Time to rest up...

Tuesday 27/02/07:
Thanks for all of the comments on Townsville/Magnetic Island - I'm even more keen to go over now! My sister doesn't actually get to run a whole lot from home anyway, as she travels alot internationally for work - mainly Asia Pac. but also London, Dubai, etc, at times - which is why it makes little difference to her where she actually lives. Her partner on the other hand is a GM of resorts and gets transferred quite often. They've lived in some lovely locations since they've been together and I've got to visit many places this way! She had already lived in Melb for many years before meeting him - he's originally from the GC. She has an thing for 'Aussie guys' - what can I say?!?!

Second to last longish run of the HM training plan today - after Saturday its all under 35min runs till the 11th March! Seems to be quite a substantial amount of tapering for a HM, but who am I to argue?! This plan helped me to achieve a course PB at Auck in Oct and an overall PB at Kerikeri 3wks later - altho I'm not expecting one this time, due to the type of terrain and course profile... just want to do my best on the day and enjoy it.

For the first time in a couple of weeks, conditions were less than ideal for running at 5.30am when I headed out - altho still not too bad... Just a bit of wind and a slight sprinkling of rain at one stage, which I actually enjoyed! Did a steady out and back, turning after 30mins. Several other runners out this morning, appearing thru the darkness! Everything felt comfortable, apart from my tummy a few times - which was still giving me a bit of grief. I had popped an Imodium before going to bed and before heading out 'just in case'! Seem to have come right today, so need to lay off them now...

Brisk walk warmup: 5mins
Steady paced run: 61.02mins - 12.52km - Max 4.09min/km, Ave 4.52min/km.
Brisk walk cooldown: 4mins

Yes, I went a tad further before stopping in order to tick over to 12.5 ! Yes, you're right 2P, I am already a slave to the Polar, as predicted by Ewen - but then I knew that would be the case! Still having fun with it tho.

Another hectic day on the front lines and to make it worse, the unthinkable has happened... the lady I employed - who I have been spending all my time training for the last 7 days - has decided she has bitten off more than she can chew and resigned! Grrrrrr! Unfortunately tho, I have to agree with her and better to find out now rather than down the track. I have convinced her to stay on in a general admin role to help me out, until I can replace her or such time as she finds a new position... back to the drawing board.

Therefore, when I arrived at Mariannes for my massage, it is fair to say I was fairly tense and stressed and wound-up... It took me ages to actually relax on the table! Even got an extra 10mins free tonight, as it was my 5th visit! Free session after the 10th - can't complain about that! Again she worked from my glutes down and it was the calves and shins that hurt the most - the pressure was only just bearable at times, especially in the shins, very tender.
However I came away feeling absolutely great, relaxed and refreshed. I think tonights session was just as good for my mental state as it was for my physical!

The plan - for the only time over 10 weeks - now suggests two rest days in a row...! Whatever will I do with myself! Nah, I'm not quite that bad! In fact it was great timing with the massage and God knows I can do with a couple of extra hours sleep right now. At this point in the plan last time - in fact on this very day of the plan - I was off to Hobart & Melb for a week!

Had to laugh at Courtney this evening - when I got home she was all exasperated - she'd found out today that she will have to pull out of the Chess Club that she has just joined at school, due to being choosen for the "Science Club" today - as they both meet on Tues lunch times! My daughter the nerd - all 7 years of her! Hee hee, cute!