running

back in Sydney

One week down, three to go…

After a few days of extreme jetlag, this has been an organising kind of week. Such as updating the look of this blog! I’ve also given notice that I’ll be vacating my current home in Cronulla in a couple of weeks. I move into my very modest apartment in Woolooware on October 17th. I wonder what that will feel like, actually being in a place I can truly call my own?

The biggest news of the week is that I’ve decided to postpone running the New York marathon until next year. I didn’t run anywhere near enough while in South America, and marathons are far too serious an event to treat so casually. I could struggle through and do it, but I probably wouldn’t enjoy the experience and the risk of injury would be very high. To be honest there has been so much other stuff to focus on (getting work ready for my long absence, going to South America, moving house, getting ready for Asia) that I haven’t given NY the attention it deserves. Much better to put it off until 2010, when it will be the big focal point of the second half of the year.

The decision was made easy by the fact that I can postpone it and still get guaranteed entry to the 2010 race. My accomodation was fully refundable and the flight credit can be used for some other journey, so the downside is minimal. I feel much more relaxed now, and can simply focus on getting ready for The Big Trip.

Of course if I don’t go to New York, I suddenly have a couple of weeks free before heading to Asia. What to do? I think I’d get too antsy just staying home, so I think I’ll take advantage of the car and go on a bit of a road trip to some parts of Australia I haven’t seen before. The current plan is head to Broken Hill via Mudgee, then down to Adelaide to visit Joel’s parents for a couple of days, then to the famous wine region of Coonawarra and nearby Robe before heading home via country Victoria. But this isn’t set in stone yet – any suggestions on where I could go?

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First week in…. is tough

New York marathon training has started in earnest:

Saturday am – 5km slow run
Saturday pm – 5km slow run

Sunday am – 14km run on undulating hills

Monday am – 5km slow run

Tuesday am – 1 hour weight training
Tuesday pm – 11km run with 2x 4km fast sections in the middle

Wednesday am – 60 minute run on undulating hills

Thursday pm – 10 km run with 5x 1km sprints in the middle

Friday am – 5km slow run, followed by 1.5 hours weight training

Total distance for the first week: 66km

And Friday pm? Sleep.

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Transition

In triathlon the term “transition” is used to describe moving from one discipline to another, ie. from swimming to the bike or from the bike to the run. The transition can take a few minutes depending on how practised you are, but it is still included in your time at the end of the race.

I’ve been going through a far tougher transition this week: from couch-bound booze hound to someone capable of finishing the New York marathon three months from now. And surprisingly it’s gone much more smoothly than expected… I’ve made numerous attempts over the past six months to get back into running, but for a range of reasons I haven’t stuck to it. There was always more time, so why hurry? But this week it all magically clicked into place: I’ve done 45kms in five runs over the past five days, including a nice 15km this morning, my legs are not hurting (much) and I feel focussed for the first time in months. Not bad for my first week of serious running in 12 months!

The short-term cost is that I’ve been TIRED all week, and going to bed by 8.30pm each night has meant zero social life. But I’ll be better for the rest, and most of my friends have been working/busy so it was a good time to get stuck in. Today will be a nice day of cooking, watching the Top Gear Vietnam special, learning a bit of Spanish, a few hours work, then possibly catching up with James this afternoon before another early night.

NY marathon is exactly 13 weeks away!!

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