Training has been going well over the last month, consistently
covering 110 to 135km a week by going long on Sunday’s
and running 16km (Roo+Lake+Roo) instead of my standard
10.5km (Roo+Lake) and running some doubles.
I haven’t got back onto the track yet but have been doing
some easy sessions on the grass.
It’s been incredibly hot and humid and at times running
conditions have just been horrendous.
I have been sweating torrents, so much so that I regularly
discard running in a top but this has the consequence of shorts getting
saturated
– so I only wear the short shorts to stop the flapping of
anything over a 1.5” inner seam.
I have also noticed how the sweat trickles down the legs to the
socks and shoes, so it’s also back to short socks.
The body is holding up ok.
I have some soreness on the bridge of my left foot
(metatarsal) but I have had it since before the Worlds
(I even took two days off when I first noticed it 6 months
ago)
but so long as it doesn’t get too painful I will carry on.
The knees are also hurting – the left knee more than the
right.
I think its tendinitis and cope with pain by applying anti inflam cream in the morning and ibuprofen
on a race day.
My back has not been the same since I injured it in October
2015.
I am getting regular massage to try and ease it and I use
the hand held roller to trigger point release.
I have been eyeing off some of the other distances on the
all-time Veterans Road Running Rankings.
It’s a great motivation.
I would like to record official marks
for M55 @ 5/8/10/15/20/25km (my Perth Half is listed).
I have joined the Brisbane Road Runners Club as they host races
covering most distances on a 5km largely closed road course by the Brisbane
River.
The lap has two 180 O turns and two short sharp inclines. Timing
is done by chip and mat sensor.
For my debut I decided to try 15km. Three laps. Start time
is 6;00am which requires me getting up at 4;00am.
My sleep had been further interrupted during the night with a
couple of really heavy downpours but Brisbane city didn’t get any of that so
conditions were incredibly humid at 6.00am (26 O C and 87% Humidity!)
A very casual start and about 150 runners head off (runners
choose beforehand today's choice was 5/10 or 15km).
Some of Brisbane’s better quality road runners were tempo
training including Clay Dawson and Aiden Hobbs , pushing his son in the
stroller.
I was by myself from the 1st KM in 3;23. At the time I wasn't aware that Clay had actually missed the start by 30 seconds and was charging after me, he was probably 10 seconds ahead of me for the first 2km .
The
180 O turns mean you get a good chance to see everyone.
I gave my run a real effort but with a big lead and
horrendously arduous conditions
It’s hard to say I was flat out. My watch was showing consistent
3;35’s or slower if the inclines were included. I ran through the first lap in
17;35 which I was happy with.
My second lap was 18;07 as I tried to maintain a consistent
pace. So 35;42 through 10km.
I lost sight of Clay at the turnarounds (we were lapping
people) and I told myself he was catching me to help motivate my effort.
The third lap was covered in another 18;07 for a 53;59
result.
There is a nice big clock on the line which provoked a flat
out sprint to get the sub 54 ;-)
I think I would shave at least 1 or 2 minutes off this time
in the winter.
Here are the current rankings for the M55’s.
15 guys have run faster than me but I will slot in, in front of Bill
Rodgers ! (for the time being).
Here are the first few 15km Men’s result;
 |
| Check the sweat flicking off my arms (just passed 2.5km turnaround cone) |
 |
| Wearing the Newton Distance 1V |
