Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Just a quick one - did 26k on Sunday. These persistent blisters on my two toes next to the big ones have been telling me i need half a size bigger shoes. My left foot is slightly longer than my right and had been suffering more. The blisters flared right up after that particular run. On closer inspection i realised the the left one wasnt painful from the blister, as they have toughened into callouses now, but painful from the fact my fucking toenail has actually separated from my toe down to its base, it's just flapping around down there, so i trimmed it back to fuck all for the time being. I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, December 28, 2009
a Q:
Does anyone else feel more alive than they can remember?
I feel like a weapon ....a very passive weapon that retreats rather attacks - but yeah, really good!!
G.B.
I feel like a weapon ....a very passive weapon that retreats rather attacks - but yeah, really good!!
G.B.
Boxing Day = 41K
I thought I should write this one up for memory's sake.
Shit knows I'm chalking it up as experience!
I knew that the run from my place in the City to mum's place in Croydon would be tough, but I underestimated the amount of things that could possibly go wrong on such a long run.
I set off at around 11am into the 29degree heat, not really sure where I was meant to meet up with the freeway bike track or how long the run would take.
I packed a couple of gels, a couple of vegemite and chia burritos, my phone, my Mp3 player and two water bottles.
I managed to find the beginning of the Yarra/Koonung track, and trailed it after only 30minutes. About this time I realised that my new Mp3 player was repeating the same songs that I had already listened to over, and over again.
Hmmm, what's going on??
iTunes had turned all my Mp3's into Mp4's and so instead of 300 songs, I had only 3!
However, the insanity had only just begun to set in - as I passed through Fairfield (50 minutes in) my bum bag started to annoy the shit out of me, and so it did for the next 45 minutes as I correctively tightened it, loosened it, tightened it again, moved it, and just about threw it in the fuckin' river!~!
As my run got going again and I was hitting my stride, I came to a T-intersection: Left was the Yarra Trail and right was the Koonung Trail.
Without a clue, I thought, yep!, Yarra Trails's the one out to Croydon, where the Yarra River passes through!
The run was real pleasant for the next 20 minutes - I paced myself on this guy who was clearly only out to do a few K, and my avg. heart rate went from 135, up to 146.
I lost him, and after what had been an hour and twenty into the run I reached Fairfield Park.
I thought that this was good, but as I ran into the park I couldn't see the trail to continue on out again. However, I thought it time for some food, so as I looked at the Yarra Trail map on the info board at the park I reached into my bum back to pull out my burritos. Shit, Fuck, WHAT THE FUCK????
My phone had turned my vegemite and chia burritos into dust ....not crumbs, DUST!!
I choked on a bit of the bird food before sacrificing my first gel, for some instant energy. ....Water and on I went.
But where....
After taking paths and turning back on them to the park four or five times I decided "fuck it", I'm going to hit Manningham Rd, take it to the Eastern Freeway, and run right along beside it - even if it that means in the emergency parking lane.
BACK ON TRACK, yeah baby!!
I refound the Koonung Trail and headed for home(mum's).
From here the run was ACE, until about 26K mark when I hit some major walls.
But, to be honest I was being a bitch. It wasn't that bad, so I ate my last gel, finished a water bottle and left the other only half full.
Passing Springvale Rd was a victory and soon after I was around the back of Ringwood West in the Mullum Mullum area.
The hills were unforgiving on a body as fatigued as mine and then they took me deeper and deeper into the bush, along the creek's edge.
I was exhausted and out of water, I rubbed my eyes and it felt as if my skin just grazed off of my cheek bone and left me with a sore. I didn't know how much further I could go without water, and I didn't know how much further I had to go to get to water.
My creative mind started thinking up every possible Plan B under the sun; go down to the still mouldy creek for a drink, ask a bike rider for their precious H2O or quit now, call mum and get home! It turned out that my skin wasn't coming off, but in fact my sweat had dried solid on my face like sand and I had stopped sweating - so the rubbing was like sand paper to my skin.
Then, at the top of the hill, I smelt BBQ aromas and heard the playing sounds of children - I pushed myself up the hill to the park and found two, maybe three drink fountains.
I stopped, drank and drank, and then filled both of my bottles.
Five minutes there, and five minutes down the trail some more, and you wouldn't have known there was ever anything wrong with me. Three more K's found me on Maroohndah Hwy, Ringwood and on the last 13Km stretch.
At the end of Ringwood, I tossed up the idea of stopping in at Subway and buying some cookies to get me over the line.
One Macademia and White Chocolate, one M&M's, and one Double Choc Chip please!
Yeah that'll do it!!
As I ran down the driveway, I feared what it was going to be like to stop putting the one foot in front of the other. I pressed the doorbell at my mum's house and was in absolute agony, for the slowing up had cramped my legs from the hip down. I heard my mum "run" to the door, screaming the question "are you okay"?
"Congratulations, you made it!"
It hurt a lot more than I had expected to, but after 4hours and 20minutes I got there and I loved every step of it!
Moreover, Subway cookies are now part of my every run for food and digestion!
Cheers.
GB.
Shit knows I'm chalking it up as experience!
I knew that the run from my place in the City to mum's place in Croydon would be tough, but I underestimated the amount of things that could possibly go wrong on such a long run.
I set off at around 11am into the 29degree heat, not really sure where I was meant to meet up with the freeway bike track or how long the run would take.
I packed a couple of gels, a couple of vegemite and chia burritos, my phone, my Mp3 player and two water bottles.
I managed to find the beginning of the Yarra/Koonung track, and trailed it after only 30minutes. About this time I realised that my new Mp3 player was repeating the same songs that I had already listened to over, and over again.
Hmmm, what's going on??
iTunes had turned all my Mp3's into Mp4's and so instead of 300 songs, I had only 3!
However, the insanity had only just begun to set in - as I passed through Fairfield (50 minutes in) my bum bag started to annoy the shit out of me, and so it did for the next 45 minutes as I correctively tightened it, loosened it, tightened it again, moved it, and just about threw it in the fuckin' river!~!
As my run got going again and I was hitting my stride, I came to a T-intersection: Left was the Yarra Trail and right was the Koonung Trail.
Without a clue, I thought, yep!, Yarra Trails's the one out to Croydon, where the Yarra River passes through!
The run was real pleasant for the next 20 minutes - I paced myself on this guy who was clearly only out to do a few K, and my avg. heart rate went from 135, up to 146.
I lost him, and after what had been an hour and twenty into the run I reached Fairfield Park.
I thought that this was good, but as I ran into the park I couldn't see the trail to continue on out again. However, I thought it time for some food, so as I looked at the Yarra Trail map on the info board at the park I reached into my bum back to pull out my burritos. Shit, Fuck, WHAT THE FUCK????
My phone had turned my vegemite and chia burritos into dust ....not crumbs, DUST!!
I choked on a bit of the bird food before sacrificing my first gel, for some instant energy. ....Water and on I went.
But where....
After taking paths and turning back on them to the park four or five times I decided "fuck it", I'm going to hit Manningham Rd, take it to the Eastern Freeway, and run right along beside it - even if it that means in the emergency parking lane.
BACK ON TRACK, yeah baby!!
I refound the Koonung Trail and headed for home(mum's).
From here the run was ACE, until about 26K mark when I hit some major walls.
But, to be honest I was being a bitch. It wasn't that bad, so I ate my last gel, finished a water bottle and left the other only half full.
Passing Springvale Rd was a victory and soon after I was around the back of Ringwood West in the Mullum Mullum area.
The hills were unforgiving on a body as fatigued as mine and then they took me deeper and deeper into the bush, along the creek's edge.
I was exhausted and out of water, I rubbed my eyes and it felt as if my skin just grazed off of my cheek bone and left me with a sore. I didn't know how much further I could go without water, and I didn't know how much further I had to go to get to water.
My creative mind started thinking up every possible Plan B under the sun; go down to the still mouldy creek for a drink, ask a bike rider for their precious H2O or quit now, call mum and get home! It turned out that my skin wasn't coming off, but in fact my sweat had dried solid on my face like sand and I had stopped sweating - so the rubbing was like sand paper to my skin.
Then, at the top of the hill, I smelt BBQ aromas and heard the playing sounds of children - I pushed myself up the hill to the park and found two, maybe three drink fountains.
I stopped, drank and drank, and then filled both of my bottles.
Five minutes there, and five minutes down the trail some more, and you wouldn't have known there was ever anything wrong with me. Three more K's found me on Maroohndah Hwy, Ringwood and on the last 13Km stretch.
At the end of Ringwood, I tossed up the idea of stopping in at Subway and buying some cookies to get me over the line.
One Macademia and White Chocolate, one M&M's, and one Double Choc Chip please!
Yeah that'll do it!!
As I ran down the driveway, I feared what it was going to be like to stop putting the one foot in front of the other. I pressed the doorbell at my mum's house and was in absolute agony, for the slowing up had cramped my legs from the hip down. I heard my mum "run" to the door, screaming the question "are you okay"?
"Congratulations, you made it!"
It hurt a lot more than I had expected to, but after 4hours and 20minutes I got there and I loved every step of it!
Moreover, Subway cookies are now part of my every run for food and digestion!
Cheers.
GB.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Had the WEIRDest fucking dream last nite. I'm trying to recall it right now, but the gist was - went for a run to suss out some new terrain that turned ot to be like canyons and mountains and valleys of death, we stumbled across some wild man equipped with machetes and hacksaws and guns and all sorts of creepy shit, he fired at us after a scuffle so i ran in and stole his machete to slash his throat! Goodbye wild guy, then pushed further down the descent into a rocky valley, lined with tall timber and the odd plateau of grassy clearings, one of which housed the guys stash - a human grave, ammunition, more knives, and a long supply of chocolate. So figuring he must have been a recluse to these woods for murders and crimes we did not know, and seeing we'd just killed him in turn, it seemed logical that we should take his reign of this forest, but for the sake of continuing our run, and to keep out of sight in case of helicopter surveillance, we should continue down through this valley. SO we armed ourselves with the gear and ate some chocolate and it got dark and dangerous but in a second we had bright full moonlight to guide us over a steep wall of loose rocks until we got to daylight on the other side, and, chicks! Fuckin HOT chicks man, they were heading to Darwin to do some sunbaking. So we figured if we were on the run from the slaying of the wild guy anyway, it might as well be with some pussy, so we tagged along and when we got there tried to convince them to come out to the indigenous lands with us and serve as concubines while we lived an immaterialist, nomadic life and anyone that wants to take us on better watch out because we got machetes, bitch... but they all had plans interstate for New Years and weren't really into it. The End
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
the big one!
Been replacing the running with surfing of late but still managing 6 - 8-5 kays each day i dont surf. On that note, i think this running in volleys (or low support shoes in general) really stregthens your feet and ankles, i have felt that benefit riding waves hugely.
The big news is im going to run Bogong to Hotham, i didn't think i would be accepted due to my lack of priors, but they just took a while to confirm it. I assume you other blokes are in then? GOod times... looking forward to it but man need to increase the daily distances before that one. So boxing day marathon, Jan 3rd Peninsula, and 10th B2H. We are going to be some scrawny ass mofos by the end of it, but from there, where? Blue Mountains 100k in March!
P.S. Alistair has head like cow - moooo....
The big news is im going to run Bogong to Hotham, i didn't think i would be accepted due to my lack of priors, but they just took a while to confirm it. I assume you other blokes are in then? GOod times... looking forward to it but man need to increase the daily distances before that one. So boxing day marathon, Jan 3rd Peninsula, and 10th B2H. We are going to be some scrawny ass mofos by the end of it, but from there, where? Blue Mountains 100k in March!
P.S. Alistair has head like cow - moooo....
Thursday, December 17, 2009
**Barefoot Ted** ;)
I had to run the "Beep Test" last night at training and so I decided to kick off the shoes and go barefoot. Must say, I stood out a bit and was referred to as an Abo, but I finished third in the club and had no injury gripes from it.
Success in barefoot I would suggest.
I also did 6Km the other night around an 800m circuit that I do. I posted my best time; running an average 3.45/Km - but did pull up a little sore and know that I would have gone faster in runners of some sort.
Still.... it feels real.
GB.
Success in barefoot I would suggest.
I also did 6Km the other night around an 800m circuit that I do. I posted my best time; running an average 3.45/Km - but did pull up a little sore and know that I would have gone faster in runners of some sort.
Still.... it feels real.
GB.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Not much running this week - due to a friday nite exam i only got a couple of half hour jogs in before the scheduled 25k with Big Gay Al - also the celebratory Friday/Saturday nights on the piss left me as unprepared for the 25k as i had been for the exam. A more significant exam i have not had, nor as long a run as this weekends. Nonetheless i summoned the freedom i felt, from shitting the exam in and finishing an hour early, to run with big gay abandon, and when Big Gay Al stepped in shit with his new Nike 'Free's i managed to finish an hour early, as he stooped to scrape the poop from between the "pressure simulating", cushiony nodules splayed across the soles of his joggers. They seem to act rather like a bear-trap in reverse, opening their jaws as they approach the ground - and any unsuspecting dog crap basking in te sun - before clamping together and lifting whatever they may to stay tightly wedged or flick across the runners back. Im sticking with the volleys but i need to go a size up my toes are blistering meow. In any case really enjoying the runs thanks Al it helps having a good mate there to talk shit and just let the legs roll over.
Monday, December 14, 2009
GB: Sun, 14th Dec.
I head out with Tommy on the weekend for a lazy stroll of the Lilydale to Bayswater Aqueduct. We notched up roughly 24Km in 2.20; a steady but not cracking pace.
The last four K's consisted of two desperate attempts to find water, since we didn't take any with us and we ran from 2.30pm - 4.30pm in the most beautiful sun.
20K's was comfortable, and I think that with food and water; 25K's would have been comfortable as well.
My Nike Free 3.0's were brilliant. Up and down the hills of the aqueduct, grass to dirt, to stones, to pavement - the Free's are a real nice running shoe.
I've got a schedule set for the next month of weekends, and since my body feels so much better now than it did two weeks ago from the running - i'm fingered crossed to get through it all.
Dec 19 - Templestowe/Eltham Tri - World in Motion
Dec 26 - Melbourne to Croydon - Eastern Freeway Trails
Jan 03 - Two Trails Run - Dromana to Cape Schank
Jan 10 - Bogong to Hotham - Death by Running for Tommy and I
Jan 17 - ????
GB.
The last four K's consisted of two desperate attempts to find water, since we didn't take any with us and we ran from 2.30pm - 4.30pm in the most beautiful sun.
20K's was comfortable, and I think that with food and water; 25K's would have been comfortable as well.
My Nike Free 3.0's were brilliant. Up and down the hills of the aqueduct, grass to dirt, to stones, to pavement - the Free's are a real nice running shoe.
I've got a schedule set for the next month of weekends, and since my body feels so much better now than it did two weeks ago from the running - i'm fingered crossed to get through it all.
Dec 19 - Templestowe/Eltham Tri - World in Motion
Dec 26 - Melbourne to Croydon - Eastern Freeway Trails
Jan 03 - Two Trails Run - Dromana to Cape Schank
Jan 10 - Bogong to Hotham - Death by Running for Tommy and I
Jan 17 - ????
GB.
Lake Eldion
So after arriving late Friday night we sat around to the early hours of the morning playing trivial pursuit so when my alarm went at 5:30 I felt like I had only just fallen asleep. I slipped on my runners and filled my water bottle and silently left the house boat with everyone else still enjoying some shut eye.
It wasn’t easy to initial find the track but every wrong turn seemed to lead to an opening full of kangaroos but no track so after about 1/2 an hour of alot of back peddling I made my way on to the track in Lake Eldion National park.
This track was the starting point of about an hour solid slog up hill with only amazing views of the national park and Energy gels to keep me going. The track then winded its way down into a lush forest before another hour climb out of the valley the other side.
By the time I had finished my second large climb my legs were really burning and I was out of water so I couldn’t wait to get back down into the valley again to fill my water bottle up from one of the many streams you have to navigate on this track.
At around 35kms my legs were really hurting but by this time the sun was on my back and knowing I wasn’t far from home I kept them ticking over. By the time I got back to Lake Eldion I had been running for around 5 hours and my runners were completely spent. Think it’s time to get those trail shoes!
It wasn’t easy to initial find the track but every wrong turn seemed to lead to an opening full of kangaroos but no track so after about 1/2 an hour of alot of back peddling I made my way on to the track in Lake Eldion National park.
This track was the starting point of about an hour solid slog up hill with only amazing views of the national park and Energy gels to keep me going. The track then winded its way down into a lush forest before another hour climb out of the valley the other side.
By the time I had finished my second large climb my legs were really burning and I was out of water so I couldn’t wait to get back down into the valley again to fill my water bottle up from one of the many streams you have to navigate on this track.
At around 35kms my legs were really hurting but by this time the sun was on my back and knowing I wasn’t far from home I kept them ticking over. By the time I got back to Lake Eldion I had been running for around 5 hours and my runners were completely spent. Think it’s time to get those trail shoes!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Geronimo finds his stride!
That was fucking ace!
I felt like I was flying at times in my new Nike Frees.
To start with my heel was thumping down, sending a tremor through my back.
But once my body adjusted and i slipped into the groove - i just glided ....and at a good pace for me.
That run was special!
Love my Nike Frees already - Cheers.
GB.
I felt like I was flying at times in my new Nike Frees.
To start with my heel was thumping down, sending a tremor through my back.
But once my body adjusted and i slipped into the groove - i just glided ....and at a good pace for me.
That run was special!
Love my Nike Frees already - Cheers.
GB.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Run, run, run....
I am bursting out of my skin to go for a run tonight.
Going from mine, down around Albert Park lake and cannot wait!
POW!
GB.
Going from mine, down around Albert Park lake and cannot wait!
POW!
GB.
Running Shoes
So need to get a new pair of runners!
Think I might get a new pair of trail shoes in the hope that I will run alot of trails next year. I'm looking for a super light weight shoe with an almost flat sensation.
I like the New Balance MT100 because of their natural running design and also because my current New Balance running shoes are the most comfortable runners I've worn.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Upcoming Runs!!
A few upcoming runs to look forward to are:
Sun, 03.01.2010: Two Bays Trail Run - 28Km/56Km, Mornington Peninsula. Check it out at: www.twobays.coolrunning.com.au/
I will be only running the 28Km, but it looks like a 'top journey' from Dromana to Cape Schanck!
Sun, 10.01.2010: Bogong to Hotham - the rooftop run - 23Km/35Km/42Km/64Km, Mt Hotham. Check it at: www.bogongtohotham.com/
Fingers crossed, we might make it across the line for the 64Km.
Fri, 15.01.2010: Bells Bash - 1.5Km/4Km/8Km, Jan Juc to Bells Beach. Check at: www.janjucsurfclub.com.au/
8Km of Bliss and then maybe a dip in the ocean!!
OH YEAH!
GB.
Sun, 03.01.2010: Two Bays Trail Run - 28Km/56Km, Mornington Peninsula. Check it out at: www.twobays.coolrunning.com.au/
I will be only running the 28Km, but it looks like a 'top journey' from Dromana to Cape Schanck!
Sun, 10.01.2010: Bogong to Hotham - the rooftop run - 23Km/35Km/42Km/64Km, Mt Hotham. Check it at: www.bogongtohotham.com/
Fingers crossed, we might make it across the line for the 64Km.
Fri, 15.01.2010: Bells Bash - 1.5Km/4Km/8Km, Jan Juc to Bells Beach. Check at: www.janjucsurfclub.com.au/
8Km of Bliss and then maybe a dip in the ocean!!
OH YEAH!
GB.
TM 8 December
CHALKED UP 13K with Alistair sunday morning bit hungover smashed it he was tearing up so i carried him home the last 1.7k, got home took a dump and ate some fruit. went out again just for the suntan over another 6.5 k it was good. next day cramping in left shin and calf from jumping those horse fences i think, so went did some boxing instead of running for the cardio. Back into it tonight another 6.5k the leg feels heaps better after than it did before it, so rock on with that. Ciggies dont help you run fast kids but they dont seem to affect the long distances. They do however, stink like Bigfoot's dick and now might be a good time stop smelling like the Yeti's lovemuscle...
GB: Mon, 07.12.2009
So I planned this great run in my new pair of runners (Dunlop Volleys ($20)); to leave from my place and head down to Albert Park and run around it and home again. It was 10.40pm when I closed the door behind me and then immediatly realised that I had never grabbed my keys. FUCK!
So, I ran to Katrina's place instead - taking the long way: Wellington, to Hoddle, to Alexandra, to Lygon, up to Brunswick Rd, across to Royal Pde and down to Gatehouse St, and an hour and ten minutes later.
I struggled with left foot ball soreness for the last twenty minutes, which didn't give me much faith in the Volleys.
But shit, that was probably my favourite run so far!! 12.5Km, balls out.
GB.
So, I ran to Katrina's place instead - taking the long way: Wellington, to Hoddle, to Alexandra, to Lygon, up to Brunswick Rd, across to Royal Pde and down to Gatehouse St, and an hour and ten minutes later.
I struggled with left foot ball soreness for the last twenty minutes, which didn't give me much faith in the Volleys.
But shit, that was probably my favourite run so far!! 12.5Km, balls out.
GB.
GB: Sun, 06.12.2009
I met Tom out at his place in Mooroolbark, got him out of bed at 8.30am and by 9am, we hit the road.
We took the aqueduct tracks of the backsides of Lilydale and Mooroolbark.
We set out to run 8Km and ended up covering 13Km.
It took us about 1hour 20mins as we cruised up and down hills and through much thick grass.
A joy to run with Tommy, loved it - but ended up with a very sore right calf from my Kayanos.
GB.
We took the aqueduct tracks of the backsides of Lilydale and Mooroolbark.
We set out to run 8Km and ended up covering 13Km.
It took us about 1hour 20mins as we cruised up and down hills and through much thick grass.
A joy to run with Tommy, loved it - but ended up with a very sore right calf from my Kayanos.
GB.
GB: Thurs, 03.12.2009
I've just ran 8km around the streets of Melbourne at 9 o'clock at night. I passed down Flinders Street, into Wellington Pde and further onto Hoddle Street, after having starting from my place on Russell Street. From there I ran down to Gipps St, up to Smith St, down to Gertrude, over to Nicholson, away from the Cittay to Carlton St, down some other street that hit Victoria Street, across that and then all the way down Exhibition until I hit Flinders St, and then finished back where I had started.
Beforehand, my dilemma had been what shoes to run in; and I chose tonight to try out my Asics hi-tops - which I would usually wear out with jeans. The run took a little under 40mins - absolutely loved every moment of it, however felt my "easy" stride disappear as I grew more tired. Calves are sore now and so is my lower back. Cheers.
GB.
Beforehand, my dilemma had been what shoes to run in; and I chose tonight to try out my Asics hi-tops - which I would usually wear out with jeans. The run took a little under 40mins - absolutely loved every moment of it, however felt my "easy" stride disappear as I grew more tired. Calves are sore now and so is my lower back. Cheers.
GB.
Congratulations!
I would like to openly congratulate Joe for his top effort up at Hotham last week (05.12.09).
He finished first out of all of the male runners and second overall in his first competitive ultra run.
Congratulations!!
GB.
He finished first out of all of the male runners and second overall in his first competitive ultra run.
Congratulations!!
GB.
B2R Revellers Blog: (The First Post)
Hey guys,
well this is a little something that I thought might be a neat idea.
I'm absolutely loving my running at the moment and I imagine that you are too. I'm sure that we all have our personal goals and certain runs that we're working towards; and so as a bit of a diary I was hoping that we could use this 'blog' to document our progressions.
Personally, I'm interested in knowing about your runs (you might not feel the same way), and although it might take ten minutes out of your day - this could be an interesting and informative forum to share such stories.
The book "Born to Run" has somewhat kick-started this whole thing, so please fell free to make mention of it, and if you haven't read it yet - do so as soon as possible.
Cheers All,
GB.
well this is a little something that I thought might be a neat idea.
I'm absolutely loving my running at the moment and I imagine that you are too. I'm sure that we all have our personal goals and certain runs that we're working towards; and so as a bit of a diary I was hoping that we could use this 'blog' to document our progressions.
Personally, I'm interested in knowing about your runs (you might not feel the same way), and although it might take ten minutes out of your day - this could be an interesting and informative forum to share such stories.
The book "Born to Run" has somewhat kick-started this whole thing, so please fell free to make mention of it, and if you haven't read it yet - do so as soon as possible.
Cheers All,
GB.
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