Easter weekend continues...

Saturday 07/04/07:
Well a compulsory rest day from running today but I sure had plenty to keep me busy... Courtney had a friend stay over last night and then another friend join them today for an Easter party - complete with party food for lunch, egg painting, an egg hunt, (I hid about 50 small choc eggs all over the house!) and games of 'pin the tail on the bunny' and 'find the duck'. A good time was had by all and they're all nice girls that play well together and pretty much keep themselves amused, so its no hassle. Courtney was pretty tired by the time the last one left so it was an early dinner, bath and bed for her - while I got stuck into the Kelly Holmes autobiography I have on loan from Em. I'm now up to page 80 and totally hooked. I was surprised to see she was born 2 days after my sister! Reading about someone that grew up in the same era as I did is good - I've been able to relate on many things (not to do with running!) so far.

Sunday 08/04/07:
After the excitement of finding that Easter Bunny had indeed put in an appearance again this year, Courtney and I headed off to Lloyd Elsmore Park at 9am so that I could run at the track at the athletics club. She took her bike along as well as a couple of balls and while I ran round and round she happily played in the middle or on the track. We had it all to ourselves today, apart from the odd person with a dog who wandered across. Now that track season is over, its not all nicely mowed like it was last time I ran there, but still - at least it was running on the grass and not the roads for a change.

My warm-up today was dribbling the soccer balls around the track once with Courtney, who then took them off into the throwing nets to play while I continued. She later joined me for a couple of laps on her bike - not easy going on the longish grass - and then for one on foot, so at least I had company of sorts at times and she got plenty of exercise! After I finished we played a bit of soccer in the middle too, using the throwing nets as goals.

Have to say I felt fairly blah out there today - both mentally and physically. It crossed my mind that as I was on the track I could do an interval session, but I just had no spring in my step and my legs felt a little tired - possibly from being on the grass - or maybe just from eating too much crap the last few days! So I maintained a really easy pace throughout and managed 5.60km in just under 35mins. Probably not a bad thing tho - I don't think I could run that pace on the road if I tried, but it feels different on the grass track.

All up I've clocked up a 61.5km week - just half a km more than last week and again over 5 days. More than happy with that for now. The HM I'm looking at doing (altho haven't actually entered yet!) is only two weeks away. I haven't been following a HM plan like I usually would, but as I already have a good base and my training is quite structured right now anyway and the mileage is above what I'd be doing in the plan - I'm not worried about that.

The rest of the day was spent taking Courtney to the Royal Easter Show - now there's a way to blow plenty of money real quick! It starts as soon as they sting ya $6 for carparking and goes up from there! But I went every year when I was a kid and it was a huge deal to us, so now her and I always go along too and she loves it. We went on a couple of big rides, but mainly just enjoyed the stage shows and wandering around the pavilions, having the compulsory hotdog on a stick and chips for lunch (once a year is usually enough for me but the hotdog today was actually really good!) and Courtney got an airbrushed tattoo! (a butterfly on her tummy!)

When we got home she had a phone call from a friend asking her to come over and stay the night, so I have just dropped her off and she won't be home until late tomorrow afternoon! No points for guessing what my plans now are for in the morning...! I think a drive out to Whitford Forest will be in order for a longish, off-road run!

Oh and I have to remember to say hi and thanks to both Scott and Kathy for dropping by and leaving comments for the first time. So 'hi and thanks' Scott and Kathy - I've either already done - or will do - the same. Cheers!