Warwick Pentath

WEEK - 11.5k
MONTH - 123.3k
YTD - 511.3


Friday - The first family holiday began early when we all had to go to the city and pick my mum up from the train station at 6.30 am. She was going to visit after this weekend but we invited her to come to Warwick with us to enjoy the festivities.

It was then off to Warwick about 1pm after some lunch, I am still on holidays so it wasn't a mad dash like many of the others had to do after work. We arrived about 3 pm or so and checked into the motel and basically relaxed until dinner. We all went into town and bought some groceries and ordered some italian take away which pretty much ended the night. How exciting :)

Saturday - Race 1- 21.1k. Woke up about 5.30am to find that the morning weather was nowhere near as chilly as last year. I had some breakfast and walked up to register. I was feeling great, all excited that I was doing my second pentath. The race started at 7 am, the goal was to complete the race without injuring myself so the plan was to run comfortable which is what happened.

The run couldn't have gone much better, It felt easy but I must admit to begin with it was very hard to hold back. I ended up completing the first 10k in 45.02. I eased up in the second half and finished in a time of 1.37.07. I remember last year I could hardly walk after this event which made it a long and painful weekend, this year I was still feeling great.

Race 2 - 4.6k cross country. This race is a one of a kind, the terrain doesn't look hard and apart from jumping over obstacles it is a relatively normal cross counrty track. However it is so damn hard. It is raced on an equestrian park and instead of having a lead vehicle, horses run around the course showing the leaders were to go.

Before the race I paid off my warmup and only done about 200m of gentle jogging before it began, my first mistake. The race began and I was in the thick of the action, front row, for what reason had no idea. I took off like a lunatic, covering the first 1k in 3.25, second mistake. It was not long after that I ended up getting the biggest stitch in the world, it was tearing my insides apart. The dust was pretty bad and I found it soooooo hard to breathe, I couldn't take deep breathes because it hurt so much. I still eneded up passing through the 2k mark in 7.45 but that's were it ended. I was almost at a standstill it was embarrassing I was squeezing my sides trying to get rid of it but no luck. It felt like the whole field passed me, I was hurting and was so relieved to finish. I think the time was about 19.40, unsure, the one thing I did know was that I needed oxygen and a drink fast.

Race 3 - 5k road run. This time I concentrated alot on the warmup, my stomach was sore from the previous race. I don't know what stitches do but they feel like they tear muscle. I practiced taking deep breathes and exhauling squeezing my abs. I didn't want that sucker to return, thank good it didn't. I set off at a comfortable pace but quickly realised that my normal comfortable 5k pace was not so comfortable after running 26k already. I still remained at a decent pace and was spot of 4 min/k pace at the 4 k mark. It was then that I hit the wall, the last little incline felt like Mt Coot-tha and I struggled, I ended up crossing the line in 20.26. The atmosphere at this race was great, especially at the end when, although I dont know her, CR Cirque finished her goal 5k race.

On the way to the car carrying the pram up the steps my left foot felt sore for a moment, I didn't think anything of it at the time, but it didn't seem to get any better.

Saturday Night Dinner. Last year I didn't go to the dinner for some reason and looking back now I should have, it was a good night, well apart from realising how dumb I am in regards to sport trivia :) There was lots of medals won by many of the CR's with lots of cheering, the most enthusiastic had to be Clairie. You dont expect anything less though and it wouldn't be as fun that's for sure. By the end I was getting tired and was looking forward to my now normal fragmented sleeping pattern.

Sunday - Race 4 - 10k Killarney Ascent. What I thought would be the hardest day ended up being the easiest. Well the foot didn't get any better and when I got out to the start and began my warm up my foot had this sharp pain on the outside of it. It started only after a couple of steps and I began wondering how was I going to do the remaining two races. It was painful, I removed my near new orthotic to see if that was the culprit but it still hurt. I was annoyed, and was so close to packing everything up and returning to Brisbane. I decided to go for one last jog and eventually found a running style that made my foot feel better. It still hurt but I had a more optimistic view of being able to complete the remaining races.

In saying that the race was run at a very slow and steady pace with alot of walking. I didn't really mind too much even though it is frustrating the main point is that I was able to run the race. I hardly even raised a sweat for the entire hill run which is what I meant by the easiest day and I got to enjoy the scenery a little more. I ended up completing the run in 59.30.

Race 5 - 1500m. The last run for the 2006 Pentath, it seemed to fly this weekend probably because I could actually walk unlike this time last year. I gave my foot a hiding, alot of stretching and massage trying to loosen it up before the race. I wasn't going to run the event for a time in my condition and just jogged it around, although it felt like it was an effort. Alot of compensating for the pain but there was no way I was not going to do the last race. Not much else happened and I got beaten by most under 10 kids in the race, although that would have probably happened even if I was healthy. They are pretty fast nowadays. I crossed the line in 6.42.

Hanging around for everyone to finish was great, all the little kids doing there first ever race was pretty cool to watch, they looked all proud when everyone was cheering them. The support that everyone shows each other throughout the weekend is second to none, I have not done any other race that even comes close. This was shown when the last two competitors were in the last few meteres of the 1500m when all the CR's amongst others joined hands and made a tunnel for them to cross the line under. A memorable moment that's for sure.

I was unable to stick around for the presentaions and lunch after the event and didn't get a chance to say goodbye and congratulate everyone. Samuel was a bit sick throuhgout the night and I wanted to get him home as soon as. Therefore....

Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable event and congrats to Tesso, Clairie, Hannah, Schultzy amongst others for their great efforts. Although Samuel slept for entire event Im sure he was glad to meet everyone and hopefully soaked up some of the atmoshere to inspire him to compete in the event in a few years. Hope to see everyone again soon and those who haven't done this event before place it on the calender... May 19/20 2007.

Results this year compared to last year

2006//2005

Race 1 - 1.37.07//1.37.28

Race 2 - 19.40//18.24

Race 3 - 20.26//20.36

Race 4 - 59.30//53.34

Race 5 - 6.42 //4.55

Total - 3.23.25//3.14.57

Oh before I forget the concern before the race was the shins, I am happy with how they went, no soreness, after the race now is my foot, I think it is caused by the orthotics, over longer distances it has strained the outside of my foot (rectifying my pronation problem). Im guessing it is not serious and I will take it easy for the rest of the week. I think I deserve one I just ran a marathon....well sort of :)

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???