Running long 4:05:25 [3] 32.5 km (7:33 / km) shoes: Salomon Sense Mantra
Long run. Out the door at 5:30am and it was only about 7 degrees and breezy so it felt 'refreshing' or at least it woke me up proper. Headed in the general direction of Hall with the plan to try and catch MaryMac at 7:30 where she was meeting Carol for a run. A pit stop at McDonalds then on around Lake G and branched off towards Gungahlin. Followed the CCT to Hall but was too early so did some circle work. MaryMac and Carol arrived separately and on time. Carol didn't want to leave her car at the trail head so they parked at the shops while I ran down to meet them. We headed off towards One Tree Hill but after about 15 mins I started feeling really light headed so tried to walk/jog till it stopped. Eventually I thought to have a gel. This was breakfast so not too smart on my part. I caught up with the girls on the way up the hill and they were heading down. By the time I was at the top I was feeling better and the light headed feeling had passed so headed off after them on the CCT. After about 25 mins they were heading back when we met so I just tucked in behind back to Hall. Home for a shower then coffee and bacon and egg roll at 2b10. My only aim was to do 4 hrs for some time on my feet. Hopefully I will learn a lesson and be better with eating next time.
Time flies when you are having fun - have now made it to six years since my last rest day! Time to do a brief review of the year of training and competing. Overall I am still healthy and I wasn't sick at all in the past 12 months. I did manage to hurt my back while moving house at a Easter so that meant a few visits to the physio. Running was ruled out for a few weeks but bike riding was allowed. This was just before TNF100 so that wasn't ideal and in the end I was about a week too short in my recovery - everything seems to take 5 weeks to get better. Very little O this year due to house related stuff and also needing a break from a lot of the crap that surrounds any activity. It felt quite liberating but I did set courses for two events - I was honouring my previous commitments - and ran in two events. Total hours trogged in the last year is 424 hours for an average of 8 hr/week which is about two hours per week less than the previous year - being a lot closer to work meant I didn't trog my RTW as it was too short. Highlights were doing my first 6ft Track, and first road marathon. Most fun event was a tie between Paddy Pallin Urban with MaryMac and course setting for ACT Sprint.
After a tough morning of brunch at 2b10 with Robert and Heather, a bit of food shopping at the markets, and a vigorous game of Settlers of Catan I thought a short run would be a good idea. From the AIS car park I followed many and various single tracks on Bruce Ridge. Crossed paths with a lone bike rider and that was it.
From home to Aranda Bushlands then a loop through Black Mt and finished with some back streets in Aranda. Nice to finally be on a short holiday as it's been over a year since the last one.