Towards Blackmore's Half Marathon

..And so training for Chickybabe continues this week for 11th September...half marathon.

AUGUST
15 - Rest Day!!!
16 - 20 minutes easy run.
17 - 40 minutes easy run.
18 - 30 minutes easy run + 4 x 100m strides
19 - TIME TRIAL 3km......growl! At evenly hard pace...6:45 each km. More growl!
20 - Rest or 20 minutes easy run.
21 - LONG RUN - 80 minutes.

City-to-Surf, 2005

I had the most wonderfully enjoyable run of all my 17 C2S! Not faster than last year; in fact, 1 or 2 minutes slower, but I can't remember feeling this particular run so comfortable; can't remember enjoying every hill; can't remember running so fast down the hills!.. ...so fast, I even terrified myself by my own speed! Can't remember loving every step of the way; can't remember a C2S where I didn't struggle..... ... but this was it! Put simply - I loved every minute of this year's City-to-Surf!

Amongst all of the Crs I met up with later at the Striders tent, (thanks to all for your welcome), it was Action who said something that I thought about on the trip back to Mittagong (& unless he reads blogs!!), he never will know the impact his words had. I'd kept saying to others, in answer to questions of, "How did you go?" "Oh, I'd hoped to go under 100 minutes, but not sure of the time adjustment for the first 2 starts"... always answering in terms of my time; explaining 1 or 2 minutes one way or the other; & I gave the same reply to Action, who ignored these responses about my time & kept asking, "But did you enjoy the run? Did you really enjoy yourself?"

"Yes! I said truthfully at last. "I loved every single minute of it!

"Well then," Action replied, "time is irrelevant!"

And it was only then that I realized what was really important about this run in particular & just how struggle free & free-spirited I'd felt during every one of those 14kms! Indeed, it was a very happy day for me!

Results in tomorrow's SMH & will know my correct time then & it's important.......just a little, but eventually I'll most likely forget it, whereas the euphoria of this City-to-Surf will be with me for the rest of my life!

Edit 21/8/05 - 70 & over Age Category Results - 3rd Place!!

Last Session Before City-to-Surf

....doing the last 10 minutes of 30 minutes run at the gym. Instructions were to do this at 6:30 - 7:00 min/ per km pace, but Chickybabe flew along at 6:18 min/per km!!

...And that's about it until after Sunday's City-to-Surf...

3km Time Trial...Grrrrrrr Session!

.. Chickybabe, blue with cold!! And a flurry of snow!!




The session was : 3km warm up, then a 10 minute break walking around & stretching, so I did that like this................. .........................................................................>

Then I have to psych myself up for the 3km TT, today 1 & 1/2km out & back, going hard but, to quote the likeable lad who is helping me be not so slow, "without killing yourself". The only way that was going to happen would be if an almighty tree fell on me. Lastly, a 3km jog/walk home; total 9km.

Now for the time 3km TT results... (& I'm pretty sure "W" will be quietly pleased with Chickybabe's slight improvement on the last 3km TT of 18:27); 18:22 (6:05, 6:03,6:13)!

Easy Run

I wouldn't go out in the wind again after last Sunday, simply couldn't! I went to the gym instead & did the 25 minutes + 4 x 100m strides on a treadmill; had a shower, came home feeling civilised & quite pleased with myself for not opting out of the session altogether!

Tomorrow is going to hurt, but "without killing yourself" as Ewen says! Grrrrr session!

All the 'stuff' for Blackmores Half Marathon came today...bib #4164.

'Easy' Run, 30 minutes.

Feeling a bit stiff behind my knees...why there? I don't know! So I walked a few minutes, before starting, to a dirt track that's always covered in a thick layer of pine needles......filtered light under huge old pines, quiet, out of the wind & soft under foot; very nice!

Long Run.....100 minutes

What a shocker of a morning! A cold, constant blast of wind coming across to my right side going out & the same rip-roaring wind to my left side on the return when I surely felt I was moving sideways more often than forward & the last 2kms fully into my face. I should have had gloves but didn't realize it was going to be that cold, so instead I pulled my hands inside my sweater...wishing I could have pulled my head in too; & I had to do a negative split & I did -

Just 'talk to the animals' pace out....a slow 60 minutes (to even the distance to 7km!) & 45 minutes back, (didn't bother about the seconds), speeding (?) up & down the hills as hard as the elements would allow! I worked so hard against the wind on the way back!! Total of 14km - Time 105 minutes; negative split 15 minutes. I think/hope 'W' will be pleased with that! What a relief afterwards to get into a hot shower & then a bowl of hot oats for breakfast.

Week Beginning 8th - 14th August:

8 - 30 minutes easy run.
9 - 25 minutes easy run + 4 x 100m strides
10- TIME TRIAL - 3km hard (grrrrrr!)
11- Rest Day (d'lovely!)
12- 15 minutes easy run. *
13- Rest Day (another d'lovely day!)
14- CITY TO SURF!


*Change to - 30 minutes run with last 10 at 6:30-7:00 per km pace.

A Day in the Garden!

.....so I didn't run...neither did I rest, but on such a glorious day, I had to be in the garden preparing for Spring! A crab apple tree last Spring & the buds are already waiting to burst out all over again!

(Trying to work photos into my blog!)

50 Minutes 'Medium' Pace Run

Colder this morning...knew Winter would return, but clear skies & lovely sun. Time on feet today was actually 58 minutes because I wanted to round off the distance to 8km ...an average of 7:15min/km...hoping that pace can be called "medium"!

A Day Off!

Chickybabe is resting today!

A 2kmTime Trial

Warm up 20 minutes; 4 x 100m strides; walk around & stretch, like this....>

2km TT - and it was not easy at all! Time = 11:43 ( not hrs. & mins.!) & I ran really hard & I couldn't have run any faster or any further without ending up like this.................................>

A 4km jog/walk home...total of about 8.5km. It was tough going at the time, but felt fine afterwards!

Easy Run + Strides

Is there no end to these wonderful sunny days? 16 degrees today & 17 degrees tomorrow; it's absolutely, bloominlootly fantastic! So to be out for only 20 minutes did seem a shame, but do or die, I'll do as I'm told : 20 minutes easy jogging followed by 4 x 100m strides - and I even enjoyed them!

Tomorrow is TT Day for Chickybabe! But I notice it's 2km this week not 3....phew! First though, the usual warmup, stretch & strides & flapping of feathered wings! I'm actually looking forward to seeing if I find it as hard as last week; being shorter, (the distance, not me!) I suppose not.

An 'Easy' Run ...August Already!

Another fantastic day to be out! This is Springtime....at least the daffodils, jonquils etc. think so! They've been blooming out of their little minds for weeks now & I've been picking some of them for inside the house. They're such cheerful little things! Pity another blast of Winter is still to come.

This morning's run was at an easy pace for 30 minutes...not hard to do in this sort of weather. More please!

Sunday Run - 90 minutes

It was 'Christopher Robin' who prayed something like : "Thank you, God, for a lovely day; now, what was the other I had to say?" Well, it was the most glorious of mornings to be out doing anything! Of course, "the other thing" is to say inadequate words like ""thank you so much" to some dear CR bloggers for your very kind thoughts for Jimbo! Now all is well again; but what was the other thing I had to say? Think, think, think!

Ah yes! This morning's run!

I think Wombat will be pleased with me today. Time on feet was to be 90 minutes, with the first half at 'talking to the cows' pace & the second half a negative split... i.e. 'hard work'! Trouble with that was....the paddocks were filled with dozens of new calves as well as their mothers & fathers, all of whom had to be talked to, which explains why it took 50 minutes to get to the turn around at 6km! Marvellous, though, how incentive increases when you're answerable to a 'higher authority'! I was back at the start, a lot of uphill, in 38 minutes!! So, all up I only ran 88 minutes! And that is a negative split of 12 minutes!! Can't wait to email Wombat the results!

And now for Week August 1 - August 7..(with some modifications already!)
AUGUST
1 - 30 minutes easy run.
2 - 20 minutes easy run.
3 - TIME TRIAL (Oh Dear!) - 2km hard.
4 - Rest Day (Thank you!)
5 - 50 Minutes 'medium' pace.
6 - Rest or 20 minutes easy run
7 - Long Run 100 minutes easy..(Negative split again!)

MODIFICATIONS :
Previous day to TT, do a very easy run, then stop, stretch & do 4 x 100m strides. (Blimey! I'll soon look like "ROO" hopping along!).

On other easy days, walking, going to the gym, etc. is OK. (Nothing about eating, sleeping, etc. do you notice?...just as well there aren't cows to be milked!)

All jokes aside, I'm loving it & lucky to be doing some training with Wombat's help, in the hope that, one day soon I will not be so slow & may even be able to run out of sight on a dark night!

'Medium' Pace Run

45 minutes "medium' pace; I took "medium" to mean just push a bit harder than an 'easy' run; ran total time of 46.49 so as to round off at total of 6.5km...i.e. 23.04 out & 23.45 back.....avg. 7.1 min/km. I'll have to check this out with 'W' to see if he approves of my interpretation of "medium"! Windy again on the return.

Mr. LL had another fainting spell yesterday; ambulance to High Dependency Unit, Bowral Hospital; I stayed all afternoon; Cardiologist kept him overnight on heart monitor; home today; seems fine again; seeing cardiologist Monday. Main thing...we're together again!

I felt I had to do my runs both yesterday & today (not selfish, I hope) but it does help lift feeling depressed & teary.

I have to go to Sydney tomorrow, so will take that as a rest day.

Rest

According to Wombat : "and on the 4th day Chickybabe rested!" Relieved that unlike the Creator of the world, 'W' didn't designate the 7th day for rest!

Truth be known, immediately yesterday's TT finished, I felt fine...no lingering fatigue at all! Looking forward to tomorrow's run already.....weather is simply great!

3km Time Trial

....but Wombat never told me my very life was on trial here today! God Almighty (not you 'W'!), I felt this an awfully hard session...my life was in danger of ending with one, huge gasp of what I thought was my last breath!

Instructions for today & subsequent Wednesdays assuming I survive this one, were : (1) find a suitable venue...got that bit right ; (2) jog for about 15-20 minutes.... no trouble with that; (3) 4 "strides" over about 80-100m (had to make a typo correction there from 'kms' back to metres! Maybe that's where I went wrong? Did strides over 80-100km!!!); (4) stop, stretch & rest for 10 minutes ....you bet I did! (5) Run 3km hard but evenly as if in a race & don't sprint at the end; just 'evenly hard' the whole way...might just as well have asked Jesse, the elephant, to do that! (6) Take note of time, walk for 10 minutes & than jog home (if you can!)...well, I couldn't, but I did have the car at the finish!

That's who I must have looked like & certainly felt like... as though Jessie might have had a twin who breathed like 'Puff, the Magic Dragon'; running 3km hard wasn't a labour of love at all, but a gruelling, labour-intensive exercise for this Chickybabe who one day hopes to be not so slow!

Anyhow I did it, even if in an elephantine sort of way, 1.5km out & 1.5km back ( return into a headwind). Eternally grateful "W' that you made this a once a week only session!

TIME : 18:27 Mins & Secs. (NOT hrs. & mins.!)
HR Max. : 90%; Avg. 83%

An 'Easy' Run

Same as yesterday...20 minutes run; westerly wind stronger than yesterday. It sounds like a clap of thunder each time it hits the front of the house; not at all nice outside & the gym seems very inviting!

Running the "Wombat Way!"

Programme for Week 1, 25th - 31st July...in order to make Chickybabe less slow & hurtling along!...here it is :

JULY
25 - 20 minutes easy run.
26 - 20 minutes easy run.
27 - TIME TRIAL ** - 3km hard.....strong even running
28 - Rest Day.
29 - 45 minutes, medium pace.
30 - Sat. Rest day or 20 minutes easy run.
31 - Sun. Long Run 90 minutes.

** This is the important (read 'tough'!) session each week & much more about how to do it & all other sessions as they happen.

Monday - 20 minutes easy run - Done! Easy! I keep HR for 'easy' runs 73-83% of Max.

Not very pleasant out today; westerlies starting up.

Sunday "Long" (?) Run Into the Wind.

....... an ugly westerly was blowing Chickybabe's feathers every which-way this morning so I stayed out for 1 hour only & that was enough! An easy jogging pace, keeping HR between 73% & 83% of Max. but didn't get very far.

Programme to be less slow, "according to Wombat, Verse 1 Chapter 1," begins tomorrow!

Another 'Easy' Jog

How long can this brilliant weather last? Hopefully until the start of the August winds! A full week now of sun & warm days of up to 15C. Shorts & short sleeve top was all that I needed for this morning's 40mins easy jog. Hope to double that tomorrow & then commence W's programme on Monday; really looking forward to doing some training to be, not faster, just not so slow!

A Bit of Cross Training

Went to the gym for 40mins. session on elliptical trainer & then some work for the quads on the leg-press....& that's it: another beauty of a day, 14-15degrees & still no winds or clouds.

The Morning After the Day Before!

....and never felt better! No headache! Actually feeling 'really alive' for a change! We had such fun....talking, eating, laughing most of the day, all of which goes well with more than a few very good red wines!

So out early this morning 9:00am (?) for 45 minutes of easy jogging; superb day here (4 in a row) without a breath of wind, not a cloud in the sky...just warm, glorious sun. Hope all the Vic . bloggers are getting some of it too. It's so good to be alive & still enjoying being alive!

A Rest Day...of Sorts!

Calling today a 'rest day' is just another way of saying Chickuybabre didn't run but had a very nice day just the same...... with friends who came from Sydney for lunch & we lucnhed & drqank Glorious red wines all afternoon! That's why I'm leaving ina all the tupo errors, jusdt top show what lots of gloruious reds can do to someone who otherwise would be embarrassed to l; et even one error go uncorrected! I've got a wonderul feeling Chickuybabe might have a headache headache in the morning! Oh waht a beutiful day!

Oh well, next week the serious tuff tarts!

"Easy" Jog

30 minutes this morning just jogging along; another late night to follow with TDF back on. It's frightening just how strong those guys are! Scenically beautiful as well.

A Lazy Monday...20mins. jog.

I'm a very pleased Chickybabe because.......as of next Monday, July 25th, I'll be starting a program give to me by CR Wombatface! I think it's very brave of him to even attempt to do something to make me less slow & if it doesn't work, I'll know who to blame.....ME! He's a very knowledgeable wombat & knows what he's doing, which is more than I do.....still not able to run out of sight on a dark night, taking nearly 6hrs to finish a marathon, continually being directionally challenged (thanks Plu!), etc. etc...

I have the program for the next 2 months & each week consists of 3 'easy' runs; 1 'Time Trial' (a hard session); 1 'medium' pace run and 1 'long' run; 1 rest day + one of the 'easy' runs could be a second rest day if needed. A big change for me will be that each session is 'time on feet', not distance.

Anyhow, I'll continue to post each day's session, starting next Monday, & anyone who wants to pick up hints from our very kind & very wise CR wombat, need look no further!

Watched the Tennis !

I wouldn't get up early enough to run before the start of Davis Cup (stayed up far too late watching TDF), but just in time to see the tennis start at 10:00am! Should have run, but doing no serious training till next Monday; then it's time to get ready for Blackmore's Half marathon on Sept. 11, with C2S in between. A few more days to laze around or jog when and if I feel like it.

Day 2 of 3

Lordie, but it's freezing here today! Cold wind too; had to wear woolly cap, long sleeves & tights. 40 minutes & that's long enough to be outside on such a cold day; don't think we'll get to 10 degrees again. Long (?) run tomorrow.

1st of 3 Days

Jogging along for 30mins. this morning...on the up & up! So cold here today...lucky if we hit 10 degrees max.

3 On...1 Off

For the next 2 - 3 weeks that's what it's going to be : run 3 days, 1 day off. Only 20 mins. each day this week; tomorrow Friday, Saturday & Sunday will be 30 minutes each day & increasing the time gradually in following sets of 3 days.....very soon Chickybabe will be flying out of sight on a dark night!

Just Jogging Along!

Monday, Tuesday & today, Wednesday, got out into the sun! 20mins. easy joggging on Monday & Tuesday; today 25mins.! Wow! Soon hit the big time again! City-to-Surf next.

....memory still coming back

....Oh, and Mr LL presented me with a most beautiful bouquet of flowers when I got home from the Gold Coast!

Very wet & windy here today; so glad I don't have to go out & run, but I'll start to think about it next week......maybe!

As the Brain Starts to Function Again.....

..so does memory slowly return!

I omitted one of the nicest moments of the day. On the Sunday evening I had a call from Wombatface asking how I was & if I wanted to have something to eat. Even though I assured him I couldn't eat a thing, he arrived at my pad with 2 big delicious hamburgers & a box of chocs! It was the best hamburger ever & for someone who wasn't hungry, I have to confess I wolfed it down & finished first!

Then we just sat, ate chocolates, drank several cups of tea & talked for a couple more hours. Now that was so good of a Wombat to take such care of a Chickeybabe, wasn't it? A very pleasant finish to the day too!

5:58:51 !!!!!!!

There it is! Is that the sort of time a runner would take to complete a marathon? Well it did & I'm disappointed with it considering I was allowing a generous 5.30 to finish. Anyhow, can't change it, can probably learn something from it, though can't think what that might be right now except never underestimate what can happen during a marathon no matter how you prepare, how good the first half, etc. etc.

All pre-race preparations were in place, hydration, fuel, etc. slow start & first half all good. During the second half, however, I suffered badly; my quads just about completely seized up, were shot through with pain at every step & I just had to hang in there & keep moving forwards, backwards, sideways, any whichways as long as it took me towards the finish. Strangely, at no stage did I even consider not finishing; it was 'do or die' & I just kept telling myself I was getting stronger with each step (lies!), slower (for sure!), but nearer & nearer to the end. I was never going to give in while there was the slightest chance of finishing & I truly believed that no matter how badly I felt, I could still make it unless someone pulled me off the course!

So when the motor cycle police officer pulled up alongside at about 35km I thought that gruesome moment had arrived! He asked if I was OK! Who? Me? The Chickybare blogger? Sure, I was OK! Just stopping momentarily for some light refreshments! And off I wobbled again trying to look like I was having the time of my life....which I was in another kind of way though!
What this very kind man did was to ride ahead, alert others wearing similar gear that a lady in her (wait for it!) 50's was in trouble out on the course. Every km from there seemed like 10km before reaching the next km point, but with 1.5 km to go, Courtleylove's daughter, CR Eskiemo, came alongside & jogged with me; at the same time straight ahead the entire cheer squad was approaching...I thought I'd died & gone to heaven & here were the cherubim & seraphim coming to take me through the pearly gates!

This wonderful group lined themselves on either side of me & with shouts of encouragement , banner flying & pom poms waving, they saw that I got to the finish chute & still on my own two feet...I think! They didn't leave me there though; they just walked along outside the railings & I'll never, ever, forget the sound of their voices shouting "GO NORMA!" over & over until I crossed that damned line! These, not the run, are the memories I will take with me forever of GC 2005.

Monday I couldn't leave the apartment; my quads were in agony by then & far worse than during the marathon; had I gone out it is quite likely I'd have been arrested for loitering in a public place! I was moving like the Tinman in the "Wizard of Oz" but not nearly as elegantly. Tuesday I found I could cross the road to the beach by avoiding all the curbing & using those sloping bits they have for oldies! Even they felt like going up & down a roller coaster. I had a lovely time wading in the surf ....a wonderful massage for my weary legs. Tuesday I did the same but wore my cossie so I could duck under the waves....sheer bliss; also did a long walk along the sand; so beautiful those beaches.....seemingly endless stretches of white sand, warm water to wade in, mist from the sea breeze, balm for a tired body, soul & mind.

And this was pretty much how Chickybabe finished & sailed off into the sunset of her latest marathon!

I'm Still Here!

The Chickybabe blogger is still here! Back last night; couldn't get damned computer to work all day today! Have just posted a report on the main message board, but will write other thoughts here tomorrow.

A Few "Sharpeners" to Finish With!

Short warm up: 4 x 1km @ marathon pace (I hope!); short cool down & finito! Walking at the GC, to & from the Expo, will do; maybe 15mins. jog sometime. Early start tomorrow.....7:10am train right to the Domestic Terminal & flight out around midday....1 more sleep!

Rest & a Movie

Went to the "pictures" this afternoon & saw "Downfall" (Germany/English sub-titles) 2 & half hours depicting how Adolf Hitler lived out his last days in an underground bunker in Berlin...depressing & horrifying & relentlessly grim! I'm trying not to think about it anymore. I do not want to see another depressing movie for a long time..... they're too hard to throw off afterwards.

Turning the Legs Over!

20 mins. this morning easy jog along. 3 more sleeps then Chickybabe flies north!

Sunday Rest

No running today & mostly rest in the week ahead; turning the legs over so that they don't forget what to do next Sunday! Just 'being alive'!

Sunday Run on Saturday

Couldn't call it a 'long' run : 10km total with the middle 4km starting at 'marthon pace' & gradually increasing to 5:42min/km; and that's just about the end of preparation for GC marathon, 2005. A couple of 20min. jogs next week or I might go surfboard riding when I get to the GC.!

Rest Day

Nothing to report today; it's still raining...good & not so cold....even better!

Mid-Week Run

This morning's 15km is the last of the 'longish' runs before GC, except for about 9-12km on Sunday, which I'll do on Saturday!

It's wet (good) & terribly cold (bad) today (max 7C), so the treadmill was the way to go; I'm getting to dislike the winter...getting old? But then again, I can't stand humid, hot days either; that makes me a "grumpy old lady"! Much like the TV series of "Grumpy Old Men" which I liked a lot. On the treadmill, kept HR at 73% of Max., but put on a spurt for the last 3km @ 'marathon pace' & a little faster.

This time next week I'll be at the Gold Coast....can hardly believe it's that close & already itching to go the 42.2km distance once again!

Rest & a Movie

The movie was "The Sea Inside", a Spanish movie based on a true story. It was disturbing & distressing, but beautifully directed & beautifully acted. Might not be for everyone.

Race Pace Practice...for the marathon

Only 6km again this morning, but all of it at 'marathon pace'. Short warm up & cool down. Began at 8.5km/hour (i.e. 7:05 min/km) & finished last 2km with 10.5km/hour (i.e. 5:42min/km). I'm liking the feel of yesterday's & today's sessions - short distances but fast (?) pace!

No running tomorrow, so we'll probably go to the "flicks"!

A Bit of Marathon Pace

Yes, the treadmill again! I simply cannot, repeat cannot, go out in this windy & cold weather; I must be getting old!

Anyhow, just 6km this morning with the middle 4km at my marathon pace & a little faster.. i.e. set treadmill at varying from 1 - 3 incline & took the pace up to 9km/hr; at that pace Chickybabe is nearly flying off & up into the air! Did some stretches, showered & waiting for me at home was a bowl of hot soup & a toasted muffin! Yummie on such a cold day.

2 weeks today!

This time 2 weeks it'll be all over.....unless I get lost of course! After yesterday, just sitting around & resting.....phew!

Sunday's Long Run on Saturday!

That's the last of the long runs before GC marathon! 20km.... & all of it on the gym treadmill! I had to find somewhere 'flatish' and that was it, without having to drive somewhere looking for a flat course. I listened to the whole of "Show Boat" 2 discs.

The middle 8kms I pushed 'harder than usual'...whatever that means! Avg. HR for that section was around 80% of max.; the rest of the time, kept to between 70-75% of max. It did get bloody tiresome, but I just kept listening to the music, slogging away & pretending that it was the GC marathon. Oh, Chickybabe is so tired & will now have a wee kip!


Much later...much better!

Recovery Run

Once again I couldn't bring myself to face the cold & nasty wind; having to go out in it on Sunday will be bad enough.

Today was an 'easy' 6km recovery run on the gym treadmill....watching a cooking class on TV! And talking of eating........

Last night's 'duck dinner' - never tasted duck before & it was a superb meal with a scrummy dessert to finish. It was only slightly spoiled by the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about the duck when it was alive! I don't know why it bothered me so much (couldn't tell anyone!); it might be that I see so many ducks in the area : floating around in dams, eating in the paddocks, flying overhead etc.. & sometimes a mum & dad duck stopping the traffic to cross the road with a squad of little duckies trailing behind them. So, as good as it was, I won't be able to have it again....maybe this kind of thinking is part of senility! Who knows?

Mid-Week Long Run

It was too cold, too windy & too hilly to run outdoors this morning, so to the gym I went & did 16km on a treadmill to the tunes of "Show Boat"......"that ol' man river, he jes' keeps rollin' along".....as did I, keeping Avg. HR at 70 - 73% of Max.

Tonight, having dinner at the Bowral Country Club where Jimbo plays piano on Friday & Saturday nights & Sunday afternoons. I'm told 'duck' is the chef's speciality, so will be giving it a try (sorry to all other ducks especially the flash Canberra one!).

Rest & a Movie

Being a rest day, we took the opportunity to see a movie : "Being Julia"....liked it very much!

A Short Run

I used the gym treadmill for this morning's 6km; before starting I thought :"I could do 10km easily, feeling recovered from Sunday's long run." I didn't realize that I was still a bit stiff & weary until after a few seconds of jogging. So I kept to what was the planned distance for today i.e. 6km. After 1km warm up, I stepped up the pace to a 7min/km followed by a short cool down.

Sunday's Long Run

I was too tired after yesterday's long run to post about it! Unfortunately FlashDuck had to pull out due to a heavy cold. However, Ewen & Tim came...the poor darlings had a hard time slowing down to my pace; in fact, they walked up the winding hills section of the Pass to keep me in sight on a beautifully clear cool day. It's quite embarrassing being so slow & probably a very good reason to run by myself most other times, but for yesterday, it was wonderful to have their company.

I didn't take any of the usual planned walk breaks, stopping only at the 2 watering holes; took 2 gels, sports drink & chewed a few glucodin tablets; taste good & I think they give something of an energy boost; will use them again or snakes, jelly beans etc. Heart monitor said my avg. HR was 80+% so I must have been working hard; Ewen is going to work out the avg pace for the distance.

Lunch was at the Sturt Gallery cafe, except that by the time we got there, around 2:00pm, lunch had stopped being served and just about everything else we asked for was no longer available! We did manage to get some nice cake with icecream & huge mugs of coffee.

I was truly done in after the 34km; as Ewen said, I looked like an old man....excuse me, Ewen!
and that's how I felt for the rest of the day & night. Hit the bed around 4:00pm, couldn't sleep at all; soup & muffin (brought in by Jimbo) at 6:00pm & then slumped onto a very hot electric blanket at around 11:00pm....sheer bloody bliss feeling the heat get to my aching bones & muscles! Feel fine though today, just a little stiff in the legs.

That's the last long run before Gold Coast marathon & I'm pleased I had to put so much into it & again become familiar, at least for some of the time, with the pace of a race day. I'll look back on yesterday as a very special day because of the 2 cool runners I had to keep me company & see that I didn't take a wrong turn somewhere!

Rest

Just watching the rain today! It hasn't stopped all day, raining lovely rain! Have to be up with the cows tomorrow, so an early night for the Chickybabe blogger!

A Non-Running Day

It can't be called a 'rest' day; I should have run 5-6km easy, but there was just too much to do outside Mr. LL ( or Jimbo" as I & most others call him), is unable to do much until after knee replacement surgery. I've taken a break to update my blog & check the CR message board; in my mind anyhow, the outdoor work (some heavy stuff too) is more than enough to replace an easy run.

Well, that's it for today; beautiful day, but must get out to dig, replant a couple of small trees, (right time of year when they've stopped growing), rose bushes, (should see how Chickybabe can swing an mattock!), rake up leaves, etc. I'll be 'stuffed' by tonight; rest tomorrow for the run on Sunday with FlashDuck, Wombatface & Tim...our newest 1000th poster! Yea for Tim!

Mid-Week Longer Run + Marathon Pace

14km this morning with middle 4km at/near/faster than marathon pace....whichever I could manage to do!

Results of middle 4km were 6:38; 6:39; 7:03; 5:41. This was OK & I enjoyed the session; not in pain/tired/stiff/ afterwards. Easy, short run tomorrow. Rest Saturday; long run Sunday with FlashDuck, Wombatface & Tim.......looking forward to that one, but feel sorry for the others if they keep my pace....Yikes!! Will suggest that they run ahead & keep returning to where I am!

Rest

No running today; not going anywhere today....no car! Still haven't heard from the Service Centre, so can only conclude they haven't found the cause of the problem.

However, the weekend is looking like a very exciting one for me : not only is FlashDuck coming from Canberra for a 30km run with me, we now have Wombatface (Ewen) also coming! We'll do the Range Road & down Macquarie Pass course, where they'll not only view the best of the Southern Highlands scenery but also view the wreck I'll be at the finish....from the sublime to the ridiculous! Cool Runners are getting together in this part of the world now. I thought a better idea than running would be to race down the Pass on his beautiful motor bike (like the ride I had in Canberra).....whoopee going down the Pass! However he's offered to dink me back the last 5km if I'm in really bad shape!

"Easy" Run

10km this morning, put some 'marathon pace' into the middle 6km; nothing too long now, but keeping up some intensity during shorter runs.

"Easy" Run or Rest

It's now mid-day & I still can't decide whether to do a 5/6km session today or take a day's rest. Recovered from yesterday's effort, (actually felt good by last night), but a bit tired & just a little stiff in the quads. I think a day off might be the way to go. Taking the dogs for their walk later will be enough for the day.

A Long Run & How I Feel After it!

Poor blog, you're going to have to listen to a litany of whinges first, but that's part of what you're there for...the good, the bad & the ugly. Let's start with the ugly : me right now, trying to walk upright instead of on all fours where I'd be far more agile; the bad : from the waist, down to the tip of my toes, I ache something awful; the worst parts are the lower back (terrible), left hip (not quite 'terrible'), glutes (smashed), quads (screaming); the only word to describe the lower half of me is good & properly "stuffed"! I'll have to find a less hilly course..this one is 'killing' me!

The good : top half seems relatively unharmed (not sure about the brain though); I didn't give in on any of the hills etc. ; ran the last 4km without a walk break (prior to that jog 8mins/walk 1min); did the full 28km as planned i.e. 8a.m. start after a cup of coffee; swallowed 2 gels on the way (1 at half way, the other with 10km to go); took a bottle of water & refreshed it at Glenquarry, just before going down the Macquarie Pass; time = 3hrs48mins. (a negative split of 5mins.); finding that I don't need to carry "provisions" (other than gels) on long runs this year, as I did last year.......I must tell Plu.

Also in the good category is that Flash Duck is coming from Canberra next Sunday to do 30km with me! Can't imagine what she'll think of my pace & the total wreck that she'll see at the finish! Oh well, having her company will be worth it for me! Anyone else care to join us?

And now, to bed for an hour or two; but first a couple of pain killers!

Rest Day

No running today; instead I cut down 2 old fruit trees & sawed them up into little bits. As a result I will not need to do any upper body work for the next several months or I'll become a Chickybabe with big muscles!

"Easy" Run

Just back from an afternoon run of 6km on another wonderful, warm, sunny day...if only the whole year was like the last few days! I thought I ran this 6km well (bit slow though @ 7.5mins/km) & felt really good & not at all tired after yesterday's harder run of 10km. Tomorrow off, in preparation for the looooong run on Sunday (28km). Then only 4 Sundays till GC marathon!

No wonder then that I dreamed last night about the GC marathon....... On my shoulder I had pinned the pompom that Wildthing gave me as a souvenir after the SMH half marathon; problem was that it hung from my shoulder to the ground & my feet got caught at every step & I kept tripping on the blasted thing! Now, I wonder what that dream is telling me.

Throw in Some Marathon "Pace"

What a day! What another glorious day! Out fairly early, 11:00am!! Well, I have to proactise in the warmer part of the day! The run was 12km, starting slow (as if I could do anything else!) and gradually increasing the pace to marathon 'pace' or faster if possible for the 8th, 9th & 10th km. then 2km cool down. Well, I was rather pleased with myself this morning....careful Chickybabe, pride comes before a fall. However, the results of those 3kms I thought were not too bad for someone who can't run out of sight on a dark night!

Results : 8th km in 7:04mins @ 75-80% of max; 9th km in 6:41 @ 80-83%; 10th km in 5:55mins @ 85-90%.

I'll just sit here a minute & look at those numbers..........that's one of the many reasons I love my blog : I can sit here & gloat & slap myself on the back & tell myself what a smart Chickybabe I am, & no one need know anything about it.

Rest Day

No running today; might do a spin class this evening, but depends on how keen I am by 6:30 pm.
Beauty of a day to be out running though......or just being alive!

Another 'Easy' Run

Went to the gym for 10km on the treadmill, so that I could have a 'sort of longish run' on a flat surface...I'd never find 10km outdoors that would be anything like flat &, from all accounts, the Gold Coast course is very flat & will be quite different from what I'm used to running locally.

That was OK & the time soon passed while listening to "Carousel" & running; Avg. HR = 65%; Max HR = 70%.

An 'Easy' Day

Very surprised to find that yesterday's aches & pains have all gone away! I did an 'easy' 6km this morning; a warm, sunny Autumn day; one of the few left as Winter is just about to start.

About 4 weeks ago I bought the new Nike 'Free' trainers and having worn them in & around the house for their first 2 weeks, I've been wearing them for any easy runs up to 10km & they're so amazingly comfortable I hate taking them off! I love them. Colour : lavender/mauve & bright pink with some black & white bits!! They'd go well with Miss Skarmel's running gear.

The Long Run

When the radio alarm went off at the early for me hour of 8:00am, the weatherman announced the outside temperature as 4C!!! For the next 30mins I kept telling myself I couldn't get out of a warm cosy bed into that sort of cold morning! At the end of 30mins. I made a dash for clothes : 2 top layers, warm cap, long tights & gloves & didn't remove any of it until getting back home 26kms later; a quick cup of coffee before I could think of going back to bed! I couldn't get warm all the way out & back even though it was brilliantly sunny & hardly any wind until the top of Range Rd where it nearly blew me sideways off the road & over the cliff!

Truly, I've never been so terribly cold; quite sure the blood supply had frozen in my veins! Amazed too, that during the week I've been away from those hills, that they have become so much steeper....must have been some underground disturbance going on!

Enough of complaining, but it was a very tough morning : quads were screaming all the way back, especially the 1km very steep hill out of Glenquarry...how Plu ever rode his bike up there, I'll never know; saw a cyclist fall off his bike when trying to change gears & he couldn't release his foot from the pedal; it seemed to have spikes that his shoe locked into; don't know, but that's what it looked like as I stepped over him & continued on my way! No I didn't, just joking! I actually helped yank his foot loose; he was OK but the bike had a few dents in it. They all passed & called out further along so all was well. Swallowed a gel at half way.

Also had a group of bikers roar past; wonderful sight & sound (they wave now), reminding me of my ride with Wombatface on his great big bike (forget it's name, but it's big & beautiful) in Canberra. Anyhow, smiling back at the bikers relaxed my frozen facial muscles, but did nothing for the pain in the quads & knees.

This is long I realize, but I love 'talking' to my blog & always think of it as a real person listening intently to everything I have to say! It never seems to get bored, never answers back, agrees with everything I say, allows me to moan, complain, unburden myself & never says, "Why don't you just shut up!" It even smiles back when I have good news & then quietly slips away until called on another day & that's what my blog/friend is for!

Lastly : this 26km took me 3 1/2 hours (with walk breaks of jog 8mins/walk 1min; keeping HR at around 70-80% of max). Good God, I'm slow! After GC marathon, I'm going to do some speed work & see if I can run just a little bit faster next year; I can't get over that 80yr. old Strider doing the SMH half in 120mins....I shouldn't have been 20mins. slower than that, so I'm going all out to catch him!

Tough morning for Chickybabe who is now going to have a nap & hopefully wake up refreshed later tonight!

Cross Training

Since I've taken a couple of extra rest days this week (after SMH half), off to the gym this morning for some cross training : 20mins. elliptical trainer, 20mins. bike, 10mins. walk on treadmill; some light upper body weights, leg press & abs. An enjoyable time was had by Chickybabe for this session!

After today, each Saturday will be a rest day in preparation for increasingly long Sunday runs leading up to GC marathon, after which I'm going to concentrate on doing some speed work; had enough of being slow & nearly last to finish every run!

How silly can you get?!

9.5C here today! Cold & windy....out come the tights for tomorrow's long run!

Mid-Week 'Longish' Run

Each Thursday, over the next few weeks, I'll add to the 12km I did this morning; an 'easy' run just aimed at keeping heart rate below 80%. Result was less mileage than expected, but Avg. HR stayed at 70% & Max = 80-83%, so that's an OK session for Chickybabe.

No entry tomorrow....a rest day.

Rest Day

Took today off to make this an easier week than usual, but as of tomorrow will have 4 weeks to be ready for the Gold Coast marathon; don't think I'll change too much; add a mid-week medium long run each Thursday, starting tomorrow.

Taking a look at the SMH half marathon results, the oldest male to finish was 80 yrs. & ran a time of 120mins, whereas the oldest female (they have her age as 76yrs but I know she's only 75 ) & this silly old girl must have just waddled along to run 147mins. Someone should tell her how to get up a bit of speed or she won't even make the start line soon...not to speak of the finish! Chickybabe will have a talk with her!

6 Weeks to Gold Coast Marathon!

This means 4 weeks for training & 2 for tapering; not a lot of time left! Still tired from Sunday's half marathon & quads a bit stiff.

Results were published in this morning's paper &, having forgotten to stop my watch (which showed 2:28:05) on crossing the finish line, my published time is 2 : 27 : 42; I'll take that slightly faster time, no trouble!

Will do a 6km jog this afternoon to loosen leg muscles & then work out exactly what to do over the next 4 weeks; recovery from Canberra looks pretty good after Sunday's results.

SMH Half Marathon

I couldn't repeat all details of yesterday; it's all in my post on the main Message Board, along with those of the many other CRs who ran.
For the first time in 2 years, I finished (thanks to Vat_Man) in under 2 & 1/2 hours .....2:28:05. 5km splits were 35:19; 35:55; 35:36; 34:18. A wonderful, never-to-be-forgotten day... And a very, very weary Chickybabe today!

Eve of SMH Half Marathon

Ready to go! Ready to leave for Sydney that is & very excited about tomorrow's run; nervous too because it will show to what extent I've recovered from the Canberra marathon+a bit! That will then be a good indication of what I should do in the next few weeks leading up to the Gold Coast marathon... leading up to.......... leading up to.....etc. etc.

"Life is just a bowl of cherries!"

Rest

Nothing today; slept in really late; did a bit of housework & sorted out what to take to Sydney tomorrow.

Short Run Before SMH Half.

In freezing conditions (10 degrees max. here today), over to the gym for 30 mins. fairly easy run on the treadmill. Nothing planned for tomorrow but I'll probably give in to temptation & do 30mins. on the elliptical trainer. Mid-day Saturday I'll leave for Sydney & walk some of the course, probably from Hunter street to the start line...without my can of paint. I won't need that now as Tim is going to leave a trail of flour (the self-raising kind) for me to follow on Sunday! What would happen to Chickybabe without people like that to help out?

A Rest Day...Sort Of!

No running today, but a lot of walking in Sydney. Arrived about 10:15am just in time to catch a huge downpour of water....I think it's called rain, but have almost forgotten what it felt like! Picked up SMH pack; not another person there, so maybe they're all waiting until Saturday for the big rush.


Bought gels for Sunday & a few other goodies......love shopping! Had lunch & back on the 3:40pm train.

I've made a reservation to stay in Sydney on Saturday night ( walking distance to the start) because I couldn't cope with the thought of getting a 4:00am train Sunday morning & then running a half marathon. When I get to Sydney Saturday afternoon, I'll have plenty of time to walk the section from Hunter Street back to the start. I probably should take my can of paint & drop a blob at each corner so as to avoid taking a wrong turn on Sunday! I would if I didn't think I'd be arrested for loitering in a public place & damaging public property!!

A very nice day, I had!

Top Workout #1

Once again to the gym for 6 x 400m on the treadmill. Results : 2:24; 2:32; 2:17; 2:15; 2:18; 2:15.

With warm up & cool down, call it 7km. Finished off with stretches.

Sydney tomorrow to pick up race kit for Sunday......big day in the city!

7 Weeks to Gold Coast Marathon

Beginning with a rest day as usual for a Monday. With the SMH half marathon coming up on Sunday, this will be an easy week & the half will be more of a training run towards the Gold Coast marathon..... ...not that far off now! Will do a 'spin' class this evening.

Yesterday I was very, very proud to be at the very, very first Canberra Cool Running get-together! The venue at the Yacht Club provided a spectacular view across the Lake on a brilliant, sunny Autumn day. There may not have been quantity this time, but we certainly had quality! Of course, I hope to be there again. Thanks to all!

Top Workout #4

Otherwise known as the long run.

Impossible to have a better morning for a long run : gloriously cool, completely overcast & slightly damp from what must have been a few drops of rain during the night.

I took to the hills again : on Range Road out to Glenquarry & return; total = 22km. Not concerned with time but concentrated on keeping HR down to around 70% of max. This meant that it took longer than the 2hrs30mins planned & was, instead, 2hrs50mins. Avg. HR 75%. Instead of carrying water, there are 2 water tanks along the way : one at 5km, the other at 11km & same on return; 1 gel at the 11km water tank. Sometimes I wonder what might be floating around inside those tanks, but if there are any uglies, I must have a very strong immune system by now! The water is always icy cold &, seemingly, crystal clear. I very much enjoyed this run; no walk breaks except to drink at the water tanks (oh! & one quick dash into the bush!)

Must remember, Chickybabe, to go to Sydney on Wednesday to pick up race# for the SMH half; I feel a lot better about this race than I did same time last year : I feel much fitter & stronger I think! Maybe, this happens as the years roll on????? Well, the day will tell!

Tomorrow, Sunday I have to be up really, really early, (!) around 6:00am to leave for Canberra by 7:00am so as to be there for the start & cheer on the half marathon runners. Very much looking forward to meeting Canberra Crs. & then I must get back before dark, otherwise I might take a wrong turn & get lost!...and Chickybabe gone forever!

Cross Training

Gym again & used the elliptical trainer ( for 45mins) programmed for ' cardio workout'; after that I did some free weights for upper body & stretches.

I will do the weekend long run (2 1/2hrs or 22km) tomorrow, Saturday; Sunday I hope to set out early for Canberra CR drinks ; if I can be on the road by 7:00a.m. I should be there for the start of the half marathon at 9:00a.m.....just got to get to bed before the usual midnight hour & drag myself out when the alarm goes off....not easy for this Chickybabe who likes late nights & even later mornings!

Top Workout # 2

This week's Top Workout #2 was much the same as last week except 5 mins longer : 15mins warm up, middle 30mins with HR 80-85% (got up to 90%), changing the incline up to 4% at various stages, 15mins cool down. Call it 8km.

A very amusing session, not because of what I was doing, but that I could watch the belly-dancing class at the same time! One girl has to have been one of the biggest I've ever seen, but boy, oh boy, could she wriggle that big belly! She could!! You know, I really admired her for fearlessly getting in there & exercising in a way she was obviously enjoying! Far braver than I would be in similar circumstances! I had my own music ("Kismet"...sort of 'Arabian Nights') to listen to & it went really well with the beat of drums, bells & cymbals accompanying the belly-dancers!

Another very nice morning!

Rest Day

Might be able to make it to a spin class this evening...will see what time I get back from the hairdresser...... Chickybabe has to look her best (whatever that is!) when she goes to the Canberra drinks on Sunday!

Top Workout #1

Back to the gym treadmill for a repeat of last week's Top Workout #1 : this morning it changed to 6 x 800m with 90 secs. slow jog between each 800m.

Results : 5:13; 5:01; 5:01; 5:00; 4:54; 4:46. I had a good sweat up at the finish of this session & wouldn't like to have to do even one more 800m!

In 12 days' time there's the SMH half marathon which, apart from this hit out at some speed, I'll do more as a training run on the way to the Gold Coast marathon on July 3rd. It should show how much, if at all, I've recovered from Canberra!

There would be 4 weeks left after that for training, 2 weeks for a taper & then hit the Gold Coast. Exciting times are here again!

Rest Day

As always, no running on a Monday. This evening I'll do a 'spin' class at the gym & will try out the gel padded seat cover I've bought ....the cycle seats are pure torture!

Long Run....sort of!

Total of 18km this beautiful Autumn morning; back on the hills of Range Road to remind myself of the hills in the SMH half in 2 weeks time.

I tried another of the ideas in the article that Bellthorpe put up in the "Running Technique" thread, except that I forgot what it was for & why I was doing it!! Looked it up later & it's to "Develop propulsion from the core & hips".....here it is:
"A great drill to practice to get the feeling of this is to interlock your fingers together (hand to hand) and run with your hands on top of your head. Though it may seem a little odd at first, doing this removes the arms from the running motion forcing you to create forward propulsion from the hips. Inserting 20-30 sec of “hands on head” running every 10 minutes or so in your daily runs should keep reminding you of the proper feeling you should have when you are running normally (hands/arms at your side)."

Needless to say I waited until I was way out of town on remote country roads before trying the above. Anyhow, I don't know what it accomplished, if anything, not knowing why I was doing it in the first place; secondly, I felt like a penguin & must have looked like a loony!

Anyhow, it was a good run & still incorporating some 1 min. walk breaks in the first half.

Only 42km for this week & 2 spin classes.

Top Workout #3

I used the gym treadmill for this morning's session to do 8km @ 7min/km; varied the incline up to 4% & down as I went along. After reading the article that Bellthorpe put up about running technique, I thought I'd try the bit that says to count how many times the right foot strikes the ground in 1 minute; the article says 85-95. I counted 3 different times (helps pass the time!) and got 86, 87 & 90. Also tried the "pawing back" movement.......and the belt could hardly keep up with me!!

For music today I listened to "Oklahoma!" (Rodgers & Hammerstein); rousing, exuberant songs to speed along with!! I had a very nice time!

A Rest Day

No running today, but will do some light weight upper body work at home; I'm trying to build muscles like Popeye! I think there's something like light rain falling; was falling; it's gone now as I look outside!

Top Workout #2!

As of today, there are to be no such words in my running vocabulary as 'Repetitions", "Intervals", "Tempo Runs", etc! Much too confusing for this Chickybabe! These & other conundrums will be replaced by "TOP WORKOUT" & numbered accordingly! Of course, long runs & such will stay the same because they present no dilemma for this blogger!

Today was "Top Workout #2" : 6km total.....including a warm-up, then the middle section keeping HR at or above 80%, followed by a cool-down; max. HR =83%.

Nice warm day too!

Rest Day

Not running today; I will go to another spin class this evening; I like it!

My "TOP WORKOUT" #1"

Having read that thread on the message board, I don't know what I did this morning!

I know I went to the gym, did 2km warm-up, then 4 x 1600m with 3mins. easy between each & then a cool-down ..... right or wrong, I call the fast bit 'the repetition' & the slower jog in between, 'the interval'. About 10km all up. Max. HR = 92%

Had a great 'spin' class last night; haven't done that in years. As tomorrow, Wednesday, is a rest day I'll do another one tomorrow night......good fun & hard work!

Rest Day

The start of Week 9 till GC marathon; no running today but will go the a spin class at the gym..6:30pm tonight I think! Must check the time!

Sunday Run....1st of May!

"On the first of May it is moving day;
Winter's here, so blow your job, throw your job away;
Now's the time to trust to your wanderlust,
In the city's dust you wait, must you wait? Just you wait:"
(Rodgers & Hart, 1926)

So, out at 9:00am after a quick cup of coffee, into the first touch of winter by way of a mighty strong, cold wind; great to have on the way out but felt like marking time on the return of 15km; good for mental toughness, but nothing else!

What I'd planned for an 'easy' 15km run was to do 5km splits 35:30; 35:42 and 35mins; What happened was quite different! 37:26; 37:44; 43:41!!! That blasted wind!

In spite of such plodding, I was cheered up every time I looked at my new running shorts! So flashy, I would have caused a traffic jam had there been any to stop! "Race Ready" LD shorts with the 4 rear & 2 front mesh pockets; wild splashes of purple, pink, red & blue! Just love them & have sent for another LD pair (Colour: Charcoal...more sedate this time!) & LD tights in navy blue with same rear pockets. (No financial or any other mercenary interest!)

An enjoyable start to the month of May despite the cold wind & beginning to look forward to the SMH half in 3 weeks time.

Cross Training

I had a very nice time at the gym this morning! I did 20mins on the elliptical trainer (set for 'fat burn'); 20 mins on the bike (same setting); free weights for upper body work; abs., lunges & stretches; all followed by a refreshing shower. As I said before.....a very nice time was had by Chickybabe!

10km Run

Out late again! 9:30 start, did 10km fairly comfortably. Avg. HR = 80%...& that's it for today for Chickybabe!

Rest Day

A day off from running so we went to the movies to see "Ladies in Lavender" an unpretensious, little whimsy with two wonderful ladies : Maggie Smith & Judy Dench.

'Pace' Run

It has to have a name, so I'll call it a 'pace' run; 10km trying to keep an eye on the monitor which was set to keep as near as possible to a pace of 7:07min/km. or 8.4km/hour.

Now to look at the results : 1st km (walk/jog warmup) 7:24; 7:10; 7:19; 6:48; 7:13; 6:58; 7:01; 7:05; 7:01; 6:27. ...+ 1km (walk) cooldown. HR Avg. = 80%. Since training is 3 days only at the moment, I'm trying to keep the pace up a bit & not run too slowly each day. 11:00am start & the day is very warm for running, but beautiful for a stroll!

That'll come when I take the doggies for their walk this evening; we've met a most friendly cow & her calf in one of the paddocks & they both trot over when I call out to them & wait for a rub on their heads! The mother quite startled me at first when she was right up close to my face, opened her mouth wide & let out a monstrous MOOOOOOooooooo! Very nice! I look forward to 'talking' to them each afternoon!

Week 10... begins with Anzac Day

10th week begins, as always for a Monday, with a rest day.

Sunday's Run

A short run of 12m this morning; started out at 10:00am....a glorious Autumn day in the Southern Highlands. I didn't take watch or monitor again so that I could jog comfortably & enjoy the day; even so, 12kms was enough...how did I ever do those 40+ runs!!!....haven't got it in me now, that's for sure.

Between now & GC marathon, wherever possible, I'll run in the middle (warmest) part of the day so as to get some idea of how different the temperature here in July is from that on the GC in the same month. Hope it'll help!

Now I'm going to be talking to myself about the future!!
I know I'm always thinking, planning way too far ahead, but I like to have events, goals to look forward to over a 12 month period; usually it's been what I'll do between one Canberra marathon & the next! While I was out this morning I started to think : what are the next biggest events after GC marathon? Thinking of half marathons : Bankstown (the Hidden Half) in August? Blackmore's Half in September? Thredbo Half in November? All possibilities. At some stage later this year, I want to drive back to Canberra for a day & go over as much of the marathon course as I can get onto...more unfinished business with that one...will it ever end? Yes, it will! I will do it again next year! Unless, of course, I'm banned from the course, dead or have been kidnapped by the mafia! All, bar the middle of these, I think I can handle.

That's enough thinking aloud for today; a blog is such a good place to do this; putting thoughts into words does clarify things & unburdens the mind.

For the rest of this week, 3 days of training & might slip in 1 day with some deep water running followed by hot spa...I so love luxury; all Chickybabes do!

2 Rest days

I've decided not to run today or tomorrow; legs still a bit tired after yesterday's 12km (a bit too far?); will run 'shortish' on Sunday. For another 2 weeks I'll take it very easy & short on 3 days only. Next post will be on Sunday. Till then, it's good night from Chickybabe!

Mid-Week Run

No watch or monitor; ran comfortably for 12km ...good to be back on the bush dirt roads & away from bitumen.