So next week I shall be taking to the blue track of Albert Park to have a final attack on my 5,000m PB of 14.09.96. Although really I want to break 14.00, but I’ll be happy with a PB. To recap the build-up, I did a good training block at Falls Creek over New Year, but probably lacked some speed. I then ran in Hobart and was just 2.3 seconds outside my PB, but tweaked my hamstring in the process. I then had a month of less than full training before I returned to full training 3 weeks ago. Despite the lay-off, my fitness doesn’t seem to have gone far – I’ve done a Mona fartlek and Quarters session that has been better than I have done for quite a while.

So my fitness isn’t too bad, although I’m still short on 1500 type work that would have made a difference. The race itself should be a great opportunity to run fast – the Melbourne IAAF World Challenge and also the Australian National Championships. Suffice to say I’ll be hanging on for dear life for as long as possible.

Let’s hope that my next update is a positive one! Here’s my training for the past few weeks:

March 2-8

Monday: 67 mins steady home from work at 6.51/mile. Kept it easy after the horrible long run the day before. (10)

Tuesday – AM – 37mins easy (5)

               PM – Quarters session on the track. Very even, and Nipper got away on the 2nd half. Consistent 67/38’s for a 13.58 4.8km. (8)

Wednesday – 86 mins steady at 6.37/mile and 135bpm average. (13.5)

Thursday – AM – 39mins easy (5.5)

                 PM – 61 mins with 5k threshold in 16.10 around Centennial. 5.58/mile and 147bpm average (10.5)

Friday – 54 mins easy at 6.39/mile and 135bpm average (8)

Saturday – AM – Mona fartlek in Centennial Park. 4.51/mile average for 20mins. Felt pretty good. I think this is the 3rd fastest I’ve done this session.  176bpm average. 183bpm max. (10.5)

PM – 38mins easy (5.5)

Sunday – 2hrs 17 long run. Much cooler this week but didn’t push it too much. 6.32/mile and 146bpm average. 165bpm max. (21)

97.5 miles. 2 good sessions. Surprisingly not that unfit!

Mar 9-16

Monday – 66mins steady at 6.35/mile and 137bpm. (10)

Tuesday – AM – 38mins easy. Had to get up super early for this – explains the 7.37/mile average. 127bpm. (5)

PM – Track session. 3 x (4 x 300) off 30secs, 45secs, then 60 secs per set. 5 mins between sets.

63, 65, 64, 64

62, 62, 63, 62

63, 61, 62, 61. Hung onto Nipper until the last set. Not too bad seeing as I’ve not done much work at this pace. (10)

Wednesday – 89 mins with Carter around Centennial. A decent brisk pace – 6.23/mile and 143bpm. (14)

Thursday – AM – 39mins easy (5.5)

PM – 67mins with 5mile threshold in 25.50 with Tom Do Canto. Averaged 6.22 and 147bpm. Felt like I was working pretty hard.(10.5)

Friday – 52mins easy at 7.07/mile (7.5)

Saturday – AM – Centennial Park session. 7 x 2mins hard, 1 min float. Covered 6.95km and averaged 4.52/mile. Pretty solid. 174bpm average, 181bpm max. (10.5)

PM – 41mins easy at 7.15/mile (5.5)

Sunday – 2hrs03 long run. A bit shorter with the 5k race next week. Kept it controlled also. 6.34/mile and 141bpm. (18.5)

96.5 miles. Ready for the race next week. The fitness is there.

I haven’t posted for a while, mainly as my appetite to write about running always wanes when I don’t have good news to write about. The hamstring ‘tweak’ I picked up in the final 25m of the Hobart 5,000m actually set me back about a month. I did manage to run in this month to varying levels but had to take about a week off, and then thought all was ok, but it wasn’t quite and returning to hard training too soon cost me even more time.

The good news now is that it seems to be ok – I am back to full training and hopefully can be fit enough to run a 5,000m PB in 3 weeks time in Melbourne. Here’s a summary of the past few weeks:

Jan 26-Feb1

Mon – Ran for about 25 mins but then hamstring was really hurting so walked/jog back….

Tues – REST

Weds – REST

Thurs – 4 x 4mins jog off a minute walk. Felt ok but not brilliant.

Friday – 5 x 4mins jog off a min – a bit better than yesterday.

Saturday – AM – 5 x 5mins jog off a min walk. Felt better again. Much less pain.

PM – 30 mins jog continuous. Can feel it but it’s runnable on at a slow pace.

Sunday – 46 mins easy. Better again.

16 mile week – BOOM!

Feb 2 – Feb 8

Monday – 58mins steady at 6.41/mile. Getting back in business. Better again (9)

Tuesday – AM – 37 mins easy at 6.54/mile (5.5)

PM – 66mins steady at 6.36/mile. (10)

Wednesday – 79 mins steady. Progress again. Kept it slow at 7.11/mile with Nipper. (11)

Thursday – AM – 37 mins easy (5.5)

PM – 60mins with 20mins threshold. Hamstring held up fine! 5.47/mile (10.5)

Friday – 57 mins easy at 6.54/mile (8.5)

Saturday – AM – 8 x 2mins off 1 min float. 4.58/mile average overall. Felt pretty good and no hamstring pain. Took the pm off to help recover. (10)

Sunday – 93 mins. Hamstring was sore…. Could feel it from the start and after 50mins or so it was getting noticeable so I cut the run short a bit. 6.41/mile and 143bpm average (14)

84 miles. 2 steps forward, 1 step back….

Feb 9 – 16

Monday – 62 mins steady – hammy got sore after 40 mins or so, will need a few easy days I think… 6.34/mile and 134 bpm (9.5)

Tuesday – 32mins jog. It felt ok 6.43/mile and 130 bpm (5)

Wednesday – 33 mins jog at 7.03/mile and 136bpm (4.5)

Thursday – 45 mins steady at 6.48/mile and 134 bpm. (6.5)

Friday – 53 mins steady at 6.55/mile and 132bpm (7.5)

Saturday – 65mins steady at 6.25/mile and 144bpm (10)

Sunday – 2hours steady. It was hot and hamstring felt fine but I felt awful. 6.33/mile and 151bpm. Although hit 181 at one point!! Still, a good long run at least (18.5)

60.5 miles. Had to ease back but getting there.

16 – 23 Feb

Monday – 68 mins steady at 6.45/mile and 137bpm (10)

Tuesday – AM – 36 mins easy at 140 bpm and 7.12/mile (5)

PM – 69 mins steady at 6.49/mile and 139 bpm (10)

Weds – 91 mins steady. Felt awful. Too early in the morning. 6.56/mile and 137bpm (13)

Thurs – AM – 38mins easy at 7.02/mile and 136bpm (5.5)

PM – 64 mins with 2 x 7mins pick-up. Hamstring fine but felt crappy again. 6.29/mile and 147 bpm (10)

Friday – 49mins easy at 7.14/mile and 130bpm (7)

Saturday – SESSION! 6x2mins off 1min float. Hamstring felt fine again. Held back a bit just to protect it. 4.58/mile (10)

PM – 37mins easy. No pain! Progress! 7.00/mile and 129bpm (5.5)

Sunday – 2hours long run. 6.25/mile and 143bpm. Felt miles better than last week. 162max not 181…. (19)

95 miles. I think I’m properly back running again!

Feb 23 – Mar 1

Monday – 45 mins steady. 6.28/mile and 141 bpm (7)

Tuesday – AM – 39mins easy at 7.13/mile and 139bpm (5.5)

PM – 6x800m on the track off 2mins. Started slow and built into it, but no pain! 2.20, 2.14, 2.13, 2.14, 2.13, 2.13 (9)

Wednesday – 88mins steady at 6.58/mile and 144bpm. Felt CRAP but hamstring fine. (13)

Thursday –  AM – 38mins easy at 7.04/mile and 130bpm (5.5)

PM – 62mins steady at 6.30/mile and 136bpm (9.5)

Friday – 55mins easy at 7.00/mile and 131bpm (8)

Saturday – AM – 8 x half lakes off 1min. 1.59, 2.17, 1.58, 2.15, 1.57, 2.15, 1.55, 2.13 (10)

PM – 38mins easy at 7.03/mile (5.5)

Sunday – 2hr15 long run. Man it was hot and the last 40mins were horrible. Still, got it done and Nipper hated it as much as me so that’s comforting.6.28/mile and 150bpm (21)

94 miles. Hamstring seems fine!