Saturday, June 07, 2008

The Great Nosh

Headed out for a cycle with my brother last weekend. He has moved back home from Holland where they ride everyday so I thought he would be able to keep up. It was a little on the slow side (as the HR suggests) but I found it to be a really nice ride - beautiful weather, stopped for a coffee and to check out the Manly food and wine festival - even saw RaceMikeRace, Nick and Christian out there -noice. All up 60k in 2:54 @ 20.1 (124).

I wasn't planning to run the great nosh as I was on cheeseburger duties, however some last minute negotiation (bribing) got me to the start line. Caty and Rachael also showed some interest, so we all headed up to Linfield. I thought about running o the start line before the race, but decided I wanted to see how the fitness was a have a good hard run. I ran just over 79 minutes 2 years ago ( a week after cheeseburger was born), so a good result would be anything sub 80. Heaps of CR's at the start and before I knew it the gun went off.

Last time I ran too hard to the bridge and suffered on the second half, so this year with doubtful fitness, I placed myself a bit further back in the pack and ran a comfortable pace down to the bridge in a nice congo line. I was staying with Bill from work and after the bridge he seemed to lift the pace. I decided to stay with him and give it a rip. I was feeling surprisingly good. The grass hill behind the houses at Killarney didn't seem that bad this year and I ran the whole way. I was doing my best to stay with Bill and we made good time down into the valley before the steep hill. Yes there was walking but I was feeling OK. At the top, we hit the fire trail and I felt great and surprisingly dropped Bill. The next couple of K's I picked up quite a few people, my slower start obviously paying dividends. The flat bit at the top were tough but managed to keep at around 4:15 pace. I thought I was definitely going to break my PB, but just missed out with a 79:33.

I couldn't be happier with this result. And after the corporate cup run, it seems I am not as unfit as I thought. Still far from my best, but it seems the cycling has held things together.

This week hasn't been that great as I seemed to have picked up a stomach bug which has seen me miss a couple of days training and this morning's Striders 10k. I was on course marking duties and whilst I got dressed in the running gear, realistically I wasn't ever going to run. Highlight of the week was running to and from work on Tuesday for 28k for the day.


BTW - volume YTD (2007 in brackets)

JAN: 292 (251)
FEB: 57 (268)
MAR: 239 (165)
APR: 96 (181)
May: 53 (183)

YTD: 737 (1048)

Another bad month due to inury. Kept busy with 570k of cycling (which is a record).

Cycling YTD : 1153 (492)
Swimming YTD: 1 (0) biggrin.gif

6 comments:

Mike said...

Good to run into you twice last weekend mate! Nice run at the Nosh, that's an excellent time for a comeback run on a tough course. Especially looking at how little mileage you've been doing this year. The cycling is obviously keeping your fitness right up there, you've logged some serious kms this year. Bummer about North Head though.

inhisshadow said...

Mate, a real shame you weren't running yesterday it would have been great to trot along with you - but happy you were sensible. You're primed for a stunning comeback this month I can feel it in my bones. Good run at Nosh also.

We should trot in to work together, that is of course if you are happy to slow down for me

Ewen said...

Nice race! To be so close to a PB shows things are hanging together pretty well. There must be something to that cycling :)

Sling Runner said...

Yes, that's a great effort taking into account the lower mileage that you have this year.

cheers

Jen said...

Congrats Chris; that's great time given the last few months you have had. That cycling thing is good ;-)

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