Live, love, run

What an absolute scorcher of a day. 37 yesterday and hotter today. 25 - 28 degress during the race. Ran with Grego again and managed to knock out a PB at:

40 minutes and 12 seconds. 5:02 min per kilometre pace.

59 of 98 runners. 7th of 10 in the M40 age group.

This race was mentally very tough and the last three kilometres were hell. I was happy with the time but a bit disappointed to not come under 40. Next year…

Ran with my HR monitor today and maxed out at 172 (96%) and averaged 157 through the race. It really was tough, and if not for a nice girl who pushed me along at 6.5kms I reckon I would have walked it. Sometimes all you need is someone to say “keep going” which is all she did. She was the first person I thanked at the finish!

Best bit of the day was wandering down to the ocean and diving in. Best feeling ever!! 

 Ran this with Grego and Nina (below) on the 15th November. Beautiful morning and a nice out and back course around the river.

I ran with Grego and we stayed together through the race with the big man running a PB for the race. Great stuff.

I was pretty poorly prepared for this run so was happy to get it done.

 52 minutes and 32 seconds. 5:15 min per kilometre pace.

86 of 126 runners. 9th of 11 in the M40 age group.

Nina smashed her run coming in first in her age group and 7th overall for the women. Amazing run, and only her second.

Well, it just shows you that you should expect it when you least expect it!

On a hilly course, with a less than glorious lead in with all sorts of leg issues, I get a PB. Bizarre.

The event didn’t start well with no lights in the portable toilets, no toilet paper (seriously), and the clothing truck arriving at 6:15am just 15 minutes before the gun. But, got that done and set off two minutes behind the gun time.

Up the first hill up St Georges Terrace I felt great with no leg pain and no breathing issues. This great feeling continued down through Kings Park which just looked amazing with the weather so nice and clear. Saw my mate Top Two Tommy running at one of the switch backs and he was flying to an eventual 1:40ish half. Great effort.

I ran the first 10kms in about 50:30 which is moving for me considering my 10km PB is 49 something! I still felt great and no real issues so kept up the pace.

Running through Subiaco I took advantage of each water stop to hydrate and walk briefly. I had a couple of snakes and GU at one but the snakes were a mistake. Too hard to chew.

Underwood hill (pictured) is the steepest incline of the race and was tough but I ran over with a bit of struggle, then plowed onto Perry Lakes. My hammies were tight at this point and I don’t remember alot of that component of the race.

 Then the final dreaded long, slow gradient hill up Oceanic. This killed me mentally and I walked twice, once at a drink stop and again right near the final peak. At the top and I looked at my watch and it read 1 hour 47 minutes - if I ran the final 1 - 2 kms well I had a chance of running a PB. Funny how the mind works, because at that point I took off down the hill towards the finish.

All I remember is that the last 500 metres was TOUGH. It hurt alot, but I pushed it and hit the tape in:

Personal best - 1 hour 53 minutes and 45 seconds. 5:23 min per kilometre pace. 28 seconds faster than the Perth Half in 2008. Small but significant.

1,004 of 1,874 runners. 227th of 357 in the 35-44 age group. 762 of 1,217 male finishers.

It was a great day, and a great feeling.

Fat Grego, who needs to change to Thin Grego now clocked a 1:03 12km run on the day too. We ended with kebabs and beers at Peters by the Sea and an afternoon nap. Gold!

Set out to run the 8km today, but my heel is sore and I was struggling.

Fat Grego ran the 8km in 41 and change. Great effort for a bloke who has only really just started running. He and some of his mates are joining the WAMC which will be great motivation for races.

It was a great morning. about 22 degrees and rising. Really strong easterly breeze blowing. It is a  looping double 4km course and unfortunately doesn’t follow the beach contour which would be much nicer than West Coast Highway! But, it is a nice event and a great spot for brekky afterwards.

19 minutes and 57 seconds. 4:59 min per kilometre pace.

39 of 72 runners. 7th of 8 in the M40 age group.

That’s my last run for 2008. Will do a summary at end of year.

What do you get when you mix a Vindaloo, 4 beers and two red wines with a 10km race?

A stitch at the 5km mark and a missed opportunity to run a PB. Official time:

50 minutes and 26 seconds. 5:02 min per kilometre pace.

161 of 323 runners. 26th of 37 in the M35 age group.

Only 28 seconds off my fastest, but this course is flat apart from the two bridges so should have been an achievable PB time. I got through the 5km mark in 24:58 but that 4th km was a struggle with a big stitch in my right side.

During last evening I decided I wouldn’t run this race, but at about 10:30pm I decided that I would only feel guilty, so packed my gear. Unfortunately, the yummy indian food was never going to help.

Again, it rained the whole way. Can’t remember a dry race!

So, after all I have read and listened to about race preparation it appears that I will only learn through personal experience!

My first half marathon. Finally.

Woke up to the sound of rain on the roof at 6:15am. The weather reports had said a cold front was moving through about 8am. By the time I had eaten breakfast and got on the road the rain was torrential!

There was great numbers for the race, maybe 1,000 plus. Everyone was crammed into the WAMC Club Rooms trying to stay out of the wet.

Race time came and the rain looked like it had set in. We took off and I stuck with the plan to start slow with the first 7kms planned at around 40 minutes. I ended up doing the first 7 in 39:12.

Phase 2 I pushed a bit harder. The rain was heavy but not alot of wind which helped. I took a Gu at about 8kms but ran through the drink station. I also had a Carbo Shot at the turnaround point near UWA. I ran through the second 7kms in 36:25 which was better than I had hoped.

An English guy asked me how many kilometres the race was at about the 13km mark! When I said 21.1kms he said “well bugger me!”. Surely he knew how far?! Or did he?

I was still feeling good. Legs were sore but really only calves. The rain and puddles made it tough. I got a bad stitch going over the Narrows bridge for the second time but managed to run it off. The 16, 17 and 18 kilometres were the worst. Each one felt like three kilometres. My music from my iPod had become a dull noise, and I felt like I was shuffling. In the end I did the final 7.1km in 38:35 for a grand total of:

 1 hour, 54 minutes and 17 seconds. 5:24 min per kilometre pace.

Placed 422 of 648.

That last kilometre or so was amazing. At that point I knew I was going to make it, and the pain just disappeared. People were yelling support, and each time I looked at my watch it became clearer that I would definitely run under 2 hours. 

I never would have dreamed I could run a half marathon in under 2. It was a great feeling. 

The best bit was Louie, Amy and Tyler waiting for me in the rain which was nice - for me! I’m not sure they understand why I love to run, but they know I like the support. On such a horrible weather day it must have been tough to get out of the warm house and come down to see me finish. For me it made it a pretty special day.

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.

 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.

Beautiful evening for a run. I struggled through this run but finished quite strong. I had two runners with me for the whole race, one who stuck with me and then passed me with a km to go. I got past in the end with a final sprint. 

The final result…

24 minutes and 14 seconds. 4:50 min per kilometre pace.

73rd of 132 and last in my age division (8th!!).

I have had an emotionally draining week at work, so it was important to run this out. Was happy to finish and in a reasonable time.

Well, that run felt bloody hard. I felt breathless most of the way and really thought it would be a struggle to get close to my Burswood Twilight PB, especially because of the strong easterly headwind in the last 1.5 kilometres.

But in the end…

Personal Best 23 minutes and 45 seconds. 4:45 min per kilometre pace.

20th place out of 60 and 3rd again in the Male 35 age category, beaten by 1 second by another M35 runner. Damn.

I thought I had spotted the M35 runner who finished just ahead of me in the last race when waiting for the start. So I basically got in front of him and pushed. The guy overtook me in the last kilometre and I think this really helped my time as I finished about 1 second behind him. In the end, it wasn’t even the same guy!!! Funny.

My thoughts were quite negative during this run. Lots of, “what am I doing here”, ”I can’t do this” and other equally crap things. I have to start turning those thoughts around.

Absolutely stoked with the start to my running year with two great races. Next stop is the Matilda Bay 10km run in February. Time to push the kilometres up and add some speed work.