Great Run Today

Work conspired against me on Thursday so no bare foot stories - sorry. After a weekend of eating a bit too much and a wee chunder while sea fishing on Saturday monring, I was so looking forward to a run at lunch today. So headed out for the Hurts session and a big group of about 20 with pretty good conditions although a wee bit windy. Adam turned up with the Dat man - first ever hurts session and his shirt was off before he started. Fair play to Dat as he managed to hang on with the group until Hickson Road and we were doing about a 4.40 pace until then. At the turnaround point at Shelly Street I hit the front and enjoyed the wind at my back - saw Adam and Dat coming down Barangaroo but I was aiming to head back to Circular Quay for a decent hit out. Managed to stay on the fornt at around 4.30 pace and kept going to the Opera House and then back to Pitt Street for 13kms all up. Legs felt strong, left foot and right calf held up ok so pretty happy. Aiming for Wednesday session as the race that stops a nation appears to stop Hurts as well tomorrow. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/125502181#.

Last Corp Cup for the year

Met up with Adam, Anthony and Maria for the run up to the corp cup today and conditions were pretty good for a run - overcast and cool. Legs felt a wee bit heavy after yesterday's session and was not realy looking forward to the run. Started out probably a bit too fast with a 3.53 first km and really felt it on the 5th km but possibly the fastest run of the series with a 24.40 and I do need to remember I am only 2 1/2 weeks post marathon. Aiming for the Hurts session tomorrow which is 8 x 800 (need to work off the two slices of chocolate cake after dinner) and might try the barefoot recommendation from Tom - read about it here tomorrow night. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124362575.

Tuesday Sprint Session

Out for the Hurts sprint session today which was 14 x 3mins with 1m rest in Farm Cove. Huge group out today and saw the return of Mr Higham, who appears to be doing secret training in the lead up to the JPM run in two weeks. Very happy that I managed to use my watch for the set and get it right so run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124157917 and although I only did 10 sets as the last corp cup is on tomorrow and want to save the legs a bit. Managed all 10 at 3.45km pace or faster with last one being a 3.36 and also made it through the far gates for the first time ever on this set. Now if only I can hold that pace tomorrow for 6kms and I'll be sweet.

Saturday Ride and Monday Run

Delayed blog entry for Saturday ride and by now you would think I could work out how to use the Garmin for cycling but apparently not. It's not that complicated really, you change the setting from running to cycling, press the start button when you head off on your ride and press the stop button when you finish. I managed to forget to turn it on again on Saturday until I was about 8-10 kms into the ride and then nothing uploads when I hook up to the Garmin site, so you'll just need to take my word for it that I did 30kms on Saturday morning.
I wasn't going to run today as I planned to do the Hurts speed sessions on Tuesday and Thursday sandwiching the last corp cup of the year. However the thought of an easy run around Glebe with Adam and Simmo was too tempting and I wanted to get out of the office. Roasting in Sydney today with the temp forecast for 32 but sitting around 29 when we headed out - still far to early to be acclimatised to those temps so was a very sweaty run. Average pace was around 5mins/km and Simmo had to drop out about 6kms in with a dodgy calf. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=2230469

Hurts Sprint Session

A stunning day in Sydney and beautiful running around farm cove - although no idea how we do this in the height of summer. First speed session in months and just trying to get some pace back before the JPMin 3 weeks. Decent crowd today for 8 times gate to gate with Laura, James, Mike, Brendan, Charlie among the faces. Didn't get the Garmin set up for intervals quick enough, so 8 entries for today. Managed to head out for a 3.27 for the first one and the second last, where I felt I had nothing left in the legs. Remainder of the set were between 3.15 and 3.23 with a pb of 3.16 for the last one and the stats are here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/122975648.

First Hurts run back

Got out with Adam today for the Hurts long run and was welcomed by a rapturous crowd at the meeting point. Decent pack today including Laura, James, Mike C, Mike Race and Dave Kane and we headed off for the Centennial Park route. Decided with Adam early on that we would do to the top of Ocean St and turn which would be about 10kms all up. Very glad to have made that call early as the pace was on from the get go and always amazes me how quickly the form drops off when you don't train with the group for a while. Felt great going out but had nothing after the turnaround and we both came back very slowly. Had forgotten to change the Garmin setting from cycling to running so no km splits today but run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=1386782. Anyway about 11.5kms all up today and some slight pain in left foot and groin discomfort but that could still just be post marathon fatigue. Work permitting I will try and get out for the speed session tomorrow.

Easy Saturday Cycle

Took the chance to give the bike a bit of a hit out yesterday morning with a nice easy ride down to La Perouse and back with Nick Schmidt. Nick copped his first flat at Maroubra, which is where I realised I hadn't turned on the garmin.So we got that changed and then got drenched on the way back - however a coffee afterwards made everything seem ok and it certainly beat running! So about 30 kms all up and glad to get back on the bike again. Stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/121875717#

Corp Cup Pain

This was the run I hadn't been looking forward to for about as long as the marathon training itself. Headed out with Adam and Derek just to the end of the start straight and then they left me for dead! Legs had nothing and was just quite happy that I could manage anything more than a cliff young shuffle. So possibly my slowest corp cup in about 4 years with a 28.42, So today's run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120924882 and I might be out next week but we'll see - possibly some riding at the weekend.

I've run a marathon.......race report

Seriously chuffed to bits with an official 3.25.59 - sub 3.26 by the slimest margin and I don't care a jot. The most important thing is that I have raised nearly $2000 for Touched By Olivia and with Westpac Matching Gifts that will be close to $3000. Actually really enjoyed the run and the conditions were nigh on perfect - a wee bit of rain and some wind on the coast but other than that it was great. Was seriously concerned when my right calf started to get a sharppain at the 7km mark, so stopped for about a minute and stretched it out but didn't appear to make any difference and over the next couple of kms the pain was getting sharper. Tried changing my technique and leaning forward a bit more and that help a bit so kept going and by the 15km mark it was bearable so tried to put it to the back of the mind and concentrate on the pace and scenery. Saw Terence as I was at roughly 22kms and he would have been about 30kms in - looked like he was travelling well an he managed a 2.37.05 which is just sensational. Was keeping pretty consitent pace between 4.45 and 4.50 per km and had been sticking to the hydration and nutrition plan. Started to feel the quads tightening up at the 35/36km mark and despite the slight inclines around the Botanic Gardens at the 37-39kms managed to keep the pace going. Loved seeing the 40 and 41km mark and as I came around the corner to the MCG, saw Anna and the kids so stopped to try and take them with me for the last 100 meters but they weren't interested so ran home and crossed the line. Got to admit that the eyes welled up after the finish but managed to remain relatively composed! Worst post race organisation I have ever experienced so took half and hour to find Anna and the kids by which time walking was extremely painful and ridiculously slow. Anyway a great experience, one of the wishlist ticked off and most importantly a load of cash raised for a great cause. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120382872 and formal splits from the race website are below.

10k	20k	30k	40k
0:50:19	1:38:25	2:26:10	3:15:34

Last Hit Out

Well the wait is almost over and the pre-race training certainly is. I went out for with Adam for a 7km run around Barangaroo and the Hickson Road wharves and everything felt good - even the pace which average 4.27's and down to 4.10's for the last couple of kms. Will be very happy if I can do that on Sunday. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/119441652 and also had last physio session so foot re-strapped and feeling better although will need some more stretching over the next couple of days. Everything else feeling good at this stage. Carbo loading has started in earnest and feeling pretty heavy and I still have two days to go- enjoying the bag of sweets per day but just feels like I am constantly eating. Off to Melbourne in the morning so this will be the last blog before the run. Really chuffed with sponsorship - less than $100 from the target. Nerves still there, bit scared about how the body might react and really don't want to let all the sponsors down - am sure the excitement will kick in at some point and I'll be able to enjoy the run. Thanks for all the support and encouragement over the last couple of months - especially from the wife and kids.

4 Sleeps

Last run over 10kms today and managed to head out with the Hurts group. Only 6 of us today including Mike, Laura and James and the plan was for Centennial Park. James is running the Melbourne half, so we turned at 5kms and came back. Unfortunately the Garmin ran out of battery about 1/2km from the end of the run but all up 12kms today at around 5km pace and run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/119249195. Saw physio yesterday so some doing some groin stretches, which seemed to work today, and foot is well strapped up. Final visit after run tomorrow. Carbo loading starts as well tomorrow and will do 6/8kms easy at lunch with Adam. Sponsorship is nearing goal so very happy. Nerves and worry is kicking in and feeling pretty grumpy for some reason but family are bearing the brunt of that so it's all ok.

Two Runs Left

Had rain, sun and wind on the run this morning and it was a bit chilly- thought I was already in Melbourne. Very good news in that no pain at all in the calf today doing the coastal path but left groin is giving me jip especially on steps.12kms today at a very sedate 5.25 average pace and glad to only have two runs left this week before we head south. Run stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118752326 and will aim for 10/12kms with Hurts on Wed and 10kms on Thurs. Need to have one lats physio trip this week just sort the last few niggles out.

Last Long Run

Well that is the last long one done and if I feel like that for the furst15kms of the marathon I'm going to be in trouble. It was a beautiful morning yesterday so I decided to do the coastal path from Clovelly to Bondi with a few laps of the promenade to get the kms up to 15. Albeit the path is hilly and with a lot of steps but I just never felt comfortable or got into any kind of rythm and it was pretty slow averaging 5.17's. Never mind that is the last long one done prior to the race and the nerves are really setting in now. Yesterday's run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118440343.
And there will be no mention of last night's rugby!