The Kids Are Alright

Race Report - Kilcunda Run for the Kids, 21.1k

The kids are alright, monies raised from this race go to helping kids in need on the Bass Coast in Victoria. But this runner is not alright. Having started out on Saturday with a goal of getting close to my PB (Currently 1:39:51), I was bitterly disappointed to fall well short. It was bound to happen at some stage; things can't always be hunky dory, and I just have to deal with it as best I can.

This was going to be my first road race over the 21k distance, and a good indication of where I was at in relation to Melbourne. I was not expecting (nor chasing) a PB; partly because I knew I was in early training, and partly because I had an interrupted training programme for Two Bays, and now Rollercoaster. But I did expect to get close to 1:40, having run a 1:44 in a time trial (on my own) 3 weeks ago. the final time of 1:52 was, well, underwhelming to say the least!

Aerial view of rail bridge and trail. The start/finish line was adjacent to the car park, photo - top right.

It had all started out just fine. As a family we had decided to all go and run this event, Nicky doing the 10k (her first), Jordan doing the 3k, and myself running the 21.1k. Being a local race I felt we should support it as there are not too many races in South Gippsland. Being a low key event the information for it was occasionally lacking, or, in the start time department, completely incorrect. There were no listed start times on the web page or the entry website, and the only times I saw were in a copy of a R4YL running mag that listed all the races as starting at separate times. As we were eating breakfast on the morning, I decided to check one last time and was startled to find out that my race was listed as starting at 8, not 8:30 as I had previously read. Panic ensued as I swept everyone up and shepherded them out of the door. I hate being late and unprepared for races. (As it turned out, the race did in fact start at 8:30!)

The race started well. We had a narrow track to run on (the Kilcunda to Wonthaggi Rail Trail for the most part), and within a kilometre we had a narrow (read 1 metre wide) bridge that on the return trip had runners in both directions doing fairy steps and turning sideways! The first 4.5 k's were over an out-and-back section north of the start/finish line that included a few small hills. I felt good, was moving at what I thought was a reasonable pace, but was conscious of the heat and humidity. As I normally do in races these days I refrain from constantly checking my GPS watch and try and run on 'feel'. At one point I did have a quick peak and saw I was running around 4:35 pace, too quick I thought. Later, when I checked the GPS plot it revealed I had gone through the 5k mark in 22:50, too fast for me attempting a 1:40 half!

Rail bridge just outside of Kilcunda on the way to Wonthaggi.

At about the 8k mark I could sense that I was working hard to maintain pace so backed it off a bit. The heat (and the sun on the exposed trail) was a bit of an issue and I was concerned that I was starting to feel less than stellar. I also realised that I was starting to take a peek at the watch at regular intervals, a sure sign I was concerned about something. Soon after my right hamstring started to get that feeling of imminent cramp, and I knew my day was stuffed.

At this point I am always left with the question; DNF, or battle on and finish regardless. Seeing as I have a pretty testing 21k trail run in a fortnight the obvious decision would be to DNF, but as I was nearing the turnaround point I soldiered on thinking, unless I did suddenly cramp badly, I would benefit from the mental aspect. Brain can do some funny things mid race! This section of the trail was not particularly inspiring, in fact it rolled on relentlessly and as yet another runner passed me (and gave me words of encouragement; gee I must have looked like shit, but thanks all the same, it helped), I grew more and more despondent. Only the sight of the finish line from a kilometre out helped me to pick it up and bring it home.

Crossed the finish line, took the timing transponder off my ankle and tried not to hurl it at the volunteer (not his fault), went in search of liquid refreshment and waited for Nicky to catch up. She, at least, had a good run. Her first 10k, under an hour (her goal) and obviously a PB. Well done, at least one of us had a good day. I tried not to sound uncharitable, and I wasn't. My crap day should not undermine anyone else's day. Then she informed me that Jordan had run 2nd in his 3k run. Of course neither of us were there to witness this, my son never lets truth get in the way of a good story, but because he was happy, and had enjoyed himself, we decided that was fine by us.

So.... where does that leave me and Melbourne Marathon? With the benefit of hindsight, I have looked back and identified the following;

• It was hot and humid. A quick check on weatherzone revealed that the humidity was hovering around 60% at the start and was 22 degrees. Within 20 minutes it had risen by 4 degrees. That wouldn't have helped, although it wasn't a 12 minute factor.
• I started too quickly. Once again I haven't learnt the lesson of Melbourne last year. This is the most disappointing, as it is a variable that I can control. At the 5k mark I was about 30 metres behind the woman who eventually came 2nd (in 1:35), that speaks volumes....
• I was feeling flat on the Wednesday before. I skipped a run in order to rest but the damage may already have been done. I might have been guilty of over-training, as I was keeping Rollercoaster in mind. Which brings me to the last item,
• 2 races in 2 weeks. This is not an issue in so much that I can cope with it. More so, which one was the 'A' race, and which one was the 'just run and finish' race? I am guilty of not having a clear and identifiable racing programme, which has at it's core a training programme that underpins it. Lesson learnt there!

Anyway, I may have a blinder of a run at Rollercoaster and chalk this one up as just a crap race, to be forgotten about. (Would be if I didn't record it in this blog!)

Thank you for reading. Until next time...

Subject to Change

Training so far....
So, I was supposed to run Warburton half the weekend of the 23rd. Didn't happen as (previously noted) I have run Two Bays Trail Race and am in the middle of training for Rollercoaster in late March. The change in training to longer runs with plenty of hills, meant that following my current training plan was almost impossible.

Such a pity to wake up on that Sunday morning, find a beautiful blue sky, cool temperatures, and little to no wind. Sigh..... To make up for the potential disappointment, I changed my 17k long run to incorporate a 21.1k time trial. It was as much to make up for a lost race, as to evaluate how the training plan stacked up.

A couple of things didn't go my way. Firstly I started later than I had hoped, and it was starting to get a bit warm towards the end. Secondly I suffered a cramp in my right hamstring on the return journey, something that has only really happened since I have started ramping up training for the marathon last year. Besides that, I had a fairly good run and was able to keep a consistent pace throughout.

The verdict? Plan works well for me. I will use in the lead up to Traralgon half in mid June.

Melbourne Marathon
Entries opened for the marathon on last Monday, fully 4 months before they have in previous years! Why? Maybe it is an attempt to get as many entrants as possible. I don't mind big numbers, just hope that the organisers cope with the large numbers that this race attracts.

One major change this year is that all races do not finish on the hallowed turf of the MCG, but on a path that comes of Brunton Avenue. To say this has been a little controversial is like saying that chocolate is a little addictive. Debate has raged in a few online forums about the pros and cons of such a move. Firstly it has been brought on the organisers by the MCC due to preparations for the Cricket World Cup in 2015. Clearly they don’t want us spotty runners trampling the newly laid turf, despite the best efforts of organisers. Initially I was disappointed, but soon realised there are bigger issues at stake for me as a runner.

Although having just found out that we won’t be finishing next to the statue of Shane Warne, I feel this could be a deal breaker!

Shane Warne: A man who should leave his spinning and texting fingers to science.

Rollercoaster

As mentioned above I am training for Rollercoaster, a 21.5k trail race in the Dandenong’s, east of Melbourne. Trail running is vastly different to road running, as I have found out racing at Two Bays and training on a couple of trails. Rather than hitting a pace and cadence, and holding it for the entire race, trail running requires constant changes of pace, cadence and alternately stresses the cardio system, then gives it a massive rest on the downhills.

Actually, I quite enjoy the change that trail running gives; although this race, with an elevation gain of nearly 1000 metres over the length of the course is challenging, to say the least! Trying to find training routes around my area that match this course has been difficult. To date I have located a run that gives me an elevation gain of 100m in 1.2km, a gradient of roughly 9%. Fine, you say, but the entire 21.5k race is nearly 10%. Help.....

And just as important is the downhill, there is plenty of seriously long and punishing descents to test the body. If I'm walking upright 2 days after, I haven’t really had a go!

3D view of Rollercoaster run showing the elevation and gradient.
The race starts and finishes at the top left (highest point).
(image courtesy of Veloviewer)

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
That is a line from a song from one of my favourite bands of the eighties, The Smiths. From the pen of one Stephen Patrick Morrissey comes the following lines;

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job,
and heaven knows I'm miserable now....

Yes, a strange and melancholy tune from a band often considered miserable sods. It leads me, though, into the topic of work. I have finally found a job working in Leongatha as a computer technician, and as such it has secured our stay in Victoria for another year and a half, at least. It was touch and go for a bit there, some very long and detailed discussions about me returning to Tasmania early, just to go back to the job that is currently held for me. As to the future beyond that, who knows, and given that this time last year we never expected that we would be living anywhere other than Tassie, no guarantees can be given.

And no, I'm not miserable, quite happy in fact! 
Caveat: it is a school and a Catholic one! Somehow I have slipped through the cracks :)

Until next time....