Well, well, well. A very long week of debauchery and sloth. It is fair to say that that it was like a week long footy trip! Plenty of booze, bad eating and a fuzzy head. So many highlights - the chicken schnitzel, cheese and coleslaw sandwich I had for lunch on Monday, the fried food bonanza at the Show on Friday and the dozen stubbies put away on Saturday from bounce down of the Grand Final to collapsing into bed about nine hours later. But the highlight was last night - I went out with the boys from the VFL goal umpiring squad and downed quite a few ales too many. Must have been a good place to go, because the AFL fieldies gatecrashed - including one of the Grand Final field umpires: very much worse for wear
Anyway, feeling terrible today, which is fitting for my first day back running, a story in itself. Was planning to have a gentle half hour run most of the way home. But in the fun and games, I left my credit card behind the bar of this hotel last night and it only being in Richmond, I ran to the pub to get my card and then back to work
So all up around 40 minutes
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 8 kilometres
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, 20 September - XCR R10 Tan Relays
Last race of the winter season, although the Burnley Half Marathon for me will always be the nominal end of the season
Got there relatively on time and lined up thinking it would be awesome to go quicker than last year, when I ran 12:30. Felt like I was in just as good shape as 2007
The whistle sounded and suddenly everyone was off running, with the gun firing about three seconds later. Absolute schemozzle and the field should have been called back in my opinion
Got through the first kilometre pretty swiftly and then hit the hill. It seemed a little harder to climb than other years. Started to pass a few people along the back side of the course and really tried to finish off strong
About 400 metres out, I looked at my watch and saw 11:24 on there. In the end, the official time had me at 12:40, but according to my watch 11:37. Either way, I was a bit disappointed with my time. Amazingly, my team finished up in fourth place, which was far better than we had done at this race ever, and the best result for a relay for our division three team also perhaps ever
Afterwards, we all headed over to Brian's house for our now traditional end of winter season bbq. as Kylie was off to the football, I put the children into different beds in Brian's house and we both settled in to watch the football
TOTAL DISTANCE : 4 kilometres
Am having a complete break from running now and next post will be when I return to the training track. I plan to enjoy the next eight days!
Got there relatively on time and lined up thinking it would be awesome to go quicker than last year, when I ran 12:30. Felt like I was in just as good shape as 2007
The whistle sounded and suddenly everyone was off running, with the gun firing about three seconds later. Absolute schemozzle and the field should have been called back in my opinion
Got through the first kilometre pretty swiftly and then hit the hill. It seemed a little harder to climb than other years. Started to pass a few people along the back side of the course and really tried to finish off strong
About 400 metres out, I looked at my watch and saw 11:24 on there. In the end, the official time had me at 12:40, but according to my watch 11:37. Either way, I was a bit disappointed with my time. Amazingly, my team finished up in fourth place, which was far better than we had done at this race ever, and the best result for a relay for our division three team also perhaps ever
Afterwards, we all headed over to Brian's house for our now traditional end of winter season bbq. as Kylie was off to the football, I put the children into different beds in Brian's house and we both settled in to watch the football
TOTAL DISTANCE : 4 kilometres
Am having a complete break from running now and next post will be when I return to the training track. I plan to enjoy the next eight days!
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Training at Coburg tonight with Brian. First off we had to do five laps of the track surging every second barrier
A break and then we finished off with two x 1 km efforts, without the watch. Ran the first one in around 3:10, and the second one in 2:59. Not too displeased with that considering lack of speed at this time of year
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 5 kilometres
A break and then we finished off with two x 1 km efforts, without the watch. Ran the first one in around 3:10, and the second one in 2:59. Not too displeased with that considering lack of speed at this time of year
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 5 kilometres
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Rest day today. Don't want to overdo things as I wind down towards the off season!
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Training was up at the track tonight. We had to run two sets with 4 mins, 2 mins slow jog, 3 mins, 2 mins slow jog, then 2 mins to finish off
In the first set, went out at around my 5 km race pace for the first effort, then struggled to push that pace for the 3 minute effort. The last effort was considerably faster
On the second time around, Liam Magee kindly agreed to act as the pacemaker and even though we ran the same distance, the effort seemed easier this time. He dropped off the last two efforts. Like in the first set the 3 mins seemed to be only at the same pace as the first effort. And again the last effort was considerably faster
TOTAL DISTANCE : about six kilometres
In the first set, went out at around my 5 km race pace for the first effort, then struggled to push that pace for the 3 minute effort. The last effort was considerably faster
On the second time around, Liam Magee kindly agreed to act as the pacemaker and even though we ran the same distance, the effort seemed easier this time. He dropped off the last two efforts. Like in the first set the 3 mins seemed to be only at the same pace as the first effort. And again the last effort was considerably faster
TOTAL DISTANCE : about six kilometres
Monday, 15 September 2008
Ran home from work tonight. All up around 47 minutes
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 11 kilometres
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 11 kilometres
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Rest day today. If I had run on Friday this would have been a fair dinkum rest day. Not to worry
Had to spend three hours at Little Aths this morning for their registration day. Coburg Harriers set up a table and we gave away snakes and jelly beans. One parent was MOST displeased that her daughter had won 300 jelly beans, but the other parents took it in the right spirit
The only flaw with my plan was that the whole three hours I was surrounded by kids, so only got to speak to one parent! What a monumental waste of time I could have spent with my own children. I am not even sure most people knew I was from Harriers as I did not have adequate signage up
Next year, I will be doing things a bit differently. Plenty of good signage and no more gimmicks for kids
Had to spend three hours at Little Aths this morning for their registration day. Coburg Harriers set up a table and we gave away snakes and jelly beans. One parent was MOST displeased that her daughter had won 300 jelly beans, but the other parents took it in the right spirit
The only flaw with my plan was that the whole three hours I was surrounded by kids, so only got to speak to one parent! What a monumental waste of time I could have spent with my own children. I am not even sure most people knew I was from Harriers as I did not have adequate signage up
Next year, I will be doing things a bit differently. Plenty of good signage and no more gimmicks for kids
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Club run today at Albert Park. After the shocking realisation that my current pair of running shoes had done over 1000 k's, I went down to Leo Russell's this morning and picked up a pair of 1130's for $130
Got to Albert Park just before the first runner was off. I gave Len Hallett a yellow t-shirt befitting our club winter best athlete award winner and proclaimed that just like the Tour de France on the last day, no-one is allowed to pass Lenny. Lenny had won a handicap race this season and I am told he was leading so its a safe bet he is going to double up on his success from last year
The best athlete award goes to the person who performs best in all our seven handicap runs over the season. Oh, and to win you pretty much have to do all 20 races of the winter season (club and av runs)
I had a 50 second gap to make up on the second last backmarker in Liam Magee. I started off like a rocket and had bridged that gap by the four kilometre mark. I would have caught Liam sooner but for the FIERCE head wind on the St Kilda Rd side of the course as you come back toward the city
I was feeling pretty good once on the tailwind side and thought I might catch Lenny just before the end. I had no idea where anyone else was in the race. Then at the six kilometre mark I caught sight of Lenny further down the path. Took me another kilometre to catch up with him and I figured I better stay true to my word
So the last three kilometres, I ran with Lenny all the way to the finish. We got joined by Liam Magee and we provided Lenny with cover acting as a couple of wind breaks so he wouldn't have to work so hard into it. He picked up a bit of speed toward the finish and we let Lenny cross the line in front of us. He hugged us afterwards and it was warm fuzzies all round
It turns out afterwards thatI could have placed in the event, perhaps even won it, with my having passed the eventual third placegetter at the three kilometre mark!!!
Off home to prepare dinner for the children before Kylie went to the football where St Kilda belted Collingwood
TOTAL DISTANCE : 10 km - 7 kilometres race pace, 3 kilometres at about 5.5 min/km pace
Got to Albert Park just before the first runner was off. I gave Len Hallett a yellow t-shirt befitting our club winter best athlete award winner and proclaimed that just like the Tour de France on the last day, no-one is allowed to pass Lenny. Lenny had won a handicap race this season and I am told he was leading so its a safe bet he is going to double up on his success from last year
The best athlete award goes to the person who performs best in all our seven handicap runs over the season. Oh, and to win you pretty much have to do all 20 races of the winter season (club and av runs)
I had a 50 second gap to make up on the second last backmarker in Liam Magee. I started off like a rocket and had bridged that gap by the four kilometre mark. I would have caught Liam sooner but for the FIERCE head wind on the St Kilda Rd side of the course as you come back toward the city
I was feeling pretty good once on the tailwind side and thought I might catch Lenny just before the end. I had no idea where anyone else was in the race. Then at the six kilometre mark I caught sight of Lenny further down the path. Took me another kilometre to catch up with him and I figured I better stay true to my word
So the last three kilometres, I ran with Lenny all the way to the finish. We got joined by Liam Magee and we provided Lenny with cover acting as a couple of wind breaks so he wouldn't have to work so hard into it. He picked up a bit of speed toward the finish and we let Lenny cross the line in front of us. He hugged us afterwards and it was warm fuzzies all round
It turns out afterwards thatI could have placed in the event, perhaps even won it, with my having passed the eventual third placegetter at the three kilometre mark!!!
Off home to prepare dinner for the children before Kylie went to the football where St Kilda belted Collingwood
TOTAL DISTANCE : 10 km - 7 kilometres race pace, 3 kilometres at about 5.5 min/km pace
Friday, 12 September 2008
Kylie's borthday today and my bad for having to be reminded
Was going to go for a run but was having a washing malfunction in that I had no clean running gear to wear! Good excuse for a rest day and after very big winter workload, I am winding down to my off season anyway
Went down to Olympic Park where two of our athletes were trying out in the Pacific School Games selection trials. Got there about five minutes before the scheduled start of Adrianna Crea's 100 metre heat to find that in fact they were running 15 minutes ahead! That never happens at an AV meet!! So I missed Adrianna's race
Did see Matthew Mifsud run well in his 100 metre heat. He seemed to start well and be about mid field before fading late and finishing last. Nevertheless a new PB of 11.69 for him
Kylie was out for dinner tonight with her old mates so I had to be home by 6:30 pm. I am about to shut down the computer and I got given an urgent job to send out. So all Kylie's plans went out the window and she had to catch a cab to her dinner. Bugger
Was going to go for a run but was having a washing malfunction in that I had no clean running gear to wear! Good excuse for a rest day and after very big winter workload, I am winding down to my off season anyway
Went down to Olympic Park where two of our athletes were trying out in the Pacific School Games selection trials. Got there about five minutes before the scheduled start of Adrianna Crea's 100 metre heat to find that in fact they were running 15 minutes ahead! That never happens at an AV meet!! So I missed Adrianna's race
Did see Matthew Mifsud run well in his 100 metre heat. He seemed to start well and be about mid field before fading late and finishing last. Nevertheless a new PB of 11.69 for him
Kylie was out for dinner tonight with her old mates so I had to be home by 6:30 pm. I am about to shut down the computer and I got given an urgent job to send out. So all Kylie's plans went out the window and she had to catch a cab to her dinner. Bugger
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Training was with Brian tonight. We had to do two 800's, then 3 x 600's, then 3 x 400's
Did the 800's in around 2:40 each. Just 200 metres slow jog recovery between the 2. We then had a short break
For the 600's, was doing those in around 1:55 with just jog across infield recovery for those. Then another very short break - only about three or four minutes
The 400's were reasonably solid. I know one of them was in 71. The last one was much quicker, especially when young John Persson jogged past me on the recovery to start in front. Passed him easily enough and while I didn't set my watch for the last one, it would have been mid to high 60's
We had the footy tipping presentation evening at the club tonight and Kylie won best dressed which was good, considering the same old bat wins it every other year
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6 kilometres including warm down
Did the 800's in around 2:40 each. Just 200 metres slow jog recovery between the 2. We then had a short break
For the 600's, was doing those in around 1:55 with just jog across infield recovery for those. Then another very short break - only about three or four minutes
The 400's were reasonably solid. I know one of them was in 71. The last one was much quicker, especially when young John Persson jogged past me on the recovery to start in front. Passed him easily enough and while I didn't set my watch for the last one, it would have been mid to high 60's
We had the footy tipping presentation evening at the club tonight and Kylie won best dressed which was good, considering the same old bat wins it every other year
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6 kilometres including warm down
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Ran home from work tonight. Had to push things along as Kylie had to get to a meeting.
Work has been horrific this week and have been kept back each night so far to get things out for people. Today was more of the same and yet again I left late
Tried a little short cut through a few side streets closer to home but it made no difference whatsoever with 47 minutes on the clock at the finish
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 10 kilometres
Work has been horrific this week and have been kept back each night so far to get things out for people. Today was more of the same and yet again I left late
Tried a little short cut through a few side streets closer to home but it made no difference whatsoever with 47 minutes on the clock at the finish
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 10 kilometres
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Training was with Brian up at Coburg today
I think I was still in party mode from Sunday morning, as I completely stuffed up the first set of what we were supposed to be doing. Brian split the group up into guys who had done the HM and those that hadn't
The others were doing 12 minutes of 200;s with jog across infield recovery, while we had to do easy, medium, easy, steady. I thought that meant doing that with 200's, but in fact it was supposed to be that with 400's. oops, my bad
the second set we did with the main group which for us was the 12 minutes of 200's to join the other group's second set
Was doing 38's or so for each one and hope that will be able to reel off reps a little faster than that as the season progresses!
TOTAL DISTANCE : about seven kilometres including warm up and down
I think I was still in party mode from Sunday morning, as I completely stuffed up the first set of what we were supposed to be doing. Brian split the group up into guys who had done the HM and those that hadn't
The others were doing 12 minutes of 200;s with jog across infield recovery, while we had to do easy, medium, easy, steady. I thought that meant doing that with 200's, but in fact it was supposed to be that with 400's. oops, my bad
the second set we did with the main group which for us was the 12 minutes of 200's to join the other group's second set
Was doing 38's or so for each one and hope that will be able to reel off reps a little faster than that as the season progresses!
TOTAL DISTANCE : about seven kilometres including warm up and down
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, 8 September 2008
Came to earth with a bit of a crash today, which was just as well given its a rest day
Felt a bit sore in various spots and did not feel like moving around too much. Even caught the tram from the station just the one stop to my work
Met the children at child care with Kylie, which was nice as would normally be running home on a Monday. Almost felt like an ordinary day - the sort that normal people who don't run enjoy
Felt a bit sore in various spots and did not feel like moving around too much. Even caught the tram from the station just the one stop to my work
Met the children at child care with Kylie, which was nice as would normally be running home on a Monday. Almost felt like an ordinary day - the sort that normal people who don't run enjoy
Sunday, 7 September - AV Half Marathon
Got the usual pre HM jitters overnight and woke up a few times - 2 am, 3 am - before springing up out of bed with my alarm going off at 6:25 am. Having meticulously packed my bag and laid out my things, I only needed the five minutes to get ready before Liam picked me up at 6:30 am
Got a drink of water, then slowly got dressed as I pondered what the day would bring. I was on my way out the door to wait outside my house when Liam pulled up. Great timing. Hopefully a good sign of things to come
We picked up Brian from his house and took City Link into town, going through the Burnley tunnel and out onto Burnley Street and we were very soon at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. All up the journey took less than half an hour, which was very quick! Was very pleased with that as it allowed plenty of time to mingle and chat before doing my warm up
Did not want to leave a thing to chance. Went for a ten minute warm up and thought the body felt a bit heavy, not altogether that fresh. Then went for a nervous wee before going through a proper stretching routine - something I usually skimp on before a race. Was in the middle of that when Allan Cook from Western A's came over. He runs pro's like me and is also an ex-AFL boundary umpire so we have umpiring in common. Finished stretching and it was only five minutes to the start
Removed the rest of my warm up gear then wandered over to the start line. Pushed my way as close to the front as I could. The worst part about these races is sometimes I get caught at the back (usually because I am gas bagging) and have to work too hard to get clear. Not this time. So the starter gives a little spiel about the race and I am fiddling with my watch when ... BANG, the gun goes off. No warning. Shit! Start running but also fiddle with my watch for ten seconds befire I can get the thing started
So far as I could tell, through the first couple of kilometres in 3:35, which was a little quicker than I had intended. Still it felt reasonably comfortable and I tried to hang onto that pace. Went through the 5 km mark in 18:05 or thereabouts. It was in this period that I started to feel that things were starting to get a little tougher and I hit a flat spot. I had been keeping in tough with a group through these early stages and they started to pull ahead of me and I lost contact
Perhaps I was thinking too far ahead, with the 10 kilometre marker a psychological marker for me. From about the 7 kilometre mark, all I could think about was getting to that 10 km point, which seemed in my mind far away. Not sure why this point was so hard but I started to feel good again at around the 11 km mark. Also, it was a little windy through this first half of the race and when I lost contact with that group I was running mostly on my own. And it was on this section that the winner of the women's section passed me like I was standing still, which did not help my mood at that point. Even less the team mate of hers that was so obviously pacing her
Anyhoo, at the 10 km stage I was on 36:30 or just under. Pretty close to that anyway. From here on in, I started to pick up individual runners and started to drop those that had been around me intermittently including my track nemesis Dave Ulbrick from Melbourne Uni. Up to the Bridge Road turnaround for the second last time (13.5 kilometre mark) and I knew that crucial 15 km mark was coming up. In other races, I have hit the wall at this point, which has prompted a big increase in mileage these last two winter seasons
I tried to focus hard on the road in front of me and to put everything else out of my mind. And it seemed to work as the going seemed to get easier. Not sure what i went through the 15 km marker in, but I knew from about this point that I was on track for a personal best it was just a matter of by how much. I did have an idea there might even be a 76 in front of it.
Down to the Monash Freeway end for the last time and I saw one of our club members Margaret Cassidy ride by on her bike. She yelled out to me and I yelled out to her, "I'm going to do a PB here!" I must have been feeling good. I tend to do that - stupid banter - when I am feeling good in a race. Adrenalin fueled stupidity. Just one complete three kilometre stretch to the last turnaround and then home!
Tried to push the pace here and as this last up and back bit progressed I noticed that I was starting to pick up the runners I had let go in that group from earlier in the race. By this time, however they were all strung out. Went through the 18 kilometre mark and on the river path I saw AFL goalie Michael Hammond who had trained with Coburg a few years ago in order to get fit enough to make the fitness requirements the AFL demands. Hammo is now training for his first marathon! He was out on his long slow distance run for the week
Up to the last turnaround and I really tried to push even harder for that last 1600 metres home. Did take in my 20 km split as being 73:13. As I got closer to the finish, I could see on my watch that I was a chance to break 77 minutes, of course forgetting in my fatigue that I had to add ten or so seconds to the time. So as I crossed the line, I had in fact broken 77 minutes on the watch, but in the end officially credited with a time of 77:05. That was good enough for 46th place (or 52nd overall if you include invites, but I don't). My best ever placing in an AV event and a massive personal best by 42 seconds
So mission accomplished and those many long runs over the course of the winter, including three two hours runs in the last two months, made all the difference. A fitting reward for a winter of hard work. Our top team finished third - our second third placing of the year, so proud of the boys for that and even happier for our second men's team who also placed third and their second third placing for the year. And the women's team had their best result for the year with ninth place. Remarkable when you consider they had the ninth placed female and one of the last placed females in that team
Afterwards I enjoyed a hot shower in the skanky clubrooms - it's a shared facility with football and cricket. And while we waited for the pub to open that we had booked lunch at, we had a beer at the Royal Oak and that first taste was heaven! Then we went over to the Granf Hotel for a meal. We were in the beer garden, which was great as it had turned into a gorgeous September day. We were very fortunate
Enjoyed a very nice lunch on my brother-in-law who not only paid for my lunch but drinks as well and then he drove me and the children home. Bought some beers on the way, tucked the children into bed, and we settled in to watch the footy. Kylie went to the game and not a great result for her or my brother in law
Threw a couple of things together for the children's dinner and once they had wolfed that down, got them down to bed nice and early as Kylie and I settled in to watch Dr Who - me with a couple of glasses of red wine. The perfect end to what was a perfect day
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 23 kilometres including warm up
Got a drink of water, then slowly got dressed as I pondered what the day would bring. I was on my way out the door to wait outside my house when Liam pulled up. Great timing. Hopefully a good sign of things to come
We picked up Brian from his house and took City Link into town, going through the Burnley tunnel and out onto Burnley Street and we were very soon at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. All up the journey took less than half an hour, which was very quick! Was very pleased with that as it allowed plenty of time to mingle and chat before doing my warm up
Did not want to leave a thing to chance. Went for a ten minute warm up and thought the body felt a bit heavy, not altogether that fresh. Then went for a nervous wee before going through a proper stretching routine - something I usually skimp on before a race. Was in the middle of that when Allan Cook from Western A's came over. He runs pro's like me and is also an ex-AFL boundary umpire so we have umpiring in common. Finished stretching and it was only five minutes to the start
Removed the rest of my warm up gear then wandered over to the start line. Pushed my way as close to the front as I could. The worst part about these races is sometimes I get caught at the back (usually because I am gas bagging) and have to work too hard to get clear. Not this time. So the starter gives a little spiel about the race and I am fiddling with my watch when ... BANG, the gun goes off. No warning. Shit! Start running but also fiddle with my watch for ten seconds befire I can get the thing started
So far as I could tell, through the first couple of kilometres in 3:35, which was a little quicker than I had intended. Still it felt reasonably comfortable and I tried to hang onto that pace. Went through the 5 km mark in 18:05 or thereabouts. It was in this period that I started to feel that things were starting to get a little tougher and I hit a flat spot. I had been keeping in tough with a group through these early stages and they started to pull ahead of me and I lost contact
Perhaps I was thinking too far ahead, with the 10 kilometre marker a psychological marker for me. From about the 7 kilometre mark, all I could think about was getting to that 10 km point, which seemed in my mind far away. Not sure why this point was so hard but I started to feel good again at around the 11 km mark. Also, it was a little windy through this first half of the race and when I lost contact with that group I was running mostly on my own. And it was on this section that the winner of the women's section passed me like I was standing still, which did not help my mood at that point. Even less the team mate of hers that was so obviously pacing her
Anyhoo, at the 10 km stage I was on 36:30 or just under. Pretty close to that anyway. From here on in, I started to pick up individual runners and started to drop those that had been around me intermittently including my track nemesis Dave Ulbrick from Melbourne Uni. Up to the Bridge Road turnaround for the second last time (13.5 kilometre mark) and I knew that crucial 15 km mark was coming up. In other races, I have hit the wall at this point, which has prompted a big increase in mileage these last two winter seasons
I tried to focus hard on the road in front of me and to put everything else out of my mind. And it seemed to work as the going seemed to get easier. Not sure what i went through the 15 km marker in, but I knew from about this point that I was on track for a personal best it was just a matter of by how much. I did have an idea there might even be a 76 in front of it.
Down to the Monash Freeway end for the last time and I saw one of our club members Margaret Cassidy ride by on her bike. She yelled out to me and I yelled out to her, "I'm going to do a PB here!" I must have been feeling good. I tend to do that - stupid banter - when I am feeling good in a race. Adrenalin fueled stupidity. Just one complete three kilometre stretch to the last turnaround and then home!
Tried to push the pace here and as this last up and back bit progressed I noticed that I was starting to pick up the runners I had let go in that group from earlier in the race. By this time, however they were all strung out. Went through the 18 kilometre mark and on the river path I saw AFL goalie Michael Hammond who had trained with Coburg a few years ago in order to get fit enough to make the fitness requirements the AFL demands. Hammo is now training for his first marathon! He was out on his long slow distance run for the week
Up to the last turnaround and I really tried to push even harder for that last 1600 metres home. Did take in my 20 km split as being 73:13. As I got closer to the finish, I could see on my watch that I was a chance to break 77 minutes, of course forgetting in my fatigue that I had to add ten or so seconds to the time. So as I crossed the line, I had in fact broken 77 minutes on the watch, but in the end officially credited with a time of 77:05. That was good enough for 46th place (or 52nd overall if you include invites, but I don't). My best ever placing in an AV event and a massive personal best by 42 seconds
So mission accomplished and those many long runs over the course of the winter, including three two hours runs in the last two months, made all the difference. A fitting reward for a winter of hard work. Our top team finished third - our second third placing of the year, so proud of the boys for that and even happier for our second men's team who also placed third and their second third placing for the year. And the women's team had their best result for the year with ninth place. Remarkable when you consider they had the ninth placed female and one of the last placed females in that team
Afterwards I enjoyed a hot shower in the skanky clubrooms - it's a shared facility with football and cricket. And while we waited for the pub to open that we had booked lunch at, we had a beer at the Royal Oak and that first taste was heaven! Then we went over to the Granf Hotel for a meal. We were in the beer garden, which was great as it had turned into a gorgeous September day. We were very fortunate
Enjoyed a very nice lunch on my brother-in-law who not only paid for my lunch but drinks as well and then he drove me and the children home. Bought some beers on the way, tucked the children into bed, and we settled in to watch the footy. Kylie went to the game and not a great result for her or my brother in law
Threw a couple of things together for the children's dinner and once they had wolfed that down, got them down to bed nice and early as Kylie and I settled in to watch Dr Who - me with a couple of glasses of red wine. The perfect end to what was a perfect day
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 23 kilometres including warm up
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Rest day today ahead of the big race tomorrow morning
We had to go to a children's party at one of those Play Centre places, this time in Hawthorn. In fact, next door to my old kindergarten and across the road from the house where I spent that part of my childhood
I don't usually socialise well at these things - don't find that I have that much in common with the other parents. So I was quite happy to keep the baby entertained in the toddler's play area.
The children were quite ratty after a long play so we took them home after 2:00 pm for a sleep.
Cooked up my now traditional spaghetti bolognaise for pre-race dinner. I know the pasta theory was debunked long ago but it seems to work for me. Packed my bag and a couple of glasses of red wine later, I was ready for the big race
Even went to bed early, well earlier than usual anyway. Have a 6:30 am start with Liam picking me up, then super coach Brian in Pascoe Vale
TOTAL DISTANCE : short sprint to the bookcase to stop baby pulling off all the books
We had to go to a children's party at one of those Play Centre places, this time in Hawthorn. In fact, next door to my old kindergarten and across the road from the house where I spent that part of my childhood
I don't usually socialise well at these things - don't find that I have that much in common with the other parents. So I was quite happy to keep the baby entertained in the toddler's play area.
The children were quite ratty after a long play so we took them home after 2:00 pm for a sleep.
Cooked up my now traditional spaghetti bolognaise for pre-race dinner. I know the pasta theory was debunked long ago but it seems to work for me. Packed my bag and a couple of glasses of red wine later, I was ready for the big race
Even went to bed early, well earlier than usual anyway. Have a 6:30 am start with Liam picking me up, then super coach Brian in Pascoe Vale
TOTAL DISTANCE : short sprint to the bookcase to stop baby pulling off all the books
Friday, 5 September 2008
A very easy run toward work was the order of the day. Just a little thirty minute run today
Wanted to be close to a train station at the end of my run, so popped down to the Merri Creek bike path but hopped off at Bell Street where I crossed the road and ran up to Coburg Station. At that stage fifteen minutes had already elapsed
Managed to run from Coburg, past Moreland station and just past Anstey station before my time was up. My last run before Sunday's half marathon
Bought myself a bottle of wine on the way home, but wanted to make sure I had enough left over to have my traditional two glasses on the pre-HM night
TOTAL DISTANCE : about six kilometres
Wanted to be close to a train station at the end of my run, so popped down to the Merri Creek bike path but hopped off at Bell Street where I crossed the road and ran up to Coburg Station. At that stage fifteen minutes had already elapsed
Managed to run from Coburg, past Moreland station and just past Anstey station before my time was up. My last run before Sunday's half marathon
Bought myself a bottle of wine on the way home, but wanted to make sure I had enough left over to have my traditional two glasses on the pre-HM night
TOTAL DISTANCE : about six kilometres
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Last training session before Sunday's Half Marathon. Training with Brian tonight with Kylie and the children there as I was not anticipating it would a long night. I was wrong
Tonight's session was a three setter starting with a 2 km set, 600 m slow lap and short break. Then a 1 km set, 200 m slow lap and short break, then another 1 km set. These all had to be at Half Marathon pace
Did the 2 km set in 7:17 (3:39 and 3:38). The first 1 km set was at 3:32, the second set at 3:30
Had a few beers in the clubrooms and some of the children's leftover cold fish n chips before heading home to put grumpy children to bed
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6 kilometres including warm up and down
Tonight's session was a three setter starting with a 2 km set, 600 m slow lap and short break. Then a 1 km set, 200 m slow lap and short break, then another 1 km set. These all had to be at Half Marathon pace
Did the 2 km set in 7:17 (3:39 and 3:38). The first 1 km set was at 3:32, the second set at 3:30
Had a few beers in the clubrooms and some of the children's leftover cold fish n chips before heading home to put grumpy children to bed
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6 kilometres including warm up and down
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Run home from work tonight, or at least part of the way
The brief was to do a very easy, very slow thirty minute run. I made a really conscious effort to slow the pace down and as I ran through Princes Park I guaged my pace from the kilometre markers as at 4:45 pace
Given all my long runs should have been at this pace, I can see now that alot of my slow runs this winter should have been a lot easier than what they were, that I have been running at far too quick a pace
Anyhoo, got to St Georges road in a new personal worst time of 31:30 which is considerably slower than any time I have ever done to that point and that suited me just fine
Had some dinner, put the children to bed and then had to head over to the track for a meeting to discuss Moreland Council's plans for the track and the implications for our club into the future
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6.5 kilometres
The brief was to do a very easy, very slow thirty minute run. I made a really conscious effort to slow the pace down and as I ran through Princes Park I guaged my pace from the kilometre markers as at 4:45 pace
Given all my long runs should have been at this pace, I can see now that alot of my slow runs this winter should have been a lot easier than what they were, that I have been running at far too quick a pace
Anyhoo, got to St Georges road in a new personal worst time of 31:30 which is considerably slower than any time I have ever done to that point and that suited me just fine
Had some dinner, put the children to bed and then had to head over to the track for a meeting to discuss Moreland Council's plans for the track and the implications for our club into the future
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6.5 kilometres
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Training was with Brian up at the track tonight and again Brian gave us an interesting session
There were two sets. The first set was a three kilometre continuous run with each kilometre to increase in intensity. However the first km had to be very easy, the second one slightly quicker and the third km quicker again but at half marathon pace
My first kilometre was easy enough at 4:10 pace, but the second one was way to quick at 3:40 and the last kilometre not too bad at 3:30. John Braszell was running with me through the first km, but he finished the set as we were supposed to
After a slow lap recovery and a very short break, we finished with a two kilometre set. Brazza paced me through 3:45 for the first kilometre, before I finished off with 3:15 for the second kilometre. Again way too fast, given it was supposed to be only a slight quickening of pace
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6.5 kilometres including warm up and down
There were two sets. The first set was a three kilometre continuous run with each kilometre to increase in intensity. However the first km had to be very easy, the second one slightly quicker and the third km quicker again but at half marathon pace
My first kilometre was easy enough at 4:10 pace, but the second one was way to quick at 3:40 and the last kilometre not too bad at 3:30. John Braszell was running with me through the first km, but he finished the set as we were supposed to
After a slow lap recovery and a very short break, we finished with a two kilometre set. Brazza paced me through 3:45 for the first kilometre, before I finished off with 3:15 for the second kilometre. Again way too fast, given it was supposed to be only a slight quickening of pace
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 6.5 kilometres including warm up and down
Monday, 1 September 2008
Run home from work today
Tried to go for yet another of my fruitless attempts at a tempo run. Did 13 minutes easy and was hoping to go twenty minutes steady.
Had to push a few red lights, but finally at Glenlyon Road I could not across and the clock stopped at 16 minutes. I was on the new (old) course of up Lygon Street from Park Street
Got home with 47 minutes on the watch so 13 easy, 16 steady, 18 easy in the end
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 9.5 kilometres
Tried to go for yet another of my fruitless attempts at a tempo run. Did 13 minutes easy and was hoping to go twenty minutes steady.
Had to push a few red lights, but finally at Glenlyon Road I could not across and the clock stopped at 16 minutes. I was on the new (old) course of up Lygon Street from Park Street
Got home with 47 minutes on the watch so 13 easy, 16 steady, 18 easy in the end
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 9.5 kilometres
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Rest Day Today
Hamish had a birthday party to go to at lunchtime, so in the morning I took him over to the old house and we did some cleaning up together. When it was time for the party, Kylie dropped me at our new house and I had some lunch
Once the party was over, Kylie dropped me at the old house and I finished up with the tidying as best I could. Then I was back home and feverishly trying to make sure the children were fed, washed and ready for bed before Dr Who
Got the last child into bed, just as the opening title sequence began. Kylie was over at my mothers watching Dr Who having just dropped her off. A pretty good episode
TOTAL DISTANCE : about ten metres sprinting from the baby's room to the couch before I missed any Dr Who
Hamish had a birthday party to go to at lunchtime, so in the morning I took him over to the old house and we did some cleaning up together. When it was time for the party, Kylie dropped me at our new house and I had some lunch
Once the party was over, Kylie dropped me at the old house and I finished up with the tidying as best I could. Then I was back home and feverishly trying to make sure the children were fed, washed and ready for bed before Dr Who
Got the last child into bed, just as the opening title sequence began. Kylie was over at my mothers watching Dr Who having just dropped her off. A pretty good episode
TOTAL DISTANCE : about ten metres sprinting from the baby's room to the couch before I missed any Dr Who
Saturday, 30 August 2008
My last very long slow boring run of the season. hooray!
Saw Kylie and the children off as they left to go shopping and watched a little cricket - Austalia v Bangladesh ODI - and played on the computer a bit before working up the courage to go for my run
From home, I ran down to the bike path and went for half an hour up towards Campbellfield. Quite a bit of that was running into a headwind, Then turned around and headed back towards the city for an hour, which took me from Fawkner down to Clifton Hill (or thereabouts)
Then there was just half an hour left of my last slow run of the season! In my enthusiasm I made the half hour trip back with a minute left so had to do a little bit extra at the finish
Had to do some work on getting our old rental ready for inspection so spent the rest of the day mowing, cleaning, shifting and throwing stuff into a skip. I didn't feel too bad after my run but as always it really hit me later that night. Rest day tomorrow
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 25 kilometres
Saw Kylie and the children off as they left to go shopping and watched a little cricket - Austalia v Bangladesh ODI - and played on the computer a bit before working up the courage to go for my run
From home, I ran down to the bike path and went for half an hour up towards Campbellfield. Quite a bit of that was running into a headwind, Then turned around and headed back towards the city for an hour, which took me from Fawkner down to Clifton Hill (or thereabouts)
Then there was just half an hour left of my last slow run of the season! In my enthusiasm I made the half hour trip back with a minute left so had to do a little bit extra at the finish
Had to do some work on getting our old rental ready for inspection so spent the rest of the day mowing, cleaning, shifting and throwing stuff into a skip. I didn't feel too bad after my run but as always it really hit me later that night. Rest day tomorrow
TOTAL DISTANCE : about 25 kilometres
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