It was another hectic day in another crazy week. I just wanted to bury my face in a pillow for a power nap, but I remembered mopak's great advice to find some ME-TIME. I laced up the Frees and toured the hood for 35 minutes before cranking out a few barefoot strides on the pitch. Great advice, mopak! I feel 100% better! Now a shower and a cold pint. Life is good!
Keep up the good work, all!
3k warmup inc 750m in 3.00 and 400m in 1.28. Club handicap race in Wellsford Forest, 6.5k (actually 6.9k). Took the lead at 4k and held on for a comfortable win in 26.50. 3.5k warmdown then 7k spin around the course on the bike.
Stopped at Lake Eppalock and soaked in the chilly waters for 10mins. I have been bothered lately by a vague hamstring/groin/lower ab strain. It's ok once I'm warmed up but revisits once I cool down from a race, hoping a nice cold soak might help it.
Might head south to Whittlesea tomorrow am. for a run with my old clubmates. I have been reluctant to visit the area since the fires.
A revisit to Gimmelwald is locked in the must do section of my mind. My wife has not had the pleasure of visiting Switzerland and I have promised we will go as soon as is practical. This year has been a frenzy of big spending -new roof, new shed, new air con, new kitchen etc. Any big trips have been put on the backburner. Next year hopefully will be more frugal.
mopak, i hear you, our family budget has shrunk somewhat since we finally managed to buy our apartment 3 years ago.
Anyway, lets just hypothesize that Gimmelawald in Summer 2010 could be the DYRT's inaugural Open Description-Running Gathering. A week, five days? At least one session, would have to be a mass-post after an all-included group run. One other day, everybody could shoot off in different directions and then we could DYRT in person in front of swiss brews of sorts, hot or cold.
Not easy to plan but it definitely looks like a place i would visit. A negative review i read on some site from this one guy being POed that there were only 25W lightbulbs in the rooms, made me want to go even more. LOL. I was on the floor...
Today: kids athletics after a long break. Sunny as could be. It was diagonals on grass and we did a whole bunch barefoot. First we walked with shoes in a square area i sealed off to make sure there were no stones or maybe pins from a race, or anyway overly sharp or pointy objects under the grass blades. Then it was sprints and recovery with some cones to make the diagonals visually readable. All together with me, then without me, then by themselves and one at the time trying to be speedy. They seem to like it. Then it was exercises, some creative quadrupedia, kick-and-chase with a rugby ball and then "Merenda" - snack time, that is...
might race a 10K tmw.
PS. If 2010 too early, there's 2011.
If the planets were so aligned I would go to Gimmelwald tomorrow. Unfortunately 2011 is more realistic but I do harbour a quiet little goal of next year.
This morning I headed south to the outskirts of the "Big City". I'd hoped to catch my buddies leaving from Whittlesea for their various runs/rides. I was running a bit late so missed their departures.
I decided to ride up my old favourite, the Humevale hill and onto the Kinglake West general store. I wasn't sure what I'd find as this was the area worst hit by the fires.
Things looked good in the valley, all houses intact surprisingly.
But that was the end of the good news. As I crossed the bridge to start the climb I could see the extent of the damage. Within a few 100metres a temporary gate stopped me in my tracks. I was happy to turn back, not quite ready to see what lies up that hill.
I headed back and did a nice scenic route through unburnt country. All up a solid hour of riding. Not long after various runners and riders returned. Some of the guys had followed some other riders around the gate and were quite shocked by the devastation up on the mountain.
I was glad to have missed out. Perhaps in a few more months I will try again.
Headed further into the city and stopped near my old home. I ran 70mins on the Quarry Hill trails. I used to run these hills when they were cow paddocks, now it is parkland with formed trails. I used to see 100s of roos, several wedge tail eagles, occassionally emus and even deer up there. Now the valley is a brand new suburb, the swamps are now ornamental lakes. There were no signs of the above fauna. Just a distant view of Melbourne Central, 20kms away, cloaked in a brown haze.
My session with my good friend Doc yesterday was a Miracle!!!
All morning (drive to Campbell River Starbucks and back, with Matthew, to meet Heather, who biked there and back!!!), my back was shyte. I spazzed it the day before while trying to pick up a piece of paper that I dropped, while walking forward at the same time. When will I learn?
But, I stretched, and took some good drugs, then went to the track anyway, just to see if I could loosen it up a little. I had previously planned on a hard 400m yesterday, but that was most likely out.
***I wore Zoots sans arch supports***
I walked about. Then, as I began a grass jog, the back was bad. 10min later however, it was a bit better, and I told Doc, who had just joined in, that my goal was a 30min jog today.
But, after 30mins, I was persuaded to try a gentle 100m stride. 21sec felt quite stiff. A 400m was still very doubtful.
Then we did an 18sec 100m. It felt better. I told Doc that I might do a "slow 400m".
Then we did a 17sec 100m, and I felt much better!!! I told Doc that I might try a hard 400m.
Then we did a 16sec 100m, and I felt better still!!! I told Doc that I'd definitely try the goal 66sec 400m.
Then we did the 400m. I felt great at 200m, with Doc in tow, in hi-31. That was a bit quick, shockingly, so I relaxed around the turn. Doc's breathing became more distant. I expected a burn on the last 100m - it never came - and 65.30sec felt awesome. Doc was very happy with his 69sec run.
A 10min jog followed where I expounded to Doc just how Miraculous this session was. He couldn't get a word in edgewise. The Zoots felt great too!
Awoke to a beautiful day with very little on the agenda. Priority #2 was to get in a good run! After an enjoyable session with a tall OJ, it was out the door. I took the usual circuitous route to the nearby trails. This time I went a littler deeper into them than the last time. Was suprised to see some new "No Trespassing"/"Private Property" signs. Oh, well. Ha, ha! You gotta love trail running, especially with minimalist shoes. So good for the proprioception, not to mention foot/ankle strengthening. Eventually turned around and returned to the starting point with more than 8K registering on the Garmin. Nice!
Hoping for a short run tomorrow, but the week's calendar is very full. Thanks to mopak, my new challenge is to find more ME TIME! Ha, ha!
By the way, priority #1 today is to celebrate Mother's Day with my mom. May I wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers in DYRT land. (There is one particular "mother" excluded from these well wishes. Ha, ha!)
Keep up the good work, all!
Running Dogg wrote:
(There is one particular "mother" excluded from these well wishes. Ha, ha!)
Don't make me send you to the corner, RD. Everything has been civil since I sent TC for a time out. Don't start trolling or you will be sent to the corner with no dessert.
way to catch out in left field!
today: AM, 9.7k in 38:05. Got to the race 5 minutes before the gun. at the starting line 20 seconds before the start. really had to hassle to put on my vibrams: it's not like they are made to be worn in a hurry. I knew that but, when it actually happens, it makes cussing so the option...
Sunny day, weak field, walked away with a 3Kg Speck cred ham prize! Yeah.
Nice running people, nice running. And yes, Happy Mother's Day. LOL.
PM: will try to go for a 45mins shakeout. It's not very healthy to run without wu nor cd!!!
mopak: no hurry. 2011 is right around the corner.
Ran a Half Marathon race today in 1:26 and change. Felt good, negative split.
Found someone aiming for sub 1:30 and together we started preying on other runners ahead of us. I told him to imagine theres a bear behind us. Eventually I lost him though when I kicked it up in the last couple miles.
I feel sore but I'm good. Can I break 3 hours in two weeks in Ottawa for the full?
ps: the winner came in 2:38 for the full...couldn't believe it. But then again he only won $1000.
pps: Ran the whole thing without an ipod, the longest I've ran so far without one in years. I think I might ditch the pod for the full too.
Happy Running!
today PM: 50 mins shake out in Villa Pamphili.That's about 20k today total.
Ottawa is nice and flat right?
Go HR, GO!
Thanx for the support! That's what I hear; its also apparently pretty scenic. An interesting course and spectators really makes it easier.
...I really like the thrill of being so close to the starting line, hearing the gun go off, and using other runners as prey.
"Cheers" for a good go at Ottawa.
mopak,TPCB, assembled DYRT'ers. You folks are on. "Gimmelwald 2011" or bust!!
Celebrated my 58th B- Day on Thurs. Many thanks to all that is Providential for the blessing of that much time in this realm.
5 mile along Green Bay yesterday. Inspired by fresh competition from my bro-in-law ,I rolled to a 33:23 effort on fairly even splits.
I know what you mean "Runners as prey", yet thus written, it does sound a little loony HR. Note i know for myself i have written some pretty loony things on this thread/board. We all have to come to terms with our creative side, i suppose.Havent run yet, but i will.
Happy Runner 123 wrote:
...I really like the thrill of being so close to the starting line, hearing the gun go off, and using other runners as prey.
touched 50' once again....legs a wee bit heavy, but not too much trouble.....can 60' be far away?......happy birthday, driske......and good luck to HR123......it's been rather peaceful on the thread lately.....i guess the message got through.....will wonders never cease?.....
An easy 60min run around Bendigo in the dark, a good moon however.
2 consecutive "city" runs, it will be good to be back running at home in the country tomorrow.
Great stuff HR! Hopefully the body will thrive over the next 2 weeks and you get your shot at "glory".
Happy birthday Driske, 58 hey, almost makes me feel young.
I look at my brother's chiselled 60 yo body and realise that there is plenty of scope for physicality beyond 50.
the point could be wrote:
way to catch out in left field!
today: AM, 9.7k in 38:05. Got to the race 5 minutes before the gun. at the starting line 20 seconds before the start. really had to hassle to put on my vibrams: it's not like they are made to be worn in a hurry. I knew that but, when it actually happens, it makes cussing so the option...
Sunny day, weak field, walked away with a 3Kg Speck cred ham prize!
Well we're both big time pro-runners now, you with your ham and me winning a $20 gift card!!
Congratulations on your winnings!
I got that phrase "using other runners as prey" from some ad awhile ago. But its true, you see whose ahead of you and try to pass them.
Easy recovery run today, gym workout later.
thassright! Happy Birthday driske!
Fired up? Ready to go?
mopak, but you placed better! Anyway, i figured 3kg of speck cured ham would average a 45Euro cash value. Now proudly awaiting the slicer in the fridge. As you said, we Bad, we Bad...
today: 50 mins Villa Pamphili, smooth.
That AW account by malmo is awesome.
Birthdays, ham, gift cards,...wow! All sorts of celebrations going on around this great place. And a very positive outlook for Happy Runner 123! Go get 'em!
Following the advice of one wise DYRT sage, I made some "me time" today and squeezed in 36 minutes of the usual easy aerobic ecstasy. Ha, ha! No time for more and tomorrow is a full day, so I'm glad I made time for myself today. What a great idea!
Keep up the good work, all!