A weekday post - yikes!!

4 days of successive running...this is good!

Braved the breezy conditions M, T, W with one hour, 45 minutes of interval (3 x 8 minutes @ tempo with 1 minute of recovery in between flanked by a warm up & a cool down) and 50 minutes respectively. Tuesday's run was tough (intervals probably about 3:45-3:50 km pace) but it was good to knock it on the head.

Today's run, indoors (yeah yeah I know), was something different. 2km warm up then
100 @ 19 km/h; 100 @ 14
200 @ 18.8 ; 200 @ 13
300 @ 18.6 ; 300 @ 13
200 @ 18.8; 200 @ 13
100 @ 19

1 minute's walking rest

100 @ 19; 100 @ 14
150 @ 19; 150 @ 14
200 @ 18.8; 200 @ 13
250 @ 18.8; 250 @ 13
300 @ 18.6; 300 @ 13

then the above in reverse, followed by another minute's walking rest and then a repeat of the 1st block, then a 2km cool down. So all up 3.5 kms of solid running. For those seeking insomnia cures (count 'em on one hand) by reading this column, you may find purpose in the above session. I worked hard, was reasonably conked afterwards, but the idea of this session just came into my head preparing a maths exam for a year 11 class.

Oh, and I've just entered the Great Australian Run, so if I cross paths with Geb I'll ask him the question you all want to know...how do Haile Selaisse's (go research him folks!!) Rastafari disciples reconcile superior athletic performance with the intake of de 'erb. Kidding!! We'll talk beer.

Can't think of an interesting heading right now...

Did anyone know the temperature/humidity between 7:30 & 9am this morning? Shit, 85 minute relatively easy runs aren't supposed to be that hard. I just felt really sluggish, still shaking the cold, fatigued from yesterday's track and probably just a bit blaaaargh in general. But at least I got out there, so it's a small step to routine.

Yesterday's track...yeah...well. A 4:37 for the 1500, a 17:55 for the 5K with the last 2K in about 7:30, which means I was just sapped. Solution to problem with times - more speedwork, more tempo work, longer Sundays. Just more running really, how about that? There shouldn't be as many interruptions this week one hopes, but the first pebble towards Canberra has been laid.

Track begins...

Another busy week at school, but an ordinary week of training with a clogged head robbing me of two days of work (yay!) and three or four days of training (boo!). I have the wind trainer set up so two of the days (including today) involved 30-40 minutes of spinning (5 min x 8 gear ratios) in the big chainring, followed up by a run of 30-40 minutes (either outside or on the treadmill). It's producing a lot of sweat and it's something different, but I'm unsure on the benefits other than low-impact high intensity intervals on the bike.

Rode to and from Aberfeldie on Saturday (about 30kms all up) and ran an 800m in 2:16:40. Not fast, but not the end of the world as I'm not fit and my head's clogged with snot. I'm looking forward to a reduced school load when the Year 12's leave so I can increase my training and work towards the 2009 Canberra Marathon and a sub 2:48. (Yes, it's online so now I can't chicken out and must work towards this religiously...ooh ah!).

Jen and I saw Burn After Reading - funny film, very enjoyable, the actors all looked like they had a blast. For the lads who read this I ask this - will our "dear other half's" permit us to do what George Clooney did post-sex? Yes boys, the deed's done, let's get in a recovery run!!! ha ha ha ha!

Now we have a starting point...

After probably eating and drinking too much at the Mexican restaurant with Jen and her friends last night, I ran the Melbourne Marathon 10K today in 36:28. I'm none too thrilled with the time but happy to get in a tough run, but it's telling me that there's work to do and gives me a good staring point to eventually take 90 seconds from that before I run a marathon next year, and enables me to plan my assault from here on end. The conditions were funny - great for hayfever, with swirly winds and mild-to-warm weather, but so-so for running (especially those poor marathoners). The split was something like 17:55/18:33 which indicates a lack of endurance, so back to the drawing board from here. Young Luke Searle ran a solid 34:2X, which sounds strong but is not a real indicator of where he's at. He and I ran our cooldown along with Adrian Jeffkins who was toughing it out in the marathon - well done mate, with the body not agreeing with you for an hour or more, you showed some real toughness in grinding it out.

Training seemed a bit directionless - probably because school's back, probably because of daylight savings and a wedding robbing of time and motivation but probably because of a lack of direction more than anything else.

Let the training begin.

All good things must come to an end...

F#$kin school holidays man - why so short?

It's been a good week - got some school work done (not enough to avoid Sunday night panic), some good training (good speed sessions, some hills, just good really!), Jen and I got to the NGV's Art Deco on Wednesday night among the arty types, caught up with my mate Phil who duly gave me his entry for Sunday's Coffee Club 10K and overspent on a pair of Nike Lunaracers - wow, so light, yet so cushioned. They'll only be a racing shoe for track & short road stuff up to 10K as they're not too stable, but they're fast! As modelled by Kev and Jeff...

Off to my brother's wedding down on Ocean Grove, should be an interesting weekend...than back to the f#$kin' job!