Had a good week last week. Logged a few km's, and capped the week off with a good attempt at W2G.
Tuesday I managed to make it to the BMMC run in the morning and felt good. Overall time was a little slower than usual, so I guess we've managed to find out who is holding the pace back...Sleep Train!
Backed it up on Wednesday with an enjoyable long run from Lawson to Glenbrook. Discovered some previously undiscovered (by me) trails at the back of Lawson. Linked up a few trails (combined with a quick run over a padlocked gate, past a few goats and around a few sheds) as we wound our way down to Woodford. Made the decision at this stage (after 1.5 hrs) that I was feeling ok and would give The Oaks a go. Mentally, a hard track to run with the similar bends and hills and the failed expectations of reaching the heli-pad on atleast 4 separate occasions. Got in a rest and plowed on for what I had anticipated would be an easy downhill run. The legs had other ideas. Made it to the gate, over 4hrs later, chalking up about 41km.
Next run was Sat morning with Sleep Train, getting a slow ~16km.
Sunday was W2G. Knowing what to expect I expected nothing. I made a point of not looking at the time until the Heli-pad as I wanted to be unexpectedly suprised at my time. Needless to say, I didn't have to look at my time, and was pleased at getting there in close to 56min. Ran the second half of the first 12km with Terry, as he decided I would be a good pacer for the time he wanted to run. Gold Coast Marathon this weekend. He and his Garmin managed to keep me updated with my pace along the way, informing me of my expected time if I kept this pace up. I think when he joined me I was running 4:36/km, which would get me home under 2hrs which was my goal.
Shortly after the heli-pad the speed picked up and I was running 4min/km feeling very good. Terry dropped back to keep his pace. I knew I'd see him again, so it wasn't farewell.
Legs got tired and I felt like I had hit the wall. Nonetheless with about 3-4km to go Terry came up past me and urged me on, picking my pace up 500m at a time. I would never have thought I could have pushed through the pain and heavy legs had I not been pushed. The advice to shorten my stride and concentrate on increasing leg speed really helped. The finish line approached and a couple of runners were passed.
Got to the end in 1:52:52. Well under my goal of 2hrs, and just shy of my ultimate goal of 1:50 (I have back-up goals if my real goals are not met, it's a little trick I like to play on myself). A respectable effort for a first attempt, and the first real race where I have focussed on technique throughout the run. Thanks to Terry. I've heard he may make the switch over to BMMC from SMC very soon.
Just over 90km for the week.
Nothing on the bike or in the pool. Not sure when I will find the time to get in the km's this week.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Managed to get out for a run last Sunday for an easy enjoyable hour and a half down Singles Ridge and up to Blaxland East, taking the new shoes for a spin. Felt good despite having a break for a bit over a week. Knee turned up sore, due to inadequate stretching and cool down.
Missed the tuesday morning BMMC run due to misunderstanding with the alarm on my phone. It seems it was actually going off and I wasn't simply dreaming it. Made it up that evening with a night time run into the National Park from Glenbrook. A steady 1 hour run at a good pace. For some reason I run faster in the dark, especially on the way back.
Got up for a run on Thursday with BMMC, only Animal showed up. Weather warmer than I expected, which meant too many layers. Was slow going up Old Bathurst due to... well this probably isn't the place for that discussion. Nonetheless made it back in time to take Animal's new bathroom for a test drive. Handles well under pressure.
The bike and pool has been neglected. Waiting for the motivation to return.
Woodford to Glenbrook on the cards next Sunday, looking forward to seeing what I can do over 25km.
Missed the tuesday morning BMMC run due to misunderstanding with the alarm on my phone. It seems it was actually going off and I wasn't simply dreaming it. Made it up that evening with a night time run into the National Park from Glenbrook. A steady 1 hour run at a good pace. For some reason I run faster in the dark, especially on the way back.
Got up for a run on Thursday with BMMC, only Animal showed up. Weather warmer than I expected, which meant too many layers. Was slow going up Old Bathurst due to... well this probably isn't the place for that discussion. Nonetheless made it back in time to take Animal's new bathroom for a test drive. Handles well under pressure.
The bike and pool has been neglected. Waiting for the motivation to return.
Woodford to Glenbrook on the cards next Sunday, looking forward to seeing what I can do over 25km.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Race Report
Following is my race report from the birth of baby number 2, Zoe Elise. Photos can be found at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97819&id=571336764&l=256ced0f03.
Things got under way at about 1pm on Thursday when I arrived at Nepean Hospital where Rach was waiting to get settled into a delivery suite. I had received a phone call at work earlier to inform me that Rachel was probably going to be induced that afternoon after an ultrasound had showed little growth of the baby and her heart rate dropped too low a few times.
Things got moving around 4pm when the "Syntocin" (drug used to induce contractions in the uterus) was administered and the waters were broken. Steadily increasing contractions (in number and force) kept Rachel occupied for the next 5 or so hours until the business end of the evening got under way. Only 4 or 5 "big pushes" accompanied by some vocal encouragement from Rach is all it took to get little Zoe out and onto Mum's chest where she cried as she adjusted to breathing (of course "only" and "all it took" may be understatements).
It was another hour until the plumbing had been fixed and Rach was ready to give Zoe some milk. She'd been weighed and measured, coming in at 2.67kg and 47.5cm. A shower and change of clothes and Rachel was feeling much better. We moved up to the Postnatal ward where Rach and Zoe had an empty room for the night. I was given a leave pass to allow me to come home at 2am and catch 5 hours good sleep in my own bed. Early start again and I was back down to the hospital to make sure Rach and Zoe made it through the night. Everyone was doing well, and the morning started with a hearing test for Zoe and some Dr's visits for both to check over all the relevant signs. Once given the all clear we headed home at 6pm Friday evening, 36 hours after all the fun began. A pb for Rach there.
Now at home we have settled in, where we are working on getting some routine into our lives. Thanks to BMMC for the flowers, that literally just arrived. At any rate I might be allowed out to some morning runs as early as Tuesday.
Very little time until W2G now, and very little preparation. After Daddy received a new pair of Kayano's for all his hard work through the labour, a few km's this week are needed to get me up to speed.
Things got under way at about 1pm on Thursday when I arrived at Nepean Hospital where Rach was waiting to get settled into a delivery suite. I had received a phone call at work earlier to inform me that Rachel was probably going to be induced that afternoon after an ultrasound had showed little growth of the baby and her heart rate dropped too low a few times.
Things got moving around 4pm when the "Syntocin" (drug used to induce contractions in the uterus) was administered and the waters were broken. Steadily increasing contractions (in number and force) kept Rachel occupied for the next 5 or so hours until the business end of the evening got under way. Only 4 or 5 "big pushes" accompanied by some vocal encouragement from Rach is all it took to get little Zoe out and onto Mum's chest where she cried as she adjusted to breathing (of course "only" and "all it took" may be understatements).
It was another hour until the plumbing had been fixed and Rach was ready to give Zoe some milk. She'd been weighed and measured, coming in at 2.67kg and 47.5cm. A shower and change of clothes and Rachel was feeling much better. We moved up to the Postnatal ward where Rach and Zoe had an empty room for the night. I was given a leave pass to allow me to come home at 2am and catch 5 hours good sleep in my own bed. Early start again and I was back down to the hospital to make sure Rach and Zoe made it through the night. Everyone was doing well, and the morning started with a hearing test for Zoe and some Dr's visits for both to check over all the relevant signs. Once given the all clear we headed home at 6pm Friday evening, 36 hours after all the fun began. A pb for Rach there.
Now at home we have settled in, where we are working on getting some routine into our lives. Thanks to BMMC for the flowers, that literally just arrived. At any rate I might be allowed out to some morning runs as early as Tuesday.
Very little time until W2G now, and very little preparation. After Daddy received a new pair of Kayano's for all his hard work through the labour, a few km's this week are needed to get me up to speed.
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