Gold Coast Marathon Weekend
Posted by plu, Jul 2 2009, 09:28 PM
Hi all,
I will be on the Gold Coast for the Marathon weekend. The family is pleased their high maintenance Dad and husband of the family will be away doing his running thing.
If you wish to folllow the event from my perspective you can do one of a few things. Live photos will be most of what I cover
1. Follow me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/plu
2. Add me as a friend on Facebook - my tweets will be forwarded from Twitter
http://www.facebook.com/pluruns
cheers Plu
June Running
Posted by plu, Jun 30 2009, 10:36 PM
Hi all,
Here is the break down for June Running.
6 6 6 6 96 6 = 126
Here is the breakdown of the 96km. Used Twitpic times to work out when and where. No photos at start - it was 7:15 am
Need to get back to my regular 6km runs.
cheers Plu
Back Into It - Gold Coast This Weekend
Posted by plu, Jun 29 2009, 11:04 PM
Hi all,
After the blisters I did decide to buy some new shoes. I rang Kerrie at East Gosford for another pair of shoes and was very sad to hear he was doing it tough with cancer and people were chipping in to help with the shop.
Next day the shoes arrived at the door step by mail and I will be going for my second run since the PMC in them after work tomorrow. I have a couple of pictures showing the wear compared to the old shoes.
What do you think of the wear pattern?
Last Thursday Mum rang to see if I was coming up the the Gold Coast Marathon. I was not planning to go but decided I should go up and see them and why not during the marathon weekend. So I got onto Virgin Blue and looked at flights for Brisbane and Gold Coast and decided to pay a bit more for a flight straight in on Friday night.
In the past few years I have either been injured or was sick and missed the race and just spectated. So I asked Murry and Tim what race I should do the full or the half. Both suggested the half. I am inclined to agree with them becasue it takes a while to recover from the longer ones and I would like to see how I pull up after a slightly faster run. I am not sure if I should go for it and see what happens or just be sensible and run in under 2 hours and pull up fine.
In any event I am looking forward to going up and catching up with some friends and fellow runners.
BTW: I will switch Twitter to feed into Facebook while I am away so I can feed through pictures of Uncle Dave and other runners as they finish the marathon - now that is a good advantage of not doing the marathon 
.
cheers Plu
Bobbin Head Revisited.
Posted by plu, Jun 25 2009, 05:43 PM
Hi all,
Last night 16b sat in a box for the State of Origin and got a scarf , cap and those try signs - he was very excited.
On Tuesday night I popped into UTS Lindfield during 14g music competition and read some great sport research articles in the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism,
Today I had fieldwork with Year 7 at Bobbin Head.
I went from here:
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to here looking back to where we started.
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As we were driving in I recognised two men walking but up from the valley - one was a regular early starter (over 60 years old) for Six Foot Track and a Strider. He is a distinguished looking man with a moustache.
Now this is around 65 km of the PMC course and every inch of the road when we drove in had a memory for me.
Everywhere I go along the course now will evoke good memories in the same way the blue line does around the Olympic Marathon course.
The other thing I noticed was all the cyclists and kayakers. I want it to be me- it was a great day out there today.
cheers Plu
Weekend That Was And Week Ahead
Posted by plu, Jun 21 2009, 10:47 PM
Hi all,
Avoca 6km
On Friday night I just chilled online. While 13g watched Friends with the headphones I watched Gandhi - all in the same room as it is the warmest room in the house.
On Saturday we went to Trinity for a very wet game of rugby and 16b scored the final try in the 17 nil win.
In the evening I went to Avoca and arrived in time for a 6km run before dark. No soreness at all - just a normal run.
I quick pizza and settled into a few episodes of Season One Rockford Files - a favourite of mine. In bed by 9:00pm.
On Sunday I did a heap of marking, came home and cleaned the house.
Busy week ahead (in after work hours) with a Hills Parramatta Australian College of Educators Management Committee meeting on Monday. Ali has a music competition at UTS Lindfield on Tuesday. Wednesday I have a GTANSW Executive meeting and hope to be home in time for the State of Origin. Thursday free and the best day - Cool Running drinks on Friday night.
Have a good week all.
cheers Plu
Recovery Week
Posted by plu, Jun 19 2009, 08:05 PM
Hi all,
Firstly thanks all for the great comments they are really appreciated. I do feel a real sense of accomplishment this time around and really happy that my effort has inspired a few runners to challenge their goals and have a go with what ever they want to do with their running.
How has the recovery gone? Really good. So far I have felt no real highs or lows. Just peace.
On Sunday morning Tim and Alison were over in the morning to drop off stuff and pick up a car respectively. We were talking about the race and this was good for Jenny to hear, as she does not understand why I do some of these extreme things now and then. I am not sure if anything was clarified
So with the mind fine how is the body? To be honest I feel better than I have after the recent marathons that I have run (Edit: admittedly with injuries). On Sunday I had trouble getting out of chairs and the like but I could get out of bed with no trouble at all. I remember in the past how I have had to roll out of the bed on to my knees and then get up. On Monday my quads were shot on slopes and stairs. By Tuesday I was moving freely and Wednesday I had a day of public transport to go to a workshop.
Sure I have the blisters to deal with .
On Sunday night I left the wound open and some times I would wake up in pain if my feet had moved under the sheets and scraped the raw skin. I had blister skins and tape on my feet till Thursday so I could wear shoes at work but after a while that was fine. When I took them off last night things were a bit messy but they are fine today.
On Thursday night I felt like a run. I will run on the weekend .
Here is a neat photo MarkMik took as we ran towards each other last Sunday.
Time to move on.
cheers Plu
Aren't You The Guy That Ran From Gosford To The Opera House
Posted by plu, Jun 14 2009, 07:45 PM
Hi all,
Aren’t you the guy that ran from Gosford to the Opera House.
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This morning I woke up to the following text message:
“Aren’t you the guy that ran from Gosford to the Opera House.”
Yes I am. There is a lot of pride in being part of a small group of people that have done this.
Preparation of the mind
My preparation was psychological rather than physical. Supporting the run for the last five years, living in the area, going to Avoca on a regular basis along the course, riding on the course all mean that I knew the course and watched how others had approached the run. From these experiences I learnt a few lessons: talk to others about the run, don’t be worried about walking, plan to provision yourself and if support comes that is a bonus and finally believe that you can finish. It is not a text book approach to such a run but I knew I would not make the starting line if I tried to train the distances for it – which I tried to do 2005-2006- 2007.
Just for the record on the running front my running diet is based on 6 km runs and only a few times a week - with the odd break out. My last half marathon was September 2007 and last year I started the up course from the Opera House and did 35km. On News Years Day I thought I would run the Beyond the Black Stump’s 35 k to see of the body would cope. I followed this up with 20 km at Bundeena and a couple of runs on Quarry Road over the past 6 months.
Planning
My more immediate preparation was to turn up on the day and see what happens. Around this time a couple of weeks ago I got onto Tim to seek advice and he suggested to break the run down into chunks and in my case 6km stages and to plan everything around this. Psychologically that made a lot of sense and by the way, made the difference to being serious about an attempt - expecting to finish.
I really believe a lot of things came into place for this race and I made a lot of decisions which were the right ones for yesterday. I spent a lot of time thinking. Being cold out on the course was my major concern as I run slow and would be walking a lot. If I got cold I would pull out. My eating and drinking plan was dove tailed into my 6km chunks of a drink and part of a bar. I also decided to try what Spud uses- creamed rice . I had 4 gels but did not want to use them. Once into suburbia I could get my own food while the shops were open. With those two concerns identified that is where I focussed my attention.
On Thursday morning I woke up with my head in a very negative space about the cold. I mentioned this in a text message to a friend, got a supportive text message encouraging me and I decided to go on the front foot. So Thursday arvo two days before the race I decided to buy a warm cycling top and a back pack which was between the one I have and just a drinking water pack. Both were very good decision – though expensive. I walked around the house all night in the gear I planned to run in and walked around outside – I was a lot warmer but still I could potentially be cold if I was sweaty.
So I needed a back up. Psychologically, I was pretty confident that if I got to the Turramurra side of Bobbin Head I was 99% certain I would finish if I was warm enough and had food and drinks. I knew would be problematic given the time I would be there. The logistics of getting a car was becoming an issue and I gave up. On Friday night I just thought I have to get the car there with cloths , food and water and rang a mate who followed me over. This proved to be another very good decision. In ultra running there is a saying “beware of the chair”. If you sit down you may not get up and I felt a car would be the same – a quick exit strategy. I reasoned having the car there would make to go through Bobbin Head and once there rugged up I would continue – I did think of leaving the zapper at home so the car would not start.
Race Day Starts
Tim said he would drive me and Trailblazer, Spud and Every Ready Bunny met at Penno for the trip to Gosford. The whole event from now is quite understated 15 people lined up at the start and you just run down the road. I was chatting and I looked around and I was standing there last – and that is where I stayed for the rest of the day.
I had spent some time trying working out 6km intervals from the map and instructions. It did not always work out but it was as good as I could do. I got to the Freeway overpass at Somersby and stopped had half a bar and a decent drink. By now EverReady Bunny and Ourimbah whom I could see ahead of me were no longer in sight. Bernard from Bowral text me and said to Twitter things as I went. I was not going to do this but decided I would as he was interested and a few others might have been as well. I actually used Twitpic and sent a photo each time- I am glad I did because the tweets give me the time I was at certain places and this is useful now to see my pacing.
I just settled in to spending the rest of the day by myself focussing on the next break. It was nice running with the sun on my back and listening for the motor bikes coming my way around the corners or behind me.
Beaver came back to check on me a few times but as the race went on we knew this would stop because the gap between myself and the front runners would get larger. I did ask him to take a photo of me on the course for my memories and he got a good one. Thanks Andrew. This photo is at about 14 km - close enough to 12 km and at the bottom of the hill. So it was time for another drink and half a bar. Round here Sportsman came running by – he had taken a wrong turn at the section where the road is block by the collapsed bridge. I was feeling alright so after sending my tweet – which I did during the walking stages on hills - I set off after Sportsman for the climb to Peats Ridge. He was running to a plan of 2.6 km run and 400m walk irrespective of the terrain and he had a laminated sheet with all the elevations and a Garmin to tell us what our elevation and pace was.
Settling in with my own company
Peats Ridge was 18 km so the next section was to the bikers cafe which was essentially a pleasurable undulating next 6km. On the way through I got a photo of the freeway as we passed over it for the first time.
The bikers cafe has been closed for months and I was surprised it was open when I got there – they had re-opened last week. I got one of the bikers to take a photo for evidence that I arrived. By now I had decided to also text a few people the photos so as I was running along. People would text me back with encouragement and that helped a lot.
The next stretch was to Mooney Mooney which was 11 k m to 35 km. I decided to run the undulating section till the steep decent for my first break and then the run down to the river.
A few weeks ago I thought I needed a new pair of shoes as I noticed some rubbing in them on longer runs but I thought it was not the right time to change shoes. I was starting to feel the beginning of a blister on the side of my left heel. Also the run down the hill was very painful in the triangle between my hips and this was concerning me. Up until now I had only minor groin soreness at the start and no problems with the hip. As I approached the river I noticed that I could run the slight uphills easier than the downhills and made a mental note just to take it easy on the long steep downhills.
So here I am at 36 km at 11:45am – 4:30 hours for 35km. Now I found myself thinking of the race three big sections as well as the 6 km chunks. These sections were the marathon, 70km (out of Bobbin Head) and the finish. Prior to the race I did not want to think of pace but a few people had asked me where I would be at different stages of the race. Earlier in the week I thought I could allow 45 minutes for each 6 km and that was nice and easy for the brain and allowed for walking running and breaks - 24 km in 3 hours, 48 km in 6 hours( I did 6:45 hours) and 72km in 9 hours (I did in 11hours) - it proved to be optimistic.
By now I was hoping Spud had not eaten all the vegie pies as I was keen to have a feed and sit down. On the 4 km climb t the Pie in the Sky Ourimbah had doubled back to check on me and reported ahead to Beaver and Terry that I was fine. He stopped briefly with me to make sure I had everything I needed.
I was now at 41 km and while having the pie and an ice tea I decided to get take off the longs and the cycling top. Even though I was comfortable with them I rationalised when I got colder later, it would be good to have something else to put on. I was surprised I had no chaffing problems so far but I think the longs help prevent this – though I did have a contact case of Jenny’s with some Vaseline in each contact holder – a trick I learnt from Virtual- in case I need it. I resisted the temptation to roll down my sock to see the blister.
Graving for Hills
So I headed off to Berowra which was 50 km and the longest I had ever run I made it there is 7 hours – Tim had been through in 5 hours. I was planning to have a panadol here so that if I needed one later – 4 hours down the track I could. As I was in Cowan Cool Runner Mark Mik was going to catch a train out and run with me for a while. The timing was good as I was struggling again here. He ran from Normo to Hornsby but missed the train. So he kept on running up the Pacific highway until he meet me. Meanwhile I was having a roadside picnic at Berowra and having a chat to Ewen who had just finished a cross country race in Canberra and he wanted to see how I was going.
I headed off again and met MarkMik on the Berowra side of Mt Kuringai. At this stage I was graving hills no matter how small as they gave me a walking break. I also noted that now having someone to talk too that my brain was a bit scrambled – I could not really put sentences together. Anyway we got to Mt Colah at 56km Mark ran ahead to get a hamburger for himself while I refilled the water and got another ice tea. I also realised now that in this next leg I might not get out of Bobbin Head in day light.
So I rugged up again, grabbed by light and decided to have a look at the blister. Now I could see there were two of them. One had broken and the skin was rubbing back and forward and a second was starting to form. I ignored them as I had to get going. After fielding a homework question from Nick on the phone about continental drift about if Australia would be getting wetter and warmer because we are moving north we headed off. Mark Mik and I parted company at the gates to the National Park . Thanks for running with me Mark – it helped me a lot at this stage of the race
Night sets in
I guess the panadol kicked in as I was able to run all the way from Mt Colah to Bobbin Head which was the next 9 km stretch with a break at 6m in at the top before the steep descent. On the way down Tim text me to see where I was – he was at Gordon at the time. It was nice to be in the bush again with cyclists going by and the few cars coming out of the park. I got to Bobbin Head which was 65 km in under 10 hours which mean I was running 6.5-6.7 km per hour. It was going on dark and I knew I would not get out in daylight.
By now I was looking forward to walking for a while. I had my head light on and before cars came around the corner I would shake my head to move the light so people could see me and now and then I had to jump on the road side rails just to get in a safer position. I am sure I shocked a few of the drivers. This climb was harder than the others and now and then I had to stop and bend my head down and sort of squat – I am not sure what this meant but it gave me some relief.
In our lead up discussions I said to Tim I reckoned I would be just coming out of the National Park as he was finishing. He rang me while I was still climbing out of the valley. He had just finished. I was cold and wet from sweat – the cool running top holds a lot of moisture. I ran to the first roundabout turned left to where I had parked the car. I was at 70 km with 26 km to go and knew I had at least 4 hours to go (it turned out to be 5:30 hours) I sat on the side of the road at my car with my head light and tried to eat food I had some fruit salad a vegemite sandwich some creamed rice some chips and an orange juice.
I took off the cool running top put on a t-shirt thermal under my moist long sleeve thermal, a woollen jumper and my cycling top. I grabbed my beanie but decided on no gloves. I was trying to assess the night as I had tracksuit pants to go over the longs I decided I did not need them. I might have spent 20-30 minutes doing this. I was warm and fed and believed I could manage the next 4- 5 hours. I was so glad I decided 36 hours before to leave the car there.
The run to the Pacific Highway was took a while and when in Pymble I realised I had no sugar drink and I did not want to use the gels. I popped into the bottle shop and decided to have another look at the blister and the second one had expanded and was full of blood. I could not ignore it any more. I did not want to break it have raw skin exposed in the shoes and rubbing it. A week ago I spent half an hour in the Penno chemist looking at blister treatment strategies – I normally never get blisters but I thought I might this time given I had never run this long before as well. I was pleased I made this decision to research this and bring some gear.
Anyway I patched myself up and headed down the road. Just as I was leaving Nick rand me from home to say that Spud had come to pick up his car - he had finished and caught the train to my place and I was still a 76 km.
The wobbles creep up on me
The blisters were of secondary concern in this section of the course where you have these rolling hills, poor footpaths and lighting as I felt I was starting to get the wobbles. I was in a catch 22 situation as I needed to drink as I had not been to the loo since Mooney Mooney and my skin was dry and dehydrated but my stomach was feeling queasy. I was walking the hills and running down hill but I did not feel right and decided to walk the down hills to reduce the change in pace. A couple of times I felt myself go off balance. Also I know this section of the course quite well and I was getting disoriented. I was starting to get worried that if it got worse.
I had taken my eye off the 6 km chunks and was thinking of the finish. So I focussed on Chatswood which was where I could get some food and it was also 84 km the double marathon which is something I wanted to claim. I was worried there was still a chance I would not finish. That would leave me two more 6 km chunks to the finish. I was even thinking of ringing Jenny to walk it in with me. I would sit in a Pub and wait for her if need be.
Ewen rang me around this time and he asked how I was going and if I needed anything – I thought that was strange as Ewen lives in Canberra – I put it down to another delusion. I was coming down Archer Street and a car pulled up to ask how I was going . Ewen had asked a friend Bruce who lived in nearby of his to drive by and check on me. The timing was perfect as I was about to stop for some food. On reflection I was quite wobbly here I was dropping my money losing it I could not work out what to get as I did not know what I could stomach but I knew I had to eat. In the end I settled on half a six inch subway and another ice tea which was much better on the stomach. I gingerly nibbled on it and if went down well and was tasty. Having Bruce’s company was really helpful.
Last two 6km chunks
At this stage of the race he km you travel are irrelevant it was the time on my feet I was not monitoring. Six km was taking me an hour and was too long without adequate drink and nutrition. Anyway now I was able to run pretty well all the way to Royal North Shore hospital - though I went down Elizabeth Street rather than Hampden Road and was on the wrong side of the railway. Bruce appeared on one of those fold up scooters and chatted to me while we ran up to Crows Nest where he said bye and headed back home.
The wobbles had gone and I walked and ran to the bridge. I got l lost in the Rocks, distracted myself with all the people having a good time, had to weave my way around people, spotted the stairs, climbed to the top, text the time I finished ( 10:52 pm for 15:42 minutes) and the hard walk back to the station to catch a train home.
cheers Plu
2 Minutes On My Attempt At Running From Gosford To Opera House Attempt This Weekend
Posted by plu, Jun 11 2009, 08:44 PM
3 By 6km Runs And Life With A Pmc
Posted by plu, Jun 9 2009, 09:15 PM
Hi all,
Friday Avoca 6 km
Saturday Avoca 6 km
Sunday Avoca 6 km
The Buddhist meditation on Friday was great including having some good convos during the breaks to clarify for me a few of the Buddhist concepts I have had trouble understanding. The meditation sessions we did included visualization, body scan, concentration, loving kindness and walking meditation. I got a lot out of the non meditation components such as morals and ethics and wisdom.
I was up at Avoca by Friday afternoon and sitting on my chair at sunset taking in the landscape. BY the time I cooked dinner and got organised it was time for a run at 10:30pm. I followed this up with runs on the next two days and had Monday off from running.
On the PMC front things are still happening. For the last week I have been checking the clock and the weather all during the day at different intervals to monitor where I would be and what the weather would be like when I am on the road this Saturday. I went for a run last week with a backpack with water and I have been gradually putting too much in it over the last week. I can see you Horrie saying to me “how many days are you running for” (if you saw the back pack) - like the comment that he gave be at the Beyond the Black Stump earlier this year.
Back pack aside what is on my mind: holding the body together, cloths for the cold and my slow running, how to get to Gosford, what to take to eat – ( no food in back pack yet) where to place the car with back up gear and where to meet different people who said they might come out on the course to say hi…. Hmmm very windy and cold today even with the sun – might look into a spray jacket that has some warmth.
cheers Plu
Semi Trailer 6km Night Run And A Day Of Buddhist Meditation
Posted by plu, Jun 4 2009, 11:18 PM
Hi all,
Semi trailer penno road night run
Spent most of the night chilling, going online and chatting in google chat with MurryC. At 10:30pm I thought I would go for a night run so out the door I went. Just back now.
Tomorrow I am doing a day of Buddhist mediation in a staff retreat - really looking forward to it as I have not done something formal like this for years.
This evening I was brushing up on my knowledge of the 4 noble truths and the 8 fold path.
Buddhist Principles
4 noble truths
1. Life means suffering
2. The origin of suffering is attachment
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable
4. The path to the cessation of suffering is the 8 fold path
8 fold path
1. Right view
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration
cheers Plu
