Wednesday - buckets of rain

8.0k 42:43. HR Avg 143 Max 155 Avg Pace 5:20
Course: Work to Kedron.
Start Time: 4:50 pm Temp 18C.
Session Type: Easy Run

I ran from work to Kedron to pick up my car tonight. The first big storm front for the season rolled in about 3:45pm this afternoon but by the time I left the worst of it was over. So I was only running in fairly light rain for the first fiften minutes.

My legs felt good after yesterday's run which was pleasing and a bit of a suprise.

Tuesday - keep moving out into the gap

14.8k 1:22:01. HR Avg 145 Max 160 Avg Pace 5:32
Course: Kedron to Home.
Start Time: 5:15 pm Temp 20C.
Session Type: Easy Run

This afternoon, I took my car back to the smash repairers. There was a number of minor issues I was unhappy with and needed to be fixed. So I dropped it there and ran from Kedron to home.

The pace appears slow (for me) but my watch recorded 285m of ascent on the run, so it was hilly in places especially the going over Settlement Rd from Keperra to The Gap. So in many places I was running just below sub 5 m/Ks.

In the 15 years, I have been in The Gap I have never run over that hill. It is long and steep and has no footpath and as I found quite dangerous. It maybe another 15 years before I do it again.

Monday -The pull is in my muscle the ache is in my bones

6.8k 38:37:24. HR Avg 136 Max 144 Avg Pace 5:40
Course: Work to New Farm Park and Back.
Start Time: 5:45 pm Temp 21C.
Session Type: Easy Run

Back running at last. After my running home from work each day for three weeks, last weekend I gave myself the weekend off as I thought I had deserved it. For those who were following, I was getting very tired by the end of it all. Unfortunately while resting , I didn't feel any better. In fact I started to feel much worse. My chest was aching, my ribs,back and hips were aching and my stomach was churning. So I guess I had been fighting a virus of some sort. It all peaked last Tuesday when I just crashed and had a long sleep.

I slowily started to get better over the next few days but I still have some strange residual pains in my ribs and hip. It is almost like I have a broken rib in one spot. Which is funny because I have broken the rib in that spot twice in the last fifteen years. One of those times was while playing mixed netball! It may all be some kind of arthritic-type reaction to the virus.

Anyway, everything was a little tight starting out tonight but I just took it easy and things seemed to loosen up. It was good to get back out there and almost as good putting on my Skins afterwards. How quickly you forget how good they feel on.

Finished with some weights and stretching in the gym.

Good to see the Broncos get up on Friday. Now Tesso will have someone to cheer for next week. I had to watch the replay of the match, as The Qld Roar were playing that night. What an exciting action packed game it was too. The Roar absolutely dominated Adelaide, has 27 shots on goal but failed to get a goal. It will be a big Sunday next weekend. Firstly the Roar play Melbourne Victory in a top of the table A-League clash. It will finish just in time to switch over to the Broncos versus Melbourne Storm in the NRL final. Sadly the Lions missed finals football again this year but we still dine out on four grand final appearance in a row with 3 premierships. It will be a few more years still before we are back near the top there.

I am involved in a few tipping contests (besides the CoolRunning ones) that go under the Kylie banner. I won the Kylie World Cup Tipping earlier in the year. I have got away to a flying start in the K-League (ie A-League tipping) and I am leading. It is the second match day for the Kylie Champions League Tipping this week and I hope to go one step further and win this year after coming second earlier this year.

Friday - Six turned out to be nine

8.0k 44:41. HR Avg 141 Max 152 Avg Pace 5:35
Course: Work to Kedron.
Start Time: 4:30 pm Temp 19C.
Session Type: Easy Run

I ran from work to Smash Repairs at Kedron to at last get my car back. They said it would be ready at five thirty and I got there in lots of time. But when I was still waiting at 5 to 6, I was getting a little worried that I wouldn't get home in time to get to the Qld Roar game. If Six had turned out to be Nine I might have minded but and it all worked out well including a spanking 5-0 scoreline against the hapless NZ Knights.

Thursday - On the road again

14.6k 1:25:33. HR Avg 134 Max 146 Avg Pace 5:53
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 5:25 pm Temp 18C.
Session Type: Easy Run

Yet another easy run home from work. My car maybe ready at 5:00pm tomorrow but they are not sure, although it will be hard for me to get there at that time to pick it up.

Tonight the section from Bowen Bridge took 73:25 (Hr 135 Pace 5:46) much the same as Tuesday night. My legs felt much fresher though after the rest day yesterday.

Just one day out of a life, It would be, it would be so nice

I think My Wife took pity on me today and let me have the car. So I have had a rest day. Woohoo!!!

Thanks to all who showed concern.

Tuesday - Curse Sir Walter Raleigh

14.6k 1:25:58. HR Avg 133 Max 148 Avg Pace 5:53
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 5:00 pm Temp 17C.
Session Type: Easy Run

All day I wasn't looking forward to the run home tonight. I am just feeling so tired. So I was determined to take it real easy tonight which I did. The last 5k of the run has lots of hills and I was really looking forward to getting home and stopping. As I approached the Dance School about 1.5k from home, My Wife was waiting in the car to pick up the girls. She asked me whether I wanted a lift home. I said "No I'm OK". About 50 meters on as I was going up a particularly nasty sharp rise, and I couldn't believe I hadn't stopped and taken up her offer!

So the Bowen Bridge Section was 73:26 (HR 134 Pace 5:46). This is the slowest I have been so far. Two weeks ago I did this in 69:39 at around the same HR. At least, I felt better when I finished tonight then last night.

Monday - It's a long long road to travel alone

14.6k 1:17:18. HR Avg 145 Max 157 Avg Pace 5:34
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 5:15 pm Temp 17C.
Session Type: Easy Run

All day I was thinking how well my legs had stood up to the quicker run yesterday. That was until I started out for the run home. I'd gone about 20 meters and I knew it was going to be a tough run home. Was trying to go easy but just couldn't seem to get my HR down to 135. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little easier. Did the section from Bowen Bridge in 70:02 (HR 145).

Sing along with the tunes they playing, and now and again you shouting, play mas bacchanal Miss Tourist This is Carnival!

10.0k 44:08. HR Avg 166 Max 176 Avg Pace 4:25
Course: BRRC 10k.
Start Time: 7:00am pm Temp 14C.
Session Type: Race

Had a welcome rest night on Friday. Didn't have to run home from work because I was seeing The Mighty Sparrow at The Powerhouse that night. So I walked the 3k from my work to there and met up with My Wife and took in the carnival fever that engulfed the Powerhouse that night. I put in some valuable aerobic conditioning whilst doing a bit of Jump Up Jump Up but was reluctant to enter a lot of the "wine and grind" that was going on in the audience.



A great night and a once in a lifetime chance to see one of my musical heroes live.

I will still be running home from work again next week so I thought the 25k race at the BRRC today was a bit much to take on, so opted for the 10k instead. As well, it fits better into my new racing plans. I would like to beat my 10k time from last year of 42:00 minutes. So I have targeted the BRRC race on 12th Novemeber which is 9 weeks away as the race to do it in.

It actual looks like I might have to be without a car for much longer as somebody reversed into the family car at the shops on Friday and will have to go in for repair when we get my car back! Doh.

So the main aim of today's race was just to get an idea about where I am, as I have done next to no faster running since June. I was pleasently suprised to be able to go out and do 44:08. My splits were 22:06; 22:02, so I ran a nice even race. At this point, I feel with a good preparation I should be able to pick up the 2 minutes plus that I need.

It was good to catch up with everyone after the race and congratulations on all the bling winners (Tesso, Eddie, Beagle).

Thursday - He threw his hopes into the wind

14.6k 1:20:20. HR Avg 143 Max 157 Avg Pace 5:32
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 4:25 pm Temp 20C.
Session Type: Easy Run

It is a tough time in the week, when your heading out for your forth run home in four days and you are confronted with a stiff head wind all the way. Of all the elements, a head wind is one of the most unpleasent and on a point to point course there is no turn around with the wind behind you to compensate. I had to start out earlier tonight as I was going out to a Bob Brozman concert, so the whole run was done in light for a change. This was lucky as there was so much debris on the path it would have been dangerous in the dark. Managed to do 67:55 from Bowen Bridge at HR 145 which on paper looks a little high but considering the head wind, it is probably a lot better than it looks.

Wednesday 14.6k @ HR 136 Pace 5:22

14.6k 1:18:23. HR Avg 136 Max 155 Avg Pace 5:22
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 5:25 pm Temp 20C.
Session Type: Sub 72%MxHR Easy Run

Got a call from the smash repairs today. No car till at least the end of next week. Looks like lots more running to home still to go.

It was another steamy evening tonight. Even though I was going relatively slowily, I still ended up a ball of sweat. The section from Bowen Bridge took 67:28 at avg HR 137. Australia plays Kuwait at 3:30 am tomorrow morning. I will tape it and watch it when I get up. I need all the sleep I can get at the moment.

I got no car and it's breaking my heart - Beep Beep Mm Beep Beep Yeah

At lunchtime today, it was the second in the series of Beep Tests being run by the Work Gym. Only four of us today, and I was the only one who had done the previous one. I managed to score 12.1 today up from 11.2 last time. I reached a Max HR of 181 and did an avg of HR 157, compared to Max 184 and Avg 161 last time. So an improvement in effort at a lower HR, must be getting fitter. Considering all the distance I have been doing which is leaving me tired, I am very happy with the result. Next time, I hope to have a rest the day before hand and go for Level 13.

By mid-afternoon, I was feeling like a sleep and by the time it came to leave work for the run home I wasn't looking forward to tonight's run at all.

14.6k 1:19:44. HR Avg 134 Max 154 Avg Pace 5:27
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 5:30 pm Temp 19C.
Session Type: Sub 72%MxHR Easy Run

I started off slow with the intention of keeping it to sub 135 HR. This was not hard to do as I had tightened up a bit during the afternoon. But as the run progressed, it became much easier and I stuck with the easy pace and ambled along to Radiohead and Ali Farka Toure. I must say though I was relieved to get home in the end.

BB. It's good to see you picking up on the song references.

Monday 14.6k @ HR 144 Pace 5:22

14.6k 1:17:51. HR Avg 144 Max 158 Avg Pace 5:22
Course: Work to Home.
Start Time: 5:15 pm Temp 22C.
Session Type: Easy Run

It was the run home from work again tonight. Had a good run with the lights and did the section from Bowen Bridge in 66:35 (HR 145 Pace 5:17). It gets dark for the last half hour and there were a few fire flies out on the path tonight.

Unlike last week, it was not raining tonight but it was warm and overcast resulting in a humid evening. So lots of sweat. After last week not being able to listen to any music, yesterday I picked up a water resistant cover for my Sony Walkman. So now I don't have to worry about rain or drenching it in sweat.

Tonight, I started with some classic soukous from Congolese giants Franco and Tabu Ley Rochereau and moved on to Sulfjan Stevens "Come on Feel the Illinoise".

Father's Day - I Remember When I Was Young

6.5k 30:22. HR Avg 154 Max 165 Avg Pace 4:40
Course: Along Gap Cycle.
Start Time: 7:25 am Temp 16C.
Session Type: Tempo Run

I set off for my run as everyone was getting up this morning. After all the easy runs over the last couple of weeks, I felt it was an ideal time to step out a little. So did the 6.5 K out and back on the bike path. Out in 15:13 (HR 149) and back in 15:09 (HR 159) for an average pace of 4:40. With lots of little rolling hills, I am happy with that pace.

When I got back, I got pancakes and Father's Day gifts including the new Bob Dylan album "Modern Times".

Then My Wife and I went into the Museum of Brisbane in the City Hall which had an exhibition Taking it to the Streets: Two Decades that changed Brisbane 1965 -1985 which we had been planning to go and see for ages but never quite made it. It finishes next weekend, so this was our last opportunity. Certainly glad we made the effort as it was very interesting and nostalgic. The biggest buzz was seeing myself in one of the pictures in the display. It was at a famous demonstration in October 1976 in King George Square and over 400 people were arrested that day. Ahh the good old days.

The end of a long week

I continued with my running home from work on Thursday and Friday. Again it was overcast and with some drizzle on both nights, so no music :-(. Thursday I got a dream run with the lights all the way and put in the best time for the week.

By the end of Friday's run, I was glad the week was over. I had done 98 k in the last seven days. No wonder I am feeling tired.


Mon 85:34. Bowen Bridge to home 70:28 (HR 134 Pace 5:36).
Tue 82:17. Bowen Bridge to home 69:39 (HR 138 Pace 5:32).
Wed 79:20. Bowen Bridge to home 68:30 (HR 136 Pace 5:28).
Thu 76:45. Bowen Bridge to home 66:45 (HR 143 Pace 5:18).
Fri 79:49. Bowen Bridge to home 68:23 (HR 142 Pace 5:27).