Monday, 17 August 2009
Bolt ran a WR 9.58 overnight, I ran longer than that today!
Today I enjoyed a 7k easy run around the Wyndham Park and then enjoyed some good dynamic stretching with my juniors and then some static stretching after their session. (At the moment the Mon & Wed sets are totally directed at Lexie, let me say, she is moving right now...)
Sunday, 16 August 2009
A little bit of wind at the YY
We started our run along Greyhound track in light drizzle for the first 15 minutes and lots of side wind, even David thought it was cold today. A stop near the front gate for a toilet stop and then off to Big Rock, just past there we were reminded how windy it was, up a slight hill into a HEAD wind and I was starting to suffer on every rise, even though we were averaging 5.30 pace at the time.

Saturday, 15 August 2009
Brisbane Ranges and a windy night!
Smaller numbers than normal, the over 18 Wes Aths girls were enjoying a retreat at Daylesford, massages, facials and loads of champagne I suspect. I took the younger girls, the majority from my Squad, we strolled along the 9k rolling hill course using Loop Track as our home, then once returning back to the SP I took Elyse and myself for an extra 2.8km, running about 11.5k in 5.30ish pace for the trip.

A nice run, a tad rocky, but a few nice little hills to test the body, but I didn't test it too much as I am running 2 hours tmrw at the YY with David. I noticed the actual start elevation is a lot higher than other runs that I do.
Tonight I have very much enjoyed watching the am Day One session of the World Aths Champs on SBS2 and sitting inside listening to the 120kph winds that are hitting Melbourne tonight!!! All of the 'quality' runners have made it through the 100m heats, Donna McF ran a SB in the 3k steeple and our SP men missed out... not a great start for the Flame, but nice to watch aths without having to worry about swimming and other stupid sports (except for trying to watch Melb Victory & the Sydney Swans at the same time) ....
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Why is my boss such a DH?
My heading, short & sweet, I am a very organised person, my Outlook calendar and task list controls my day, week & month! But not others, meetings are and can be the my slow death .... as my organisation's Business Manager I get invited to a lot of meetings, just in case and because every one wants the HR point of view. Well every time I attend my Director's meetings they go way over time, I mean way over and today was just too much for me! A 60 minute meeting/briefing that I walked out of at the 110 minute mark as I was late for another appointment and he just doesn't understand....anyway I want to talk running!
_____________
Indoor football semi finals today, 4th Vs 5th, winner stays, loser leaves ... half time 3 all, a great game and that's the way it stayed, close and tight. When the 5 minute to go call was made it was 6 all, the 1 minute call - still 6 all, but .... (there's always a but ...), sadly a goal was scored in the final 2/3 seconds and then the final whistle ... we lost and are out of the competition!
_____________
Due to the heading, I left work early as my mood was not harmonious for the work environment, which was compounded with the soccer match, so I did what any Public Servant with more than 12 hours in his flex credit, I left EARLY. Home early, did some housework and then went to the track early so I could do my session and then point & coach.
My session started with 5 laps of the grass infield, then I started some simple/little impact drills for 10 minutes or so. Burkie arrived and was surprised to see me prior to 4:30pm on the track already, he had a 13 year old Sudanese boy who has just joined Burkie's group, 'Boa' (not sure of spelling or pronunciation), I have trained with him once before (5x4 min efforts). Burkie asked what I was upto and I knew I would be happy for some company, so 6x800m in 3m 5s ish with a 2 min recovery, so Boa quickly warmed up and joined in and completed 4x100m strides with me, grateful for the company as I knew I might struggle with the slight wind that seemed to be building but to be honest others do help to keep me honest.
Off we went, Boa is a typical African runner, relaxed action and wants to run faster than he should, BUT he is young enough to accept guidance and he stuck with me, but I could feel his surges...whilst he had some issues, he did the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 6th rep, my times were:
- 3.03
- 3.03
- 3.01
- 3.02
- 3.07
- 3.08
Ohhhh I was gone and I so wanted to drop out at the 600m mark during the last two reps, but I knew I was going to have company on the last rep so that helped keep me going ... but I was happy that it was done. I finished off with 2 easy laps and then coaching.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Skeleton Creek and coaching
I strolled towards Sanctuary Lakes, coolish, but not dark, not raining and not too windy, so a nice change! I strolled probably 5 min ish pace for 25 min and then turned back and got home in 24.m 18s. Then some static stretching, a quick shower and then changed to go to training via picking up Connor who is making a small return to running to get some general fitness in preparation for the Relays and aths season.
At the track with the kids I jogged 1.2k and then did a few drills and strides and I set the pace on the first 200m on some speedy reps of 3x800m. I jogged the 800m cool down as well.
Note: I clicked over 1500km for the year today.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Just a track session in the wet
For those here in Melbourne will know that it became very dark about 2pm and with it lots of rain! And that stayed for a few hours and made everything very wet even the inside of master bedroom...not sure what's the go, but Jo and I have very wet carpet and the offending wall is very damp....fuk. I am NOT 'a handy man', but I know people, so a call to one of the parents of my squad and an appointment has been made for 2pm tmrw...
Training tonight was 5x3 min efforts with a 2 minute float, a solid workout at 4.05ish pace for the four of the reps and the final rep I completed the 800m in 3:10 which is under 4 minute pace.
For the second session in a row, after cooling down I feel more tightness in the meaty part of the hamstring, I better concentrate on my warm ups and cool down stretching and maybe even organise a massage (well overdue)...
Monday, 10 August 2009
A longer run today
I attended a conference at RAAF Williams (Laverton) which is only a few minutes away from home, it finished before 3pm, a quick shop for a dinner party tonight with David & Nic and then off to Werribee for a run prior to training.
From Wyndham Park I strolled along the river at LR pace, after 15 minutes I picked up the pace a tad and was probably hanging around 5 min pace, once at Riverbend I decided I needed to make my way over to President's Park to use the public toilets. Then back towards Riverbend over the Ford and then running on the grass near the path I picked up the pace to 4:30ish for 15 minutes before returning back to 5 min + pace. I got back to Wyndham Park at 4:20, so I did a lap via Chrinside Oval and then returned at 4:32pm with 65 minutes of running.
A quick chat with the mums and then off with the kids for 15 minutes of running at a similar pace to what I had already been doing, then we stopped at a park and played follow the leader for 3x5 min (different leaders), jumping over rocks, park benches, over BBQ, over fences, under fences etc...just lots of running with some fun thrown in.
Then push ups, crunches, sit ups, more push ups and planks (front & side).
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Saturday, 8 August 2009
XCR'09 Series, Round Eight, Sandown Road Relays
Then off to Sandown for the Relays, as a Team Manager I'm not a fan, but I know it is popular. The previous five years remind me of some good runs, I am very aware that this year will not be faster than any of these below:
- 2008 - DNS, sick, diagnosed with influenza
- 2007 - 25.07
- 2006 - 24.53
- 2005 - 24.50
- 2004 - 26.16
I know I raced in 2003 and maybe 2002 but I didn't find those results easily. Looking at my results in 2008 I was probably in high 27s or low 28 form, so whilst my 2009 result of 27:10 is one of my worst as 2003 would have been slower I suspect.
I ran the final leg in the Div 5 team, going through the first lap in 13.22 and the second lap was 13.48. As per normal at Sandown, we had wind in our face along the back straight up the incline, the only unusual aspect of the day was the actual temperature was pretty good, probably 16-18 degrees.
Club wise our teams were ok ish, the top men & wmn in Div 2 were below our actual wants and hopes, div 4 men did really well finishing 2nd, div 5 men 8th/16, U14 men 3rd, wmn Div 3 & 4 the bottom half, U16 & 14 women managed 3rd with weakened teams.
Coaching; Jo ran another strong race, 47 sec PB and both Claire & Elyse ran strong legs.
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Gym, soccer & fastish 200m reps
Tonight my program had 3 sets of (7x200m) with a 100m float but as I would have been by myself and also a very strong wind I decided I would join the girls and run some faster 200m reps with a walk back recovery. A new girl joined my older group, Maddie 14, I already coach her younger brother who is a handy distance runner (11th at States); Maddie has trained with the other group but will suit the Tue/Thu group, girls 13-15 who have similar pace to Jo and myself and will make the transition to senior aths.
The reps were a little fast and I gave the job to others to lead but they just couldn't get the pacing right, so I stuck at the front and lead them in, I did manage to run one from the back and go past, but that was a tad quick (32.8).
- 36.2 / 37.3 / 34.7 / 36.3 / 32.8
- 36.1 / 36.5 / 36.6 / 36.4 / 33.4
The walk back breaks were between 1.55-2.03 and I added an extra 45 sec between sets.
Normal cool down and then dinner to farewell Dave (the Yank) who has been visiting on a College 'thingy' that had him visit our fine lands for 4 months or so. The Club are giving him a signed Club singlet, a bottle of Club wine & an Aussie Olympic top that was arranged through AA.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Gym & a track workout with the juniors
I nice even paced workout for me. Straight from training to a Vic Health meeting at the COuncil Offices, held in conjunction with the Sports Med Assoc, another President's meeting...
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
4 minute reps at the track
Tonight I ran 5 x 4 minute reps with a 2 minute shuffle/float at the track with a few of Burkie's junior boys and one girl (who I knew would pull out as she is fast but very soft).
- first rep was controlled, approx 980m with a 30 sec shuffle/90 sec float
- again controlled, again approx 980m with a 30 sec shuffle/90 sec float
- controlled but working harder, approx 970m, 30 sec walk/90 sec float
- working, approx 975m, 60 sec float/60 sec float
- the final rep was to be 1k (no matter the time), I told the boys I wanted to hit 96 and to stick on it and we did, crossing the 1k in 3:57. I was happy
3 laps in reverse to cool down.
Monday, 3 August 2009
Wyndham Park
I run parts of the course a couple more times whilst the group ran hard with 2 min breaks between reps, finishing off with another 7 minutes of easy running.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
A slow Sunday
I rolled around with a Bel, Loren, Luke & myself for an easy 11km of relaxed running, Luke & Belinda continued on for another 30 minutes, 11 was enough for me.
Saturday, 1 August 2009
XCR'09 Series, Round Seven, 10 Mile XC Champs
Of course volunteering our Club means I need to find volunteers, which sometimes can be tough, but thankfully I did find sufficient numbers, but if course I was one. The day involved following a dotted white line (nearly every 10m or so), we then placed flags either side over a 4k & 3k course. I was then asked to run the course (with flags in hand) and look at the course as a runner and place move flags where ever I thought was not 100%... then setting marquees and then trotting the course with the course referee and again placing flags. All up, the course and admin area was ready to 'roll' at 12.10pm (first race 1pm). Then I put on my 'team manager' hat on and started preps for the Western Aths teams, then the coaching hat and running through the course and the race with my 2 U14 girls (Claire & Elyse).
A great run by Elyse, 11th her equal highest placing (wow), but most of my time was spent with Claire who due to a cold really struggled and I was really close to asking her to DNF, but as she was going in the direction of the finish line I decided against it, she finished probably 5 minutes slower than normal over a 4k course.
Next up was Jo, who started a very controlled race and then came home really strong and yet again showed a few girls who should beat her that a controlled race is the ONLY way to race!
With my race starting at 2.30pm I decided I would have a sit down around 2pm for the first time since 8.45... by now I knew we had 2 runners withdraw and we would only have one team and 3 emergencies, me being one of them.
So I'm standing on the start line, already feeling tired both mentally & in the legs, not really enjoying XC and knowing I will not finish in the first team, but I start... But I am fairly sure 8k will be enough but I'll check on others throughout the race (its that sort of course). I ran two even laps within 15 seconds of each other, but I was NOT enjoying myself and I knew that 8 other Wes Aths runners (we needed 6) were still rolling about and I was already 4 minutes behind 8th so .... yep I pulled out at the 8k marker and I DID NOT care how much 'stick' I got from others, I was buggered!
Friday, 31 July 2009
July's Running Stats
YTD - 1397km
Injuries - nothing to report
Excuses - A busy month that I happily put the running concerns of others ahead of my own.
Races - XCR'09 Rd 5 Coliban Ekiden 5.1km road & Rd 6 State XC, neither well ran, but better than last year.
Upcoming - XCR Series, Geelong 16km XC & Sandown 6.2km Road Relay
Goals - Continue on with regular running because I enjoy it, not for any real goal or purpose.
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Ouch...
__________
The past few weeks I have allowed a tooth get sorer and sorer until now its basically impossible to eat on the left hand side or drink anything really cold or hot, you get the idea... A trip to the dentist to help him pay for his kids school fees.... minutes after leaving I knew that was a well spent $200.... thank goodness the ouch has gone!
No running today, a good evening to have dental work, it rained a lot, but I still spent 75 minutes wandering around the track, chatting with Squad members in between reps, it was good to watch form.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Gym, soccer & a bit of easy track running
Indoor football at lunch, we had one reserve, 1 all at half time, but then a 'white-wash', we won 9-2 (I scored twice).
A lot of my Little Aths juniors are resting up for a few weeks, but six are continuing on helping out as a small squad to work with Lexie in her preparations for the National XC on the 29th of Aug. A few of the kids are comfortably faster with a superior endurance fitness and then a couple are of similar pace, everyone is older. Lexie arrived with the sniffles, so a small change to the session, the majority would run 400m reps with floats while Lexie & 2 others followed and pulled out at 300m and walked, we (yep I cruised in lane 2/3) continued to the 400m marker and turned and floated back , picked up Lexie and crew and then jogged to the line and off we went again, 8 reps all in 98-100 sec.
Warm up, cool down & the session of cruisy running, with 10 minutes of leg stretching.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
5x4 min efforts at the track
________________
Due to popular demand I moved my Tuesday session to the track for the next couple of weeks, away from Skeleton Creek, the girls ran 5x3 min with a 2 min float and I ran (by myself) 5x4 min efforts, with a desire to hit 1k, but it was windy and cold and I wasn't able to.
Most of my reps were approx 960-70m, but I felt the floats were a lot better than other weeks, they actually were close to floats and not shuffles, especially the last 1 minute. For the final rep I decided I would run through until hitting the 1km mark (4.12), not so good, but it was very windy.
I finished off with 3 slow laps chatting with others for my cool down, run in reverse.
Monday, 27 July 2009
An easy one along Werribee River
So an easy run along the river starting & finishing at Wyndham Park, just over 6.5km in 31 minutes, then 20 minutes of easy running with my Little Aths Squad and then 25 minutes of stretching.