Boston Focus

Week 8: Monday March 16, 2015 - Five weeks to Boston (47 km)

Overall not a big week of running, due to the race last weekend, need for treatment and need for recovery. Feeling  a little bit panicky now that Boston Marathon is in sight.

Monday - strength training.   Physical strength and discipline required in spades, if I am to achieve my goal.

Tuesday - recovery, 7km short easy run to Mona Vale Headland. Have not been on this route for some time.  Legs were feeling remarkably fresh after running Six Foot Track Marathon last Saturday. 

Wednesday -  treatment, time to return to my other normal life. Still have to steel myself to enter the hospital and acknowledge my other life, that of being a patient. The cannula entering my vein still makes me nauseous and it was also very painful this time. Treated myself to coffee and muffin afterwards. 

Thursday - 10km pace run, to Collaroy. With treatment out of the way yesterday it was time to focus on Boston Marathon. I have about 2 weeks left to get some structured training done and recalibrate my race goals based on what I manage to complete in that time.  Today was an early start for a local run, all completed before sunrise. I always feel like I can run faster in the dark. Happy with my average pace of 5.30 min/k. Followed up with a swim at Narrabeen Ocean Pool. 

Friday - 10km social run, to Church Point.  Feeling remarkably privileged to be healthy, fit and to live in such a spectacular city.  This morning my cup of gratitude was overflowing. Just so happy to be able to run free and without pressure. 

Church Point just before sunrise - Photo Credit_BEXI

Church Point jetty - Photo Credit_BEXI

Saturday - had intended to get to my first ParkRun but I chickened out when I saw the howling wind and rain. I knew I would regret it later in the day, which I did, but it still was not enough to get me out the door. 

Sunday - long slow distance run, 21km on the IronCover Bolter STaR with the Sydney Striders.  It was dark, cool and rainy as we huddled under the one light in the car-park waiting to be sent off on the long Sunday run.  My plan was to run about 25km and see how I feel, running on no fuel and little water.  
The first 15km were done at a variable choppy pace between 5.30 and 6.00 min/k. As it was around the bay it felt a little bit crowded and I was a little concerned about tripping and falling over. It was the first in along time that the training group stayed together for over and hour before splintering. As soon as it got light, the pace cranked up and  the group split. Great to run with different people and share stories of their Six Foot Track experience. 
I finished running on my own as I skipped running the Huntley Point loop. As a result I got lost a little and had to stop quite a few times to work out where to go. Hoping the rest of the group would catch up, but it was not to be. Lesson learnt, better to be with a group and not worry about navigation. 

Feeling almost as nervous as this little bunny.