Tuesday April 28

Well, I'm home again. We got in yesterday afternoon but there was no way I was fit to get out for an evening run. I was exhausted from the journey and busy saying hello to the cats and picking up our puppy, who had been away being taken care of during our U.S. trip. I was awake before 5am and thought it might be an idea to get out for a run to get the gremlins out of my legs. It was pretty awful - just under 5 very slow KMs, but that's to be expected after a long flight. I'll go to intervals tonight since I've had a good few days off since my 32km, but I expect I'll be slogging it out. No matter, just getting back into it will be good. I must say, it is good to be home - I can't wait to be back running with my buddies again :)

Friday April 24

Well, today is d-day for my big run. I got up early, having left my running gear in the living room the night before so as not to wake Sugar and Sassy (they need their recovery sleep) and headed off from our hotel on East 50th Street in NYC towards Central Park. The first KM or so was a bit slow going since it involved crossing streets and weaving through people. Fortunately at this hour (6.45am) there aren't too many people or cars to manoeuvre so I wasn't slowed down too much. I reached the park after about 1.5km and began to pick up the pace. I weaved my way through the park and soon found the running path that circles the centre of the park. For most of the run, I stuck to that, stopping a couple of times for water and gels (a little more logistically difficult than in a race situation, but doable). I was very happy with the pace - 5.30 minute pace for 28km of the 32km. The last 2.5km were slowed by the fact that I had no idea where I was and had to stop frequently to ask directions to get me back to the south east end of the park where I entered, and then when I got to that point having to weave through the now busy corner of the park and even busier streets. Frequent stops for traffic meant the last KM was less than perfect, but overall this was a fantastic run. New Yorkers are lucky to have such a lovely place to run. It's very hilly, so my hills running really came in handy, but so pretty and very runner-friendly. I felt I'd earned a day (or make that 3 since we're travelling home Saturday night and won't get in until Monday afternoon) off.

Thursday April 23

Today we're heading off to New York on the train, so I got up early for a short run. Logistically it was too hard to head into Boston today, so it was back on the tiny path in East Boston. To the end and back was just 4km, so again I did a little detour around a park to get it up to a grand total of 5km. I took it slowly today and didn't worry about the time I was out as tomorrow is the big 32km!

Wednesday April 22

After a leisurely start and breakfast at the apartment, a very sore Sugar and Sassy caught the train into Boston with me. I left them at the common with my warm clothes and a promise to join them at Starbucks in a bit over an hour, and headed off around the river for an 11km run. The legs felt a bit stiff at first but warmed up and I kept a pace of around 5.40 without pushing it, so that seems to be my easy pace these days if the legs are cooperating. It was the same run I'd done on Sunday with friends, but this one was solo. Lots of runners were out on the course and plenty were happy to say "hi" or at least smile, which was nice. I saw a number of marathoners (you can tell from the finishers jackets) out walking and some lovely marathoner yelled out to me, "you're going well". I felt a bit humbled. The last couple of KMs were slowed by road crossings, bridge crossing, steps and for the last KM running along a footpath past shoppers, but it's a nice way to finish - especially with tea and warm clothes waiting at the end of the street.

Tuesday April 21

Yesterday ended up being an enforced rest, since there was some marathon thingy going on. The logistics of getting to the finish were unbelievable so fitting in a run wasn't an option (not that I cared much). Today, I set out from our apartment in East Boston to check out the local tracks. It soon became apparent that the path was very short. It was interval day so I found some way of getting in a 20 minute warm up, then did a Mona's session going around and around on an improvised track. It felt pretty good so that's the main thing, then I jogged back to the apartment, doing a small detour to try to get my time up a bit. Ultimately I managed only a 17 minute cool down - just not enough path. Tomorrow, I'll head into Boston proper!

Sunday April 19

Today was my first run with other people since leaving home. I got to run with my colleague and now friend, Robin, and another long-time friend Tom. We did a lovely little 11km tour of the Boston waters on a cool spring day. It's a lot of fun running somewhere new and seeing the sights, though I'm glad I normally run somewhere less congested. The path around the river was fine, but once we got into town it was near impossible to run along the street. Still, it was very pretty and really gives you a feel for the city. We finished at the ubiquitous Starbucks for a much needed hot drink. Sugar and Sas, Tom's wife Carolyn and Robin's partner Mike met us there and we squeezed around a tiny table. Sugar and Sas kept up their carbo loading for their little trot tomorrow, while Robin and I endulged in a lara bar (the best energy bars I've ever found - gluten free and full of yummy goodness; I wish we could get them in Australia).

Tomorrow, I'll run sometime in the afternoon - there's a matter of a small run going on in Boston today that Sugar, Sas, Biscuitman and Terrific are taking part in - I think it's called the Boston marathon. No big deal I'm sure - just a couple more people than our home races.

Friday April 17

Long run day today and it was a perfect morning for it. My legs felt fatigued after a week of running without any days off, so tomorrow I've earned a breather. Nevertheless, it was a glorious run. To spend more time in the park and on trails, I caught a taxi to a point further up on the path I've been running all week. It was then a short 3km to Wissahickon park - 2 to 3km on a lovely, quiet bitumen path running alongside a creek, before turning into the park and running on a wide, graded dirt road. What a stunning spot - if I lived here I'd have to live near this park and run it everyday - beats running alongside a busy road, pretty though that other run is. I ran along this path for around 5km then turned back and back along the bitumen path, before crossing a road and heading back along the busy Kelly Drive that has been my haunt these past seven days. It turned into a total of 27.25km - it might have been .25km more but I stopped at the Starbucks at the corner for a much needed cup of tea. I got some very funny looks in my shorts, sweaty top, peak and fuel belt, but I needed caffeine badly enough to ignore this. The last 8km were tough and the last 4km really tough, but I was happy to see my pace was pretty constant even when I was getting tired. It was only in the last 2km that I slowed a bit, due in large part to being back along the road and having to stop for cars frequently (how inconsiderate - don't they know runners come first!)

Tomorrow we head for Boston, for the very exciting marathon that Sugar, Sas, Biscuitman, and Terrific Terry are competing in. It will be a pleasure to be a spectator and to support all these fantastic runners and great people. I have a nice surprise also in Boston, with the chance to run with a colleague who I've become friendly with (virtually) but as yet have never met. Life is full of fantastic adventures.

Thursday April 16

Today was recovery run time - just 40 minutes, which was a shame as it's a beautiful sunny, cold morning; perfect running conditions. It felt really easy so it seems the cold works for me when I run (not when I don't run, so no plans to leave sunny Perth ever). I emailed another running group out here that runs the trails just outside Philly and got a lovely response from one of the runners - really considerate and thoughtful. He gave me great advice on what parts of the park are totally safe and where it would be best not to run alone, even his phone number in case I need more help. There's a bit of a recurring theme here - but aren't runners great :) It seems the main path is pretty busy in the morning with runners and even fishermen at this time of year and I'm so looking forward to getting back on the trails. How exciting to be running on a trail I've never run before. It goes along a creek all the way. I'll get around 14km on trails and the other 14 will be along the path I've been running each morning from my hotel. I think those of us who run are so lucky - our sport can be transported anywhere in the world with minimal equipment. On another runner's note, I'd like to wish good luck to everyone who has flown out to the U.S. to run Boston Marathon. The forecast looks good - I'd be envious if I'd done the training!

Wednesday April 15

It was a real effort getting out the door today given the weather outside - cold, wet, grey - but I reminded myself how awful treadmill running is and how impossible it would be to do an interval session on it and headed out the door. And really, it wasn't as bad as I'd imagined. Yes cold and wet and grey, but you soon forget that when you're running and have warmed up. I did another Mona's session today - a lot easier when there's no track to run on. Same session as Kate and I did, but without the great company. I was happy with the effort, though. One thing that really strikes me here is how unfriendly the runners are. I'm so used to runners greating one another - here they avoid eye contact and if you great them they look at you like you're crazy. One older runner greated me and the other day a couple of female runners said hi, but mostly it's scowls. I'm not sure if they're sick of the weather, miserable because of the economy, or just big city grumpy (not that Philly is that big a city). It surprised me because the Philly runners group is so friendly. Maybe it's just a security thing - fear on the nutty girl who smiles at everyone. I will try to be more serious out on the trail, but just while I'm here.

Tuesday April 14

Today was recovery run day and since it was cold and pouring with rain outside, I wimped out and opted for the treadmill. I need to remind myself that cold and wet is better than treadmill. A mindless 40 minutes later and my work there was done. Running related stuff got better when I discovered that Philadelphia Runners is one block from where we're staying, so I braved the weather and headed for shopping pleasure. Three pairs of running shoes (including my first pair of racing flats - yay!) and two pairs of socks later and I made an American store very happy - just doing my bit for the global economy. The guy at the store was great - a fantastic runner (as in 2.20 marathoner!) and really helpful with advise on local runs. He even drew me a map of how to get to trail running just 10km from here, which I plan to do on Friday (when the sun will be shining and it will be a balmy 15-20C!). And since my wild spending obviously impressed him, he even threw in a free Gu (one of the new roctane ones - can't wait to try it out) Didn't I say runners are fantastic people?

Monday April 13

Day 3 of my U.S. running and today I was in for a tough one - 50 minutes of tempo, supposed to be at 5.15 pace. I headed on the same run as yesterday, beginning with a 10 minute warm up before beginning the tempo session. It felt pretty tough the first couple of KM, but I settled into it (or at least I wouldn't allow myself to give up) and managed a pretty good session, in fact a lot faster than 5.15 min pace. Around 3 of the 10km of my tempo were at 5.15 pace, the rest were significantly faster (one even sub 5 minute) - now why couldn't I do that at the Bridges! It was a tough session and I had one quick breather after 43 minutes (I'll push through the next one definitely) but I was really happy with the outcome. It was another cold morning - 1C though the apparent temperature was -3C! I rugged up a bit, but a lot less than the local runners seem to - just a long sleeve running top, running tights a hat and gloves, not the multi layers and jackets I saw out there. It's tough when you begin, but after 10 minutes I was very glad not to have so many layers and in fact halfway into the tempo I was wishing I had less. I've discovered a strange American phenomenon - the jogger. It's not something we see too much of in Perth; mostly people run or walk. Here many, many people are out there jogging at a pace that's barely faster than a walk, but good for them for making the effort. It's just a short step from jogging to running, after all.

Sunday April 12

Today is cold and windy, but clear and dry so I headed out for my run a little before 8am. It's a short 1km from our hotel to the steps that take you to the river and the long path all the way up to (and through) Fairmount Park. What a beautiful run and a lovely way to see Philadelphia. I began with a detour to the famous Rocky steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to meet up with a runner who posted on Philly runners that he would be happy to run with me (even though we've never met before and he doesn't know me from Adam - aren't runners nice!) Turns out the poor man has a bad cold but he turned up anyway to meet me and advise me on runs. From my point of view, it worked out too as I really wasn't up for a long run today. I ran along the river for 4-5km, then turned back and headed for the hotel. It felt great out there and I was running fairly effortlessly despite the wind. For a girl who loves summer, it seems the cold really suits my running so I guess winter has its upside. 

Saturday April 11

We arrived at Newark, N.J. airport after more than 30 hours of flying and transit waits. A near empty flight from Stockholm to Newark allowed us to spread out and sleep properly for a few hours, which helped with recovery the other end. The U.S. laid on some awful weather for our arrival - non-stop rain all Saturday. I couldn't quite bring myself to head out in it, so I wimped out and did a short run on the treadmill on Saturday afternoon, just to get the plane gremlins out of my legs. It was pretty awful and reminded me why I run outside whatever the weather!

Friday April 10

Today is my last run before the flight to the U.S., where we are headed for a week of work and, more importantly, David's Boston marathon. Kate came over to the house and we headed out for a lovely run, interrupted by a Monaghetti session. We began with a 20 minute warm up before the intervals. Kate kept me honest throughout the session, which consisted of 2 x 90 seconds on and off; 2 x 60 seconds on and off; 4 x 30 seconds on and off; and 4 x 15 seconds on and off. As Kate noted, 30 seconds is painfully short for a distance runner - it's hard getting those fast twitch muscles activated to really do the session justice. But we did pretty well and most importantly enjoyed our run. It certainly helps having so many great running buddies to do this with; I'm going to miss them heaps over the next two weeks, though it will be exciting to run in new places

Thursday April 9

The morning after the night before and everything ached for the first 1/2 km. My legs were not going to get drawn into anything fast, but they felt better than I had expected. While Jane and Trish surged ahead, I enjoyed a nice, gentle 3km to the Causeway with Viv at around 5.45-5.50 pace. There we parted ways as she continued around the river while Trish (who was powering along despite our tough run the night before) and I turned around for the run back to Mends Street and coffee. We ultimately picked up the pace and ended up doing 5.30 pace, which felt okay (must have been the scent of tea encouraging me to speed up)

Wednesday April 8

Today really marks the beginning of Perth marathon training as this is the first long run post the training to improve my speed. After a disatrous Bridges, I was a bit nervous about today's 26km, but it turned out to be a fabulous run. Trish, Jane and I started out from the club at 5pm on a hot autumn evening. The first 2 or 3km were pretty hard going but I soon warmed up and began to feel really good. After about 4km we met up with Kate and we continued our run through the city and towards King's Park. It was turning into a glorious evening without any wind and with the warmth of the day settling into pleasant running conditions. At KP, Trish and I briefly lost Kate and Jane but we reunited along Mounts Bay Road and ran together to the Causeway. There, Trish and I parted ways with Kate and Jane who were doing a shorter 20km (in preparation for a 47km on Saturday!). We headed left on the Causeway and through East Perth, then over the Windham back to the club. It was only in the last few KM that I began to feel really fatigued, which is a big relief and should make the next step up quite manageable.