2P's RUNNING BLOG

About me and running

Leave Comment View Comments

June 05 Blog (217km's)

Friday 30 September, '05 - Vale Phyllis (Dot) Weymark + almost a Grand Run

Sadly my wife's mother passed away last Sunday night. It came as a bit of a shock because at 82 years of age she still lived independently even to the point of still driving a manual car. I reckon she went the way she would have wanted - a big heart attack whilst getting ready to have a bath the night after having a visit from her daughter, two of her grand kids and two of her great grand kids. Without going into detail there have been a number of complications which mean that Dot won't be laid to rest until next Tuesay. My heart goes out to my wife and her brother having to wait so long to get some closure - life seems to be in limbo for them at the moment. And to quote Forrest Gump - "that's all I have to say about that".

Not feeling particularly productive at work I decided to jig the afternoon and head home. Driving in mid afternoon traffic (which was surprisingly heavy) I decided I needed to clear some cobwebs out and as Mrs 2P was out when I got home I figured a run around Canada Bay/Breakfast Point was just what I needed. As I have training tonight I didn't want to over do things and so I just pushed out a modest 6km. Updating my log I could have kicked myself, if only I had gone another 600m I would have clocked up the 1000km mark - dumbo!

This got me on to thinking about this particular milestone. Before this year I never really kept a consistent training log so I'm not sure if I have ever run 1000km in a calendar year before but I suspect not, so I guess it's significant for me. Thinking it through a bit further I'm setting myself the goal of racking up another 500km before years end. Modest by real runners standards, but I'd be chuffed with it.

Sunday 25 September, '05 - Ordinary Start, Great Finish

I was in Bathurst for the weekend visiting Beck but she had a friends birthday do to go to today so it meant I got to head back early. I was feeling pretty frumpy and had decided I wasn't going to run, then thought I was being a bit blousy and decided I would!

I drove up to the locked gate on Narrow Neck and the plan was to run for 5 minutes, if I still felt ordinary I would stop, if not I would keep going. After 5 minutes I was feeling pretty good so I kept going but the 2nd kilometer was a real struggle, my lower legs (front and back) were aching big time. When in doubt walk.... and so I did, all of the "ups" for a while. If you have been along Narrow Neck you know that just before the 3k mark is the point of no return - that is the point where you drop down a very steep descent and then there is a fairly steady climb on the other side. I was on the cusp of turning around and bailing when I decided to push on - I'm supremely glad I did! I kept going and it just got better and better and before too long I was at the fire tower a tad over 6.8km's from the locked gate.

After a short break and a stretch I headed back for a major negative split. To be fair the "back" is easier than the "out" but it was still pretty satisfying. I even ran past the car for a bit so that I would clock up an even 14k's and a total of 400m ascent and 400m descent. Driving home I felt a real sense of accomplishment and I'm looking forward to my next run for the first time in ages.

Tuesday 13 September, '05 - Scott Discovers Roses

In our fair nations capital for work - couldn't get in at any of the usual haunts and ended up in a motor inn style thingee in Forrest. Actually it wasn't too bad and actually offers the best value breaky I think I've ever had in a hotel.

The meeting I was there for didn't commence till 10am so I had a pretty cruisy morning, got up and did 3k's out and back (6k)along the lake. Compared to the night before it was a lovely morning, just a bit breezy. I had no pre-conceived idea of how far I would run, having not run heaps lately I figured I'd just head off and turn around when I felt like it. I wasn't sore from my run on Sunday per se, but my legs did feel a bit heavy and I struggled for the first km. Once I settled into it though I felt pretty good and was actually quite startled to see my 1km split time. My perception was that I was going out conservatively at around 6 min pace - I actually wouldn't have been surprised if it was 6.15 or more because of the heavy legs but when I looked down at the Garmin I was running at a 5 min pace. I'm usually an ok judge of pace, I guess when you havn't run much you lose a bit of perspective. I kept the pace up to about the 2.5km mark and then slowed down and stopped at 3km's.

Not being in any particular hurry I walked out on to a jetty and just took in the sights. What's going on? The Scott of days gone by would never have been able to stop and "smell the roses" when training. But I just thought why not? It's a nice morning, not too cold, you don't come here often, just enjoy it. I wont go so far as to say that I had an epiphany but this new revelation did occupy my thoughts on the run back and I've made a note on my mental to do list to give it some more thought anon.

Back to the hotel and a looooong and large breakfast had me feeling a little disappointed that I actually had to go to work, surely there must be some more roses to smell....

Sunday 11 September, '05 - Flight of the Phoenix Mk11

Well 2 weeks since the Lake Macquarie Half and I finally managed a run.... A bit disappointed that I didn't get to have a crack at the Sydney Marathon but considering the couple of weeks I have had, I have to be happy that I have at least managed a run today

Having had a crook tummy the night before the LM half it just got worse thereafter - I had the tummy bug from hell - I haven't run so much since I played centre half in hockey!!!!

Apart from being crook, it has been a bit tough with Dad in and out of hospital again, a crap load of extra work at work and to boot I've had ye olde crook back back again.

Enough whinging - it was great (after a days house chores) to get out and go for a run again - ok - only 7km's - but a run none-the-less. Hopefully I can now start to rack up some k's.

Having fallen short of some of my goals for this year I am starting to think about at least doing some of the C2K fatass and casting my mind forward to thrashing my PB at the next 6' (man can dream can't he????)

Sunday 28 August 05 - Lake Macquarie Half Marathon

This one was such a disaster in soooo many ways it deserves a full race report which I will do.

I did however end up with a high sense of achievement. As woeful as my time was I could not possibly have run it any faster and that is some consolation.

More will follow anon.....

Well it is "anon" and I write this fully 2 weeks after the event. Let me start by saying "it was a BLOODY HARD DAY AT THE OFFICE".

There - got that off my chest....

On the night before I got crook I was runnin to the loo like I'd just had a dodgy vindaloo - I finally managed to settle some time just after 1:30am.

I put it down to something I ate and on the drive up to the start I thought "ok so I'm not so chipper, I'll just go the 10k option". On arrival, I met Aunty K, Truckie, Blue Dog, Katie, Tuttle and some others... I thought "bugger it I'll do the lot!"

And what a stupid decision that turned out to be!!!!

I should have known I was going to have one of those days when about 10mins before start time I got that oh so familiar churn and just managed to squeeze my cheeks together long enough and hard enough to get to the front of the portaloo queue. Slammed the door, down with the shorts and KAZAAAM... as the tears cleared enough for me to see again I groaned because what I saw (or didn't see) caused the tears to come flooding back - no paper! And hardly the place where you can call out "can anyone spare a square". There was only one thing for it - rip the gusset out of my shorts and pray for cold weather on the run.

I made my way sheepishly to the back of the pack at the start line and waited for the gun

Knowing this was going to be tough I was very disciplined at the start and went out very slowly. I'm super glad I did because after 8k's I was already shot, my quads were screaming and I was really thirsty. However, I kept on keeping on at a bit under a 6min per km pace and I deluded myself into believing I was on par for a sub 2 hour which considering my poor prep would have been an ok result.

REALITY - I was dehydrated before the start with the runs and it only got worse in the balmy conditions as I pushed on - I made 15k in about 1.27 and was still fooling myself I was "on" for a sub 2 hour - but then the proverbial wheels fell off.

To say I struggled would be an understatement - somewhere along the way to the 16km mark I didn't hit the wall, I completely assaulted it!!! I punched it, I kicked it, I think like Tyson I might have even nibbled on one of the walls ears. I can't remember too much, except what seemed like not more than a speed hump on the first lap was like Everest on the second - bloody hill!!!

Finished in 2.06 something and ran into Bluedog (who I must say was most uncharitable - I only gave him positive feedback, but he seemed to take delight in my suffering). Fair dinkum - I felt bloody crook - I've never felt so bloody crook after a physical activity - and I've done some doozies (not just running)in my time.

Turned out I had the tummy bug from hell and over the next week and a half I lost a tad over 3kg's.

I said it before and I will say it again - I honestly could not have run faster - and now knowing that I had a virus (or whatever) makes the time I ran much easier to accept - QED

Thursday 25 August 05 - Back to the Lights

Got home from work late but if I am to be any chance of running the Lake Macquarie Half Marathon on Sunday I really needed to at least get one run under my belt.

Decided that I would just run for as long as I felt comfortable. As it turned out I started to feel the pinch around the 7km mark and so pulled the pin at 8km's. I could have gone longer but did not want to do any damage - as it was my quads were a-quiver after I stopped.

It was really nice running around the bay with the lights reflecting on the water - that and bush running really are my happy places.

Sunday 14 August 05 - Flight of the Phoenix

After starting training again last week I finally got in a run today and it feels great! Dad is out of hospital and I finally seem to have given whatever the bug was I had the flick.

Having helped out at the start of yesterdays 12 foot fatass I was re-inspired to get running after a greater than 4 week break - my longest non running period this year.

On the way back from Bathurst I stopped off at Narrow Neck out from Katoomba and did 5.63km out and back. My new altimeter watch showed that the cumaulative height gained was 330m and the same for descent. The weather was perfect 15 degrees and crystal clear skies - I was definitely in my happy place.

Here is hoping I can keep it going without getting sick.

Wednesday 21 July 05 - Bugger Mk2

Well I still havn't run since Wednesday the 6th of July.

Between getting everything ready and finished to go to New Zealand and the Dad stuff there just were not enough hours in the day to fit in a run. I was away from home for between 14 and 18 hours each day over the last 5 days before I left.

I dutifully packed my running gear including the Garmin with a view to getting in some good trail runs in New Zealand and then uploading them onto Google Earth.

Of course the inevitable happened and on the plane on the way over I came down with a cold. So I never did get in a run over there as apart from the cold my schedule was hectic. Really feeling like I need a good sleep and as I'm off to Bathurst this weekend it isn't likely to happen any time soom.

Hopefully I will get a run in on Sunday while Bec is at Eistedfodd training.

Sunday 10 July 05 - Bugger!

Thought I better update the blog even though I havn't run since Wednesday.

Went to training on Wednesday night and did better than expected, Thursday and Friday were absolute shockers at work and with early starts and late finishes even a short run was out of the question.

Went to training on Friday night which I really enjoyed but in the car on the way home had that ominous feeling that the cold I thought I had given the flick last week was on the way back.

Turns out I was right and the long run I had planned for Saturday was just not going to happen - postponed to Sunday

Woke up Sunday and though I felt a bit better the rain and wind put me off and a good thing too - though I don't want to admit it - I'm sick.

Dad had to go back into hospital today - this time with pneumonia in both lungs. Mum is convinced he won't come home from hospital this time, but I don't share that view.

I am supposed to go to New Zealand for a week on Wednesday, so it looks like the km's total is going to suffer for a while.

Good thing I'm in for the long haul :-)

Wednesday 6 July 05 - Grand Experiment Leg 2

Set off from home at 0640hrs for the second leg of the work-home-work run on a beautifully clear and fresh morning.

I started out conservatively and got faster with each successive 5k split. This has become a bit of a theme for me lately. In the old days, no matter how far I was running I used to go out hard and then hang on grimly to finish. Result - I felt wasted for the rest of the day. Now, I have a building process where I run comfortably for the first xx kilometers then at 8k from the finish start to pick it up, then with 4k to go I try to run as hard as I can for 3k with the pentultimate k being the fastest and the I back off for the last k. It is serving me well, because I get a great sense of accomplishment from being able to run my fastest near the end of a run and I end on a high not feeling wrecked both physically and psychologically.

There is a bit more up on this leg and as it is near the end I was quite surprised to see I had knocked a minute and 10 seconds off my time to run home yesterday.

Yesterday I did feel a bit of niggle in my left calf at times but today it was A-OK. I think after all these years I have finally sussed out how to manage my compartment syndrome (touch wood). Hard and painful experience has shown me what I can and can't do now and it fits with one of my oldest mantras "a good man knows his limitations". With my calf muscles now I'm confident I am sensitive to the early warning signs and know when to back off or stop. More importantly I have a real feel now for when I can run i.e. I don't have to be completely pain free.

Before W2G I was really enjoying my running and I really enjoyed the W2G but the week after was a bit of a struggle. Happily I have really, really enjoyed these last two runs.

Might try a shorter and faster run tomorrow.

Tuesday 5 July 05 - Grand Experiment Leg 1

I have a new running mantra: "This is the new expectation - so get used to it legs"!

For some time now I have theorised about running from and to work from home. The reason for the from and the to is that work and home are 15km's apart and given my training commitments 30k on a weekday is probably a bit much. So the plan was to run from work (leaving the car there) in the evening and then run back the next morning.

The obvious attraction to this is that it only costs me an hour for an hour and a half run (as the drive takes me at least 30mins in peak hour). So I effectively gain an extra half hour in my day.

Today was the day for leg 1. Given Sunday's debacle I was a bit windy about abandoning the car and running away from it, but Sunday must have just been one of those aberrations that you have from time to time when you run as all went exceedingly well.

The route worked well although it is a bit hilly at the work end. I'm not completely enamoured with the Hume Highway section either as it gets pretty fumey at times. Just have to grin and bear it though because to go by any other route would add some kilometers on. A longer route might be an option down the track.

One down, one to go.

Sunday 3 July 05 - Persistance Pays?

I had planned to stop off at Narrow Neck on the way home from Bathurst but instead ended up running in Bathurst. Two things drove my decision - one, I've been fighting off a cold and two, Becks eistedfodd practice schedule meant it would require everything to go extemely well if I was to get back to Katoomba in time.

It turned out to be a better decision than I thought at the time. I took off from the PCYC where I dropped Beck with the intention of running the 11 Mile Drive loop (15km the way I was doing it). After 2.5k I was gawn.... my left calf hurt (injury) and my right shin was aching so badly I had to walk (no idea why). I considered going back to the car but decided to push on to 5k and see what happened. Had to stop and walk a bit and at 4k I stopped took off my gloves (it was only 7 degrees), had a nice big drink, sorted myself out a bit and got going again. Managed to run the next 11k ok - not quick - but ok - so all in all I was glad I kept going.

Left calf pulled up a bit lame but right shin was fine. Will probably rest again till Tuesday.

Friday 1 July 05 - R&R

All in all very happy to have completed 217kms for June. Certainly my best result since February and I am really enjoying my running.

The only fly in the ointment is my left calf is not healing so I am going to give it a rest till at least Sunday. If all goes well I will stop at Narrow Neck on the way home from Bathurst and see how I go.

Leave Comment View Comments

Return to Running Page

---

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page