Another Winter Season at Aths Club begins

So I've rejoined Aths Club for the winter season.  I truly believe that I'm reaping the benefits now of all the work I did last winter, and let's face it, it was Aths Club last winter that kept me going.  Oh how easy it is to lay in bed of a morning and hear the wind and potential rain outside, know just by peeking an arm outside the doona, that it's cold out.  Easy to snuggle back down, turn the alarm off and sleep in.   But not when there's an Aths Club event.  I know that my friends will be out there shivering in the cold, so how can I say nope not going, I'm too precious for winter!  It just doesn't happen.

Now ... ready to be gobsmacked?  My fair weathered running husband - he has joined Aths Club too for the winter season.  You didn't see that coming, now did you??!!

We had the first run for the season last Sunday and it was a 'naked run'.  Should have seen the look hubby gave me when I gave him that bit of news.  He was wondering what on earth he'd let himself in for.  ha.  Now Aths Club is based on a handicap system, so being the first run and not knowing anyone's handicap, this was the run where they'd see where everyone was sitting so it was a mass start.  And no gadgets.  No Garmins, no Runkeeper, no Strava, no Tom Toms, we had to run blind.  And guess the time we would run the 6km in.  Nearest to their guessed time wins.

Action man approaching the finish line!  Bit red in the face.

Yep, he came in 71st place out of 71 runners and was ecstatic to finish!!!  

But the beauty of this run, he actually came 55th due to his guess of his time.

It was a cool morning, a beautiful run from the Pavillion to Granny's and back.

Pictured here with some of my beautiful running friends.

So my fair-weathered-running-husband may have shocked you - how about the weekday-early-morning-running-wife!  I have no qualms in going out early for a run during the weekend or on days off work, but I've never been one to do it during the week.  Looks like that might be changing!  Funny what early to bed does to you - early to rise indeed!

I've been out a few times now just after 5am.  Headlight, fluoro vest, reflective strips, I have no doubt I am seen from the moon! ha.  But I tell you it's so peaceful out there running before the sun comes up, the morning has been still and clear, and COLD I might add.  But how cool is it to knock over 6km and then come home, shower and brecky, head to work and bask in the awesomeness all day!  ;-)

Then of course on weekend runs, or on my lovely Fridays off work, I can get out a little later at 6am and see views like this.  And mind you I'm not the only one out there, I see walkers, a spattering of other runners, the car that delivers the newspaper.  I am mindful though as I need to run 75% of my run on the road as there are no footpaths, so no headphones, not that I've been using them much of late anyway.  I've kind of ditched the headphones.

And then look at my reward on Friday morning - glorious!

Gotta love living in the country for scenes like this.

And there's something a bit intoxicating about long country roads.  My 15km run on Friday took me waaaay out of town on a big circuit - still wearing my fluoro vest but the headlamp was in my pocket.  Sun was up.

The Mount (as we call it) was looking pretty from all angles on Friday.

And as it happens how fortuitous I did my LSR (long-slow-run for the non-runners reading this) on Friday because today is a shocker - cold - wet - grey and miserable.   Tomorrow - hills - [[ if the weather is kind ]].  ;-)

Geelong Half Marathon - PB!!!

Okay so before we get to the PB part ... what was that I hear you ask ???  PB???!!!   Well you'll have to wait.  This blog post has been a week in the making so patience grasshopper.  I've not been writing it for a week, this is just the first chance I've got to get it done.

So we'll start off with food and end with food, what's not to love about that.

Geelong Half Marathon weekend!  I stayed with mum on Saturday night, she was looking forward to being my cheer squad and to cheer on any of the girls she got to meet from our Warrnie or Runners Connect crew.  Carb loading by way of vegetable lasagne the night before at the sports club up the road, it was an early dinner as I was wanting an early night.  I've still not got the whole carb loading thing right, I have no idea if it's making any difference to me.  Thoughts anyone?  What do you do?   It was delicious in any respect!

So got the race gear ready and did the "Flat Carol" obligatory pic for our runners group.  144.  Lucky number?  No idea.  It looked good.  And Char I must thank you so very much.  Remembering back to my post from the River Run and my mishap with the pins on my shirt you mentioned Pinzaway.  I got some and they worked a treat.   I was proudly running in my Aths Club shirt on this run.

So got down to Barwon River and it was c-c-cold.  Actually a few spots of rain on the way down, ouch!  This wasn't in the forecast.  Met up with some of our beautiful Runners Connect girls.  Do we look cold? ha.   There was a line a mile long for people who's race bibs did not arrive in time through the post, what a disaster, so they had to get duplicates, which meant computerising the timing chip I guess.  I felt bad for them standing in line and getting cold.  So the run started 15 mins later than scheduled.

I decided to acclimatize and took a quick pic down at the river.  This is a scenic run along one side of the river back and back along the other until you finish where you started.  The third time I've done this event, would it be third time's the charm?  I do feel like I'm reaping the benefits of last winter's training at the moment, I'm feeling stronger and (dare I say) getting slightly faster.  My best time for a half marathon was at this event last year 2:43:12.  Was I going to beat it.

A quick pic of Mel and I at the start line.  We were meant to be listening to the race briefing but all we heard was ... "MUFFLE MUFFLE BLAH BLAH BLAH MUFFLE" couldn't understand a thing he was saying.

Soon enough we were off.  The Half Marathon and the new 7.3km race started together.  It didn't cause too much of an issue.  I just blotted everyone out and ran at my own pace.  Once again no headphones.  I was going to have 21.1 kilometres of my own rambling thoughts, but it seems to be working lately so why change it.

I kept up a good pace, it was comforting knowing what to expect on this familiar course.  I could picture where the water tables would be, I knew the twists and turns and the rises and falls in the path.  I didn't have to slow down through the water areas as I had my handheld Nathan which is superb.  I only half re-filled it once at about the 14km mark.

I got to 4km to go and I actually passed three people.  What the heck was up with that!!!!  It shocked me.  I had a GU at 45 mins, 90 mins and then at the 18km mark hoping for a final kick.  I was checking my Garmin and knew unless I fell flat on my face I was running a PB.  Excitement got to me.   There was a lass up ahead I was trying to catch, trying to reel her in.  I was making ground every time she walked and I got closer and closer.  I was right behind her with a plan to take her by surprise.  But darn it at about 400 metres to go a man clapped us and said "good job ladies".  LADIES??!!  She realised she wasn't alone by a quick sharp look over her shoulder in shock and then took off.  Bugger.

Got to about 50 metres to go and saw friends on both side of the finishing chute, mum was applauding. I was ecstatic I was beating my best time by 10 minutes.  10 FREAKING MINUTES!!!   Leah snapped this photo, can you tell I was excited!!   I don't even look like I've run 21.1 kilometres.  I was having fun.

Official time - 2:33:04.   

A 10 minute 8 second PB, yahooooo!

[ 2 hours 30 mins I'm coming for you, just sayin' ]

I made my way to the tables to get a bottle of water, some fruit, a bag of lollies and my finishers hat (yep, no medal at the Geelong Half, grrrr, I ran 21.1 kilometre for a hat, but actually it's not a bad hat, I will get use out of it).  I was surprised when a medic quickly came over to me to see if I was alright.  I just looked at him and said "I'm bloody awesome, why?" and I hadn't realised until that moment I was crying and he thought I was hurt.

Celebrating with some of our Runners Connect girls after the run - Mel, Leah, Shev, Sue and me.   I can't tell you what their friendship and support has meant, it really keeps me running.

And not to mention mum.  She sets herself up with dad's old walker so she can sit and cheer at the finish line.  She takes a book mind you but never reads it.  She gets caught up in all the excitement.  [notice the loose legs on me, I was feeling it in my calves at this stage! ha]

This was my fifth half marathon and is the lightest I've been running one.  Hmmm weight off + faster time = you be the judge!   But I tell you I was famished.  I had been thinking about this brunch for the last 5km!  We found a little cafe in East Geelong called Mister Willis and it was so good.  Not only did they make a fuss of the half marathon which was so so nice, but the food and coffee were amazing.  Smashed avocado on sour dough toast with tomato, feta and a poached egg with a side of bacon.  What's not to love about that concoction.  I totally deserved it!

Dropped mum back home and grabbed my overnight bag and then drove the two hours back home.  As usually I put on my running playlist through the speakers (even though I don't run with music now in most events, these are the pieces I have for the odd times I do use music) and I sang at the top of my voice all the way home.

Later on a lie down on the couch saw that the little boy missed his mum when he jumped up on my stomach for a cuddle.  Ouch.  Really Lucky do you need to?  Maybe it was due to the way I smelt that was so appealing, I hadn't yet showered! ha

Compression tights went on after my shower and I actually slept in them Sunday night which I think helped enormously.  I was walking okay by Monday.  Tuesday I had a fabulous physio appointment timed just perfectly and he got any tension out of my back and legs.  And by Tuesday afternoon I felt as right as rain.  Ready for my next challenge.

What's that I hear you ask?  So glad you asked.  In five weeks I'll be running the Great Ocean Road.  Yikes.  That will be my longest run ever at 23km.  I must admit I have wondered do I have another 2km in me?  I need to self-believe right?

First Aths Club run for the winter series tomorrow yay!  And wonder of wonders, you want to guess who's also joined?  I'll leave you with that question.  ;-)

Pig's bum! (aka how we spent Easter Sunday)

Okay so I'll get to the pig's bum later.  But check it out.  We took on this bad boy on Easter Sunday.  Mount Sturgeon in the Grampians.  Mike had an inkling to climb it last year, but it was pre-running regularly, and he wasn't fit, and my biggest fear was that he'd get half way up, have a heart attack and I'd have to somehow get him back down again.  Then when he suggested how about doing this on Easter Sunday, he felt fitter than he ever had, plus his achilles was feeling so much better, the plan was hatched.

We got up waaaaay early and went to the Easter Sunday dawn service, back home, got our gear together and did a few things round home and then headed north.

So I had climbed Mt. Abrupt previously and I think this was rated a similar climb, albeit not as far.  The google machine said it was a 7km round trip, I would have my Garmin on as I was keen to see the elevation at the end.   So the start of the hike was pretty good.  Hey we can do this!   It was fairly sandy.  The running machine even made me go for a trot!

Oooh okay we have a few step things, probably so the sand doesn't wash away perhaps.  All good though.  Hmmm are we there yet?? haha

Yep we were feeling fine, this was going to be a great day!

Oooh okay the climb started getting a bit harder, a few rocky bits to climb onto.  

Oh right, yep, I can see this is the mountain part of climbing a mountain.  Breathing a bit heavier.  But hey, we were in the great outdoors.  This was fuuuuuuun!!!!

The man still was thumbs up all the way.  His Redback boots served him well, good grip.  Plus ever the gentleman he was carrying the backpack, which you can't really see here.  Rain coats, flash light, glow in the dark arm band thingys, beanies, hey you can never be too sure right?  I'm sure I put a kitchen sink in there too!

While I on the other hand just had my water bottle belt on, with my bottle at the small of my back.  Oh and a point and shoot camera strung across.  Love my hiking boots too, I've gotten a lot of wear out of them.

On the way up, so that you don't stray off track there are yellow arrows, some more worn than others, but as long as we saw one of these we knew we were going the right way.

Then the track was getting downright ridiculous!  Who's great idea was it to do this!!!???  Probably not one of my finer ideas considering I had a half marathon to run the next weekend.  My mind kept fleeting to my friend Kellie who went ice skating this time last year the week before the Geelong half marathon and fell and broke her butt!  Steady as it goes.  Where was the top of this thing anyway.

     

Mike was looking puzzled, we had no words for this.  Was someone buried under there?  Or was someone collecting rocks.  We had no idea.

As we were climbing we could look back to Mount Abrupt over yonder, such a magnificent sight.  I think we were at the 'false top' we had read about.  Where you think you're at the top, but not really, you still needed to continue on.

But not before Jungle Boy let out his jungle cry!  

There was a young couple up there and she was taking a pic of her boyfriend and I offered to take a pic of both of them.  Oooookay, I no sooner lined them up and they started pashing!  Pashing on top of the world, but that was the photo they wanted!  They returned the favour and took our pic.  We did not pash.

And we continued on until we were at the real top.  Yahooooooo we had made it.  I knew we were there as there was a red dot on the rock marking the spot.  No more arrows.  Arrows would be bad at this point as it was a looooooong way down.

He hadn't even broken a sweat.  Only kidding, we were puffed.  And sat down and enjoyed our banana and water.  The young couple we had met earlier were already up there and gave us a few little Easter eggs they had carted up with them.

On top of the world.  Now THIS is what I call cross-training!   Was a tad blowy up there too.  The view was sensational, as far as the eye could see.

We slowly made our way back down.  I could see coming down there we could have made good use of walking sticks that I had seen some people had.  Watch out for wobbly rocks.  Time wise it was slower going up as we really just enjoyed ourselves, took lots of photos, it was fun.  Body wise it was slower coming down, even though we really just hiked it, I soon came to realise my right knee was weaker than my left knee, so I took it slowly slowly.  How on earth they have a fun run to the top I will never know.  

Down the bottom we enjoyed our picnic that we had in the car - salad rolls and a thermos of coffee.  And I couldn't wait to download my Garmin.  I was eager to see the elevation and heck, I must have burned a zillion calories.

That's where the PIG'S BUM came in!  That was what I said when I read I had only burnt 212 calories.  WTF????  Are you kidding me.   Okay so I didn't have my heart rate strap on, but usually Garmin does a nice job of estimating the calorie burn.  Not this time Garmin, oh you do lie, can't you see the elevation we climbed!!??

So next stop for the man is Mt. Abrupt, he's ready to take on that challenge next.  That's a longer climb and spectacular views from the top.  Now just to schedule it, can't wait.

Happy Easter!

Disclaimer:  No dog was harmed in the taking of this photo!! Bwahaha although he did look over his shoulder to ensure the cute dog over the road wasn't looking!!  Oh the indignity!!

Sufferfest - smiles and suffering all rolled into one !

Saturday could probably not have gotten any better. Warrnambool Sufferfest - mainly a triathlon weekend but this year there was a Saturday morning of purely running events also.    Running with friends (so much fun in itself) and I was down for the 10km.  After Friday raining and windy all day I was almost scared to wake up on Saturday. Yep still rainy in town where I live.  Headed to Warrnie way too early but eh. Rain had cleared but the wind!  It was a tad fresh to say the least.

Picked up bib and a very nice tshirt as part of the entry and decided to wear the tshirt so I did a public strip/shirt swap but discreetly behind a van.  Goodness knows if anyone saw.

Met up with the posse of our Runners Connect girls and a couple of other friends for some pre race pics.   Mel, Sarah and me - don't let the blue sky and obvious sun confuse you - it clouded right over and was flipping cold!!

The HM set off at 9 and it was great to cheer Kellie and Leah. 

The 10k started at 9.30 and off we went.  Most of this was my usual after work training route so it was good knowing the bends, the rises, the dips, comforting having that familiarity.  This was by no means a big field, but still enough to make it competitive and the field spread out.  The HM (after an initial 1km) would be doing 2 lots of the out and back of what the 10 were doing.  So it was a great course to see our mates out there, calling out to each other as we passed and high fiving on the run.

Photographers seemed to be placed at inopportune spots like at the top of hills. I called out to one as I was struggling up Granny's Grave hill "not fair!!" And he laughed back "we want to see you suffer" ha!   Honestly some of the expressions on the photos that have come back for me are cringeworthy.  But for the sake of transparency so that you realise I'm not always a glamazon ~~uncontrolled delirious laughter~~ here are some of the dodgy ones.

Quick smile for the camera, take a pic and he's done!

Oh flip, didn't he just take a pic, what's he still clicking for

This wasn't meant to happen, I can't look confident and come down hill at the same time.

Stop clicking will ya!

Really??!!??  Enough already

 Didn't see this one coming, where was he hiding, in the bush??!! 

Was I really crying? It looks like it.  It was a hill after all.

Oh whoops, spot the photographer, smile! (through gritted teeth)

Got past Granny's Grave and I was checking my Garmin and thinking how far I had to go, I was on track to beating my best 10k if I kept it up, if that wasn't enough to spur me on, heck. There's a great downhill area near the bridge at the end and I seemed to fly down it. Along the bridge and around the track and through the end. 10km PB by 48 seconds!!!!! (according to Garmin and I'll happily take it). 1:08:01.   Can't even begin to tell you how rapt I am with my average pace in the 6's!!

Got to see Sara and Kellie and Leah over the line (Mel had already blitzed the 10k) and we became a personal cheer squad to them. So much fun. A kick ass medal, it's really quite big and has a bottle opener inbuilt into the design.   Had to take a multitude of victory shots!  Sara was hanging up her runners, this was her swan song (although I hope like John Farnham she makes multiple comeback tours!!

Presentations and there was a mix up, they got to the veteran 10k and called the three place getters and when the third place getter was announced I thought OMG, we had actually cheered her across the line, I knew I was ahead of her so got a bit excited.  But my name wasn't called when they announced second or first. Oh well. Well not good enough for Mel she was going to have a word to the organisers and made them check their records. I saw a lot of paper flying about on a clipboard and a bit of finger pointing by Mel with Sara in tow and then the Race Director announced that I was first in the veterans 10km and they had a sufferbell presentation for me. Thanks Mel. I probably would have just ended up going home and then stewed about it.

Such a great day. Smallish numbers but everyone belting it out out there.  Great to support a local event.  Love my running friends, such a top group, they all rock.  What a great morning.

If it's on Garmin it must be true!!

Came home with all the intentions of the world to put PLAN (what was I up to?) C, D or whatever into action, and it fell in a heap.  I was so cold I crawled into bed and my little Lucky dog came and crawled on the bed and snuggled with me and I napped for a couple of hours.  After which there was no way I was getting out there, the mind may have been willing but the body was not.

Do I feel guilty that I didn't get my planned 17-18 in?  After all it's meant to be my longest run before the Geelong Half?  Yep a little bit.  But it's happened now, you can't cram for a Half.  I know I can do the distance.  So just continue on with the plan for the next two weeks.  My taper has just come early, right?

All clear for landing!

Tee hee.  I was out running in the dark this morning and I tell you I could have landed a jet plane down the main street I was that brightly decked out.  Probably could have seen me from the moon!  

Okay I'll back up and not get too carried away.  I have really miscalculated this weekend.  It is 2 weeks until the Geelong Half so this weekend was to be my longest run before taper.  Hmmm but somewhere along the line without looking at the calendar I've entered the 10km at Sufferfest on Saturday.  Right slap bang in the middle of my weekend.  

Hmmmm what to do, because naturally I'm wonder woman and want to fit it all in.  

So after consulting with my friend D and her coaching knowledge and good sense I might add, she suggested my PLAN A - if I could get my 18k run in on Thursday perhaps, a day to recover, then the 10km on Saturday, sweet.  Only problem, I was working on Thursday and not long home before I had CWA.   Not going to happen.

Over to PLAN B - I could do my 18km run on Friday with the 10km on Saturday as a slow recovery run.  I was good with that.  So diligently went to bed early Thursday and set my alarm for 5.15am, let's get this sucker out of the way.   I woke at 5.15am to the sound of torrential rain, so loud on the roof I could barely hear my phone alarm.  Nope, not going to happen.  Yes of course it could rain on race day, but I would experience that if it happened.  Back to sleep.  

Woke again at 6.30am and what was that I could hear - nothing - so I bound out of bed and get into my gear and I was out the door before 7 and it was daaaaaark!  I haven't run in the dark since last winter, but I was ready for it - my puma cat disco shirt (I love to call it my disco shirt), my new balance fluro top (I bought it with a voucher in a sale at Rebel a year ago even though it didn't fit, doh!  But I now fit into it yay for me!) added bonus it has a glow in the dark panel at the back so I made sure I stretched inside under the light before I hit out.  Oh and I had my 2XU with the big reflective X on the side and my Kathmandu headlamp.  I coulda landed a plane with that gear on.  Go me!  The plan was to run four x 4km laps of town with 2 blockies at the end for 18.  I set my GU up in our letterbox along with my water bottle so I could pass by my letterbox drink station (haha!!) on each lap.  

Off I went.  It felt great, the morning was cool and I was flying.  But 3km the heavens opened and in my haste to get across a corner I went ankle deep into a puddle and both runnres were saturated as was my socks.  I kept running squelch squelch squelch and the rain got harder and harder and I was wet through and the wind was cold and I was shivering, no amount of running was going to get me warm and I called it at 4km and slunk home for a hot shower.  All day the rain would stop then it would rain hard again at intervals and with the 10km looming tomorrow it's getting too late now to do my 18, I'm precious remember!  

So in my head I've formed PLAN C - I'll do the 10km hard in the morning, try my very very best and then back it up with 2 x 4km laps of town Saturday arvo on tired legs.  And even though in my head I really wanted to do 18km all in one hit, I do know with a push I do have it in me to do the half marathon, so it's only mind games at the moment.  Plus my goal race is 5 weeks later at GOR, so this is what it is and I need to just go with it.   As long as there's no PLAN D when PLAN C prospectively falls in a heap tomorrow I'll be okay.

So did you follow all that?   Back with a race review tomorrow arvo some time.  x