Just sitting at the Berlin Main Train Station waiting for the train to Dresden to depart and taking the opportunity of an update. Here what I emailed to Epi and Clown after the marathon on Sunday:
Guys - thanks for you texts, not quite what I had aspired to (despite the senility bonus), but still a PB and under 3:30, so I'm happy. Right now I am back in our apartment after a shower and with my feet up and am giving you the heads up on the next blog which I will get to when I get to an internet cafe.
Anyway, as you could tell from the sms I was spot on track for 3:20 at the HM mark, but then it all fell apart a bit.
From about 24k I was starting to get stomach cramps and felt like throwing up a couple of times. That lasted for pretty much the rest of the race, except for when I had what felt like a stitch but further up right underneath the right ribcage. Anna thinks it's a gallbladder problem, and I have experienced a few times before over the last month, so will need to have it checked out. Also, I think I was a bit underdone in the long runs and generally the last month was a bit of a disaster trainingwise.
Anyway, I don't think I went in too hard in the first half as I did not blow up. I set the 405 to keep me on track at 4:42/k which is 1% off, but proved to be correct overall. Now I just have to figure out (yes, at my age and a degree notwithstanding) how to press the bl...dy button properly at the finish.
Having said that, although the organisation left a few things to be desired (racenumber collection and crowd management today), within minutes of finishing you could get an interim certificate with the splits:
5k: 23:58 - 4:48/k average
10k: 47:43 - 4:45/k ave from prev split
15k: 1:11:15 - 4:42/k
20k: 1:35:00 - 4:45/k
25k: 1:58:55 - 4:48/k
30k: 2:23:20 - 4:54/k
35k: 2:48:51 - 5:06/k
40k: 3:15:07 - 5:15/k
42.195: 3:26:12 - 5:04/k
I liked the sms system, not that it made any difference to me but Anna and the kids were following me by U-& S-Bahn and found the going tough. At least this way they knew I was still in it: did you notice the note at the bottom of the HM notice: laeuft noch: still running - very funny indeed.
Pretty much congested with everyone else having this great idea. Anna is now an expert on the Berlin Public Transport system!
Now, this morning it was REALLY crowded. I waa about 200m from the start line and it took me exactly 4 minutes to cross it.
As promised I have taken some pictures which I will put up on my blog eventually. It's not that easy taking pictures when running, a couple of odd angles and the shakes, but it was well worth having the camera with me.
On a very positive note, although both knee and heel are sore now, neither gave me any trouble today. I was getting a bit of a sore knee in the last few weeks so I was a bit worried about it.
Ok, that's it for now. On Tuesday we are off to Dresden, then Prague, Nuernberg & lastly Zuerich. Unfortunately the Dalai Lama had to cancel the teachings in Switzerland for which we had tickets, but Anna and I will find something to do (a run in the mountains? Haha!)
PS: Sorry about any typos, the keyboard on my phone was designed by someone whose hands were the size of a mouse's.
Two days on and whilst I feel I should have been able to push more, I realise I am only saying that as the cramps have long gone. Anyway, I should also mention that I have hardly been sore and we were trapsing around Berlin yesterday as if nothing special had been done on Sunday. Both knees were a bit unstable on Sunday and occasionally yesterday (strangely the left one more so than the right), but otherwise, I felt worse after the C2S HM four weeks ago. How about that?!
Ok, I will now take it very easy and not do much until we're back. Rottnest is still on but I just plan to cruise there if I feel like doing it. Doing 3:30 again would just be nice.
30 September 2008
24 September 2008
Easy does it, too
Just a short update, given that I did not get to put up any lines just prior to leaving:
The last week was a real horror as I was really busy at work and did not find the time to go out for any taper-specific runs.
Finally on Thursday we settled the last trial before the holidays and I went straight home and hammered a good 7ks at 4:30 - probably too fast, but mentally I just needed it.
I worked till midnight and in return did not have to go back to work on Friday and could sattle the bike for a brick session, first an easy 30k in an hour on the bike and then another 14ks in about 1:15 (haven't even worked out what average that makes).
Packing, off to the airport for the usual pleasure of cattle class. Arrived in Dusseldorf on Saturday afternoon and had a great dinner with fresh wild boar (felt like Obelix - which will become a recurring theme these holidays).
Sunday morning a good 13ks along the Rhine in very pleasant running weather. The conditions here are just phantastic, runners have it good.
Monday we were off to Hamburg and for the next 1.5 days we were exploring the sights, so had enough time on my feet.
This morning, another 12ks at marathon pace around the Aeussere Alster, a real runners' mekka, quite a few people out there at 6:30. Again, very good conditions, a bit windy.
We are off to Berlin tomorrow and that means an easy run, maybe even down to the Brandenburger Tor and back from where we are staying, that should be about 8ks.
Weather forecast is good, no rain, not too warm.
The only issue I have is that I have been eating all sorts of great food, starting with the wild boar and I can see that I'll soon be rolling around instead of running.
Ok, over and out, I'm going to enjoy myself. Assuming the limbs hold up, a good time will be possible. I am thinking though of taking the camera with me and take the occasional snap, just for the heck of it, I may not get the opportunity again, so it would be well worth taking a couple of pictures.
The last week was a real horror as I was really busy at work and did not find the time to go out for any taper-specific runs.
Finally on Thursday we settled the last trial before the holidays and I went straight home and hammered a good 7ks at 4:30 - probably too fast, but mentally I just needed it.
I worked till midnight and in return did not have to go back to work on Friday and could sattle the bike for a brick session, first an easy 30k in an hour on the bike and then another 14ks in about 1:15 (haven't even worked out what average that makes).
Packing, off to the airport for the usual pleasure of cattle class. Arrived in Dusseldorf on Saturday afternoon and had a great dinner with fresh wild boar (felt like Obelix - which will become a recurring theme these holidays).
Sunday morning a good 13ks along the Rhine in very pleasant running weather. The conditions here are just phantastic, runners have it good.
Monday we were off to Hamburg and for the next 1.5 days we were exploring the sights, so had enough time on my feet.
This morning, another 12ks at marathon pace around the Aeussere Alster, a real runners' mekka, quite a few people out there at 6:30. Again, very good conditions, a bit windy.
We are off to Berlin tomorrow and that means an easy run, maybe even down to the Brandenburger Tor and back from where we are staying, that should be about 8ks.
Weather forecast is good, no rain, not too warm.
The only issue I have is that I have been eating all sorts of great food, starting with the wild boar and I can see that I'll soon be rolling around instead of running.
Ok, over and out, I'm going to enjoy myself. Assuming the limbs hold up, a good time will be possible. I am thinking though of taking the camera with me and take the occasional snap, just for the heck of it, I may not get the opportunity again, so it would be well worth taking a couple of pictures.
14 September 2008
Recovery, too
Couldn't help myself with the title.
Being sick and having to deal with a more than usually stressful trial really put me back and I have to look at it as an enforced taper.
On Wednesday we finally finished in Court and I was aching to get out on the road. I had one more 30-35k long run planned but on Wednesday I only had time for 13ks at just under MP pace. Managed to do an average of 4:40m/k at level 3 around the hills in Kings Park.
Thursday lunch time I knocked off and wanted to run to Bold Park and down the coast, but was struggling pretty soon. The day before had taken it out of me completely. So I had to be content with 26ks at level 2 and just under 5:30 pace.
In return dinner with Epi, Tiff and Clown was good fun. I really enjoyed that.
With the plane leaving on Friday and being unsuccessful in roping someone else in to do another trial on Thursday and Friday (talk about cutting it fine), I had to work all weekend but took some time off in the afternoon to go along the river etc for 14ks. I felt fantastic with good turnover, level 3 at 4:33 pace. Not bad for an old man....
This week I'll just do two or three runs mainly an interval session and a longish run (15ks) with some fartlek and maybe some peaking sprints. That way the legs won't get too lazy without getting too tired.
The following week I really don't know. I'm sure I'll go out on Sunday morning, maybe on Tuesday or Wednesday in Hamburg and once more once we have arrive in Berlin on Thursday.
I doubt I'll have time to blog again before we take off (and possibly not for a while after).
Berlin, here we come, it's going to be fun.
PS. I have signed Epi and Clown up on the SMS notification at the half and the finish mark. If anyone else wants to get the result straight away, let me have your mobile number.
Being sick and having to deal with a more than usually stressful trial really put me back and I have to look at it as an enforced taper.
On Wednesday we finally finished in Court and I was aching to get out on the road. I had one more 30-35k long run planned but on Wednesday I only had time for 13ks at just under MP pace. Managed to do an average of 4:40m/k at level 3 around the hills in Kings Park.
Thursday lunch time I knocked off and wanted to run to Bold Park and down the coast, but was struggling pretty soon. The day before had taken it out of me completely. So I had to be content with 26ks at level 2 and just under 5:30 pace.
In return dinner with Epi, Tiff and Clown was good fun. I really enjoyed that.
With the plane leaving on Friday and being unsuccessful in roping someone else in to do another trial on Thursday and Friday (talk about cutting it fine), I had to work all weekend but took some time off in the afternoon to go along the river etc for 14ks. I felt fantastic with good turnover, level 3 at 4:33 pace. Not bad for an old man....
This week I'll just do two or three runs mainly an interval session and a longish run (15ks) with some fartlek and maybe some peaking sprints. That way the legs won't get too lazy without getting too tired.
The following week I really don't know. I'm sure I'll go out on Sunday morning, maybe on Tuesday or Wednesday in Hamburg and once more once we have arrive in Berlin on Thursday.
I doubt I'll have time to blog again before we take off (and possibly not for a while after).
Berlin, here we come, it's going to be fun.
PS. I have signed Epi and Clown up on the SMS notification at the half and the finish mark. If anyone else wants to get the result straight away, let me have your mobile number.
07 September 2008
Sick, too
This will be a very short blog.
One run on Monday (Mount Street x8), then I woke up with a sore throat on Tuesday evening and from there on it went down hill.
Struggled with doing a trial all week and on Friday I was pretty much stuffed.
By now (Sunday pm) I'm on the mend again and hope that tomorrow I'll be ready for a run again.
Three weeks to Berlin and although I should go into taper, I will do the last long run this week and then scale down.
One run on Monday (Mount Street x8), then I woke up with a sore throat on Tuesday evening and from there on it went down hill.
Struggled with doing a trial all week and on Friday I was pretty much stuffed.
By now (Sunday pm) I'm on the mend again and hope that tomorrow I'll be ready for a run again.
Three weeks to Berlin and although I should go into taper, I will do the last long run this week and then scale down.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)