The heat is on 1 week til 6 inch

On sunday I had big plans, but did not to wake up early enough after the midnight finish at work, and it was almost 40 degrees by 1150am that day, so not a good day for a long run, especially when you sleep in, and then spent the day at my mother-in-laws, so by the time we got home that night, too late to do a long run, unless I did a night run, so will try again to do a 3 hour long run on trails on Monday as thats about my last chance to get it done and still give me good amount of time to recover before 6 inch on Sunday 20th December. see http://www.6inchtrailmarathon.com/ Hopefully my name will appear on the entrants page in the next few days...Sent off my entry in the post on Friday...Plan to do some hill repeats this week as well, but other than that, hope I've done enough to maybe knock off that 6hrs 25 minute 6 inch PB I did in 2005...,so will try and challenge myself to beat that PB again, plus not come last this year...if that proves too hard, after my usual pathetic prep, then I will be aiming to beat sweeper Talia..otherwise it will be a DNF...2008 results and history of race HERE Should be an exciting day...really looking forward to it, just to see how others go, and who turns up to race, help or cheer...If anyone has camera or even better a video camera bring it along...

Saturday 12th December; Ran about 14km in 1hr 51min HR 153 at end, but probably averaged about 130's...some big walk breaks, and ran out of fluids got a bit dehydrated in the 31-35 degree heat...But a solid medium/long run on trails...so good prep for 6 inch...Also an excellent heat acclimitisation run, given the temp was about 33-35 degrees most of the way. Nothing compared to Nathans 3.37 marathon in the midday heat at Ironman Western Australia the other week, but still very worthwhile for me...

Wednesday 9th December;
Ran about 6km in 32minutes HR 123. Very hilly, just getting some hill strength work done, exploring possible options for some hill reps...Checking out new roads in our area.

Not far to Christmas now, and the usual 40 degree days are starting to draw near...so that makes beach cricket, swimming, going to the beach, and cycling useful cross training options. Running is best done very early in morning i.e. 0400-0700 the best time, or 1800-2000 at night, the rest of the day, is too hot for optimum performance although you can slug it out if you hydrate well, and have the guts/stupidity...and sunburn/skin cancer are highly likely at this time, if you dont cover up...

Spent a lot of this week in a last-ditch attempt to land the home loan, but even with the limited guarentee option its just not working, and it seems the lending rules are a whole lot stricter than they were a few months ago...Its depressing. So Ive thrown in the towel on that front and capitulated like Roy Jones Jnr did to Danny Green the other week, as the only way it seems it can work is if my wife Kathryn goes back to work (ain't going to happen with our second baby on the way for May), or I get a job that pays about $60,000+ a year and is permanent. Not sure how I can do that, although have been thinking about it. However I know I have to persist with both my day job and my night job for awhile yet, whether thats, a few months, or a few years I don't know...On a positive note it looks as if we will be able to renew our rental lease for another year and as that was due for renewal on the first day of February I am so thankful to God that we now will not have to move house again...so thats one worry sorted out...Looking forward to catching some Hopman cup action in a few weeks. Leighton Hewitt (one of my favourite, most admired sportspeople) and Samantha Stosur have a good chance of winning this time...Its been an annual visit now for me for many years, and for Kathryn and I since 2006.

Grave Forsaken have released a new song called Mutilator (which sounds awesome!) to Mosher Crew members like me..., and I am going to get a copy of the live album Light the Hall. Lovin the GF TV series (which is up to episode 13 now) too. Here is GF TV episode 6 (making of This day forth) and GF TV episode 9 (derby day, watching FREMANTLE give the west coast evils another thrashing...) In other news world class dualathlete Raf Baugh has opened a new running shop at 1273 Hay St, West Perth, its called The Running Centre, and in a masterstroke from 6 inch organiser Bernadette, she has signed them up as a sponsor for 6 inch, which should be a very mutually rewarding partnership. Speaking of 6 inch, nice to see Rob get an article into the Sunday Times with the event website at the end on page 94 yesterday...

The heat is on!!! Thankfully 6 inch starts at 0430 so the first 3-4 hours should be cool enough, even though forecast today is for 35 degree max that day, and most of the last 1-3 hours should be mostly on well shaded trails, so not too bad although I reckon I will try and load up with lots of fluids at the 35km aid station...here is a classic Australian song which I often think of in the heart of the Australian summer....The heat is on...