 4hrs in hoping to get to 35km in about 4hrs 20-40min, with an ankle that is refusing to do what it has been doing for the last 4 hrs!!! Frustration!!! Then Christian and Ursula, the Swiss couple catch up, chat a bit, ask me if I am ok etc... I try to run for a bit, and succed with a big limp on the left ankle. Takes a lot of enrgy to do, and the terrain is pretty dangerous also, so I settle back into more walking, knowing my chances of a PB are starting to slip away right now!!! DUH!!! Due to the ankle reaching muscle fatigue exhaustion maybe? not sure...
The aching is persistent every time I try to run, and a lot more severe now. Feeling pretty negative, and start wondering if I should DNF at 35km. My thinking is something like this;
"feels like a fatique induced thing rather than an incident induced pain like in Melbourne, so figure i can probably walk-run to finish if I persist, but knowing its going to be utter torture all the way for about 12km...very tempted at this point to DNF, andf start to think maybe I have done enough for today..."
Soon after I get to Scarp rd gravel track again and try some shuffle/stumble/limp running. Then I am surprised to see my Dad again at the bottom of the hill. Stop to chat with him, telling him maybe I should give it away for today, but he encourages me gently to consider carrying on. Between that and wanting to get my 6 inch finishers memento, and to finish a long race after Melbourne!, and stuff, I decide to try and keep going all the way... Have my second Carbo-shotz gel (bad idea! as it results in a long drop visit at Marrinup about 90min later..), and grab two gatorades to carry with me (good idea), plus jettison my hydration pak into dad's car (good idea), as we figure the extra weight to carry is making the ankle work too hard, and the weather means that the extra water is not needed...Put my mundabiddi map in a plastic bag and tie around my wrist.
So I settle into some more struggle run, and walk breaks, with a Sheryl Crow tune "Every day is a winding road" playing in my head... (have it on my facebook profile...)...before long Trent shows up on a mountainbike, talks all the way to the 35km spot, which was encouraging...Watch says 4 hrs 49min about 9 minutes slower than my target time upper limit, but I figure about 6hrs 30-7hrs might be possible if I can struggle run-walk for another 10km or so through that diabolical steep down hill after Grey rd, climb out of the deep valley and settle into the flat stuff through Marrinup all the way to Dwellingup. I tell myself its not that far and the torture will be over in about 2 hrs, and it seems silly to give in after almost 5 hours of slog, and a terrible work changeover. So I push on, and focus on finding the munda-biddi triangles + flour arrows, and not worrying about far I have to go. Drink a Gatorade at the bottom of the hill, which leaves me with one left.
Walk most of the hill out of the valley. At the top more awesome views of the velley and plain below the Darling Scarp to the south and west. Then the relatively flat "railway track" section shows up, which I like, and I try to strugglerun as much as possible, and finally the big gravel track with the massive power lines above it shows up. More stops to get gravel out of shoes. Get to Marrinup in 6hrs 2min, but with a sudden strong urge to do no 2's. Good timing in a way,as the last of 3 spots on the course with long-drop toilets is here. Spend 8 minutes here. Then walk/run again. Bangles song Walk like an Egyptian pops into my head about this point, as i try to struggle-run as much as possible figuring that its only about 5-7km to go, on nice flat gravel/dirt tracks and I should be done hopefully under 7 hrs. Eventually my Dad walks out to me with about 4k to go? He trys to keep up with me, and this spurs me to push a bit harder although I probably go a bit too long on some of the walk breaks. Eventually pull away, and make my way through the maze of trails here, every corner thinking I will see Dwellingup in the distance, but more forrest keeps appearing. Finally i see a flour arrow, and then some bitumen after hearing cars, and know I am finally at Dwellingup. I know the time is going to be pathetic, but feel a sense of satisfaction and excitement that finally I am there. Struggle run to the finish, get a bit of a cheer from some of the runners still there, and come min under 7 hrs 1min. Feels good to finish, and get that little wooden momento!
Ankle achy, but hopefully will be alright after some RICEing...
So there it is a successful 6 inch finish for me this year, my 3rd finish. I was 20th of 20 starters.
Craig Dufty,Dave kennedy and Craig Berg the top 3 all under 4 hours with Craig D. and Dave K. both going into new race record territory; 3hrs 36 and 3hrs 39!
Bernadette smashes womens record by more than an hour with her 4hr 41 min also, so easily the fastest 6 inch run ever, and double the numbers!
Massive struggle to stay awake on drive home, ended up sleeping at my parents place for 2 hrs as I was going to have an accident otherwise. (45min sleep and a 7hr run, plus hours of driving not a good combination!)...
Fairly happy with my 2008 6 inch experience...More photos soon @
http://sixinchmarathon.blogspot.com/2008/12/photos-here.html
and
and in a separate post coming soon.
Official results will be in R4YL and UltraMag, but here they are;
Six Inch Track Trail Race 21/12/08 (WA)
Results
1. Craig Dufty 3:36.24*
2. David Kennedy 3:39.28
3. Craig Berg 3:57.46
4. Nathan Fawkes 4:00.34
5. Bernadette Benson (1st F) 4:41.48*
6. Sean Cooper 4:43.57
7. Steve McGrath 5:06.22
8. Rob Donkersloot 5:09.50
8. Roy Hart 5:09.50
10. John Nuttall 5:20.30
11. Suzy Thomas (2nd F) 5:32.10
12. Mark Bullard 5:32.40
13. Phil Dufty 5:41.35
14. Dave Croghan 5:56.21
14. Jason OHanlan 5:56.21
16. Lyndie Beil (3rd F) 6:08.27
17. Ursula Marti (4th F) 6:10.28
17. Christian Marti 6:10.28
19. Kristin Doust (5th F) 6:10.59
20. Jonathon Phillips 7:00.58
* Indicates New Course Record
I'm doing a page on geocities which is HERE which will have links to all the 6 inch related info from this year and some photos eventually...
insert posts here
from blog post here
Another Update;
Sunday 30th November;
Cricket/footy with family at Kings park for about an hour.
Ankle was not too bad.
Saturday 29th November; Tennis at South Perth with family. Ankle a bit sore, but not too bad mostly, some moments of significant pain though, worst one was when I got up too quickly from doing the "I formation" while playing doubles...
2hours of relaxed cross training Saturday night playing tennis with Tim, and his wife Jennifer, Seth,Dad, my wife Kathryn,Sharon and others ...cruisy fun and good...
Update; I slept in and therefore didn't goto 6 inch recon #2 run. Very understandable given what I have done at work this week. Its been a very heavy week. Maybe God didn't want me to go this time.
Also did another short ankle-testing run last night for about 5minutes to catch up with my wife Kathryn as we went on one of our evening walks with Jacob. Ankle was sore on lateral side while running on bitumen, but wasn't on grass, (or on track the other night when I icepacked it prior, or on the trails of 6-inch recon run #1 for more than an hour.) My thoughts are then that maybe if I avoid any road running, and be very careful about uneven ground, I may be able to return to full training and racing, but have to do only track racing until I can raise the money to get it medically assessed properly. The 5km suggests I am good to go fitness wise. Very pleasing result that one. Should I risk 6-inch....????? Maybe...but I think I need 2 good long runs on trails first...Perhaps a 27k and/or 33k would be enough...Have two more opportunities to test ankle at Hills Group on December 6th and 13th...otherwise I am not a starter in 6-inch this year. But fitness side is looking good. I'm thinking maybe I could do the 6-inch and do it well, hopefully I am being realistic there.
Thursday 27th November 2008 AD;
Ran 5,000m at Coker Park in 22min 35secs (HR 195 at end).
2.5k splits 10.59/11.36. Average speed 4min 31 per Km.
Masters Athletics 5,000m at Coker park. (At 34 I was the youngest person in the race!)
Was tossing up all day whether or not to risk the ankle with this 5,000m track run today, but figured I'd probably regret it more if I didn't go than if I tried and failed to finish. Plus going to the Masters was a chance to catch up with my coach from my racewalking days because he is still racewalking there even past his 80th Birthday, and also to show Tim and my Dad the Masters athletics setup, have some good family time. So as I walked out the door at 0530 I had stashed my runnig gear in the car on the way to my l;ast day of callcentre training from 0730, plus some meter reading. Ankle was getting a little sore at meter reading so I knocked off a little early, got changed grabbed some frozen corn from the shops and headed for Coker Park. Put the frozen corn on my ankle which numbed it enough so I could run pain-free.
Had a wonderful night, and did pretty much everything I had hoped to do, plus Tim, my Dad, Jennifer and Grier all came which was awesome!! Very Inspiring to have them there, and of course to see Stan there belting out another walk in his eight decade still going strong! Very special night for me.
Went out strongly as per usual with splits including;
200m 40 secs, 400m 1min 28 800m 3min 03 2k 8 min 30secs.
Then backed off a bit, settled, hung in there, and finished very strongly trying to reel in someone which I did. Had a good battle with Liz Neville towards the end, and eventually had the better of her today in the last 400m, (maybe she was injured or something) which I felt pretty good about beating her as she is probably a better runner than me in recent years (for example her incredible marathon and 40 miler efforts this year.)
Extremely happy with a great run, as it is a seasons best over 5km this year, and only 48 seconds adrift of my November 2004 5,000m track PB of 21.47.
Dilemma now is should I risk trying to go after 6-inch or maybe just stick to track racing, join the Masters since that is a lot safer for my ankle.......or what..very happy with that though..
Wednesday 26th November 2008 AD;
Ran 2km in 9min 37 = 4.48 per k, (HR 159) on hull park course with tracksuit pants on.
posterior part of ankle was a little sore but I think the bandage positioning my Dad did this weekend was a bit better, so maybe that helped this week, felt better than last week, but it still doesnt feel right.
Have 2 more days of meter reading to go for this year, so maybe can finally stop strapping ankle every day like I have since October 12th, and I am getting way sick of! Is it good enough to run on this weekend? I don't know. At best I think its risky, at worst its downright foolish, so I am in one big mental dilemma whether to attempt the 6 inch recon this weekend, heart wants to but brain is telling me I;d probably be a fool to...so what do I do, play it safe or take a risk just wish I had some good medical advice but can't afford to get any...Plus way too busy anyway...
Im thinking about maybe a 5k race on Thursday night, and perhaps the 2nd Six Inch recon run this saturday morning, or maybe I should just can any thoughts of running for the next month or two until I get this ankle right once and for all. Its so frustrating!!!!!!! Tim goes back to USA in 9 days so got to make the most of any opportunities to catch up there, plus try and maximise work opportunities, and hopefully have some much needed rnr during december before meter reading starts again in January. Hopman cup tennis in January too...
Ran 10,000m state championship race in 48minutes 16 seconds HR 189 at end.
Official results are HERE
5,000m splits 23.27/24.49.
1st 400m 1.25 !st 800m 3.01 First 1km 4.02.
First 2km 8.49
8,000m split 38min 25. so last 2km 9.51.
My Dad lap scored for me so I got all 25 of my 400m splits which were;
1.25,1.36,1.58,1.48,2.02 =8.49 2km
1.57,1.56,1.52,1.56,1.55 =9.36 2km split.
2.01,1.55,2.05,2.05,1.53 =9.59 2km split
2.02,2.14,1.53,1.53,1.59 =10.00 2km split.
2.02,2.10,1.58,1.59,1.42 =9.51 2km split.
Shaphan Cox (running in the legendary Canning Districts top) did the colours proud and won an epic battle with National 800m finalist Steven Stingemore, making a decisive move (or as John Gilmour the legend himself said; "thats a big move") at 8km to pull away, (which was a good thing cos Stingys rocket boosters would probably have won it for him if it came to a sprint finish) with a previous winner in Paul Mitchell 3rd. 
The big three early on...Thanks to Kathy for photo
Winning time about mid 31minutes... Rochelle Thorpe ran well, as did Rebecca Defiddes. One of them got state records.
I had an exciting time running in the A race (sub 40minutes) the state championship race and a ringside seat to the battle between Stingemore and Shaphan Cox as they kept lapping me of course.
Was planning to run the B race (over 40 minutes), but accident on Roe HWY made me too late and I heard the gun fire for the B race as I arrived at Coker Park. So rather than not run I entered the A-race under no illusions knowing that I would struggle, but determined to use it to my advantage and try and see if the ankle could go the distance, and try to beat last years 48min 55 in this race, which I did so main "mission accomplished" for me tonight. Pretty happy!
Me sitting on the back of the bunch as best as I can in the first lap or so...I am far left almost out of picture. Thanks to Kathy for photo.
Felt a bit like Strauchanie (i.e. way out of my league at the moment) lining up for the A-race, but used my Nationals racewalking experience as a Junior (1989-1993) to help me use the way! faster than my current pace running to my advantage. My 10k PB is 41min and most of these people are 31-38min type runners,A-graders, I guess it was nice to get a closer look at where I would like to get to if I ever manage to get my training to the level I want to, probably have another 10 years to try and get there...
Me (with Rochelle in background) getting very psyched wondering how many times I'll get lapped...Thanks to Kathy for a great pic
The "honeymoon was over" a bit in the last 2km when it was getting dark (we started at 7.15pm (although daylight saving is on now)), and I was the only one there, but I got a lot of support, and being in the A-race psyched me up a lot at the start reminded me of being at Nationals again, similiar feeling at Melbourne Marathon, so the adrenaline was flowing! I ran wide a lot into lane 2 to let people like Shaphan and Stingy get past so I wasn't blocking everyone, so that probably cost me a few seconds.
Very happy to see Shaphan win, and congratulated him afterwards. Commiserations to Stingemore who was a very worthy challenger and really made Shaphan earn the win. Evan Kolbe did an excellent job on the mike, giving the race some atmosphere...
Mark Cutts from Radars frontrunner squad won the B race in 39min I think, and Robin King was the best woman I think in 42minutes.
What a special night!
Perfect way to erase some of the disappointment from Melbourne this year, and to get rid of any nagging doubts about my ability to get running again hopefully...
Ankle will probably be a bit sore tomorrow, cos it got a pretty savage workout, but wasn't too bad. A bit sore at about 1km , so I backed off a bit there, but mostly it didn't trouble me out there.
Also had chats or siad hello to many interesting people including at Loubee,Kathy,Radar,Joel,Bruce,Shaphan, and various others.
HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hopefully can build on this my first run for almost 2 weeks, slowly but surely in the coming weeks, God willing.
insert posts here...
from blog post here
Ran and walked 23km in about 2hrs 23min.
Splits;
5km 23.50
10km 48.58
20km 1.46
21.1km 1.56.15.
more splits;
1k-4.57 (severely twist ankle)
3k-13.40 (4.21's on average)
4k-18.48? (5.08)
5k 23.50 (5.08)
7k 33.40 (4.55's)
8k 38.48? (5.08)
9k 43.41 (4.53)
10k 48.58 (5.16)
severe ankle pain flare up
walking, 30sec toilet break
12k 63.45 (7.23's)
15k 79.40? (5.58's)
16k 1.25.19? (5.39)
18k 1.37.20 (5.59's)
19k 1.41.41? (4.21)
20k 1.46.52 (5.11)
ankle pain back again...
21.1k 1.56.15 (9min 23secs for 1.1km)
23.5km about 2.23 (about 10-12min per km walking slower and slower)
Rolled/sprained an ankle (assuming no broken bones or torn ligaments at this stage, but may have to get a scan to confirm that) very severely in the first few 100m crossing a median strip hot on the tail of the 3.15 pacers...
I stepped from bitumen up over high curb at pace in a crowd and left foot (my ddodgy leg with the bad knee and the one giving me thigh problems recently) planted onto loose gravelly type pebbles/sand and slid/skidded, and I felt severe pain as I rolled the ankle laterally (left) and medially (right), in my attempts to stay upright and keep running fast.
I have twisted an ankle many times before, and been able to run out the pain so that was my immediate thought, although my other immediate thought was that was "severe pain" I need to stop now!!! and walk this out, and at the same time I heard someone behind me yell "you ok Trailblazer?", I knew that if I stopped I would lose the 3.15 guys straightaway and my race plan of getting a fast clear run early and seeing if I could hold onto the 3.15 or 3.30 groups, would be out the window for the day in the space of about 1-2 minutes... Given what I have been through to get there and how important this race was to me this year (certainly after missing the PB at Perth by 8 seconds), I figured I would ignore the severe pain and try and run it out so I gritted my teeth didn't answer the yell from behind, and resolved to stay with the 3.15 pacers like Steve as per plan A...This worked ok for a few km and the pain gradually subsided, and I started to feel like maybe I had gotten away with it. However I soon decided the pace was not going to be sustainable, and let the 3.15 people go...
I saw two PCRG (pat carroll running group?) guys go past around this time...
Splitted 5km in 23.50 and was feeling good...Eventually the first of the 3.30 pacers in Luis came past, tried to stay with him and did for a bit but again it felt just a touch too fast. The thigh was not causing any problems and the ankle seemed to have settled. Looking good, when the other 3.30 pacer came up going at about 4.50 per km pace, which seemed about right so I latched onto the back of his group and figured thats where I want to try and stay for as long as possible, and hopefully run ahead of in the last 10km. That seemed to be working ok, enjoying the race, and we started to see the beach looming up ahead. I was feeling good, and starting to think yes this is my day and a 3.24-3.54 is possible...Struggled a little between 9km and 10km, digesting my first powerbar Gel, but still managed to split 10km in 48min 58, which although a little slower than I had hoped, was still well and truly in the PB target zone! at about 4min 54 per km pace... Then suddenly with little warning at all I had a stab of pain in the ankle again about 11km mark...it was so severe I immediately switched to a walk, and started to reassess things...walked for a few hundred meteres took a quick 30 second toilet break, and then decided that if I wanted the PB today I needed to get going now before the 4hr pacers caught me.
So started off jogging and then gradually increased the pace. My ankle was still a little sore, but seemed to have settled a bit. Soon I saw a pace flag catching me, and I thought oh here is that darn 4hr group and decided to try and run off them, but they soon caught me and I realised it was the 3.45 group. So I'm thinking ok stay with these guys and the 3.55 PB is still a chance, lost them at a drinks station, but tried to keep bloke in a superman suit in sight, figured I should be able to get ahead of him eventually...Then I saw Digger Bruce around about there with his 3.45 flag, and I knew this was it, if I lost contact with him, I could probably kiss the PB goodbye for today. Saw lots of cool runners throughout.
Saw two cool runners ahead and worked up to them ahead of the superman dude, and saw "Maryclaire" (edit; looks like she did 3.44) written on the back of one those two singlets. They were hitting a good pace and I figured that was one I probably should try and go with...
Did a 1km split of about 4.21, then backed off a bit as I figured this was a bit fast, and wanted to settle back to around 4.50-5.10 area...Splitted 20km in 1.46, and I figured around 3.49-3.54 was still there for the taking, if I could maintain this allo the way to the finish...a bit of a big ask but very possible I thought...
Then about 20.5km severe pain hit my ankle again, this time I was reduced to walking again, and I strolled through the halfway mark of 21.1km in 1hr 56min 15 after a 1k split of about 9-11minutes!!!, so should have hit the halfway mark in about 1.49-1.53, still on at least 3.38-3.46 pace and even allowing for a slower second half on track to give the 3.55 a serious shake...However due to the fact that I was in too much pain to run, I figured I had about 1-2km to get going again before it was all over for the day...about 10-11minutes later as i finally reached the 22km mark, I knew the PB chance was gone, and then I started having mad notions of walking to the finish, even if it took me 6 hours or whatever...however by about 22.5km every step even walking very slow, was painful, and I knew I needed to find medical assistance ASAP...a few cool runners gave me encouragement about this time which was very nice of them, but inside I was numb/crying big time, as I knew my PB dreams for this year were shattered. Saw "slowdave" and I think the legendary Shirley go past...(later saw her and a bloke running with her at the medical room)...
Finally about 23.5km and 10.25am I see a medical team, and stop there, and Megan and Caitlin the medical people there put cold bandages on the "duck egg" bruise on the lateral side of my left ankle, to try and reduce the swelling a bit, and bandage it tightly to provide some compression which also stops the swelling a bit. I think my shoe must have stopped it from swelling for a long time...I wait a few minutes for the sag wagon to pick me and a few other injured runners up and we get in the van as they battle heavy traffic, and try all sorts of detours to try and get back to the MCG...
One of the guys in our sag wagon is throwing up powerade at about 5 minute intervals and is clearly the most urgent case in our van. We see a lady unconscious on the side of St Kilda Rd being attended to by paramedics, and I see the guy in the superman suit running along St Kilda Rd and I feel a bit jealous that I am not out there too. Then start to wonder how my wife and 1 year old have gone in the 5.5km walk...
The dude in our van throwing up starts throwing up blood, and as soon as we finally get to the MCG he is straight onto the stretcher while the rest of us are left to try and find the medical room in the bowels of the MCG...I decide to go and hand over my chip, and get my clothes bag so hobble around until I get that, then hobble around heaps more until I eventually find the medical room. They are all on stretchers in there except for a fe wof us sitting on chairs...eventually I get sick of waiting to be seen, and I already have 3 messages on my phone from my wife asking where I am, so I aggressively hobble in and demand to know where the icepacks are, and get one of those off the medical staff, and finally start icing my ankle at about 1230pm...2 hours after I was picked up by sag wagon! I wait another 20 minutes or so, and a few staff ask me how I am, but they always get called away for people on stretchers, so I figure I cant leave my wife at our apartment stuck with 1 year old and luggage any longer as we have to check out...so I hobble out of there with my icepack and bag, had a nice chat with coolrunner RunningM, and then see a big Maori bloke called Nate (looks like he could play for the AllBlacks) with a Perth City to Surf shirt on, get talking to him a bit, and then he says do I want a lift to my apartment, so I gladly accept this Godsend, and head back to meet my tired wife and son, and we order a taxi to take us to out next hotel, where I hobble some more and spend the evening icing the ankle with frozen peas...All plans of visiting the Transport out of the question...
Before the race I had a quick chat with Hills group legend Jane who surprisingly turned up for Melbourne marathon, and she gives me the name of a good sports massage bloke in Perth, who might be the answer to my thigh problems..., also saw Tigerboy again out there, and located the 3.15 pace group.
Monday night back in Perth the ankle is starting to finally feel slightly better, hopefully its just severe bruising and will clear up in time for me to go back to work on Friday, if not I might have to get an X-ray or MRI, or another bone scan...
Feel a bit like Tourniquet lyrics;"I was already down, and you kicked me... but I'll get up, just watch me get up" (broken chromosomes I think was the song from Psycho Surgery album), but then again I have been here before, and if its just bruising I could be running again in a few days time...although the huge financial investment will seem like a bit of a waste, there is always positives if one looks for them;
1- at least both Kathryn, Jacob AND I all got to experience 'Bourne Marathon 2008...
2-I had a red-hot go (didn't "die wondering", "put it all out there on the line") and if it were not for the ankle, I may have nailed it in 2008, but it was not my day. Hope to get another go at it.
3-I did a leisurely lap of The TAN...
4-I learned to be careful crossing median strips at high speed in a crowd in the future.
5-I got to see the race from another perspective i.e. the medical van/room, and sag wagon perspective, and some of the incredible difficult work there that volunteers do.
6- I was able to view surreal memorable magical!!! mcg setting that I would have run into before the race, just as they were firing up the hot air balloon. That memory alone will stick in my mind forever, and whets my appetite to hopefully come back again for another go aother year, God willing.
7- some of the people I was able to catch up with/meet briefly, and in some cases meeet for the first time; eg tigerboy,RunningM,Jane E., Nate, the dozens of coolrunners I saw out there...
8- just the fact that I was able to get valuable racing experience/course familiarisation (on tope of last years 4.10) in the first 20km on this course, and execute my raceplan pretty much as planned for the first 20km, and get more than halfway there to what looked like a 3.41-4.01...
9-the melbourne marathon shirts Kathryn and I bought...
10-useful knowledge gained about a much better accomodation option, and getting around melbourne better...which could be very handy if I go back again.
11-a reminder that God rules (as well as cares), and I can't take anything for granted.
12-very special times, for Kathryn,Jacob and I together! on an excellent! mental change/break/holiday from the usual mundane boringness at home.
UPDATE; 14th October Tuesday night;
-more than 48 hours later, and ankle is still swelled up and still pretty sore on both Lateral AND Medial sides (more so on lateral side as youd expect).
-However in the last 24 hours the swelling has gone significantly and I am now walking almost normally instead of shuffle,shuffle put all weight on right leg. Its still very tender if I put it in the wrong position or bump it, but it has improved significantly today.
-My main priority right now is my ability to do my meter reading again by Thursday or Friday, everything else is a lower priority to that at the moment.