24 Weeks To Go...

Yes, 24 weeks until City-to-Surf. And week 2 of the training has started well in spite of some pre-session jitters and a mid-session panic!

I thought last Monday was a good effort because it was the first session, but I'm realising that every Monday is going to be a challenge in itself.

I've become to realise that I feel more exhausted on a Sunday night than I do on a Friday night. Sitting at a desk all week with a couple of hours of home time each day is nothing compared to a typical week-end. So I end up over-tired and it takes a bit longer than usual to get to sleep - during this pre-sleep time my mind tends to go into over-drive and that's how I get anxious about the training session the next morning.

This weekend consisted of (on Saturday) an early drive out to the new shopping centre at Rhodes ("biggest IKEA in the Southern Hemisphere") for breakfast and a bit of food shopping. Then back home for 4 hours of garden clearance to prepare the plot for Lian's cubby house. Then off to Lian's swimming lesson (I think I referred earlier to it as a splashing and screaming session) which is good fun but a bit tiring trying to hold a giggling, wriggling Lian in about 1 metre of water. Then back home for some tea and an evening entertaining Lian.

Sunday commenced with taxiing the girls to church. On the way back home, picking up some glue and tape to mend the fridge(!). Then I had to hoover the house. Oh I almost forgot to have breakfast - so I did have 15 minutes with the newspaper, a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal. I also needed to go to the pool shop to get some chemicals and a few tips. Then the girls came home and we had to get everything ready as we were having the neighbours (George, Jenny and their two kids - Julian and Oliver) over for Sunday Lunch.

That was good though, a couple of beers with George - I was pleased that he enjoyed his first taste of pommy beer - a can of smoothflow Tetley's! Mmmmm.

But then, after they left, Shirl and I had to clear up (we must get a dishwasher)! Thankfully, Lian went for an afternoon nap, so Shirl and I we're able to enjoy a peaceful hour or so, reading the paper.

So is there any wonder that I come to work for a rest?

Anyway, that was the pre-session jitters. The mid-session panic was generated because I dug out my old Heart Rate Monitor to wear during the run. My quick calculation of where my heart rate should be had me worried as it was way over that! But never-the-less, I finished the 30 minute session, without suffering a heart attack!

I've had a quick search on the www and apparently my quick calculations were a little inaccurate and things weren't quite as bad as I thought. It does however confirm that I am unfit and do require to keep going slow and steady.

In the meantime, I've confirmed a couple of statistics from the Parkes Hall-of-Fame:

- 1991 City to Surf time 1:11:48
- 1994(?) Portsmouth Half-Marathon 1:38:00

My memory of the Portsmouth Half Marathon was that I was virtually dragged round by Chris & Simon - if not physically then at least the suggestion was that if I was not able to keep up with their pace then I wouldn't be invited to the Golden Key (or was it Quay) again! So thanks fellas.

The City-to-Surf time was achieved 14 years ago when my base level of fitness was much higher than it is now. Also, we started from the second (of three) groups and got up to pace fairly quickly. My 2003 disaster started mid-way through the third group in the middle of all the prams and fancy-dressers and I didn't get up to pace until 3 or 4km. The fact that I didn't actually hold that pace for very long probably had a major effect on the time too! Hopefully if I get my entry in early I'll be in the second group this year.

But no excuses now. I have plenty of time to get the fitness up and go for the sub-75 minute goal.

I think I might leave the Heart Rate Monitor at home tomorrow. No news is good news and all that!

Later....

Another day, another 4k...

Still at it and whilst the pace is slow and there are still a couple of walking stretches - the positives are that; this is all I should expect at this stage and, more importantly, the motivation is still strong.

I'm hoping that in the next couple of weeks, I'll start to find some rhythm. Now you blokes that have seen me on the dance floor might think that there's more chance of snow in Cuba, but I'm talking of something far removed from pogo-ing in The Event, Brighton. I just want to not have to think about breathing (are you reading brother Ferris? Remember me wheezing round the track at Kallang?) and for the stride to be smooth.

So that's the first week down. Saturday and Sunday will be rest days - from running, I still have a heap of work to do at home. Got to prepare the plot for Lian's Wendy House (or Cubby House as they call them here in the Antipodes). The kit arrives in the next week or so. So that'll be something else to report progress on.

Next week should have a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday run and a game of squash on Wednesday, so watch out for the Blogs.

I might treat myself to a bottle of James Squire's Porter tonight! Cheers!!

Training Week 1

Well there's 171 days to go until City to Surf - which seems a lot, but bearing in mind I'm starting from a very low level of fitness and my goal time is quite a challenge, I don't want to get complacent.

I did a bit of research on various running websites to at least base my training intentions on (hopefully) an experts opinion.

I took the "From the Couch to 5k" option for a start, which is a nine week programme targeting running 5km in 30 minutes. It starts with 20 minutes jog/walks, 3 times a week, reminding me to warm up and cool down / stretch properly - something that I rarely have done - I usually start off at 110%, keep going as long as I can, then collapse at the end. Well that's all good for a 20 year old but not for a (almost) 38 year old!

One major reason why I hadn't done much exercise recently was that I thought training in the evening was a bit selfish bearing in mind I'd been at work all day and Shirley and Lian needed a bit of attention. I do get away with a Wednesday night squash session with another 1991 City to Surf veteran (no not Steve Moneghetti - Simon Perry). But that was that, I didn't get any further... Until two unrelated events prompted me to re-think my strategy.

First, we had some visitors (Chris & Mandy) who I've known since pre Hong Kong days (1992-1995) - a period where I, with the support of Chris, Mandy and Simon, used to exercise regularly. Cycling, running and a fair bit of gym work. They reminded me that we finished the Portsmouth Half Marathon in something like 1h40m - unbelievable I know, but it's surprising how much Carbo loading you get from Heineken Export Tops!

Then another Chris (Tidy) from Singapore mentioned he was training for a half triathlon. Me and Tidy regularly used to concoct plans to give ourselves some incentive to exercise, but to no avail. We usually ended up down the boozer! So for him to set this goal himself is some feat!

So I got thinking of how to get back into training. There was only one option - dragging my arse out of bed in the morning to go for a run! Now I am not a morning person - and I usually curse the alarm for waking me. But come on, 9 hours is too much sleep anyway - and think of the goals - sub 75 minute City to Surf and running round the park on my 40th birthday with Lian.

And on that basis, I've so far stuck to the strategy.

I'd made sure I'd ironed all my work shirts for the week, set out my running gear and set my alarm for a 6.45am start on Monday (45 minutes earlier than usual) and waited to drift off to sleep. But the anticipation of that first run and the anxiety to make sure I did get up in time - delayed and disrupted my usual slumber.

At 6.30am, I was wide awake and ready. I lay there for a while thinking of the route I'd take and by the time the alarm went off - I was coiled ready to spring to switch it off and bound out of bed. Well it was more like a slide out of bed - I generally feel pretty stiff (ooh-err) and I didn't want to wake Shirley.

And that was that, into the first session. A 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then 25 minutes of jog/walk round the streets close to home. It's surprising how hilly it is around our way, so I was certainly glad of the slow start and the walking bits.

The plan was to miss Tuesday but go Wednesday and Friday. But I was so pleased with the initial effort and I knew I didn't have a squash game this week - so I did the same thing Tuesday.

I missed Wednesday - don't want to overdo it, the joints have to get used to the pounding. But I did go this morning again (Thursday). I'd mapped out a 5km circuit which is fairly flat with one steep down hill. I thought it would be good to test myself and have something to compare to in coming weeks. It did take 35 minutes of jog/walks, but that's OK. I don't expect to break any records. I just want to get into the habit without injuring myself or losing the motivation.

I intend to do another 25-30 minutes tomorrow morning then have the weekend off.

So far so good.

Why?

Welcome to the Blog of Parkesy.

I've set this up, as a motivation to achieve a little goal I've set myself. No, nothing too outlandish (I don't think) - just to run the City-to-Surf on Sunday 14th August 2005.

I reckon that if I publish my intentions, then I'm more likely to follow them through - for fear of abuse from my so-called friends. Also, it'll be my diary of how the training is going.

For those that don't know, the City-to-Surf is a mass fun-run from the City of Sydney to Bondi beach. This year is the 35th anniversary and there are more than 50,000 participants expected. It's 14km; from Hyde Park, through Kings Cross, along Sydney Harbour's southern bays, up "Heartbreak Hill" (at 6-8 km) over South Head, then down to Bondi Beach for the finish.

The record is held by Steve Moneghetti of 40.03 in 1991. I did it in the same year at a little more sedate pace, just under double that record time.

My target this year is sub 75 mins which is based on a 4 hour marathon time. Perhaps if this goal is achieved, then I'll continue this blog using the Sydney (half?) Marathon as a goal.

I suppose one reason for setting this goal is my fast approaching 40th birthday (steady on - it's not until 2007). I'd like to stay fit enough to run around the park with our (you know my wife Shirley?) daughter, Lian.

I may add a few other items of news regarding Shirley, Lian, home-life and whatever I think may be of interest (I'm conscious that if these "Blogs" aren't interesting then not even my closest friends will bother checking back for updates).

So that'll do for a start. I got to get some work done. My next post (maybe later today) will summarise this weeks training.


(Hope to) See Ya!