Where has the week gone? I don't think there is much to write about my running.
Sometimes I wonder why I am even planning to attempt the marathon on such poor training. Stupid thing is that I know I can run the distance ok, just not at any decent pace!!
A few good runs in this week but nothing too serious. I have toned up a bit and dropped maybe 1kg in the past week.
Today I procrastinated all day about going for a run because it was so windy out there. Finally at around 4pm I stopped watching the rain-soaked Japanese Grand Prix and headed out around Williamstown and up to Yarraville for my last run before Melbourne next week.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be into the wind and I believed that I would be coming home with the wind at my back. About 10-15 minutes from home a huge dark cloud decended over the city and it began pouring with icy rain. I ran for a minute or two in it before I found shelter at the Sea Scouts, where another walker joined me very soon after! I waited 4-5 minutes for it to ease off from pouring to just raining before I ran for home. I figured I was wet anyway so the sooner I got home the better. A good steady run done.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Lovely long run
Today it finally felt good! I woke up feeling positive about going for a run (nice change) and it was a beautiful cool and crisp morning.
I did a long run with a few CRs through the city and around part of the Capital City Trail back to the Tan and then finished two laps of the Tan. We did a good steady pace the entire way and my second lap of the Tan was under 19 minutes which I was pretty happy with considering it was at the end of a 32km run. We shall see how the next week pans out!
I did a long run with a few CRs through the city and around part of the Capital City Trail back to the Tan and then finished two laps of the Tan. We did a good steady pace the entire way and my second lap of the Tan was under 19 minutes which I was pretty happy with considering it was at the end of a 32km run. We shall see how the next week pans out!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Work gets in the way
Tuesday I decided not to run, eventhough I could have easily backed up after yesterday's long run. Pity I didn't.
Wednesday & Thursday I was in Sydney for work. Eventhough I took my running gear and was planning on two lovely runs, I just simply did not have time.
Friday morning I did a great 12km at a good steady pace and included 10x30 second sprints at the Newport Aths track.
Friday afternoon I backed up with a tough speed/strength session at the gym. This is a circuit combination of fast 500's on the treadmill with high intensity weight reps, push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, squats and lunges. Hard, hard work where my heart rate is flat out for 50 minutes. The only negative is that I did a 5 minute walk to cool-down instead of the 'proper' 3km of easy running.
Wednesday & Thursday I was in Sydney for work. Eventhough I took my running gear and was planning on two lovely runs, I just simply did not have time.
Friday morning I did a great 12km at a good steady pace and included 10x30 second sprints at the Newport Aths track.
Friday afternoon I backed up with a tough speed/strength session at the gym. This is a circuit combination of fast 500's on the treadmill with high intensity weight reps, push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, squats and lunges. Hard, hard work where my heart rate is flat out for 50 minutes. The only negative is that I did a 5 minute walk to cool-down instead of the 'proper' 3km of easy running.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday long run
My Sunday long runs are now Monday long runs. I worked from home on Monday which allowed me to indulge myself by going for a run lunchtime.
About 2 hours 50 minutes in windy, sometimes chilly and sometimes sunny conditions I went from home down to Skeleton Creek along the Williamstown & Altona foreshore trail which is about 16km away and return, then added an additional bit around Point Gellibrand.
The first half hour was an absolute struggle to get going and 5km in I actually conteplated stopping and going back home. I really have lost the motivation to run these days. Anyway, I persevered and actually felt really good in the mid-section and picked up the pace to run fairly strongly for a good 1.5 hours. The last 40 minuts was a real test of my will. Only having a bowl of Sultana Bran mid-morning and not taking a gel with me serves me right! As usual though, when I was approaching the end of my run I was able to push hard for the last km. 33km total.
About 2 hours 50 minutes in windy, sometimes chilly and sometimes sunny conditions I went from home down to Skeleton Creek along the Williamstown & Altona foreshore trail which is about 16km away and return, then added an additional bit around Point Gellibrand.
The first half hour was an absolute struggle to get going and 5km in I actually conteplated stopping and going back home. I really have lost the motivation to run these days. Anyway, I persevered and actually felt really good in the mid-section and picked up the pace to run fairly strongly for a good 1.5 hours. The last 40 minuts was a real test of my will. Only having a bowl of Sultana Bran mid-morning and not taking a gel with me serves me right! As usual though, when I was approaching the end of my run I was able to push hard for the last km. 33km total.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
a crap (running) weekend
Nothing good to report for my weekend running.
Saturday morning I did an easy 3k up to the Newport Aths Track and return with my dog and Number 2 son to register him (my son, not the dog!) for Little Aths this season. It was a lovely morning for a run but I took it easy due to my long run planned for Sunday.
Sunday morning I had planned to run the Sri Chinmoy half marathon then follow that with an additional 10-12km. My alarm went off at 6:30am and I could not wake up. I had gone to be a bit late the night before after picking up Number 1 son from the football (he is a happy Kangaroos supporter) with the start of a headache. By Sunday morning my head was pounding. I woke at 8:45 and lay in bed for a bit before falling asleep again. It wasn't until Number 2 son came in after 10:30am that I woke up again. Head pounding most of the morning and drugs not working I knew running today was going to be a lost cause. Add to that the wind factor and I didn't even want to go out - I freely admit I am a hopeless runner in the wind.
At 1:15pm I finally went out the door planning a very easy 1 hour run and looking towards making up my long run on Monday morning or afternoon. After 20 minutes into the wind I turned around and went back home. I have to go to the chemist to get my nasal spray to kill what is now turning into a migraine.
Saturday morning I did an easy 3k up to the Newport Aths Track and return with my dog and Number 2 son to register him (my son, not the dog!) for Little Aths this season. It was a lovely morning for a run but I took it easy due to my long run planned for Sunday.
Sunday morning I had planned to run the Sri Chinmoy half marathon then follow that with an additional 10-12km. My alarm went off at 6:30am and I could not wake up. I had gone to be a bit late the night before after picking up Number 1 son from the football (he is a happy Kangaroos supporter) with the start of a headache. By Sunday morning my head was pounding. I woke at 8:45 and lay in bed for a bit before falling asleep again. It wasn't until Number 2 son came in after 10:30am that I woke up again. Head pounding most of the morning and drugs not working I knew running today was going to be a lost cause. Add to that the wind factor and I didn't even want to go out - I freely admit I am a hopeless runner in the wind.
At 1:15pm I finally went out the door planning a very easy 1 hour run and looking towards making up my long run on Monday morning or afternoon. After 20 minutes into the wind I turned around and went back home. I have to go to the chemist to get my nasal spray to kill what is now turning into a migraine.
Friday, September 14, 2007
A big 4 days
I backed up Monday's long run with a hard 1 hour session on Tuesday night which included 8 x 800's. I ran each 800 in 3.30 or less with 2.30 walk/jog recovery. The last one I did in 3.15.
Wednesday morning I took my dog out for a very easy 3-4k and finished with a good 10 minute walk back home to stretch out the legs. In the evening after work I did a lovely run around the city, Yarra and 2 laps of the Tan for about 18k. There were people everywhere! I put in some good hard efforts during the run (sort of like a fartlek session) and just thoroughly enjoyed myself. I find it really motivating when so many other runners are out.
I am always amazed that I can have a totally crap run on one day, follow it up with a good hard session and then go out for a fabulous run.
Thursday I was tired and a bit stiff so I did a nice and steady 5.5k in the evening around Williamstown. The night was a bit windy so it probably felt harder than it should have been
Friday I didn't have time for a run at all, but the small rest is probably good.
So all up around 70k in 4 days. It will be interesting to see how my weekend run feels after that.
Wednesday morning I took my dog out for a very easy 3-4k and finished with a good 10 minute walk back home to stretch out the legs. In the evening after work I did a lovely run around the city, Yarra and 2 laps of the Tan for about 18k. There were people everywhere! I put in some good hard efforts during the run (sort of like a fartlek session) and just thoroughly enjoyed myself. I find it really motivating when so many other runners are out.
I am always amazed that I can have a totally crap run on one day, follow it up with a good hard session and then go out for a fabulous run.
Thursday I was tired and a bit stiff so I did a nice and steady 5.5k in the evening around Williamstown. The night was a bit windy so it probably felt harder than it should have been
Friday I didn't have time for a run at all, but the small rest is probably good.
So all up around 70k in 4 days. It will be interesting to see how my weekend run feels after that.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Ugly Long Run
There was a post here about my long run but it has disappeared.
33km around the Capital City Trail & the Tan on Monday afternoon - Sunday's run started and ended in 45 minutes with a shocking headache.
I never, ever felt good at all during this run. The entire way around I was continuously thinking about stopping and the various ways of getting back to my car, which didn't include finishing the run. Sheer stubborness made me continue because I knew that if I didn't clock up at least 30k then I was not going to be running the Melbourne marathon in four weeks.
When I did finally finish I have to admit I was a bit emotional. I have come to the sad realisation that running gives me goals to focus on, but part of me doesn't want to do it anymore. It may be time to move on.
33km around the Capital City Trail & the Tan on Monday afternoon - Sunday's run started and ended in 45 minutes with a shocking headache.
I never, ever felt good at all during this run. The entire way around I was continuously thinking about stopping and the various ways of getting back to my car, which didn't include finishing the run. Sheer stubborness made me continue because I knew that if I didn't clock up at least 30k then I was not going to be running the Melbourne marathon in four weeks.
When I did finally finish I have to admit I was a bit emotional. I have come to the sad realisation that running gives me goals to focus on, but part of me doesn't want to do it anymore. It may be time to move on.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sore!
Sunday afternoon saw me up and down some hills in the Dandenongs for the first time in many, many months. Today my legs are telling me just how long it has been!
The first 20 minutes up Lyrebird Track were a lovely warm up, then a loop around One Tree Hill with another walk up Chandlers Track told me I was probably out of shape! After returning to the top of One Tree Hill I went over to Sherbrooke and ran down and up there before going back to One Tree Hill and down the steps. Just over 3 hours total.
Map My Run plotted it at 27km, but I think it was more like 24-25km. All in all a very good workout.
The first 20 minutes up Lyrebird Track were a lovely warm up, then a loop around One Tree Hill with another walk up Chandlers Track told me I was probably out of shape! After returning to the top of One Tree Hill I went over to Sherbrooke and ran down and up there before going back to One Tree Hill and down the steps. Just over 3 hours total.
Map My Run plotted it at 27km, but I think it was more like 24-25km. All in all a very good workout.
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