Ok, so i might have got a bit lazy and just copied and pasted what i wrote on the forum, but what i wrote was more like a blog anyway, so enjoy.

Felt fully prepared for this one, and all ready to go. Bumped into my arch rival from Western Aths Luke Searle at the start line and we both decided it best to not only work together through the race but to also sneak into the elite zone when no one was looking. Got a brilliant start as we both weaved through the field, and thanks to the 1st km marker being short, we ran through in 2:28, and preceded to follow that up with a 5:37 through 2km, and 9:00 through 3km. Yep, thats right, at this point we realised not only had we gone a little fast to clear the congestion, there was now no one left to pass. (slight exaggeration ) From then on, we settled into a nice even rythmn, but managed to continue to break through the pb’s km after km, with a 19:34 through 6km, and feeling a little stronger heading up the bolte bridge, i was trying to get Luke to just tuck in behind for a bit, but it doesnt help when he falls after putting his foot into a roadside grate. Hit the top of the bolte at the 8km in 27:06, and was happy not to lose to much time as the runners around us, firstly went ahead, then dropped back. This was repeated the whole way up the bridge. Tried not to go too fast on the way down the bridge, but rather ttry to save some energy for the remainder of the race, and by the time i ran through 9km in 30:34, Luke was again at my side. We had slowed a little going up bolte bridge, and now back down, the legs were starting to come back and this was shown further by 10km, running 34:07, a pb for both of us. We knew collins st hill was coming up, so eased our pace back slighty just to save the energy needed to not burn out apon reaching the top. Hitting 11km at the bottom of bourke st in 37:40, taking a deep breath, we ran into collins st and attacked the hill head on, and won. That momentium carried us through 12km in 41:24, and even though along southbank we started to feel the strain and slow a little bit more, running under 50:00 was still a big possiblity. Over queen st bridge and into flinders st we hit 13km in 45:06, and began to step it up. Rounding flinders st station, knowing we were closing on 2 runners ahead, we dug deep and started to inch closer. In the end, i just couldnt hang on, finishing about 20m behind Luke and the other 2 runners. One of them being the 3rd woman overall. I ran til i had nothing left, and crossed the line in a jog in a time of 49:20, beating my 52:46 from last years event. As i finshed i could hear the anouncer call out that the elite runners were still coming through. Now, that made me smile. As per usual, i have to be disappointed with something, and that have to be not beating 49:00 because my last 400m was ordinary. Oh well, maybe next year. 

As many of you might know, recently i applied for the AdiRunners squad, which just happens to have great runners like Lara Tamsett in the squad. Well, i didnt manage to get in, but some good have come of it. I now get 40% off at the R4YL website, and i tookd full advantage of this by buying a brand new pair of racing flats. Considering how bloody well i ran in the R4TK with my other racing flats, these new ones will put me in a whole ‘nother league. They are an elite level racing flat and are only 3 grams heavier than my track spikes, and are about 60 grams lighter than my asics racing flats. But thats it my friends, now you’ll have to wait until saturday at Jells Park to witness them. Like one review said: You either buy this shoe which sits on top of the heap as the world lightest  racing shoe, or you just stand back and watch them fly by. Took them for a test run on thursday over 3km. 1km- 4:07(steady start, feel good) 2km- 3:47( feel great, didnt notice speed increase) 3km- 3:16( did not feel like i was moving that fast, i was stunned)

So much has happened since my last blog, so the plan right here is to recap everything thats happened without writing a book that we’d all know would be worth publishing,lol. I guess i should go all the way back to February 19th, and start with the night of the Vic Champs where i ran the 5000m.

VIC CHAMPS 2009- 5000m 19/2/09

I went into the Vic Champs fully switched on, fully prepared, and full of confidence after a 20 day stretch which saw me lower my p.b over the 5000m 4 times. My goal going into the race was to beat 16:00, which at christmas i never would have thought possible so quickly. And here i was, on a perfect night, so still in the air, mentally ready to break the barrier i was aiming for. And after running so very well, yet again, in what had become a fairytale 1st track season for me, ended with a magestic performance, running a new 5000m p.b of 15:58.7, beating my 16:18.1 from only 9 days earlier. But being picky like i am, i hate to be totally happy with how i went, my splits need improving. i ran: 3:00,3:06, 3:15, 3:22, 3:15. I guess i just need a little more time. Unluckily in the end also, i finished just short of qualifying for the Aus Champs in U23’s for 5000m, where the qualifying time was 15:30. Times like these i wish i was 22 in August, and not 23.

BROOKS RIVER RUN 1/3/09

Opted for the 4km run here, with the goal of beating my time from last years race of 14:24. Not much of a challenge now-a-days. A little drizzle just before the start made the road a bit slippy which slowed the field once we got over the other side of the river, but the way i ran, i couldnt have been any happier. Ended up running away with it from the start, and even though a bit of laziness crept in and i nearly got caught by 3km, i kicked clear, running a suburb final km to finish 1st in 13:13. Good start to what was to be my month of fun runs, whilst i prepare in between AV seasons.

LAKESIDE 4.5KM FUN RUN PAKENHAM 15/3/09

Cold day. Very cold day. Lucky for me, my gloves had arrived from america only days before which left my hands toasty. Having a big support crew watching on, actually was a hinderence rather than the positive effect i was hoping for. Barely warmed up, didnt really stretch, and this cost me dearly. Started the race really well, leading allcomers through the first 2km in little over 6:00, but my legs just couldnt get the heat in them i needed, which seemed to stop me increasing the pace i was going. From then on, all i could do was maintain my pace. And once i went through 4km, i realised the course was way longer than i was told, i lost interest a bit, but still finished off well to finish 2nd overall in a time of 15:18 for the 4.5km, and went through 4km in 13:33 in what was tough conditions.

VMC 1500m @ OLYMPIC PARK 12/3/09

Made too many mistakes, but somehow still managed a good time of 4:22.3, and moved from 5th to finsh 3rd after a great finish to the race. So to not run as well as i can, and to still run right on p.b pace, im sure by the start of next summer track season, ill be flying for sure.

DANDY CREEK DASH 5KM- 22/3/09

As Rupert pointed out while i was waiting on the start line, the young gun Ned Verway from frankston was going to be my main challenger in this one. And Ned didnt disapoint. With the start being downhill, and knowing Ned had just come off running an impressive 4:08 in the 1500m at the VMC meet only 10 days earlier; i attacked early, trying to wear him out in the first 2km, assuming that i had the strength to burn him off. Well, after the downhill start, i was well clear of the field, with Ned stuck right behind me. We went through the 1st km in 2:58, and i only had a couple of metres gap on him, which i slowly opened up through 2km, which i went through in 6:13. Heading out the back of the course at frentree gully rd and up the slight incline, i began to tire. But somehow my lead continued to grow. The 3rd km was much slower than the previous 2, running through 3km in 9:49, then starting our climb up Scotmans Hill. Even though i was now going quite slow, i managed to stretch out the lead to about 50m through 4km(13:36), and as i started to make my way down the last hill towards the finish with about 700m left to run, Ned was no where to be seen. I pushed on, knowing he’d be saving energy for one last effort up the hill to the finish. And thats just what he did, but id already responded, and was sprinting up the hill. In the end i managed to hold on, winning in 16:35, by only 3 seconds over Ned. The 4km marker was bout 100m long, so no, i didnt run 2:59 for the last km,lol……

…..still to come…. Run 4 The Kids Race Report…Coming Soon,lol

When will i learn. Being in a rush as i usually am on a saturday morning, i arrived home from breakfast @ Jells to grab my bag then off to Frankston for AV. Ran out the door, realised i didnt have sunscreen on, but remembering i had some in the car, i decided to just apply some of that when i arrived at Frankston. Pity the suncreen needed a knife to spread it was that thick. So after a hap-hazard application, i thought i was ready for the days festivities. Idiot.

Ive spend the day nursing myself, just gingerly moving around the house. The sunburn is quite toasty. Really, after such a thing i do get really pissed off with myself. It’s no way for someone who’s had bloody skin cancer to act. Hopefully this, ive actually learnt from it. But after a half marathon i did in England on a 30 degree day where i totally forgot sunscreen all together, i remember saying i wouldn’t ever let that happen again…..

….Some people just never learn.

Ok, firstly, ill tell you all what im doing. Its just before 2am on a sunday morning, but instead of being out partying, or passed out somewhere. Im sitting in my usual chair at the computer with nothing better to do. The chair is getting old, hard to sit on, worn out. But still i sit. What is wrong with me? Why no where to go John. Don’t i wish for a life filled with craziness, partying into the early hours, forgetting where i live or who i am in the process. Or maybe, just maybe; im quite happy to be sitting where i am. Living a quite, relaxed sort of life. Maybe it isn’t exciting, but i don’t know, it might be the whole routine of it that i like so much. I prefer to sit at home, pretending i care about other people problems, but its just nice sometimes to have that extra little bit of attention. I might try to stand out on the sporting field, but really, at the end of the day, id rather the pat on the back i get over any accolades that do come my way. In my general life, im totally the opposite, at this point in time, im quite happy to be un-spectacular, happy to live in the shadows of others. Im a messed up sort of person in that way,lol. Im an intraverted,extraverted, social and anti-social person all rolled into one. But im sure im not the only one out there like that. Someone, just like me, who comes home from there busy days, feeds a pet or 2, then sits quietly, watching t.v or reading a book. I must be a 60 year old stuck in a 22 year olds body. Im sure of it. Like i said, i live for my routine, i don’t like surprises, and if something does upset my existance, it really does piss me off. Some of the most intelligent conversations ive had lately have been with my sister’s dog. What a nice puppy he is. Smart too. But i did in fact have a good chat with Em today, and for a moment even forgot i was ment to be warming up for my events. Its things like that i like so much about running. I love my running, and im nothing without my friends. So it makes everything so much better to have great running friends.

This started off being a big speil on how absolutely lonely and boring my life is when im away from running, but by the end off it; its now so much different. What it is, is me trying to get out my creative frustration at 2am when really i should be sleeping. But in closing, i may be moving faster all the time, but the rotation of my life is slowing to a complete stop.

…..Abeit, very slowly. But a p.b is a p.b, regardless of how much you take off. And im getting into a nice little habit now without setting out with the goal of running p.b after p.b, but rather, just wanting to put in a good performance. See, you never know who could be watching,lol.

Today was always going to be a tough one, after backing up after the VMC meet at Sandy on thursday night. That didn’t stop me from running, it just made me reaccess what my aims were for today. First event was the 1500m, and i decided to go in the 4:20- 4:30 heat, resisting temptation to attempt glory by running in the faster heat. And apart from a couple of minor things that slightly effected my time, im quite happy with my 4:26, and especially happy with running my last lap 5 seconds faster than the one i did on thursday night. Oh yeah, and i finished 2nd in my heat.

Next event was the 3000m, which yet again was in the program because of the absence of the steeple chase. My heat nearly didnt happen, with only me and Iseyas waiting at the start line. Finally, a couple more turned up, making the HUGE field now 5 people deep,lol. Got of to a good start, but turning onto the main straight the wind really hit me, and the fact that i was struggling almost straight away to keep up didnt help matters either. Each lap i dropped away which made my race so much harder than it could have been, and i just finished off as strong as i could. The wind was so very tough, and its funny, the sprinters were the first to complain, and managed to get there events moved to the back straight. Ridiculous really. i had to run into the wind 11 times, and i did it with a smile on my face…Well, maybe through gritted teeth at least,lol. In the end, having run most of the race by myself, i managed to finish in a respectable time of 9:33, which is a new p.b by 2 seconds. Its time to give something up though. There is someone who i try to beat every time i run, and thats Iseyas. And it frustates me now that he starting to beat me. Its not because im really struggling, but because he is starting to get back closer to where we all know his real ability is( i.e: 29:00 for 10km). My races the last 2 months have been focused soley on not how i ran, as long as i beat him. Ive focused on the wrong things. I need to go back to what i was doing in Oct/Nov and just running at my pace, and getting great improvement from it, instead of running at his pace, and upsetting my rythmn and not running a smart tactical, controlled race like the one i ran on thursday night. Next thursday is 5000m at Knox, im not going to follow Iseyas at what ever pace he is running, im going to decide on a time that i think im capible of, and try and achieve that at the finish. If i beat him, i beat him. He is just another person in the race really. My splits tell the story of what ’s been happening: 1km- 3:02, 2km: 3:11, 3km: 3:18. At this point in time, i just cant hold the pace. And im probably better suited to try and run the first km a few seconds slower, and be able to slighty run more even splits. Im sure im capible of running under 9:20 by the end of this summer season, ive just got to be a bit smarter about how i run it…..

….And the P.B Machine will once again gain momentium

Well done today also to Emma, who( fingers crossed), broke 6:00 for the 1500m, it was tight. But even if you don’t get it, you should be proud of beating your last effort by 12 seconds. Fantastic work Em. My brillance must be rubbing off on you,lol.

WOW!!!! Can’t believe what happened last night at the VMC @ Sandringham. I was in the first heat of the 1500m, which if you know, is the slowest heat. But with a late change of heat structure saw some sub 4:30 runners move into our heat, which made me very happy, seen as the guy i chose to follow( Andrew Stevenson from Knox), was now in my heat with a best time of 4:22.9, considering my best of 4:35.7, it gave me something to really get out and chase. Im ade a big blunder saturday getting a great fast start, but with no one prepared to follow me, ment i blew-up before the end. This time i was to follow a different tactic.

Getting prepared on the start line, lining us all up in order of fastest entry to slowest entry. I was in 10th, Iseyas standing right next to me in 11th. So there was something to chase right there and then, finish better than 10th. Before i knew it, we were off. Except i started slower than anyone, dropping to the back of the 15 strong field. But not for long. I quickly picked up the pace, and as we all reached the 1st bend i was sitting just inside the top 10, with Iseyas just flying by me like i was standing still. He seemed to gather everyone up so quickly, and soon found himself in the lead. I wasn’t chasing though, my pacer( even though he didnt know it,lol), was only 5 or so metres ahead of me, and knowing we were going quite qiuckly, was happy with my position. Coming down the main straight for the first time, i made my first bold move of the race by swinging out into lane 2 and moving past a couple into the top 7, and decided to tuck in going around the bend to complete the first lap in little over 60 seconds. The pace was quick and not looking like slowing down. Coming back around the bend at the top end of the course leading onto the main straight for a 2nd time we were now strung out as i moved into 6th as i struggled to stay to the leading group as the guy in front tired, moving swiftly around the outside of him before to much momentum was lost. Went through the 700m with 2 laps remaining in a good time of 1:57, and at this point i could see Iseyas starting to slower come back towards me as he must have gone out to fast. My pacer had now taken over the lead, i knew i had to make a move. Even with tireing legs, i burst forward, passing Iseyas coming down the back straight, and almost instantly, could no longer hear his footsteps. It was now a 5 man race, and i was still one of them. Back down the main straight and i was still right there, nicely positioned behind 4th place and still within sight of my pacer, who was now starting to be challenged by a runners from Collingwood harriers. Past the finishing post to commence the last lap, and if i remember correctly was in a amazing 3:07 for 1100m, and as each of us hit the line, it felt like we took off, none of us wanting to lose an inch. Coming down the back straight i could hear everyone cheering and even the anouncer from the opposite side of the track, i could hear him too. Calling out our names as we rounded the last turn. Turning onto the home straight it suddenly occured to me, i was still in with a chance. Even though the legs were just about dead, i tried sprinting forward, and you know what? It worked. I slipped down the inside of 4th, then 3rd and apart from one scary moment with 5m to go when i took a step and my body nearly collapsed, i managed to stay ahead and hold them off. And the beuaty of  it was, my pacer only bet me by 3.9 seconds. I crossed the line, hammered my wand across my watch, and apon looking down, began to punch the air with my fist. My finishing time was 4:22.3, a whole 13.4 seconds faster than my best at an average pace of 2:55 per km. Faster than ive ever gone before Now ive broken the 3:00 barrier, there are no more barriers. If i wasnt sure before, i am now. I truly believe i can do this. This is the start of something very great.

This little adventure nearly didnt happen. Woke up on Sunday morning totally bemused about travelling out to princes park for a 5km race, considering how hard the 3000m was the previous day. But, i sucked it up, got ready and then off for my hour long car trip to princes park. Apon arriving i soon bumped into Tony, who was hopeful of running sub 40 minutes for the 10km as was Tom, who its always great to see. We do a lot of running together and its good to see him do well. ‘Now, where is Emma? I was thinking’. I knew of her plans to run a p.b in the 5km, but as yet hadn’t laid eyes on her. Then, like a magican pulling a rabbit out of a hat, Emma just appeared, and seeing she was wearing her much talked about white knee high socks, i know she ment business. With only 30 minutes until the start, at this point i knew it was time to stand in the mile long line for the toilets. 10 minutes until race: ‘Is it just me, or is this line not moving at all?’. At this point i gave up on the whole toilet idea and decided to head to the startline and wait until after the race. Getting to the startline early is always a priority of mine just so i don’t get caught up in the pack at the start. Which later finding out, that was what Emma managed to do, and has a rolled ankle for her trouble.

After the minute silence(more like 37 seconds if you ask me), we were ready. Well, i was anyway. And before i knew it we were off, at a qiuck pace too. I was out in front with 2 others, and the way we were running was 3 wide, as if we were in a 100m race. So i dropped back a step and fell in behind 1 of the runners until he tired just before the 1km which left me and Western Aths runner Luck Searle now running side by side trying to test what each other had in reserve. He tried to surge just before the 2km and had a 5m lead which i was quick to close down, and again pulled alongside him. As we headed around the sweeping bend leading us through the underpass he surged again, almost successfully too as he caught me by surprise. He lead by about 2m going up the hill at 3km and he decided at this point he was finally try and lose me, but i wasnt done with yet. We were almost sprinting up the hill but i was still right there going around the turnaround at 3.5km, but that hill took a lot out of me. I think Luke knew it too. Going back up the hill again he surged and this time i couldn’t peg back the 3m he initially got on me and as we went through 4km he started to increase his lead. Rounding the sweeping and coming onto the long finishing straight he was still in sight, but at the rate he was increasing his pace, mine was decreasing. Still, i finished off pretty well and crossed the line in 16:56, where Luke had run 16:39, which is quite pleasing backing up after AV on the saturday.

5km Splits- 1km-3:20, 2km- 3:24, 3km-3:32, 4km-3:22, 5km-3:18

After the race it was pleasing to see that Tony, Tom and Emma had run so well. Brilliant job everyone. And we all got stuck into our pancake breakfast that is a great reward after a tough race. See you all at the next one

Well. At first i thought my news years legs had been replaced with ones made of solid gold. They felt slow and slightly overused over the christmas break. Then came Saturday, the first day back of AV competition, and i was readying myself for the 3000m out at Duncan MacKinnon Reserve( or Duncan’s House for short, lol) Everything was in check, my routine now down pact, which if you know me as well as i think, you know that now includes my drive to Jells Park just to have breakfast with the great group of people known as ‘Running In The Burbs’.

By the time me and my entourage(i.e: my family) arrived at Duncan’s House the weather was already starting to warm up, which considering the last round before christmas was washed out, this was a pleasant change. I felt good, without being outstanding, slight tightness in my calves after having to wear in a new pair of track spikes only 2 days before thanks to some bastards who stole the previous pair from my car at Jells. But that’s another story for another day. I knew i had to be on song as my fellow clubman, the ever improving Iseyas was slowly but surely closing the gap. Not knowing what sort of training he had covering over christmas and knowing im still a few weeks away from breaking new ground in terms of fitness and speed, i knew i just had to tough it out against him.

I got a great start, probably the best ive had since i started on the track in October, and i easily lead through the first half lap in 33 seconds. I might have still been leading through the next lap but i knew i wouldn’t even be close the finish as my legs were already really struggling to maintain any sort of pace. Through the 1km mark, i was now sitting 4th and slowly dropping back through the field, but my time of 3:00 was still very good, but after the end of the next lap in which i went through in 4:17, i had a feeling this was not going to be a successful race for me. As Iseyas went past me i tried to lift, as i always do when he passes me, but this time i had no answers. But i still didnt give up on it, we were nearly halfway through, so still plenty of time. I went back past Iseyas heading towards 2km which i ran in a p.b 6:14, but i was spent. The last km was a real struggling with Iseyas yet again going past me, and with no real speed left, i could not catch him and the group in front on the last lap and i cruised across the line. Which when i look at it now, if i had put more bloody effort in on the last lap, i could have very easily run a p.b as my finishing time of 9:40 is only just slower than my p.b. Well, lesson learnt. Once i can get to a point where my split become a little more even(3:00, 3:14, 3:26), i have no doubt that before this year is out i am capible of breaking 9:00, if not, at least getting very close. Considering the amount of hard training i did over christmas(120.7km, 129.1km), to be running close to p.b pace already gives me a lot of confidence for the coming months, including the Vic Champs at the end of February.