Been so long and so little me

I like that blogs are my space--my place to post about me. Me, me, me, me, me!

Ok, thanks for sticking around for the self indulgence.

The big news is that we are booked in for the great return of the T, Ex of Us. Yes, home to Texas for family, friends and for forty-two point two. (42.2 km = 26.2 miles, and that is the distance of every single marathon).

On the running front, I felt like this ...



... mostly because I had my head trimmed. But I am starting to feel the run return. It has been six weeks, and last night after 20+ km (16 miles) I was picking it up and finding cruising speed.

More importantly the clouds of tomorrow are starting to part, and I can see the sun of 2009.



By that, I can now see (with some optimism) what 2009 can be for us. 2008 is going to go down as a financial hit, with share prices and general world economies cracking our retirement nest egg. Left wondering, where to from here? I am starting to see some goals like fix the house up with a coat of paint and get into shape for a blistering Canberra marathon campaign (should San Antonio fall short of my long sort after sub 3:10).

Next post will be the announcement of our sign up for the San Antonia RnR Marathon. There is going to be some good foundations for the coming years, like my Aussie wife's newly acquired qualifications in WEP (Writing Editing and Publishing). ... and a freshly painted house.

12 months on

12 months ago Scott wrote this about what to do with a torn calf ....

"Sorry to hear this old son.

I'd just give it up for the time being. Try body surfing for a while and get back into running when you are well and truely over the current problems. I'm serious if you push it now it could mean the end of running for you for up to a year and that is not what you want.

I feel for you and hope things work out Toasty."

and in a year I ran 2 marathons and didn't start in another, had several stop running injuries and a constant struggle to string a few weeks together. I WANT to run a marathon PB but KNOW I have to build and wait. Why is this so hard?

I Macmillan'd my 43:55 10K on Sunday with my 1:37:49 Noosa Half to see a 3:26 marathon prediction and both runs about the same level. Last year I ran sub 11 for 3K at this time before the wheels fell off. Which made me think .... to stop thinking ...

Back to the main show

"Been on Intermission, writing's on the wall,
Too much Intermission, PBs bout' to fall,
Thirteen month old injuries, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in the past.

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Intermission ain't the way"

Felt good today for a 2 and a half hour easy run. Unlike last week climbing Mt Coot-tha with a sore right calf and not being able to find the bounce of the past, today was good. Tomorrow I will run the Bridge to Brisbane 10K and expect a lot better than the Noosa Half 1:37 which was only after 2 weeks back running. So stringing 4 weeks together and blowing the cobwebs with a tough trip over Brisbane running's spiritual home (Mt Coot-tha) I am now planning a set of 5 x 3 hours runs leading into San Antonio Marathon with the Melbourne half as the warm up race in the middle.

Outside this, I've been traveling for work with 3 weeks away, 2 shorter flights for day trips and only one week at home. Now to make up for lost time with Katy who can now turn a sheep into a jumper as soon as the shearer hands over the fleece (clever!). I asked for socks but she made this and I can't work out what it is.