Live, love, run

No, sorry, not BI cycle… 

 So, a few weeks ago I lost four key people within a three week period. Ouch!

Fast forward to today and I have filled all of those positions and used the opportunity to re-structure for best effect. I have been able to reward some people with promotions, and introduce new people into the mix.

So what was the worry!? Well, it is significant that they left within a short period, and also significant that they were all connected. What I need to work out is the cultural components that led to the problem.

Agency life is all about relationships. Consistency and stability are key. When people leave, clients get nervous, and rightly so. I don’t have any problem attracting people to the agency, but keeping them there for the long haul is proving hard in a boom town like Perth.

Maybe it’s about playing favourites. Some clients are perceived to be more fun, or hard work, or just no good, so the efforts on the staff on those accounts can vary. I need to equalise the efforts and make sure everyone has a consistent working environment.

I am going to totally re-assess my training and development plans and look at workload by portfolio. There has to be a better way.

Good week. 25kms logged, three good runs with a long run of 13km today. Did a good negative split on this run so was happy with that.

I have a couple of niggling pains. Left calf, right ankle/ shin?, and right hip/ glute. Not too sure what the hip thing is but it comes and goes during any run. Will have to keep an eye on that. May be ITB related.

 Will ramp up to 30kms this week. I am going on Amy’s school camp as a supervisor so that should be fun and games!

My baby girl turned 12 today!

She is a pure little soul. Happy birthday baby girl. I love you so.

What a great day. I went for a run, then we went for a drive down to Scarborough and had fish and chips, and kebabs. Then went for a drive to look at some display homes. It’s nice to look at other homes and realise the one you have is SO much nicer, not because of the stuff, but because it feels more like a home. 

Set up the new king size bed… what a goddam huge mother that is! Let me tell you, construction is not my forte, but I got it done.

When everyone is happy, and everyone clicks, life is amazing. All other times are just pretty special, ha. It was a great day.

Big shoot week this week for LW. Broome, Derby, Geraldton and Albany. I did the Albany leg down at the Albany Sk8 Park. Rained and rained but we got all the shooting done within the day.

Highlight of the week was today’s long run. 13kms with a negative split. Did it slow, and maintained a good low heart rate. Rained from the half way turnaround. New shoes are going great and feel good. No more back pain or any ITB issues.

Feeling good, and just need to get work sorted for less stress! 

Good week with 3 good runs and 21kms logged. I really need to get a fourth run in to continue progressing. New shoes this week - Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6. Really comfortable and feel alot more stable than my Kayanos.

I am off up North this week to Derby, then Geraldton, then down South to Albany on a big TV shoot. It’s a massive exercise and really important for the client. Will be good to get away if I can mange it.

Things are still very hectic at work and I have had four resignations now, three from LC, with only one of those positions filled at this point. Very frustrating and annoying. Am considering canning the Derby leg of my travel to get my recruitment finished.

Next race is Challenge Fun Run 10km, closely followed by the Perth Half Marathon.

Not alot to report apart from my race. See:

http://bainy.buckeyeoutdoors.com/blogs/2008/04/05/asics-bridges-fun-run-10km/

Hurt my lower back. Need new shoes. 

 My first 10km race. A couple of thousand people do this race, so the start is quite hassled, and the first couple of kilometres are a bit restricted for space. I started in C Division, should probably aim to go to B in these races to get some clearer air.

I have had a sore lower back this week. With my Kayanos at 700 plus kilometres I think it’s time for a new pair!! Anyway, I felt no pain through the race and got through it in:

50 minutes and 32 seconds. 5:03 min per kilometre pace.

480th place of 1,440 runners.

It’s amazing what goes on in my head during a race. Wanting to stop at one moment, then seeing someone and speeding up to catch them the next! Preparation was not ideal with a sore back, then additional “carb” loading by drinking 6 beers and a bottle of red wine with Brad last night, plus my Prep Pasta special. I woke up with a bit of a headache, but I am sure it didn’t contribute to the time!

Anyway, it was a good race and now I have a benchmark for 10km races. My back is bloody sore, so will need to keep an eye on it. It’s muscular, so will get some new shoes this week.

Ran the exact same time as my fellow Buckeye runner “perthrunner”. We have never met and yet finished together. Now THAT is bizarre!! I still didn’t meet him on the day!

Next race is the Challenge 10km in a few weeks. Half marathon training proper kicks in soon. It’s been a good year so far.