Perth Marathon 2012

We'll start with the good news - 2:50:54 by my Garmin - 7 minute marathon PB and 10 min PB on this course

It was an unusual taper for me.
2nd last week was about 80k including a 20k sunday run with Rob in light rain
Final week 40k 4x10k with a little (3k) MP in a couple of them.

Physically things were all tickety-boo, but psychologically it was a bit of a shocker. First up we lost both internet and TV in the storm and didn't get them back all week - despite daily reassurances from Telstra that things were fixed. This reminded me how addicted I am to both (clearly TV is the opiate of the masses)

Secondly i had a crazy work week including saturday morning and then a couple more hours in the afternoon. Finally I had a puncture driving to work on Thursday and after changing it in the rain spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on the waiting room queue.

Sadly there was not the traditional pasta dinner on Fri night - had a prearranged dinner at a tapas restaurant - barely a carb in sight, and a little too much wine to calm my frazzled nerves.

In the end I calmed down after a sat pm coffee with Rob and a quiet pasta at home.

Race day, had slept OK and felt pretty good in the morning.
Rob & I decided to run together at least initially, but fairly early on he was having some issues, and I found myself ahead of the BigKev/Jockster group.

I went past the 10k marker in 39:15 which i felt was OK, perhaps a few seconds fast.
I ran pretty much the entire race alone - this is a pattern for me and I'm not sure if it's luck or subconscious preference, but it is what it is.

20k marked 79:25 so 40:10 for the second 10k
Half way was 1:23:35 from memory, so pretty much where I was hoping to be.

I'd dropped off drinks, had 2 gels on me and had gels taped to drinks at 30 and 36k. I did pretty well finding them, only the 36k one I missed but luckily still had the second one in my pocket and took it then. First gel was at halfway and second at 30k.

About 24k I developed a stitch (or more of a stomach cramp actually) and this upset my breathing as i tried to get through it. it did clear after about 5 min, and my pace had slowed a little here. At halfway I noted i wasn't too far up on the BigKev group, and at about 26k Steve Mundell passed me, with a somewhat faster km split as I tried to keep in touch.

20-30k Garmin split was 40:42 (wasn't concentrating on marker times at this point)

i was initially concerned re the wind on the frewway section as it had been pretty blowy early on, but things had quietened down by then. Luckily I had someone to catch 100m ahead of me from 31-33k and then another from there to the narrows, getting me through the drudgery of this section.

At 36 I knew it was going to get tough. I slowed to 4:10s for the last 6k, and ran out of people to chase/pass. One quick look behind didn't show anyone in near pursuit. The 30-40k garmin split was 41:17

I was pleased to at least push on after a poor record on this course, but did and passed though the finish just inside 2:51.

Overall I'm very happy with the result even if it wasn't quite the sub 2:50 aim.

Most importantly thanks go out to Biscuitman who accepted the challenge of coaching me. I know it was the increased mileage and medium long runs in his training plans which saw me break out from my run of 3hr marathons to a whole new level. i've never been one to like being told what to do, but his approach seemed to be just right for me. Secondly thanks to Rob as a long run training partner and long term yardstick of my performance. Really sorry to see you have to pull out early today but of course there are bigger fish to fry in Berlin (I think they eat fried fish in berlin)

2 weeks to go & Lake Gwelup Fun Run

1st taper week of 118k - shows how my perception of mileage has changed this year - previously this would be peak mileage.

Mon am 10k recovery @4:44 - tired legs from race
Tues am 16k - supposes to be with 5x800m at 5k pace but only managed 10k pace with legs still heavy
Tues pm 10k easy @4:42
Wed am 21k medium long @4:42
Thurs 12k with 8x100m strides
Fri 11k easy - legs feeling normal again
Sat 28k@4:19 with Simon & Rob - did the last 5k@4:05s - felt good
Sun pm 10k easy@4:40

Monday Public Holiday (now 'WA day') Lake Gwelup Fun Run
As noted last year, this is the fun run of the primary school near my practice, and the site of my only funrun victory (last year). There is some pride involved, although this year I was feeling a little cautious not to injure myself.
Legs felt a bit flat after still a 118k week and a pm run yesterday.

Ran out a bit more controlled than last year and found myself 5th at halfway, but just in 3rd when 2 of them veered to the 3k finish. A long way in front was Sam Maxwell - one of the orange singletted young runners seen at the front of perth's big funruns. he was clearly a class above me, finishing a minute ahead. I pushed into second early on the second lap before hitting the traffic of the one-lap walkers - I seemed to run into more of them this year, as well as having to contend with some trash talking by one of my teenage patients! Despite this i was never challenged by those behind me a cruised into second place in 22:02 - 5 seconds faster than last year (although my pace was much more even this year). i did have a little skirmish with the race officials at the finish - at the end of the first lap we were supposed to grab a black wristband from an official to prove we didn't chest and run one lap. Unfortunately I didn;t grab mine properly and it fell to the ground - this was just the time i was making my move and I wasn't about to stop and go back to get it. At the finish they didn't want to record me as finishing - in the end this might have been better as I sat around for an hour and a half to collect a certificate.(Perhaps a hanson moment on my behalf)

Now for a bit more tapering - 89k week with only a 3x1600m quality session and some strides.