Live, love, run

Only completed my long run this week. It’s the longest run I have done at 18 kms and I was pretty happy with the time, but oh my lord, my legs!!

The results for the Challenge Fun Run 10km came out, and MY TIME WAS NOT THERE! I can’t tell you how upsetting that was. It also shows how obsessed I can get about my running. My Polar said 49:58, so why do I need an official time! Because I do alright!

I need it because I want to run 8 qualifying races  in order to be ranked in my age group, and so that I can be sure I actually ran a sub 50 minute 10km race!!

Anyway, I have emailed the WAMC and lets see how it goes. I am a worry.

Overcast day, about 13 degrees with an 8am start.

The start was the 10km and 3km race combined, so lots of young kids in the pack. I went out a bit quick with my first km at 4:41, km 2 was a little slower and got to the 3km mark at around 14:40.

I felt pretty good up until around the 6km mark which I hit at about 29:40, but 6km through 9km was terrible. I felt like walking a few times and my mind was a mess. The 7.5km drink station helped a bit and I started counting cadence to silence the crap going on in my head!!

It wasn’t until I rounded the 9km bend leading back into Challenge Stadium that I felt I had it back under control. I concentrated on my breathing and tried to relax. I knew I was going to be close to the 50 minute mark.

Rounding the final corner with about 50 metres to go I could see the time clock at about 49:40, I think I may have sworn loudly at this point, much to the amusement of the crowd. There was plenty of encouragement and I pushed as hard as I could. I stopped my watch at:

49 minutes and 59 seconds. 4:59 min per kilometre pace.

232 of 499.

It felt great to run a PB, particularly after a hard race. I haven’t raced with my iPod in for some reason. I’m not sure if that would be helpful just to keep my focus during the run. Will definitely be using it for the Half Marathon. I am sure there will be many “little voices” between the 16km point and the finish line.

No running this week! Was so busy at work, and then had Muzza’s 40th birthday on the Saturday night which completely ruined any chance of running 20km on Sunday.

I had a session with our Organisational Psych during the week which opened my eyes to the kind of personality type I have! Running is the perfect sport for me, but I need to remember that it is to be enjoyed rather than become a competition with myself. My nature is one of drive and competition, plus I have a strong social/ nurturing component. I think the session really helped me sort out where I wanted to be.

For that reason I didn’t mind taking the week off. I’ll be running the Challenge 10km and then that will be my run in to the half marathon.

Good running week, with a 4.6km, 10km City to Surf training run and a 16km long run today.

5 weeks until the Perth Half Marathon, and I feel pretty good. I am parking my car at City Beach in the morning on Thursdays, and getting a lift to work which will force me to run the hilly final 10kms of the City to Surf route. I think that helped my long run today which I did at reasonable pace of 5:40 per km. If I can maintain that for the half I’ll go close to a two hour finish. Here’s hoping.

We start our Refresh programme at work tomorrow which is a 4 weeker where you gain points for having a training buddy, drinking three bottles of water a day, three pieces of fruit and four training sessions a week. This is timed nicely for my run into the half.

So 30kms this week, now I move into about 40kms followed by the Challenge Fun Run 10km which I hope I will be fit enough to break 50 minutes.

No niggles or injury concerns. Sleeping well and eating well. Looking good.

School Camp week with Amy’s Year 7 class. Four days in Point Peron with 100 twelve year olds. I thought I worked hard in the ad game, but sheesh, these kids work you harder.

I was responsible for one of the boys dorms, and after night 1 was wondering what I had let myself in for! Once I had worked out who the trouble makers were, and got some assistance from the teachers it was all good, but not before 1 boy went home and 3 more were excluded from all activities and from my dorm!!

It was wonderful to spend time with Amy at the camp and see how she interacts with all of her friends. She is a lovely little girl and well liked by everyone. We went to circus school, Penguin Island, a couple of museums, the beach and did a heap of activities. Plus, more dishwashing than is normal for any human being!

So running was second priority, but we had a great walk for 4 kms, I did 4.2km on Saturday and 15km long run today which was tough but good.

I’ve got 3 weeks until the Challenge Fun Run 10km and 6 until my first half marathon.

I was really worried about my ITB during the week, but I had my old Kayanos on and they are WELL past it. My back was really sore with all the standing up during the week, but only because I am not used to it.

There’s no hint of ITB soreness after today, so will wait and see how it goes. I listened to Steve Runner’s (www.steverunner.com) 112th Boston Marathon podcast on Phedippidations today. It gave me great inspiration to run my first half marathon. I’m looking forward to it in a masochistic kind of way!