Training Log Archive: blairtrewinIn the 7 days ending Apr 13, 2008:
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Sunday Apr 13, 2008 #
Event: Canberra Marathon
Run race ((Canberra Marathon)) 2:52:40 [4] 42.2 km (4:05 / km)
I'd have taken this time if it was offered to me before the start this morning, but after a day which promised for long stretches to be something really special, it was a bit disappointing to drift back to something only marginally beyond expectations.
The start was a little faster than I really wanted to be (3.53 for each of the first two kilometres) and I was torn between trying to hold a pack and doing a sustainable pace. In the end I chose the latter, which meant that I had the strange experience in a decent-sized race (about 900) of being on my own for almost the entire run - I was never with someone for more than 10 seconds.
The first 13km was reasonably routine, although it was a bit of a surprise to be cruising so easily at a pace only a few seconds per km slower than my last two 10ks (although today there was no gale and no election celebration). I then settled into a really good stretch, especially from 13-18, and was still going very nicely at 25, picking off runners one by one, and tiring a bit at 30 but still reasonably comfortable. At this stage I was still under 4 min/km and thought a 2.47 or 2.48 might be a possibility.
That was ended when my quads packed up around 34k, and from there it was survival mode as my kilometres dropped into the 4.10s and 4.20s. Started to lose places in the last 5k and by the end I was prepared to settle for beating my 2005 time from Melbourne (I did this with 19 seconds to spare, having been up to 2 minutes ahead of pace at times). Two people passed me in the last 200 but I had nothing left to give by then.
Quads are predictably horrible - ask Jase what I looked like trying to manouevre myself into the car. A satisfying result but one which could have been so much better; still probably my best running performance for several years.
5k splits: 19.46, 19.51, 19.59, 19.49, 20.02, 20.13, 21.08, 22.02.
We had steady rain for the first 25km, which was actually pretty good to run in (and saved me from too many drink stops in an event where maintaining rhythm is crucial, especially later on). Wouldn't have been fun for the final stragglers when a hailstorm unloaded after about 6 hours.
The start was a little faster than I really wanted to be (3.53 for each of the first two kilometres) and I was torn between trying to hold a pack and doing a sustainable pace. In the end I chose the latter, which meant that I had the strange experience in a decent-sized race (about 900) of being on my own for almost the entire run - I was never with someone for more than 10 seconds.
The first 13km was reasonably routine, although it was a bit of a surprise to be cruising so easily at a pace only a few seconds per km slower than my last two 10ks (although today there was no gale and no election celebration). I then settled into a really good stretch, especially from 13-18, and was still going very nicely at 25, picking off runners one by one, and tiring a bit at 30 but still reasonably comfortable. At this stage I was still under 4 min/km and thought a 2.47 or 2.48 might be a possibility.
That was ended when my quads packed up around 34k, and from there it was survival mode as my kilometres dropped into the 4.10s and 4.20s. Started to lose places in the last 5k and by the end I was prepared to settle for beating my 2005 time from Melbourne (I did this with 19 seconds to spare, having been up to 2 minutes ahead of pace at times). Two people passed me in the last 200 but I had nothing left to give by then.
Quads are predictably horrible - ask Jase what I looked like trying to manouevre myself into the car. A satisfying result but one which could have been so much better; still probably my best running performance for several years.
5k splits: 19.46, 19.51, 19.59, 19.49, 20.02, 20.13, 21.08, 22.02.
We had steady rain for the first 25km, which was actually pretty good to run in (and saved me from too many drink stops in an event where maintaining rhythm is crucial, especially later on). Wouldn't have been fun for the final stragglers when a hailstorm unloaded after about 6 hours.
C • Top run 17
Saturday Apr 12, 2008 #
Event: Bendigo Ironman 2008
Run 1:00:00 [3] 13.0 km (4:37 / km)
A nice pre-marathon hitout, with the first half through the flatter bits of Black Mountain and the second half through the suburbs. Somewhat mundane in the first half but flowed nicely after halfway. Took in the soon-to-be acejase residence, which is well-positioned for 2013 or 2014 - directly opposite Aranda Primary. (I look forward to Abby or Zoe welcoming all of us as school captain when it comes to the 50th anniversary celebrations in 2019).
Also went past the Wests rugby club, an establishment which I suspect has been reasonably well patronised over the years by the substantial local orienteering fraternity, which went into administration yesterday. Hopefully it doesn't meet the same fate as the old Finnish-Australian Club just up the street, which went into administration some years ago and burnt down a few days later, with numerous empty cans of petrol found on the premises. (The AFP arson squad must have some reasonably bright detectives because a spokesman was quoted as saying "Police believe the fire may be suspicious").
Encountered a certain Mr Bazorak on the way up the Cook hill. I was also reacquainted with a name from somewhat further back yesterday - saw Peter Lowndes at Melbourne Airport. He's more into yachting these days.
Also went past the Wests rugby club, an establishment which I suspect has been reasonably well patronised over the years by the substantial local orienteering fraternity, which went into administration yesterday. Hopefully it doesn't meet the same fate as the old Finnish-Australian Club just up the street, which went into administration some years ago and burnt down a few days later, with numerous empty cans of petrol found on the premises. (The AFP arson squad must have some reasonably bright detectives because a spokesman was quoted as saying "Police believe the fire may be suspicious").
Encountered a certain Mr Bazorak on the way up the Cook hill. I was also reacquainted with a name from somewhat further back yesterday - saw Peter Lowndes at Melbourne Airport. He's more into yachting these days.
Friday Apr 11, 2008 #
Swimming 32:00 [2] 1.0 km (32:00 / km)
Swim at Richmond. Fairly routine but a bit slower than recent sessions. Time seemed to go a bit faster than it sometimes does in the pool.
Had a massage afterwards. Last week I passed on a hot tip (that Tasmania was grossly over the odds in Centrebet's 'state with most rain in April' book); he's got on it and so have all his mates. Suspect I'll be popular in those quarters if Tasmania gets up (and it's currently leading with 33mm, with WA second with 9).
Heading up to Canberra this afternoon for the marathon on Sunday.
Had a massage afterwards. Last week I passed on a hot tip (that Tasmania was grossly over the odds in Centrebet's 'state with most rain in April' book); he's got on it and so have all his mates. Suspect I'll be popular in those quarters if Tasmania gets up (and it's currently leading with 33mm, with WA second with 9).
Heading up to Canberra this afternoon for the marathon on Sunday.
Thursday Apr 10, 2008 #
Run 1:33:00 [3] 20.0 km (4:39 / km)
Easing back compared to a usual Thursday in preparation for the weekend. A pretty solid run on a nice morning, starting along the Yarra flats for the first half-hour and then taking some more challenging hilly country through Templestowe and Bulleen. Handling the steeper hills well and no sign of trouble from the cracked skin of the sole of my foot that's given me a bit of grief in the last day or two.
Some late-day excitement yesterday with a fire alarm which apparently started in the car park (probably Melbourne Victory supporters testing their flares). No real hassle for me as I was about to duck out to get something to eat in advance of said Victory match and by the time I'd finished the fire brigade had packed up and gone home. The game itself wasn't quite such a happy result although certainly not lacking in action (a 4-3 is rarely lacking in action).
Some late-day excitement yesterday with a fire alarm which apparently started in the car park (probably Melbourne Victory supporters testing their flares). No real hassle for me as I was about to duck out to get something to eat in advance of said Victory match and by the time I'd finished the fire brigade had packed up and gone home. The game itself wasn't quite such a happy result although certainly not lacking in action (a 4-3 is rarely lacking in action).
Wednesday Apr 9, 2008 #
Run 1:01:00 [3] 13.0 km (4:42 / km)
A slightly politically inspried run this morning - I was at a meeting last night where one of the items under discussion was a proposal to merge all the schools in the West Heidelberg and Macleod areas into one mega-school on a site next to La Trobe Uni, and one of the questions raised was the travel that this would entail, so I set about testing how long it takes me to run from Bellfield Primary to the La Trobe site. The answer is 23 minutes; I don't think too many of the Preps will be walking this (assuming the proposal gets off the ground).
The run itself started slowly and never really got beyond mediocre. Still a bit too contemplative for my own good. I think I get too much exposure to the tabloid media culture where any error is unacceptable and condemnation is forever.
A comment attributed to Arthur C. Clarke in an obituary I saw: that reports of UFO sightings said nothing about the existence of intelligent life on other planets, but did say something about how rare it is on Earth.
The run itself started slowly and never really got beyond mediocre. Still a bit too contemplative for my own good. I think I get too much exposure to the tabloid media culture where any error is unacceptable and condemnation is forever.
A comment attributed to Arthur C. Clarke in an obituary I saw: that reports of UFO sightings said nothing about the existence of intelligent life on other planets, but did say something about how rare it is on Earth.
Tuesday Apr 8, 2008 #
Run intervals ((fartlek)) 38:00 [4] 9.0 km (4:13 / km)
Felt promising at the start (on another very nice morning for running) but didn't quite deliver - not that lack of speed is really going to matter on Sunday. Fastest loop 9.23.
Monday Apr 7, 2008 #
Swimming 31:00 [2] 1.0 km (31:00 / km)
Swim at Northcote. With nothing other than a black line to look at, swimming means there aren't a lot of distractions from thinking, which at present is probably a minus rather than a plus as it means one's mind turns to things like whether I've got a spare few thousand around if needed for legal costs. The physical aspects of the swim were fine, though.
My mood this morning wasn't helped by the friendly motorcyclist who thought I wasn't far enough forward at the traffic lights for his liking and gave me a little push from behind to give himself a gap to squeeze through.
Spotted a car whose owner is obviously in favour of having more countries in the world than we currently do, as it sported bumper stickers 'Free Tibet', 'Free West Papua', 'Free East Timor' and 'Free Aceh' (at least number 3 is done and number 4 is sort-of-done). I had no argument with the other cause advocated, that of the Essendon Football Club (very Melbourne). I find it difficult to see 'Free (insert cause here' without thinking of the mid-1980s episode when the late and unlamented leader of the now-defunct Builders Labourers Federation, Norm Gallagher, was jailed for taking bribes from developers in exchange for industrial peace on their sites. Just about every building site sprouted 'Free Norm' written on their fences, whereupon somebody in Canberra took it upon themselves to start writing underneath 'with any Big Mac purchase'.
My mood this morning wasn't helped by the friendly motorcyclist who thought I wasn't far enough forward at the traffic lights for his liking and gave me a little push from behind to give himself a gap to squeeze through.
Spotted a car whose owner is obviously in favour of having more countries in the world than we currently do, as it sported bumper stickers 'Free Tibet', 'Free West Papua', 'Free East Timor' and 'Free Aceh' (at least number 3 is done and number 4 is sort-of-done). I had no argument with the other cause advocated, that of the Essendon Football Club (very Melbourne). I find it difficult to see 'Free (insert cause here' without thinking of the mid-1980s episode when the late and unlamented leader of the now-defunct Builders Labourers Federation, Norm Gallagher, was jailed for taking bribes from developers in exchange for industrial peace on their sites. Just about every building site sprouted 'Free Norm' written on their fences, whereupon somebody in Canberra took it upon themselves to start writing underneath 'with any Big Mac purchase'.
C • Free 8
Run 39:00 [2] 8.0 km (4:53 / km)
MFR Monday night from a new starting point - Clara's place in Brunswick. A somewhat convoluted figure-of-eight centred on the Merri Creek. Felt a bit iffy at the start but good in the second half, with plenty of scope to surge when I felt like shuttling between packs. A bit of a change to be doing this in the dark.
There was a new entry to the annals of legendary Monday night catering - the dessert of small pieces of fruit and melted chocolate to dip them in (those of us who were alive in the 70s could draw the comparisons with fondue).
Jas got caught out by Nicholson Street's quirky numbering - the numbers restart on the west side but not on the east, so if you go to 201 Nicholson, North Fitzroy when you were intending to go to 201 Nicholson, Brunswick, you're about 3km from where you thought you were. It also means that 69 is opposite 892. I assume that it was a council boundary in pre-amalgamation days.
There was a new entry to the annals of legendary Monday night catering - the dessert of small pieces of fruit and melted chocolate to dip them in (those of us who were alive in the 70s could draw the comparisons with fondue).
Jas got caught out by Nicholson Street's quirky numbering - the numbers restart on the west side but not on the east, so if you go to 201 Nicholson, North Fitzroy when you were intending to go to 201 Nicholson, Brunswick, you're about 3km from where you thought you were. It also means that 69 is opposite 892. I assume that it was a council boundary in pre-amalgamation days.