I have been really bad with food again this week. No more details now but I have to get this under control.
Yes it is a problem. I admit it.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Melbourne Marathon in 5 weeks?
Well is is only 41 days until the Melbourne Marathon and yet again I approach a major run totally underdone. I haven't put my entry in yet but I know I will run it irregardless of my training. It is a bit disappointing because I did have some achievable goals for this event, but life and illness have got in the way the past 5-6 weeks.
With 5 weekends left to train I am capable of running 3-hour runs on at least 3 of the next 4 Sundays and throw in some short speed work during the week. I always like doing a 3+ hour run two weeks before a marathon and using a very short taper so it is not as bad as it appears. I will also try to add a couple of 21k runs on Wednesdays in the next 3 weeks. The good thing is that I have an extremely good base from the past 12 months of training so I can run the risk of going a bit harder in the next 4 weeks without any real threat of major damage. I will also mix training up a bit and include a bit more strenght work and bike work so that the 4 or 5 runs I will do each week will be good hard sessions - not just jogging around.
Warning...Left hamstring is very tight and continually niggles me at the beginning and the end of a run. I need a massage or 10.
With 5 weekends left to train I am capable of running 3-hour runs on at least 3 of the next 4 Sundays and throw in some short speed work during the week. I always like doing a 3+ hour run two weeks before a marathon and using a very short taper so it is not as bad as it appears. I will also try to add a couple of 21k runs on Wednesdays in the next 3 weeks. The good thing is that I have an extremely good base from the past 12 months of training so I can run the risk of going a bit harder in the next 4 weeks without any real threat of major damage. I will also mix training up a bit and include a bit more strenght work and bike work so that the 4 or 5 runs I will do each week will be good hard sessions - not just jogging around.
Warning...Left hamstring is very tight and continually niggles me at the beginning and the end of a run. I need a massage or 10.
Monday, August 20, 2007
BRT
Ran the Bellarine Rail Trail yesterday in perfect conditions. I knew it was going to be a bit of a slog and that's exactly how it turned out. This was my first long run since the Sri Chinmoy 30k run on July 15 and a real test if I could still do the Melbourne Marathon this year in a decent time.
I Ran with Eat 'Em (Mark) at the back of the 5 minute group for the first 5km but then I knew that if I wanted to make the distance I would have to take it a little easier. I eased back just a little bit and tried to get myself into a rythmn but it wasn't working! I went through 10km in 51.05 and was struggling this early only. My legs were sore already and my hamstrings felt really tight. I actually started thinking about how I could pull out but logistically it didn't seem possible. I took my time at the 16km 'aid' station and had a good drink and a Leppin. Chatted with Kevin Cassidy (who was annoyingly taking photos!) and headed off again. The next 4km were just terrible. Both hamstrings felt really tight and sore and I had pain down the outside of both knees.
At 20km (1:44) the trail seems to run downhill so I picked up the pace thinking that the sooner I get to the end the sooner I can stop! Ran well through to the 24km aid station where I paused again for a few minutes to finally remove some stones from my shoe - blood on my sock told me I should have done it 10km ago! The last 10km were just hard work and I never felt good. There were two walking periods here and everything was sore. I finished bang on 3 hours by my watch - 9 minutes slower than last year!
Brett and his family and friends are just fantastic people to put on a wonderful event for nothing. Great to chat with so many CR people.
I Ran with Eat 'Em (Mark) at the back of the 5 minute group for the first 5km but then I knew that if I wanted to make the distance I would have to take it a little easier. I eased back just a little bit and tried to get myself into a rythmn but it wasn't working! I went through 10km in 51.05 and was struggling this early only. My legs were sore already and my hamstrings felt really tight. I actually started thinking about how I could pull out but logistically it didn't seem possible. I took my time at the 16km 'aid' station and had a good drink and a Leppin. Chatted with Kevin Cassidy (who was annoyingly taking photos!) and headed off again. The next 4km were just terrible. Both hamstrings felt really tight and sore and I had pain down the outside of both knees.
At 20km (1:44) the trail seems to run downhill so I picked up the pace thinking that the sooner I get to the end the sooner I can stop! Ran well through to the 24km aid station where I paused again for a few minutes to finally remove some stones from my shoe - blood on my sock told me I should have done it 10km ago! The last 10km were just hard work and I never felt good. There were two walking periods here and everything was sore. I finished bang on 3 hours by my watch - 9 minutes slower than last year!
Brett and his family and friends are just fantastic people to put on a wonderful event for nothing. Great to chat with so many CR people.
Friday, August 10, 2007
On the way back!
On Wednesday night I came home from a week away in much warmer weather and I am happy to say I am finally over my cough and breathing easier.
I only ran two 1/2 hour runs and one 20 minute run during the last week - which is really, really bad for my Melbourne marathon preparation - but so much better for my general health.
I did 1/2 hour slowly with my dog on Thursday morning and then an hour this morning on my own. I feel re-energised and ready to run again. I will try for a nice and slow 1.5 hours on Saturday and back up with a 2 hour run on Sunday. It sounds like a bit in four days to come back to but I have the base and know I can handle it.
I only ran two 1/2 hour runs and one 20 minute run during the last week - which is really, really bad for my Melbourne marathon preparation - but so much better for my general health.
I did 1/2 hour slowly with my dog on Thursday morning and then an hour this morning on my own. I feel re-energised and ready to run again. I will try for a nice and slow 1.5 hours on Saturday and back up with a 2 hour run on Sunday. It sounds like a bit in four days to come back to but I have the base and know I can handle it.
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