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Jonathon's Racing Attacks and Adventure Packs!

Amazing racing and training adventures on roads and mountainous/hilly TRAILS, freewaybikehike and triathlons. Dreams of a SIX FOOT 45km finish,(DONE 2011,2013,2014,2015!),then ULTRA-TRAIL AUSTRALIA (50km DONE 2016! 100km DONE 2018!!!), memorable Melbourne Marathon and Gold Coast racing. Over a decade dreaming of a SUB 3HR MARATHON, sub 18min 5k, sub 38min 10k, sub 90min Half marathon etc...(shattered? or still realistic?)

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Location: Perth, Western Australia, Australia


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42.2km SB; 2004; 3.55 2005; 4.02 2006; 4.18, 2007; 4.10 2008; 3.55
2009; 4.11 2010; 4.05 2011; 4.02 2012;3.49 2013; 4.12 ... 2014; ; 4.08 ...2015; 4.00
2016; 4.11 2018; 4.15 2019; 4.25 2020; 5.38 ... 2021; 5.44 ... 2022 DNF at 37km
More ongoing GOALS;
***PB's pursuit; 5k 21.49, 10k 41.01 21.1k 1.41, ...42.2k 3.49

MM and the G!...

In recent years I have been enjoying races like;
December; 6-INCH(46km offroad)2005;--6 hrs 25 min...
2006; 7hrs 04 min 2008; 7hrs 00min...2009; 6hrs 16min
...2010:--5hrs 49min..2011:---5hrs 30min..2013---7 hrs 24min... 2014--- 7 hrs 06min 2015--6hours 43min ...2016---6hours 41min... 2017--7hrs 3min?... 2018-7hrs ... 2020 8hrs 19 ... 2021 8hrs 51
October; Melbourne Marathon 2007; 4hr 10 . 2008 DNF at 23km..
2009 4hrs 11. 2010 4hrs 05min...2011;4hrs 02min...photos
2012; 3hrs 49min 52secs PB!... ..2013; 4.12 2014; 4.08 2015; 4.05... 2016; 4.53
Rottnest Marathon 2004; 4hr 32min ... 2013; 4hr 16min... 2019; 4hr 41min 59secs
August; City to Surf most years since 1997 see HERE for details,photos.
PERTH C2S PB's; 4K;17min 25 (2002) 12K;52min 52 (1997)
21.1K;1.54.20 (2007) 42.2K; 4.00.20 (2015) (2010 video..45secs into it)
Perth City to Surf Marathon finisher 2009,2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019.
June/July;
GOLD COAST; 2012 HALF; 1.44 2013 HALF; 1.47 2014 HALF 1.49
2015 4.11 ..., 2016 4.11..., 2019 4.25
PERTH Marathon(42.2km)
2004; 3hrs55min
2005;--4 hrs 02 min. 2006; 4hrs 18min 2007;4hrs 33
2008; 3hrs 55 2009; 4hrs 41min 2010; 4hrs 30min
2011; 4hrs 12min 2012; 4hrs 6min 2013; 4hrs 19min 2014 4hrs 48min 2018 4hrs 15min
2019; 4hrs 28min
2021 5hrs 44min
May; Ultra TRAIL AUSTRALIA;
2016 50km 9 hours 50min 956th
2017 100km DNF CP4 57km
2018 100km 24hrs 33min 15 913th
2019 100km DNF CP3 46km 2021 CP2 DNF (severe back injury)
April;TWO DECADES of Bridges racing; 1997; 43min 43 1998; 41min 01
1999; 47min 29 2000; 46min 47 2001; (5km) 30min 01 2002; (5km) 22min 48
2003; 42min 40 2004; 48min 50 2005; 44min 40 2006; 48min 07 2007; 49min 16
2008; 50min 42 2009; 49min 54 2010; 48min 39 2011; 52min 55 2012; 47min 02 2013; 54min 45 2014; 48min 47 2015; 49min 53 2016 52min 20
March;6 Foot Track 45km;
2011; 6.53 2013; 6.54 2014; 6.47
2015; 6.14!!! 2016 DNF


As of October 2022; 37 road marathons finished (Perth x14, Melbourne x9,Perth City to Surf x7 Gold Coast x3 Rottnest x3 SunsetCoast x1)
Have also finished 20+ ultra races; 6 inch 47km ultra finished 12 times, six foot 45km ultra 4 times, Ultra Trail Australia ultras 2 times, Truth 50km ultra once within cutoff (and once outside cutoff), Lark Hill 50km ultra, 6hour track race, 24hr track race.
Also completed the Bloated Goat 31km (1500m Vertical gain) 2 times which is similiar effort to a 46km ultra.
DNFs in UTA100km, WTF50miler, WAMC40miler race, Truth 50km, Six foot and 6 inch.
The first 3 DNFs were after covering more than 42km, and with Truth one was a 25km DNF and the first one I finished the full 50km but was 19minutes outside cutoff battling an ankle injury for 36km.
In road marathons 3 DNFs one at 23km in the 2008 Melbourne Marathon due to severe ankle injury in the first 1km, and PC2S @ 30km, also 2022 Perth Marathon at 37km too fat and slow

Most races October 2009-October2020; >
30/10/2020 50th John Gilmour 10,000m track race 58min
20/09/2020 XTR Sunset Coast Marathon (#36) 5.38
30/08/2020 Fat Lamb PTS 20km
02/08/2020 Perth Half Mara 2.04
11/07/2020 Jumbuck PTS 3.39
08/03/2020 Darlington Half Marathon 2.07
01/11/2019 John Gilmour 10,000m Track race 51min
06/10/2019 Perth Marathon 4hrs 28min. #13 see here
01/09/2019 Rotto Biddi 3hrs.09.44
25/08/2019 City 2 Surf Marathon 4hrs 48min
17/08/2019 TW Parkrun 5km 24.29 (5th)
3/08/2019 Truth 50km DNF (at 25km in 4hrs 26min)
28/07/2019 RunMelbourne Halfmarathon 2hr 03min
21/07/2019 Champion Lakes R2R Halfmarathon 1hr 55min (32nd)
7/07/2019 Gold Coast Marathon 4hrs 25min
16/06/2019 Rottnest Marathon 4hrs 42min
18/05/2019 Ultra Trail Australia 100km DNF at 46km (CP3) 8hrs 58min
17/03/2019 Fat Lamb 20km 3hr 29min 49th of 70
02/03/2019 Lark Hill 25km 3hr 54 (Night race forgot headlamp)
24/02/2019 Swissmurdie 2hr 35
09/02/2019 Busselton Half marathon 2.13 (Late start actually 2.05)
20/01/2019 Chi Gong 1hr 58 134th of 158 finishers
16/12/2018 6 inch 47km 7hrs (12th finish)
21/10/2018 Rottnest Half 2hr 03 min
16/09/2018 Fremantle Half 1hr 58min
04/07/2018 Truth 25km 3hrs 11min 55 (PTS)
24/06/2018 Eagle 22km 2hrxx(59min officially, but 43min on my watch as started late)
17/06/2018 Perth Marathon 4hrs 15min
19/05/2018 Ultra-Trail Australia 100km 24hrs 33min 15secs 913th of 964 finishers
218 withdrawals
03/03/2018 Lark Hill 50km
17/12/2017 6 inch 48km 7hrs
06/08/2017 Truth 50km 8hrs 22min 59
16/07/2017 Jolly Jumbuck 21km 2hr 54min (94th of 129)
02/07/2017 King of the Mountain 16km 1hr 41min
20/05/2017 Ultra-Trail AUSTRALIA 100km DNF (at 58km and 10hours 38min)
26/03/2017 Bloated Goat 30km 5hr 18min
18/12/2016 6 inch 48km 6hrs 41min
16/10/2016 Melbourne Marathon 4hours 53min
25/09/2016 WTF 50 miler DNF at 55km
14/08/2016 Truth 50km DNF at 25km
3/07/2016 Gold Coast Marathon 4.11
14/05/2016 Ultra Trail Australia 50km 9 hours 50min
3/4/2016 My 20th consecutive Bridges fun run 10km 52.20 (hammy strain)
12/3/2016 Six Foot Track DNF at 30km 5 hours.
---------------------- 20/12/2015 6 inch 47km 6 hours 43min
15/11/15 Bloated Goat 30km Trails race (1600m Vert) 5hrs 43min
18/10/15 Melbourne Marathon 4.05
13/09/15 Fremantle 10km 47min 22
30/08/15 Perth City to Surf Marathon 4 hours 00min 20 secs.
05/07/15 GCM 4.11
24/05/15 R4R Half Marathon 1hr 46min 13secs
12/04/15 Bridges 10km 49min 53secs.
04/04/15 Perth Trail Series Truth & Consequences 50km ULTRA 8hours 49min
14/03/15 Six Foot Track 45km 6hrs 14min 11secs Smashing PB!!! (32min)
21/12/14 6 inch Trail 47km 7hrs 06min 30secs
12/10/14 Melbourne Marathon 4hrs 8min (8th fastest marathon in 25 finished)
14/09/14 Fremantle 10km 49min 26 (first K 3.47 5k split 23.02)
31/08/14 Perth City to Surf 42.2k 4hrs 34min
06/07/14 Gold Coast Half Marathon 1.49
15/06/14 Perth Marathon 4.48
01/06/14 Elleker Half Marathon 1.59.
21/04/14 40 miler DNF (28miles)
06/04/14 18th Bridges 10km 48min 47secs...since 1997
08/03/14 6 Foot Track 45km 6hrs 47min 02. (824th) A PB!!! :-)
09/02/14 Snakes and Ladders 15km 2.05
15/12/13 6 inch Trail Ultra 7.24
27/10/13 Rottnest Marathon 4.16.41
13/10/13 Melbourne Marathon 4.12.55
25/08/13 Perth City to Surf Marathon 4.13.28
11/08/13 Perth Half Marathon 1.54.05
28/07/13 Fremantle 10km 50.06 (very sick but first 1k in 3.55)
07/07/13 Gold Coast Half Marathon 1.47.29

16/06/13 Perth Marathon 4hrs 19min 55secs
My 10th consecutive Perth Marathon...Click to see -> how I became a SPARTAN...

19/05/13 Joondalup Half Marathon 1hr 58min 26secs 310th of 495.
07/04/13 Bridges 10km 54min 45seconds.
09/03/13 6 Foot Track 45km 6 hours 54 minutes 20 seconds. 740th of 804...blog post or ...photos! page.

24/02/13 Perth Trail Series Qi Gong 14km 1hr 37min 04 Placed 79th of 117 finishers.
09/02/13 Busselton Half Marathon 1hr 51min 58 secs 219th. full Busso results here
02/11/12 John Gilmour 10k track 47.17 ..see here
14/10/12 Melbourne Marathon 3hrs 49min 52secs ..(777.)
16/09/12 Fremantle 10km 47min 16
26/08/12 City to Surf Marathon 4hrs 42min 41 secs
15/07/12 Lake Joondalup 10km 47min 30.
01/07/12 Gold Coast Half Marathon 1hr 44min 49 secs. 1668th of 9035 finishers

17/06/12 Perth Marathon 4hrs 6min .. (post and photos here)
20/05/12 Joondalup Half Marathon 1hr 47min 01secs. (151st of 313 finishers)
15/05/12 Masters 5000m 21min 58secs
13/05/12 Bunbury Half Marathon 1hr 46min 45 secs. (76th of 240 finishers)
22/04/12 PTS Ellis Brook 21.8km trails race 3hrs 12min 28secs. 39th.
01/04/12 Bridges 10km 47min 02
25/03/12 17.3km (690m ascent) Swissmurdie trails race 2hrs 19min 17secs 54th of 60.
20/03/12 MastersWA 1500m in 5.56, 100m in 14.3, 400m in 76.4, 5000m in 23.33.
26/02/12 WAMC Swan Twilight 5km 24.32
26/02/12 Perth Trail Series Qi Gong 14km 1hr 44min 08 secs 70th of 102.
04/02/12 Busselton Half Marathon in 1hr 49min 31 secs.
18/12/11 6 inch 46km 5hrs 30min PB!
09/10/11 Melbourne Marathon in 4hours 02minutes 49secs...photos...

12/09/11 Fremantle 10km in 45minutes 50 secs.
7/8/11 Perth Half Marathon in 1hr 47min 46 secs.
17/7/11 Lake Joondalup 10km in 46min 33secs.
19/6/11 Perth Marathon in 4 hours 12min 54secs (351st of 547.)
12/6/11 Lake Monger 10km in 48min 09secs
22/5/11 Bunbury Half Marathon 1hr 51min 44secs 109th of 261 finishers
10/4/11 Bridges 10km 52min 55
12/3/11 6 foot 45km in 6hrs 53min 07 secs...819th...of 877...33 DNF's...4 outside 7hr cutoffRace Report and race photosPre & post race photos,initial ELATION
Note; Completing 6 foot is a major goal achieved which I have had in mind since 2005!!!!!!!

4/3/11 3000m in 12min 40 (19th of 19 finishers)Momentum building a little,sub 13 done! :-)
18/2/11 5000m in 23min 31 (20th of 20 finishers...4 DNF's)..results
5/2/2011 21.1km Busselton Half in 1hr 51min 41 secs for 124th of 218 finishers.
19/12/10 46km 6 inch trails race in 5hr 49min (63rd of 79 finishers)
10/12/10 5000m in 22.43 18th of 18!
5/11/10 John Gilmour 10,000m in 47min 36. (23rd of 31)
10/10/10 Melbourne Marathon 4hrs 5min...2895th of 5027 finishers...
12/9/10 Fremantle 10km in 46min 53...a big SB and my best time since 2005!
29/8/10; 42.2km in 4hrs 15min for 537th of 830 finishers...my 6th best of 12 M. finishes.
19/8/10; 5000m in 22min 06.0 secs (SB by 0.6 of a second, & Stan did a SB also that night)
22/7/10; 5000m in 22min 06.6 secs. (SB and 17secs off my track PB)
20/6/10 Perth Marathon in 4.30.
13/5/10; Masters 2000m 7.55 (first sub 8min run since 2005) & 5,000m 22.42
22/4/10; Masters 800m 2.46 & 5,000m 22.29!~(2nd best ever track 5,000m, track PB is 21.49,)
3/4/10; Australian Masters 35-39yrs; 4th in 1500m 5min 34secs. see here...
28/3/10; Bridges 10km in 48min 39secs. 388th of 1646
25/3/10; 300m in 47.6, 600m in 1.57.0 100m in 14.6
18/3/10; Masters 1500m in 6.03 & 10,000m in 49min 35
28/2/10; 4th place in 6 hour Track Race at Coker Park; 45.003km
6/2/10; Busselton 21.1km in 1hr 52min 50 secs
20/12/09;6 inch 46km 6hrs 16min
15/11/09; Peninsula 5km 22min 5225th of 73.
6/11/09; John Gilmour 10km 48min 39
11/10/09; Melbourne Marathon 4hrs 11 min 33 secs
4/10/09; Freo funrun 5km in 22min 53 secs
... ...
2011; 5hrs 30min 6 inchPB!! 2012; 3hrs 49min PB(Melbourne Marathon)!!2014; 6hrs 47min PB! @ 6 foot!

The next big things racing wise maybe;


6 inch 47km
on 20th December @ 0430hrs, countdown (activated a few days before?) is;


Kathryn and I welcomed our daughter K into the world May 2015 A.D.!

Kathryn and I welcomed our daughter J into the world June 2010 A.D.!
Kathryn and I welcomed our son J into the world in late July 2007 A.D.!
Our challenge is to be good parents with the Creator Gods help!



... 2004 ...2005 ...2006 ...2007... >...2008...2009...2010 ...2011... 2012.

but for the most important thing in life;
there is only 2 ways to live!...Bible Gateway...

Sunday, June 15, 2008

1.45 Perth Half as I cut through the rain

Sunday 15th June 2008 A.D.;
Ran Perth Half Marathon (21.1km) in 1 hour 45 minutes 17 seconds. (4min59 per km)
HR 183 at end. 10.5k Splits; 51.00/54.17. Placed 262nd of 647 finishers.

7k splits; (doesnt include last 100m.) 34min 03/ 34min55/ 35min 49.

Official results @ HERE
some photos (couldnt find me in them) @ here...

Resting heart rate was 53 this morning which is not good!, but not terrible, so I figured I'd have a shot at the PB of 1.41 from 2005 (in what is I think my 10th Half marathon), but more likely a sub 1.50 was likely given my complete lack of training in the last 2 weeks, although I have been over the flu for 3-4 days, I have been too busy with evening shifts finishing at 0100 and 0200 on Thursday and Friday this week in my new night callcentre job, and some difficult meter reading rounds in Scarborough and Mt Pleasant on Wednesday and Thursday, plus Morley on Friday. Changed Jacobs nappy this morning before I left, so Kathryn and him could rest a bit longer as he is teething with his two top front teeth. Driving there I saw a massive rainbow and was reminded that God keeps his promises see Genesis chapter 9: verses 12-17 (especially verse 16) in the Bible...decided to wear my Fremantle Dockers hat today to celebrate their 53 point win over North Melbourne yesterday...It nearly blew off a few times in the squally winds...Its still statistically possible for the Dockers to make the finals this year but like the Eagles, they must win all of the remaining 10 games, or at least 9 of them to sneak into the top eight...

Got to Burswood with 20 minutes to spare, but parking was a shambles, maybe due to big field for the Half, and/or jetboat people racing on the Swan River from the same clubrooms as the West Australian marathon club behind Burswood casino. Wasted 15 minutes trying to find somewhere to park, overflow option onto grassy area by the river was not available, so I had to run about 2km hard to get to start line with about 10 seconds to spare, and then went hard at the gun,so probably ran the equivalent of 23km today all at sub 5min per km I'd say...

I missed a few 1k markers and some of the splits I couldn't remember afterwards, but managed to remember most of them...;
1Km splits; 4.07/4.26/4.41/5.30?/4.54= 23min 50 First 5km.
1K-4.07 2k-8.33 3k-13.14 4k-18.44? 5k-23.50
(had some minor back pain between 3km to 5km, so walked,stretched arms/back,ran on grass for awhile, until it went away, probably only lost about 40-50 seconds)
Started very well, but decided to back off a little after splitting 2k in 8.33!,
soon after saw Epi and Clown come past at about the usual spot where they pass me...
About 3k-4k in I think I jarred my back or something, cos I had to walk/stretch that out, then ran on grass a bit, to get over that. Then tried to settle into some sub 5min per km running... Dont remember my 4km split, might have missed the marker...
So fairly happy with the first 5k...Rain and puddles not too bad at this stage.

4.38?/5.35?/4.35/4.26/4.56= 24min 10 Second 5km. First 10km=48min.00
6k-28.28? 7k-34.03 8k-38.38 9k-43.04 10k-48.00
Can't remember or missed my 6k split, but I wasn't going that well through the Narrows Bridge, and the diversion in between the Freeway roads...

Got going again between Narrows Bridge and the Old Swan Brewery buildings, and on to UWA and Hackett Drive. Decided to attack/work past some of the bunches of runners around me, and ran a bit with some woman in a purple top who was also moving through the field a lot at that time. About 8k-9k, I backed off a little again. A good surge, which kept me on that 4min 48 per km pace, despite me losing the plot a bit amongst the freeway roads diversion. Saw (and heard) the swiss bloke who shouts "Ole Ole" (forgotten his name now) going across the Narrows bridge as I went under the bridge, and this brought back the good memories of Melbourne marathon last year, and probably gave me the mental trigger to attack at this point.

Nice section with Swan river on one side, and Mounts Bay Rd/Kings park on other side, very flat, puddles not too bad, and no climbs, or turns really, so found some good rhythm for about 3km hitting 4.35/4.26/4.56...
Saw Epi and Clown heading back the other way just as I hit 10km. Nice to get some encouragement.

At this point I knew that chances of a PB (sub 1.41) were probably going to be too hard, but a sub 1.50 was very likely. Since I have not run in the 1.40's for a Half race, since my 1.44 in the 2006 Freo Half, I got a psychological boost at that point cos, I could see this was shaping up to be one of my best races this year for sure, and probably one of my best for a few years...

Figured I should drink some of the gatorade I had carried in one hand this far, pretty soon, and then at the halfway point I splitted 51minutes which was a bit faster than I expected, I envisaged about 52-54minutes before the race, {although if I had trained a bit in the last 2 weeks, and not had to work two late evening shifts on Thursday/Friday (0100 and 0200 finishes, 4 hours sleep or less for the second Thursday night in a row) this week, I might have gone after about 48minutes for the halfway point} Good old WAMC (WA Marathon club) was giving out free Carboshotz gels, so I decided to have one of those and some water, and only drink half my Gatorade, lost a bit of time mucking around with that, but it gave me the boosts I needed physiologically, and I set about getting some attacking running going again.

Missed the 11k marker if there was one, but at 12k my wristwatch said 58min 28, which I knew was a pretty good time (anything under 60 minutes is sub 5min per km, so I was sitting on sub 1.45 pace with 9.1km to go! So I knew a sub 1.50 would only require me to stick around 5 minutes per km for another 9km, and the more sub.5.30 stuff I could bank the better. Set about trying to surge again a bit on that nice straight flat stretch towards the old Swan Brewery on this out and back course.

12k-58.28
13k-63.44
14k-68.58.

After a 5.16 and a 5.14, and a 14k split of 68min 58 (Almost 2 minutes faster than my 14k split in the 40miler (official results finally online HERE in March this year,there are a few photos on page 68 of current issue of R4YL magazine...) I knew that sub 1.50 was looking very likely, and my 7k splits had stayed consistently in the 34min zone. Feeling pretty good at that point.

The puddles were starting to get bigger and the rain maybe a little heavier. Took it easy again through that annoying Freeway roads section, got through the Narrows bridge, where two women with light blue tops came past a lot of other runners. Again tried to run off their pace, and some bloke in a white top. I ran on the grass again in South Perth to avoid the concrete, and set myself the goal of attacking/staying ahead of a bunch of runners nearby until after the ferry terminal, and then a bit further.

Struggled a bit after the Ferry terminal, and the puddles were becoming very large and hard to avoid through this section. The WAMC helpers were doing a great job in rain that was becoming moderately heavy stopping cars coming through the park access roads as we ran across them.

17k 1.24.11
18k-1.29.44
19k-1.35.04
20k-1.40.00
21k-1.44.47

When I arrived at 17km (with 4.1km to go) in 1hour 24min 11, I knew I was still a good chance to go well under 1.50 and I figured a 1.44-1.47 was probably the time to shoot for. However I knew I was starting to struggle a bit with slipping back into some 6min per K rubbish, and I needed to give myself a kick up the backside again now if I wanted a 1.47 or better.

So I surged again and started winding things up pushing the pain barriers aside and focusing hard, working the arms, breathing,stride, while dodging puddles, and working my way around bunches of runners. When I splitted 5.20 for 18k-19k, I knew I was starting to get back into a good groove, and that a 1.46 was looking good, then calculated I would need a couple of sub 5min K's to have a chance of going sub 5minutes per Km, and get down to low 1.45's...So dug deep, and tried to crank up the cadence a lot, and knew i was getting there when I started passing a lot of runners very quickly around about the causeway.

My 20k split just after the Causeway was 1hour40minutes zero seconds, which I figured was faster than what I ran in the 40 miler this year so my fastest 20k this year for sure, and I knew I just needed one more sub 5min k + a solid last 100m, and the sub 5min per k average for the run would be mine. My breathing wasn't allowing me to go much harder, so I just tried to hold the pace, and maybe find a little bit extra to get past a couple more runners at the end. With 100m to go my watch said about 1.44, and I figured I'd couldn't quite go sub 1.45, but the sub 5min per K was very likely. Finally got the better of some bloke with a white top in the last 70m who I had battled with for about 300m, but some bloke in a black top, cruised past both of us. When I saw the clock hit about 1.45.12 (my watch said 1.45.16, but I think I stopped it a bit late) as I went under, I knew this had been a successful race!...

Good to catch up with Clown and Epi afterwards who both did about 1.32, so about 12 minutes ahead of me they were...
Decided not to tack on an extra 10km afterwards, mainly because of the risk of blisters in the rain that was getting increasingly heavier, and puddles that were getting gigantic!...Looks like I might have to rely on my meter reading work in the last 21months, and my experience of running 6 marathons, plus the 27k and 33k with the Hills Group in recent weeks to get me through the 42km of the Perth Marathon in 3 weeks time. So I think I am finally starting to hit some good form and fitness, so hopefully I am still a good chance to give that 3hr 55 PB a serious battering on July 6th.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

mini-duathlon 1 sickness and work

Sunday 8th June 2008 A.D.;
Cycled for 10 minutes, HR-117, 3 minute rest then;
Ran 2km in 8min 58secs, HR-174 on Hull Park course.

My sickness has been hanging around all week, but I think I am over the worst of it, starting to feel a lot better in the last few days, still have a very mucousy nose occasionally. But I think I should be fully recovered in time for Perth half-marathon next weekend. Unexpected night shift at work (finished at 5am, so did not sleep for 24 hours straight, and then only for 3 hours before getting back to my meter reading work on the Friday, combined with me being sick left me looking to recover this weekend, and make the most of some quality and quantity time with my wife Kathryn, and son Jacob. Unfortunately didnt make it to the MundaBiddi 100km, but Dave and Nathan both went under 12 hours, Dave 10.30 Nathan 11.18, a massive improvement on their 14 hours last year, wish I was there!...(although 30-40k would have been my limit...Caught up with Steve P. and some old mates of mine at a Saturday night night birthday party, which was great, maybe one day me,Steve and Rob can run Comrades in their hometown of Durban,South Africa...24 entrants this year from Western Australia for next weekend!!! Most of them I know from training with them at the Hills group in the last 2 years...
So my Perth Marathon plans once again are in disarray, trying to figure out how best to approach the next few weeks, and seeing how my new job develops...Its times like these you need courage, persistence,wisdom,strength...Good news is I think Kathryn and I are just about "out of the woods" moneywise, and things are looking decidedly positive for the next few weeks,months in that regard...So thanks God! in advance for that one...

Sunday, June 01, 2008

I'm sick and 70min ride

Sunday 1st June 2008 A.D.
AM;Cycled for 70minutes on exercise bike, heartrates around 90-120, so very low intensity.
PM; 200 ab crunches.

WEEK 11 (26/05/08-01/06/08);
Volume; 70min + 32hrs MR work. Sessions; 1 +MR
Best RHR; 46 bpm
Sleep; 42hrs (6.11hrs per night but includes 9 hours saturday night) *29
OD/LSD; 70 minute ride??? Does that count?
Races/Time trials/LFD; NIL
Reps sessions;NIL
5-point strategy measures;
1-long run/ride etc done?-yes achieved kinda...
2-2x reps/race/timetrial sessions done?-no failed
3-Abs done?-yes achieved.
4-cycling done-yes achieved.
5-swim done?-no failed

Comments;...
Second consecutive week of mostly less than 6 hours sleep per night, combined with my meter reading work and training for my new callcentre job in the evening, struggling to get enough money to keep my family going, Jacob getting a runny nose, and then last night my wife Kathryn and I both started to get significant flu symptoms, today resting heart rate is like 56 after being down to 46 earlier in the week on a few days, and I feel very low on energy and am going through the tissues every minute or two. Basically I am pretty sick with the flu.

Yesterday was a pretty hairy day trying to meter read in the middle of continual lightning,thunder and heavy rain storms, on one street I felt like the lightning was striking all the way down the street and the thunder claps sounded like waves breaking or a death/thrash metal gig they were so loud and close. Was very keen to get back to my car then.

So training wise this week is another "no-show" pretty much. Maybe next week???
Perth Half marathon (and Comrades) are on June 15th, and Lake Monger 10km on next weekend, so hopefully by then I will be recovered, work,bills,sleep mix will be a little improved, and I can put some good races on the board. As soon as I am healthy again I will be endeavouring to hit the track. However the resting heart rate readings of 46bpm (x2 this week), suggests that the training I have done in recent weeks combined with my meter reading work has given us some fitness momentum, so if I can get that down to 44 or better a PB in the Perth marathon on July 6th is very likely.

I will try and run 30-40km on Dave and Nathans Munda Biddi 100km trails "race", next weekend, and that may well be my last major long run before the Perth Marathon on July 6th. Be mostly high intensity 22km or less stuff then, and a few days of taking it easy before the race. That should ensure I am tapered enough, although I barely have anything to taper from at the moment, have a few more weeks to change that...If my new job continues to be a success (Did 3 shifts, and felt like I as getting there with the calls on Friday night), I should be able to afford to take a few days off from the meter reading early July, and then of course hopefully a big holiday in October to celebrate Kathryn and I's second wedding anniversary, with a return to the Melbourne Marathon high on the list of things to do, details are online as of today @ http://www.melbournemarathon.com.au/

So for now its back to my tissues (blowing my nose every few minutes, and maybe the Fremantle Dockers can brighten my day
for a change...or not...its groundhog day and pavlichs poster in the last quarter is really getting terribly annoying...so its back to square one, back to the drawing board etc etc etc...Hopefully next week will be about as positive as the Dockers 3goal winning first quarter...at least...