My cold shows no signs of ending - I've endured particularly bad watery eyes, a runny nose and persistent coughing fits over the weekend. In hindsight, returning to the office on Saturday and spending a long day at work in our sub arctic air conditioning was a mistake. I was in poor shape on Sunday morning and did not make the drive to Ipswich to cover the Park to Park Half Marathon for R4YL.
I have not run since last Tuesday and coupled with my other 13 day break its looking increasingly likely that I will have to drop down in distance at Noosa and do the 5k.
I've taken the day off work and hopefully I can get things right in the next 24-48hours.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Still not over cold
Am slowly getting over the cold which features a nasty cough and aches throughout my body. Won't run today which is a little concerning as I have one eye on the Noosa Half in three weeks time.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Felled
Tues - 50 mins, 10k's @ 4:50 mins/km
Enjoyed an easy run yesterday on the Kedron Brook path aka Jim Soorley Bikeway. The Gateway arterial duplication is certainly hotting up as there were 15 trucks crossing the bikeway as I went past the roadworks for the first time.
Have picked up a cold/sore throat today so no running. From memory, its my first cold in around four months so am pretty pleased with the way my health has held up during Autumn/Winter. Interestingly, prior to the three colds I have had this year, my shins have not ached once - previously any cold I got was preceded by aching shins. I'm pretty confident in saying that my shins are no longer the weakest part of my body. Alas, it was an aching lower back that preceded this cold so I'll have to work on that now!!
Enjoyed an easy run yesterday on the Kedron Brook path aka Jim Soorley Bikeway. The Gateway arterial duplication is certainly hotting up as there were 15 trucks crossing the bikeway as I went past the roadworks for the first time.
Have picked up a cold/sore throat today so no running. From memory, its my first cold in around four months so am pretty pleased with the way my health has held up during Autumn/Winter. Interestingly, prior to the three colds I have had this year, my shins have not ached once - previously any cold I got was preceded by aching shins. I'm pretty confident in saying that my shins are no longer the weakest part of my body. Alas, it was an aching lower back that preceded this cold so I'll have to work on that now!!
Monday, July 23, 2007
PCRG Formal
Fri - 30 mins, 6k's @ 5:15 mins/km
Sun - 70 mins, 14k's @ about 5::00mins/km
Its been good to get back into the running as the skin on my foot slowly heals. 30 mins on the tready on Friday was followed by a 70 minute 'long run' at dusk as I cruised from my place at Wavell Heights, through Marchant Park to Aspley and back. Its all good - prior to that, MJ and I had taken our new Japanese homestayer Nao out to Pinkeba to check out the USS Kitty Hawk. It was an impressive sight - but would have been even better if it was berthed on our side of the river. I was truly stunned at how many Brisbanite's had decided to take a Sunday arvo drive out to see her. We were in bumper to bumper traffic for 30 mins to get there and when we left, cars were backed up 5k's.
No doubt the highlight of the weekend however was the PCRG Formal at the Rydges Rooftop - you'd be hard pressed to find many better functions rooms with a better view in town. A nice meal and plenty of drinks were enjoyed and it was great to catch up with everyone's Gold Coast stories after not having attended training since. I was relatively well behaved (I didn't even harass, limiting the damage to about eight drinks. Andy S was a deserving winner of the Group member of the year for mine although I'm not sure about Keith winning the best shirt off look :) Perky's experience was upsetting but he's a tough lad and I'm sure he'll bounce back - get well soon, Mate!
Sun - 70 mins, 14k's @ about 5::00mins/km
Its been good to get back into the running as the skin on my foot slowly heals. 30 mins on the tready on Friday was followed by a 70 minute 'long run' at dusk as I cruised from my place at Wavell Heights, through Marchant Park to Aspley and back. Its all good - prior to that, MJ and I had taken our new Japanese homestayer Nao out to Pinkeba to check out the USS Kitty Hawk. It was an impressive sight - but would have been even better if it was berthed on our side of the river. I was truly stunned at how many Brisbanite's had decided to take a Sunday arvo drive out to see her. We were in bumper to bumper traffic for 30 mins to get there and when we left, cars were backed up 5k's.
No doubt the highlight of the weekend however was the PCRG Formal at the Rydges Rooftop - you'd be hard pressed to find many better functions rooms with a better view in town. A nice meal and plenty of drinks were enjoyed and it was great to catch up with everyone's Gold Coast stories after not having attended training since. I was relatively well behaved (I didn't even harass, limiting the damage to about eight drinks. Andy S was a deserving winner of the Group member of the year for mine although I'm not sure about Keith winning the best shirt off look :) Perky's experience was upsetting but he's a tough lad and I'm sure he'll bounce back - get well soon, Mate!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Finally!!
30 mins, 6k's @ about 5:00 mins/km
It was with a fair degree of apprehension that I dropped my car of at the mechanic this morning and then set off for the run back to my place. The slowly healing cut on my foot had been uncomfortable just squeezing it into my shoe, so how was I going to get through a run? I need not have worried though for their was no discomfort whatsoever once I started. The only discomfort was from my slightly laboured breathing as I blew out the cobwebs after 13 days without running - the longest break since my January 2004 comeback. Best of all, their was no broken skin when I took my shoe off to inspect the cut and only a smidgeon of bleeding.
I plan to do some easy running every day till Sunday and then do 70 kilometres of easy running for next week. Then its back to Pat's for three weeks of speedwork before the Noosa Half. Other than that, I have still not finalised my direction beyond the next month but hope to resolve that shortly.
It was with a fair degree of apprehension that I dropped my car of at the mechanic this morning and then set off for the run back to my place. The slowly healing cut on my foot had been uncomfortable just squeezing it into my shoe, so how was I going to get through a run? I need not have worried though for their was no discomfort whatsoever once I started. The only discomfort was from my slightly laboured breathing as I blew out the cobwebs after 13 days without running - the longest break since my January 2004 comeback. Best of all, their was no broken skin when I took my shoe off to inspect the cut and only a smidgeon of bleeding.
I plan to do some easy running every day till Sunday and then do 70 kilometres of easy running for next week. Then its back to Pat's for three weeks of speedwork before the Noosa Half. Other than that, I have still not finalised my direction beyond the next month but hope to resolve that shortly.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Comeback delayed
Unfortunately, the new skin on my left foot where I had the growth removed is not growing as quickly as I would have liked. Compounding that, the location of the offending area is slightly on the outside of my left foot and is an area that tends to rub on the shoe when in motion. As such, I refrained from running on Sunday and will take things on a day to day basis from here on.
To help speed up the healing process, I'm trying to wear shoes as infrequently as possible including walking around the office in my socks. On the brighter side, I'm no longer wearing a bandage on the back of my neck and am showing off my stitches to the world whilst the eyes are going well.
All going well, I lace up the runners in a couple of days and maybe, just maybe have a crack at the Jetty to Jetty 3k on Sunday. I really need to get back into the running ASAP - I've been having a couple of rum and cokes most nights and also far too much chocolate and too many deserts!
To help speed up the healing process, I'm trying to wear shoes as infrequently as possible including walking around the office in my socks. On the brighter side, I'm no longer wearing a bandage on the back of my neck and am showing off my stitches to the world whilst the eyes are going well.
All going well, I lace up the runners in a couple of days and maybe, just maybe have a crack at the Jetty to Jetty 3k on Sunday. I really need to get back into the running ASAP - I've been having a couple of rum and cokes most nights and also far too much chocolate and too many deserts!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Clean up surgery
Here's an unofficial photo of the sub 3hr pack at the Gold Coast Marathon probably around the 16-20k mark heading north. You can't miss Monas at the front and next to him is B pacer, Dennis Fitzgerald looking at his watch. I'm in the middle of the road about 10m behind Monas, and I appear to be looking forlornly at the personal refreshment tables!!!
I had successful clean up surgery first thing on Monday morning. A lump of scar tissue was removed from the back of my neck by my dermatologist, Dr Robert Sinclair. I first noticed the lump around 10 years ago when it was the size of a sultana. Five years ago it was the size of a marble and recently, it has been venturing towards golf ball proportions! I was surprised at the size of the ugly, bloody, messy lump of tissue when the Doc showed me afterwards - like an iceberg, it was bigger than I thought! I was hoping to bring it home so I could post a picture here but unfortunately, the Doc sent it off to the pathology lab for testing :( Six stitches were required to close me up afterward and the removal of a benign growth from my foot was also successful. The doctor reiterated that I should take a week off running - but I'm not sure I heard him properly. I could have sworn he said 'working week'. In that case, I might resume running in five days ;-)
Still mulling over the future short term direction of my running and will post my thoughts soon.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Successful laser eye surgery!!
Wed 30 mins, 6k's @ 5:10 mins/km
Thurs 40 mins, 8k's @ 5:00 mins/km
Much of the week has been spent contemplating how a promising Gold Coast Marathon unravelled so abruptly and brutally. I've identified some flaws in my make up that I need to address and will reveal shortly. Managed two easy runs in the middle of the week, shuffling on both occasions early in the run till my DOMS affected quads warmed up.
Much of my attention this week however was geared towards my long awaited laser eye surgery yesterday which proved successful. The procedure, coupled with another procedure on Monday to remove a benign growth from my left foot will cost me 7-10 days of running. I'll spend that time doing light stuff in the gym and extra stretching.
Laser Eye Surgery
I went to the operating theatre at Laser Sight late yesterday to be given a valium tablet and a gown. After the valium kicked in, I was then laid down on a dentist style chair and swivelled under an intimidating looking machine. A clamp was placed around my eyelids to hold them open and then I felt the slightly uncomfortable sensation of my cornea being lasered open - it felt like someone was firmly but not uncomfortably pressing their thumb on my eyeballs. It was pretty hairy when the machine moved to the left eye because all I could see out of the right eye now was a blinding white light. After the left eye was done, the nurse said 'We've lifted your cornea flap - could you please move to the next bed' - Aargh, shit!!
Here, my right eye was again clamped open and I was swivelled under the laser machine, staring up into the red beam of the laser. Because I was looking directly into the red beam, it got larger and it felt like I was actually looking up at a starry night with hundreds of red dots of light replacing the stars. Nevertheless, I felt strangely calm as I followed instructions and stared intently at the red light while the acrid smell of my burning flesh permeated the air Dr Peter Stewart and his laser did its job. The second eye followed and it was all over in about 10-15 minutes.
I then went into the recovery room and there I had the first brief indication that my eyesight had improved as I could see fairly well across the room before I had clear plastic eye protecters taped over my eyes and then large dark sunnies placed over them. The eyes were pretty uncomfortable as MJ drove me home as they were quite watery and somewhat grainy. I had two sleeping tablets as soon as I got home and a quick dinner and then hit the sack at 7pm and quickly fell asleep. Woke up in the middle of the night still feeling uncomfortable and very groggy from the drugs and MJ said I was speaking gibberish, but I quickly fell back asleep again.
Woke up at 7am and it was quite a revelation to remove the plastics eye protectors and look outside to see a beautiful day with my 'new' eyes and see it clearly!! I was grinning like a kid after opening their best Christmas present! A follow up visit to the clinic this morning confirmed that I now had better than 20-20 vision in both eyes and can see better than I did yesterday with the specs! My right eye has about 5% better vision than my left but this is normal as the human body is not symetrical. The only slight drawback is that things such as newsprint get blurry if I look at them from closer than 10cm. Overall, I'm thrilled with the results and am happy to recommend the procedure to anyone and to refer them to my doctor who is the best in the business and a pioneer of the procedure - just let me know.
Life's good.....sensational even!!
Thurs 40 mins, 8k's @ 5:00 mins/km
Much of the week has been spent contemplating how a promising Gold Coast Marathon unravelled so abruptly and brutally. I've identified some flaws in my make up that I need to address and will reveal shortly. Managed two easy runs in the middle of the week, shuffling on both occasions early in the run till my DOMS affected quads warmed up.
Much of my attention this week however was geared towards my long awaited laser eye surgery yesterday which proved successful. The procedure, coupled with another procedure on Monday to remove a benign growth from my left foot will cost me 7-10 days of running. I'll spend that time doing light stuff in the gym and extra stretching.
Laser Eye Surgery
I went to the operating theatre at Laser Sight late yesterday to be given a valium tablet and a gown. After the valium kicked in, I was then laid down on a dentist style chair and swivelled under an intimidating looking machine. A clamp was placed around my eyelids to hold them open and then I felt the slightly uncomfortable sensation of my cornea being lasered open - it felt like someone was firmly but not uncomfortably pressing their thumb on my eyeballs. It was pretty hairy when the machine moved to the left eye because all I could see out of the right eye now was a blinding white light. After the left eye was done, the nurse said 'We've lifted your cornea flap - could you please move to the next bed' - Aargh, shit!!
Here, my right eye was again clamped open and I was swivelled under the laser machine, staring up into the red beam of the laser. Because I was looking directly into the red beam, it got larger and it felt like I was actually looking up at a starry night with hundreds of red dots of light replacing the stars. Nevertheless, I felt strangely calm as I followed instructions and stared intently at the red light while the acrid smell of my burning flesh permeated the air Dr Peter Stewart and his laser did its job. The second eye followed and it was all over in about 10-15 minutes.
I then went into the recovery room and there I had the first brief indication that my eyesight had improved as I could see fairly well across the room before I had clear plastic eye protecters taped over my eyes and then large dark sunnies placed over them. The eyes were pretty uncomfortable as MJ drove me home as they were quite watery and somewhat grainy. I had two sleeping tablets as soon as I got home and a quick dinner and then hit the sack at 7pm and quickly fell asleep. Woke up in the middle of the night still feeling uncomfortable and very groggy from the drugs and MJ said I was speaking gibberish, but I quickly fell back asleep again.
Woke up at 7am and it was quite a revelation to remove the plastics eye protectors and look outside to see a beautiful day with my 'new' eyes and see it clearly!! I was grinning like a kid after opening their best Christmas present! A follow up visit to the clinic this morning confirmed that I now had better than 20-20 vision in both eyes and can see better than I did yesterday with the specs! My right eye has about 5% better vision than my left but this is normal as the human body is not symetrical. The only slight drawback is that things such as newsprint get blurry if I look at them from closer than 10cm. Overall, I'm thrilled with the results and am happy to recommend the procedure to anyone and to refer them to my doctor who is the best in the business and a pioneer of the procedure - just let me know.
Life's good.....sensational even!!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Gold Coast DNF disappointment
I added another entry to my list of disappointing races in 2007 yesterday when i withdrew from the GC Marathon at the 28k mark after running out of fuel. My day began badly when I regurtitated the contents of my breakfast of porridge and bannana(same as before every long run) just as I was leaving the apartment. This came as a shock as I've never thrown up before a race before - even with the usual butterflies. At this point, I had no choice but to go ahead with what I had already planned and hope that the carbo load had left enough fuel in me. I took my usual GU an hour before the race and another 15 minutes before the race. I felt ok for the first 10k and was running comfortably 10-15m behind Monas and Dennis Fitzgerald in the three hour pack. I felt very good from the 10-20k and got in the zone a couple of times where it felt very easy. I then worked my way up to the front of the pack running just behind Mona's for a few k's - inspirational stuff as we went through the half way in 88:03.
I had missed my bottle of Gatorade and GU at the 15k and 20k personal drink stops and I was stunned to discover that the personal drink tables were not marked with head high signs eg #0-500 and so on. Fortunately, I had two GU's in my pockets and was able to take one to keep the energy levels up along with cups of Endura. At the 25k mark, I sacrificed my position at the head of the pack to stop and search for my drink bottle but was unable to locate it. It was a sickening feeling to resume running now 50m behind the pack and without my much needed personal drink. I immediately put the foot down to make up the lost ground and covered the next 3k's at around 4:00 mins/km pace and got to within 10m of the pack before bonking badly - suffering from energy depletion.
I was on pace for a 2:56-2:57 when I stepped off the course, but had used up all my reserves of energy to get there basically covering 28k's on just three GU's and five or six cups of Endura. It was just a very disappointing day with things going wrong from the word go and it was extremely difficult to remain mentally positive. Yet at the same time, I am instilled with confidence as I was well on track to achieve my goal until the inevitable depletion occured. There is little doubt in my mind that had I kept breakfast down and been able to get my personal drinks and GUs whenever I wanted them, I would have nailed the bloody thing.
More thoughts and assessments to come.
I had missed my bottle of Gatorade and GU at the 15k and 20k personal drink stops and I was stunned to discover that the personal drink tables were not marked with head high signs eg #0-500 and so on. Fortunately, I had two GU's in my pockets and was able to take one to keep the energy levels up along with cups of Endura. At the 25k mark, I sacrificed my position at the head of the pack to stop and search for my drink bottle but was unable to locate it. It was a sickening feeling to resume running now 50m behind the pack and without my much needed personal drink. I immediately put the foot down to make up the lost ground and covered the next 3k's at around 4:00 mins/km pace and got to within 10m of the pack before bonking badly - suffering from energy depletion.
I was on pace for a 2:56-2:57 when I stepped off the course, but had used up all my reserves of energy to get there basically covering 28k's on just three GU's and five or six cups of Endura. It was just a very disappointing day with things going wrong from the word go and it was extremely difficult to remain mentally positive. Yet at the same time, I am instilled with confidence as I was well on track to achieve my goal until the inevitable depletion occured. There is little doubt in my mind that had I kept breakfast down and been able to get my personal drinks and GUs whenever I wanted them, I would have nailed the bloody thing.
More thoughts and assessments to come.
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