Got my 13k "long" run in yesterday and felt really good about it.  Looking forward to slowly extending that out over the coming months and getting back to some kind of racing form.

hi all, ran in the rain after work Friday - 6.2kms, nice and slow. Legs felt like lead - not one good song appeared in my ipod shuffle. was one of those runs i was glad to see the back of. Rest day Saturday - ready for 15kms Sunday.

Ran 13 miles today.

sooo. today was my half up in chicago and i couldn't have asked for a more glorious day. the weather was absolutely amazing - no way it could've been better. it was chilly when we first walked out to the starting area. when the race started it was sunny and about 65 with a really nice breeze. I don't think it got any hotter than about 73 and the breeze maintained. i went out doing a 5:1 run/walk and it worked really well. felt like i was cruising pretty nicely up until mile 8. then it was like i hit a wall - my feet were throbbing and my hips were hurting pretty bad. walked for quite a while from mile 8 to mile 12. then i got back into it and finished feeling good. what an amazing feeling to cross that finish line - i feel like i'm on cloud nine (except for being incredibly sore!!). my official time was 3:25:12. =) I couldn't ask for a better first experience. the course was very nice and the views once we got on the lake side were spectacular. what a rush!!!

Nice Work Aldiara88 - it is a fantastic feeling to cross the finish line!!

I had a very lazy Saturday watching the Olympics, so gettin gout in the cold windy weather of Sunday was a rude shock. I ran with my friends who had mapped a nice 17km course for us - and we ran down by the Docklands - which was a bit grey  - but surpirsingly pretty for a winters day.

We ran in 1hr.40mins - which was a bit slow, but the wind sometimes felt like we were going backwards - so I guess not too ba.

 

Ready for the Sandy Point Half now!

 

Aldiara88 - I've run 5 different marathon courses, the two biggest being the Rotorua Marathon in New Zealand, and the Gold Coast here in Australia.  None of them have ever had energy drinks or gels; presumably the cost would be prohibitive, not to mention the fact that a lot of people would probably be tempted to use them for the first time during the race, with potentially disastrous (and messy) results.

Ran 8k in cold and rainy conditions this morning. (Only a couple of degrees above freezing.)  Not often I'm tempted to get out both the running tights AND the windbreaker jacket.  Distinctly uncomfortable when I finished.

CONGRATS ALDIARA! What a rush and what an achievement! You must be walking on air : ) (well when you can walk again anyway) - what's going to be your next challenge?!

I totally slacked off this weekend - tsk tsk! Last time I promise! I was s'posed to go for a 9 miler, but I just completely bailed. So 6 miler this morning, this week marks the start of my full 1/2 training (hah, if that makes any sense). I have a 1/2 plan I downloaded from the runners world site but I think I will have to adapt it quite a bit. For example the long runs aren't as long as I have been doing and my schedule is all over the place. Plus this one doesn't put a run on before your long day and I have heard that Hal Higdon suggests a tempo the day before your long which I think I will aim for.

Anyhoo... no more slacking for me! Todays 6 miles in about 56 mins - 8:50 pace ish which is good, sort of what I was aiming for. (altho Kdogg with his 6 miles in 31  mins makes me blush). I'm consistently under 9min/miles at the mo which what I want at medium distance. Had a bit of stitch half way and some gruelling climbs. But all okay.

Tried my lovely new shoes today (NB1062's) and they're actually a little odd! My left foot went numb (I loosened the laces just in case) and I can sort of feel the impact on the inside of each foot. Maybe it's just a breaking in thing!

 

Thanks, KDogg, for the advice on the Racing Flats.  I'll get some prior to my next race.

Congratulations on your 20 miler.  Did you do it nonstop?  I'm working my way up to 20, adding a mile each week.  This week's long run will be 16 miles.

long day of doubles for me...12 miles in the morning and 11 miles in the evening. I kinda got carried away on the second run, oh well. This week I'm bumping my mileage up a bit, so why not get started on the right foot? :)

LexB - you make me laugh, haha. Keep up the good work yourself

Gilly - no probs on the advice man. And yea, the 20 miler was continuous (well with the exception of water stops). I'm doing a marathon build up for my fall season to see how my body responds.

 

Hi all,

Ramping up my training for the Melb Marathon now.

 Sat was a medium pace 12km in 1hr, Sun 30km long run on hard hills (ouch,ouch,ouch!) in the rain, hail, wind and puddles - I got so wet! Still at the 21km mark I felt really really good so good signs. My wife said I was blue when I got home. Felt like I was going to throw.

Took Monday off (very sore) but back on it today for the group session this morning at the Tan. Did fartleks with the groups quickest runner and managed to stick with him until the last 800m. Then did another slow 6 (quads very sore up those hills still).

Now doing a 12km medium tomorrow, strength session Thursday and a 7km Sat. That will be 101kms from last sunday to this sunday. Feeling strong!

 All ready for the sandy piont half. Cant wait!

Ran 5.5 miles this morning.

well giggles32006 it depends what you like.  I honestly like running in the rain because is nice and cool out and for some reason I run better in the rain and get less tired.  But going to the gym isnt a bad idea either.  A little strength training never hurt anyone

KDogg - you must be in an area with great weather, to be logging those kinds of miles in August.  Nice going.

Giggles: stay with it. I agree that running in the rain can be invigorating.  But it's not for everyone.  If it's not your cup of tea, head to the gym.  If you run on a treadmill, incline it at least 1/2%  to better simulate running outdoors.

Rest day for me.  This is a recovery week.  I'm running only 30 easy miles.

Those of you who are neutral runners, I'd like to know what your favorite shoes are.

Happy Running, everyone!!

Hi...i all i just wanted to ask peoples opinion on this...i have been running consistantly for the past 6 weeks but havent done a run more than 6.5 miles is it possible for me to be in shape enough to do a 1/2 marathon in 4 weeks? Any training suggestions???

Cri524: 

I'm no expert, but I think you would be pushing it.  You have only been running consistently for 6 weeks.  Also, I'm not a fan of increasing your weekly mileage more than 10%.  Obviously, I don't know your age and fitness level, but I do believe that to run a race in 4 weeks that doubles your current mileage will put you at risk of injury and, at the least, fatigue for your race.  Keep in mind, you really on have 3 weeks, because that last week, you must taper some for your race.

I would keep training and look to November/December for your 1/2 marathon. 

Happy Running!!

5 mile pace  run this morning,  7.27 pace,..good for this old man.  decided to try short fast pace today,.13 tommorrow,.13 thu,.6 track interval sat and 22 mile for long on sun.  am starting to jump 2 miles every week on long, so i figuered i would cut tuesdays mileage back to allow a little longer recovery from sun. 

simmoT;  the gels are airbourne and on the way,. can"t wait to giv them a shot,. the nutremant drink i used last sun worked great,. just tasted bad,.hoping the gels work as well.  felt great after the 20,.i think you were right on the "fuel gauge empty" call.  ty.

Im not sure whos running in the NYC one and its pretty odd that it is 70$ in melbourne when its $35 in NYC.  Gerbrasalisase is an amazing runner I would love to see him in action.

Kdogg-

Just realized that 6m in 31:57 is 5:19 pace which is a second slower then my freshman single mile time which was 5:18, thats amazing

9 miles tonight at 8:17 per mile. That's faster then my pace planned for my marathon. Felt really good the whole way, even on the .85 mile/250 ft climb just past mile 7. I was able to keep up my pace with shorter strides all the way up.

 

Hey, I'm missing someone on here....I wonder where Rememberly is??

Oh man... seriously, why do I always have to post after Kdogg?! Sheesh.

So I ran 15 km in... like.. 20 mins... YEAH RIGHT! Worth a shot huh?

Back at run club tonight - missed three weeks, made it to the penultimate sesh for this clinic (just as my marathon training hots up!!). City block /  fartlek repeats (I think 1km, maybe less) so didn't really time, just tried to catch up with the leader! Held my own so pretty pleased. Must have been doing an 8min mile on the 'hard' sections me thinks - at least at the beginning anyway. Was trying to focus on the straight spine and good gait. Increasing speed by increasing cadence (?) - all the technical stuff. 

Good session - slightly sore soles of my feet again, the new 1062's were better today although still not the blissful squishyness I remembered from first trying them.

 

 

 

This morning was the first time I was able to get myself up early enough that I did most of my run in the dark.....I loved it. So quiet, almost eerie, and just running. I pushed myself today and I hit the 2 mile mark running!!! I know it doesn't seem much to you crazies but Yay go me. :)

Rest day today, and doing either 8 or 10 miles tomorrow and strength training and maybe some speedwok, depends on what coach wants to do.

KDogg:  That is just awesome!  No other way to say it.

I did an easy 6 miles today.  Still enjoying my recovery week.  12 tomorrow and 16 Friday.

Giggles: Congrats on hittine the 2-mile mark!  Stay with it...go longer, even if you have to walk some.

Ex:  Investigate the new Brooks Defyance and Glycerin 6.  The Glycerin especially has good cushion.

way to go giggles!..last year at this time i could barely run 2 miles,.and this weekend i am going for 22,.persistence will prevail..

junkie99:...i hav wondered same thing,. i fear his last post (remembereley) may hav been unfortunately true, .he was seriously questioning a "stress fracture" in his foot,. and he hasn't posted since,.hope he's been busy and couldn't post.

kdogg: i swear you can't be human.  :-)  great job as usual.

8:16 tempo for me today,.nice run, but short,.. had to cut it short due to lightning storm again,.only 6 miles in before the sky started lighting up like the forth of july,.unfortunately,since i drive truck i hav a set limited time to workout and if the weather doesn't cooperate i hav to adjust the training schedule on the fly.

got a new challenge to work on from my son,.2 weeks after marathon we are having race to see who can do 100 pushups non stop the quickest..every time i stop the truck i do 3 -4 quick sets of 25-30 pushups,. figure at least it wil help with core strength even if i loose the challenge. 

Hi All,

Had a shocking run this morning - my favourite run in SYdney over the bridge was aweful. I ate out at a restuarant last night, and have eaten something that is not agreeing with my tummy - every time I got into a rythym I felt nauseous, so I walked/jogged for 45 mins to get back to my hotel. It was horrid. Hopefully it will pass, and I can do the 1/2 on Saturday.

I was tempted to do the Nike Run - but reckon $60 is a bit steep for 10kms. We do get a t-shirt, and a concert by the Hill Top Hoods at the end - which would be very cool ( I love the Hoods) but I am not sure that it is worth it - especially when only 20% of our fee goes to the Charity. If it was 50/50 I might have ponied up the bucks.

Well this week is a serious milage reduction week for me. I'll be chasing around our two 1 yr olds while my wife has a girls weekend in smokey old London town....

I'm not likely to run with a double pram so looks like some early mornings next week to make up for it.

It's a good thing acutally. I was feeling pretty good after my 32km run on Sunday. Did a very hard yoga class on Tuesday (first for a while, streched a bit too hard) now I can feel some tenderness in the hamstrings which annoys me a bit.....I tell you, it's quite a balaning act sometimes. Usually I feel fantastic after yoga. This time I did damage.

I think I am gonna try some lukozade gels next week for the long run.   

 Steve921: Good times mate!

giggles32006, aldiara88 is right: If you keep at it, you will be amazed at the progress you can make. Moderation and consistency...that's the key!

RE: Gels. I guess I am gonna have to find some shorts with pockets.

RE: Socks. I got some of those socks Kdogg was recommending. I must admit, it's like having air-condition feet.... I recommend them (esp. if you run in the heat).