Cold/ flu hits

Just when I thought I'd got over the first symptoms of a cold - it appears to have got me. Very disappointing especially as my recent progress had been encouraging. Frustrating timing, with the race only 2 weeks away & I've now had the last 6 days off...

My last run was a good River Loop, managing to slowly increase my speed in the last 5 ks finishing in 84 mins with the last 3ks at sub-4 min pace. However, that extra exertion may've put paid to my plans. Hope to have an easy run tomorrow.

Doomben 10k

Ran my first 10k race since last year's B2B. A 7.20am start outside the Doomben race-course in Ascot in perfect conditions (after overnight rain). Decided to go out reasonably quick, settle into the middle stretch & speed up for the last k. Went pretty much to plan: 1st k in 3.32 then pretty much 3.50s.

Started mingling with the half-marathoners. 5k in the high 18s. Quite a few hair-pin bends up & down a few streets towards the end seemed unnecessary. Should've just run further out & re-traced our route. Kinda lost track of the distance & wasn't too sure as to when I should wind it up. Finally directed back across the rail tracks & thus freeing myself from the HM congestion. 9k @ 34.34, finished strong in 38.21 finishing 28th overall.

So the lack of race practice told. Legs felt ok from the long distance training but just haven't done enough fast stuff.

This is more like it

Have been continuing my long 2 hour Sunday runs. Last week I did a solo effort that included the Green & I'pilly bridges. Found myself heading home a bit early & didn't want to extend it. Had an easy warm-down run with Tenz at the local park to take it to 1.45.

Tuesday @ 5am it was pouring & I'd had a bad night's sleep so took the 'soft option' & missed training. Wednesday morning it was still pouring but couldn't afford not to run. Did the river loop with the others but started to stiffen up after 1 hr & couldn't go any quicker than 5min ks.

By Friday I was feeling better & ran quick at training. 2x 3mins with a 30sec SR & then a 1min SR before 6 mins back. Finished with 3 reps of the 'Gold Coast' hill.

This morning had a 6am start with the 2.40 fellas meeting back up at the Ship Inn for the rest of us - 9 all up. New start saw us heading back up Annerley Rd & over to the Green Bridge. Then thru I'pilly to the next bridge & round the river at Chelmer to Tennyson. Matty L picked up the pace here & I responded leading the pack thru' Yeronga to the top of the hill. On the corso Pete & Matty decided to surge & Mike, Darren & I followed suit. Ran 3.50, then 3.49 for the next k, the 3rd one we headed up the South Brisbane cemetery hill which slowed me down alot. Thankfully had a drink stop & took it a bit easier. As usual the pace started to quicken & I got dropped around Hardgreave St even tho' I was probably doing 4.20s. Once I'd lost contact I slowed even more & the last k along Southbank was 4.50. Finished in 2.05, my longest run for quite a while.

Twilight HM: 91.43

Not the best preparation for a half marathon. Spent 4 days landscaping our place at Caloundra last weekend, Mon & Tues & then again this weekend. During the week I had a run at PCRG on Thursday & an easy 45 mins Friday evening along the corso with T.

Sunday morning had us in a local bush patch (condemned to development) salvaging a few plants for our yard. Planted them out but not sure how some will do - looking pretty wilted. Speaking of which, after cleaning the house & calling in for the obligatory Bunnings appointment we left Caloundra right on 3pm. Weather was looking decidedly ominous, the radio was issuing a warning for severe rainfall. High-tailed it back to Annerley in 1 hour 20: pretty good conditions - traffic wasn't too bad & only light showers. Swapped into my running gear & got Cec to drive me to the Green Bridge where I had 23 mins to register for the race.

A brisk jog to UQ athletics track & then a huge queue to register. Fortunately someone mentioned that HMers could barge up front so I did & got my number. Heaps of familiar faces buzzing around. Relaxed & started to feel tired, hungry & thirsty - bugger...

This was the inaugral Twilight HM, organised by the InTraining crew who usually do the Easter 10k race. With the days rapidly getting shorter the sun was practically setting near the start of the race & for most of the run it was dark with only street-lights vaguely illuminating the Brisbane Corso. Sensibly I decided to treat the run as a tempo Sunday training run. Felt a bit flat & couldn't keep a good rhythm early on. Surprised when the 1.30 pacer & hangers-on overtook me & kept increasing their distance from me. I didn't think I was going that slowly, but running in the dark can prove deceptive. I usually feel I'm running quicker, but there's no reference points & it was particularly difficult in this race because there was no km markers to indicate the distance.Spoke to Steve from PCRG around the 49 min mark & he told me we had done 12 ks.

The course was pretty good, basically 2 laps of a 10k circuit & a 1.1k thrown in. Got to see everyone in front of me several times as the course turned & came back on itself but the separation distance from me to them was dispiriting... Organisers did well separating competitors going over the Green Bridge with folks going over on the cycle path & coming back on the other (pedestrian) side. Only 2 drinks stations the second of which I didn't collect. Got a little alarmed after that as the ks kept going by with no sight of another drink station. Actually stopped on the G Bridge at a water fountain.

2nd lap once back into Fairfield was a psychological boost. Tried to pick up the pace without over-doing the breathing. Unfortunately my chronic right knee injury (or is it arthritis) began to flare. Haven't felt that since last year. Could feel my gait alter as I tried to favour the other leg. Stubborn pride saw me try to come under 1.30 with a quick last 5k. Local knowledge predicted about 20mins left at the 1.12 mark & I was dead on - finishing in my slowest HM time of 1.31.43.

Committment Plus

Cecile was bridesmaid at Saturday's wedding. Managed to drive home from Scarborough & catch nearly 5 hours sleep before fronting up for the long run. Did the River Loop & added extra out to Story Bridge & back. Had hoped to run 1 hr 45 but felt like I could go on so pushed on another 10 mins. Finished off in the Southbank pool.

So the running is back on track. Have attended the last 4 sessions @ PCRG (i.e. Tues & Fri). Have felt pretty flat, no real kick yet - leg heavy, but should come good. Also fronted up to last Wednesday's longer tempo run & did the same shorter course but 4 mins faster. Checked the 1 k marks along the Coro Dve pathway & we were running 4.15.

Slept in for this week's Wed run but headed out this morning (Thurs) with Tenz. Took it pretty easy with a 27 min Yeronga/ Yerongpilly loop before dropping T back home. Then headed to the Green Bridge but turned around under the bridge & headed back along the Corso. Started to get progressively quicker but didn't want to go too quickly. However, the last k was fast (but controlled) & felt pretty effortless - the way it should always be, alas.

Second set-back

Yet another cold & another week off running. Hard to regulate your temperature when its been very humid as well.

Headed down to the March 3kTT nevertheless & wasn't sure what to do - pace (i.e. just take it easy) or try & beat last month's soft time. The latter prevailed. Despite no speed training I didn't find it too onerous. Helped I think by the big turn-out - there were quite a few in front of me. Had to smile...a new girl has been running in front of me for both TTs. This time it appeared she had gone out too fast & my steady pace saw me move in front at the 2k mark. I was thinking of giving her a bit of advice after the race about tactics. Got a surprise when shortly thereafter she went past me & with 500m to go overtook the next 6 folks in front of me with a big finish...

Backed up the next morning at 5.30 for Matty's Wednesday river loop run. Wasn't sure how I'd go but didn't feel too bad. Started to feel weary after a drink at UQ & then the Highgate Hills got me. Also knew there was a 'soft option' for recuperating runners - peel off at Torbreck & tear down Gladstone Road straight to Southbank, hit the footpath & turn right to the Ship Inn. Wayne measured it at 12.9ks. My last k was quick, all up 1.01.

50k week

Summer training diary says 50k for this last week (4 days running) after last week's 34 (3 days).

Started with the 1st 3k TT of the year. Thought I'd cruise around in 10.30 but actually felt flat. Turned in 5.15, spot on, but blew out to finish in 10.45. Not too concerned, not much mileage & no speed training to speak of.

Followed it up the next day with an easy 11k Yeronga loop. Still too hot to take Tenzing with me.

Friday back to PCRG for a speed session in the gardens. 2x 4 mins which was longer & better than usual, followed by 4x 2mins (30sec JR) in between.

Sunday joined the mara / tri group for the long run. A new course out past Story Bridge along the river by Norman Park, Hawthorn & Oxford St, Bulimba. Park at the end of the street in 45 mins for a drink. Backstreets on the way back. Some pretty big properties, nice views over to New Farm. Did an extra 5 mins at the end to make the run a bit over 20ks in 1.37. Cooled off in the Southbank pool.