Free Club Breakfast

They had me at "free club breakfast". After I heard those 3 magic words, I didn't need to hear anything else. But it worked out really well. A 10k run was in my schedule for today, and I found out that many of my fellow club members were running a 10k at the Brisbane Road Runners event. The free club breakfast was to be after the event to celebrate three 50th birthdays.
The gal I run with on Thursday mornings started the 10k with me, but her goal time and mine were a bit different, and in the first couple of k's she had pulled ahead.
My goal time: around 60min. I wanted to take it slow and easy.
I ended up running with a family - husband, wife, and bub (in a stroller). As it turned out, the hubby had been on my relay team last year, so we caught up over old times and chatted about our excitement for this year's team.
The course was two flat laps along the river. The other side of the river than when I normally run. How refreshing to run on the cool flat of a less familiar course! And I was really happy when the wife in our little group pulled out a massive 8-min pb to cross the finish line with us in about 60.12min.
I admired her spirit. Had it been me, I would have been a bit grumbly about just missing that magical sub-60min time. But she was more than happy with her achievements and didn't feel the need to prove anything.
After the race I snagged some fruit courtesy of the course organizers (it felt just like a real race!) before heading over to our free club breakfast. I sadly missed out on the awesome ice cream cake as I had to leave for work. What a shame! But the rest of breaky was fab, and I got the chance to catch up with many of my fellow runners I haven't seen in a while.
The running community in Brisbane still amazes me. I am truly blessed to count myself among them.

Natterings

Recovery run day! Last night it looked like rain. While important training sessions have occasionally dragged me out of bed against my better judgement in times of rain, a recovery run does not fall into that category! I planned to go to Park Run, but I was pretty tired so didn't set my alarm.
Instead, I decided that if I woke up on time and it wasn't raining, I would go. Otherwise, laziness would prevail.
But guess what? I woke up in time, and it wasn't raining.
So off I went. As I was in recovery and my friend Chris was noteably absent, I asked my friend Hap if I could run with him. He thought I was being generous, but it was really a bit of a selfish move because
1) It would prevent me from getting competitive and wanting to go just a little bit faster to beat that other runner. This is a recovery run, after all! Racing is next weekend.
2) It's more social and ergo, more fun.
3) So many people have been encouraging me from my running since before Day 1. It's always important to pay such kindness forward.

Or again, maybe he was reluctant to agree with my suggestion as he was worried that he wouldn't be able to escape my natterings for the next 5k. Which he didn't. Poor guy. But he survived.

 Warming up my voice in preparation for the next 5k.

Spot us in the crowd! There's a reason I've started wearing bright colours to Park Run.

Thanks, Legs

Today was one of the toughest training days I've had in a long time. What a great feeling [after]!
The goal:
~1k warm up
~2k along flat with alternating 30sec at 5k race pace, 30sec run at slower pace
~2k along hills, running hard on the uphill & recovering on the down
Then reverse direction and repeat in reverse order (2k hills, 2k flat sprints, 1k cool down)

On the flat sprints I made the error of trying to keep up with another girl slightly faster than me. I could barely manage in the sprints, but in the 30sec recovery I just couldn't seem to suck in enough air. Fortunately, that ended fairly quickly!
Onto my nemesis...hills.
At this point I realized I had unwisely burned up a lot of energy in the first 2k section. Dang. But fortunately I clung onto a friend at my pace who encouraged me up every hill. Always great to run beside someone that challenges you. We may not have talked hardly at all, but in running it's not always about the conversation. Just running beside someone can be companionship enough.

We stopped at the end of the hills and I felt pretty proud. But the true test would be the way back.
Off we went. Halfway through the hills I knew my pace was dragging. I told my friends to forge on ahead and meet me where the flat sprints started. They were more than too happy to comply, since we had agreed I would be the timekeeper and pace setter for the final 2k sprint/recover section.
I may not have much endurance. I may not have great form, or great running strategies.
But one thing I do have, is the ability to run at 5k race pace by feel. Goodness knows I've been doing enough of it this year!
Happily, I didn't fall too far behind on the hills section as I really tried to keep pushing through. It was sort of fun to be timekeeper & pacer on the way back. And having a group around me really kept me focussed on driving that pace. But man, that flat section couldn't end soon enough.
I called out a cheer when we arrived at our cool down spot, but sadly no one joined me. Maybe they were too busy sucking in air, or maybe they just thought I was weird. Probably a little bit of both.
For me, the best part of working so hard isn't always right after you finish, although that's pretty good too. The best part sometimes comes later in the day, when you feel your leg muscles twinging in a tired-but-not-too-tired sort of way. It's sort of like your muscles are saying, "hey, thanks for thinking of me today. We should do this again sometime soon!"
You're welcome, legs. You're very welcome.

Reunions

On my program was 2x1600m. We had a substitute coach today (ours had the audacity to go on holidays!) who kindly measured out the course for me.
I probably could have fit in a third rep, but dang, 1600m reps are hard!
And I was on my own too, with everyone else in my group doing 200m reps. Don't get jealous too quickly - they had to finish with a 3k time trial. Heh heh heh.
The best part of my run was when a friend caught my attention from another group. Sarah is one of the big reasons I run today. Back when I was just starting to run, Sarah worked at the gym where I suffered on the hamster wheel a couple times a week. As I graduated myself to outdoor runs, we started running in to one another on our runs around uni. And naturally, we then started making plans to run together.
Sarah convinced me to sign up for my very first race - the 8k Mother's Day Run. I mostly did it for the promise of a post-race brunch (now a tradition!). My goal was to not walk in the race and I finished in a respectable 42min something.

 FLASHBACK: MOTHER'S DAY 2009 

Me (in purple), Sarah (in white), and a couple of Sarah's friends all looking forward to our post-race breakfast. We only had to get through the race, first.

 FLASHBACK: MOTHER'S DAY 2009 

The first and only race I've run in long pants. I think it was the Canadian in me. I also learned about the pitfalls of running with sunglasses (though it would take me a few more races before I would replace the sunnies for a sunhat).

When Sarah moved to Broome a while back, it was sad to say goodbye. But lo and behold, the prodigal runner had returned! Now into triathlons, it was a delight to see her this morning training in the same place.

We started to catch up but - as my coach reminded me - recovery doesn't mean I can stop to talk! So off Sarah & I continued on our respective training runs.
The goal time on my program was 6.45min/1600m. I think that was either overly optimistic or a mathematical error on the side of my coach. Especially considering I'd been told to run about 5min/km. I mentally readjusted my new goal to 8min.
Rep 1: 7.53min.
Rep 2: 7.59min.

I finished as the rest of my group was starting their 3k time trial. I opted out of that bit of fun so I could get to work.
And you know what? 1600m reps aren't as bad as I thought...especially when there are only two of them!

The Secret to Running Fast

Shh! I have a secret. I can get you to run faster in weeks with a new running program I've discovered! And the best part? It is so easy, you won't even feel like you've gotten out of bed to do it!
But wait, there's more! There is an unlimited time offer where you can find out the secret to running faster absolutely free. That's right, folks! Absolutely free!
Here's the secret:
Step 1: Start running
Step 2: Decide on a running program to follow. It can be from the Internet, a book you read, a running coach, or your own thoughts & ideas.
Step 3: Tell other runners you meet why your program is The Secret to getting the race/fitness results of their dreams.

Okay, so I may have watched an infomercial or two in my life. Those things are funny and a great cure for insomnia! And thinking about it, lots of runners could moonlight as infomercial hosts. Yes, I count myself as being among the worst! When things go well, I tell everyone why what I'm doing is awesome and I want them to do just as awesome. And on the flip side, I  always love hitting up faster runners for reflections and advice on their running regime. Doesn't mean I'll follow it, but I filter it in the back of my mind as potentially useful for when my own running is going not so well.

I didn't have insomnia last night, but I had been hosting a party and went to bed late (for me). But I still dragged myself out of bed at 6.15am because I knew I would be sad to miss running in Park Run, even if my stomach was still unhappy about all the yummy-but-bad-for-you food I had eaten last night.



Me unintentionally photo-bombing one of my fellow Park Runners getting a clown wig to wear for his 50th Park Run. Awesome! One day I may get the honour of wearing a clown wig while I run. Motivation for me to run my way up to the magic 5-0

Spot me in the crowd! I am wearing my trademark red cap and bright coloured shirt to stand out for the photo (orange this week, to match the volunteers!)

I had no race plan today. Okay, sorry. That's a lie. I had a plan to run a sub-25min, but I had no plan of how to get there besides "do my best and don't expect too much". After all, I was pretty sure before I started I wouldn't make it today, but I'm always hopeful. For the first 2k I kept a strong 5min/km pace, and then started to fizzle & die once again. Curse you, poor endurance! My B-Goal was sub-26min, and I'm happy to say I did accomplish that, getting snugly to the finish line at a respectable 25.31min. So maybe I can call this a "threshold run" rather than a race.

Sub 26-min here I come!

I knew one of my fellow Park Runners was still on the course, aiming for his own PB. So after I'd cooled down and re-learned how to absorb air into my lungs, I jogged off to find him and support his finish. This is a person who has been so encouraging to me and all the Park Runners, so I thought I'd return the favour and encourage him a little. Or I tried to encourage him, but maybe I was more like an annoying fly buzzing in his ear that he couldn't swat away. But he was very gracious.

 

We even wore matching outfits! Hmm. It sort of does look like I'm that annoying person he's trying to escape from...

 ...But I still stuck to him like an ant on honey until he crossed the finish.

I know what you're wondering. How does my infomercial talk at the beginning relate to today's run? Well, after I'd finished (the second time) I ran into a Park Runner I hadn't seen for a few weeks. I asked him how he was going, and his eyes lit up. He launched into his story about this amazing book he'd been reading that had changed his running forever and given him more energy than ever before and I should just try it because I would find my results getting faster and I wouldn't even feel like I was working hard and I would be gaining so much energy just like he had and all my race goals would be achieved with hardly any effort on my part...
I sat back on my heels and smiled. Some days I wonder if I enjoy running with others not to challenge myself, but to hear the infomercials of their running programs.

Re-acquaintance

A bit stiff from Sunday's race, I was allowed to take it easy today. Take it easy? We were doing hill reps! There is nothing easy about hill reps!
But I took it slow. I'm rather good at taking it slow.
I hung back with my fellow recoveries and we had a great time chatting through our reps. I could feel all the stiffness in my legs flushing out with the run.
And I couldn't help but reflect in the session that I really need to kick up my endurance factor for races. I have been consistently achieving sub-5min on my 1k reps but translated that into a 57min 10k on the weekend...hmm. Not the math one might expect! Long runs, it's about time you and I got reacquainted!

Bridge2Brisbane: Freebies!

Setting the alarm for 3.45am but waking up at 2.30am.

Pre-buying a second hand sweater to discard at the race start. Which was redundant, as the weather was perfect.

Flutters of excitement and fear making my breakfast turn to stone in my stomach (not literally).

Feeding off the buzz from my fellow runners - all wide awake despite it not yet being 5am.

Worrying about getting to the event with only 1 train (no buses) passing my stop and over 40,000 people expected to participate.

... It must be Bridge2Brisbane time!

Yep, one of my favourite runs of the year! It is magical. Even the 2.30am wake-up. I got on the train without hitch and we were the first train to pull up at the race start. As I haven't been training for any 10k's this year, I wasn't sure what to expect.

A-Goal: sub-54.00 (This current record was held by last year's B2B)

B-Goal: sub-60.00

The gun went off and...we waited.

The event is too big to start everyone at once. Wave one has the elite runners, wave two the non-elite runners, and wave three the walkers/joggers. I was in the second wave, and somehow fluked my way to the very front of the group - lucky me! Double lucky since I had been called into work right after the race, so the clock was ticking.

1k: up, up, up the hill! I happened to be running next to the 55min pacer and told him, "I hope I finish in front of you". At this point, I was his sole runner, so he was pretty keen to have me on board. He told me he would be going 5.30 on the flat Kingsford Smith Drive section. Since I was hoping to go at a 5.20 pace, I decided I would try to stay in front.

2k: Down, down, down the other side of the bridge! I focussed on maintaining effort and comfortably passed the 55min pacer as I galloped down the hill.

3-8k: Kingsford Smith Drive. Flat and gorgeous! At the 4k mark, I was on target for my A-Goal but knew I didn't have it in me to hold the pace. So I let myself drop back...and back...and back. At 5k my friendly 55min pacer cheerily called out, "I'm catching up to you!" and encouraged me to join him. I tried. I really, really tried. But after the first few hundred metres he gained a few steps on me. And then a few more. And then a few more. Until I decided I would go my own way. At 7k I gave myself a mental slap. I had spent km 4-7 feeling unsettled over my poor running time. And it was here I realized how much fun I was missing out on by stressing. So I settled back to enjoy the final stretch of this beautiful course.

8k: The Second Hill hits somewhere on this marker. It is a sneaky sucker: it deceives you into thinking it's short and steep...but then it turns a corner and you realize you're still heading uphill...

9k: top of the hill! Down to the finish line we go! Now is the point where I could have really booked it to try to make up a minute of time. But I was a bit too busy enjoying myself.

Total time: 57.22min

Total distance: 10k

And onto the best part of the race...FREEBIES!!! Wow, did we get lucky. 

Adding to my race collection hoard...more things I already have too much of!

Aside from the usual B2B t-shirt (left), we also got a hat and thongs (the Aussie kind, not the Canadian kind). 

Suncorp Bank was the main sponsor and had teamed up with my beloved Park Run. As such, Park Runners also got the chance to get a free running singlet mailed out to us ahead of the day, with the hope that we would wear it on the day. I was more than happy to wear mine. Free running singlet? Yes please!

Park Runners were also given the chance to receive a free breakfast at the Suncorp tent after the event. Yes, I may have needed to get to work, but post-race breakfast is a tradition that is not to be missed! 

The sun was shining, my sweat was drying, and I was munching on a breakfast muffin as I swapped racing stories with  my fellow Park Runners. Work shmirk. Right at that moment, life was good! And really, who cares about the numbers on a watch, anyway?