Week - 32.5
Month - 37.5
YTD - 130k
I was always going up for a squiz at this event last night however at about 3pm I decided that not only was I going to spectate but I also planned to run.
As this was a last minute decision there was no way I could convince anyone to run in a teams event. Therefore what I had to enter in was the shortest solo race............a short 6hr run!
There wasn't any chance in hell that I was considering running the whole event, however I did get strange looks, comments and concerns after I announced that I was entering the 6hr event from the CR's and bloggers up there.
To me this was a training run, a stupid one at that as I has not done hardly anything in the past few weeks, but I wasn't going hard, planned to have as many walk breaks as I needed and just remain comfortable.
The plan worked well for the most part and during the run I decided that 3 hrs would be a huge achievement. It would be the longest on my feet in any one training session aswell as my longest in distance, previously 26km.
The race starts at 6pm and the weather was alot better this year very little humidity and a nice breeze. I was plodding around and was remaining very close to 5min/k pace per lap. The laps are 500m on a gravel track that surrounds a historical village.
I slowed down a little through the first 10k passing it in about 52 minutes. It was then that I decided to walk two laps. No racing tonight just a long run, I needed to remind myself of that a few times.
It was just over an hour once I began to run again and nothing really changed, I still felt pretty good however I needed a toilet break. At the 36th lap I made a pitstop and during this time the lurking storm that was moving across from the city hit and hard.
I wondered out of the loo to be hit with rain drops the size of water balloons instantly soaking you, not only that they were cold . I took off again and after half a lap it was quite refreshing however the track was taking a beating. It was sloppy and alot of large puddles and this made the running a bit tougher.
I thought the rain would go as quickly as it came but it hung around for a while. Not sure of the exact time but enough to start causing me some grief. The next 1 1/4 hours I slowed right down and enjoyed some extended breaks seeing if Cass and Sam were ok and getting some food and drink in. I dedicated another 3 laps to walking during this time aswell. It slowed my overall average down a whole lot.
With an hour to go I made a goal of 60 laps (30k) before the 3hrs. I was well ahead at the 1/2 mark so the slow running/walking and rest breaks didn't concern me too much. Cass was scoring for me, battling to stay out of the rain and look after Sam who decided that there was far too much going on to sleep even 3hrs past his bed time.
The last 4k was very slow, I fighting a losing battle with the gravel that made a home in my shoes an hour prior. They were obviously soaked and constant puddles along the course allowed the gravel to easily get stuck in your shoes. Even if I was fit enough to do the whole race I think that this would have caused me to pull out. I don't think I would have had much skin left on my feet it I continued for much longer.
I had about 24 mins to do the last 4k and pretty much took that whole time crossing the 30k mark in 2.58.20.
After I finished I felt it was a wise decision to pull the pin at 3hrs. Not only for my benefit but for Cass, who was cramped up under a small shelter with a pram a few bags with 20 other people looking after with Sam who was getting angry because he was so tired. She done a great job and really appreciated what she done.
We had a bite to eat and departed for home. 2 mins after being in the car Sam was racked out.
This morning I feel pretty good, a bit stiff and my left knee a tad sore. More than likely due to the laps and changing a stride to accomodate for the rocks in my shoes. Nothing a few days rest won't fix.
Thanks to everyone on the course last night cheering and giving support, it certainly makes the night a lot more fun!
9 comments:
I like it! The strange looks would have been great - you should have entered the 12 hour :)
Sounds like tough conditions. It'll be interesting to read the other reports. Can't believe it was cold though - it's never cold up there!
These last minute decisions. I'm trying to imagine how you ran it past Cass. It's a big job to keep count.
Yes it was cold!!!
You ran well Shane and looked strong and I was happy to see you walking laps as well - it meant you had a plan and weren't entirely crazy.
Honestly the award of the night goes to Cass. I refuse to be stuck scoring all night as I just can't sit still for that long and to be doing that with a baby and for someone who isn't even a runner themselves....gosh she is a pure gold nugget that woman. Don't let her escape and make sure she knows you really appreciate the effort.
She always comes along with a big smile and lets us steal Sam and then when we have to run off we hand him back and she takes over...I have never seen her look grumpy or be angry.
My husband has a massive patience with me and my running...but still I push the bar sometimes. So I can appreciate how important it is to have a supportive partner. I just can't imagine all that and a baby!!!!!
Hope the recovery is swift. Take it real easy this week. We don't want any more injuries to creep in.
Big Hug to Sam!!!
Must say it was a surprise to see you guys rock up ... but a very pleasant one :-) I can't believe you only made the decision in the afternoon, but I'm glad you did.
Congrats on your longest run ever. What conditions to do it in! That gravel in the shoes thing was such a pain, blisters waiting to happen. If I didn't have clean sox to change into at 3 hours I reckon I would have pulled the pin. Like you before then I was changing my gait to try to move the grit around in the shoes.
Hope you recover well - BRRC 10 mile champs next Sunday. Better warn Sam he's got an early morning start :-)
Wow Shane, thats some 'last minute decision' to make! Great stuff and you're lucky you had Cass (and Sam!) along for support - glad to hear you realise this and appreciate it. Sounds like a fun event but tough conditions in the end. Good on you for sticking to the plan and getting that far in the time you'd allowed yourself.
Enjoy your well deserved rest! MAR.
Well done on a huge (unplanned) training run! And in such hard, mucky conditions. Great job.
Wow nice work Shane - congrats on the longest run ever - great achievement and a good time to boot.
well done my boy. you are lucky that cass is so understanding. i hope sam woke up in a good mood the next day. that was certainly a long run glad you done so well.:)
Great effort Shane under the conditions and with so little recent running. Isn't it great how they just drop right off in the car when they're tired!
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