Dry Creek North East

Exploratory run today, travelling roads or trails in this case never before travelled. Headed east from Walkley's road along Dry Creek reserve. Missed the "fork in the road", but found a third one, I left the creek at the fork and instead followed an open grassy drain (of which I thought were only common in Darwin) parallel to McIntyre road. It was a long slow uphill run out in 7min/ks and a swifter return in 6.30min/kms. Was stopped by a guy on a pushbike looking for his dog...obviously it had run away last night during the electrical storm. I said I hadn't seen it and which way I had come from and he was off again in the opposite direction. Anyhoo I kept my eye out for his "big, brown dopey looking" dog all the way home. All up 12.5km, and only 300m along roadside footpath! woohoo! I could have stretched the run out further but 12k was enough for me today, maybe next time I will do the loop up to bridge road and McIntyre and back home...I will have to plot it on gmap-pedometer and see how far it is.

In other news...I am posting this from home! Yes after improvising (following numerous trips to numerous shops) a car CDMA/GSM antennae for my mobile wireless usb receiver thingy I now have excellent reception where I otherwise had none! Fan-bloody-tastic!

So as promised picture of the bling ring...

Christmas Part II

Managed to sign up to the Next G wireless internet with 2 bars of reception in my bedroom window. But no time to blog last night as we are still setting up the house and I had other things to do...plus I wasted half the evening running around town trying to organise an antennae for my mobile usb thingy to access Next G wireless. My rant can be found here, and the suggestion that Bigpond's tolerance of loss limits are excessively high and thus some other ISP might have been able to give me ADSL has lowered my mood today...I am too deeply invested in this whole wireless thing at the moment to try that avenue just yet.

Anyways, we got back from The Mount on Tuesday, the roads were free flowing enough, actually a lot better than a month ago when we last were down there. We came back to a house that was only half moved in. So aside from spending money buying extra furnishings and the like, I ventured out on my first run from Valley View, not going to work. Wednesday morning I set off on a run. 200m downhill to Dry Creek and I was off on the trail, I ran Dry Creek West (as it will now be called) to Bridge Rd and back. It was a welcome relief to be running a trail and not pounding the pavement down main roads with trucks and fumes and road crossings! It was Fantastic! plus I didn't have to run 5k to get there as per Enfield place. I could get used to this.
The trail to Bridge rd was 6km return and I am hoping that if I cross Bridge Rd and do a loop of the velodrome before returning it will take that route up to 10k, a nice 1hr run, but I will have to try that next week.
This weekend I have laid plans in my mind to try out Dry Creek East. I have only ever run 2k in that direction to Grand Junction Rd and I am keen to see how far the trails roam in the North Eastern Direction because from the maps it looks like they go a fair way and even fork into two different directions. It certainly looks like it has long run potential in that direction.
Running the trials around the lake in Mt Gambier definitely stirred up my interest in driving to Black Hill and giving those trails a bash...Freudian slip...I keep typing trials instead of trails...oops.
OK, with the internet working, if not patchily at home now, I will have to do a yearly summary post for 2006 on the weekend and lay down a plan for 2007 (which I have been forming in my mind on every training run for months.)
I have briefly thought about starting a new blog and retiring this one as a few people have done, but I don't think my circumstances are the same and warrant a change so I will stick with this old horse.

Christmas in The Mount

Frustrations at the new residence of Simlin, crisis over my link to the running community that is CR. More on that later, today I am sneaking this post in from my work computer...lots to write about, but I will start from where I left off, which was Christmas.

Warning, this is pretty much a blow by blow description of two trail runs and may bore some people.

Christmas was spent down in Mt Gambier with future in-laws. I packed two running outfits, keen for a bit of a hit-out, especially with the anticipated Christmas Feast.
Having trouble sleeping past 6 o'clock most days I woke up early on the first morning in the Mount and left a silent dark house to head up to the Blue Lake. I parked on the Northern edge and after observing some other joggers/walkers headed off in an anti-clockwise direction as appeared to be the norm. The Blue Lake was definitely looking resplendently royal blue in the morning light. After a couple of hundred metres I spied a trail which appeared to head off up and around the Valley lake across the road, and harbouring a secret desire to run around their instead of the touristy concrete path around the Blue Lake I crossed the road and struggled up a flight of very narrow stairs...oh dear, this wasn't going to be pretty.
On the up side, there was no sign of a niggle in my right knee which had plagued me ever since the 15th of December (that date I will never forget...I promise...). I ran around the edge of the crate for a little while mainly across some grass past some look outs, then sped a track going down hill into the crater, alas it was Mountain Bikes only and looked narrow and straight down. Regardless 100metres later there was a wide walking track doubling back and down the hill...off I went. I pulled back a little on the down hills, not wanting to jar my knee etc too much or trip over a root or something. Running down through the trees I was running along a saddle between the Valley lake and a smaller crater within the large crater, soon it was up the other side and damn...too steep for me and I walked a little. After the gradient reduced a little I took up running again and could feel some fatigue in my Achilles, I stopped and had a rest at the car park reached to paw over the walking trail sign. I decided upon the "easy" grade track around the outside of the crater on the South side of Centenary Tower and back around to where I crossed over the road from the Blue Lake.
Setting off for the Centenary Tower car park there were a few more steep uphill bits along the edge of the Devil's Punchbowl and then it was the Easy grade down hill around the outside of the crater. This is where the term "easy" grade had me miffed, after the gentle slop down and around the outside of the crater the track turned and went straight back up to the rim (the steepest part of the whole route) Needless to say I walked most of it. Back up to the rim and it was gorgeous running along the exposed rim, the Valley lake on the right and Mt Gambier spread out below on the left. I had to walk one little steep bit up to the highest point of the run and then it was slightly undulating track all the way back to the Blue Lake.
Once I got back to the Blue Lake, there was no way I was leaving the Mount without running around it, so I went back over to the footpath I had left 7k ago and continued around it in an anti-clockwise direction. It was undulating around it but nowhere near as steep as some of the places earlier and I made it back to the car for a stretch after 1hr10mins and 10k.

Christmas was a glutenous affair with every imaginable roast meat and vegetable...not to mention the plentiful beer, wine and spirits consumed. Boxing Day I got up early again, this time just before 7am end before heading up to the lakes, nipped down to Target to pick up a post-Christmas sale bargain I had seen in the Catalogue (1000 thread count sheet sets if you must know).
Instead of doing both lake again I headed for the Centennial Tower car park and set off on a loop of Valley Lake as per the first half of the above run in a fine misty rain. This time I made it up at least half way back up to the rim after coming around the back only to succumb to walking, due to an EP* and mad look for a toilet around the Northern side of the Lake. I finished off the 4.5k run in 40mins and headed back down to town for a third go at the Roast meat and veg.

*Emergency Poo (often accompanied by a Whooooop! Whoooooop! Whooooop! sound)

Tooo busy.

Where to start...
1st - went for my final run around Enfield on Thursday around a 9k routeI have travelled 32 times since January. It was not as hard as thefirst time and not as easy as the best time, but I made it.
2nd - Friday I left work just after lunch, picked up a rock, the keys to the house, some champagne and some red roses. Then I got down on the knee (which is now quite sore?) and proposed to my girlfriend on the threshold of our first home together as she was opening the door for the first time...obviously no time for running...she said yes.
3rd - Saturday was taken up lifting heavy things, moving oneself never gets any easier, especially when you keep acquiring more and more bigger furniture...obviously too weary for running.
4th - Got up Sunday and went shopping, bought running bag (bargain for $20) then to a Christmas lunch with friends, more moving and cleaning...obviously no time for running.
5th - Right, now that I am no longer on the main road to work I had to get myself there so I fired up the Foot Falcon this morning and rode it to work. The move cut off 5k from the run to work and this mornings trip only took 51mins for the 7.7km. Now to scab a ride home because I
am lazy...
More anon, work is too busy too do much blogging or blog reading (sorry)
and the internet is not on at the new place yet.

Edit: will follow up with a piccie for you becky when I can get my computer/internet set up at home, in the mean time you eill have to settle for this...it is the one in the bottom right corner.
After scabbing a lift home last night I ran in again this morning, left 3mins later so put in a little more effort and arrived at the same time as yesterday, 7.8k in 48mins. After not stretching yesterday and having my knee complain bitterly all day, I lay down on the grass next to our security hut and stretched out the knee for five minutes. It feels great now.

Work bash

Today I headed out at lunch time for my second lunchtime run with Bill from work. Just 5k around the block in our lunch break. It took 33mins and wasn't as hot as last time. My right knee was a little sore this afternoon so I hope it doesn't affect my anticipated final run around Enfield tomorrow morning!
Yesterday I got up half an hour early and did some pilates...I must admited I cheated and skipped some bits at the end that I don't like...time was pressing you see...

Blowing out the cobwebs

It has been over a month (6th Novemeber) since I last ran double digits. In between I have been running varying loops of the cemetery (5-7km) with only one 9k run thrown in. This morning I decided to blow out a few cobwebs and take off the shackles, setting out for the velodrome. I decided on the shortest and flattest possible velodrome loop and eased into the run with a 7+min first kilometre. Understandably the last couple of kilometres were a bit weary on the legs, but I came through and finished with that peculiar feeling when I stopped of "I should be puffing, but I'm not...did I just run 11.2km?" Then I started walking and could feel the weariness in the legs...illusion shattered.
During todays run, my mind was ticking over with goals and plans for 2007. I will put down on paper in good time my intentions, but as for now...back to recovery.

Busted a Gut

Yep, waited till 8pm, but got out there this evening to try and arrest a downward slide in training and motivation. It was hot and took a while for my left kee to warm up but I got around the 7k route unscathed in 44mins. Post cold shower and the legs are still feeling it a bit, might go out again in the morning tiredness permitting.

Spreading

I can feel myself spreading...

First things first, sadly I missed the end of the test match. I was at an information session at Adelaide Uni that I had all ready committed too. They are starting a Pharmaceutical Engineering degree out of the Chemical Engineering department and I had attended as a graduate working in the field. My 3 phone couldn't help me either as it appears that a lot of people were trying to watch it on their phones, so I had to resort to watching the score update on the scoreboard page on the phone. Bugger.

Next Second, on the title of my last entry "NB" a lecturer once relayed the story of a few international students who were taking his class. He is one of these lecturers who likes to tell you exactly what is on the exam, so he annotated all the stuff that was going to be in the exam with NB. The students thought it meant Note Briefly and as such when it came to study for the exam they ignored all the stuff he had said was going to be on the exam and failed...therefore the title of the last post was really a joke for me about being brief.

It has been a busy week, cricket and a training course. After tuesdays run my right knee felt a bit dicky. I tried a run on Thursday morning, made it to the end of the street then walked back home...total 100m and sour disappointment, so now it is Saturday, 41ºC outside and last night I went to Miss Simlin's work x-mas show where I ate half a pig and the whole rear end of a cow. I am trying to decide on what type of preventative action I can take today to stop the festive season spreading which I feel coming on. I am feeling disillusion with my running, and whole fitness etc, I knew it was going to be tough, because I am busy, it is hot, and there is soooo much food and beer to tempt me.

This week is packing time before settlement of our first house on Friday, so next weekend will be flat out moving stuff and this weekend is packing and I have been drafted into a top notch, first rate, A-level bowls team...we will see how that goes tomorrow at the RSL.

NB

I am still alive. Barely...very long weekend at the cricket mainly, I have work training the next couple of days. Squeezed in 2 short runs since last time, but couldn't squeeze in any blogging. I have tried to keep up with most other blogs, but am starting to fall behind on blog reading too. I did 6k on friday morning before heading off to Adelaide Oval and then 7k this morning....more anon.

End of Movember

Well, a decline in blogging means a decline in running. Fate was against me all week. Monday was a planned rest day (check), Tuesday I couldn't get up due to lack of sleep bought on by too much coke the night before, when I haven't had coke in sooooo long. Damn cafeine and sugar kept me buzzing till the weeee hours of the morning. Wednesday morning, planned run, alarm went off at 6am, but made no sound, so when I woke up it was too late to go for a run. OK enough winging, what did I do about it!

Yesterday arvo after the morning debarkle I stepped out into the warm afternoon air and took the old canoes out for a lap of the cemetary, only 6k but at least it was something. This morning I got up and did the pilates DVD, well as much as I could anyway, damn thing is still hard but I can't wait to see how it helps my running. At lunch time today I went out with a guy in my department for a 5k loop around Salisbury, it was only 33°C but I still look like I have stepped out of a shower now.

Tomorrow is the first day of the Adelaide Ashes test. yay. While today is the last day of MOVEMBER! I raised $95 for men's health. Thanks to all those that contributed, 2P, Ewen, SparkDriver, Rachel49.

I will sign off now, I am not sure if this post makes much sense so I might edit it later, when I have cooled down a bit.

Clearing the bugs

Went out for a tentative 7k this morning, hoping to drive the last remnants of the unwelcome invading bugs out of the system as Ewen suggested. Felt drained on up hills but apart from that this mornings trot was quite pleasant.
One thing I can say about this damned mustache is that it increases the wicking factor of my face...it is quite pleasant cool feeling actually...but it won't be staying past Movember. Now I just have to get a bit more normality back into my routine, but with the ashes, moving house and Christmas coming in 3 out of the next four weekends I don't think normality will return until 2007.

And this one is for 2P

BOO!
Well, where have I been?
Squeezed in the Pilates DVD on Tuesday morning, then at 11:45am BAM! head, nose and through get hit simultaneously in a surprise raid by an army of angry germs, no warning...very Pearl Harbour'esc. Needless to say, no run Wednesday morning, or work for that matter. A lot of time spent on the couch, or in bed. Thursday, feeling over the worst of the attack, ventured back to work, disgusted in the fact that I have to miss the start of the ashes on TV. By yesterday evening I could feel the germs trying to fight there way down into my chest, hopefully I have some strong defence now built up there and they won't be able to get a foot hold leaving me free to do a light run on the weekend! yay.

This one's for SD

This one is for you SparkD Thanks for the donation. The second time around I have gone for the big "Chopper" style Mo. Actually it is just a goatee with the middle bit shaved off.
2P - I generally weigh myself in the mornings before going for a run too...I just don't record it, so I have a pretty good idea about where I actually am. I also play the game where I predict what I will weight at the end of a run, I generally lose between 1.0 and 1.2kg for a 7-10km run.
Confession time...goals were thrown into dissarray yesterday...over eating on cheese and gourmet sausages and rissoles at a Christening BBQ and then was just feeling too lethargic for a bit of pilates. In fact I have been feeling really rundown lately...maybe my iron levels are low, seems to be the popular thing. I will go home tonight and eat a nice juicy steak wrapped in spinach.

Can the motivated Simlin come out and play?

Only the second run for the week this morning, 9k in 57mins. I just couldn't be bothered, I have so many other things on my mind right now. The strange thing about my apparent laziness is that my weight is still on a nice downward trend. I think this might be due to the fact that instead of running I have been including other activites ie exercise bike and pilates. So even though the workouts haven't been as intense, there have been just as many and I heard/read somewhere that variety is good for weightloss because your body gets used to / efficient at doing one type of exercise.
My motivation for running training has hit a new low these last two weeks, probably due to the fact, as 2P, pointed out I have no goals set for the rest of the year. I was planning a crack at my remaining 2006 goals but as fate would have it I realised 2 weeks ago that the two races left in the year are both on morning when I can't make it. One was last weekend when I was in Mt Gambier and the other is in two weeks when I will be at a breakfast before going to the third day of the Adelaide Ashes Test. Therefore I think I might stick to the current routine and see if I can't weight in at less than 110kg before Christmas...this morning was 112.25kg (remembering I cheat by weighing in after a run...before rehydrating....WHAT A CHEATER!...but it makes me feel good.)

Piles

No, I haven't been sitting on cold concrete.
I have been wading through piles of paperwork...a contract at work to become permanent...check...I officially start on the 1st of December.
Loan forms...check...need to complete.
Convayencer forms...check...need to complete.
Forms to open a new bank account...check...need to complete.

I have been cross training lately instead of running, don't know why, just a change in mood. I did the pilates DVD on Monday, it didn't get any easier and my mind was wandering so much, I don't think I was concentrating on my T-zone and breathing enough to get maximum results. Yesterday I jumped on the stationary bike for the first time in a while and did 45mins.

Today was the fun run for corporate cup but it was horrid weather out and everyone piked, so instead I did a loop of the cemetery straight after work. It felt like a struggle, must be the non-running I have been doing lately. I think I will put it down to running in the afternoon, I hate running in the afternoon.

Tomorrow I will run in the morning and everything will be back to normal.

Thanks SparkD for the MOnatory donation, it was not a MOment too soon. Photos toMOrrow of the new MO.

Jelly Belly

After a long weekend, involving the involuntary (I swear) shovelling mountains of food into my mouth, late nights and a lot of driving I set out for a horrible 4.2k this evening after returning some DVDs. I could have sworn I was wearing a fake belly full of rocks and was running through water.

Update on Movember, being a family weekend for miss Simlin, she donated to Movember for me to shave it off, so I have to start again. Alas.

Edit: SD - It wasn't just a good donation, it was the only donation made so far...my Mo was feeling un-loved and un-appreciated, so when the opportunity arose to actually add a donation to my registration there was no objections from my dejected Mo.

Woof! You Bloody Choir.

Sorry, stole the title. (apologies to Augie March)


The title comes from running down Main North Rd in the pre-dawn light, when even McDonald's windows are dark, and the only company you have is the car yard guard dogs. Main North rd is like one long car yard, and every one has at least one Rottweiler or German Shepherd, some have 2 or even one of each. Some mornings they are either too sleepy or I don't smell so bad and there is silence. While other mornings, like this morning, I set the first one off and then for the next km there is constant barking and gnashing of teeth, even from the other side of the road. Each guard dog decides to say hello in a friendly way and then Back Off Bitch! in an unfriendly way while baring teeth. Maybe it was my Movemeber Mo which made me look like a criminal this morning?
Not a great photo, but it was taken before 7:30am and I don't have my happy face on yet :).
Though I should, because our mortgage broker called at 8pm last night to tell us that our loan was going to be approved! Now we just need to get the paper work from the financial institution.
Yay, I am a home-owner (*he says in as serious a voice as he can muster*) of course if you are reading this you are most welcome to the housewarming!
Anyway, to todays run, seeing as I only have a month left running in Enfield, I decided to go over an old route that I haven't done in a while, so it was 9k in 55mins. Following the run I did my usual 15mins of stretching, minus the sit-ups...my T-zone / abdominals have not yet forgiven me for that devilish pilates work-out...what they don't know is that I am planning on giving it another go on Sunday evening...muhahahaha (*he laughs, an evil laugh, while going into a deliriously happy state of insanity*)

Damn T Zone

Reluctantly rolled out of bed this morning for a lap of the Cemetery hoping my legs weren't too sore. The legs felt quite loose and relaxed as I started out on a surprisingly chilly morning. Then I got to the first hill. I could feel the tiredness in my legs as I started up the first incline. Luckily the tiredness I felt in my legs didn't phase me as the only thing I could think of the entire time was "am I pulling in my T zone?" "Is my T zone OK?". Damn pilates, now all I can think about is my damn T zone.
Garmy died trying to display my 4k split, so I had to guess my pace over the last 2 k, 6k in 36min50sec.

Edit: I found this definition: "t-zone" (pilates geek for inner abdominals = tummy muscles)
The t-zone is basicaly a line from hip bone to hip bone bisected by a line from your pelvic bone. I am not sure if the above definition is correct, I thought it was more the pelvic floor muscles etc. (those used when you need to go to the bathroom but are holding on)

the other, other type of workout

This is the Pilates DVD , I first heard about it on Ellie's blog I think. I got it from here, which just happens to be 200m up the road.

Well tonight I whipped it out gave it a go. Concentrated on my T zone. Damn it was tough...I can tell doing this regularly will really benifit to running. From my first pilates work out two things are obvious:
(1) my core strength is poor. very poor.
(2) my flexability is poor. very poor.

Wonder how long it will take that to improve?

Movember

Ok this is what I got so far...my facial hair tends to come through ginger over time, so doesn't look very full. My rego is 15981.

Anyway, set the alarm for 5:30am this morning. Didn't get up till 6:45am. Ooops. No running. Maybe I will try out the Pilates DVD I have finally found, Studio Pilates for Runners and Cyclists, this evening. It looks hard.

Lazy Sunday

Who said anything about a lazy Sunday?
Didn't go in the Black Hill Challange. If I had woken up in time I might have considered it, but instead I awoke at 8am and set out to just do a loop of the horse paddock and back (10km). Well that went out the window, once again my auto-pilot had other ideas, which involved running past the horse paddock and down to the Torrens, along the Torrens to Lower Portrush road and then up to hampstead and home. It was a route I mapped out a very long time ago but have never done. Till today. Overall it was about 14.5km and I finished it in 1hr35mins. When I stopped to have a walking warmdown to the end of the block and back as usual my right ITB was very tight, so taking extra time on each of my routine stretches it now feels ok, but I won't be running tomorrow, two days in a row over 12k was how I set it off last time as I recall. Mmm stupid me.

Split Personality

I think over the last year I have developed a split personality. One is lazy, the other, not so lazy. For instance. This morning I really didn't feel like getting out of bed, but the brain said different so 15 minutes later I found myself plodding down hampstead road with a grumpy look on my face. This is not the first time I haven't really felt like a run but somehow have ended up out pounding the pavement, I didn't even take my mp3 player this morning (and haven't for a while) because my lazy personality hasn't been bothered charging the batteries in a while. I had other things to occupy my mind, waiting for approval for finance is making me nervous. What happens if they refuse us finance, what do we do then? there won't be time to approach other lenders.
But anyway, today I did the velodrome loop, pretty much on auto-pilot 12.5k in 1hr20min, tomorrow morning I might go for a run in the other direction just for something different.

Let the excuses begin

Didn't get up on the alarm this morning, the legs, especially knees were still complaing after two hard days over shorter distances (tue and wed). But to the excuses, now that I am planning to have a mortgage I have decided to opt out of Sundays Black Hill Challange, maybe I will leave that one for next year. Instead I will know doubt head out on my own, solo, free run, because today I am feeling a bit flat and won't make it out.
Couldn't even get up the energy to jump on the stationary bike now either, instead I am reading blogs/posts etc being lazy in front of the computer...maybe I will feel different tomorrow?

Corporate Cup - Run 7

Run 1 - 24mins36sec - 5:41 pace
Run 2 - 24mins30sec - 5:40 pace
Run 3 - 23mins01sec - 5:19 pace
Run 4 - DNS
Run 5 - 25mins34sec - 5:52 pace
Run 6 - 22mins30sec - 5:10 pace
Run 7 - 22mins29sec - 5:10 pace

Didn't have the ideal preperation leading up to this run, nutrition etc, consequently I was incredibly flat over the last kilometer falling away to only improve by a solitary second. I think I struggled with the mental barrier of pushing myself when I felt tired going around on the second lap. I finished the first lap in 11min10sec then dropped 19seconds on the second lap, mostly in the final kilometer.

Other news: It's official, I am a home owner...well if someone decides that they will lend me a rather large sum of money anyway...all ready planning some new runs, but settlement is a month and a half away.

Let Movember begin.

Let's get physical....physical

Got out on this fine All Halows' Eve to enjoy a lap of the cemetery. 6k in 36 mins. I attacked the hills from the start, so by half way around my legs felt a bit shakey.
Anyway, house hunting on Sunday went well and we are going to try and buy a place tonight in fact, well at least meet with the real estate agent and draw up an offer, how is this running related? Well, when buying a house you have to consider the running route possabilities and this one has it all. When I say it all it is 200m from my new favourite run, Dry Creek. that is a little closer than the 5k it presently takes me to get there.
Other news, after being a contractor for just shy of 2 years work are finally going to offer me a permanent role. Now how is this possibly running related? Well there was no running yesterday, instead I had to undergo occupational testing or whatever they call it. Basically it involved lifting pushing, bending, squeezing, pinching, blood pressure, hearing, eye sight, height, weight, dexterity.
This is the first kind of physical type exam I have ever had. The Results as I remember them:
I have a weak right grip, I have a stronger left pinch than right pinch (finger strength).
Height: 198cm
Weight: 115kg (classed as overweight)
BP: Normal
Resting HR: 70 bpm
All my strength is in my legs (lifting waist to knee) and my upper body strength is weak (lifting shoulders to head)
I have good fitness (first time on a treadmill, how do people stand it...though I was incredibly unsuited to the set up of the old one they had...ratings were good/satisfactory/poor)
hearing: a little anomaly at a higher frequency, though I think I heard more than I pressed the button, just coudn't tell if I was imagining it and didn't want to appear crazy.
Eyesight: 20/20, I must have stuffed up one of the letters in one of my eyes so not quite 20/15

Month in review:
165km in 17hrs16mins, second biggest month and starting to build some consistency after that mid year slump.
Year to Date:
1177km in 128hr07mins.

More statistics and possibly graphs later from Sportstracks.

Edit (much later):

This month (last month)
Num of Activities 17 (16)
Ave Distance 9.72km (9.83km)
Ave Time 1:00:56 (1:01:58)
Pace 6:16 (6:18)

And the all important:

Will I, Won't I LSD

Set off this morning at 7am, or was it 8am...damn daylight saving. Didn't really feel like a long run when I was lying in bed so set of thinking about just doing a velodrome loop, alas after 1k I had plans of extending it just a bit down dry creek. When I got to Dry Creek I decided that I would finally go for an explore into the Stockade Botanical gardens. WHAT AN OASIS! I never new it existed right under my nose, there is a waterfall, nice grace, toilets, bubblers (which I would take advantage of later) I ran up and around the waterfall and out onto Dry Creek. I just went down to Walkley's Road and back today wanting to do about 18k. On the way back I stopped off at the bubler in the botanical gardens for a few gulps of water and then set off for the hill behind the belodrome. With the Black Hill Challange coming up I was looking for as many hills as possible, alas I think My brain was playing tricks on me because all the short hills I normally run up today just looked and felt like little lumps on the landscape (even after 18km). I fear I am going to crash and burn going up Black Hill next week, oh well you only live once. 18.3k in 2hrs today.
Now I am off to look at houses and maybe buy a beanbag to fall asleep in tonight.

Dress Like a Nerd

Struggled out of bed this morning for 6k in 36mins. It was a fight but once I felt the morning air gently pushing against my face as I set off, I knew I had made the right decision.

Now, today at work is dress like a nerd day, so I put on my normal get-up and headed in. Plus it looks like some-people might actually find my blog entertaining? What's the deal with that?

Edit: I wish people would stop saying that this outfit suits me :)

Run to Work

Last night I discovered I wouldn't have the car to go to work in this morning, and my normal ride was on the first plane to Melbourne, so I decided to run to work, oops, still had on my steel caps...they won't fit in my hydration pack even without the bladder.
Solution: I grapped an old backpack and an octopus strap to use as a chest strap, then I put about 5kg of stuff in it, clothes, steel caps, and food and set off. All was going well until about 2k when I felt it swinging around wildly...only to look back over my shoulder and find the pack almost completely undone, but luckily lunch etc was still perched there...miraculously! So after stopping, doing it back up and using my lanyard to clip the zips together I set back off again and was trouble free. Before stopping I had been feeling great and cruising, but after stopping it felt like a struggle to maintain an even pace. I am sure the extra weight on my back contributed to the struggle but I ended up making it to work for 12.5k in 80mins, including the couple of minutes fixing my bag.

Race Report - Race 4 Life

That's right people, I made it out of bed this morning to head down to Elder Park...and what a crowd, way more people than I was expecting, I'd estimate a couple of thousand. Registered and stood around in the sun soaking in the glorious day...and there was pink everywhere. Rundave came over to say hello and I also met CR Derwood after he noticed my cap. After a very uncoordinated (for me) mass warm up the walkers set off to the beat of some drums, and as I watched the long trail of walkers snaking off along the path around the Torren's I wondered if I would catch them at the 1k mark or 2k mark. 15mins passed and us 9kers lined up and were away, I coasted along in the crowd, not really having any other choice really and it was like that for a while, and then we caught the walkers. It was generally a single file line of runners on the right and the walkers on the left. I pity anyone coming the other way.
Still just cruising along there were quite a few people passing me at this stage, one pair who I heard talking behind me when we were single file said they finish C2B in 70mins, so they were my targets. I continued to cruise the first lap while they and many others got away from me. The first 4.5k lap was a tick over 26mins. Cruised for a little while longer, and then surprised to still feel good in the legs after yesterdays 18k I began to boog it a bit, I started reeling in people one after the other, catching my target with about 1k to go and stretched out my legs with some long strides home passing about 20 people in the last kilometer. Finished still feeling surprisingly good in 51 mins, so a 25 min second lap average pace of 5:40 (which is faster than my 10k PB). Couldn't stay around afterwards for a free breakfast etc...had some shopping to do.
Now for shopping, I spent $250 on work pants and shorts...It felt fantastic to try on clothes and then go, wow these don't fit very well, they are TOO large! Get me the size smaller! Henve the $250 spent, it was all the endorphins.
Then as 2P has his mow-the-lawn patented, I will patent the, help-on-a-building-site recovery...today i moved wood for frames stacked in one place to another place.

Non-Race CR sighting

Again No Blogging = No Running.
I have spent more time a work than at home since my last blog entry, so there has been no time for running or blogging. This morning as promised I met up with Lulu
for an hour easy tour of Adelaide's running hot spots. First I had to get there so I set of from home at a recovery pace (6:45ish). After 2k and with 2k to go, I thought I was going to be late so I booged it over the next 2 k at 5:20ish pace. Luckily I made it on time and Lulu was waiting patiently out the front of her Hotel in a CR singlet for me. We set off at 6:30 pace and first took in a bit of the Horse paddock, then crossed over melbourne street passed the Park 8 and 10 (no Buster sighting like Rundave) to the Torrens at Hackney road. We then ran down the North bank to the weir, crossed over and ran back to the footbridge on the south bank. From there we went straight up from road and through North Adelaide to her Hotel. It was probably the most pleasant run I have ever had...thanks Lulu. The weather was great, the company was great and judging by Garmy the Pace was the most consistant 6:30ish pace I have ever seen.
After saying goodbye, I set off for the 4k home and boy was that a tough little stretch, but here I am blogging about it so I guess I made it...all up today 18k in 1hr54min...now for te Race 4 Life tomorrow, I think I might enter in the 9k and just cruise around...depends how I pull up.

Edit: so after all it was a Non-race CR sighting, though I cheated and had it pre-arranged.

Corporate Cup - Run 6

Run 1 - 24mins36sec - 5:41 pace
Run 2 - 24mins30sec - 5:40 pace
Run 3 - 23mins01sec - 5:19 pace
Run 4 - DNS
Run 5 - 25min34sec - 5:52 pace
Run 6 - 22min30sec - 5:10 pace

No lunch straight before the run this week and cooler temperatures (22°C). The wind was half as strong as last time and a lot cooler. Got out of the metaphorical blocks fairly well with a 5:03 split mostly into the wind and then a 4:59 mostly with the wind. Came through for the lap at about 11:10 (10sec faster than last time). Second lap I slowed a bit to 5:10 pace and came home with a positive split (11:20). Coming up to the line I had slowed down for fear of the gurg, but renewed my efforts to make it across the line bang on 22:30. Right, my mission for the next fortnight before the final CC run is not to fade over the last lap and come home in a 20 second negative split to break 22mins! I don't think I have it in me, but I will certainly give it a crack even if it means the gurg...what I really need is someone to chase, it is not easy pacing yourself.

...says someone who says they were aiming for 22:30 and finished it in 22:30. HA!

No blogging = No Running

That's right, after spouting off about determination blah blah blah, my motivation has hit one of those low points. I am used to this now but, is knowing that I will get my motivation back delaying the return or just easing the anguish? Lying in bed in the mornings thinking, should I get up or shouldn't I, nope I have no motivation...but it will return soon. How am I going to snap out of it with that attitude.
This morning I just made it out of bed, but a planned 9k turned into a planned 7k which eventuated as a 6k run. For added incentive I also ran a new route, which I will call the Cemetery loop (It is basically a lap of the cemetery). I think the turning point this morning was the prospect of a run on Saturday with Lulu and not being able to keep up.
Corporate Cup tomorrow, hopefully I have a fast one in me and the weather stays mild as forecast. I will be aiming for 22:30.

House Spoiler

WARNING: If you love the TV show House, and you do not want to know what happens at the start of season three...DO NOT read the last paragraph. It contains a spoiler for the first episode of season 3.

Finally got in my velodrome loop this morning, I got up a little later than intended due to a reasonably late night out so by the end of the 11.5k loop I was a little hot to say the least. But that is ok, now that I am home, showered, fed and watered I am feeling great. I cruised around the velodrome loop at an easy pace coming home in 71.5 minutes.

Now, as for House, I watched the first episode of season 3 last night at a friends and it started with quite a funny, and relatable scene. For those who don't know (not those that ignored the warning above) House is a Doctor and had massive muscle death in his leg leading to cronic pain and limping etc. At the end of the second season they hinted at being able to cure it...so the start of the third season starts with House running to work.
Cuddy: Did you run to work?
House: Yep, all 6 miles.
Cuddy: It's been 16 weeks. You realise the standard recovery time for a gunshot wound to the abdomen is 8 weeks?
House: But after 8 weeks I could only run 3 miles...I never would have made it to work.

Shame Shame Shame.

I wasn't the not so little Aussie Battler this morning. I slept in. Last night went on a little longer than intended, out to dinner with work colleagues, so after a few bevies and then dinner it was late when I got to bed and the determination I had on Wednesday obviously evaporated quickly when I realised how tired my legs still felt. Perhaps I have not fully recovered from the weekends long run. Regardless my legs are still aching now and maybe a program of gentle cross training and stretching tonight will see me right for two medium length runs on the weekend.

Rundave asked

How much of a hassle was shifting to beta blogger? Did you lose/change anything?

Blogger Beta is now running quite smoothly with commenting finally sorted out. The extra funtionallity is cool too (including post labels) and customising is even easier with a GUI type arrangement. When changing you can revert to your old template or simply change to a beta template (to make use of new cusomising ability, widgets etc) which also allows you to view your old template code so you can copy and paste code into the new template.
Another feature which I have found useful is in the edit posts page you can now view posts (in a sort of preview pane below post title) which makes it easy to find the post you want to edit etc without opening up the blog to try and find it.
There may be some other fantastical things that are too advanced for me to know about, eg flicker accounts (whatever they are) and so on.
All up they seem to have ironed out all the problems and the new Blogger is great!

Edit: oh yeah, if you are logged in it is also easy to edit your blog without having to go through dashboard as you can edit a post/element on the page just by clicking the "edit post" or "edit element" button which appears on the blog (when you are logged in)

Trudging on

On waking this morning, I really didn't feel like getting up. My legs were tired, my brain was tired, in fact I don't know what possessed me to actually get up. Halfway through getting ready I was walking to the door and paused a minute, contemplating going back to bed, and yet again I dismissed it a little too easily. Once I was out of the door nothing improved, I trudged off. The only consession I made myself was to only do 9-10km and save the longer midweek run for friday. Today I was trying a new route into north adelaide and then around the horse paddock, so I didn't take my mp3 player either. Oh boy what a dreadful run, 300m up the road I had one of those...bugger this feelings where I almost stopped and turned back to go back to bed...yet I continued on. It was slow hard going and I finally trudged home 9.82km...then kept going to the end of the street to take Garmy up to 10k (why? after so much complaining?)...total time 1hr10mins.

...I am freaking myself out this morning, where on Earth did this insane determination come from? Luckily tomorrow is a rest day so my legs can rejuvinate...I wonder if I will feel like doing any cross training.

Racing the bus.

Set out this morning for a recovery 7k (as per my schedule :O) ), with some new tunes on the MP3 player, the time wizzed by. (I succumbed to buying them on the internet because on Saturday at Target, I saw the new release stand and there was at least 4 albums there I wanted, couldn't afford that, so I bought them on line.) Today it was Evenescence, Sunday it was Jet, and now it is The Killers and Scissor Sisters. Regardless it has become my habit of late (with miss Simlin catching a bus to work at 6:20ish that I get around to Main North Road, near the end of my run and I decide, I might just go pop a kiss on her cheek before she goes to work, but because of the lateness of my leaving home I have to bolt down Main North rd checking over my shoulder every 30 seconds to see if the bus is coming yet. Just beat it this morning, landed a kiss on the cheek as the bus pulled up but had to really motor over the last 50m.
Glad I didn't pull anything in the mad dash.

Further musing from a dull mind.

I was rummaging through my C2B bag last night to actually see what was in it and cam across the SARRC half price membership form. So I started to fill it in...that's right people I am finally joining a club! It's about time too really, also with the membership comes free entry to the Christmas Frolic fun run, so more money saved there too! Now all I have to do is get off my arse and send in the application.

We got a another turtle to keep Mr Fanta Pants (so named for the orange around his shell and in honour of gingered haired people) happy as he seems to be moping a bit after the loss of Squirt, Milly (definitely a girl as the breeder incubates at girl temperature) is a little larger than Squirt was and has a few eccentricities but Mr Pants and Her seem to be getting on fine, yay!

On the training front, the discovery of the new Dry creek and velodrome trails have made increasing the mileage easier. Last month was my second biggest month, only the month before my first half was bigger. My current training cycle spans over 2 weeks and is looking like this.

WEEK 1
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 7k (recovery)
Wednesday - Velodrome route (11-12k) or run home from work (12.5km) (easy)
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 9k Reverse route (including long hill...tempo style)
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 9k-12k or Hills run (~6k) (relaxed)

Week 2
Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 7k (recovery)
Wednesday - Corporate Cup 4.3k (race)
Thursday - Rest (or cross training)
Friday - Velodrome route (11-12km) (relaxed)
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Dry Creek Long Run (~20k) (LSD)

This will most likely be the training structure for the next month or so to the Black Hill Challenge because it seems to work and I have got into a good rhythm. My aim with this training regime is to meet my goals by simply getting fitter and being at a lower weight...I don't feel the need for speed sessions or hill repeats etc because it just takes too much out of me and puts too much pressure on the legs at the moment. With two more CC races to go over the next two fortnights, I feel that if I can crack 22min30 there, I will be a chance to crack my 25min 5k goal on 12 November (Sri Chinmoy). After that another 3 weeks to get the fitness up to have a go at 10k in 55mins for the SARRC Xmas Frolic on 3 Dec.

All up exciting times ahead, the other two events I will be entering are 22 October Run 4 Life 9k event and the Black Hill Challenge 12.5k on the 5 November.

OK time to end the drivel now.

"Do you want to come to the pants party?"

Starting with Friday night, I was desperate for a drink, so much so that I walked the 5k to the Lion Hotel to meet friends in 43mins dressed in jeans, a shirt and some pub/club friendly shoes. I was quite impressed with that effort and had a few celebratory drinks, won a few games of Darts...here I come London 2012!
No running Saturday.
On Sunday morning, out of sympathy for those competing at the Melbourne Marathon or HM, or just shear stupidity, I set off on a long run with the intention of running 20+kms. I took with me my hydration pack this time so there would be no excuses for turning back early. The weather was much milder than Saturday thankfully with low temperatures but blustery wind at times. This week I made it to the end of the Dry Creek section at Grand Junction Road (10.5k), Here I stopped for a minute or so, had a drink and did some stretching, before heading back toward Bridge Rd. Trip back was uneventful, but there was another bastard head wind going up behind the velodrome. Grrr. Made it home, via the undulating route (no wrong turn this time) for 21.5km in 2hr23 mins, which would make it my second longest run ever! (With the longest being 25k). I son't think I will try lengthening my long run at the moment, I am quite happy running around 20k and with no longer distances planned in the near future I think I will stick with it. As for the rest of the day...shopping. Just what I need, walking around Rundle Mall all afternoon.

Now as for the title of my last post, it is from a David Lynch movie "Mullholland Drive" and I would highly recommend it. And todays post title, something a little more comic.

Silencio

Taking Miners lead, I have used a movie quote as my post title, If you can guess what movie it comes from you now know, along with Donnie Darco, one of my top five favourite movies. The haunting Spanish rendition of a Roy Orbison song in this movie is chilling.

Well anyway today, I ran the velodrome loop and felt pretty good too after Wednesday’s debacle. Coming home I was tossing up whether to turn left at the cemetery for an undulating last 3k or go straight ahead for a gentle downhill last 3k. I made up my mind early to take the undulating route but after tuning out and day dreaming, I found myself following a footpath veering away from home…where the hell am I? Took the next left and found my way to the cemetery, where I picked up the undulating route home. All up 11.8k in 71 minutes.
Wanted to run to work this morning for walk to work day, but I would have had to carry my steel caps with me and that would have been silly.

Now time to add to my list of 100 things, this is number 101 and is probably the stupidest thing I have ever done…reading Plu’s blog reminded me of it. Walking on a beach in Darwin (from Lee point to Casuarina beach) we got to the creek half way and the tide was right in and the creek was swollen. Instead of turning around and going back I jumped in and swam across, the v.large Deer Hound we were walking started to swim across too, but gave up half way and climbed onto my back to ride the rest of the way. Why is this stupid you may ask…ever heard of crocodiles? They pull over a hundred crocodiles out of Darwin harbour every year…no doubt I would have made the front page of the NT News.

100 things

OK, so here it is. No laughing at my boring, goody two shoes life OK!

1. I was born in Bourke, NSW.

2. That’s right I am a New South Welshman by origin.

3. I have also lived in Warren, NSW, Carnamah, WA, Port Lincoln, SA, Palmerston, NT and Adelaide SA.

4. Never been overseas.

5. I have seen more than my fair share of the Australian Outback.

6. Was always a tubby kid.

7. In early primary school (living in Country WA) I won numerous medals for swimming at both school sports day and inter-school country carnivals.

8. I always won Butterfly and Backstroke, the same kid (best friend) always beat me at freestyle and breastroke.

9. Despite our swimming prowess, our school always got slaughtered at the inter-school country carnival athletics…we could swim, just not run.

10. After being in what could be termed a swimming squad with regular after school training etc (I lived across from the pool) we moved to Pt Lincoln and swimming training was at 6am a couple of ks away…bye bye swimming L

11. I have only once dived off a 10 metre platform. I did a pin drop.

12. Tip: when doing a pin drop from 10 metres ensure feet and legs are as close together as possible.

13. As a kid I only got grounded once. During which time I went to a birthday party.

14. I got grounded for splitting my brothers head open with a rock, which I propelled at him from quite a distance, so really it was quite a good grenade (throw).

15. I am the son of a preacher man…go Dusty.

16. My brother blames me for his inability to wrestle.

17. I am not a fighter, when we were kids I sat on him so we didn’t have to fight.

18. The one time I fought my brother, dad said take it outside, so we did…needless to say my brother ended up with a bleeding nose (I think it was over who got to sit in the bean bag?).

19. No one has ever tried to start a fight with me, probably due to a number of factors, I am large and imposing and some of the people I hung out with you really wouldn’t want to mess with…no one thankfully has ever worked out that I would most likely stand there and take it or run away.

20. I was the dux of my primary school.

21. I am into music, both making and listening.

22. Some instruments I have played seriously: Piano, Clarinet, Bassoon.

23. My favourite number.

24. Some instruments I have played but not so seriously: Saxaphone, Trumpet, guitar.

25. I have been in numerous bands at school, jazz ensembles etc and have therefore by association played with musicians such as James Morrison and Don Burrows.

26. Things related to music I have been payed for: Jazz background music, a few background piano gigs at dinners, weddings, teaching piano and I have also won a $300 composing and arranging competition.

27. The first CD I ever owned, Diesel - Hipfedelity….ouch (actually I have this on my mp3 player at the moment.)

28. The best I have ever done in a running event was 10th at a primary school cross country event

29. I have never stolen/borrowed a pig.

30. I am a shy person around new people.

31. I am overly friendly and inappropriate around people I know. (which must be why I like the internet so much ;) )

32. My first car was a Layland Mini.

33. To get into it I had to bend like a corkscrew.

34. I had it up on two wheels once going around a 90° turn at 100km/hr.

35. I have never been drunk to the point of vomiting.

36. I just get bored of drinking or spending the money.

37. I’ve always thought that I am just a control freak and afraid to let go.

38. I love Pasta.

39. I am sure I could easily eat a whole 500g packet of pasta cooked with a tasty sauce.

40. Was a very fussy eater as a kid.

41. never ate anything but meat unless it was with mashed potato.

42. Now I eat anything (I think it was due to college food)

43. I live with my Girlfriend.

44. We have 2 turtles named: Fanta Pants (a long neck) and Squirt (Murray River Short Neck)…edit: Squirt passed on last night. L

45. We have 2 frogs named: Frits and Beans.

46. I can’t stand doing anything wrong.

47. That includes breaking any rules or laws.

48. I never got detention, time-out or withdrawal at school.

49. I have only ever had two operations

50. once I had to go to the ER to remove a 1 inch tree spike from my head

51. I have also had ingrown toenail.

52. Patience is my biggest virtue.

53. I have to eat my favourite food first,

54. I can’t stand those that leave it till last…when it is cold and they are full.

55. Sometimes I drive like a grandma.

56. I ranked in the top 10 of the NT at the end of year 12…big whoop.

57. I always wanted to work in the pharmaceutical industry.

58. After 5 years at University, doing a bachelor of engineering (Chemical) and a bachelor of science (majoring in Organic Chem and Physical & Inorganic Chem) I came to the realisation (probably in second year) that a career in the Pharmaceutical industry was very unlikely.

59. After applying for a one line job advertised in the paper I landed my first job out of Uni…it just happened to be in the Pharmaceutical industry.

60. It’s funny how life turns out.

61. I Left home (Palmerston NT) when I was 17 to go to uni in Adelaide and stayed at Lincoln College.

62. Living in a residential college is a totally unique experience. (and would need another 100 things to explain why)

63. I have a younger brother and an older sister.

64. My favourite TV shows are House and the biggest loser.

65. I have made a conscious effort this year not to watch pointless TV shows and become a TV zombie.

66. It seems to be working, I get bored if I try and sit down and watch too much TV now.

67. I was once in a barbershop nonet - we were called The Flapping Sphincters - Enough said (though I could upload the video of our performance to youtube?)

68. I think running is now the most committed I have ever been to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

69. The Heaviest I have been was about 135kg.

70. I will be happy when I hit 100kg.

71. I have a freckle on my lower lip.

72. I practically lived as a vegetarian for the year 2002.

73. I go very red in the face when too much attention is placed on me.

74. I had the derogatory nickname Rudolf for a while in primary school.

75. I’m also a positive person and cling to the belief that everything works out in the end.

76. I have worked in childcare (vacation and afterschool care) - mostly my job was to run around like a silly bugger playing with all the boys outside.

77. I have worked for the NT government - mostly sorting core samples from that years drilling expeditions, they bagged a sample every 3 metres. We had to dry it and put it in a labelled vial to go to the core library.

78. My favourite movie genre is comedy.

79. I hate Horror movies, I just can’t see the point in watching something to get scared.

80. Everything else is ok and I don’t mind chick flicks…oops did I just type that out loud.

81. I like and appreciate all types of music, especially aussie rock.

82. My year of birth.

83. I love cooking.

84. I hate vomiting and can’t remember the last time I did.

85. When the last Olympics were on My brother and I had two TVs set up side by side, one with SBS and the other channel 7.

86. I have had my back naired once and my chest waxed once, I would not do either again.

87. Waxing hurts.

88. The best presents I have ever received are: Garmy, Runner’s World subscription and 2 tickets to Cirque de Soule.

89. I will be running my first marathon next year.

90. I love living in Adelaide (just a big country town) but can’t rule out a move interstate sometime in the future.

91. I have never been on A Current Affair

92. This list has taken me 3 days to compile.

93. I firmly believe that every situation can be related to either a Simpson’s Episode or a Seinfeld episode.

94. For the most part I am quite happy the way my life is turning out.

95. I really want to get back into swimming.

96. I am deathly afraid of going to a doctor and being told I need to have an operation; eg tonsils removed

97. As one of my yr 12 teachers famously said, I am a floater, I do enough to get the job done and no more.

98. I want to be one of those 70 year olds still out on the road running in fun runs

99. The penultimate thing

100. I am quite sure I will be bald and grey by the time I am 30.