Drive By On Struggle Street

Had a shocker last week. Not too sure on the exact reasons for it but just lacked a touch of anything to get me going in the training department. So bad I was not only driving down struggle street, but to be more accurate in my performance one might suggest I had broken down at the exact mid way point with equal distance and long climbs to get out on either side.

It just occurred to me that in fact my car broke down at a certain mts runners mothers house on Douglas.

Not sure of the reasons for the low levels of motivation and energy. Most likely a combination of 4 days and three nights looking after 35, 15-17 year olds, at gnomes go skiing. Change in diet, lack of sleep and 3 days solid on ski's I assume take some impact.

This combined with the 3hr run on Saturday following. The run that Sleep Train piked mid way because clearly we set too difficult training runs and that left Dr Phil back on the side lines with his pesky foot ailments. A run that in all fairness should smash me up given the lack of build up.

In the ends it all equated to a week with 2 runs, both at a level well below par. In particular the Tue BMMC standard where I think the time was round 1hr 4mins. Some 8 minutes slower than has become standard of late.

Remedy = a weekend of no alarms and no training. Put it all on black I say leave no eggs out for the second basket.

The outcome, it seems is that perhaps in this instance it worked. By Sunday afternoon driving home from lunch in Maitland. Doesn't everyone drive 2hrs 30mins each way for a nice park to have lunch? By the drive home from Maitland I was itching to join the runners and cyclists I saw on the side of the road.

Come Monday I was feeling revived and ready. A good thing given Sydney Marathon is now a touch under 2 months away. Hoping the mood and energy now stabilises for a period of consistent preseason based training. Who knows a preseason event in the Sydney Marathon may provide a bigger improvement in my shit house marathon time than I current aspire!

Monday 2nd August
PM double session. Despite the itch, the desire, the eagerness Monday AM just don't do it for me. PM'd a lap around Espresso after work to the inspiration of Mumford & Sons. Felt great and hit the feel only pacing to be surprised with a 26min 44sec lap. That is more like it.

Backed up with a swim in the Wood at 5.30pm. Here it should be noted the desired start time is clearly 5.45pm to avoid the swim lesson - squad lane use overlap and get a lane before the side crawlers take over. Knocked over 2km at a solid intensity to wrap up a good afternoon.

Tuesday 3rd August
AM from Sleep Trains with the owner himself and megaphone. The more I get to know megaphone the more I realise he is purely a GPB substitute. May New Zealand be kind to a lost soul from Glenmore Park. Both ST and I were under the pump so took the express version turn off at 5 ways with megaphone tagging along. Again short but solid tempo, particularly out o from Warrimoo Leagues HQ. 29mins 33secs.

PM no training, rushed home to catch Fox 2 at 3pm for North Face 2010. Good to see many glimpses of BMMC runners and whilst it was in reality expected for 2009 race winner to be a feature in this years coverage. The cameo early for vstaR was a built in surprise. Who knows we may see him training again before the change of seasons (yes?).

Wednesday 4th August
AM from the Lucasville Resort with Whollie. Cruised around the streets of Glenbrook and Brooklands for a very social 50mins. Evening session wiped out with kitchen reno's requiring attention.

Thursday 5th August
It must be ending, the extended off season of many a bmmc runner that is. Summer has been smelt and the masses are returning. So will say the headlines of the B Mts Gazette if they have their finger on the pulse. It was a group of six that departed the Mansion on Marshall at 5.59pm with vstaR and Lady GaGa return to the fold in joining the reliable ones of Sleep Train, Fat Kiwi, Megaphone and I for a trip around the usual Thursday run. Was amused at the pace some showed up the major climb today (and by the amount of debris blown onto the track recent winds). 1hr 8mins all up.

PM into town to gather the gnomes packages for the impending C2S. Joined SWMBO for the fixed gear gold sprints they are running at the Galleries. Had a 'fun' race against another crowd dweller, and despite my happiness with claimed time. It was all I could do to prevent myself from vomiting post race. A clear reminder to myself why I don't race round the lactic threshold. Who wants to hurt that much? Good to catch up with the absent W.E.S for dinner.

Friday 6th August
I know I did something but retrospective writing is failing the mind.

Saturday 7th August
Booked in for baby classes at Nepean Hospital, so a return to recent history with a 5.20am start for 2hrs with Whollie. Began at Mansion on Marshall and eased through Mt Riv, Blaxland, Glenbrook and Lapstone. Touched on the outskirts of the low lands before returning up stairs past RAAF base and through Knapsack Reserve trails home. A nice 2hrs with much time dedicated to discussing the Emu's likely win over Nths at back to Penrith day.