Live, love, run

11 weeks until the Melbourne Marathon and training is going pretty well. I hit a road bump three weeks ago with a persistent cold/ flu that lingered for well over a week. I had an easy week scheduled so it was ok, but didn’t run for a fortnight. I had been travelling pretty well and running some great times so it didn’t impact too much.

Long runs are up to two hours now and they are starting to hurt. I’ve invested in some 2XU compression tights for recovery and calf guards for long runs. They make a difference to my calves, and while they don’t remove the pain I get through runs easier and recover faster.

Grego is also going well and is cross training as well as running. He ways a decade low 88.6 kg which is a huge drop for him. We’ve been running long runs around the river towards Freo which has been nice. The weather has been kind so that helps.

I just keep putting one foot in front of the other now. Some runs are tough and I feel like quitting but I think if you persevere with those runs in particular they will be the ones that get you through later on. Some people call them junk miles I suppose, but I prefer to use them as mental strength runs. If you can push through it will make a difference.

Two weeks until the Perth Half Marathon. I’m going for a PB in this race and then will use City to Surf Half as a training run with no time goal. My training has been good and I think I am capable of a 1:46 to 1:48 half. The Perth Half is pretty flat so I think it’s a good opportunity.

Fingers crossed all will go well.

 With 14 weeks until the Melbourne Marathon I am having a break with an easy week, and it couldn’t come at a better time. We have been busy at Meerkats, winning two Silver Lions at Cannes in Radio and Film (TV) both for HBF which is great.

We also won the IKEA business in WA and SA, which is great for the agency. It brings a different style of client to the agency and will help smooth some of the down-times we have with our other campaign style clients. IKEA is a great brand, and the marketing team are great. It was really rewarding to get this account on board.

Along with that excitement, I also had to fly to Sydney for a quick day trip on business, and because of that I have picked up a plane flu/ chest infection which has laid me low the last few days. So I haven’t run at all this week which was a light week with only three scheduled runs at about 25kms. I have had to get over the fact I didn’t get these kms in and just get back on the plan.

Over May and June I have consistently increased my weekly kilometre’s from 15kms a week to my highest at 37kms per week. Within that I have run PBs in 14.5km runs and the 10km Challenge Fun run which has been great.

The next block adds speed into weekly runs, and the long runs stretch out now from 1:45 up to the longest at 3 hours. These are the runs I need to focus on, and continue to manage my dodgy legs. The calves have been tight, but I have managed them with stretching and using the roller.

So, 98 days until race day. Flights are booked. Registration is in. Just need to focus now and keep following the plan regardless of how they feel. I’ve learned that what feels like junk miles actually do make the difference when you get to race day. If the plan says do 7, then do 7 even if it feels bad.It will come back to you in spades when you need it most.

So, the flights are booked. The registration is complete. I’m doing this! Melbourne Marathon 2010, October 10. All the details at http://www.melbournemarathon.com.au/. Looks like a great course, and looking forward to finishing on the MCG.

When I started out this year with a sore achilles and tight calves I only had a faint hope of achieving my goal of running a marathon before the end of 2010. Since then I have thrown everything at getting better, fitter and healthier to do it…. and I think it’s paying off.

I’m in week 8 of the 25 week marathon training programme that I have followed religiously so far. I’m running over 30 kms each week creeping towards 40 in the next week or so. I have run a PB 48 minute 10km as well which is great stuff.

My achilles has cleared up through strengthening, stretching and massage. Calves remain tight but manageable if I do all of the right things. I am using a foam roller called The Grid by Trigger Point Performance  www.tptherapy.com) and it is helping alot. Good to prepare with, and great after a run. I found a supplier in Brisbane so that made it a bit easier to get.

Fat Grego is following the programme too, albeit not as closely. I don’t think he is going to build to a peak as I will, but that’s his call. He’s worried about the 8 week block that essentially sees us run over half marathon distances each Sunday in the peak training zone. I think this will be the critical period, and the block that will ensure you get through. Without it you will be under prepared and praying for help between the 30 and 42 km point.

My taper weeks will be spent in Bali! Not sure if that’s ideal, but I’ll be well rested and can fit in the kilometrage still as its not as demanding. I fly back into Perth the Friday before the race, then fly out to Melbourne on Saturday morning getting m there mid afternoon. Enough time for a massage, and a carb up before hopefully sleeping and then getting ready.

This first marathon is about finishing and learning for the next time. What’s it like out there on the day? I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out.

The Buckeye website upgrade lost my blog for a while there, but all good now.

So, my training is going well and I’m running four times a week and up to 31kms last week, and to 33kms this week. I started out with sports massage, but I have found that regular stretching and foam roller at home is just as effective.

My calves/ achilles are under control as long as I prepare well and ice, stretch and rest properly. So no major worries at this point, and I’ve really stuck to the programme well. Registrations are open for the St George Melbourne Marathon so the dream soon becomes a reality.

I’ll be updating regularly now, and becoming more detailed as I progress.

My blog was lost but now is found. Got some catching up to do!! Please hold…

I have officially loaded my 25 week marathon training plan into www.buckeyeoutdoors.com (check out Bainy) and it’s not changing. Two weeks until it officially starts.

My orthotics are out of my shoes, my Achilles is going ok without disappearing altogether and I am sticking with a day on day off light running load. I’m also hitting the gym a couple of times a week.

Physio number four is being tested next week. I guy called Andy Pickering who massages Coolangatta Gold athletes and surf lifesaving athletes down in North Beach. The deal is I’ll see him weekly as long as he doesn’t tell me to stop running and I turn up. Sounds good.

I have been sending a bit of time on Twitter under my liveloverun name, and it is growing into a really good running community idea. Runners are very supportive, and the crew that are following me are all very positive people. I’m sure the association will prove to be a good motivator closer to the race.

Work at Meerkats is proving to be pretty flexible, so that’s going to work well moving into training mode. Won’t be long before we’re arranging the travel and getting things moving. Exciting times ahead. I’m not giving this up for anything. 

Amy’s first 5km run. Her assignment was given to her by her Leisure For Living teacher - try something you haven’t done before, and she chose to run with her Dad. Awwww.

She did really well and ran most of the way. It was lovely to run with her and help her push through to the end. No PBs today, but hey, some things are better than PBs:

34 minutes and 09 seconds. 6:50 min per kilometre pace.

102 of 110 runners. Last in the M40 age group but I don’t care!!!

I am slowly creeping the kms up with 15kms being my new base camp. I’ll keep stretching that using the 10% rule each week. My Achilles is kind of sore, but it doesn’t bother me while running and ice settles it quickly. I am keeping up with a physio visit every week for increasing core exercises and some massage.

I rode my bike to work again this week which is 27kms each way. My old mountain bike is a trade in now and I’m looking for a reasonable hybrid bike to buy. It’s not a ride I would do often but once a week, or fortnight might be OK. Needs to fit in with work.

Tomorrow I am starting a regular Monday PT sessions with Tresh and Farey down at Kitchener Park near Subi Oval. Looking forward to that, and the competition of running down the lads.

I’ve been twittering a bit and have been really interested in the difference between writing a professionally based twitter page and for something you love. You meet a completely different type of person on the hobby stuff, or maybe its just that runners are just much nicer people than advertising types!!

Meerkats won Agency of the Year on Friday night. After 8 weeks in the MDs chair it was lovely to see the team celebrating. They are a great bunch and really deserve the recognition. Looking forward to the next chapter.

So I have spent the week travelling in Melbourne and Sydney for work. We won the State Agency of the Year Award at the AdNews Agency of the Year Awards. Great stuff but not something I can lay claim to after only 6 weeks in the chair…

No running this week with only a short beach walk yesterday, but lots and lots of deep core exercises which basically has me breathing out and engaging my deep core for two breaths then releasing. I do this horizontally, standing and sitting for 10 reps each. I have tried to do the exercises during the day too. I have to say that I feel like I am sitting straighter. Maybe because I am focusing so much on engaging my core. 

Will ride my bike to work tomorrow, and go for a couple of light runs  during the week with the Swan Twilight 5km race on Sunday evening to close it out. It’s a beautiful run and will be nice weather.

I’m hoping for the next phase of my core exercises from the physio on Tuesday, but I have to pass level one engagement first. I never liked exams…

So frustrated. Achilles has flared again and back at the physio. I am having a fresh gait analysis done on Tuesday morning, orthotics assessed and a new regime of strength work for my glutes and hips.

The physio treatment on Friday was NASTY. Hurt like hell and is really sore and inflamed today. Will ride my bike to work on Monday and not run tomorrow. It’s hard to say when I will back on the running properly, but I refuse to start again until I have this Achilles thing sorted out. I feel like things are slipping badly now and the Melbourne Marathon feels like a stupid idea.

But I have said I am doing it, and I hate to not try. Time to suck it up.