My first 2/3rd marathon distance

Last Saturday I had planned to run two laps of the Bike Track for a total distance of 24k. However, when I had finished the first lap I didn't feel up to continuing . Today I had scheduled to run two laps of the HomeBike Track for a total distance of 28k. Val suggested , seeing I didn't complete last week's run, that I should change my plans and run 24k. However, I thought I would stick to what I had had planned.

This morning and early afternoon was enjoyably spent gardening with Val - weeding, turning over beds, composting in preparation for what we need to do in the weeks ahead.

My plan was to leave home at 3.00 pm and finish my run within 3 hours. In my mind I was calculating my estimated time based on 24k rather than the 28k and it was only after I had started that I began to realise my mistake. This course was to be an LSD to ensure that I completed the distance. Unfortunately, I didn't start my run until around about 3.20 pm so I was well behind before I even started.

The aim was to try and run at around 7 mins/k and as I worked through my calculations again it struck me that that would take 3hrs 16mins. Anyway, I tried to stick to my time but after the first 1k I was beginning to run faster than what I wanted. I am fully aware that when I do this that I slow down in the latter stages of a run. I kept checking my Garmin every so often to see what rate I was running at - and even when it was faster than what I had planed it seemed a dawdle.

I carried four 8oz containers of Staminade with me (as well as a pouch full of snakes to nibble on the way) and knew that there were two bubblers that I could get a drink from. I made good use of the bubblers on the first leg to 7k (as well as having some Staminade) to where the old ferry wharf used to be in around 45mins. So far so good. The next 7k to the starting point was without incident, though it was a bit slower (the hills don't help) and I turned in about 1hr 32mins.

I was still feeling rather good as I made my way into the second lap but, as it was now about 4.50pm it was starting to get a bit darker (especially as it was totally cloudy). That couldn't be helped. This time I only used one of the bubblers because I felt comfortable with how much Staminade I had left. I ran through the half marathon distance in about 2hrs 20mins.

The last 7k became increasingly difficult because of the rapidly failing light and by the time I was running through the bush it was well nigh impossible to see anything except the outline of the track under my feet. At least the dead leaves stood out on the bitumen. It was when I reached the 25k mark that I was beginning to feel the strain of running 28k - but I am going to have to get used to it if I want to run a marathon and then the 6ft Track! Over those last few k I knew I was slowing down quite a bit and began to wonder whether it would have been better to have run a shorter distance. At least next week is my off cycle when I run only half the distance I have run this week.

I finished (maybe that should read "hobbled home") in a time of 3hrs 11min 39secs at an average pace of 6.50/k. All in all I was quite happy with my day's outing.

When I walked in the back door Val was on the phone having thought that I would be home in about 2hrs 30mins (which is absolutely impossible for me). People were out on the track searching for me in case something had happened in the dark! Isn't Val a wonderfully caring wife! But I'm not the superman she imagined that I was and she did have a hot bath run for me (warm by the time I arrived home - but still very much appreciated).

My splits are:
1k - 6.51      2k - 6.39      3k - 6.35      4k - 6.44      5k - 6.34      6k - 6.26      7k - 6.16
8k - 6.21      9k - 6.26    10k - 6.28    11k - 6.20    12k - 6.22     13k - 6.49     14k - 7.47
15k - 7.08  16k - 6.30    17k - 6.32    18k - 6.45    19k - 6.25     20k - 6.40     21k - 6.48
22k - 6.51  23k - 6.46    24k - 6.57    25k - 7.06    26k - 7.09     27k - 7.32     28k - 9.25

The hills are 1, 13, 14, 15, 27 and 28 (I walked the steepest part of this hill this time around)

Old Devonport Triathlon Course

As I continue to prepare myself for a run over the marathon distance in July to coincide with the Gold Coast Marathon I am following a training schedule (adaptable according to circumstances). I did 2 laps of this course today.

I'm obviously still not up to speed with my Garmin as it had me starting in a place where I didn't and recorded the first lap as 9.87k while the second identical lap was 10k (what it should be). Hopefully I can get used to it quickly.

I wanted to run at an easy pace of between 6.45 and 7.00 per k but it didn't work out that way. I was running so easily at a sub 6.00/k and was able to maintain that general pace for most of the run. The exceptions were the hills which slowed me down quite a bit.

Perhaps the reason I did as well as I did was that I carried my fuel belt full of Staminade, refilled one empty bottle at 5k and drank from a bubbler a bit further on, while continuing to finish off my Staminade at regular intervals. Also I carried some snakes to nibble at appropriate times. It was b-in-l Bruce who told me how he handles long runs that made me think this way. I now know some spots where I can refill bottles on some of my circuits.

My time of 2.03.37.76 bettered my previous time of 2.09.51.18 by over 6 mins and that included needing a stop at just over the 14k mark at the toilets near the Viet Vets memorial.


Yes, I am a little bit sore but I have always pulled up quite well the day following longer runs, so hopefully the same will be true for tomorrow.

I've put together my splits:

1.   6.18 (crazy start)
2.   5.45
3.   5.46
4.   5.52
5.   5.55
6.   5.54
7.   5.51
8.   5.49
9.   6.11 (incline)
10. 7.10 (steepest hill)
11. 5.49
12. 5.52
13. 5.56
14. 6.24 (brief pause)
15. 7.55 (Viet Vets)
16. 5.55
17. 5.53
18. 6.02
19. 6.31 (incline)
20. 6.40 (steepest hill but 130 meters short by Garmin)

Freedom Run 2011

A couple of days ago I was feeling brain dead from preparing a funeral service so decided to go for a walk. Just near us is a Bike shop that also caters for all sorts of sports. I happened to look in the door and noticed that they had watches for sale, so I went in to have a look at them.

I ended up getting myself a Garmin Forerunner 110 which has GPS capability so I can now accurately plot my runs for distances and I will upload them onto both the Garmin Connect and MapMyRun sites. The only problem with today's run was that I didn't stop the watch when I should have and it threw out all the results (also strange that both Garmin Connect and MapMyRun, which use the same data upload, brought out slightly different results), however, I deleted everything after the 12k mark. Yes - the run was actually 12k and not the 10k the organisation said it was!

The Freedom Ride and Run is on behalf of Live Free Tassie (Teen Challenge) to raise funds for their rehab site that seeks to lead people free from addictions to drugs and other substances. Hence it is called Freedom Ride and Run. This was the first year for the run. The southern ride commences from Port Arthur, the site of the convict penal settlement, to symbolise coming out of slavery into freedom when people give up their addictions. It is the hope of the organisation that many will also experience spiritual freedom in Christ.

The number of registered participants was:
Southern Ride - 123
Northern Ride - 42
Southern Run - 31
Northern Run - 1 (that's lonesome me!)

My cheer squad consisted of Val, Alison Hillier and her daughter. Alison did say that the date clashed with a wedding in their church which prevented some others from competing.

At the start wearing my new top with part of my cheer squad

After getting a drink I set off at what I thought was a reasonable pace - but little did I know it that that pace would vary wildly over the course - yet I felt fine as I ran the outward leg of the course.

I completed the outward journey at the Viet Vets memorial where Alison had some drink and food for me and it was here that I stopped for about a minute (Split 6).

Drink and nibble time at Viet Vets Memorial

Back on the track I was beginning to feel the effects of not having run a well-planned race as can be seen from my splits. I struggled up the incline to the pool carpark (Split 10). However, I did complete the course with my cheer squad waiting back at the starting venue with more drink and nibbles.

Finishing off

The end

To date I have raised $500 (actually banked with more promised) to go towards Live Free Tassie. I decided to enter this run because one of our elders in particular always prays for those affected by drugs and other substances and I told the congregation that we needed to put "feet" to our prayers to make them more effective. Thanks to all those who have sponsored me!

Thanks to Alison who not only handed over my shirt and provided drinks and nibbles but then took us out to lunch. Much appreciated!

I am now eagerly looking forward to 2012's Freedom Run and hoping that others will join in to support such a worthy cause. What I like about the Freedom Run, apart from supporting Live Free Tassie, is that it is run on a Saturday and not on a Sunday like the majority of races.

Split	Time	Moving Time	Distance	Elevation Gain	Elevation Loss	Avg Pace	Avg Moving Pace	Best Pace	Calories
1	00:06:05	00:06:05	1.00	20	8	06:05	06:05	04:36	97
2	00:05:25	00:05:26	1.00	7	8	05:25	05:26	04:19	93
3	00:05:35	00:05:18	1.00	5	18	05:35	05:18	04:25	94
4	00:05:25	00:05:25	1.00	0	4	05:25	05:24	04:39	95
5	00:05:23	00:05:24	1.00	0	2	05:23	05:24	04:45	96
6	00:06:22	00:05:26	1.00	0	4	06:22	05:26	04:46	95
7	00:05:30	00:05:30	1.00	5	0	05:30	05:30	04:35	95
8	00:05:34	00:05:34	1.00	2	0	05:34	05:34	04:33	96
9	00:05:57	00:05:57	1.00	5	0	05:57	05:56	05:03	96
10	00:06:27	00:06:28	1.00	19	4	06:27	06:28	05:04	96
11	00:05:57	00:05:52	1.00	10	31	05:57	05:51	04:15	94
12	00:06:10	00:06:10	1.00	12	6	06:10	06:09	04:46	95