Still here...

I'm still here, still running and have got in to a nice routine, which goes something like;

Monday - gym, usually a 30minute run, 15minute weights and 15min stretching / floor work
Tuesday - run from home, currently I am just doing 4km, but that will become 5km next week and includes a few reps running up and down a footbridge that goes over the highway.
Wednesday - gym, Body Attack cardio class
Thursday - as per Tuesday, or if I'm feeling a bit tired maybe just a jog around the park.
Friday - gym, usually 20mins x-trainer, 10mins rowing, 10mins weights and 20minutes stretching / floor work
Saturday or Sunday - long run (which isnt very long at the moment!)

Quite happy with progress and am enjoying the nice warm and light weather, even if the 94% humidity and fine drizzle did leave me wanting to jump in the pool this morning! I'm also not pushing myself too hard, if I'm feeling a bit under the weather, or when the storms hit last week, I'm not forcing myself out for the sake of it, seems to be working for me at the moment, a bit less pressure really.

Last Sunday, MJ, Matt and I watched Spirit of the Marathon which was an interesting movie and has added a bit more motivation for me to commit to getting back to running properly in the new year....!

A good negative...

A negative split that is.

I couldn't believe it, Melbourne Half Marathon probably was the equivalent to all the running I have done in the previous 2 years (excluding the last few weeks) and some how, not only did MJ & I manage to run the whole thing without stopping, albeit very slowly, we actually did a negative split, despite headwinds, hills, heat and general fatigue.

I had a great time in Melbourne, although it got off to a slow start thanks to Qantas and I didn't arrive at the apartment I was sharing with Matt & MJ until about 1.30am Saturday morning. I managed to get about 6 hours sleep that night, in the morning MJ & I went to check out the expo and then wandered around town, stopping for a pasta lunch and some sweet breads to munch on later that day. That evening we checked out the local restaurants and ended up at an Asian place, very nice it was too, I kept away from the spicy stuff and had the special 'pineapple' fried rice to keep on the safe side, it seemed to do the trick.

On Sunday morning I was awake at 5am, but being in such great proximity I didnt get up until closer to 5.30am. The usual routine of getting ready and then MJ & I were off. Toilets and bag drop completed we had discovered on our way to the start line that my Garmin had chosen that moment to completely go haywire, so we were without any watch, our game plan was to find the 2.10 bus and try and keep near it for at least a little while to give us an idea of pace. According to McMillan, we should have been aiming for 2.17hour based on our Bridge2Brisbane time. I was quite happy with this aim, considering it a long-run rather than an opportunity to break any records and was more than content that a couple of walk stops may be needed to achieve the run. The run started well, although the corner at Flinders was a bit tight and I was quite concerned for some runners who seemed to be playing chicken with the trams which at that point were still moving (I sent in some friendly feedback to the organisers on this and a couple of small points, whom were nice enough to respond to me and thank me for it; I made it as friendly as possible, I know how hard these things are to organise and then execute!). MJ & I just plodded on slightly behind the 2.10 bus, which we overtook at the first water stop and ran ahead of all the way around the lake, it overtook us at the next water stop which we had to walk through to get a drink, it didn't worry me, we were aiming for 2.17ish and were almost half way with the 2.10 bus, everything was going fine, although I was having a few gut problems, perhaps a reaction to the gel I had taken just before the start, or perhaps a coincide and totally unrelated to anything 'running'. As we plodded our way along the water we seemed to be picking off a few people, I guess this was around the 12km mark and the heat and wind was starting to get to some; as we split from the marathon pack, I mentioned to MJ that I might to walk at some point, but otherwise was going okay. The walk never happened, and although we played a game with the 2.10bus, going slightly ahead and slightly behind, and although despite hydrating really well and drinking at every water stop, and carrying some Gatorade I was feeling quite thirsty, and although my legs (and I found out afterwards, MJ's) were starting to really feel it, by the time we got to the 18km we knew all we had to do was keep going for a little longer and we were done. The 2.10bus pulled away from us (or we fell back) as we went along St Kilda Road, it didn't really matter. I managed to find a little something as we were going along Flinders and the MCG came in to sight and we gained on the 2.10bus. Running in to the MCG (and the crowd goes wild!!?) was pretty cool, it seemed a long way around however, but we finished probably 10meters behind the 2.10bus, which was great, as we knew we hadn't started more like 50meters behind it and hoped to scrape in under the 2.10mark after all.

The usual chip collection, disappointing goodie bag (literally just a bag in this case) and drinks were done, as well as the medal of course and we headed down to where we'd seen Tesso and gang to say hi and wait for Matty to come through from his marathon run.

Unfortunately Matty went to first aid for some hydration assistance and MJ was with him, after 2.5hours I went back to the apartment to wait for them as no one had any phones. I ran a small cold bath and sat in it while having a shower, that, and the fact I put my skins on as soon as we had got our bags afterwards I think helped a lot. Soon after Matty & MJ made it back, Matty full of pride, as he should be, at his sub 3 hour effort. A steak and egg sandwich later and I was heading back to the airport. I felt a bit odd at the airport, I think it was the exertion of the run, but a lot of water later and back in Brisbane and I was only feeling tired and sore.

The Half times were amazingly online on the Monday, and even more amazingly we had managed to complete it in 2:08:56, a minute quicker than we thought and 8minutes quicker than we had predicted on a good day.

The recovery has been okay. I was very sore on Monday and did a 30minute walk followed by 30minutes stretching that night. I had a massage, the ITB on both legs was near excruciating and a couple of times I nearly had to tell her to stop. I did nothing on Tuesday, but this morning I got up and went for a 20minute run (jog) and feel a lot better. I will head the gym on Thursday morning and on the weekend I think we might go for a long bike ride as I am still determined to cross-train more, rather than only run as before.

A great weekend though, and wonderful to see so many people who I've not seen for so long too.

When is a taper not a taper...

If you havent done too many long runs, is it really suitable to be tapering the week before a long run, I mean, if I reduce my Km's by much more I'll be going backwards!

I've been a bit busy recently, including a long weekend to Melbourne for the AFL GF, which was great, despite the result. I have managed to keep to my schedule quite well though, including a long (the longest in quite some time) run of 15km last Saturday. MJ and I headed off from my place, up to the Hornibrook Bridge (5km, pretty straight forward), along Sandgate (5km's also and a bit tired, plus my shorts started to rub so I had to take a walk break to ease that... just as well I found out before Sunday though) and then heading back towards my house (the final 5km, and I was starting to feel the heat and lack of long run impact), finishing at 14.6kms in a very very long (timewise) run! Still, I had no pain or soreness the next day, and on the basis that time-on-feet is good training even if there were a few walking breaks, it wasnt too bad. I also now dont think I will completely crash'n'burn this weekend.

So, for the taper, puntermatt has recommended a 30minute run today. Usually I would do that on a Monday morning, but I had a wedding last night down the Gold Coast and it was quite late by the time I got home, so I will make the most of the warm day and do my run tonight.

I am not sure whether it is smart or insane to be running the Melbourne Half this weekend, but I guess there is only one way to find out.

Challenge Two.... Tick!

....and so there you have it, my second run longer than about 3km in the last 18months has been completed. The 12km GH Mountains trail run. I cant remember the exact time, it wasnt that remarkable, maybe somewhere around 1.17mins I think, I would have to check the watch. Still, it further reinforced why I want to be out there running again. MJ, myself and a friend of MJ's had a blast. I found the first 2km really hard going for some reason, I dont know why, probably a little out of race practise and it just took a while to settle in; the hills were fun, although I freely admit to walking up those where running would have actually been slower! Between about 6-10kms MJ and I chatted about allsorts of otherwise inane things, however, when its taking your mind of the hurt, any conversation goes!! At about 10km, despite carrying water and filling up a bit at the 5.5km station I was starting to feel a bit thirsty, I think the heat/sun and again, lack of race skill plus overall unfitness was the reason, it was good enough motivation to get me to the end quicker and put in the final effort to the finish line. Ceramic mug #2 is now proudly at home!

Back at my place I spent an hour in the spa with MJ & her friend and then did a really good stretching session while the muscles were warm. I didnt feel too bad at all when Sunday night came around, which was an improvement from the weekend before after B2B. Monday morning and I went the gym, a very easy session on the treadmill, some weights and a good stretch, more to keep in the gym habit than to burn any serious calories! By Monday afternoon I was feeling pretty sore and went for a walk Monday night to try and work some of it out, and of course, the obligatory stretch before bed again! Tuesday morning and while still sore I was feeling much better than the previous Tuesday, another evening walk and a quick spa before stretching and come this morning I was up and ready to go for my 5.30am Body Attack class.

I am quite pleased with the little progress I have made so far. I will be trying to get out on my bike tomorrow and then the gym on Friday morning. Saturday I have plans to ride to Chermside to meet MJ and then we're off a little run, and then I'll ride home again... Sunday will be rest day, apart from a session at the driving range and maybe a small bit of shopping!

Its a start

Well, this week was interesting. On Monday I experienced DOMS for the first time in a while after the Bridge to Brisbane. I had a float and 30min massage booked in for Monday night which helped considerably and left me only with sore quads to contend with the next day.

Tuesday afternoons are meant to be an easy cycle (I am trying to add some x-training in to my 'running' to prevent injury and increase overall fitness) but I didnt end up going, a late finish from work and Mr Chelle coming home a day earlier than expected from a work trip work were enough excuses combined with my quad soreness, for me to stay home and do a decent stretch instead that night.

Wednesday morning is the dreaded 5.30am Body Attack class, I very nearly hopped on a treadmill instead but MJ was there and I thought I may as well give it a go. I'm very glad I did too. While the class is not technical by any means, its full-on, the 10minute breather in middle is 70 push-ups, it certainly gets the heart rate up and works your legs almost continuously. It was just what I (and my legs) needed, and although it left me tired for the rest of day, the soreness was pretty much gone.

Thursday nights are meant to be another easy cycle, but a doctors appointment and feeling like I was suffering a bit from that achey / headachey / sore throat bug that was going around forced an early night - with some stretching first of course!

The last working day of the week requires a gym session and sure enough I bounced out of bed at 5.15am this morning to make it down there. Nothing to strenuous as this is still very much early days, but a bit of speed work on the treadmill, some weights and a good stretch and I was out of there just after 7am and heading to work.

I think the best part of this week is going to be Sunday, when MJ, Collette and I will be heading up to the GH Mountains to do the 12km trail run. I've only run at the GH once before, a 20 or 25km run I think with Clairie and Tesso, we managed to go off track only once, and I'm hoping for a similar or better run this weekend. From the list there seems to be almost a full-house for the 12km, and lots of others listed in the longer events too; my hat is certainly off to the guys that will be running all through the day and night before finishing, probably, faster than I do.. ha ha.

Anyway, its slowly slowly at the moment, but thanks for the encouraging words on my earlier posts and hopefully over the next few weeks or so this running malarky will become a bit easier again and some distance and speed work can be looked in to.

Its been a while...

I really wasn't joking when I was telling people yesterday I hadn't run in almost two years... its in black & white on this blogsite that I've not posted for nearly as long as well. Hmmm, no wonder I am hurting so badly after competing Bridge2Brisbane yesterday! The rather slow, although not terrible given lack of recent runs time of a whisker under 60minutes has been enough to make me enthusiastically dream of what use to be, and perhaps what could become again. My partner in crime, as usual, is MJ and the bug seems to have bitten her too!

Time will tell if running becomes a full time sport again, or just a weekend hobby, I am very nervous about getting injured again, on the flip side I have had some changes at work over the past month that mean I now have more time available (dont feel obliged to be in work by 6.30am everyday anymore!) and have been managing to go the gym and try and gain some fitness back.

*Watch this space*

Racehorse running again!

Earlier this year, when I was trying to start running again after my last little break, courtesy of my knee, I had a loop that I ran with my puppy, around the back of a race course. The Puppy absolutely loved it, I swear he use to think he was a racehorse! When the mornings started to get darker I stopped doing this route as there was no lights and it was pretty lonely, plus I would have needed to run it twice to get the distance I required. This morning Puppy and I went for and reestablished ourselves on the racecourse loop. It took me 35mins, I think I use to do it in 32, however this time did include a short walk of about 500meters to stretch my knee out a bit. I now have a plan of attack for each week;

1 x racecourse run
1 x longer weekend run
3 x morning walks with puppy and Mr Chelle


Will do that for a couple of weeks and get really serious about my stretching etc and then hopefully up the pace a bit!