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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, August 29, 2010

RHR 34!!! and 4.15 in my 12th Marathon

69.7km or 420minutes for the week. RHR of 34! Friday morning and 35 on Sunday, so my heart is pumping out massive amounts of blood with each stroke, by far the most ever.
My 12th Marathon finished and the 12th time I have finished a Perth city to Surf race since 1997. see here...Only my 14 year-old Bridges funrun streak beats my City to Surf racing involvement for longevity...ands thats only because I didnt do the city to surf in 2000 and 2006.
Perth City to Surf Marathon had a Kenyan 1-2-3 with a winning time of 2.14! from Chelimo Luka Kipkemboi, who had to sprint finish away from Lilan Kennedy Kiproo. Reuben Kosgei was 3rd.
Pretty sure that the fastest marathon ever in Perth. I got to run stride for stride with them early on. See THIS video about 46-47 seconds into it...exciting...
The top 3 women in the marathon were; Ethiopian Mulu Seboka in 2.35, Kenyan Emily Chepkemoi Samoei in 2.45, and last year's winner, Magda Karimali-Poulos of Australia was 3rd.
See HERE for link to the major winners of all events.
There are 49 photos HERE...I am standing next to the eventual winner Kipkemboi in photo 3.
Some video from the Perth City to Surf; VIDEO: City to Surf 2010...
Disappointed in the Perthnow and channel 9 coverage so far, its just a hotpotch mess of random shots of the 40,000+, the race coverage is pathetic...nothing at the start of the Marathon (of course I have a vested interest there but still...), no coverage of the thrilling sprint finish at the end of the marathon, or anything else of consequence just random shots of stuff...some small negatives; some "directional issues" for some runners, no personal drinks in the marathon...no public transport to the marathon...water!!! should be available in the marathon recovery tent...I liked the free powerade and mars bar though...

Full results @ HERE ...and photos coming soon...

Sunday;
City to Surf Marathon 4.15.59 hr 150.
Half splits 1.53/2.23
6km 30.30 10km 52.34 15km 1.19 20km 1.47 21.1km 1.53.34
25km 2.19 28km 2.38 30km 2.51

Good solid hitout!! Very pleased with it. The hills from 22km onwards were pretty savage, as usual, and my hammy was playing up on all of them, so had to take it very easy on the hills, and walked on most of the big ones. Managed to finally outlast the ambulance from the medical marathoners, happy about that, well done to all of them...good battle, and ran well with AP early on on Riverside Drive, and Young Phil about 28km in towards the end of Kings park. Saw Coolrunner Peekie near the end, and caught up with Jeannie and Nathan beforehand. Got a heap of encouragement from other runners and spectators out there, nice to see fellow blogger Epi out there. I should be on TV tonight as I ran with the front bunch of Kenyans and Ethiopians at the start... Good run on a very tough course, with my hydration pack on. I carried 4 drinks with me, which slowed me down a bit, and used powerade cups once or twice, plus a GU that I got given out there. Excellent run, although I need some physio or icepack/exercises on this dodgy hammy...pretty happy with the run.

Thursday;
20.5km 2hrs 10min
First 12.5km 74min...
Slowish LFD or fast LSD session. Felt very apathetic, and aborted planned 25km session as it was taking too long, and I couldnt get any speed happening, on a more hilly than expected new course...also a few walk breaks and stops to sort out dodgy hammy and sand in shoes...
Hip very! sore afterwards and hammy pretty sire for the next few days...

Wednesday;
7km in 33min 22 HR 186. 4.46 per K.
3.5km splits; 16.24/16.58
700m splits; 2.48/ 3.11/ 3.24/ 3.35/ 3.26 3.22/ 3.22/ 3.34/ 3.26/ 3.14

Oval course 10 lapper. A big PB, this time by 51 seconds…No torrential rain to contend with this time, just occasional kids spraying soccer balls at my head, a few close calls, but its all good, although I may have wrenched my hip/hammy trying to dodge one of them abruptly...Kicked pretty hard for home at the end, so HR 186 at the end, although probably could have kicked a bit harder, found a few seconds. short on time so aborted planned intervals session and did this instead. Good solid even run all the way, that time will require some work to beat, not as soft a PB now…Not feeling really good, a bit leg weary, and some ankle soreness, and very sore left hip afterwards, a bit bizarre. Also had some knee soreness since Monday, but it seems to have settled down. Solid improvement and nice to dip under 4.50 per K which is significant improvement on this course. Aiming to be sub 30 minutes by the end of September…..

Week 4;

Volume; 420min . Sessions;3 Best RHR;34 Sleep;38.5 (5.5hrs p/night) *6
1. OD/LSD/LFD;42.2km long run done. Raced it. 52.34 10k 1.53 Half. 2.38 28k.Target achieved. yay.

2a. REPS;Long reps; FAILED to get session done...

2b. REPS;short reps; NIL

3. MEDIUM run (tempoish or TT); Ran 20.5km in 2:10.20 slowish, and shorter than I wanted but good enough, to still be Target achieved. yay. in terms of the minimum targets of my program...

4. SHORT run (tempoish/or TimeTrial); 7km in 33.22 PB very even and great to get this one down to 4.46 per K...

5. RACE; See long run....

IN SUMMARY;


69.7km or 420minutes for the week. RHR of 34! Friday morning and 35 on Sunday, so my heart is pumping out massive amounts of blood with each stroke, by far the most ever. Thats only one aspect of general fitness, but its the most important one, so a pretty good indicator I am on the right track to some big PB's...
Just need to maintain the training momentum, get the body used to holding onto the speed a bit longer, keep the injuries under control, cope with money worries, and Melbourne is looking good...Some recovery needed for a few days from the City to Surf Marathon, then ease back into the program towards end of next week...Might need to see a physio/chiro about this hammy, but a few days rest might do the trick. Steady progress in the Marathon on a tough course, and with the quicker 7km. Biggest negatives from this week, were not getting intervals done, apathetic, slow effort in the medium run, and the hammy and hip issues. Hopefully can get past all of those things, and maintain the training momentum, which is considerable!! at the moment as shown by the resting heart rates...After 4 weeks and So with 6 weeks to go things are going well, but still some work to be done...Ive hit about 6 out of 11 target sessions so far so thats a C+ or a B- in my book for the first 4 weeks, and the last 2 weeks I have nailed 4 out of 5 target sessions, so just need to keep building, especially in the next 4 crucial weeks, then try to taper for the final 13 days or so...Its starting to look good...

Sunday, August 22, 2010

moonlight 26km rhr 36! sb and 1.41 20km=B+

57km of running this week = 367min of training volume for the week = a B-grade training volume target achieved for this week.

Sunday PM (just after midday);
Ran/walked 6km in 50min 29secs...with 3 year old, 16kg, Jacob in the pram. (NOT a running pram) Fun and a good easy!!! recovery run/walk after the 3 hours on the trail last night...

Saturday PM;
Ran 26km in 3hrs 12min 45secs. HR 138 at end but probably a lot lower during some of it...

long RUN/walk…started very slow with a walk with my wife and kids for the first 5 minutes, then got a slow jog going, got onto some good trails and started to click into 6-7 minutes per K pace, maybe a bit faster, got onto the main trail and started to find some good K splits around about the 5.40 per K stuff, which is ok on this tricky trail…which also has a few undulations and some difficult terrain. Was carryin a heavily loaded hydration pack. A chance to work through some of the streeses of the election day, and finally get a long run on the board to ensure this is a successful training week. Had to divert at one point to soft sand to avoid a dog running free… Walked for a bit as I downed my powerbar drink…Did the bit from 9km to 13km in 21minutes, which is about 5.20 per K…that got me to halfway turnaround in 1hr 30min 48 secs. Then started to get a few patches of drizzly rain. It was getting dark as I made it to 17km on a nice smooth (but hilly in places) trail section in 1hr 57 min meaning that this 4km section took me about 26 minutes, so a lot slower at around 6.30 per K…Saw one kangaroo cross the trail here…almost full moon snuck out from the clouds every now and then giving me better visibility. Had a handheld LED light that started to get used in some of the darker parts of the trail, especially where the trail gets tough terrainwise. Just before the last tunnel got hit by a heavy burst of rain. I’d already put my phone in a plastic bag, so wasnt too worried, but when I came out the other side of the tunnel, The rain had petered out again, although there was puddles for about the next 3km as a result. Tried to avoid too much walking, and hit some decent pace at times as I splashed along in the darkness of the trail, which at times had pretty good night vision visibility due to the moonlight periodically making an appearance. Then the trail area got pretty dark as I heard a few calls from the very nocturnal bats near one of the lakes. Could also hear a lot of frogs there enjoying the light rain n o doubt, so kept a keenm eye out for any tiuger snakes or dugites that might be around hunting the frogs maybe. Heard a big movement in the bushes by the trail at one point, that had me on super alert, but no definite sightings. Then it was through the parks section, where I had hassles from dogs off the lead twice, and my heart rate cranked up a lot to 138 beats per minute as I had just climbed the steep hill to home. A slowish run with some good surges especially from 9km to 13km, and a few walk breaks, a nocuturnal moonlight section for more than an hour to finish, a fair bit of mostly light rain, but otherwise good conditions. A good long run, which puts my training well and truly on track. Keen to avoid the nocturnal componment in future if possible, but its all good fun so far…

Thursday PM;
Ran 5000m in 22min 06.0 secs HR 189 at end (Mostly due to the 40 secs last 200m kick)
4.25 per K average....
3.48/ 4.35/ 4.42/ 4.40 / 4.21 for 1km splits this week.
3.44/ 4.24/ 5.02/ 4.24 / 4.34 for 1km splits on 22/7/10...
Main difference from the 22.06.6 I did on July 22nd last month, is that my middle KM was a lot faster this time, and my 2nd and 4th K splits were a bit slower this time, but I kicked well for home in a desperate attempt to land the SB which I did. So not the perfect race by a long way, but nice to get the SB and hopefully next one will be a big breakthrough, feel I am close to hitting a much better level of performance...

first 200 36 secs last 200 40 secs.
first 400 82secs last 400 101 secs.
first 800m 3.00.
Lead the field for the first mile or so. First 400m too fast, no sub 20 minute people there, so found it hard to get the pace right early. leg weary from work (only finished work 45min before,, and the 20km the day before), but still managed to season best by half a second. Not that happy with my time or pacing, but happy with my effort level and a solid kick for home in the last 200m. Hopefully next time a big jump in time…

Wednesday AM;
Ran 20km in 1.41.53 HR 168 at end. 5.05 per K.
its a course PB by more than 4 minutes!! on what I did 1st June 2010. 10km splits 49.32/52.21…very pleased with this run,ecstatic with the time, a few more like this and it will be celebration time in Melbourne! the first 4km and the last 4km is extremely hilly, but the middle 12km is very flat and the freeway bikepath section is excellent to run on… trialed the powerbar drink for the first time ion training, reckon I’m onto a good thing… heart rate at end same as last time, so a lot lower than last year…attacked really hard on the flatter sections, and carried 2 drinks for most of the way… southerly headwind but conditions pretty perfect...


Week 3;

Volume; 367min . Sessions;4 Best RHR;36 Sleep;44.25 (6.32 av) *5
1. OD/LSD/LFD;26km long run done.Target achieved. yay.

2a. REPS;Long reps; NIL

2b. REPS;short reps; NIL

3. MEDIUM run (tempoish or TT); Ran 20km in 1.41 PB!Target achieved. yay.

4. SHORT run (tempoish/or TimeTrial); NIL

5. RACE; 5000m in 22.06.0 @ 4.25 at Masters, a SB by 0.6 of a second.

IN SUMMARY;


A more than satisfactory week. Totally ecstatic extremely happy with another PB resting heart rate...Just need Tony to take on governing the country and I will be very happy...So I give myself at least a B grade for this week. Especially since I hit my target B for training volume this week which is 360minutes. (target C is 240minutes, and Target A is 600 minutes. Been using Target A, B and C for a few years now but rarely hitting those sort of weeks. Last year when preparing for Melbourne Marathon 2009, I had 4 weeks in a row where I was hitting Target B or C in training volume. I will be trying to replicate or preferably exceed that effort especially in the next 4 weeks...Its do or die time...A big positive step in the right direction. Its an easy week, so only had 2 key sessions to hit which were the long run and the 20km, if anything I ran a bit further than I targeted and also raced a solid 5k, so a great weeks training, just need to step up a gear in the next 4 weeks, and everything will be on track...

Monday, August 16, 2010

10k of intervals 7k course PB and RHR 40 but no long run

14th August Saturday AM;
10.5km of long! Intervals @ 4.41 per K, HR's 171-174.

Beat what I did in early June by 20 seconds so a session SB and very soft PB.
Solid effort without anything spectacular, and kept the heart rate down by not kicking for home much on any of the reps. Did the first interval at 4.30 per K pace (mainly due to the first 700m being at 3.44 per K pace, although it didn't feel as hard as it normally would, (i.e. I think I am not far off doing a shorter intervals session like say 4x1k reps at maybe 3.30-3.45's)) and the rest of the session was at about 4.50 per K pace, and the last 2-3k was pretty hard, so I know I made some gains. This was one of my 3 main target sessions for this week, so very pleasing to nail this one.

Toughish evening at work the night before so wasn't feeling the best but when I woke up with a RHR of 40,(and my second lowest weight reading of this year in 77.6kg) I knew it was game on for the reps session...So negotiated with my wonderful wife to look after the little ones breakfast, ignored the hunger pangs, and with no Saturday shift at work to goto, made it down to the oval by 10am...weather was excellent, and had minimal dog issues, and only one small bit of a soccer game/training during my last rep. Good session.

Thursday 12th August PM;
7km in 34.13 (4.53 per K) HR only 165.
Ran a small course PB (by 6 seconds) in heavy persistent rain, on a run that started as an attempt to do the 10.5km intervals session, but early on I realised that trying to do that session in the weather I had served up was going to be very depressing/hard ineffective/hard to measure, so decided instead to push on to a 7km run instead, as I knew I wouldnt want to run again once I stopped with my waterlogged shoes, and shirt. Couldn't remember what my course PB was while running, so wasn't really gunning for it, besides too busy dealing with heavy rain, which meant I pretty much had the oval to myself, as most people were not game to venture into it...The rain was making me go slower and slower until about 3 laps to go when it settled down a bit, and then got pretty wet again in the last 1.4k...

My notes from Strands.com read as follows;
Poured with rain throughout this run, pretty heavy rain early on, at one point the rain was so heavy i could hear it hitting my hat. My waterlogged shoes and shirt slowed me down considerably. Finishing heart rate a lot lower than last time I did this oval course, and its a small PB by 6 seconds on this course. I think I am pretty much over the flu now. Fastest 700m 2.56 slowest 3.40. Didnt finish hard, just coasted through the last lap in 3.28.

So a bit short on the distance, not lightning quick but the low heart rate and the fact that its still a course PB confirms my training momentum is considerable and headed in the right direction. A good solid run in atrocious weather conditions.

8 weeks to go need to get the long runs and medium runs ticking over, and build on the few good short sessions (5k in 22.06 @ 4.25 perK , 8.6k tempo run at BT @ 4.51 perK, 7k in 34.13 @ 4.53 perK and the 10.5K long intervals @ 4.41 perK) I have been able to get done, and get serious about the charge towards Melbourne. Its do or die time. Fremantle is guaranteed an AFL finals campaign now, but whether they finish 4th, 5th or 8th is yet to be determined. Its a bit the same with my Melbourne campaign.

I can do near enough is good enough for the next 8 weeks, and limp onto the MCG with another 4 hour effort, a bit like the Dockers finishing 8th and getting bundled out of the finals in the first week in Melbourne by Carlton or Sydney...
Or I can do most, all, or more than all my target sessions and the sky is the limit, with a marathon PB to enjoy at the finishline on the G...
I bought another powerbar sachet at our local shop the other day, reminds me of when they had powerbar sachets in Melbourne I think it might have been 2008 or 2007. Dont think it was last year. Its awesome being able to by Powerbar stuff just a short walk from my house...

Current dilemmas include;
* friends wanting me to do the City to Surf Marathon. Cost and logistics, family matters course etc all negatives for me...catching up with friends rellies in city beach, the first 20k being a nice course the buzz of running with some of the better marathoners in the world early on again, maybe getting on TV again a chance to maybe run a bit better than my pathetic 4.30 in the Perth, and various other things are positives. My City to Surf webpage HERE.........potential for injury=high unless I walk the Kings park section like last year...
* friends inviting me to do the Stirling Ridge walk (summiting about 5 of the highest mountains in WA, and run/hike for about 14hours+ straight through alpine terrain...) in a day the day before the Freo 10k race...negatives costs and logistics family stuff very challenging. very hard to get to Freo and run a good time after that...although I could try and do it at lake Gwelup the week before. It could clash with the Dockers in week 2 of the AFL finals, and it clashes with Mens Convention...Positives would be an awesome day hanging out with some cool people, and if I avoid major injury or death, the fitness benefits would be utterly sensational. Also its one of the things I have wanted to do for many years, the opportunities dont come along very often, and just being in the Mountains would be awesome, its such a wonderful part of the world...My Half ridge hike webpage HERE........Potential for injury=high.

However Melbourne is my goal race, so no matter what I do I will be trying to keep focused on that...
i had big plans for a long run on Sunday but at the end oif the day, nothing workedm just couldn/t get out to do it...Big FAIL on that front can't afford to miss that too many more times...


Ive decided to bring back my weekly stats summary thing which I have used in the past to help keep me on track for the next 8 weeks;

Volume; 103min . Sessions;2 Best RHR;40 Sleep;44 *9
1. OD/LSD/LFD;FAIL (plans to go to Walyunga or locally didn't eventuate.)

2a. REPS;Long reps; 10.5K @ 4.41 per K.Target achieved. yay.

2b. REPS;short reps; NIL

3. MEDIUM run (tempoish or TT); FAIL

4. SHORT run (tempoish/or TimeTrial); 7km @ 4.53 in very wet conditions tempoish except I coasted home with no kick at all, partly due to the conditions. Still a course PB.
5. RACE; NIL.

IN SUMMARY;

Well 1 (reps) out of the big 3 done is better than none, but not a satisfactory week, unless I get at least 2 out of the big 3 training priorities done. That said my weight and RHR are still on track, my times for both sessions were good, but I need to step on it in all departments if I am to get to where I want to. Hopefully the last sub-standard week. can't afford too many more without a long run...Still game on but getting into do or die zone soon...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Pic of me on page 3 of MM booklet

My Melbourne Marathon booklet and number arrived in the mail yesterday, and one of my facebook friends spotted my Cool Running Hat sneaking into the far right of picture on page 3 of the race info booklet, so thats my second appearance in widely distributed printed form this year after the page 78 effort in RFYL...maybe this is my "testimonial year"...hahaha *LOL* happy. :-)

Monday, August 09, 2010

8.6km tempo run and I am fully sick!

best RHR this week a solid but mediocre 43 beats per minute. so still in the ballpark, but nothing like the breakthrough alltime best of 37 bpm from last week. Big news is I recorded a weight of 77.4kg this week, which confirms things are slowly heading in the right direction in that regard, although another 5-10kg would be good...

Thursday PM; 12.5km slow jog run in 1hr 27 min HR 132 at end.
Planned to do intervals this day, but felt sick all day, no energy, and decided instead to go on a slow easy jog/run exploring my lakes course to Adventure world and back. Stopped about 4 times to get little bits of stuff out of my shoes, didnt lace up tightly enough. Motivation was at 1% or so, totally didn't feel like running, and had no energy, but forced myself out there in the hope that by Sunday I would be feeling better and ready to race...The early trail bit was ok, but then I found they had put new bitumen on the trail section where the tiger snake sign is...great...(a) it meant the nice trail I was looking forward to had been replaced by harder bitumen duh! and (b) it was new bitumen so it kept sticking to my shoes...horrible...the next bit up to adventure world was better, and I got some ok slow running done, but then on the way back just jogged home via the rail/parks course as I wasnt going by the tiger snakes sign again on that sticky bitumen. A depressing grind of a run, , but probably helped in my quest to drop my weight a little, and confirmed to me that I was indeed sick, and not just imagining it.

Wednesday PM; Ran 8.6km in 41min 40 HR 174 at end. (4min 51 per K).
With Simon at the new BT running club, which I think is a cool initiative.
Was a progression run, i.e. the idea was to start at easyish but solid pace then try and step things up in the last few km to target of about 4.40's...

Enjoyed the run a lot, and had some good chats about various stuff. An honour to run with such an accomplished and experienced runner. He had his toddler in a running pram, but it was me that struggled to keep up all the way. Early on running at conversational pace...just...I found the going toughish, and sensed maybe we had started a touch too hard but wasn't sure, but with my inexperience at tempo/progression runs, I am still learning how to do this kind of run well, not a style of run I am used to or good at doing...

Was a spur of the moment decision to run. Was reading meters in Attadale that day, but could see that if I went home straight after work as I felt like doing I'd probably not run, and waste yet another day...so resolved to go check out BT even though I didn't really feel like it, and force myself out for a run...very glad i did.
Apart from the concrete near the ferry terminal the course out to past the Narrows was excellent, flat and fast mostly, and seeing the city lights of the CBD across the river on the way back in darkness of the night was surreal and a touch of awesomeness. Simon got me to accelerate after the ferry terminal, which was good, but probably overdid it a bit, and only lasted about a minute or so, before I backed off to jogging...we restarted agin on the road towards the finish in the last K or so, which was a solid continual but shallow uphill, and as we increased the pace up this hill I knew I was making some gains here...felt good. Finish was a pretty good downhill, and afterwards good chats with "Comrader" Kevin (who is slightly ahead of my times at the moment, but behind some of my PB's maybe?, so running at a level which is good for me to aim at beating...i.e. a challenge but an achievable one in the short term), Simon and others. The Mizuno Strands top is awesome, and I have got to get back to BT sometime soon, a really good addition to the training arsenal this one...

Planned race this Sunday was the Perth Half, but instead of attacking that (have to admit I wasnt keen on the last minute course changes through east perth...way too much concrete), I spent the weekend blowing my nose every 5 minutes, and learning about the federal election...
so pretty depressed about this week, although the wednesday night run was good, right now I am as sick as a dog...fully sick....so need to get better before I can resume the Melbourne attack...9 weeks left to get it right...need to get the long runs going, and also the quality in the week sessions going, know what I want to do, just cant get to it until I get better from this cold/flu...plus its tricky finding the time to do sessions, but I know I can do this...maybe next week I will get better from this siockness and blast off in earnest...need to get on with it, and a few other non running things I might add...so a bit :-( down in the dumps right now, but the moment I can snap out of it, hope to start training hard and often...

Sunday, August 01, 2010

RHR 37!!! and 10 to 10-10-10

Sunday;
AM;
Ran hilly 9km in 43min 23 @ 4min 51 per Km. HR 168 at end.
To Chooks and back 2 laps...
Terrain is a bit varied with some trail/soft sand sections and a lot of bitumen and grassy sections. Mostly a good course, but the terrain variations, crossing one major road, and the 3 small but steep hills make this a lot tougher than a standard flat course on an oval or a track or a road, although a lot of this course is on road so some of it is fast, but a bit hard to get into a good rhytm all the way so a bit of a stop/start surge-ish course...which does suit my kind of pace changes...The hills and soft sandy trail bits makes me work a bit harder...Pretty happy with this run, not really an easy run, attacked too much for that, but too hard to run this as a proper time, trial so somewhere between a tempo run and a time trial in run purpose/style...Needed a good hitout to get into right mental state for my 3 year olds birthday party today, and to clear the cobwebs after the busy week...This certainly did that, and its clear I have hit another level of running in the last 2-3 weeks, even though Ive only run about 2 or 3 times...

Started out hard at about 4.25per K pace, slowed a bit on the return lap to about 4.36 per K, then the 3rd lap I lost the plot a lot, slipping out to a plodding 5.20 per K or something like that, although its not that long ago that I would have considered that a decent pace...but I have stepped up in the last week or two...last lap was back on track at about 4.38 per K...
2.25km splits; 9.59/10.47/11.42/10.55...

So I am ready to go and tomorrow the 10 week attack starts in earnest. 2nd August hopefully the dawn of my best 10 week block of training since the early 1990's...when I was racewalking at Nationals...

Recorded my lowest resting heart rate (RHR) of all time this week on Friday morning of 37 beats per minute!!! Oh for a race! Guess I will just have to try and hang on for the Perth Half next weekend, maybe a trip to Masters for a short fast hitout might be good too. The 37 is a sensational stat. Its 3 beats lower than I have ever recorded before, its my first ever sub 40 RHR since I started recording them in 1995, and if I remember correctly its the resting heart rate Mona said he started at when he first started training seriously. With 10 weeks to go until Melbourne Marathon on 10/10/10 its a big mental boost to my morale. Reinforces to me that maybe just maybe 10/10/10 is going to be my big PB day...Weight was also down this week around the 77-78kg mark, my lowest since 2008 when I ran 3.55 in the Perth Marathon and missed my PB by 8 seconds off minimal training. I know to make it happen from here I just need to hit my key sessions, continue with my lifestyle improvements and keep holding together the juggling act which is my family and 2 jobs mix. It won't be easy, but I am optimistic that the tough times of June are behind us, and things are picking up. Ive made some roster adjustments at work so I can get a better work/life balance and do more metering which will help supplement my limited training time. It seems my return to metering in recent weeks/plus lifestyle improvements/watching my weight/eating a little less/better is already paying off bigtime, with;
1. the RHR of 37 this week...which = more efficient heart/lungs= faster times with less effort.
2. the 22.06 5000m seasons best (SB) (only 17 seconds off my admittedly very soft track PB of 21.49)..confirmation I am progressing, despite the pathetic muck up of the Perth Marathon...again...
3. the weight dipping under 78kg for first time since mid/late 2008= better BMI=better power to weight ratio = faster times with less effort.
Admittedly the weight drop to 77.2kg was partly due to me not eating much that day after being too tired from juggling metering with a tooth extraction and losing a lot of blood. Spent an hour spitting out blood every 5 minutes after my tooth extraction while walking fast around the streets metering to finish off a round before the end of the day.

Its been a hardish week as per usual, but I have been attacking my metering, and between that and my other job, and Jacobs 3rd birthday party this weekend, its been a chaotic week again. But good to make some progress on my dental issues which I have been putting off for months, rather than have a situation to deal with a few weeks out from Melbourne. A PRE-emptive strike George Bush style or PRE style if you like. Which I do. which reminds me;goodbye lemons........
Running? well none of that in the first 6 days this week, but did get out this morning for a run...

10 weeks to go til 10/10/10. The next 10 weeks is hopefully the time to get serious and to get my key sessions done, get better at my juggling, so I can;
1. repay the debts (which have built up thanks partly to the terrible economic situation we are stuck with at the moment partly due to the government failing to govern),
2. end the waste (in my lifestyle...eating too much fatty junk food, not sleeping enough, working too many hours and straddling two jobs too much etc etc etc),
3. stop the boats (of doom in my mind, and in the injuries and environmental and socio-economic and other obstacles to racing well),
and
4. stand up for real action in improving my times, eventually smashing my PB's and maybe just maybe hitting my targets of sub 18 5k, sub 38 10k, sub 90 Half and sub 3 marathon in the next few years...
oh and elect the coalition too on Aug 21...
thats my action contract with myself. ...