Wild Horse Mountain

Well I chose the wrong option on Sunday, had a lie in, gave Masters a miss and headed up to the Uni of Southern Queensland at Sippy Downs in the arvo. Magnificient sporting facilities there but sadly very under utilised. That goes for the track and the meet! I entered the 3000m last event of the day, did a warm up in the grounds of the uni and got back to the track and noted how few athletes were around . Did a few strides and still no sign of other runners and no starter or timekeepers! They had decided to cancel the event as I was the only entry! Wish they'd have told me and even given me the choice of running by myself! 
Hey ho my debut as a 50yo 3000m runner can wait another week.
I pulled into Wild Horse Mountain on the way back and did a hill session.
The track to the top from the gate on the pathway is signed as 700m but my Garmin had it at 665m, with the climb aprox 75m according Garmin. Doesn't sound much but it is a real killer 3m50sec for the first rep so you can tell just how hard it was! I wish I had my heart monitor on as the BPM would have been off the scale! The hill has a real nasty kick at the 2/3 mark, jogged back down in 4m10 and back into it for 3m46sec of agony and had just enough left to finish another in 3m42.
It worked parts I dont normally touch so quite a bit of pain today and could only hobble around 10.6km Roo+Lake in 46m30.
I intend to put in a mid week session and increase the K's but that will have to wait another day till I'm properly recovered from Sunday.

3000m

Do I race 3000m @ Masters on the Gold Coast on  Sunday morning or do I run with the kids at a QA Meet. on the Sunshine Coast  Sunday  afternoon?
Each has their merits, Masters starts at 7.30am so no wind likely but also no competition, QA on Sunshine Coast could throw up some good young guns and my body is normally more awake in the afternoon. Hmm not sure yet~!

Gary Artuso - Gold

Sun 12.55pm 10.54km Roo+Lake 45m46 4m21 K's Really hot day
Mon Rest
Tue 5.22am 10.56km Roo+Lake  44m50.39 4m15 K's
Wed 5.24am 10.55km Roo+Lake 44m50.55 (!!) 4m15 K's


My friend Gary Artuso got me into John Stewart by singing a Gold - only his lyrics have rather a different flavour!
John Stewart is yet another rock/pop/folk star who has sadly passed away.
Always loved Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham too.
One day I'd love to be driving over Kanan...


There's people out there turning music into gold!

5000m 16:07.93

I woke at 5 and it was pi$$ing down and thunder was rolling a repeat of last week! I switched off the alarm and tried to get back to sleep another session at Nudgee and debut as a 50yo would have to wait! Woke again at 6.30 and the rain had stopped I got up went downstairs, knocked Max off Mineshaft to have a look at the BOM radar, to see the storms heading out to sea. So headed down to SAF @ Nathan.
3k warm up= 3 laps around QEII, or ANZ.
plan was to run even pacing rather than the normal fast/slow down.
72 first lap, 3m10/11 at K,9.48 at 3k no wonderI felt good!conditions were warm about 22c and very humid as the sweat poured off me.
I seemed to pick it up over the last 2k and hit the bell 14.54 and finished with only a 74 for 16m08.41 official 89% age graded.
happy enough considering the humidity and early season, it felt quite easy and I lapped the field including Peter Reeves.
Garmin readings were;
3:09
3:11
3:10
3:05
3:06
+ 25s @ 2:49 pâce - 16:07.93 on my watch.
5Km warm down with the boys, Peter, Phil and Con.

Insomnia

Tue 5.37am 10.60km Roo+Lake 44m46  4m13 K's
Wed 5.42am 10.60km Roo+Lake 43m44
Thu 5.39am 10.56km Roo+Lake 44m08 4m11 K's
I really should try and add some variety but at the moment I feel like I am still just holding it all together.
PF in right foot is an issue, knee and hip are acceptable/ok.
So just steady running and a race or track session a week.
This morning was really humid and may need to swap from tee to singlet pretty soon -  was wearing long sleeves only last week -  Summer is settling in.


Tearin' off tights with my teeth

the boys are back in town

And that time over at Johnny's place
Well this chick got up and she slapped Johnny's face
Man we just fell about the place
If that chick don't want to know, forget her




Thur 12.36pm Brisbane River 11.76km 47m59 4m06 K's
Fri 5.38am Roo+Lake 10.57km 44m23 4m12 K's
Sat Nudgee
Sun 2.36pm Roo+Lake 10.48km 44m12 4m13 K's
Mon 5.57pm Roo+Lake 10.62km 43m18 4m05 K's

washed out!

i was up at 5am to properly wake myself up for my first race as a 50 year old. Masters @ SAF Nathan, a 3000m at 8.00am, left the house for the drive down wearing sunnies but sky was getting darker and befkre the Gateway Bridge the rain had started! Warmed up with 4k in the rain but as the thunder and lightning increased so did the wind and at start time a full own storm was turning thr track into a pool with the wind knocking over wheelie bins and obviously preventing set up.
Nat was doing a pump class at 9.30 and I needed to be home so I pulled the pin at 8.10am.
I got out to Nudgee this arvo, remarkably the weather had completely turned around and it was hot (humid) and sunny!slight wind but not like last weekend.
Ran 3000m,2000m,1000m with 400m jog recovery:
9:31.98 168bpm
6:29.97 172bpm
3:07.26 168bpm

Conditions were too warm for a long interval session, either that or old age is getting to me!

Here are my predictions for the RWC Quarters about to kick off;
IRELAND
AUSTRALIA
FRANCE
NZ

Hope you enjoy the games, I certainly will.
Cheers

More of the same

Wed 5.21am 10.54km Roo+Lake 45m01 4m16 K's

Twenty Years

Sun 3 X 2000m @ Nudgee 400m Jog recovery
Mon 5.33am 10.53km 46m48  4m27 K's
Tues 5.24am  10.57km 44m01 4m10 K's


Sunday at Nudgee, very windy BOM said 20kmph wind speed gusting 50kmph (worth at least 10secs per 2K)
#1. 3m11.94 155bpm 3m17.19 167bpm = 6m29.15 161bpm
#2. 3m13.45 159bpm 3m17.23 171bpm = 6m30.44 165bpm
#3. 3m08.53 163bpm 3m14.16 175bpm = 6m22.69 169bpm

I have been married to the beautiful Mrs for TWENTY years today, along with our children, my proudest achievement.

Sandstorm

Thurs 5.32am 10.47km (!) Roo+Lake 45m25  4m20 K's
Fri 5.31am 10.56km Roo+Lake 43m53  4m09 K's
Sat 2.23pm 10.60km Roo+Lake 42m37  4m01 K's
Just keeping it steady, managing the niggles. Would like to get back to the track for some speed work but wary of pushing too much. 
Track Season has started at Queensland Masters and will run some Queensland Athletics (Open) events as well.
Imagine being at a Club and this track coming on - I'd be dancing like a Zombie (which is how my wife says I dance ; -)

Half Century

Mon  5.33am 10.53km Roo+Lake  45m53  4m21 K's
Tues 12.11pm 12.40km River 46m35  3m45 K's
Wed 9.20am 10.46km Roo+Lake 43m53  4m12 K's


The Garmin is a year old today and records 3389.25km  233.54.18
50 years old today!! Still feel like a 25yo and have the libido to match! Now for a crack at any records that want my name!
Cheers

Surprise

Sat 4.35pm 10.52km 43m44 4m09 K's
Sun 1.02pm 10.54km 42m43 4m03 K's

The good wife rang me on Fri arvo on a frenetic day at work, "what time are you leaving?" "I dont want you to come home I'm in Room 617 At Ridges (hotel)" it's across the River from where I work in the City. I finish up extra quick and dash over to the Southbank! my minx of a wife arranged a surprise night in town for dinner and drinks with friends to celebrate my half century this Wednesday. With 4 kids this isa very rare treat and a lovely surprise. How my kids managed to keep it buttoned I dont know!
With all the booze in NZ and then on Friday night, I just had to get moving again or the weight gain would have been too much to stomach (pun intended).
So Sat & Sun 10.5km Roo+Lake , only had a week off and the body reacts like it's the first time I've ever run this, rather than the 1500th time (my conservative estimate!)
PF sore,hip minor background,knee initial run stages only.
Apologies for typos but typing /posting this from my patio in shorts post run on my $100 Zeepad -ipad copy!

Fields of Athenry

I decided to have a training break following NZ. 
Having had a number of hip episodes since the 2008 Stressie I am ever mindful that for me it is going to be a problematic area . Though I haven't quite got to the point where I could say it is painful I feel that it could start to get that way. Last Jan/Feb I had a similar episode but let it get to a more painful stage however a two week break and was OK to get going again.I'm listening to my body!

Titirangi 10KM

Sat  Titirangi 10KM (9.7) 35m33  1st


The plan was to run the Legends Half Marathon but due to late arrival swapped to the 10KM. To say I was worse for wear was an understatement as on Friday my brother Tim and I had started at lunchtime and gone long into the night! Just how we made it to the start line I'll never know. Gun goes off and not unexpectedly I feel crap. It was freezing cold so I wore gloves! I would have worn a beaney under my cap but knew at least my head would warm up. Two young guys take off at pace and I run early K's in 3rd about 50m back. An inner loop at about 2K and I work my way to the front. The rains pour down at one stage and I have to remind myself I do this for fun. The course takes in some challenging hills and feeds into the full Mara and Half course.
At the finish line I meet HuRTS guys Enda and later on Charlie and Connor.
I went back to my unit for some sleep. More later.
Results here

Auckland

La de da Gunner Graham

Thur 12.28pm 25 O C  10.56km Roo+Lake 44m01  4m10 K's  


I felt OK today after yesterdays stair climb! I expected some soreness but none! Remarkable really, all the niggles are OK. I got attacked by a bird, the first of the season (this kind of thing never happened in the UK) I saw it's silhouette above my head -  a swift fist in the air was enough to scare the blighter off.

I had my hair cut today at my local Rothwell Barbers 'Stags' it is appropriate for me as mine rests peacefully in the garage for the last year! Anyhow he has old British TV shows showing so I watch 'It ain't half hot mum!' and 'Are you being Served?' It must be my age because as a kid I didn't like IAHHM but now I can see the funny side. As for 'Are you being Served?' It's a scream and there is something about the young Wendy Richards - Miss Brahms (sadly deceased) with her oh so Cockney accent that still does it for me ;-)
I shall leave it for Young Timmy  to pass comment on Molly Sugden (Mrs. Slocombe).


I am off to Auckland this arvo to meet up with my younger brother Tim as part of a Farther's Day /early Birthday present. 
Timmy got us tickets to see Ireland V Wallabies. Not sure who I want to win as I support both teams. I have Two Aussie RU flags and caps but Timmy will probably be going for Ireland (because he lives in NZ and our parentage).
Nearly forgot, thinking of running The Legends Half or 10K on Sat morning - depends how drunk my brother gets me! It is the course trained on by Lydiard and his athletes
with a mountain about halfway - should be a blast!

Brisbane's first Tower/Stair Race

Wed 4.53am Roo+Lake 10.60km  4m25 K's
8.16am Tower Run 4th Eq 3m35




I fell asleep early Tues night which meant I woke early Wed morning,I wasn't going to go back to sleep so got up at 4.30am! Went downstairs to do my stretches and was greeted by son Oli getting up for Arsenal's Champions League game (I have taught him about commitment).
So it was out early for a steady Roo+Lake and then into work early to run the Queensland Police and Emergency Services  'Great Tower Race' up 111 George St. 
Only 31 stories and 686 steps, I was surprised at the  tight short flights compared with us at 80 George St. My plan was run two steps per stride for as long as I could bear it then survive on one stair per step. Only managed about 6 floors on two steps. Runners went off at 30 second intervals and I was 3rd runner off in a 'self selected' Elite Category . I overtook one chap on the way up which was a tight squeeze. I finished 3rd in the category (equal 4th fastest overall) about 26 seconds off 1st place , my time was 3m35. 

The event told me perhaps I'm not cut out to be a Tower runner! I'd beaten the winner Paul Dodd in Sunday's Bridge to Brisbane by 1min34secs. Still, the view at the top was worth it! The air in the stair well was either very dry of very dusty as myself and  the other competitors seemed to cough up a lung afterwards. I'm fine now though.

Bridge to Brisbane 2011 Results

Click on one of the arrows at the bottom of the page to get the 'full page' of results. It is a sneek preview as results aren't  officially published till tomorrow!
I am very happy to get 13th best ever result and I was the 1st Male over 35 y.o.


Mon 5.57pm Roo+Lake 10.52km 45m09 4m18 K's
Tues 5.33am Roo+Lake 10.61km 45m36 4m18 K's


I pulled up with really sore thighs after Sunday, not sure if it was the race or the clamber over the fence at the start because I never normally suffer DOMS after a race.
I've set myself an unusual challenge for tomorrow!
Brisbane's first ever Stair Race - the tower isn't that big, 31 flights, but if my legs were sore Monday they aint gonna like Wednesday/Thursday! 
It is madness I know but I can't not race it - the building is opposite mine in CBD.
Has anyone got any tips for stair running??

2011 Bridge To Brisbane 11 September 2011   |   Event Web Site 22° 11°

Summary Results Teams Search

2011 Bridge To Brisbane

Bridge to Brisbane 10KM

Results

#	Bib #	Name	Finish Time	Place	Gender	G/Place	Division	D/Place
1	00001	REUBEN KOSGEI	00:29:37	1	M	1	M30-34	1
2	00187	GEOFREY TERER	00:30:00	2	M	2	M30-34	2
3	00002	PETER NOWILL	00:30:21	3	M	3	M30-34	3
4	00003	JACKSON ELLIOTT	00:30:45	4	M	4	M25-29	1
5	00107	DARYL CROOK	00:32:09	5	M	5	M19-24	1
6	00109	JAY TWIST	00:32:24	6	M	6	M19-24	2
7	00106	ANTHONY CRAIG	00:32:30	7	M	7	M30-34	4
8	00087	CARL GUSTAFSON	00:32:44	8	M	8	M30-34	5
9	00105	MATT CARLSSON	00:33:25	9	M	9	M19-24	3
10	00110	DREW WILLIAMS	00:33:37	10	M	10	M19-24	4
11	00089	CLAY DAWSON	00:34:01	11	M	11	M25-29	2
12	01802	TIM GARRETT	00:34:04	12	M	12	M25-29	3
13	00040	DAVID SWEENEY	00:34:07	13	M	13	M45-49	1
14	00004	CASSANDRA FIEN	00:34:12	14	F	1	F25-29	1
15	00124	MATTHEW BOURKE	00:34:16	15	M	14	M30-34	6
16	00458	MATHEW SKATE	00:34:19	16	M	15	M35-39	1
17	00111	GRANT WILLIAMS	00:34:21	17	M	16	M19-24	5
18	06728	CRAIG O'CONNELL	00:34:26	18	M	17	M35-39	2
19	00024	MASAYUKI ATSUMI	00:34:27	19	M	18	M30-34	7
20	00064	HAGAN PATRICK	00:35:05	20	M	19	M14-18	1
21	00468	JOSHUA-KALEB FAULKNER	00:35:14	21	M	20	M19-24	6
22	12234	SHAUN LEE	00:35:17	22	M	21	M14-18	2
23	00005	CLARE MARGARET GERAGHTY	00:35:25	23	F	2	F25-29	2
24	00082	DAVID STRICKLAND	00:35:27	24	M	22	M19-24	7
25	00182	CHRIS MATTHEWS	00:35:32	25	M	23	M35-39	3
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