Running Scared Of Somthing That Works

It worked. Not a session missed in a week thanks to the accountability of publishing the plan and the fear of ridicule for missing a session from Mum and her neighbour that she gets to read this blog. Solution for an inconstant trainer, stop posting all up so you cant be held accountable again.

Of course the Gnomes Go Skiing was verbalised as the initial excuse for not blogging (= not training) however after a week of having returned I could no longer keep taking photos of myself in the living room in my ski gear claiming I was still away.

So a weekend of driving the k's back up and a published week of training lie ahead. Please mum if you read this don't yell too much if I miss a session.

Phase One: Already completed at point of original post

Saturday 15th August
AM run with Rodthehornet, sailaway, Dr Phil and Sleep Train in the National Park. 7am start from the gate with a sound tempo (certainly for one rebuilding after achillies injury anyway) up to Bennets Ridge. Left RTH, SA & ST as they continued out to Nepean Lookout and rounded Bennets Ridge to Euroka with Dr Phil. Detoured to river (almost) and up side of hill along single track and back to causeway and the climb out. Happy with the 1hr 20mins all up. Some good hills and great to be back in the Park again.

PM run was planned to be the test running of the Sydney X-Country course. A complete lack of preparation in terms of taking note of the start point saw a scenic drive around family picnics and a trip back to the home lands for a casual jog with she who must be obeyed around the espresso run. 40mins.

Did have the pleasure of talking to 97 yr old Gordon as he was heading out for his 3rd walk of the day following our run. Getting on to the juice of half a lemon in cup of water yesterday.

Sunday 16th August
AM run from the Mansion on Marshall. Solo down to Lennox Bridge round lookout single track up to jumps over Mt Sion and back home through the white cliff and church track. Feeling a touch tired after doubling up for first time in months yesterday. Also noticed the dependence I have developed for the world of the I-pod. Mental note to self charge it the night before. Left with a single verse of some song I had woken to on alarm for whole run. (only thing more annoying is the fact I now have no idea what it was).

Monday 17th August
Bridges with the Gnomes after work. I must look to eat more quality foods through the day, started washed out and slightly light headed. Had patches of feeling the rhythm returning along river track on way home but never really settled in. 32mins 44seconds for a lap pretty average considering have lapped under 25minutes back in history. But fairly pleased with the 10 minutes from freeway bridge back to car park along the river track. Got GPB to shut up through some of the rolling bumps anyway.

Phase Two: Planning ahead

Tuesday 18th August
The Plan
AM run back to the BMMC Tue run from Sleep Trains. (Disclaimer may abort at Rickard exit if go soft in the morning)

Completed
6am start from Sleep Trains round house. Was warmly welcomed back to the fold by Gargermeister, Sleep Train and the (not so) Fat Kiwi. Lap around Sleep Trains standard Tue run in the standard direction. Train program running like clockwork still after so much time off. Struggled a bit on climbs but I guess this is to be expected following a three month lay off with injuries. Have to decide how many more times I am going to unnecessarily carry head light (nagging voice comes back about your injured you don't even need to buy that). 1hr 1min 37sec. Looking forward to getting back somewhere near 57 minutes. On on. . .

Wednesday 19th August
The Plan
AM run from the Lucasville Resort.

Completed
5.45am start at the Lucasville Resort with Wholie. Cruised around the streets while the light resumed going past the Brook, the Lapo and Giant mini trains and into the Aussie Pyrenees. Back round and over Mt Sion via a new track for me past the jumps along the single track to the lookouts and home on main trail and through back of Glenbrook Oval (short dip round THE VILLAGE) to get time up to the rounded figure often chased by OC type runners. All up 1hr 10mins 3sec with only the smallest amount of our conversation revolving around my once more demonstrated lack of coaching ability. Could have been 100pts so it could have been worse. Very social very fun. Is good to run.

Thursday 20th August
The Plan
AM run with BMMC. What once was mine is yours. See you at Animals.

PM Fartlek with ball, teachers touch 22mins 30sec each way.

Completed
6.00am from animals. Despite rumours to the nature of ownership of the Thursday run it has always been my belief that if one is not to run for a period as long as 3 months (regardless of reason) then one has no writes (I do actually know) to argue the ownership of a start from home plate on any given run. So as I was saying (just don't be away for any reason though) it was from Animal's that the Thursday run commenced and with said occupant, Sleep Train and The Slimmed out Kiwi a lap of the basic hill circuit was attended to. I must note that amendments to the course were to be expected following such a lengthy lay off of the course designer and one was truly magnificent in its added attraction to given course. However to cut a single track gully run to stay on widened fire trail shall never pass trough the boots of I. In the end another struggle up the hills but managed a running stride on every step of the valley track on Old Bathurst side. 1hr 1min 15 seconds.

PM the given fartlek with ball session duly completed through the realm of Nepean District Teacher Touch comp. another win for Nep Gnombility. This time over the jolly Saints 9-5.

Friday 21st August
The Plan
AM run 30mins from Mansion on Marshall

PM Mt Bike with the Gnomes

Saturday 22nd August
The Plan
AM run 2hrs playing on hills

PM run 30 mins easy on home trails

Completed
Having decided through eating my dinner last night that I was feeling quite good entered the Willy 2 Billy run instead of the planned runs. Seeing an opportunity to grab a 2009 qualifier for debut at 6ft next year. Started conservatively looking for something between 3hrs 30mins to 4hrs.

Ran the opening 50mins with another runner from Sutherland area. Very happy to have the conversation but in hindsight it would have been polite for me to ask his name at some point. Separated after the 10km drink station so entered the realms of ipod world for a few km. Spiderbait was the music of choice and found myself feeling very good through to the halfway mark.

Re-immersed myself into the social world from 15 to 21km and spent some time running with the BMMC running royalty patriarch King Donges. Also went through the realisation that ST & I in our massively exploratory adventures of Dec 2008 had actually only tramped through the very clear tracks we were now running on.

At the start of the decent into the valley at Mt Irvine went solo again and finished off listening to Spiderbait to try and keep myself alert on the descent. A brief refuel at the creek and the much anticipated climb began. 6km up and a tempo was required to aid feeling good throughout. Popped over to Pete Murray to set the mood and with a steady stride was surprised at how well I felt. Ended up putting in about 20 minutes over the climb on a number of the people who had been running around me up to that point.

In the end crossed the line in 3hrs 11mins ##sec. Was very happy with the time particularly considering the frustrations of the past few months with injuries.

So it stands for the week as planned. How strong is the influence of public embarrassment in failing to meet your own commitments? Does anyone other than mum read this so does anyone even know I planned these runs anyway? Does Mum read this? How did they ever give me a job teaching with spelling and grammar to put Hunter S Thompson to shame?