Feeling better.

Most of the distances I have run in the last week have been around 20k or more. I need to get more time from somewhere. I don't mind the late night runs but it reduces my sleep and buggers me the next day to do it all again. Last night I pushed out an easy 30k at about 5:30 pace and although I got home about 9pm, by the time I ate showered and relaxed it was 11pm and still no signs of sleep. I start work fairly early 6am and it makes for a long day. Anyway I am feeling good. The 20+k runs are easy and pushing out a 30k is nice. The hills I chose last night went by without a problem and I have the water/aid thing sorted. My pace isn't fantastic in fact its ordinary but I figure my plan for the 80k is just to finish and get that distance under my belt.
Tonight Work, yep I know but it pays the bills and it's end of month only once a month. So Wednesday night a 20+k and sleep.
Take Care

Strange Days.

My plan was an easy 15-20k depending on how I felt at 13k. So i headed out on my old 15k route. it has a big hill in the middle with a couple of short sharp ones to add spice. I know I said i would stay clear of hills but it has been a while since I headed out in that direction and I needed some variety. I did go out a bit hard but pulled back and enjoyed the ride. at 13k I took the turn and headed away from home out to the bay. I felt good and the light cool breeze off the ocean was as good as it gets when it comes to cooling on the run.
Anyway I got 20k out in 5:30/k pace and it was nice. Tonight REST, EAT & SLEEP.
Take care.

Back on the horse !

I still don't know if I will do the 80k in May. After doing heaps of runs over 20k and back to back long runs last weekend the body wants a rest. Not to mention a cold/sore throat started on Sunday night and a few headaches that just annoyed me. I have been happy with my 5:30/k long runs and the last two nights I did back to back 15.5k runs at first an easy pace 5:04 pace then a push out hold on for home 4:50/k pace. So I am happy with that but some little niggles wont go away and I just feel like a rest. But what the body wants and what the male ego does are two different things. So tonight back to the over 20k runs and nice and easy.

The weather is cooling down and I love it. It doesn't stop the sweat but it cools me down and I don't sweat as much.

I will get into gear and get the camera out to liven up the blog. Photo's do speak a thousand words!.

Loopy loops!

I hate loops or laps. I prefer to run out and back or in one direction but last night with heavy legs decided on a short run. Well that was the plan. An easy 10k. I started to feel really good by the time I hit 9k and did a loop back to where I had just come from. I got that feeling of "oh no another lap" when I deviated up a few streets I had never run down. Luckily I took fluid with me because the humidity was a killer and I had a funny feeling I would go over 10k. I stayed really comfortable and even pushed the last k home. 19.5k at 5:14/k pace. So nothing flash but I am still happy with effort from Sunday morning considering the humidity.
Well tonight I am aiming for the same but no loops.
Take care.

10+20k BRRC

An offer to run with a few guy's before a race was an opportunity not to be missed.
It was so nice to be able to chat with these guy's and get some running tips hints and share a few stories. I was happy with their easy pace and the last few K's back the pace picked up a bit. All up a nice 10.15k at 5:19/k pace. About 6 mins to change shirt get in a drink and we were off again. The first lap I took real easy and got a bit of fluid into me. I was in no rush and my goal pace was 5:30 so no stress or pushing. But on the second lap I upped the pace for half a lap and it felt good but the humidity was affecting me and the sweat was pouring off. I stopped a few times on the third lap to get about 3-4 cups of water down and that seemed to help but my shoes were already wet and a few runners commented on my squelching shoes. The last k I pushed one lady along and was happy to finish strong. All up 20.23k at 5:35/k pace.
So for a 30k long run it was good and although I was disappointed with my 20k time I was happy overall. I really enjoy these trips out to Brizvegas and mingle with runners.
Tonight rest then Tuesday back into the swing.
Take care.

Tuesday long Wednesday short.

Tuesday night was another easy 20k with a push for home the last 3k. Cold wet and windy was the weather but it didn't seem to bother me. It was cool and apart from the squelching sounds coming from my shoes I felt good. All up a 5:35/k pace and a huge meal followed. I must admit I enjoy my food and if I didn't run I am sure to be the next contestant of "Crying game/Fat Bother". Ha.
Wednesday night was a push hard 8k. I went out too quick and hurt at about 6k but came home strong. A little rain and a huge head wind on the way home didn't help. All up 4:35/k pace so it's nice to do some faster runs again. Must have been the full moon but I had trouble sleeping and the mind was racing around all night.
Tonight looks like at least 15-16k, I will go for a negative split. Easy out push home.
Take care.

Cyclone !

A nice couple of negative splits on the weekend had me feeling good. The first was a 6k where I went out at about 5min pace and turned at 3k pushing hard for home. The pace all up was 4:25/k so I was wrapped. Sunday morning was a 8k with the same but all up 4:30/k. It was nice to get a bit of speed up and hold it. Last night with the howling wind and rain i headed out for 22k and although did not feel up to it I was not going to take any short cuts or finish early. The head wind on the way home was hard but also cooling so I had to take the good with the bad. Nothing exciting with a 5:30 pace all up for 22.5k. Still happy but having doubts about getting up to the 80k for may. 50k sure I can do that but 80k ?.... I have doubts but want to push the body to see if it's in there some ware.
Take care.

Nice long !

I was glad it had cooled down. Heading out for a nice long run I had a nice cool breeze in my face. I took a different track this time choosing the hills early then finish the last 10k on flat sort of ground. 9k was a hard hill and 16k about the same but by 22k it was like a nice easy run on flat ground. A couple of close calls with cars and 2 stops to let traffic move but otherwise an ordinary night. All up 33k at 5:32 pace and it felt good. I put it down to lots of fluid and cool weather.
Tomorrow morning a nice quick 8k then Sunday a 12-15k push with farts. Well that's the plan anyway.
Take care.

Rest !

Tuesday night was again very humid and I did not feel the best. A few people at work have been off about a stomach bug and the last thing I needed was an excuse not to go running. A pounding head and a yucky gut was no excuse not to go and my rest day was next. So I headed out with plenty of water/aid and sweated out 16.5k at 5:30 pace. Yeah I know nothing flash, so this is where my plan now changes from all these semi long runs to adding in some farts again and a couple of shorter faster pace runs. Even though my next run could be a 80k or 50k, I need to get quicker again.
But tonight I will try to get out a 20-25k or shorter then a long run on the weekend.
Take care

Hot Humid and Smelly ?

How humid and hot was it ?
Normally i can at least get 2-3k out from home before I start to sweat. But last night I didn't even get to 1k before the sweat was pouring out. The sky would just tease every now and then with a few drops then ... nothing. 4k out and I was not feeling the best. I decided it was going to be a short run because of the conditions ( 10 -12k). But every hill I hit seemed to make me feel just a bit better and I had taken lots of water with me which seemed to give me a bit of confidence to keep on going. As I hit 8k out of the corner of my eye I could see a police van with flashing lights. Curiosity got the better of me and I headed down the street to have a bit of a sticky beak. Nothing much was going on so I just continued on down the street.. I t turned into a big hill and that's when the smells started. First was blood and bone then sewerage then road kill. What a mix just on one hill. top of the hill I hit 10.3k and my shoes were slushy. I hate running in wet shoes. I did finally find my way back to reality and found a familiar street. I pushed on up another hill and at the top I knew it was downhill for the next 1.5k and took it easy heading downhill.
All up 21.69k at 5:30 pace.
Tonight a bit of the same but hopefully it will be cooler.
Take care.

A Better night !

Thursday night was an awesome run. I just felt really comfortable and didn't push too hard. I thought I was going a bit quicker but when I checked my pace 3k from home it was only 5:20/k and I pushed for home. All up a nice 22.3k and even had enough water for the trip. I am trialing putting a little extra salt in my drinks and so far it seems OK. Sunday morning was a nice easy 12k with water views and a smell of someone cooking bacon and eggs. mmmmmmmm..............
Tonight a 20-29k depending on the legs and how long my fluids last. I am starting to get itchy legs (race ready ?!) and the next glasshouse run is a fair way away so maybe squeeze in a shorter social run to please the brain.
Take care.