Ok, well I've signed up for another marathon, this time it's only 5 months until I toe the line in the Medibank Melbourne Marathon. I'm hoping that the foundation of a couple of years of running will make the start of my training not quite as slow and difficult as it was the first time around.
Overall the Melbourne marathon will be more challenging than the VLM in 2011. Firstly, I'll be doing it alone. Last time I had the support of Jess running along side me the whole way, helping to distract me from my own thoughts and entertain with conversation. The nutritional side of things will not be easy either, because as it stands my organisation in matters of food preparation and forward thinking are slack at best. Finally, my body is always waiting to deliver little surprises like calf injuries, and I will need to manage this closely otherwise the marathon thing may just be finished before it begins.
These challenges are precisely why I've chosen to do it though. My nutrition needs to improve, I need a goal to motivate my running and I want to test my own mental resilience whe it comes to sticking with the training for the next 16 weeks or so. I will be looking to better my time from the VLM because I need to feel like I'm moving the challenge forward, but at the same time, it's not my focus. The course is a lot more difficult too. A long stint along the esplanade past St Kilda and Elwood which generally delivers a tasty head wind and is quite exposed to the weather. Then if that isn't bad enough, at the 30km mark I'll need to run up hill towards the finish line. The finish line will be inside the MCG which will be cool but it's highlymprobable that by that stage I won't care too much where the finish line is.
So, the journey has begun and I'm prepared to bore everyone with my running anecdotes. Luckily for everyone, there's no fundraising, no £2000 targets. So, happy days!
http://www.melbournemarathon.com.au/
B
Monday 11 June 2012
Saturday 28 April 2012
Sri Chinmoy 15K
The preparation for this race was less than ideal for both Jess and I. Inconsistent and a few niggles here and there. Plus, the motivation (as mentioned in previous entries) has been less than inspiring. Nonetheless, we were looking forward to a competitive run, or at least a run where we would be chip timed and with other runners. We rocked up to Princes Park at about 7:30 on a Sunday, which was an effort to begin with, and as usual measured up our competition. This wasn't such a good idea as it didn't take long for us to realise that our company were considerably fitter looking than us. While the aim for this race was never about time or where we placed, it's still bit of a psych out before the starters gun knowing there is every chance you will be at the tail end of the field.
A modified course of 16K was always going to be a challenging distance as both of us haven't run that far since the Marathon a year ago, so we planned to adopt a run/walk strategy to ensure we didn't collapse in a heap at the end of the run. 5 Laps of the 3km and a bit course and a pancake breakfast as an incentive to finish were the order of the day and it began, at 8:00am on the money.
Starting 3/4 of the way down the pack and no sooner did we set off, we were promptly overtaken by the majority of the field. Still, we started at a nice pace and weren't in any hurry, so we were happy. Lap 1 of 5 was not bad and we moved through the starting gate and on to the first 5km in 30:58. Jess was starting to get a little uncomfortable with lethargic legs and it was about time to walk for a bit. The run/walk approach was helping us to cope with the distance and because Jess' frame of mind was a little impaired by her discomfort, it made for a more pleasant experience - and I didn't even get shitty because we were walking!
1:05:17 for the 10K mark and the sunny morning was making it a nice return to running in a competition. The other runners were getting fewer and further between and our pace was slowing slightly. The two supporters/ course marshals were still standing there clapping away. One of the ladies had a particularly high pitched clap, which was marginally annoying, but she was there where no one else was, so good on her.
The finish line was nearly in sight and one the last lap we certainly felt as though we were the last runners from the race on the course. There were families out and about and personal trainers running through their exercises in the park and with each passing of the race registration area, the crowd was getting thinner and thinner. They had obviously had their pancakes and pissed off home. We eventually completed the course of 15.93km in 1:46:33, grabbed our half cooked pancake and banana and drove back home. The race was run well before we trotted across the line, but our run was satisfying and we had accomplished what we set out to do. Run a long run with the incentive of a race atmosphere. I think we'll do that again, but with a field that is perhaps more suited to our ability.
B
A modified course of 16K was always going to be a challenging distance as both of us haven't run that far since the Marathon a year ago, so we planned to adopt a run/walk strategy to ensure we didn't collapse in a heap at the end of the run. 5 Laps of the 3km and a bit course and a pancake breakfast as an incentive to finish were the order of the day and it began, at 8:00am on the money.
Starting 3/4 of the way down the pack and no sooner did we set off, we were promptly overtaken by the majority of the field. Still, we started at a nice pace and weren't in any hurry, so we were happy. Lap 1 of 5 was not bad and we moved through the starting gate and on to the first 5km in 30:58. Jess was starting to get a little uncomfortable with lethargic legs and it was about time to walk for a bit. The run/walk approach was helping us to cope with the distance and because Jess' frame of mind was a little impaired by her discomfort, it made for a more pleasant experience - and I didn't even get shitty because we were walking!
1:05:17 for the 10K mark and the sunny morning was making it a nice return to running in a competition. The other runners were getting fewer and further between and our pace was slowing slightly. The two supporters/ course marshals were still standing there clapping away. One of the ladies had a particularly high pitched clap, which was marginally annoying, but she was there where no one else was, so good on her.
The finish line was nearly in sight and one the last lap we certainly felt as though we were the last runners from the race on the course. There were families out and about and personal trainers running through their exercises in the park and with each passing of the race registration area, the crowd was getting thinner and thinner. They had obviously had their pancakes and pissed off home. We eventually completed the course of 15.93km in 1:46:33, grabbed our half cooked pancake and banana and drove back home. The race was run well before we trotted across the line, but our run was satisfying and we had accomplished what we set out to do. Run a long run with the incentive of a race atmosphere. I think we'll do that again, but with a field that is perhaps more suited to our ability.
B
Friday 13 April 2012
Right, lets try that again...
After a good solid couple of months of running through January and February my running has slipped considerably. I could think of a number of excuses such as hot weather, family visits to Melbourne, social events and busy work; but at the end of the day, I've been lazy, and now it's time to change the attitude. Today marks the end of this lazy behaviour and from now on, the running is going to be more frequent and more consistent. I don't necessarily have any distance targets at this stage as it's more about re-establishing better habits and a routine that I can maintain. So here are my targets for the next month...
1. Run at least 3 times a week
2. Try early morning runs to school
3. Cut unnecessary sugar from my diet
These are three things that should be manageable while at the same time, provide an adequate challenge for me, because at the moment my motivation and consistency is poor at best.
There will of course be an additional target for me to maintain, and that's a training diary ie. this blog. I need to publish my results on the blog as a way of monitoring my performance as well as being accountable for my targets. They may not be interesting or long notes but they will show me (on reflection) how my training is progressing and identify the obstacles and problems that crop up along the way.
B
1. Run at least 3 times a week
2. Try early morning runs to school
3. Cut unnecessary sugar from my diet
These are three things that should be manageable while at the same time, provide an adequate challenge for me, because at the moment my motivation and consistency is poor at best.
There will of course be an additional target for me to maintain, and that's a training diary ie. this blog. I need to publish my results on the blog as a way of monitoring my performance as well as being accountable for my targets. They may not be interesting or long notes but they will show me (on reflection) how my training is progressing and identify the obstacles and problems that crop up along the way.
B
Thursday 19 January 2012
Jantastic, Febulous Running Longer and Harder
With a new place to run and a new found energy, the running routine is slowly kicking back into gear. The is largely due to Marathon Talk's Spring Motivation - Jantastic. I've set my goal as being a minimum 3 runs per week, and at present I've stayed true to that commitment; with my longest runs being 10km.
Prior to the new year, the running had been slackening off considerably. Still managing to get out there for a run, I/we (Jess included) were only jogging when we felt like it or when circumstances allowed. This was due to the fact that we were moving, catching up with friends, trying to organise employment and driving head long into the festive season.
After coming back from the UK we focused on getting our lives in order rather than running; which is healthy I suppose, helps to feed the hunger again. Having said this, I was hoping that the resting period would be quicker, but I can't very well complain, the injuries have dried up for the moment.
So now I'm running more than I have for months and coupled with some regular situps, and occasional push ups, it should start to have a positive effect on my weight and general fitness. The next month - Febulous, will require me to run the minimum 3 runs per week but also nominate the distance of my longest run for the week. So for the four weeks in Feb, the plan will look like this.
Week 1: 7 miles
Week 2: 8 miles
Week 3: 9 miles
Week 4: 11 miles
Now with a bit of luck and management, I should be able to bank those long runs without injury or illness. My diet is improving and the nutrition of running is going to become more important. So onwards and upwards, and Febulous here I come!
B
Prior to the new year, the running had been slackening off considerably. Still managing to get out there for a run, I/we (Jess included) were only jogging when we felt like it or when circumstances allowed. This was due to the fact that we were moving, catching up with friends, trying to organise employment and driving head long into the festive season.
After coming back from the UK we focused on getting our lives in order rather than running; which is healthy I suppose, helps to feed the hunger again. Having said this, I was hoping that the resting period would be quicker, but I can't very well complain, the injuries have dried up for the moment.
So now I'm running more than I have for months and coupled with some regular situps, and occasional push ups, it should start to have a positive effect on my weight and general fitness. The next month - Febulous, will require me to run the minimum 3 runs per week but also nominate the distance of my longest run for the week. So for the four weeks in Feb, the plan will look like this.
Week 1: 7 miles
Week 2: 8 miles
Week 3: 9 miles
Week 4: 11 miles
Now with a bit of luck and management, I should be able to bank those long runs without injury or illness. My diet is improving and the nutrition of running is going to become more important. So onwards and upwards, and Febulous here I come!
B
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