Negative Split

Work was busy yesterday, and I didn't make time to go for my run at lunch time.

I had plans to go when I got home from work, but after we got AJ to bed it was 8:45pm, the thought of going for a run for an hour didn't appeal...

Today was a different story. My plan was to run from Queens Bridge (near Crown Casino) up the Yarra River for say 25 minutes, then return at a quicker pace (negative split).

I had never run past the Tan before, and I was surprised that the running track seemed to go on and on up the Yarra...

I ran for 27:10 min (almost to Burnley Golf Course), then turned back. My return run felt good except I felt a little tightness in the inner thigh. I still managed to complete the return in 25:02, which I was happy with. I don’t know how far I ran, but guessed it was around 11km.

I wore my Brooks Adrenaline today, and didn't have any problems with blisters this time. I think my Asics might need to be traded in for a new pair *wry smile*...

Long Run – 16km

I went for my long run today – although I don’t know if it counts…

My plan was for a 15km run (3 laps of my circuit at home). I had finished my first lap when my mate and his wife drove past. I stopped my run and went inside for a chat and a cuppa. Then when they left, I finished another 11km (total time for 16km - 1hr 15min). Does a long run count if it is broken up into 2???

I felt OK on my run except in the last km. I could feel a little discomfort in my shoe, similar to a small stone rubbing on my inner arch. It turns out that I got a blister on my arch. It’s a little concerning, as I have never had a blister there before. I’ve had blisters on;

- the tips of my toes
- underneath my toes
- on the ball of my foot
- and lost a couple of toe nails…

I’m not sure why I got the blister? Was it;

- My old shoes (I think they both have over 600-700 km’s on the clock)
- My socks (I just wore some non running type socks)
- Did I have my shoes on too tight?

Either way, I have another rest day tomorrow, so the blister should be fine by Tuesday – tough wood!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

The Soceroos made it to the next round today, by drawing 2 all against Croatia.

I'm not a big Soccer fan, but it was great to see the fans still celebrating at Federation Square when I turned up for work.

The only draw back was when I went for my run at lunch time. Birrarung Marr was a slushy mess after the Soccer fans had left. I managed to avoid most of it without slipping 'a over t', but my Asics didn't fair too well.

My plan was to run 10-12 km's today. Unfortunately, I had left my watch at home, so I couldn't time my run. I decided to run the same circuit that I did on Tuesday - 10km up the Yarra, around the Tan, up the Anderson Street Hill, then back to work down the Yarra.

I'm not sure what time I did, but I'm guessing it was around 50 min.

Tomorrow is a rest day before my long run of 15km (previous long run was 13km) - wish me luck!

The days are getting longer :-)

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year - thank God! Only extra daylight to look forward to form now on...

I can't wait for the day when I get home from work and go for a run without taking a torch. I guess that will still be around daylight savings time, but at least the depressing time of the year is behind me now...

I took AJ to 'Disney on Ice' today. I managed to wangle a couple of tickets to the Corporate Superbox. He had an absolute ball!

As I have lost 2 weeks of training, I want to increase the number of kay's in my legs, but don't want to over do it and get injured - a tricky balancing act.

I have decided to do at least 10km on each outing for the next couple of weeks, but only at an easy pace.

Today, I went for a run around the block at home (a 5.5km circuit with some decent hills thrown in).

I went out easy as planned, and felt - well pretty crap. I didn't feel sore, or out of breath, just heavy in the legs. I did my first lap in 27:35.

When I started my second lap, I actually felt fresh and better than the first - maybe the old body was warming up! Although I wasn't consciously increasing my pace, I felt lighter on my feet, and started to enjoy the run.

By the half way mark of my second lap, I increased the pace to an easy/medium pace. I completed my final lap in 25:34.

It felt great to do a negative split (mental note for next time, when I decide to sprint from the start).

I think this will be my approach for the next couple of weeks. Go out nice and easy. Warm up the legs, and slowly increase the pace on the way back.

Tomorrow, I'm planning another 10-12km run. I think I will run up the Yarra for 30 minutes, then turn around and see if I can do another negative split.

Sunday will be a 'very easy' 15km run...

Run to the G

As mentioned, I had previously missed 2 weeks of training due to illness and general laziness.

I had previously entered 'Run to the G'; or as Beki calls it, 'Run past the G' (unfortunately we don't enter the MCG these days)...

My preparation for the 5km run was far from impressive:

- Two weeks without training.
- Two weeks of poor nutrition, including Fish & Chips the night before (who needs carbo-loading?)

George had fallen off the rails also. He had a cold and didn't train for 10 days before the event.

Anyway, we managed to turn up to the event and caught up with each other at the start line about 2 minutes before the start.

We had discussed our strategy at length a number of times prior to the day, but all of that flew out the window when the race started.

I got caught up in all of the hype and raced ahead of George. After a few hundred metres, I looked back for him. He told me to go on and he would meet me at the finish line.

Our plan had been to start off at a steady pace, and finish strongly (as we had done numerous times before around the Tan).
But did I follow the plan?
Why would I use common sense?
Why not go as fast as I could, and hope that I didn't self destruct...

I tried to keep up with a fit looking guy in the vein hope that he would drag me to the finish line.

My first km was @ 3:50 pace. Not bad I thought. "I could break 20 minutes easily at this rate".

My second km was 4:00 flat. "OK, Nothing to worry about, I'm just settling in".

My third km, I started to huff and puff and struggled at 4:15 pace.

My fourth km, I was still in the 'fit guys' slip stream - but only just. Even fitter guys (and 15 year old girls) were passing me...4:21 pace.

My last km, I felt like throwing up. The 'fit guy' had kicked on, and I seriously thought about stopping. I managed to soldier on for a 4:24 final km.

George was just over a minute behind.

My final time was 20:50 @ 4:10 pace. Not a bad effort for me; especially given that I had done everything wrong!!!

I read my results in today’s Age (2,634 participants);

38th overall &
10th in my age group

I'm determined now to break the 20 minute barrier.

My financial year’s resolution is:

1. Train Smarter.
2. Eat better.
3. Write something my running blog every day.
4. Make it to MM06; Rain, hail, or shine (knowing Melbourne's weather, that's exactly what will happen on the day).

By the way, I did a 10km run today up the Yarra and back at around 5:00 pace.

Missing in action

Dear Running Blog,

My sincere apologies for neglecting you over the past 2 weeks, 2 days, and 7 hours (but who’s counting?).

I’ve had a ‘chesty bug’ for the past week and a half, followed by a bad case of ‘cannot be stuffed’ in addition to busy days at work, and more study. A combination that meant I neglected you and myself.

It’s a funny thing when you fall off the rails. All of your good work quickly falls apart. Not only was I not exercising, I was eating lots of crap, which has seen me put on a couple of kilo’s :-(

What was meant to be the start of my training for MM06, has seen a two week hole in my training schedule, with lots of (smart?) catching up to do.

It hasn’t all be bad however. I did manage to turn up to the 'Run to the G', but that’s a story for tomorrow.

Long Run - 13km

A well deserved break on Saturday. I'm still a bit sore from my hill run on Thursday.

My plan was for a 13km run today, and that's exactly what I did (13km @ 1hr, 9min). It was a nice day for a run; a little chilly early on, but I soon warmed up after 10 min.

I don't know if it's physical or psychological, but every 5min, I seemed to be hurting somewhere. First it was my ankle, then after 5min it was my knee, then another 5 min later it was my bum. And so the cycle continued...

At the end of my run, I was tired, but nothing was sore; I guess I ran out of body parts...

Short and sweet

After running up and down hills last night, I was looking forward to an easy run today.

My plan was for a 40 min run (apx 8-9km). My actual run was 33 min (apx 6km).

Oh, I forgot to mention my monthly total for May was 128km!!!

Oh, and one last thing; I received my race number for the 'Run to the G' yesterday - not long to go now.

Well that’s all until Sunday, when my plan is for a 13km run.

Time for sleep…

The world is not flat!!!

My running log said that I had to do 6 x 300 metre hill climbs today - who am I to argue with my running log?

As I slept in today, I decided to forgo my lunch time run and instead run after AJ had gone to bed.

I put on my Skins (well, my poor man's version) and all the reflective clothing that I could find, and ventured out into the cold night.

An easy 10 minute warm up to my nominated hill. One good thing about living in Berwick is that there are no shortages of hills.

I have never run hills before - well not 6 times in succession anyway. I didn't know whether to run at a easy, medium, or fast pace. While I stood at the bottom of the hill pondering; the knocking of my knees decided that tonight would be fast!

My first hill felt quite good. I almost flew up the hill. I thought to myself "this hill training is pretty easy".

The second time wasn't too bad, except I slowed to a medium pace about 20 metres from the top.

On my third attempt, there was an unusual burning in my lungs about 2/3 of the way up.

The forth and fifth time, my head was spinning; my legs felt like lead, and I wanted to go home.

The last attempt, I managed to get to the top without throwing up. The 10 minute jog home was a welcome relief!