....or more precisely, the Thistle Run course. Strewth would know what I was talking about - it used to be a regular marathon training run for us (and Kezza) back in 2001, when we were training for our very first marathon. The landscape has changed a lot in that time - back then we were running on gravel roads through pine forest; today I was running on gravel roads with very small pine trees beginning to grow. The one thing that hadn't changed was the hills - I'd forgotten how many there were! I don't know why I bothered with downhill strides yesterday as I got lots of practice today, as well as uphill repeats.
Today's session - long run with the last 20mins at steady pace ie about 5min/km pace.
Time / weather - 7.30am / overcast and very pleasant though got very warm by the time I finished.
Distance - 28km
Time taken - 2hr 26.18min
Av pace - 5.13min/km (the final 4km in 1km splits: 4.56/5.02/4.42/4.43min/km)
AHR - 155; MHR - 187
Calories - 1,752
As I mentioned, my run this morning took in the old Thistle Run we used to do, as well as running up a hill parallel to the Gunbarrel Hill (?) and then running down GBH, and then heading down by the river and running along that until I reached the zoo. Then I turned and headed back towards Deeks Drive where I began my last 4km at steady pace up to the start of the old Jogalong course, where I turned and headed back to just past the carpark at Deeks Drive.
Heading out on the Thistle Run I passed a black cow who slowly ambled across the road. I checked behind me just to make sure he wasn't following and continued on my way. However, on the return trip I passed him again, and another cow who popped out from behind a large bush. They started to amble behind me - most disconcerting. Its alright guys, I don't need an escort, I can find my own way out, I was thinking. I like cows but from a distance, not so close that I can count their eyelashes. This feeling goes back to when I was younger and we lived on a farm. The school bus stopped on the main road and we had a walk of a couple of kilometres to get home. One hot summers day my brother and I decided to take a shortcut through the paddocks, not realising there were cows in there. Next thing we know we are surrounded by a large group of very curious cows. We took off at a hundred miles per hour with cows in pursuit! Mum said she's never seen anything so funny in all her life. I beg to differ.
Anyway I digress. The two cows decided against following me (thank goodness) and I carried on, with the occasional glance behind just to make sure. I felt much better once I had clambered back over the gate!
It was a good run - I was starting to feel a bit achey in both glutes by the 24km mark, and I still had the faster 4km to do yet. I was mentally plotting routes that would not involve hills for this part of the run. The way I eventually ran wasn't too bad but even so it did involve a gradual incline which is reflected in my average pace for the 2nd of the 4km - 5.02min/km, when the other 3km remained below 5min/kms. F...far out but it's a hard way to finish a long run.
So, today on my run I saw runners, walkers, horse riders, a 4 wheel drive, a woman walking the most enormous looking dog I'd ever seen - from a distance it looked the size of a lanky pony......but no spiders!
Tomorrow is a rest day - yay! I've been running so much lately I'm even starting to to run in my dreams!
This week I ran a total of 85km.
Next week it will be 94km, including an 18km medium long run midweek, a 12km anaerobic threshold run on Tuesday, a 12km temp + hill run on Thursday and a 32km long run on Sunday.
Bought the book The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella today - sounded like me!
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8 comments:
Nice run CJ. Looks like your building up nicely. Best of luck in the coming week.
Did you talk to the cows CJ?
You're running well - that's a good pace for that distance on a hilly course, and so fast at the end too.
By the way, even I'm not that much of a pedantic bastard - 233.42km for the month - really!
Wow, nice fast last 4k CJ! Good to see all is on track for a great run in Canberra.
And about those hairy spider problems, just show them a kettle, that'll scare them off ;-)
Excellent workout. I know what you mean about the landscapes. I am very angry because here the elctric company is cutting maritime pines to build a coal pier!
Impressive weekly total CJ and a great run today - being surrounded by cows is good training for your Six Foot debut next year ;-)
Reminds me of the time when i went ot PEI to ride aroudn the island. There was cows along the road that would stop and stare at me. I would stop and start waving at them.
They must have think I am some craze rider or something.
Sounds like a good run CJ and a big week ahead. No wonder you're dreaming about running.
I've read the undomestic goddess.. it's a fun read!
I am having running dreams too! Last week was my bigest ever at 82km... this week is heading towards the 90's- getting scary! Only 62 days to go :-)
That was a great run CJ and to finish off at that pace is fantastic!
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