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 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 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 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 7 DAY 1

So fast forward about 6 weeks and here we are.... 9 weeks until race day and hideously undertrained.
After nearly 4 weeks of travelling for work and pleasure I find myself in August. So Monday I took myself off to the gym (the weather is windy here in Adelaide and makes running on the beach just hideous) for some kms. I don't mind the treddy as I can control the incline and the speed which helps me with time goals.
So this week's session and my first session in weeks had me do 0.5km walk intervals on 9.0 incline at about 5.6 av speed and 1.0km run intervals varying from 6.8-7.7km/hr on 4 incline.
Felt good that I could still run and could get in 8 km on my first session.
Back again tomorrow for my last day of leave. I then have the challenge of only 3 days off for the rest of August.

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!

MARATHON RUNNING: TRAINING FOR NEW YORK 2013

If you are thinking of doing a marathon or want to know what it is like to train for one, please head over to my blog : http://brionybullardmarathonfit.blogspot.com.au/
This tells the tale of what training I did, some of the food I used in training and of course the all important race report. It is a blog covering 9 months of training for the New York Marathon, which I ran as a 40th birthday present to myself. Plenty of ubiquitous Garmin photos with distances and times. The race was the inspiration for the forming my group the Dungog Dashers who even 2 years on are still meeting up at races, going to surprise birthday parties and catching up all over the world.
This race and the lead up to it truly changed my life for the better. The people I met through this race have enriched my life more than I could ever have imagined.
You can also read about my latest gathering with them in New York, during March by clicking the links below.

RACE EXPO
RACE DAY
MILE 10 CHEER SQUAD
POST RACE DRINKS

Thank you for reading :)

TRAINING: WALKING (JUNE 21 2015)

Mum and I headed out very early at 6:30 am in 6C temperature. No wind and virtually no cloud. Great morning for a long walk.

I did forget to turn off the Garmin until about 45 minutes after we got in!
So time was about 2:14 and distance would have been really about 10.8km
A smashing day here in the Rads.
So if you are pondering over whether to go out, put your shoes on, grab your iPod and just walk.
At least you will be out getting some sunshine, topping up your Vitamin D and burning some calories.
Enjoy your Sunday!
#garmin
#dasherlife
#lifeofanoneliteathlete

16/06/15 STADIUM STOMP AFTERMATH

Oh dear god, I am so out of practice with recovery. So kind of neglected the foam roller or stick on Sunday (first mistake). Walking on Monday, difficult and sitting down all day wouldn't have helped. Middle of the night on Tuesday morning, I had to get on the roller, almost instant relief, but then got up at 7:30...ugh
Went for a 5 km walk, see below how long it took me to get from mine to Henley jetty!.
Under that, that is me in Ikea, going down the stairs, sideways, one at a time like a geriatric.
Got in an epsom salts bath tonight which was helpful but now I have sat down, the lactic acid is back.
Legs are sore to even touch. I have got the stick and am trying to use that. Adductors are very very sore.
Wanting to do the event at the MCG but don't want to be like this :)
Still, great challenge the #stadiumstomp ! Don't let that put you off!
#dasherlife

14/06/15 STADIUM STOMP

A little quiet on the blogging front this week. I have felt under the weather and the winter having set in here has initiated some hibernation activity in me. However, today, I took on the challenge of 6000 steps of the Adelaide Oval. First week in a long time I won't be anywhere near 30 km and you know what, that is ok.

My friend Louise joined me for this event (we went to NYC in 2013). It was tough but it was fun. About half way through, the glutes were caning and coming downstairs was just jelly leg central/
Total course was about 4 km, took us about 1:15. For those who know me, stairs are not my forte, especially coming down, but I did really well, even on the steep upper levels. Not even a little wobble. So Lofty and Stairmaster, is good training. Not sure how you get down stairs training except by going down the stairs!

When I got home, I was totally spent. Walking around the supermarket was a zombie effort (when you need groceries you gotta go, especially when your later afternoon is being taken up with Entourage movie in Gold Class!!).
Had a short nap and as I write this I am not sure I can make it to the end of Masterchef. Laundry is done, dishwasher has been put on and bins put out.

#dasherlife
#asics
#garmin
#stadiumstomp
#adelaide

Tesltra Plaza, Adelaide Oval

Me outside Adelaide Oval

Ready to Stomp- Finally got a bib number I am happy with.

Louise and I found this sign just towards the end of the course... And yes we are.

Louise and I- just started. We had also just seen my tweet of my bib on the big screen. Dasherlife got to be on the big screen at the Oval.

Yep- these steps hurt.

One of many UPS.

Don't look down.

Yep- they are steep.

Finish Line- ACDC was on as I came across

Great Venue

Finisher! With my bling.

Louise and I with our bling.

More bling pics

Couple of red lines where there shouldn't be, but hilarious map.

Hot Fireys Going to Stomp in full get up.

09/06/15 STAIRMASTER

It's cold this week. I am cold. Stairmaster tonight in preparation of Stadium Stomp on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
Back for a session of dry needling tomorrow. Dinner tomorrow night so will give the legs a rest tomorrow.

#asics
#stairmaster
#dasherlife
#dashers

07/06/15 SUNDAY DOUBLE

So with a weekend that has been rather hefty on the food, I had to head to the gym to redeem some calories (got about 800 back- or so). This brought me to about 30 km in the last 2 days. Sometimes you've just got to keep moving. Should be heading out to do something tomorrow as well, not sure what yet, I will see what the weather brings but I may even give myself a bit of a sleep in.

07/06/15- Long Walk #2 with Mum

So the long weekend continues. Walking with Mum to Glenelg. Stop at Cibo for our long black with steamed milk and 1/2 a tuna sandwich each. Good time made, nothing speedy. There was a seal in the ocean lolling around in the waves which was lovely to see. Weather still great. Been a lovely long weekend so far.

06/06/15 Long walk with Mum

Great morning for a walk. It was 6 degrees C, so three layers required. Lovely photo op on the bridge.
Walked to Henley and met Mum. We walked on to Grange and then back to Henley where I walked towards home, but not before taking a detour up the river. No great pace but good distance. Good way to start the long weekend after a lovely dinner at Sosta in town last night for my brother's 40th. Tonight is pizza for dinner at a friend's house.

02/06/15 LOFTY followed by DRY NEEDLING

Chilly but sunny day here in the Rads. Lofty was the event for today with Sami and Ev. We ran part of the way up and ran some of the way down. With more practice, and an unaggravated hamstring I am sure I can run more. Running down was good and it was nice because I ran between the girls (one in front and one behind) so keeping up was not a problem and considering their average time on the road is about 5:10/km on the trail there were points where we were running at 6:00-6:45/km pace.  I am just baffled at how my asthma has literally disappeared. Was just a fabulous afternoon and it was my fastest ever up and down by I reckon at least 8-10 minutes. Glutes absolutely caned so there was a few stops on the way up but I was so happy with a 56 minutes up time.
We ate at a local cafe for lunch (entertainment book) which was nice and I got to treat myself to a burger.
Got dry needled again this afternoon and am quite sore. 8 cm needles lodged in my flutes, hamstrings and thighs and wiggled around until they twitch and release. It certainly showed in my glutes this week with them not reacting so much to the needles. The right hamstring however went nuts and my quad well, it could barely be touched before needling. Both muscles like rocks. Another session next week and then I will have a rest to see how it goes.