BAY 2 CITY RACE REPORT - MARCH 19 2016

Bay 2 City is the sister reverse race of the City 2 Bay here in Adelaide.
The City 2 Bay is one of my favourite races, run over a 12km course from town down to Glenelg.
Bay 2 City in 2015 was in April the weather was perfect.
This year, the race for no particular reason that I can find out was a month earlier. March is always hot here in Adelaide. It as forecast to be about 28C which for me is a hot run.

The race started at 8 am, I'd honestly be happy for it to start earlier. The appeal of this race is it is so much smaller than the City 2 Bay. This race attracts no more than 4000, the Cit 2 Bay- 40,000.

I met with my friend Julia (Rubenesque Runner) who was in the final stages of training for London Marathon. She was race fit and went off like a rocket (we are usually similar pace). I had bought my bib from her as fund raising for the Heart Foundation for her marathon campaign.

It's a great course, presumed uphill (as in City 2 Bay you feel you are going downhill) but is flat bar a couple of short inclines, one up a bridge at the end. The race starts at Colley Reserve at Glenelg, travels up Jetty Road, left on to Brighton Road and then it's straight up Anzac Highway to the city.
This year rather than going down Currie St from West Terrace and on to Morphett Street bridge, it turned from West Terrace on to Franklin St and then through Light Square on to the bridge and then right towards the finish.

I wasn't race fit for this race, after just training to 5 km for the Friendship run in Tokyo. However, after coming back from Tokyo I did a 7, 10 and then a 12 on the treddy so I knew that I would be able to cover the distance. I didn't rule out a PB (1:28) but knew it was only a very slim possibility.

It got quite warm by about 8km. At 10.5km, due to the heat, I began to get my calf cramps (magnesium- need to start back on that!!!), but knew with not far to to go it wouldn't be like Melbourne where for 5 kms, I ran in pain but still got a PB.

Finished officially in 1:32:06 which I was totally happy with as not really race fit. So I did well.
I did experience post race cramp like I never had when I flexed my calf. IT went on for about 5 minutes. I had Julia and her friend massaging my legs. It finally went away but was a note to self to reintroduce the magnesium and increase dosage towards race day.

I hope they put this race back to April for 2017- the chance of cooler temps makes it so much more attractive.

Ubiquitous Garmin Shot

Me, Julia and her friend

#garmin
#Garminaustralia
#asics
#dasherlife
#dashernation

BRIONY'S STILL RUNNING!

Well- its been months, but I've been racing and training.

City to Bay in mid September went well- got a bit warm so a little over PB time.
The Melbourne Half went really well in the end. I got sub 2:40 which was 3 minutes faster than NYC- so pleased.

Then I got sick.

A trip to South Africa in November was fabulous, but I got worse until I was sent to hospital in the 3rd week of November with suspected pneumonia. Thankfully it was not but my asthma was so bad it was replicating pneumonia. Was better by December, and then I had my Gran's 100th in early January.

January 11th I began again, birthday's over, sickness gone. 78 days later, I am still going. Inspired by a friend in the US who is currently on Streak Day #120 something. So the Streak began.... and hasn't stopped. Minimum of 7 sessions of exercise (or min 1km) across 7 days. If a day is missed because of work it is made up as soon as possible in that week. So far a success and nearly 300 kms achieved.

There has been a trip to the Tokyo Marathon with my dear friend Anthea to cheer some friends around the course, including our favourite Belgian who completed her 6th marathon major.

Last week was round 2 of Bay to City- no position to run as up until end of February my longest run had been 5km- in preparation for the Friendship Run in Tokyo. No PB but a time of 1:32 I was pleased with the result.

Next race is a 10k up in Salisbury and also on the local calendar, a 10k at Semaphore.

The big race for the year will be the Philadelphia Half in November with a warm up at the Rocky Run in Philly the week before.

Watch this space for some posts from Tokyo and Bay to City.

Thanks for following :)

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 10 DAY 3

All I can say is #dontbeafraid
OMG this is my fastest ever 10 in history. Faster than the last treddy effort on the Saturday night.
Run intervals at 10/10.5 and pushing it up to 11.0km/hr.
Run intervals really 300-500 at that speed. Walk intervals 200 at the start but reduced to 100 when doing only 300 running.
OMG. So chuffed. Next goal is under 65 but that is going to take some work.
Just got to get this kind of speed up to 15km distance.
Still got 6 weeks. Hoping for some #racedaymagic.
Finally can do this without running out of air.

Giddy Up, Happy Running.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 10 DAY 2

So back on the treddy. It was my first mid week day off in weeks. I had the alarm set for 5:30 am t go out for 14 kms. It went off and I reset for 8:30. Just needed a sleep in. It has been a long 3 weeks since I got back from leave.

I'm definitely #racefit for City2Bay. no doubt about it. The fast 10 km on the treddy a couple of weeks back showed me that.

See what tomorrow brings. Long runs are necessary but so are some quality short ones.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 9 DAY 7 - LOFTY

So this week was really a total right off. I gave myself a couple of impromptu rest days after last Sunday's mini marathon. That turned into a rest week. Far too tired from work and just wanted to beat one with my couch. So this morning was lofty with Katie. Ignore the time, it said we got up there in 34 mins and it was only 2.8 kms (yet we had parked about 500 m away from the start), so who knows.
In any case with was a ripper morning (all be it hideously fresh at the bottom). Great view from the top and obligatory summit photo with my buddy :)
Back down and home by 10 am which was great.
Let's see how this weekend pans out. Tuesday will be the best day for a long run and the target is 14km (so waking up early on my first double days off in weeks).  7 weeks to go.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 7 - ADELAIDE MARATHON DAY

Today, for some it was marathon day. For me it started as a 12km long run up to the city to meet Sam and cheer on the marathoners and the halfers. The day finished very differently.
Was up at 5:45 and out the door by about 6:20am. It was fresh but perfect running weather.
Sub 1:40 not a bad time for the 12km. Met up with Sam and we based ourselves at the weir for cheering. My friend Julia was running her first marathon and I had promised I would have a bit of a run with her each time she passed. This plan also finished differently. Like me she is a back of the packer. She had had a sprained ankle 7 weeks out on a 30km run. She came past me at 13 km and off we went for a bit of a trot, just 1/2km to get her under the bridge and on her way.

Good morning!

Not a bad time for a training run

Sam and I at the weir, preparing for cheering duties

After that, we waited for some people to come past on their way back around to the botanic loop. Steve Moneghetti was running and Sam and I managed to get this selfie as he came past.

Not sure why but I am all cross eyed. Sam, Steph, Ev and I!

So the girls had left and I knew that Julia would be coming around the weir again at about 27 km to head back up the hill to North Adelaide. She was in a bad way. There were tears and talks of pulling out. I wasn't having a bar of it. You can't come 27 km of a 42 km race and pull out. So we joined forces and we walked the next 15 km to the finish. Her ankle was sore, everything was sore. I get that, I've been there. Twice. If it never hurt, everyone would do it. The ankle was a bit of a worry but she wasn't limping and was still moving forward, so I was confident she would be ok. So for 15 pretty brutal km, we talked, we walked and we got to the finish. At about 38km we had got a message from Julia's husband who was at the finish that they had saved a medal (she was only a little over the 6 hour cut off). That was enough to spur her on to keep going as honestly, it's the bling that makes this idiocy that we put ourself through worthwhile. We got there, and so my day went from a 12 km training run to actually around 30 km ( if you count the back and forths from the weir to the oval and then my walk to Currie St). The bus was going to be 26 mins so I got a cab.

Today was one of the first times, since volunteering a year ago in NYC, that I have been able to give back to some one in the running community. To see someone become a marathoner for the first time is really truly amazing. It was a great day and topped off by Julia's daughter putting her medal around her neck as she came over the line. I only had one day off this week and I spent most of it at this running festival. Great, great day. 

So what you need to know is this entire day was fuelled by a honey stinger wafer and a medium cappuccino. I do not condone this type of fuelling for this distance, but it can be done. At no time was I hungry, AT ALL. Nor did I feel that I was lacking energy.

Needless to say though, I nearly cleared out the local supermarket of food and have since inhaled that and a piece of Red Square Cheese (cheese = protein).

I've had a shower and a snooze and am currently wearing all sorts of compression. 

My unplanned afternoon of compression

And hideous minutes on this tool of torture

This is me.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 3

Long day at the office today so I have taken the night off from training. It's Wednesday and I worked. I don't work Wednesdays. Everything is not quite right!.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 2

Well this one is even blurrier than the last one.
Legs are caning, glutes are tight and need some attention. Short walk today. Hoping for a run tomorrow.
Everything needs needling (this soon???).
Let's see what happens but it's a mental struggle at the moment.

Happy Running

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 8 DAY 1

So the physio is now on speed dial. Dry needling is coming.
After Saturday's MONSTER effort, the legs are saying "you are doing this again??".
That really should have been a slow slow run.... epic fail.
Sore to touch, the muscles on the inside of my lower thighs need a bit of waking up.
So spent this evening walking uphill to walk out the legs. Back to a run tomorrow.
Mr Foam Roller is back in my world. I have not missed it. Also got the stick out, one of the other tools of torture to give the legs some treatment.
And I love miscounting weeks until race day. It was 9 weeks yesterday..... yippee, I'm ahead (not really).
And after one week, I'm wearing my glutes as earrings.

#dasherlife

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 6

So solo Saturday turns into a PB Party.
Was sitting at homing pining for NYC. I had 10 km planned for tomorrow as my first long run for this half (leaving it rather late as we all know!). Was so bored I got dressed and headed to the gym just after 9:00 pm to do tomorrow's 10 today.
On the treddy by 9:20. Finished by 10:30. Ran on 0 incline (because I didn't realise I had forgotten to put it up until about km #5!!!
Fastest ever everything!!!

4k @28:49
5k @35:40
6k@43:10
8k @57:00
10k @71:10

Just goes to show when you think you can't, you can.
I ran this session on intervals again with the walks at about 6.3km/hr (0.3km/hr faster than last 2 sessions) and the runs at 9.5-10km/hr.
Walks were all 200m. Run intervals varied from 500-800m and I did run a 1km interval towards the start at 9.5km/hr.
Bear in mind, I have hardly run for 2 months and just ran a PB over every distance.
This is my 5th run this week. Definitely rest day tomorrow now.
Totally smashed it out of the ball park.
So all those time trials I talked about yesterday? #doneanddusted !!!!!

Happy running, enjoy your Sunday!



#dasherlife
#racefit

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 5

Sub 40 5 km time trial SUCCESS!!!
Ran the last couple of intervals on 9.5 and 10km/hr!

Still on the interval pyramid which I am liking for the moment.
200/200/200/500/200/600/200/800/200/600/200/500/200/500 (because I wanted my sub 40!)

Once again running on an incline and next week will up that 0.5 to 2.5 to further test my fitness.
Next goal is sub 60 8km followed by a sub 1:15 10 km
When I achieve those I will know I am moving forward to race fitness.
Hoping to get the 8km by 25 August and the 10km 10 days following that which will bring me to 2 weeks before City to Bay where I want to go for the sub 1:30 across the 12km.

Happy Running!

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 3

So 3 days in a row. I wasn't quite fast enough on the run intervals so missed my sub 40.
Ran on a mini pyramid.
200/200/200/400/200/600/200/800/200/600/200/500/200/300/200
2.0 incline. Used 5.8-6.0 for walk intervals and runs varied from 7.5-9.5
Its the best way to push up the speed and test fitness. I used to run on zero incline but now find I can do a slight incline with no trouble.

Had a rest day on Thursday.
Happy Running

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 7 DAY 2

And back again to the gym as weather was less than fabulous and once again hideously windy. To give my hip flexors a rest I did an uphill walk for 5 km on 11 incline.
So totally boring but just a necessity as we race towards Oct 18th.
Diet is back under control with ample boiled eggs and yoghurt. Madarins are on the menu as they are just AMAZING at the moment.
Still trying to reduce my sugar intake. I am at about 51g which is about 13 tspns a day (this has been the average for the last 2 days). This is double the recommended amount however, if I took out the sugar from Fruit and Veg then that accounts for 35.3g which would bring me down to 16g which is 4 tspns and below the recommended amount. So in the right direction.
Not sure of tomorrow's plans. It is back to work and it could be a loooong day.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 1 DAY 7 - I CAN STILL RUN!

So for those following at home you will know that after the NYC Half, I struggled with hamstring issues that have only had me run on race day- which is twice since March. With dry needling, I have got rid of the hamstring issue and so today, I ran.
I am 0.9kg of my 1st goal weight of 69.9 kgs (under 70) and am off to Vegas for a conference soon.
Todays session, involved 4 x 1.3 km runs at relatively good speed from 7.5-9.0/km/hr on 3 incline.
I walked 500 uphill on 9 incline, ran, then did 700 m walk intervals on 9 incline, finishing with a 1 km walk on the 9.0 incline.
After pizza for lunch, I needed to expend some energy.
Really pleased with my first actual training "run". Excited I can actually still run. Was thinking I would have been totally crap but it was actually really good. Sore hip flexors late in the peace which were relieved while sticking my fingers in them while I ran (TMI???).
Feeling ok now, hoping restless legs don't keep me up.
Happy running!

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 1 DAY 3

2 days in a row.
Felt like death this morning so didn't get up as planned to walk long. Took the opportunity to sleep in a bit to try and keep my self from succumbing to the "team sickness".
So just went for a walk up the river. Ran up the hilly bits which was trying but ok.
So using this week to get back some motivation with the hope to be able to have a run in Vegas and Central Park in a couple of weeks.....even in the ridiculous heat.

MELBOURNE HALF MARATHON TRAINING: WEEK 1 DAY 2

.....And it begins again. It has taken me a long time to get back from Stadium Stomp on 14 June. That really quite damaged me at a time where mentally I needed to stay out there and keep going. Had it not, I am sure I would have exercised through the June 30 roller coaster. I went out iceskating today with my friend Sami and her girls, so spent 45 mins hoping I didn't fall over and break anything but got quite good in the end. I had always planned to go the to gym and do a walk (actually to be honest I was going to walk to the iceskating but it all got too hard). When Sami dropped me at home, I am not sure what happened but got on the couch and slept hard for over 2 hours. Woke up feeling like a truck ran over me. The ice-cream must have had valium in it or something. Anyway, it took me the best part of over an hour and a half to wake up properly, and get myself dressed and get in the car.
Was nice to finally be doing something and getting back in that mindset.
13 weeks and 5 days until race day.

PRODUCT REVIEW: HONEYSTINGER WAFFLE- GINGER

I had some American friends who used these and other Honey Stinger products for fuel during running. I managed to try some of these at the New York Half Marathon Expo this year and bought a box as I really like the flavour.
They are nice and light and not as sweet as other fuels which I really like. I cannot stand that hideous sugar after taste that comes with a lot of running fuel. Each pack only 160 calories, gives you something to chew on rather than suck back like a gel so makes a great pre race fuel. It is a "honey based energy food made with natural ingredients". There are some other syrups/sweet ingredients in there, please use your own judgement to decide if this product suits you, your diet or your beliefs about food.
I really like them.





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TRAINING: THE MENTAL STRUGGLE

So this week I posted about "Sprinting to a Different Finish Line". The finish line that is the end of the Australian financial year and the end of a 12 month incentive that the company I work for runs every year. The prize for reaching very high goals is a trip to somewhere in the world for the weekend. That somewhere is always known from the 3rd week of July of that financial year. This year, the destination is Las Vegas. We get a big party on the Friday (last year Will.I.Am  was the DJ), we have a conference on the Saturday with guest speakers (last year, Will.I.Am, John Prendergast and Li Cun Xin- Mao's Last dancer). Saturday night, we have a ball and a guest act (last year, Jesse J and Havana Brown). Other guest speakers have been Michael J Fox, Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong, Andre Agassi. It's big business this ball. I go every year and as I said, this year is the first year I won't go as an individual, but we are with in a hair's width of going as a team. My job is consuming; emotionally, mentally and sometimes physically. By physically I mean when it is coming down the wire to qualify, work days are long, it's dark when you leave, you are tired, mentally spent. I was just talking to one of the boys yesterday saying that even thought I was out of action for nearly a week after Stadium Stomp, the week following (the one just going past) has meant I have done nothing. I feel crap for not doing so but feel too crap to do so. Vicious cycle that I know one walk/ gym session will stop. I have been lazy. I've been working nearly 12 hour days and also working on my days off just for that opportunity to go to "The Paradise of Vice". This isn't normal in my job. I have taught myself to leave on time, but at this very pointy end of the year, there is more to do than normal. I don't want to get to June 30 and say maybe I should have done this or that. I'm tired, I'm exhausted, I'm spent. Tomorrow is also my day off. I am going in to work for 4 hours. Then I will come home. Sunday is a day off. I will more than likely take that day off too as my manager is having her 30th party. Conveniently, just around the corner from my house.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, do it well, and have fun.
#globalcampaign

RACE REPORT: NEW YORK MARATHON 2013 - NEW YORK

In 2013, I ran the New York Marathon. I ran this as a 40th birthday present to myself.
Click here for my race report.
It is a day that changed my life. The people I met through that race as still in my life and have become some of my closest friends. The positive power of social media.
Hope you enjoy the read.
BB

PRODUCT REVIEW: THORLO EXPERIA SOCKS

I only had one pair of these socks for a very long time. For some reason I found them not ideal compared to other socks I had. I then bought about 6 pairs at the NYC Marathon expo in Nov 2014 and have never looked back. They have become one of my favourite brands of socks. Available in so many colours, I love them. They are fitted giving support around the arch. Padded to provide cushioning on both the ball of the foot and the heel. At the expo they normally have 3 pairs for $45USD which is such good value as they are about $30AUD a pair here. Can't go wrong with a deal like that!. They aren't left/right sculptured, but I still like them. If you are not used to padding on your socks you may wish to try with one pair first.




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