It's a PBP PB

There you go, try saying that three times quickly... :-)

There's been precious little to blog about over the last few weeks. Work and home life has been hectic, meaning that I've been averaging 2 runs per week; one on the weekend and Run Club on Thursday. I expect that it's likely to stay that way for a few weeks to come. Consequently, the goal at the moment is just to maintain a holding pattern - do enough to keep some kind of base for when I need it, but don't start any build up.

On the keeping-the-base front, I was pretty pleased with the CR 5k challenge on Saturday. I had the enormous pleasure of running with Tesso (with JD and Rags in hot pursuit). We decided at the start to aim for 22:30 (ie 4:30 pace), but after a k or two we were doing 4:20's and I felt like we'd be able to hold it OK. Hold it we did, for a time of 21:44 with nicely even splits of 4:17, 4:22, 4:24, 4:23 & 4:19. That's a Post-Back-Problem Personal Best, and I'll take 'em if I can get 'em! :-)

Tiger Angel's wrist is not healing any slower than expected, but there's no doubt that it is healing a whole heap slower than she'd prefer!! It still severely limits her activities and the pain continues to be significant, but on the bright side we see little improvements every week. Don't tell anyone else, but just between you and me I have this sneaking suspicion that she's on the cusp of a pretty special period. Look back in six or twelve months time and try to tell me that I was wrong... :-) :-)

Gnome

C2S - how good was that?

I've learned a lot over the last 5 years or so. I know so much more about efficient running. I know lots more about how my body is reacting to situations and most importantly, I know much more about the tricks my mind plays on me.

Yesterday could have been a complete disaster. Let's see...

• Tiger Angel was not running.
  
• My back got sore sitting on the ground for 90 minutes before the start.
  
• It was hot.
  
• I was running by myself.
• I've had stuff-all training this year, so I could have blown up any time.
• I was starting from A2, so I had to dodge people pretty much all the way.

Can I think of any more whinges? Maybe if I try hard I could, but that's the trick, isn't it? Finally, finally, I'm learning to focus on the positives. Not some kind of Pollyanna pretending, but a serious appreciation of just how good it all was. Sure, I would have preferred to be running with TA, but it was so exciting to see her in the cheer squad and I was so proud of the time I'd run simply because she saw me run it! Sure, my back got sore, but lying down for a few minutes fixed that. Yep, it was hot, but there was more water available than I could drink and, yep, I was passing people all the time, but that also meant that I could encourage the cool runners I passed and I got to see all sorts of Borats (ok - so maybe that was a negative :-) ).

I sat with friends during the wait. I talked to 'friends' I didn't know along the way. I ran the last 4k with Will which made the murderous half-marathon along Campbell Parade just that bit easier. I met friends in the finishing area. I stood with friends at the cheer squad. I sat with friends in the pub...

In fact, I think this just about sums up the day. First thing in the morning, I joined one of the toilet queues. Uncle Dave was about 3 people ahead of me. Ewen was a few people behind. The bloke in front of me turned around and said "Isn't it amazing. 60,000 people here and you meet people you know", and I thought to myself Nup, I expected to!

Gnome.

p.s. the blokes at work wanted to know why I had let Dickson Marwa win, so I explained that as he was a visitor it was up to me to do the courteous thing... :-) :-)

Good news

My dad always said that when you're flat on your back, the only way to look was up, and that's exactly where we're looking! :-)

On Friday night I went for a trial jog around the (5km) block and arrived back in one piece. A further run on Sunday (10k) and a slightly faster one tonight (6k) has convinced me that 14k is probably OK, so roll on Sunday! It's not going to be a pb - or anything like it - but at least I'll be there. Yeah!! Regardless of what happens, I promise to have fun...

Tiger angel's plaster came off on Monday; replaced by a moulded plastic and velcro contraption that she has to take off 4 times a day in an attempt to mobilise her wrist. At this stage it is about as mobile as Michelangelo's David and any movement hurts, but you know TA. That wrist is going to be flopping around before you know it, regardless of how much pain it takes to get there.

The surgeon has said that she can go swimming, though we don't know whether he means swimming or just paddling around, and we don't know whether it's with or without the plastic contraption, so we'll find out tomorrow morning by trying it out. If it doesn't hurt too much, then it must be meant to be... :-)

See you Sunday!

Gnome