Describe Your Running Today, Part II

If you believe RD is trying to fool us, then you must believe that RD is actually running in an attempt to return to his sub-elite glory days. Why would he lie about that????

As for fooling no one, your MT handle certainly fits the bill, Skuj.

Well done on your marathons tpcb and Driske.

No marathons for me but the annual 4 day -4 Peaks event leaves one with that familiar leg fatigue.

Day one. Saturday morning, already warm and sunny by the 8ish start. Steep ascent no.1 went well, a brisk km of downhill pine trail.

Turn left and straight up aloose rough 30-40% grade. Slogging mix of running and power hiking.

Finally out of the forest and across the hang glider launch mat.

Spectacular views across the Ovens Valley. No time to slow down and enjoy as I want a top 5 O/50 spot this year. Along the ridge on a rolling dirt road then a steep pinch to the highest point. 52 mins about the same as last year.

The choice is to plunge down the treacherous descent at high speed and clock a fast 76min time or save the ageing legs for the next 3 days of running. I choose the latter and cruise down leisurely to a slow 82 mins finish. 6th spot in the O/50s.

Time for a long soak in the icy creek.

Day 2. Another warm and sunny morning. Mt Feathertop, 2d highest in the state. Weather is so often freezing and the views limited by cloud. Today is clear and windless. 30C predicted in the valley.

I plod steadily upward for the first hour holding a good if somewhat slow rhythm. At the old hutsite I start mixing some power hiking in as the terrain is rough rocky and rooted. Often requiring bringing the knees as high as the hips to get up rocks and snow gum roots.

I run the last part to the new hut strongly and continue to run well across the treeless saddle.

The last climb up the rocky face of the summit is just a head down slog. 1h 46 mins at the finish, a minute slower than last year. I move from 6th to 5th in the O/50s.

After a nice rest on the snow we turn around and start the long hike back to the start -looking forward to a long soak in the Ovens River when we get back.

mopak, from the data seems like the groin is better, yes?

driske, you running marathons almost back to back? Wow

Got back home, might just wonder out for a light post-flight shake-out. Feeling amazingly rested. I could write copiously about the whole NY experience, including a couple of almost endearing attempts to rip me off near Tavern on the Green on marathon monday which made the whole sojourn very authentic!

Running sub 3h30 makes Boston legit and very very tempting. I think the quadrupedia stuff works, LOL

Lost track on MOARG but will get right back on track. Good to see the trolls are back.

Re. all the racism threads: going back to USA after quite a while does not want to make me just yet mix in a multi-poster commentary. But i will share this with you. America is objectively a land of mostly immigrants, of people that were not there, and who went there leaving their origins, yet bringing their whole culture (or parts of it) with them. All the racism problems, seem to be generated by the relative importance one gives to the order and conditions arrival. The "racism" discussion is useless if people do not acknowledge the timing and conditions of arrival - and the priority assigned to this reality - of people and populations. If this is not done, the whole issue is really quite abstract. As the idea of nation, as opposed to land, risks dissolving in the violence of the dialogue to describe itself, in the words people use to relate to one another.

Mopak,

The stint of racing you Aussies serve up fairly dwarfs anything we (at least me) tackle locally. The Rockies people do stuff that severe; Midwest we shy away from more than a little mud. Keep up the staunch competition.

tpcb,

Thanks for sharing what you did of the NYCM. It's alot to digest.

What is it about marathoner's that makes us the easy looking "marks"??

Our team trip to Boston 1979, was highlighted by repeated attempts to lighten our pockets of "spare change". Nearly to an intimidating degree at times.

If the road to recovery feels approachable, you've navigated well. Go for it.

The 3 marathons in 2 months meets the criteria Marathon Maniacs set forth for club entry.

Currently I feel some sane training and less racing will be my approach next year. Nail one good time, and save the legs for decades yet to come.

AM; 25 minutes on the bike trainer. 115AHR.

Day 3. Warmer than the two previous mornings.

Today's race starts with a long undulating steamy forest run to the river crossing. 38 mins. a quick splash and a drink then up we go.

I have our best known ultra runner tracking my arse up the 1st part of the climb. He's walking and I'm "running".

Gradually I pull away as we climb 3kms of steep overgrown single track gaining 700m in height.

It's hot and steamy in the dense forest.

Some downhill and flat running after the top of Bon Accord Hill and I'm rolling along really well.

Past the hut ruins and then it's up the "wall".

This is secretly my favourite part of the 4 days, don't tell anyone they'll think I'm mad.

300m of gain inside the first km!! I run for the first 1/2 km but have to drop back to some power hiking at times during the next 1/2 km.

The trees begin to shrink in size and the gradient eases.

The last km of climb leaves the treeline and the track becomes rockier. 2 years ago we hit 150km per hour winds and blizzard conditions. Today the sun is shining and barely a breeze to cool us.

Onto the Razorback and across the rocky ridge to the finish at Diamantina Hut. 2hr.15m. Good enough to put me into 4th in the O/50s. The O/50s leader going into today could only clock the same time. He'd beaten me by 13mins on day one!

Day 4. Mt Buffalo. Cooler conditions. Today is a faster course and I know I'll struggle to keep up with the fitter, faster guys.

I'm very sluggish through the early kms of climbing. After about 30 mins some great views lift my spirits and I get into a better rhythm.

47 mins at the Mackeys Lookout road crossing, usually about 1/2 way in overall race time. I was looking for a sub 90, going to be hard to pull that back.

Up onto the granite wall. The "trail" here is the worn contoured grooves (mostly from water runoff) in the huge granite face.

The views are enormous but the track requires full attention.

On top of the granite wall and it's back to running on trails again.

2kms from the finish most of the climbing is done and I get to do some fast freewheeling.

The last few 100m has the sting in the tail. Stone stairs lift us up toward the chalet.

Across the road then up more stairs before a 20m dash to the line. 91 mins. I'll hold onto an age group 4th.

I'm pleased my good mate Twitey has claimed the O/50s title in his 15th running of the event. He clocked an 82 today, tough gutsy stuff from him as he looked pretty wrecked the day before.

-487 running days to the MOARG, in Gimmelwald, Switzerland, in 2011

today: 1hr post marathon ecovery walk in villa pamphili, exercises at the chin up bar.

The groin is 90%. The uphills cause no issue.

Perhaps a bit of quadrupedia leading into next years 4Peaks might see me squeeze into the top 3 in my age group.

Russ the 3d placed O/50 is a climbing arborist who runs only sporadically. My long time buddy Greg (a former 2.25 marathoner) ran 6kms on the wednesday before. That was his total run training in the last few months. In his late 40s he managed to finish on the edge of the overall top 10 just off mountain biking.

As we age I think we have to be prepared to play outside the "rules".

Driske, the last 4 days present an opportunity to run in a magnificent area. It would seem a shame to miss such a chance even if the body is not quite ready for the challenge.

Try a google search of Mt Buffalo, Mt Feathertop, Mt Hotham, Bright and the Ovens Valley. You will see why it is a must do event.

Ready to walk with the kids to school this morning (i really missed that) but they were both fatigued. Drove in and later got a call that little Ed had a fever. Could be no running today.

-486 to MOARG

Hope this fever doesn't go too rough on Ed. The male immu

nity held up to post NY. Guess that was a good thing.

All well here in the land of bare trees and cow crap. (It's that time of year)

AM. 30 minutes on the catskiis. 110 AHR.

mopak,

Your trail friends do span the spectrum. Climbing worked well for me as a kid. I just don't trust my reflexes that much any more.

No running yesterday, still converging on the back home routines.

Ed is sleeping a lot. And i cant help but think on the healing effects of sleep. Jaguar1 is a solid testimonial of this.

PM; 5.8 miles@ 10 min/mi. Felt good for 3, then the quads started to speak up.

Blustery, moonlit night. 0C, (32F). Finished with a "stick" session and a few situps.

mopak,

Going to google forthwith. Feather top here we come.

mopak,

The beauty of Feathertop mountain belies the fact that there is nearly 1500 metres of vertical gain involved in your endeavors to acsend it.

It appears Mic Dundee didn't reveal all your country's natural treasures..

AM:20 min on the bike trainer, then the phone started ringing.

-485 days to MOARG in Gimmelwald, Switzerland, in 2011

today: gently motivated a group (6 men) of university admin staff for a lunchtime workout at the track. very grass roots, very recreational and very pleasant. exterior loop wu x 4 laps; light drills and striders on grass; 3x400m experimenting with comfortable pace and comfortable recovery. Objective: keep appetite in check, curb ills of sedentary life. The chainsmoking groundkeeper came in jeans, sythetic leather jacket and expensive sneakers. Immediate feedback: tolerable and enjoyable. Answer: the sky is the limit. About 1 hour total. Could become a regular activity depending on numbers and level of appreciation.

today: 50 mins easy under a gentle drizzle in villa pamphili park.

-484 days to MOARG

30+' yesterday after 3 days off to rest the knee.....some minor stiffness/achiness, but nothing major.....no problems when I got out of bed this am......well except for the sore back thanks to stepping in a hole after yesterday's run.....i'll be okay......will try again this weekend......hopefully longer.....

02,

Got your season wrapped up yet?? We're through here, State was last weekend.

Girls team in the town next door repeated as Champs in The Small school div. Congrats to the Wildcats. Personally, I find the coach to be a real wick; but he sure gets those young gals to the podium often.

Great job Coach Dan, and team!!

mopak,

That Aussie Alpine scene has me thinking to board a plane with my Fischers some July.......Kangaroohoppet time perhaps.

On the example of the arborist; split and stacked 2 cord of wood. No run.