I Never Liked Roller Coasters As A Kid

I never got it with roller coasters. Even once I got past the imagined fear that something might go wrong and we would all end up flying off the edge at any moment. The realisation that in reality the mechanisms of the coaster were designed to take us up, down and round the prescribed tracks and that no matter how many people threw their hands about in the air we were just being dragged along in an over air conditioned train might have put a dampener on it. I don't know.

It was definitely the prescribed path with its uncompromising ups and down that I was never overly impressed with though. Particularly after Warren introduced me to the World of rock climbing. An activity that provided a real element of risk within the constraints of your willingness to extend yourself. Self controlled fluctuations, up when you wish and down as you decided (most of the time, but perhaps I was conservative in my challenge). why I stopped climbing I'm still not sure.

So why it is that my running resembles the roller coaster I never got rather than climbing I never continued I can not figure out. Over the past 4 months injury has certainly played a significant roll. I guess the fact that in 20-21 days (never could remember which months have 31 days) I am age eligible for masters games may suggest that I need to take more (ie do some) time stretching through the week. However I am beginning to have flash backs to my days at Springwood athletics club as a 18 to 20 year old listening to Dad and Vassell comparing adolescent PB's and listing the injuries they currently have that prevent them from reaching such lofty heights on that given day.

So with fear of turning into a distant memory I wish to get off this roller coaster and stick to something more akin to climbing. Can it be done? Ups and downs have constantly been an issue for me, with the most consistent part of my training having been planning what I'm going to do and then not doing it.

Last weeks up of the Wilson to Bilpin run has largely drifted far enough out of the memory to be the current motivator with the exception of the hamstring in my right leg that reminds me that I had only punched out a week or twos actual training prior to completing this run. So another target must be set and another plan laid out. Trying to control the ups and downs knowing that it is still a possibility that the tracks will drag me in another direction anyway. Fitzroy Falls Fire Trail Marathon via the mid station of Blackmores Half, this week the steps:

Monday 31st August
The Plan
Aquatic activities due to soreness in hamstring, most likely at the Wood in the PM following the Gnomes Rugby match

Completed
Interesting use of the word in that I didn't. Taking my seat in the Bush Beast. Watching the attendant check the should brace is in place. Having got the Gnomes ready for their round 2 match against St Col. Found out no referee. A phone call suggested that even though I havn't refed for 4 yrs (including atleast 2 major law rewrites in this period) it was up to me to blow the whistle. I dont know how many people have obvserved yr7-8 students who are new to union running round a paddock but direction is not a strong point. Needless to say the recovering hami took a blow There for, Enjoy your ride and smile for the camera on the first drop.

Tuesday 1st September
The Plan
Hoping to be back for an AM run from Sleep Trains, standard (for those who have trained in the past months anyway) Tuesday run

PM cycle at the Lakes outreach program to low lander sponsor child

Completed
Sleep was completed and a lot of complaints about the rugby ref who no showed. I hate the long slow climb up to the first drop, that click-click-click as the cars et dragged up the hill.

Wednesday 2nd September
The Plan
AM run, most likely from the Lucasville Resort

PM short run followed by touch

Completed
AM run from the lucasville resort. Clocked up 50mins and 21seconds with Whollie in and around the sights of Glenbrook. Overall the hami felt OK. In that it was felt the whole time but never felt sore. More just an awarness it was strained. Pulled up OK after.

PM an outreach program with GPB round the Lakes. Clocked in with 30kms in steady winds. Feeling quite tired after a two sessions following more time out with injuries. Feeling myself being dragged back onto the ride having stopped to checkout the views from up top.

Thursday 3rd September
The Plan
Heading over to Animals to do my run in the AM

PM teachers touch, though why I keep playing this I have no ideas as all my injuries have their origins from this comp.

Completed
Turned up to Animals and completed 5 mins 28seconds of running. Hami a bit tight after yesterdays testing of it and with a lot of people lined up for W2G by night tomorrow thought better of pushing it too much this morning. Hope I can nurse it through tomorrow now.

Friday 4th September
The Plan
Early PM Mt Biking with the Gnomes followed by the BMMC hosted W2G by the September Full moon.

Completed
After the Thursday hiccup, to now be known as the 5 minute mega run, I was happy to wake up feeling less tightness through the hami and confident of getting through the evenings events.

Began the CV activity at 4pm with 3 gnomes and PT. Having secured a chance to Mt Bike on what I think is the best short track circuit going round at Blue Gum Lodge. Spent 1hr getting lost on the trails and avoiding crashes on palliative care this time round. Once again supper fun and all the Gnomes seem eager to get back to this track in future.

The onset of evening bought with it the ever shortening proximity to the BMMC W2G by night. Still a little unsure of who was turning up it was tremendous to see so many local and low lander invitational runners front for this run.

Having grouped up with those running down from Wentworth Falls approximately 20 runners started of from Woodford off the 9.44pm train, knowing that the groups off the 3 earlier starts were all moving closer to the causeway already. The views early on of a well lite Sydney sky scape were astounding (what do you mean fossil fuels. . .) and the opportunity to see this repeated itself regularly along the first 10kms.

With some concern about leaving people on the track I had decided to sweep the course to be confident no one would pop up off Narrow Neck in 12 days time and as such spent an enjoyable night jogging through to the causeway at a comfortable pace. Probably a little longer spent on the trail than planned but in hind sight a better result for the long term improvement in the hami.

The crowd still kicking on at the gate when we finished startled me as I had not expected many people to still be there. More startling though was the fact Mr Cooper was still in the esky and he and I shared company before it was time to head home.

In bed by about 2am and already contemplating future runs.

So the plan is laid out before us. Setting it at a respectable grade 21 and hoping no one builds a roller coaster in my new found climbing playground.