It was always going to be an amazing day. Being Toasty's birthday he was planning a big night Saturday with his wife and was not to keen to back up in the morning with a hard full core run. So he did what all good partners do...he choose to run with me as a pacer for my planned 4:40min/km pace 14km run.
It started out early for me. I got a reasonable nights sleep and was fresh, albeit hungry, in the morning. After two days of no running due to extreme weather and work conditions, I was GOING to run today no matter what. A can of V got me going and I rocked up early to BRRC.
Toasty and I headed out for a warm up and did about 2.5km of very easy running with maybe one or two pulses to update the heartrate.
We headed back to the start line with about 5mins to spare and caught up with Tesso and had a few good laughs with various fellow runners. I felt good and ready to rumble though a bit nervous - as I always am when trying to head for a specific pace.
We headed off in the starting pack and it was just a crazy but great feeling to be running with the really fast runners for the first 100m. In fact the first km was 4:15...mmm Toasty was not going to be much help today. GRRRRRRRR
It didn't get any better. I felt amazing for the first 4km and I really wished it was a 5km race. I could have nailed a sub 20 today I honestly believe. I was feeling that good!
Ahh was not to be. It was 14km and I had another two laps of 2x5km to do. We kept a good pace of approx 4:23 for the next 5km. Then we blew out a couple of 4:27 amongst some 4:15km. It felt even paced, the slower km were at the water stations or when my ipod drove me crazy. The fast km were when I had a good song or the water was kicking in.
I glanced over at Toasty from time to time and he was just cruising (bastard) but it was good to have him there even though I was not listening to him and hating every muscle in his body. We had time to call out to a few people and try to pose for photos so it wasn't all hard work!
At the end we crossed the line in good shape with a 1:01:01 awesome! I crossed the line feeling amazing and knew straight away I was going to recover well (ie not spew). 14km wasn't too long that we had pushed the limit beyond my capabilities.
The average pace worked out to be 4:18min/km so Toasty totally failed in his role as 4:40min/km pacer but I think we both knew outright he was never going for that anyhow. I just hoped his hangover was stronger than his desire to push me hard and see me get a great result from the run. For some crazy reason I ended up with a gold medal - first in my age group. 4th Female overall. Happiest female on the day!!!!
I spent 20mins releasing my hip when I got home so I'm hoping I can walk properly tomorrow.
I'm sitting here after a great run, then a great morning with my family, then a great afternoon with my running friends and now a great glass of wine!
How can I say life is anything other than GREAT.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Time to do something completely different...
Last night I had a good laugh with myself going through the blog and looking back over the years. 2006 was a good year for running for me. I had time. That seems to be the key thing!!
I can't believe some of the training weeks I did. Not so much that I was doing more mileage but I was doing Spin classes and going to the gym at least 4 times a week. Man I wish I was back there!
I have a full time job and a busy household with a husband who is frequently away so my opportunities to run (or do anything else) are quite limited. That said I am determined to use the blog (this blog) for some good. I intend to go back through some training sessions and repeat ones that I like. From now on I need to detail more the training and how I felt through it and also what else impacted on it - sleep/diet/stress so I can learn from it. I am frustrated from some of the lack of detail that is in some of my older posts..so I will learn from that.
Today I ran 21km. Toasty ran 20...so I had to do more.
It wasn't easy but after getting out for a run yesterday and turning that into a walk I was keen to run long today. I ended up dropping my baby off at childcare and then heading out. The skys were full of clouds but it was sunny. So hot and humid was the tone of the run. At the 6km mark there was a tap and it was only when I stopped to get some water I realized how much I was sweating. Geez Louise Summer had arrived.
I was enjoying my run but I was working more than I should have been. I need to make a conscious effort nowadays to eat some red meat...Im hoping it is just that. I am getting good sleep and the stress at work seems to be no more or less than usual.
I got to the local park and the garmin had 10.37km. Wow was going to be a 20+km run. I rounded it out at the end to include an additional street go take me to 10.7 for the return journey - had to be able to add a km!!
The first half was average 4:50min/km pace. The second half was average bang on 5:00min/km pace. Yep the second half was ugly. It was hotter until the last few km when a cool breeze came through, but it was hillier (as in uphill) and my legs were stuffed. This running caper sux.
Though medically impossible I was starting to think I was pregnant. Had all the same symptoms and straight after the run my breakfast consisted of a bowl of chilli mussells...WOW hope they add some iron back into me. Don't want to be a crazy runner who does crazy things like that again!
I am looking forward to some long runs and some shorter shaper races to keep me on my toes. I just hope the legs can come to the party and start to feel less used....
I can't believe some of the training weeks I did. Not so much that I was doing more mileage but I was doing Spin classes and going to the gym at least 4 times a week. Man I wish I was back there!
I have a full time job and a busy household with a husband who is frequently away so my opportunities to run (or do anything else) are quite limited. That said I am determined to use the blog (this blog) for some good. I intend to go back through some training sessions and repeat ones that I like. From now on I need to detail more the training and how I felt through it and also what else impacted on it - sleep/diet/stress so I can learn from it. I am frustrated from some of the lack of detail that is in some of my older posts..so I will learn from that.
Today I ran 21km. Toasty ran 20...so I had to do more.
It wasn't easy but after getting out for a run yesterday and turning that into a walk I was keen to run long today. I ended up dropping my baby off at childcare and then heading out. The skys were full of clouds but it was sunny. So hot and humid was the tone of the run. At the 6km mark there was a tap and it was only when I stopped to get some water I realized how much I was sweating. Geez Louise Summer had arrived.
I was enjoying my run but I was working more than I should have been. I need to make a conscious effort nowadays to eat some red meat...Im hoping it is just that. I am getting good sleep and the stress at work seems to be no more or less than usual.
I got to the local park and the garmin had 10.37km. Wow was going to be a 20+km run. I rounded it out at the end to include an additional street go take me to 10.7 for the return journey - had to be able to add a km!!
The first half was average 4:50min/km pace. The second half was average bang on 5:00min/km pace. Yep the second half was ugly. It was hotter until the last few km when a cool breeze came through, but it was hillier (as in uphill) and my legs were stuffed. This running caper sux.
Though medically impossible I was starting to think I was pregnant. Had all the same symptoms and straight after the run my breakfast consisted of a bowl of chilli mussells...WOW hope they add some iron back into me. Don't want to be a crazy runner who does crazy things like that again!
I am looking forward to some long runs and some shorter shaper races to keep me on my toes. I just hope the legs can come to the party and start to feel less used....
Monday, October 03, 2011
Mondayitis
I had Mondayitis this morning. THEN I RAN. It disappeared.
Toasty and I went for a light jog in the cool morning - it was wonderful to have no pressure and just be coasting along the river and taking in the sights. Was a bit chilly but nothing unbearable. I was tired still - I am going to keep noting that to see how it affects my performance and training so excuse the repeatedness - though again I was glad to be on my feet running. I have to run when I can with Billy and Allan's shifts.
I had intended to run a 2km warm up...we got to 3.5k before I even looked at the Garmin!!!
Down to business Toasty was mean and made sure we stuck to the plan and did some tough love 1KM efforts. Not the sort of thing I felt like after Sunday's run and I think Toasty was as tired as I was.
The first effort was torture. I was following Toasty all the way (no big suprise) and after 500m was ready to fling myself in the river. Or in front of a car. Or bike. Or just lay down and cry. I would have taken any option by my feet were doing their thing and turning over. Before I knew it we stopped and I gasped for air...THAT WAS HORRID. The thought of doing that all over again (x3) was hurting my head. But I was in a partnership and having dragged Toasty out I wasn't going to give up now.
The next effort was cruisy. I was in the zone and completely suprised to realise I was a second faster than the first one. Wow. I thought for sure it was way slower with a bit of wind, being uphill slightly and well simply...not being the first one.
The next two just got better and better. Though I really did not want to do anymore. The last one was not even running..it was CHASING. I was desperately trying to close the gap between the two of us. I knew it was impossible but it was something to aim for and a fun game.
Timing was split like this:
3:53min/km
3:52min/km
3:53min/km
3:46min/km
The coffee, then hot shower afterwards were all the reward I needed. A truly awesome way to get rid of the Monday morning blues.
Toasty and I went for a light jog in the cool morning - it was wonderful to have no pressure and just be coasting along the river and taking in the sights. Was a bit chilly but nothing unbearable. I was tired still - I am going to keep noting that to see how it affects my performance and training so excuse the repeatedness - though again I was glad to be on my feet running. I have to run when I can with Billy and Allan's shifts.
I had intended to run a 2km warm up...we got to 3.5k before I even looked at the Garmin!!!
Down to business Toasty was mean and made sure we stuck to the plan and did some tough love 1KM efforts. Not the sort of thing I felt like after Sunday's run and I think Toasty was as tired as I was.
The first effort was torture. I was following Toasty all the way (no big suprise) and after 500m was ready to fling myself in the river. Or in front of a car. Or bike. Or just lay down and cry. I would have taken any option by my feet were doing their thing and turning over. Before I knew it we stopped and I gasped for air...THAT WAS HORRID. The thought of doing that all over again (x3) was hurting my head. But I was in a partnership and having dragged Toasty out I wasn't going to give up now.
The next effort was cruisy. I was in the zone and completely suprised to realise I was a second faster than the first one. Wow. I thought for sure it was way slower with a bit of wind, being uphill slightly and well simply...not being the first one.
The next two just got better and better. Though I really did not want to do anymore. The last one was not even running..it was CHASING. I was desperately trying to close the gap between the two of us. I knew it was impossible but it was something to aim for and a fun game.
Timing was split like this:
3:53min/km
3:52min/km
3:53min/km
3:46min/km
The coffee, then hot shower afterwards were all the reward I needed. A truly awesome way to get rid of the Monday morning blues.
BRRC - 5km Time Trial and Tesso's Birthday Run
After a few days running (ha ha no pun intended) with the bare minimum of sleep I was exhausted. Life is a juggling act and at the moment my balls are all up in the air and one of them is going to crash. Hopefully soon work, home, health, friends and sports will sort themselves out and get back into some manageable form of chaos.
I honestly had no expectations of the run on Sunday. In fact being Theresa Fabians birthday I had promised her I would come and run 10km and then head to breaky together. I knew I couldn't do it (10km race) the day before when I started drinking a few beers and the hubby wanted to whisk me away somewhere we we had been before and had a great night. Time to re-create the scene he thought..mmm sick kid, long day..not quite the best lead up. Anyhow it was a great night but very long (driving out bush and then home again just after midnight).
I was up at 4am (THANKS TELSTRA and bloody daylight savings) instead of 5am so I went back to sleep and then slept in. Thanks to a can of V I revived myself sufficiently to drive the car into West End and caught up with the crowd.
The 10km was a Handicap race so Tesso ended up being scheduled to start just 1min before the 5km race at 6:30am. Sweet. We warmed up together and I was glad then to not be running the 10km.
Long story short I ran well. Finished in 21mins exactly though Garmin had a bit longer distance on the watch (?) and said average pace was 4:09min/km. I know the first one was 3:55 and the second I slowed down into a more comfortable 4:14min/km. I haven't looked at what the others were but you can work it out I am sure. The headwind coming home on the out and back loop made it a tough day out there but it was good to work hard and finish.
I'm happy I started.
I'm happy I finished.
I'm happy I made it to breakfast.
Happy Birthday to my best friend Tesso xxxxxx
I honestly had no expectations of the run on Sunday. In fact being Theresa Fabians birthday I had promised her I would come and run 10km and then head to breaky together. I knew I couldn't do it (10km race) the day before when I started drinking a few beers and the hubby wanted to whisk me away somewhere we we had been before and had a great night. Time to re-create the scene he thought..mmm sick kid, long day..not quite the best lead up. Anyhow it was a great night but very long (driving out bush and then home again just after midnight).
I was up at 4am (THANKS TELSTRA and bloody daylight savings) instead of 5am so I went back to sleep and then slept in. Thanks to a can of V I revived myself sufficiently to drive the car into West End and caught up with the crowd.
The 10km was a Handicap race so Tesso ended up being scheduled to start just 1min before the 5km race at 6:30am. Sweet. We warmed up together and I was glad then to not be running the 10km.
Long story short I ran well. Finished in 21mins exactly though Garmin had a bit longer distance on the watch (?) and said average pace was 4:09min/km. I know the first one was 3:55 and the second I slowed down into a more comfortable 4:14min/km. I haven't looked at what the others were but you can work it out I am sure. The headwind coming home on the out and back loop made it a tough day out there but it was good to work hard and finish.
I'm happy I started.
I'm happy I finished.
I'm happy I made it to breakfast.
Happy Birthday to my best friend Tesso xxxxxx
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