The distance running thread

[ism22]

Just paid my dues for a few distance events this year (a half marathon and a 30km trail run). Also deciding whether to do city2surf this year as it's shorter but it's a day after my birthday so we could go to Sydney, have a big dinner/drinks and then I could run it off the next day.

Japan visit's in the middle (July) so I'd like to do something there if possible.

Any other runners on here? Be interested to hear which events you're doing and how your training's tracking along.

[A Country Member]

Pretty much sprint focused these days. HIIT. Like, when then a try has possibly been scored, I’ll dart off to the dunny and get back to my seat before a decision has been made. Relief. I also like to intersperse these efforts with bolts to the bar and back. Luckily the homebrews like to be agitated before opening. Crushin it

[ism22]

This Sunday be looking out for Jizzy in the Canberra Marathon Festival.

I'm only doing the 1/2 (don't have time or inclination to train for a full marathon). However, it should be fun! Got a mate (10+ years younger) who spends $$$ on his shoes and supplements. Looking forward to smoking him with my bog standard gear...

[ism22]

For those who are interested, my run was rather cruisy and I got a PB. To walk you all through it...

Chapter 1: the prep work
- I started off on the wrong foot for the day. In short my mum's visiting, the in-laws are visiting, I said the wrong thing to my wife about something and nobody would get out of their bed in the morning to say 'good luck' or offer me a lift. My son was up though and needed entertainment... in the form of trying to teaching him how to make woven bracelets using nonsensical Chinese instructions. It was a mess but I finally worked out how to do those bracelets, got him a breakfast, he said 'good luck daddy' and I was winning!!!

- Got in the car and 1/2 way to the run (past the point of no return as I was on a main road) I realised that I'd forgotten my Garmin watch. Doh! All this planning to stick to a target pace and now I didn't even have my Garmin!!! After a loud 'faaaaaaark!!!!' [which nobody heard], I turned on ABC classic. They were doing a show about Beethoven and how he'd been an underdog doing church music that nobody wanted to play. It was a surprisingly good way to prep me for my run as it chilled me out, but also gave me a feel-good story about an underdog (just like Jizzy Balboa, of course).

Chapter 2: pre-run, finding a pace setter

- I was planning to meet one of my colleagues for the run (who I knew had a Garmin). However, since my inability to find a park (and the fact neither of us brought phones) left us in limbo, the start was a bit weary. I couldn't find him after waiting where I'd promised for ~20 minutes so I started choosing a pace runner to go with.

- Choosing a pace runner was tough as (without quoting times), my target is well below the elite times but towards the faster end of the next best group. These runs have pace setters who jog around in groups with flags advertising a time. Trouble was... I didn't wanna go with the slower group as it was too slow and the elite group woulda completely burned me. Just as I made up my mind that I'd freestyle between the two & hope for the best, I heard a familiar voice. 'Hey Jizzy... good to see you'. It was my colleague. After a quick Jizzy story, suddenly all the pieces were coming into place.

Chapter 3: the first third of the run

- The start of these big runs is always a pain because the lesser runners always over-estimate their ability (so start in front & block you) while the more talented runners go all conservative and seed themselves behind you.

- This is where my trail experience came into play. Mindful that there were sensors everywhere (ready to disqualify me if I went too far off the track), I just mounted the gutter and ran along the grass (up around Parliament House) so that I could do some free flowing running. 5km In my colleague was like 'fark duuuude... slow down... you're going waaaay too fast!!!' I did. However, I wasn't puffing or anything so I knew that I'd banked a really solid first block of the race (about 1 minute per km faster than expected). In doing so I'd gotten us around all the pretenders as well, which was important as I was able to use comfortable strides (rather than getting boxed in...etc).

- The first 1/3 of this particular run has a heap of moderate hills. I was loving them as most of my training has involved doing hills. It was somewhat rewarding going up these ones as they didn't feel big enough to be 'hills' but I could see/hear that lotsa people were losing their legs from the incline (particularly the last bump just before Black Mountain Peninsular).

- Progressively I played with a bunch of groups. Down-hill they'd speed-up to catch me. Then up-hill I'd burn them. Over time, each group lost its legs and started slowing down. Heading into the business end of the run I looked over my shoulder and asked my colleague how we were tracking... right on pace to the second! (I was pretty chuffed as this was without my beloved Garmin to help me - all muscle memory).

Chapter 4: the business end of the run

- The second third of the run was where the ranks started thinning out and we were basically able to cruise through to the photo finish.

- I have few memories of this stage really other than it being the road from Black Mountain Peninsular to the King's Avenue Bridge. It's a straight, predictable road and I felt extremely comfortable cruising along it.

- If it were a car trip then the first 1/3 woulda been like being stuck between a heap of stupid trucks that sped down hills and chugged up them. This was the most enjoyable 1/3 as I'd basically ditched the trucks, switched on cruise control, got some smooth jazz crankin' in my mind and just enjoyed everything around me. It was all pretty sweet!!

- Only so many words can say it. The trees were a blur, my legs felt like springs bouncing along comfortably and the pretenders were all out of the way. I unfortunately saw a few people who'd crashed out along the way. However, they all had appropriate support groups with them so didn't need my help. I just kept going!

Chapter 5: the home stretch

- With all the hard work already done, my colleague told me we were on pace but he was struggling and was happy for me to go ahead. I was feeling fresh so gave it a crack and the competitive voice inside me convinced me to basically just try and flog it for the final few kilometres. I knew that I was already ahead of target so everything else was really just a bonus.

- During this stage I identified a heap of people in fancy running gear and basically just flattened them (I was never one for flashy gear so just powered along in my faded blue truckie's singlet, black K-Mart shorts and comparatively basic Asics shoes... a ~$120 pair as opposed to the ~$300+ shoes most others were wearing if that helps picture the look).

- True story, towards the end there was this Japanese dude who was muttering a heap of shit about beating me (in Japanese). I thought I was hearing things but still responded in Japanese with 'what are you muttering about?!?!?' He was pretty surprised that this full buff wog in a faded blue truckie's singlet had understood him so we had a brief argument in Japanese. I then ended it with a cheesy anime quote that means 'you're not up to my level yet' and put on my trademark 400m sprint to finish the run.

- Impressed, a few people tried to match my blistering pace over 400m. However, the Jizz miester was simply too good. I finished with a smile, waited ~10 mins for my colleague to arrive and then we collected our medals. CHAMPIONS! It was a smooth run and a solid PB. Looking forward to many more fine runs in 2023...

[redstarforever]

back in the day i use to love running. three times top 10 state cross country, still hold the high school 7km record, 1st at 7km, 800m, 400m and third in 100m sprint

[ism22]

back in the day i use to love running. three times top 10 state cross country, still hold the high school 7km record, 1st at 7km, 800m, 400m and third in 100m sprint

Nice job, a good range of distances there

[redstarforever]

Nice job, a good range of distances there

now thinkin back i kinda regret for not going further as top 10 from each state qualify for nationals. maybe should have had a crack. my school suggested to keep at it and even offered to take care of $ for training, travel and all that

[redstarforever]

now at 30 im runnin my billy all day long

[ism22]

now thinkin back i kinda regret for not going further as top 10 from each state qualify for nationals. maybe should have had a crack. my school suggested to keep at it and even offered to take care of $ for training, travel and all that

Yeah I was never the best but am glad that I gave it a crack (and am still running - though longer distances these days rather than sprints). I made nationals as an adult sprinter but was training twice a day to get there and IMO never had much natural talent (I just trained really hard and am the kinda person who doesn't give-up on a task).

Got to about 23... my times had plateaued, I needed to start earning money (which took away my ability to train twice a day - too tiring!) and I wasn't having fun with a strict diet that involved no drinking / junk food. I got sick really easily too. Difficult to explain but my muscles were constantly sore from training and I constantly felt exhausted. I caught EVERY little bug and they smashed me around too (which would make me furious as I'd miss training / competitions).

Currently I train more like 3-5 days a week (no strict regime) and eat healthy, but am not @nal about everything. I mean if I have too many beers on a Friday night and then skip training on Saturday, it's not the end of the world. TBH having beers with my father in-law and sleeping in a bit on Saturday probably does me more good than stressing about every meal & cringing at everybody who's enjoying a tipple o' grog.

Ever thought about getting back into the running? TBH one thing I notice is that a lot of people take it up in their 40's and surprise themselves. IMO the 40-60 age category is one of the most competitive as you get a heap of people who've hit a sweet spot in life where they've reached their career goals, have a family and are a bit more chilled/philosophical about their running. You may well peak a little bit later in life when things become a little bit more chilled

[ism22]

FWIW my son won his inter-school cross country today. I've been training him a little (mostly just casual father/son trail runs around the local reserve + some strides at the local oval). Had no idea how he'd go... he finished about 1km before the next best runner and I believe broke a longstanding record in the process (to be confirmed).

Pretty cool seeing the little guy kill it

[mightyrooster]

FWIW my son won his inter-school cross country today. I've been training him a little (mostly just casual father/son trail runs around the local reserve + some strides at the local oval). Had no idea how he'd go... he finished about 1km before the next best runner and I believe broke a longstanding record in the process (to be confirmed).

Pretty cool seeing the little guy kill it

Good stuff! That’s a proud parent moment there.