It has been a big year and very different, from the VAL racing (with chronically sore ankles) early in the year and the cancelled Stawell Gift, to the loss of parkrun for most of the year. I have run slower and failed to get my speed back but the body is feeling much better on the whole.
Monday December 7th to Sunday December 13th
Summer? It was very cold on Monday morning with strong winds from the south west. Overnight there was more rain but I got through Monday's run without getting wet. I am still running without the chest heart rate strap, letting the skin heal.
I start this push to the end with only about 194 km to run to get the 3000 km. I am also chasing a cycling goal of 2000 km. I am a bit behind the goal at the moment and still need to cycle 263 km to reach that goal. Cycling has been hot and cold this year.
Mon 7/12 am: 6.63 km - 4:56 average pace - 4:39 fastest km
Mon 7/12 pm: 5.18 km - 5:04 average pace - 4:55 fastest km
.... 4x 50m intervals (average pace): 3:05, 3:15, 3:30, 3:42
.... 4x 75m intervals (average pace): 3:31, 3:31, 3:19, 3:20
.... 4x 100m intervals (average pace): 3:39, 3:23, 3:33, 3:39
I woke on Tuesday morning and just could not be bothered running. I eventually got up and went for a 16 km cycle instead. I cycled again after work, another 16 km.
Wed 9/12 am: 7.86 km - 5:04 average pace - 4:46 average pace
Run NZ - Pukekohe (1000 km in)
Thu 10/12 am: 7.60 km - 4:57 average pace - 4:39 fastest km
.... 4x 380m segment (ave pace): 4:28, 4:17, 3:59. 4:07
It was only 3 degrees on Friday morning and I ran in gloves. I chose to run some 400 metre intervals, one at the end of each 2 km section. After the second I took a toilet break and inadvertently stopped the watch so the run was split in two.
Fri 11/12 am: 7.45 km - 4:56 average pace - 4:30 fastest km
.... 3x 400m intervals (ave pace): 3:55, 3:55, 4:03
On Saturday morning I was up early again and heading off to Mirboo North to run the Grand Ridge Rail Trail with the running crew. We ran a warm up together and then I ran the 5 km with Mathieu. I finished with a warm down.
Sat 12/12 am: 2.53 km - 5:34 average pace - 5:24 fastest km
Sat 12/12 am: 5.03 km - 4:28, 4:28, 4:29, 4:22, 4:07 - 22:04
Sat 12/12 am: 2.00 km - 5:40 average pace
On Sunday morning I stayed in bed a bit and then headed out to Meeniyan to run the end of a virtual Melbourne Marathon with fellow Road Runner Julian. It was a bit stop start after I caught up with them but I did cover over 13 km just running. Later this afternoon I rode the bike 25 km. I am chasing a 2000 km annual cycle target and have reached 1810 km so there is still 190 km to cycle in the last 18 days of the month.
Sun 13/12 am: 13.31 km - 5:24 average pace - 4:52 fastest km
Monday December 14th to Sunday December 20th
My Monday morning run was run at pretty good pace, right from the start.
Mon 14/12 am: 7.21 km - 4:46 average pace - 4:32 fastest km
Tue 15/12 am: 8.46 km - 4:53 average pace - 4:39 fastest km
In between the Monday and Tuesday runs I cycled around 50 km, 27 on Monday evening and 22 at dawn on Tuesday. I am chasing down my goals of 5000 km for the year - 3000 running and 2000 cycling. As it stands after the Tuesday morning cycle and run, I have run 2878 km (122 to go) and have cycled 1860 km (140 to go). I want to break the cycling goal this week as I will be away for a few days next week, most likely without the bike.
I finished Tuesday with another 16 km cycle before tea.
Wed 16/12 am: 7.41 km - 4:51 average pace - 4:39 fastest km
I took the day off running on Thursday, thinking about running with the Headlampers in the evening but then choosing no to. I rode both in the morning and after dinner - covering 32 km with 20 km early and 12 after tea. I rode again on Friday morning as the run was later in the morning with other teachers on the last day run.
Fri 18/12 am: 7.85 km - 5:21 average pace - 4:38 fastest km
Sat 19/12 am: 2.07 km - 5:22 average pace - (not) parkrun warmup
Sat 19/12 am: 5.01 km - 21:44 - 4:09, 4:16, 4:29, 4:22, 4:24 - 4:20 average pace
Sat 19/12 am: 2.23 km - 5:08 average pace
Sun 20/12 am: 2.62 km - 5:04 average pace
Sun 20/12 am: 7.66 km - 4:52 average pace - 4:42 fastest km
I am really struggling with the statin drugs that my doctor has me on at the moment (for cholesterol). My muscles ache and I get terrible leg cramps at night. It is really restricting my running speed. It was no accident that the only fast run in recent times (at Newhaven) was when I forgot to take the tablet.
Monday December 21st to Sunday December 27th
I drove to the city on Sunday, ready to get down to the surf coast first thing on Monday. I started Monday morning with a run on the outskirts of the city, circumnavigating both the MCG and Docklands and getting between them via Southbank.
Mon 21/12 am: 9.33 km - 5:01 average pace - 4:42 fastest km - Melb City
Tue 22/12 am: 9.15 km - 5:03 average pace - 4:47 fastest km - Mount Duneed
Wed 23/12 am: 8.54 km - 4:53 average pace - 4:43 fastest km - Mount Duneed
After my run on Wednesday morning I was sitting on 2940 km for the year - only 60 km to go with eight days remaining.
I took myself of statins (for high cholesterol) after my dose on Monday morning. I have done some readig and have some concerns from that but my major concern is how they make me feel (I suspect it is them). My legs are constantly feeling heavy and I have a heavyness of the chest while running. My aim is to see if there is improvement as they leave my system and keep some records before I return to the doctor.
Thu 24/12 am: 9.50 km - 5:03 average pace - 4:40 fastest km - Torquay
Run New Zealand - Coromandel
Thu 24/12 pm: 5.20 km - 6:37 average pace - Headlampers Christmas run
Christmas 2020 - Christmas morning usually starts with a parkrun so I arranged a small group run at the Guide Park in Wonthaggi. There was around ten runners there. I put in an effort and ran well early but faded quite a bit. I really need to work on race fitness.
Fri 25/12 am: 2.83 km - 4:44 average pace
Fri 25/12 am: 5.01 km - 3:52, 3:59, 4:05, 4:15, 4:13 - 4:05 average pace
Sat 26/12 am: 8.01 km - 4:58 average pace - 4:49 fastest km - Max HR 153 (Ave 142)
Sun 27/12 am: 6.40 km - 5:03 average pace - 4:51 fastest km - Max HR 163 (Ave 142)
Monday December 28th to Thursday December 31st
After a big 60-plus week last week there was less than 25 km to run to reach the 3000 milestone. After a week on the statins the cramping has disappeared and the legs feel much more comfortable when running.
Mon 28/12 am: 9.40 km - 4:53 average pace - 4:41 fastest km (x2) - Max HR 154 (Ave 134)
Tue 29/12 am: 8.10 km - 4:54 average pace - 4:45 fastest km - Max HR 148 (Ave 139)
After my run I collected my road bike from the bike repair shop. I cycled an 8 km circuit home and then cycled again, after dinner, out to Kilcunda and back (28 km).
I am now well on the way to the 5000 km target. I have 5 km to run to reach 3000 km and then I have 20 km to cycle to get my 2000 km.
After finally rising on Wednesday morning I ran the final five and a bit kilometres to reach the 3000 km for 2020. It has been a push to get there but I did it with a day to spare. I have been floating near the 10 km over goal for much of the year.
Wed 30/12 am: 5,82 km - 4:57 average pace - 4:47 fastest km - Max HR 152 (Ave 138)
On Thursday I had a rest day from running but, after breakfast, I got the bike out and cucled out to Cape Paterson and back. The 21 plus kilometres took me past 2000 km of cycling for 2020.
My goal of 5000 km in 2020 was achieved, comfortably in the end.
In the past SIX years (2015 to 2020) I have run 19301.8 km, having passed the 3000 km mark in each of those six years.It is a record that I am quite proud of.
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