10 days to go

Nerves are building and so is the sponsorship fund - at $1160 now so very happy and room for a couple of other sponsors! Headed out with Adam for an easy 10kms around Glebe and met Jim and Jo at the Aquarium and so showed them a new route. Thoroughly enjoyed the pace around 5.15 and when we got back to the fish markets, Adam and I headed off to get 3kms in around to take the total up to 10kms. Foot and calf feeling a  bit better but couldn't get a physio appointment so will try again tomorrow. Today's stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117847059. 35kms for the week so far and will plan for an easy 15kms on Saturday morning and that just sounds great.

Longish One

Corp Cup today and Adam back from the bottom episode however things still not back to normal and he did look a lot thinner. Rain started just as we headed out which made for quite a pleasant run and we both decided to take it easy today - I was planning to run 6 kms afterwards to get 12kms under the belt. Corp cup run was done in 26.48 and stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117648810 tand last two kms felt really strong although started to feel a bit of pain in left foot as we were racing up the finish line, so eased it back. Adam headed back to the office and I did just shy of 7kms back via the harbour foreshore and those stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117648802. So all up about 14kms today inclduing the run to the start. Will aim for 10kms tomorrow and have also tried to get a physio appointment to sort out the calfand will follow that up with 15kms on Saturday morning if all is well.

Start of the taper

A 1.30 meeting meant I could just get in half the Hurts session so did it a bit harder and averaged sub 4.30 for the session. Small-ish crowd today, only Mike and James among the regulars with no Adam due a dodgy bottom. Couple of the guys had done the Sydney marathon and didn't need to hear the horror stories of their efforts - one guy had to walk every 300m for the last 12kms and still did a 3.49! Didn't help with the nerves that are starting to build! Anyway aiming for a 45-50km taper this week followed by 30kms next week and today's run stats are at
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117158604

Last Long Run

Very happy to have last long run under the belt before my 2 week taper begins. Met up with Kermit in Centennial Park and managed 25.5 kms in 2.05hrs which is almost bang on pace although we did push the pace a little bit more on the last 5kms which felt good - won't be doing that on race day. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116548692 and very happy with the sponsorship raised so far - pretty much half way to my target. Left foot and right calf feeling a bit tight but hopefully nothing some consistent stretching won't sort out. Race day really became a reality this week when the bib turned up in the post and 2 weeks tomorrow it will all be over hopefully!

Run home

A thoroughly frustrating day at work which meant I didn't get out for the long Hurts run, which made the day even worse! I took a sudden thought that I might be able to run home so I did. Felt a lot better than running the same route on Sunday even with an extra 10kgs in the backpack. Felt a lot quicker than the stats show which is a little disappointing - stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116000110 - and all up 9.5kms in 45minutes.

Easy recovery run

With Adam back from the US of A and the legs feeling quite painful and heavy, headed out wth him, Simo and Mike for a very gentle 10kms around to Mrs Macs and back. Stunning warm day and quite glad on a gentle breeze near the water. Run stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115534506 , having a rest day tomorrow and long Hurts run on Wednesday.

Sydney Half and longest run ever

Longest run ever today with 33kms all up and a 1.35hr half marathon at an average of 4.30kms. Had marathon training been on track, I would have gone for a pb but 4 weeks out I needed to get a long one in.
Run stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115145647, http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115145645, http://connect.garmin.com/activity/115145644
Hoping to be able to run tomorrow although things are pretty tight tonight- despite the dip in Clovelly at the end of the run.

Belated Post

Been a bit of a hectic week travelling to Adelaide and Perth so apologies to the legion of fans for the lack of posts. Only one run done while I was away due to rain in Perth and it was a 12km effort along the beaches near Glenelg in Adelaide. An absolutely stunning run on a beautiful evening as the sun set over the bay. Very happy with new runners and foot so looking forward to the half tomorrow although not quite looking forward to having to get 10-12kms in after it. Only 4 weeks tomorrow until the marathon, so really got to maximise the big runs this weekend and next hopefully before the taper begins. Run stats for the Adelaide run are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114210064.

At long last

Finally, I can get out for a run without a dodgy foot or cold although a 12.30 meeting stopped me getting to the Hurts session. That disappointment was offset by my new Glycerin's arriving this morning and although they are a little more red than I expected, they will hopefully see me through the next four weeks injury and illness free!
Did the reverse of the Hurts monday session to end up at the Blackmores expo to pick up the running kit for Sunday. So run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113759787.
Off to Adelaide in the morning and then onto Perth on Thursday and home Friday night, so won't be getting big kms in this week and aiming to do the half and run home to get a 30-35km session on Sunday.

Long run and all feeling good

Got out for the Hurts long run today with Mike, James, Jonathon, Anton and Indrajit and well happy that I had no issues with foot or knee on a hilly course out through the east to centennial park. Average pace for the 15km route was 4.47m/km and certainly felt some of that towards the end - probably a result of the 4.30 pace up Ocean Street - and completed in 1.11hrs. Hoping to get out for a 10-12km flat session tomorrow as the sprints won't be a good idea and need to get the distances in although have a touch of a man cold - sneezing,headache and runny nose - so that could put paid to that plan and also an attempt at 30-35kms on Saturday. Today's run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112521905

Foot Feeling Good - Happy Boy

A good Monday run today although not as far as I wanted due to a 2pm meeting off site but very happy with how the foot is holding up after two longer runs. Got it re-strapped this morning and headed out to meet the Hurts squad where I found out that Tom won the striders 10km at North Head on Saturday with a pb which is a great effort. Decent size crowd today although a few injury absences noticeable - probably due to the volume of training people are doing at the moment. So all up 13kms today, average pace of 4.37 and good to see heart rate isn't hitting 200 at the start - definitely a dodgy monitor. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112001910 and looking forward to a longer one on Wednesday.

Updates for a couple of days

Well been a bit quiet over the last days mainly due to work and some home diy stuff so a bit behind on my posts.
Been a bit lonely for running this week as well with Adam in the US for a couple of weeks so headed out on Wednesday for the corp cup having had some more physio on Tuesday. Legs felt really strong and foot felt good for the first few kms but after the steps and hills kicked in on the way back the foot went again. Finished up with a 24.30 and looking at the run stats http://connect.garmin.com/activity/111388213 the pace was pretty consistent - just need to improve on those steps and I could be close to breaking the 24 minute mark. Very happy with the knee and keeping up the itb stretches.
More physio yesterday and with some ultrasound, needling and massage and have it well strapped for the weekend. Was delighted when he said I could try my 20kms today as long as it was on the flat, so headed out for 5 odd laps of Centennial at 7am this morning. Managed to get 21.1kms in at an average of 4.44 which is quicker that the pace for the marathon but wanted to get a decent run in given the ack of kms over the last 3 weeks. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/111388208 and pleaseed that knee is pain free and just some minor pain in the foot. So more stretching and no hills for next week and we'll see how we go.