The last hit out

Week - 31.6k
Month - 81.1k
YTD - 469.1k


As I mentioned in the last post I was making my comeback to the Wednesday night run group. I arrived there about 6.15 pm with a decent amount of people already in the shop. I haven't been for about 7 weeks due to the shins, this meant when I arrived there were some unfamiliar faces. There were also some regulars that were absent, probably being a little smarter than me and taking it easy before the weekend.

I had all the intentions of joining in with the group one below the one I usually run with. I really didn't mind about distance just to get some valuable time in the legs and not push it to hard. I had told my regular group buddies that I was doing this and they took off. Their group was small with only 4 people. I then realised that all the people still hanging around were with the group I had decided to run with, there was about 20 of them. This amount of people on small footpath is horrible, I then turned and noticed my regular was still in sight and set off after them.

After a good minute or so I eventually caught them. Their plan was to run about 80 minutes which was the same for all the groups just different intensities. The first few km's didn't feel good at all, the legs were aching a little but after they warmed up a bit all went well.

Not much really went on during the run the pace as usual stepped up towards the end but overall it remained at around 4.50 pace. We ended up covering 17.6k in 1.25.50, we had about ten minutes of stoppages for traffic lights and drinks stops so the total time out there was a little longer than planned.

I was very happy with the way I felt during, and now after the run, no soreness at all. This suprises me alot, it has been now 51 days since I went to the Doc about the shins and the have been doing no more than 10k at a time. This was a good test and hopefully they hold up for Warwick. I still plan to not go hard, I still think that I am fitter now than what I was last year for the pentath where I ran 3.14.xx. I will be happy with 3.30 and get through it with no mishaps.

I dont think I will now do anything until the run on Saturday, to those that are going I will see you there.

Mini CR Cheersquad!

Week - 14k
Month - 63.5k
YTD - 461.5k

Cass was quite bored in the week leading up to Samuels birth. She decided to write and email to Kevin Tiller (coolrunning) to see if he had the logo that she could use to print on some clothing to use at Wariwick this weekend. He sent her the logo and after some manipulation she printed it out and took it to a screen printing place to print on the clothing. Above is the photo of the end result, oh and by the way the clothing is size 000 obviously for Samuel to cheer all us CR's on at the Pentath.

Yesterday I almost forgot about my dental appt, I was planning to do a 10k run but after Samuel's first night I ended up getting up too late. I managed to squeeze in 6.65k according to the garmin before rushing all the way to the dentist for him to check me out for all of ten minutes. Sure was worth driving the 50 minute rtn trip for that :(

I felt a little better yesterday than the day before but still had a queazy stomach which wasn't comfortable. The run was covered in about 31 minutes (4.42min/k) Tonight I plan to do a mid size run and make my comeback with the Run Inn, I will take it easy and just get some vital K's in before the weekend. This will be my last real training run and I will probably just turn the legs over on Friday before heading to Warwick.

Im off to the Run Inn now :)

Home at Last!

Week - 7.5k
Month- 56.5k
YTD - 455k

Well as the title states Cass and Samuel arrived home today, Hooray! I just thought I would post a pic showing his typical day irrespective of his location. He doesn't care where he is or what we are doing to him, if he is tired then he kips. I guess I should be grateful for this :)

Anyway, before going to the hospital today for the last time I woke up nice and early to get in a run. My intention was to get a nice slow long one in, however this came to an abrupt end when I felt a bit sick around the 5k mark, I ended up making a detour and cutting the run short at 7.5 k. Before this happened I was cruising nicely so it was a shame that this occured. I haven't felt right since and have been getting regular stomach cramps, hopefully this is just a 24 hr thing and it disappears as quick as it came.

I will be attemting to squeeze in a long run before Warwick I think Wednesday with the Run Inn crowd is my last option. I will also try for a run tomorrow probably no more than 10k.

Then it is off to Warwick on Friday, I may do a slow 5 k before we leave and that will be it. Although I have probably done more training this year than last year I will not be trying to beat last years time. I am going to enjoy the weekend and not really be too concerned about my result.

Oh and to answer Clairies question, I will be doing all 5 events , even though I am not supposed to it would be too hard to sit them out. Please dont tell :-)

Mothers Day

Week - 16.5k
Month - 49k
YTD - 447.5k


Obviously over the last few days my life has been quite hetic, however yesterday before heading to the hospital I managed to squeeze in a 10k run. I set the alarm for 6 am and after numerous resets I dragged myself out at 7.15 am.

The day was very nice, I think this time of year is the best for running not too chilly and certainly not hot. I took the usual track for the first 5k or so and then decided to head down a few other streets that I hadn't been before. It was quite good, very quite with a decent variety of terrain which I didn't even know existed. I think I will make this my new 10k track. By the time I was almost home the garmin indicated that I still had about 500m to run, to make this up I ran up and down my street. The neighbours must think I am a weirdo so I must find a little detour to make the track spot on 10k before I get home.

I remained under 5min/k pace and am finding this quite comfortable, I think the shin splints are pretty much gone however I am still pretty sceptical of getting back down into my normal pace. I completed the run in 49.21, I will try and get out of bed earlier tomorrow and get in a longer run. I haven't ran any further than 10k since the injury and really need to get a longer run of up to 15k or so before Warwick.

Today was back to the hospital for Mothers Day, Cass didn't have to wait long before getting her first significant day to come along. Samuel showed his mum love and gratitude in the form of spew and saliva along with a few dirty nappies. What more could a mum ask for :) Cass and Samuel are hopefully coming home tomorrow, which will be great. He will get to spend all of five days at his new home before we all set off for our first family vacation. Cass and I are really looking forward to the Warwick weekend, we haven't been out of the area for a while so it will be nice getaway. We enjoy going away for weekends and vowed to not make the mistake of letting this part of our lives fade away after Samuel was born.

In saying that it is also never too early for the introduction of sport and certainly not too early for athletics. Exposing Samuel at 8 days of age to Warwick's biggest sporting event of the year, the Pentath, can only produce a postive outcome :)

Does anyone know what age Craig Mottram was exposed to athletics???

Jekyll and Hyde

The top photo is of Samuel an 1 hr after he was born and the bottom is 6 mins after.


I just went through my camera and all the shots that I have of him are not really photos that you would display when you are wanting to show everyone you bundle of joy. These are the best two I have on the camera I brought back from the hospital. In the top pic he has some marks on his head that looked sore, they had to used forceps to get him out, however these disappeared after a day.

He had a bath tonight so he looks all nice and clean so I will get some posed pics tomorrow.

Cass and Samuel are doing great, he intially had some breathing issues and was placed in the special care nursery from about 4 hrs after he was born till 2 pm today. He is out now and is spending his first night with his mum. He has made awesome progress and is feeding well, there is a very good chance that mother and baby will be home on Monday.

Thanks alot for all of the comments, they are great and very much appreciated. Some more pics hopefully tomorrow. I just love these two, from full on raw emotion to calm mellowed little boy.