A New Home

Day 2 of moving house and I am over it.

We managed to get all the big stuff moved on a truck yesterday, and I have spent today moving the little things that will fit in the bag of the car. I couldnt see the point in packing clothes and stuff into boxes if we are only moving around the corner. As a result, I have made 4 car trips and have about 3 to go.

Running has become non existant since last Friday. I cant wait to get back into it again.

Run for the Kids is this Sunday and at this stage I am unsure as to whether or not I will start. Its been about 3 weeks since my last one hour run, and I think I have only got over 30 minutes once in that time.

If I do start it will just be an easy day out.

Robbie is travelling well and should be home within the next few days hopefully. She spent the weekend at home and was very reluctant to go back which is a good sign.

We are currently contemplating a move to Tasmania to be closer to her family. Stay tuned for updates on this.

I think a fresh start would be good for all of us.

Cheers

Back in a Routine

Things are travelling ok at the moment.

I have managed to put together 4 days in a row of running. Doesnt sound like much but given the current situation I am impressed.

I have next week off work so I will start doing some quicker sessions then and get the legs ticking over once more.

I am also moving house next week too. Looking forward to that. NOT.

My Run for the Kids entry pack arrived yesterday. Im starting in the "Blue Zone". The front is the best place to be, away from the crush of the masses. The down side is, if you end up on your arse then theres 30000 people coming at you with no regards to your safety whatsoever.

Im predicting a mad dash to the Domain Tunnel at around the 1.5km mark and then some interesting viewing as one by one the fast starters discover they went too hard too early. Hopefully I wont be one of them!!

Robbie is travelling well. Each time I talk to her or see her she seems a lot happier.

Jack is getting into a routine as well. The last 2 nights he has gone to bed at 8:30pm and not woken until about 7am. WOO HOO!

Some new Saucony gear should be arriving in the next day or two so I am looking forward to that. Apparently there has been a delay with the Shorts and Track Pants and they will be arriving early April. In the meantime I guess its a "nudie run" from the waist down.

I will leave you with that thought.

Cheers

Robbie on the Improve

Robyn was admitted to Hospital yesterday. She will finally get the help she requires to overcome her Depression.

She will spend the next 2 or 3 weeks at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton speaking with Psychologists and other Medical "experts" who will assist in her battle.

When I spoke to her this morning she sounded a lot better. Its already having an effect.

I tried to go for a run this morning and lasted about 10 minutes. I got a terrible stitch and had to walk home. Each time I started to run again the stitch would return.

I have started trying to build some upper body and core strength. I'm not trying to get any bigger as this will only hinder what I am trying to do. Strength is what I want not size. Anyone who thinks you need to be "stacked" to be strong is a wanker.

We all have an inflated opinion of our level of fitness or strength including me. Its was VERY disheartening this morning when I could only manage 10 push ups!!!!!!

Obviously some work to be done here!

Anyway, things are on the improve with Robbie and thats all that matters.

Battling On

The last week or so has been tough.

Robyn is struggling with Post Natal Depression and as a result things are tough for both of us. I definitely have nothing to complain about compared to what she is going through though.

Lack of sleep is becoming the norm. 4 or 5 hours a night at the moment and strangely enough I think my body is adapting to it. Hopefully it wont catch up with me later on.

I've gone from running everyday to running when I can. I had previously put together 32 days straight, but am struggling to get 2 days in a row at the moment. I did and easy 5km yesterday and felt terrible. The upside was the time was pretty slick. I was just rolling the legs over and ran a PB over this course without even trying.

Lack off training is not a concern, my family is.

The new Athletics season starts on April 1st, and my registration papers are all ready to be sent off. Western Athletics will be my home from now on. I have previously run for Box Hill and Frankston aths clubs but when I approached them about rejoining for Season 07/08, neither of them got back to me.

I sent an email to all 3 above mentioned Clubs and the only one to reply was Western A's. Not only that, but more than one member got back to me! I think I heard from the Secretary, Registrar, Distance Coach and some others. I instantly felt welcome and when I met them for the first time I knew that they were the club for me. There are no egos or anything like that.

In fact their best runner, Luke Searle was asking for advice in regards to running a quick Steeplechase. The kids got talent. Has run sub 9 minutes for 3000m but yet to crack 10 minutes for the Steeple. He will, infact given his 3km flat time he should be running closer to 9:30 for the Steeple. Hes young and got time on his side, enthusiam to burn and plenty of balls by the sound of it. He told me he often hurdled the Water Jump!! Dunno bout that one, thats the first thing I would be changing if I were him. Still, what works for some might not for others.

At Box Hill I felt I was an outcast simply because I wasn't Coached by the "Club Distance Coach". The fact that my Coach was a member of Box Hill all his life, an Olympian and Comm Games Representative meant nothing. I was even left out of a Team for a State XC meet once despite the fact that I was the 1st or 2nd fastest Under 20 runner at every other race I had run. I represented Victoria at the National Cross but couldn't get a guernsey with my club!!!! Go figure!

Run for the Kids is coming up in a couple of weeks and I am very much looking forward to it. Given my training has been interupted I have changed my focus a little. I wont race it but instead will use it as a solid training run. Definitely looking forward to showing off the Saucony gear.

Enough babble for now, just good to get some things off my chest.

Ciao

Change in Priorities

The last week or so has seen some changes in my program.

I have missed a few days training due to some personal issues. My baby is suffering Post Natal Depression.

We are currently riding the rollercoaster of emotions and trying to keep things as positive and normal as we can.

Running has taken a back seat. I will run when I can and if I cant, so be it.

Catchya

Telstra A Series

Tonight is the night of nights. The stars will come out to play at Olympic Park and I cant wait.

Mottram Vs'. The Kenyans in the 5000m will be an awesome sight. BRING IT ON.

Ran some 1km reps at Brimbank Park this morning and felt shocking. I wont even bother writing the times here. Lets just say it was very very ordinary. It equates to about a 36 minute 10km time. Not that crash hot when your only running 1000 metres.

Anyway, tomorrow is a new day and a new training session.

The plan is to do an easy 30 minutes in the morning and then head to the track tomorrow arvo and do a Warm Up followed by 6 or 7 run thrus to get the legs ticking over.

Another long run on Sunday. Last week I did an easy 20 minutes Sunday afternoon following my long run and the next day felt awesome. Obviously helped prevent any soreness etc so I will continue to do this.

Until next time.

Climbing Stairs

Hi there,

Things are moving along quite nicely at the moment.

Ran Airlie St again on Tuesday night and this time I was the victor!

Each rep was 10 seconds quicker than last week. Not a bad improvement when you consider the hill is only 230 metres long.

The last one was tough, the last 50 metres felt like I was climbing stairs!!!

Still, it was goods to get out and feel strong on the hills.

Hills would have to be one of my favourite sessions. Great for building leg strength as well as speed.

I wont be backing off for any races in the next 6 months. If the race falls on a Sunday then I will still do a quick session on Saturday as per normal. The race will merely substitute my long run for the week. If the race falls on a Saturday, then Sunday will still be a day for getting miles in the legs.

The plan is for this approach to make me stronger and more consistent. I see no point in continually backing off my training to freshen up and wasting a week by taking it easy before a race. If I took this approach, with something like 11 races planned between now and October, I would be wasting 11 weeks (3 months) which is far too much time.

I am very happy with my progress at the moment.

I intend to run a 1500m at Interclub next Tuesday night and then a 5km a couple of hours later. Despite my previous dislike for the 1500, I am definitely looking forward to it. Will be good to see where I am at in regards to speed.

Until next time.

Cheers