Saturday, March 31, 2007

I'm Still Standing

M minus 15

Saturday Total: 28.6k
Week Total: 35.4k
Month Total: 195.9k
Year Total: 800.1k

Time: 2hr 45.20min
Av pace: 5.45min/km
AHR: 157; MHR: 180
Av Temp: 13.7*c (7.42am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 53.1%
Wind Spd Avg: 19.8kph (SSW)
Started with: Sams Town - The Killers
Finished with: Its the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) - REM

It was a cool morning but it was perfect weather for running - clear blue skies, hardly any wind, perfect. There was a small group of us who met out at the Cotter for a long run this morning: Strewth, Steve, Ewen, Jill, Chris and me. For Jill and Strewth it was their first experience of doing a training run at the Cotter; for me it was my third time, the last being in November last year.

Its an undulating course and the surface varies from relatively smooth, to rocky, to wet (Vanity's Crossing) and then to finish it off, there's a couple of hills after Vanity's, when you have already run about 20 or so kms.

Overall it was a good run, just what I needed after my stop-start running experiences of the last 3 weeks. I did start to feel the hills, especially after Vanity's (but I never walked and I did the Vanity's to finish bit in 33mins), but given that last week the thought of even running a hill tired me out, I have improved!

And then we sat in the f...f...f...freezing river to aid our recovery. I discovered that if I sat perfectly still I didn't feel the cold, but move even oh so slightly and it was ffffffffreezing. However, my legs and glute have felt great since the run so obviously the frostbite was worth it. Once out of the water, it was time for a well deserved coffee (I actually remembered to take a thermos and some coffee bags) before heading home and a hot shower.

The afternoon was spent fruit and vegie shopping at the markets, washing, housework, and then whipping up Costolette di Maiale con Salvia for dinner.

So, good run, great weather, and as always, excellent company. Can't ask for more than that.......well, maybe some chocolate........ :-)

Friday, March 30, 2007

One step forward, one step back……

Thursday Total: 6.8k
Week Total: 6.8k
Month Total: 167.3k
Year Total: 771.5k

Time: 39.14min
Av pace: 5.44min/km
AHR: 142; MHR: 165
Started with: Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
Finished with: Addicted to Bass – Puretone

My sore throat got progressively worse from Sunday and I ended up having Monday and Tuesday off from work – it hurt to talk and swallow. So, no running until Thursday.

In the meantime I have been to the physio once about my sore glute (pain in the butt) and I go back again today, plus I had a massage yesterday (next one due three days out from the marathon).

Helped out at Track last night – measuring for the long jump and triple jump (new experience for me). I managed to see a bit of the 5,000m championships.

Tomorrow: last long run, at the Cotter.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Walking a fine line........

M minus 21

I woke up this morning with a sore throat.

Today was a rest day anyway - I was timekeeping at the monthly vets handicap run at Kowen Forest. It was good to catch up with everyone, particularly Kerry.

So far, since SFT I have done the following:
1st week - no running
2nd week - 3 runs, 12km, 16km, 24km
This week? - no running while I have a sore throat

Marathon goals (revised since SFT):
1. Get to the start line!
2. Finish!
3. Under 4hrs
4. PB

Saturday, March 24, 2007

400th post

Saturday Total: 24.2k
Week Total: 52.5k
Month Total: 160.5k
Year Total: 764.7k

Time: 2hr 24.49min
Av pace: 5.58min/km
AHR: 143; MHR: 224
Av Temp: 23*c (7.40am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 54.4%
Wind Spd Avg: 24.8kph (WNW)
Started with: We used to be friends - Dandy Warhols
Finished with: Do you want to be my girl - Jet

My 400th post!

I decided against running the 32km race this morning - actually I had made the decision on Wednesday not to run it; after the 16km I had run that day. I had done 2 runs back to back (Tues and Wed) and even though while I was running I felt fine, it took me a couple of days to recover. Another reason for not running the 32km was that even though I said that I wasn't going to race it I can't trust myself in a race situation. For once I was being smart!

So instead this morning I ran with Steve, with Ewen, Chris and Barb running with us for part of the way, along the trails at Mt Ainslie (no hills tho!). Also saw Sandy and Di along the way. It was really great company, I really enjoyed the run and I was so pleased with my decision not to do the 32km.

So I'm learning that its not a case of just picking up where I left off with the training post-SFT. While I'm running okay, I am tiring more easily and my legs still feel a bit heavy and slow. Hopefully with each run I am improving and come marathon day I'll be feeling fresh and rarin' to go! And I'm pumping in the Berocca and protein drinks just to be sure!!! :-)

Received my copy of the April Runners World in the mail yesterday and came across some familiar names - the article On The Sidelines (pp24-25) features our very own Lulu (aka Lousie!!!!!? - p24); and on page 79, results for the Dusk till Dawn 6hr - 1st woman - Tesso!!!!! (60.32km)

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Taking it easy

Wednesday Total: 16k
Week Total: 28.3k
Month Total: 136.3k
Year Total: 740.5k

Time: 1hr 26.13min
Av pace: 5.23min/km
AHR: 150; MHR: 169
Av Temp: 18*c (7.10am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 83.6%
Wind Spd Avg: 4.8kph (SE)
Started with: Enter Sandman - Metallica
Finished with: I was Alive - The Whitlams

This morning's run went well. I have some tightness at the back of the legs which I noticed in the latter half of the run. I have another massage scheduled for next week. That's not the problem. Tiredness is the problem. More precisely it is taking me longer than usual to recover from the three runs I've done this week.

The plan was for a 11km run tomorrow and an 8km easy run on Friday, followed by a 32km Cross Country event on Saturday. This has been revised - I am now having two rest days and then I will run the 32km event on Saturday. Running tired serves no purpose and certainly won't help me come marathon day.

**********************
And now for something completely different - this is where we will be spending our second last night in Singapore...reservations have already been made!!

Chocolate Buffet - Now on Thursdays
Now available on Thursdays, The Fullerton’s famed Chocolate Buffet at The Courtyard is delightfully yours an additional day of the week.

Fulfill your chocolate fantasies with a rapturous buffet of chocolate desserts, melted chocolate drinks and a chocolate fountain overflowing with irresistible smooth dark chocolate, every Thursday to Saturday.

Be it a birthday celebration, gathering of old friends or romantic evening out, the Chocolate Buffet at the elegant Courtyard provides the perfect setting.

The Chocolate Buffet is available every Thursday to Saturday from 8pm to 11pm at S$32 per adult or S$40 with a glass of dessert wine, and S$16 per child.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

New running buddy

New purchase - an ipod shuffle; its so small, so cute.

Tuesday Total: 12.3k
Week Total: 12.3k
Month Total: 120.3k
Year Total: 724.5k

Time: 1hr 10.20min
Av pace: 5.42min/km
AHR: 146; MHR: 166
Av Temp: 16*c (5.50am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 100%
Wind Spd Avg: 4.1kph (S) ; fog
Started with: Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
Finished with: Bitch - Meredith Brooks

Second run post-SFT and it was so much better. In fact I didn't really think about it until I was about 5km into the run and then it occurred to me that hey, nothing hurt! It was an interval run - 4 x 4min (2min RI); however, it was a slower version of what I would normally do, and that's fine. All I wanted to do was turn my legs over a little quicker but not go hard.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Lunch with Lulu

L-R: Strewth, Ewen, moi, Lulu, Mr Lulu


The plan was to do my first run post-SFT this morning but you know what happens to even the best laid plans.....yep, sleeping in was a far better option. Besides we had had a big thunderstorm and a very heavy downpour in the early hours of the morning so it was going to be very wet and slippery outside...couldn't afford to have a fall with only 4 weeks until the Canberra marathon. Ok, so I was clutching at straws but I figured I could always do a run in the afternoon or tomorrow morning.

Today we were having lunch with Lulu and Mr Lulu, who were in Canberra for the weekend, getting in some valuable marathon training. It was great to catch up with them over lunch at Tosolini's in Civic and it was a shame it had to come to an end. The good news is that Lulu will be in Canberra a few times over the coming weeks. So I'm sure more catching up will be in order!

I was also shamed into running later today...seems like everyone else at the table had run today except for me...and I couldn't even use SFT as an excuse because Ewen was there! So when I got home I changed into my running gear, including wearing my brand spanking new SFT singlet, and set off on a 16km run.


Saturday Total: 16k
Week Total: 16k
Month Total: 108k
Year Total: 712.2k

Time: 1hr 34.58min
Av pace: 5.56min/km
AHR: 143; MHR: 191
Av Temp: 21.4*c (4.49pm)
Rel. Humidity Av: 65%
Wind Spd Avg: 24.1kph (ESE)
Started with: Intervention - Arcade Fire
Finished with: From Paris to Berlin - Infernal

The first 5km it was difficult -my calves were in revolt, my glute was complaining and I felt like I was still finishing SFT. By the 10km mark I was slowly getting into my stride though still running very slowly. At least now my calves had accepted that I was running and had given up any ideas of more argy bargy. The last 5km was uneventful.

Well that's my first run out of the way. Hopefully things will be on the improve now *fingers crossed*. Its now been 3hrs since I finished the run and I feel really tired - its actually taken more out of me than I expected. My average heart rate was also slightly higher than usual for an easy run too.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Every picture tells a story......


First of all - thanks so much for all your lovely comments *blushing* - they were really appreciated.

I have to say these photos are a hoot - the look on my face when crossing the river is a classic. Lots of people did comment on the colour scheme!

Going down Nellies Glen - I was thinking "never again!" at this stage.


Thoughts at this stage - "Oh gawd....don't slip - can't get the ipod wet!"





"Not long now........"

It's been almost a week since I did SFT - in that time I've not run (a physical impossibility for the first couple of days), had a massage (mmmmm), had early nights, gone back to work (78 days until I go on long service leave!), and had coffee with friends. I've not really overindulged in chocolate (except for the post-event dinner where I had 3 desserts - chocolate flan, chocolate mouse and pavlova), mainly because I still have Canberra marathon to do.


Now I've got to get back into training for Canberra marathon and this is unknown territory for me ie doing 2 marathons in 5 weeks. Do I just pick up where I left off with the marathon program I was sort-of following (without the addition of SFT hill training), do I do any more long runs or do I focus on shorter faster running? I have absolutely no idea so any ideas, experiences, anything anyone can tell me -please feel free. HELP!


I'm going to do my first post-SFT run tomorrow - probably a shortish run, 10km?

Monday, March 12, 2007

Post No. 395

There are so many different titles I could have used for this post, depending on the day, the time and how I was feeling...some that come to mind include:
"Saturday bloody Saturday"
"Run to Paradise" (when the end was within earshot)
"I'm still standing"...just
"DOA" or "No Way Back" (I had my moments)
Instead of "Black Fingernails, red wine" how about "Black toenails, flat coke"
But 2 days later I think I'll settle for "Once is Never Enough" *oh dear*

Saturday Total: 45k
Week Total: 66.8k
Month Total: 92k
Year Total: 696.2k

Time: 5hr 26.27min
Coxs river: 1hr 46.59min
Pluviometer: 3hr 17.05min (took 1hr 30.06min)
Pluviometer to finish: 2hr 09.22min (happy with that)
Started with: Intervention - Arcade Fire
Finished with (at the 3hr 17min mark): Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs


1 - Well deserved medal
2 - Finished...at last
3 - SFT crowd at the finish
4 - Post race posing
5 - Blue Lake
6 - Great Arch - drive through to get to Caves House
7 - The path heading down the finish
8 - Caves House
9 - Trails Bistro

I have read everyone else's write-ups, looked at the Coolrunning thread, perused the results...now its my turn.

We arrived at Caves House (our accommodation for the weekend) late Friday afternoon, after collecting my race pack from The Edge cinema in Katoomba, where I also happened to see Ewen, John and Anita. Was totally amazed by the entrance to Caves house ie driving through the Grand Arch...spectacular.

I didn't have a great night's sleep -apprehensive about the run the next day plus sleeping in a strange environment. Was up at 4.30am Saturday morning having my first coffee for the day before heading down for breakfast at 5am, and another coffee plus the obligatory toast with honey. Then it was mad dash to catch the bus that was taking us to the start - it was leaving at 5.30am. In my rush to get the bus I forgot Garmin Girl - by the time I realised this we were heading up the road. I would just have to rely on my trusty Ironman Timex watch. However I did have my ipod, though later this was to let me down.

Saw so many people at the start - Steve, Mick, Ewen, Plu, Jen, Owl, Ellie, Go Girl, Anita, John, Alice, Mario, Roger.....Tried some damper and had my 3rd coffee for the morning! Then before I knew it our wave (3rd) was away.

Nellies Glen scared the bejesus out of me - it was steep, wet and slippery and I had people breathing down my neck. Not CJ-friendly at all. Managed to chat briefly to the guy who was filming the guy doing 7 marathons in 7 days...or something like that. Thoughts at this stage were mainly of the "I'm never doing this again" sort.

After this, things did improve. It was very pleasant running along gravel roads/trails - I was taking it easy until Coxs River because as far as I was concerned the real work started after that. My goal at this stage was to do about 6hrs. My only worry was my hamstring/glute which had been tight and sore since the cross country race on Tuesday. Even my hip flexor was complaining at this stage. Not good, but then how many times have I gone into a marathon when things have never been 100%.

The single lane path down to the river was ok but would have been better if it hadn't been for some very aggressive impatient runners - in parts it is hard to get past slower runners so I settled in and figured that eventually I'll get past. Not so with some of the guys behind me who pushed and shoved their way through. Did my heart proud when I passed some of them later struggling up the hills...hehehehe! So maybe I could've gone a bit harder in this stretch but c'est la vie.

Cox's river wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - my biggest concern was not to slip on the rocks. Mission accomplished - I made it to the other side, upright. I ran for about 100-200m down the road then sat on the side and emptied out my shoes - lots of tiny stones had found their way in. I was really surprised to see people walking so up Mini Mini Saddle so soon - for me its a psychological thing, I try to keep running as along as I can before succumbing to walking. So I ran most of Mini Mini - slowly, mind you!

It really becomes a blur after this. There was lots of walking up the steep bits. My left calf decided to cramp after about 20km which made downhill running really hard for a while. There were times when everything hurt. However, the longer I ran the easier it seemed to get, especially all the small hills that came after Pluvio, except for that horrible horrible steep hill (Deviation?). Also hit a bad patch on a relatively flat section that seemed to go on and on (it was before the Deviation). Again everything hurt, I felt flat, and I had a really bad stitch. I stopped briefly and walked and then started running again...that seemed to help. I think at this stage I realised that I had a chance of finishing under 5hr 30min so that was my new revised goal!

The ipod died at the 3hr 17min mark (Pluvio). Oh well, tuck the earphones in my back pocket and continue on - not much Icould do about it.

The last couple of kms downhill to the finish are horrible - its steep, very rocky and my quads complained bitterly. I much preferred to run uphill at this point, not downhill. Even my right foot was cramping - it was awful. Plus a few runners passed me at this point, flying down the hill, so frustrating. It also looked like maybe 5hr 30min wasn't going to happen. Like hell! Somehow I made it down the hill, onto the concrete, down to the steps and .....oh...my...god...what ....a...cheer....squad! All the pain and tiredness just fell away - the CR cheer squad deserve medals - they are the best! Thanks guys for the cheer - it was simply awesome!

Amazing race - very challenging, not for the faint-hearted and for a while I thought it was not for CJ. But now that its over, I've sort of recovered (my quads and calves have gone on strike) and I've had a chance to reflect on it all, I'll probably do it again. After all, I have a PB now!

Well done to everyone else who ran SFT on Saturday - you did good!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Going.......going........

gone......

Cap - check
shorts, singlet, crop top - check
socks, shoes, sunnies - check
Garmin Girl, HRT monitor/strap - check
Ipod, fully charged - check!
Espresso Love GU - check (I'm fussy)

I'm on my way to SFT. It will certainly be a day to remember so I plan on making it a happy memory! Next entry will be all about the day.

Good luck to everyone doing SFT and Weston Creek Half marathon!

SFT Playlist - Part 4

61. Stray cat strut - Stray Cats
62. The Car Song - Cat Empire
63. Round & Round - Bodyrockers
64. Bohemian Like You - Dandy Warhols
65. No Way Back - Foo Fighters
66. DOA - Foo Fighters
70. All My Life - Foo Fighters
71. Flathead - Fratellis
72. The Sharpest Lives - My Chemical Romance
73. Hate to say I told you so - The Hives
74. I got you (I feel good) - James Brown (this one is a given!)
75. Put your money where your mouth is - Jet
76. Rip it up - Jet
77. Twisted Transistor - Korn
78. If I could talk I'd tell you - Lemonheads
79. Plastic Loveless Letter - Magic Dirt
80. Rock Star - Nickelback
81. Can't get my head around you - Offspring
82. One Fine Day - Offspring
83. Can't get enough of you baby - Smash Mouth
84. I'm a believer - Smash Mouth
85. On My Way - Spiderbait
86. Black Betty - Spiderbait
87. Buy me apony - Spiderbait
88. Counting the Beat - The Swingers
89. Vertigo - U2
90. The Saints are Coming - U2 & Green Day
91. Seether - Veronica Salt
92. Keep fishin' - Weezer
93. Woman - Wolfmother
94. Break my stride - Matthew Wilder

Plus some others to pad it out to 6.5hrs of music.

2 sleeps to go

Wednesday Total: 6.4k
Week Total: 21.8k
Month Total: 47k
Year Total: 651.2k

Time: 39.20min
Av pace: 6.05min/km
AHR:134 ; MHR:156
Av Temp: 13*c (6am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 87.8%
Wind Spd Avg: 3.7kph (E)
Started with:Mama - My Chemical Romance
Finished with:Take Your Mama - Scissor Sisters

It wasn't until I started running Wednesday morning that I discovered I had a tight right hamstring/glute. Fortunately I was having a massage at lunchtime. So it was a very easy slow jog around the 'burbs. That's it for running now until Saturday morning.

The massage was mmmmmmmmarvellous - it occurred to me that I really should have these more often than I do!

By late afternoon a pounding headache had developed that got worse as the evening wore on. Italian class is difficult as it is without having to compete with a pounding head. So unfortunately I had to bail out of the dessert and coffee with friends at Beluccis after Italian class. Instead I went home and to bed.

Today, I feel much better.


SFT playlist - Part 3

41. Song 2 – Blur
42. Don’t walk alone – Bob Evans
43. Born to run – Bruce Springsteen
44. Miss murder – AFI
45. O Yeah – End of Fashion
46. Learn to fly – Foo Fighters
47. Take me out – Franz Ferdinand
48. American Idiot – Green Day
49. Minority – Green Day
50. Pieces – Hoobastank
51. The middle – Jimmy Eat World
52. Funky tonight – John Butler Trio
53. Sam's Town – The Killers
54. When you were young – The Killers
55. Coming Undone – Korn
56. Smile – Lily Allen
57. Hit That – Offspring
58. Can’t repeat – Offspring
59. ‘Cuz I can – Pink
60. It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) – R.E.M

Monday, March 05, 2007

4 sleeps to go

Tuesday Total: 5.1k
Week Total: 15.4k
Month Total: 40.6k
Year Total: 644.8k

Time: 22.01min
Av pace: 4.16min/km
Av Temp: 19.2*c (6pm)
Rel. Humidity Av: 56.3%
Wind Spd Avg: 25.5kph (ESE)

Kilometre splits:
1 - 3.55min/km
2 - 4.10min/km
3 - 4.18min/km
4 - 4.29min/km
5 - 4.33min/km

Lately, people have been asking me how I feel knowing that the SFT is not far away. Up until today I didn't know how to answer that because I don't know what to expect, I've never been to the Blue Mts, let alone watch the SFT. Today, though, every now and then the butterflies would start. I'm getting nervous. Saturday is not that far away......

The cross country race this afternoon was good - really enjoyed it. I went out fast, settled down and came home comfortably into quite a brisk headwind. Figured I shouldn't do anything stoopid!

SFT playlist - part 2

21. I can't give you what I haven't got - Living End
22. Rockefeller Skank - Fatboy Slim
23. Love me or hate me - Lady Sovereign
24. Word up - Korn
25. Golden Skans - Klaxons
26. The angry mob - Kaiser chiefs
27. 1985 - Bowling for Soup
28. 19-20-20 - Grates
29. Suddenly I see - KT Tunstall
30. Once and Never Again - Long Blondes
31. Turn up your radio - Masters Apprentices
32. Enter Sandman - Metallica
33. You could be mine - Guns'n'Roses
34. One said to the other - Living End
35. Rock the Casbah - The Clash
36. Joker and the Thief - Wolfmother
37. Daddy I'm fine - Sinead O'Connor
38. Paint it Black - Rolling Stones
39. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
40. Are you gonna go my way - Lenny Kravitz

Tomorrow:
Begin the carbo-loading diet - it works for me
am: easy 8km run
noon: massage
pm: Italian class followed by dessert at Belucci's with VIPs!

Five sleeps to go

Monday Total: 10.3k
Week Total: 10.3k
Month Total: 35.5k
Year Total: 639.7k

Time: 59.46min
Av pace: 5.48min/km
AHR: 132; MHR: 209
Av Temp: 18.7*c (6.07am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 90.2%
Wind Spd Avg: 4.9kph (E)
Started with: I can't give you what I haven't got - the Living End
Finished with: Real Wild Child - Iggy Pop

"In simplest terms, what you are trying to do when you taper is recover from all of your hard training, so that you are well rested and ready to put the training to the test. When you have trained and “peaked” properly, you should experience increased power, reduced lactic acid buildup and fatigue, increased blood volume, enhanced work capacity, increased fuel storage, and renewed interest in participating in your event (if at any point you were verging on overtraining). You should feel like you have plenty of “pop” or “spring” in your muscles, and you should also feel a bit antsy, as though you cannot wait to get going again. The most common mistake people make leading up to their event is to think that “more is better” and to train hard right up until the day before the day of the race or climb. As difficult as it is to remember, fitness actually improves with rest, and you want to be well rested to perform optimally." - Courtenay Schurman, MS, CSCS

This week I am in serious taper mode so it was this morning that I ran an easy 10km. It was very muggy and warm at 6am - however that seems to be the norm for Canberra these days.

I had a great birthday weekend, mainly because it was spent with friends and family.

Tesso asked if I would be using my ipod during SFT and if so, what my playlist is likely to be. What I'll do is give my playlist in instalments over this week because its pretty big. It won't be in any particular order because I program my ipod for 'shuffle' so I never know which song will come up next - I like the surprise element!

SFT playlist:

1. Intervention - Arcade Fire (one of my current favourites)
2. One Crowded Hour - Augie March (how could I not include this)
3. Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis (thanks to iliketoast - he put me on to this one)
4. Isn't it time - The Babys (blast from the past)
5. Revelations - Audioslave
6. Black sheets - Birds of Tokyo
7. Let's get it started - Black Eyed Peas
8. Hunting for witches - Bloc party
9. One way or another - Blondie (another blast form the past)
10. Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
11. Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
12. Welcome to the black parade - My Chemical Romance
13. Dead - My Chemical Romance
14. Mama - My Chemical Romance
15. Teenagers - My Chemical Romance
16. Henrietta - The Fratellis
17. Hang me up to dry - Cold War Kids
18. Original Fire - Audioslave
19. Black Fingernails, Red Wine - Eskimo Joe
20. Sisters are doin' it for themselves - Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox

Tomorrow:
6pm: Cross country race, Boathouse 5km

Saturday, March 03, 2007

One Week Out

Saturday Total: 16.2k
Week Total: 61.5k
Month Total: 25.2k
Year Total: 629.4k

Time: 1hr 41.53min
Av pace: 6.16min/km
AHR: 133; MHR: 166
Av Temp: 16.4*c (7.11am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 93.4%
Wind Spd Avg: 7.8kph (ESE)
Note: no ipod today!

Ever have one of those days where you just know its going to be a good day? I had the best day. First there was the last long run starting from Molonglo Reach at 7am. Leaving home it was clear skies but by the time I reached the lake it was very foggy. The run was an easy gently undulating route and for the first time in ages I was able to run with Strewth and we talked the entire way. This meant of course that we were often lagging way behind the main group. Then there was the post-run refreshments including some champers and a much-appreciated coffee from another Cathy. There was much discussion about the SFT which is on next Saturday - not long now.....

Eventually I had to leave because I was meeting Liza for lunch in Civic. It was great to meet up for coffee and lunch because usually the only time we get to chat is very briefly before an event, as Liza lives on the coast and only comes to Canberra to run in the various half marathon events that are held here. She is now training for her first marathon - the Canberra marathon - so its really exciting to hear about her training and how she is doing. She is going to do so well, I just know it!

Strewth showed up for coffee and lunch as well, which was great and after Liza had left, Strewth and i hit the Canberra Centre for some retail therapy. Now if my memory serves me well, I think I was going to look for a pair of jeans and a pair of black three quarter pants. So how was it I ended up with a black shoulder bag and a LBD from the Diana Ferrari store?! Oh well, it was my birthday present to myself! I won't even start on Strewth's purchases!!!!

It was a great day! I wish all days could be like that. And it finished with white chocolate cheesecake, made by moi, for dessert - delish!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Running on thin ice

Wednesday Total: 21.1k
Week Total: 36.3k
Month Total: 297.4k
Year Total: 604.2k

Time: 2hr 14.57min
Av pace: 6.23min/km
AHR: 142; MHR: 185
Av Temp: 14.3*c (6.01am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 100%
Wind Spd Avg: 6.9kph (ESE); fog
Started with: Revelations - Audioslave
Finished with: Taillights fade - Buffalo Tom

Canberra experienced a super cell thunderstorm Tuesday night - the light and sound show was amazing. Fortunately we never experienced the deluge of hail that Cook, Aranda and inner north got. Below is a photo of the pool carpark in Civic covered in hail, on Wednesday morning.



Anyway, Wednesday morning is when I do my medium long run, heading out to Black Mt Nature Park via the back of Cook and Aranda. I hit fog at the top of Springvale Dve which made running rather challenging as I couldn't see too far ahead and the surface was muddy and slippery. Still I persevered, running very cautiously. As I ran through the back of Cook my feet sunk in what I though was a pile of matted grass but instead I found myself ankle deep in hailstones. This was to happen several times while running through the nature park. So running was now hampered not only by fog and slippery muddy conditions but also hailstones, and lots of them. And running on hailstones can prove to be rather tricky. So probably not the wisest of runs to do a week out from SFT but miraculously I managed to stay upright the entire way. There may have been some quickstepping and wobbles happening but I stayed upright!

Running back towards home I could see that traffic conditions were going to be horrendous - cars were backed up for kilometres and on streets where it is normally free flowing. This had happened because several major roads had been closed due to the thunderstorms. Still I thought that by the time I was ready to leave for work traffic would have eased. Fat chance!


Another day; another run

Thursday Total: 9k
Week Total: 45.3k
Month Total: 9k
Year Total: 613.2k

Time: 53.45min
Av pace: 5.58min/km
AHR: 131; MHR: 184
Av Temp: 14*c (6.02am)
Rel. Humidity Av: 96.3%
Wind Spd Avg: 8.1kph (ESE); shallow fog
Started with: Hunting for Witches - Bloc Party
Finished with: The kids aren't alright - Offspring

If I ran any slower I'd be going backwards. My easy runs have definitely been white runs this week; but then again there have been a couple of black runs as well. A dodgy stomach (no thanks to the antibiotics) meant that it was a short, disrupted run.

Tomorrow: rest day
Saturday: long run (relatively speaking)
Sunday: my birthday!!! Buon compleanno!