Kokoda Challenge - One week away

Well, it is too late to pull out now. I am actually looking forward to the event, it will be good fun, but fairly tough, I am guessing.

The team element will make it unique, with a four man team having to come into and out of all check points together. All four must start and all four must finish. Very unique as far as endurance events go, as they are usually single person events.

Our team consists of me, consultant and average runner, Andrew, Financial Planner and good runner, but with bad knees, Mark, Andrew's brother, very good runner, but missed a few weeks of training and Dan, on the verge of professional triathlete. We will make an interesting bunch.

My goal the whole time, and over the last two months, when the focus has been to run 100k every week, week in, week out, is to not let the team down. I will not make them wait for me, if it comes to that. I will pull out, before letting the team down, though I am confident that I have done more than enough to help the team get over the line.

See, we are aiming for a finish time of 20 hours, and that will be achievable if we run a fair portion of the race, which should not be a huge drama, I wouldn't think. From what I can gather, the terrain is not nearly as gruelling at the North Face 100, so that should give us some respite.

Anyway, gear is packed already, body is a bit shabby - sore left knee and sore right achilles (3 physio trips last week with the latter). Will let you know all about it in a weeks time.

Till then, keep running, or go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more ideas on how to stay motivated.

Kokoda Challenge - two weeks away

Well, here we are, only two weeks out from another ultra marathon event. Bring it on, I am really feeling quite ready for this one ... unlike the North Face 100.

For the last 6 weeks, I have run no less than 100k per week, and it has been huge. It really is a big ask to pull that off for so long - and the body is feeling it - I am suffering with some overuse issues like tendinitis in my right Achilles tendon.

The knees are holding up well, though, which is great (lucky probably). Really, though, most of my running has been on treadmills (which is good or bad - depending on your preference - it is winter, and cold outside - yes, I am soft, and my work is still taking me to the Kimberleys, where there are snakes - big ones out after dark. Mind you, apparently, they are asleep at this time of the year - but who is taking chances - yes, soft again - do I look like Bear Grylls).

As I am working away for the next two weeks, I have to take all the stuff that I need for the Kokoda Challenge. It is going to be tough, with at lest 7 river crossings - sound interesting.

It really is going to be a special event, as it commemorates the sacrifice of the diggers on the Kokoda trail in 1942. If it was not for that battle, Australia, or the top half of it at the very least, would now be owned by Japan. Very scary thought.

After the Kokoda Challenge, I am down for an 18 hour run. Not sure if I will do that yet, or not, stay tuned.

6 weeks till the next hit out

Well, with only six weeks left until the Kokoda Challenge at the Gold Coast, life is rocking. I have done two weeks in a row of 100 kilometres. They were big weeks, and yesterday, to get the ks done, it was a 30k run before the sun came up, then a 10k run at Ecofest in Gladstone.

Yesterday was a momentus day - it was my wife's first 10k run. She is training for the Noosa Triathlon and she is living the dream. She is going really well, and I am very proud of her. She did about 70 minutes, but that was great, she stopped a few times for short walks, but generally, she got it done, and worked really hard. Very inspiring. I ran with her, and we came home second last, but that was ok. Good fun. It was gret running with her. She did not say a word for 10k, was just breathing hard, so I did all the talking. She said it was like her own personal trainer there the whole time. She is on fire, and going really well.

Anyway, six weeks out, life is good. Really looking forward to the next challenge. Bring it on. I am really confident, after yesterday, that we could run most of it, even though it will be 96ks. After the 30 in the morning, and an hour spell, then to run 10 with Julie, and felt great. And, feel great today.

What am I learning - long ks really do create endurance. THey also seem to create the ability to run fast, which is nice, too. But, on the long runs, I take a back pack, I have heavy shoes, and make sure that it is all hard work. Nothing easy. Others I think would say my times are slow - 30k in 3 hours - it is slow, but carrying an extra nearly 10kgs makes a big difference. I use rice in my backpack to weigh it down.

For the next few weeks, it will still be 100k per week, I think. We are going to Rockhampton this weekend, for a half marathon, and another 10k for Julie. Pumped.

Until next time, keep running.

Next ...

With The North Face 100 out of the way, it is with enthusiasm that I look to the next event. The next event will be slightly shorter than the last, thank God.

It will be the Kokoda Challenge, 2010, which is only a 96k walk through the mountains around the Gold Coast. It is a team's event of four people, and you all must finish at the same time. Bring it on - I think the team wants to run some of it, which is fine, I know I can finish the thing, now, so I am not too worried. Mind you, I am going to change up my training program over the coming weeks, to include hills and harder runs. Pumped about upping the training.

My goal is also to run 100k per week for the next 7 weeks. That will be tough, but I am focused. It might mean running twice a day at times.

On the weekend, I did over 21k up and down hills out the back of Gladstone. That was tough, though good fun. And, only one week out from the 1ook event last weekend. I ran over 10k over small hills on Thursday, then only 4k on Friday, though with the treadmill cranked up to 15% incline. That was tough. I am going to try and run 4k on the treadmill, 15% incline, under half an hour. That is the next challenge.

The North Face 100 - 2010

As I lie here in bed, I am starting to drift off to sleep. I notice that it is 8am on a fine Sunday morning in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia; and I am just lying down to go to sleep. I am going to bed at this early hour of the morning because I have been up for a little while running – actually, I have been up for well over 24 hours running and walking a 100 kilometre ultra marathon.

Right now, I am 37 years old, and my journey to this point has been a chequered oneI start to reflect on the last 30 years, as I struggle to stay awake and savour the moment.

It was at around the age of 7 that I can remember spending a lot of time being ‘baby sat’ by my Grandmother. Grandma lives in a house at Tannum Sands, just south of Gladstone, in Queensland, Australia, and she lives on a huge block that adjoins a park (that has actually been named after her and her late husband, John Walters – who died that year. 1979). My brother Joseph and I spent many, many hours running through the park, and up and down the beach, which was only one street away from Grandma’s. Grandma, at the age of 60 at that stage (she is still alive and living in the same house), struggled with our energy levels as young boys. I still have her words ringing in my ears; ‘gee you boys have got some energy’. On reflection, we were a bit like Forest Gump, and ‘if we were going somewhere, we were running’. I was a slightly built child, unlike Joey, who has always been heavier than me, even though I am the elder of the two of us, by only eleven months. It would be another ten years before mum and dad had more children, when they added two more boys, William and John, to the fold. Back to the age of seven, it is amazing to think that at that stage, I had no idea that those same legs, those same calf muscles, those same quadriceps, now thirty years on, would carry me for 100 kilometres through the Blue Mountains, as part of an ultra marathon called the North Face 100. Gee we loved running when we were kids. All kids do, though.

Fast forward to the age of 17, and those same legs had carried me through onto football fields and onto cricket fields around Queensland, as part of both local and representative teams. Cricket was my passion, and wicket keeping was my speciality. With some solid sporting achievements under my belt (including state carnival and school first eleven appearances, as well as a season of A grade cricket), running was always there. The prestigious boys boarding school that I attended for years 11 and 12 (Nudgee College) had an outstanding athletics and cross country team that I trained with, though never competed as part of (although I did place well in short distance sprint races). My legs remained strong from the squats required to keep wickets, and my fitness was amazing. That was, until I started smoking ... It was the worst decision that I have ever made, barring none. It would be a habit that destroyed my fitness and my ability to run fast or long. It took me the next 13 years to finally ‘mature’ enough to completely kick the habit and wake to myself. In life, although we should have no regrets, taking up smoking is one of my very few. Why is it that as teenagers, we are willing to do things we know are bad for us, only for the accolades of friends who have developed the same silly habits for the same silly reasons. Up until the age of 17, I still loved running.

Fast forward another ten years (to the age of 27), and although I had suffered terrible burns at the age of 21 (in a workplace accident), I was still playing cricket, and football. It was mostly bush sport at that stage, though, as we were living in mining towns around Australia. I did spend one season playing at a high level in Brisbane, which was an amazing experience. I continued to smoke though, again regrettably, and although I had also taken up cycling to work at that stage, my fitness had suffered significantly. Oh, and I had stopped running completely. I had neither the fitness, nor the inclination to run far. The extent of my running was 6 kilometre jogs occasionally round the streets of the towns that we moved to during those years. It was at the age of 27 that I was starting to think about giving up playing football, as my body was starting to take longer to recover each week. I used to make the comment that; ‘I will give up playing football when I hurt my knee or shoulder, and cannot play any longer.’ In retrospect, that was a crazy thing to say, because as with all self fulfilling prophesies, it was not two years later that I completely destroyed the anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee, and had to endure both and arthroscopic surgery and a full knee reconstruction. My left knee has not been 100% since, though it is close to being back to its best only now (and now that I have learnt how to stretch the muscles around the knee correctly). So, how did that affect my running – well, as I walked away from the surgeon’s office after the reconstruction, he told me never to run for fitness, and never to put on weight. The result of doing either would be the development of osteoarthritis in the badly damaged and cartilage depleted knee. By the age of 34, I had done both of the things that the surgeon recommended against. My weight had ballooned from a health 80 kilograms in my twenties, to a plump 100 kilograms in my mid thirties. Finally, again, after many years without running in my life, I had started to run for fitness.

During the last two years, two things have happened; one, I met Marc McLaren, who at 12 years my senior, is as fit a person as I know (from running), and two, I decided that it was not only good for my knee to lose some weight, but it would be good for my overall health.

Firstly to Marc, and how he has influenced my running; in 2007, Marc and I were working together in a little Queensland mining town (Emerald), when he asked if I wanted to go for a run after a hard day at the office. Although I was touching one hundred kilograms, my mind went back to when I was 17, young and fit, and able to run long and fast, and I took no convincing to go for a run around the streets of Emerald. After all, Marc was older than me (and I had given up smoking at about the age of 30), and I ‘used’ to be able to run. So, off we went, all pumped up and ready to sweat it out. We had reached about 500 metres down the road before I had to stop. I was bent over in pain was everything from shortness of breath, muscle soreness, knee soreness and general fatigue. Marc was good enough to encourage me through, and we continued for a few more kilometres, on and off, before we gave it all up as a bad joke and headed for the hotel so that I could rest up after my huge effort of running about 3 kilometres (with about 5 stops along the way). To make matters worse, at dinner that night, the waitress told me that I looked older than Marc (now, I am not overly vein, but 12 years is a big age gap, and it showed that I must have looked horrible for someone in their mid thirties). Alternatively, Marc may have looked a lot younger - the result of a fit and healthy lifestyle, no doubt (this is probably more the case, as he does hide his age well).

So, I started going to the gym, to lose some weight. That was great fun, and Joey and I competed in body building competitions. It was just before my third body building competition that I pulled out of body building to concentrate on training for a half marathon. That was a real turning point in my life, and one that has meant that I now run consistently, though still somewhat slowly compared to other competitors. From that half marathon, my passion become triathlons, and the ability to train for multi sport events has provided a real variety to my training, and of course, running has been ever present in that training regime. The next year, at age 36 was another half marathon, with another sub 2 hour finish.

More and more, whenever Marc and I got together, we ran. We ran because we could, we ran because we enjoyed each others company, and we ran because we were secretly thinking that there could be an event that we could train for that would test us both physically and mentally. We had both recently read a book by Dean Karnazes, who is an ultra marathoner, and he made ultra marathon running sound so easy. We were in, we were pumped. We signed up for last year’s North Face 100 event, a 100 kilometre run that Dean himself ran, and described as the hardest 100 kilometre event in the world. He ran the 2009 North Face 100 and he finished in about 14 hours, only 5 hours ahead of Marc, who finished in just over 19 hours. I had trained hard for the race, though three weeks out I got whooping cough, and was sidelined from all exercise for about 3 months whilst recovering. I was at the finish line when Marc finished in the early hours of the morning, and I was shattered to not be sharing the experience with him. So, on the spot, we decided to do the same event next year. I would then be 37, and the year would be 2010.

It is now 8 am on Sunday, May 16, 2010. There are still people finishing the event, as the cut of time is 28 hours. Marc and I are finished, and are back at out cabin in Katoomba, drifting off to sleep. It has taken both of us nearly 24 hours to finish the event, nearly 4 hours more than we wanted to take. See, if you complete the event in 20 hours or less, the reward is a belt buckle, to mark your achievement. We were to go home empty handed … this year.

On reflection, it is amazing that either of us finished the event. Marc had a severe case of gastro pains, and had all but pulled out of the event at the 54 kilometre check point. For me, my issue was cramping, and at 30 kilometres, I was stuck in between rock walls, trying to clamber down a steep incline, when my calf muscles locked up. I couldn't move. I was in agony. This year, I had only trained specifically for this race for about 5 weeks, given that I had competed in an Olympic distance triathlon only 6 weeks previously, and that had been the focus of my training. It was clear that my legs were not up to the rigours of running through the terrain of the Blue Mountains. I really thought my race was over. Fortunately, I was assisted by another runner, who had also suffered with cramping (even earlier in the event), and he had take some ‘great tablets’ that he took to relieve his cramping; would I like some – heck yeah. He assured me that, with these pills in my stomach, the next 70 kilometres would be achievable. I duly swallowed two of these little pills, and it was as my fellow runner has predicted; I started to loosen up. That was until about the 40 kilometre mark, when I experienced it all again, though now the cramping was in my upper legs. This time, I was on my own, and was able to stretch and move enough to rid my legs of the awful pain that cramps bring with them, and soldier on. I was resigned to the fact that I would be walking the next 60 kilometres. My goal of a 20 hour finish and a belt buckle were gone, but my spirit was not. I was determined to finish, and not be one of the 170 (of 600) entrants who would eventually pull out of the event. I would finish, and finish strong. I readjusted my goal time to 24 hours, knowing that it would mean an enormous feat of beating fatigue and muscle soreness. The finish line was waiting, and I would not go home without at least a certificate to show that I had completed this thing.

After running (where possible) for a large portion of the first third of the event, my legs were fatigued more than I could have imagined. The problem was that I had not trained on hills. The terrain that the event is staged over cannot be described to those who have not seen or experienced some of the horrendous conditions around Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia. The Blue Mountains are a beautiful spectacle, though to the uninitiated, conquering them in a running event is not for the faint hearted.

Marc and I walked the last 46 kilometres of the event together and crossed the line in 23.43 hours. The elation at that point also cannot be described. If it was not for Marc, we would not have made the 24 hour finishing time, as he pushed hard for the last 10 to 20 kilometres, with me in tow, asking when we would be having our next break. Thanks mate, it was great to be able to share the experience with you.

So, having beaten a near death workplace accident, a smoking habit, ballooning weight and a knee reconstruction to run and walk a 100 kilometre ultra marathon was something that will forever be lodged in my memory.

Now, as I drift off to sleep, the last thing that enters my mind is the burning question of ‘how can I finish the event faster, next year’ …

Note: A huge thank you to our support crew, Judy, Martin, Dave Paul and Di, who where there with enthusiasm, encouragement, nutrition and warmth at all of the check points. You guys rock. Thank you also to the event organisers – what a wonderful job, to pull all that together. See you in 2011.

FOUR DAYS OUT - INJURY

Would you believe it - four days out from a 100k run, and an injury flairs up.

I have got a sore foot - and to this point, it is self diagnosed as Morton's Neuroma. Not sure if that is the real problem, my Physio (the South Korean Acupuncturist) thinks it might be a stress fracture, but it definitely feels like I am running on marbles.

This blog is a reminder to everyone to keep yourself rested, and get your injuries looked at. I haven't in this case, as it was at Easter time, playing touch footy on a beach that I first hurt my foot. I thought nothing of it, and all these weeks later, it has not cleared up. In four days, I will be on it for 24 hours, and in a world of hurt, I am guessing. Anyway, no whinging, just doing, so after the run, I will get it looked at.

If you want more information about this condition, go to: http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/mortons-neuroma.php

See you on the other side.

Oh, by the way, 10k this morning, 8k tomorrow morning, and that is it. Thursday and Friday will be rest days, to recover, and prepare.

Living the dream.

1 WEEK OUT

Well,

Here we are - one week out from my first 100k run (and walk, I am guessing).

The time is nigh. My nutrition is sorted - I have got liquid food in the right amounts, electrolytes in tablet and liquid form and some solid food, in case it is required.

Looking good.

Marc is pumped, he is in great form and looking forward to the event. He is still saying that we are going to run together. The challenge will be that I am aiming for 20 hours, he is aiming for 18 hours. There is a small disconnect there, and I don't want to hold him up. He is solid, though - I am guessing he is going to try and drag me along for the whole way. I think he has got some work ahead of him, trying to do that, as I am in good shape, but will still struggle to get home in anything less than 20 hours.

My last long run was on Sunday - 35k, and it went ok. It was a real trial run, with all the gear in the back pack that I will be carrying during the event. Now, that made the back pack around 10 kg. That is a heap of extra weight to add whilst running. It made a huge difference, and the legs (and feet) felt the strain. It was a four hour run, in the end, but that was with stops to make sure all was right, to attend to blisters etc (about 6 short stops). Then, it was a walk for about the last 500 metres. Overall, cardio was fine, which was amazing after 4 hours, though I really was fatigued in the legs.

I did get some help from my outstanding physio in Perth, Insun, the little South Korean Acupuncturist. She rocks - and she loves driving those little (though they feel huge at the time) needles into the muscles. She has really changed my running life - helping me to run pain free in the reconstructed knee and hamstrings. I have got a lot to be thankful to Insun for, and every chance I get, it is off to see her. Her stretches are outstanding, and those stretchy bands are the bomb. Go Insun.

Anyway, the trip is planned, nutrition is sorted and life is good. We have got a great support crew, who are all pumped up and ready for action. That will be half the fun. I am going to take a video camera around the course, to capture some of the action. I might see if I can load it up here, in coming weeks.

Anyway, after one more 10k run and one more 8k run, it is off to the Blue Mountains to drag my sorry arse around for 2 hours - and to see if the last 5 weeks (not long) training has both been worth it, and if it has been enough. Time will tell.

Pre race meal, on the evening before the big event will be potatoes, sweet potatoes and pumpkin (high carbs - works well).

See you on the other side.
Anton

Two weeks until the next one

Well, yesterday, it is only 14 days until we will be running 100 kms as part of the North Face 100 trail running event on May 15 and 16. So, the big question is, am I ready. I think the answer to this question is very philosophical. Are you ever ready to run 100 kms (and walk some, of course)?

I think the answer lies in - well, what are you trying to achieve? See, there is no way, that I would be ready to win the race - 5 weeks training probably is not enough time for that. The next goal that the organisers set is a 14 hour mark. So, if you win, you get a gold belt buckle, if you finish within 14 hours, you get a silver belt buckle. Then, the clincher, if you finish within 20 hours, you get a bronze belt buckle. Apparently, they are a sought after item, these things.

So, the question really is not whether you can finish or not, but what time you can finish in. It might take you 28 hours (the cut off time) - but you have still finished.

To be even more specific, my question is - am I ready to finish this thing in 20 hours and get a bronze belt buckle. I think yes. Actually, it is a big yes. I am quite confident that the work I have done will get me over the line. Also, Marc is going to run all the way with me, to make sure I don't die trying. That will be very handy, for sure.

This week, working at a remote mine site, restricts the training time. Last week involved a 35km run on Sunday, in 3.38 (not too bad), then 5 x 10 km runs from Wednesday to Sunday at average pace. I had one ride with Julie (wife) which was fun, but then, two mornings on the exercise bike was very uncomfortable, and tightened up my legs. I regret then, now, but hey, you can't look back.

Next week will be some 15 km runs, and 10 km runs, through to Sunday, where I will do 40 kms and test my nutrition plan for the North Face 100, to make sure it will work.

Overall, how is my body travelling:

1. Mentally, yep, all good, very positive, and ready for the challenge
2. Physically, average, not as good. Hammies are tight, but that can be fixed with stretching. Knee is playing up, under the knee cap - more stretching required. Slight blistering from my inserts last night. Nothing major. Overall, nothing physical to stop the run, that is for sure. NO EXCUSES.

By the way, Marc did a 110 km run overnight, as part of a Relay for Life event in Kiama, NSW. He is a machine (and 50 years old by the way). Go the boy. Very impressive.

So, what happens after the North Face 100 - well it is about 9 weeks then until a 96km walk, as part of the Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast. That will be a little bit of running, also, so the training will help there, too. Two weeks later, it is up for an 18 run as part of the Gladstone, QLD, Relay for Life. This year, I aim to run 100k as part of that race. Last year, I ran/walked 80 kms, so want to go 20 km better this year. Bring that on.

Then it is triathlon season, with a half ironman and ironman down for later in the year, with an Olympic Distance triathlon in between them. Pumped. Bring all that on. It is certainly panning out to be a big year of endurance.

Marc and I are actually looking at the Racing the Planet series over the next four year. Pumped about that too. That involved 5 x 50 km runs in 5 days at different places around the world. Very excited.

Anyway, until next time, keep running.

Weight

Now, I have not blogged solely about how my weight loss journey has been travelling this year. I thought I might spend one blog doing that, to show you what is possible, with dedication and effort.

So, on January 22, I was over 91kg, on our return from the Christmas holiday to Vietnam and Bangkok.

My goal was to get down to 80kg before the Mooloolaba triathlon in March. I did not quite get there, but was about 82kg for that event. Not bad, but not great. So, what was the secret. Eat clean and do twice a day sessions. Very tough. My diet was plain at that stage. Fruit fr breakfast, white meat and salad for lunch and white meat and veges for dinner. I always play up a bit on Sundays, though, but that is fine.

So, what is the next goal. To get to 75kg prior to the 100k North Face 100 run. Well, last week, I weighed in at 79.2 on the scales at home. Not bad, heading in the right direction. What have I changed ... not much really. I have oats for breakky now, instead of fruit. I put fruit on the oats.

Now, the key is to count calories. More out than in, is the key. Do that, and you have to lose weight. That is happening, albeit slowly.

By the next major event, which will be a 96k run/walk in July, I want to be under 75kg, without question.

Now, all that is not as important, I don't think, as it is to know what your body fat is. Mine is currently 11.2%. Now, that is still very high (average for men's are between 13% and 19%- generally). I want to start living my life at about 6 or 7%. I think that is achievable. Especially with all the exercise.

Anyway, keep you diet clean, except on Sundays, when Pancakes are the standard brekky and eating out is the standard lunch. But, the secret is to have a healthy Sunday dinner, and have it very early. We don't eat after 6pm on Sunday night. That helps get the food digested by Monday morning.

Anton

Back on track

You know, I look at the post from last week, and I am somewhat disappointed that I really felt like that. I really was feeling down about exercising. Things have changed, now. Following last Monday night, and that great chat with Marc, life, and running, has improved dramatically. So, since last Monday night, I have run:

15k; up good hills in 1.16 (Tuesday)
10k; up little hills in 52 (Wednesday)
15k; on treadmill in 1.28 (Thursday)
30k; up little hills in 2.57 (Sunday)
15k; on treadmill in 1.14.47 (Tuesday)
10k; on treadmill in 51 (Wednesday - today)

Not really fast, and backing up after 15k runs is tough. I am getting tired, and my hammies are holding up. The 30k on Sunday was great fun, and good to get home in 3 hours. Yee Hah.

So, am I ready to run 100k in 20 hours (worst case - 24 hours). I am not sure that you will ever be. I will just follow the strategy of:

1. Walk up the big hills
2. Run down the hills
3. Keep my heart rate under 150 BPM (this worked well on Sunday in the long run).

The thing is, I have really only had 5 weeks of training for this race. Yes, the triathlon training will come in handy, and I am hoping that base will get me through, along with the running training.

It is just a simple process at the moment. Running is the focus. 3 runs during the week, with at least on long run on the weekend. This seems really manageable. Mind you, I snuck in a swimming lesson last week, too, and got some ideas on my stroke. Thanks Adam - swim teacher - he rocks.

Actually, today was a momentous day. Last year on the fourth Wednesday prior to the 100k run (which I did not attempt) I woke up sick in WA with whooping cough. That sucked. Especially given that I had done many weeks of training. Get this, one year on, I looked at the paper today, four Wednesdays out again, and what was on the front page of the paper in South Australia - Whooping Cough outbreaks around the state. Can you believe it. I will not be getting sick this year, though. Yee Hah.

Anyway, until next week, keep running.

Anton

Over Easter

Well, being Easter, and a four day break (in Australia at least), did you give yourself some rest from exercising, or did you ramp up your training. Easter for me was a little bit of both.

If you include Easter Thursday, the five days included a 10k run (at speed - 46.50 - with 3 stops, but running fast is the order of the day at the moment), a 23k mountain bike ride (700 calories) and a 7k run. It also included (for fun) beach swimming, touch footy on the beach, walking around Curtis Island and on the beach and fishing, amongst other things. It was a great break, and as we have done for the last 7 years, we spent Easter at my parent's holiday home on Curtis Island (about an hour by barge from Gladstone in Central Queensland). It was just great fun.

I think I might have put on a few kilos, as my diet was not great on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday, but I will run them off in the coming weeks, leading up to the North Face 100, the 100k run in May. Bring it on. I have set another weight loss goal of reaching 77 kilos between now and then. Given that the race is only 6 weeks away, and the few kilos from the weekend have probably put me back to 83 or 84 kilos (maybe not - forgot to measure myself this morning before leaving for another week away), I have probably got about one kilo per week to lose. That should be achievable, with some huge effort. Problem is that I have a runny nose at the moment, so am not feeling great. No excuses, though.

My training plan is to try and do up to 15k runs during the week, with one big run on the weekends. I think that will cut it. I hope so, anyway. I will start with a 30k run this weekend. I started on a training plan for this race many weeks ago, but abandoned it for the Mooloolaba triathlon training - which was more important to me at the time.

In relation to my diet over the weekend, yes, Sunday and Monday were very ordinary (after the Easter Bunny came - love the Easter Bunny, and the hard sugar eggs, as well as the chocolate eggs, of course). I figure that I do the work, and will run it all off in coming weeks. After a month of not drinking (see my other blog on 101 things to do in life), I had a few beers over the five days (13 all up) and one rum and coke. I was quite good, really, and I think I will stay off the drink for the next six weeks, leading up to the run. Not sure yet, but I think it would be smart.

Anyway, life is good. This week will be swimming and running (morning and night) for Wednesday and Thursday and running on Friday morning. I will be travelling on Friday night, home on Saturday, and a 30k run on Sunday morning. Looking forward to it, and getting fit for the big fun. It is a little scary really, but hey, you have to have a crack at these things, hey. I don't think I will ever do it again.

Until next week, keep training.

Anton

It continues ...

Well, there is one thing about exercise. It never stops. It is always there, waiting to be done. It is like a caged lion, ready to jump up and chase you around, until your legs are tired, your heart is pounding, your sweat is dripping, your energy is going and your feet are hurting. Bring it on, and keep running from the lion, I say.


It does get tough, though, as anyone that has undertaken a massive event, like running 100k would attest to. This week, it has been 15k (at a reasonable clip - 11.5 k an hour and higher) on Tuesday. Wednesday, instead of doing a slow 8, I did a bit faster (same speed as above) 10 k. I really did those two days easily. Then, today, Thursday, holy crap. I was aiming at another 15 k, but I could only manage 10 k. I was running as slow as 9 k an hour, at some stages. Gee it was tough. Not sure why, just getting used to the consistency of a solid training program, I guess. But hey, living the dream.


The three runs this week have been on a treadmill at the Cove Gym, in Perth. I like a mix of road and treadmill, and both have their own pros and cons. I like the consistency of speed of the treadmill. It just keep going at the speed that you set it at. And, given that I am working in Perth at the moment, I don't like running in the city, with traffic lights, pollution, people, cars and other things to either get in the way, or to stop the progress of an elite athlete.


Anyway, I am shagged today. I went to this South Korean Physio yesterday, to see if she could loosen up my ITB, and hence reduce some of the keen pain that I have been struggling with. Get this, one of the first things she said was "do you like acupuncture". Of course I effen don't - I hat needles. That did not stop her, apparently, as within a few minutes, I have needles jammed into the muscles in my leg. Holy crap, what an experience. Very different, but I should say, very effective. It feels great today. I must say, though, it is a weird experience, the needle thing. She reckoned that the needles could better pin point (what a pun) the source of the tightness, encourage blood flow, and generally make the muscles looser. She said something about energy flows and charkras at one stage (holy crap again), but my eyes glazed over at that stage. The only energy I need flowing is that which gets to my legs when I am running.


Anyway, maybe tomorrow will be a rest day. Looking forward to that. Then a big weekend of running, and I want to get some riding in, as well as loving the family time.


By the way, you know you are an elite athlete (not) when "you watch the middle aged lady on the treadmill next to you crank the speed up to over 15 k per hour, while you trudge away at 11 or 12 k per hour. Arrrgh."


Until next time, keep running.


Anton G

Getting Sore

After about 100ks in the last 10 days, the legs are a little weary. So is the back.

I trotted off (so to speak) to the Chiropractor this morning, for some manipulation and some adjustment to my back. Interesting discussion, it was, as those visits to medical practitioners always are. I learnt about the 'knobby bits' at the bottom of your back and how they become weight bearing during sitting. I also learnt a great hamstring stretch, that can be done from a seated position. Go you good thing.

Apparently, my history of Sherman's disease (bent spine) and a knee reconstruction should mean that I can't run without pain, and if so, I will definitely feel it later in life (apparently). Well, at the moment, thanks to some orthodics from Mary the Physio, in Kiama NSW, my knee does not give me any grief. It used to, but not anymore. Mind you, everything else hurts, especially after running for 11 days (12 tomorrow) straight. But the knees are fine.

The training program is off to a good start. This week, instead of having the rest day on Friday, I am going to have that on Saturday, and do a triathlon, in lieu of running on Sunday. Then, it is a rest day on Monday. Yee Hah. Looking forward to that.

Might ride on Saturday morning, not sure as yet, as the weather is terrible here in Gladstone at the moment. It has rained for ages, everything is wet and drenched. We needed the rain, and everything, including our yard, is green. Running in the rain is a little tougher, especially when the wind blows up. Then it is time to harden up, and stop whinging.

Until next time, train hard.

Anton

Last week - Holy Crap

Well, it is off and running, literally.

Here are the details from last week:

* Monday Jan 25: 10k run
* Tuesday Jan 26: 8k run
* Wednesday Jan 27: 9k run
* Thursday Jan 28: 9k run and 1k swim
* Friday Jan 29: 9k run and 1k swim
* Saturday Jan 30: 9k run and 2k swim
* Sunday Jan 31: 9k run and 2k swim
* Monday Feb 1: 9k run
* Tuesday Feb 2: 15k run and 40k mountain bike ride
* Wednesday Feb 3: 8k run and 1.5k swim

Well, after all that, including a trip home from WA on the overnight (red eye) flight, I am fatigued. For some athletes this might not be a big schedule, but for me, in my current (and overweight) condition, it is arduous. I plan to take a rest day some time next week, but until then, keep slogging it out.

Actually, my great mate (and absolute champion) Marc McLaren, who I am doing at least 3 running events with this year, has given me a training plan for the next 15 weeks. leading up to the 100k run.

It is quite simple, Monday and Friday rest, Tuesday and Thursday run 15k, Wednesday run 8k and on the weekends just run Forrest run (for a few hours at least on both days). Tough stuff. The challenge is, that I want to do some triathlons this year, too, so I have to fit riding and swimming around all that stuff. Very tough. I will be fit by the end of it all, anyway. My lovely, beautiful wife, Julie wasn't really keen on me 'flagging' that it might be nice to do the Ironman in Busselton at the end of the year, as well as all of this other stuff. She won't mind, I am sure (love you babe).

Oh, and I lost about 4 kilos in 10 days. Yee Hah. I have only got another 8 to lose now, by Mooloolaba. I need to be lighter for all this stuff this year. Down to 87.4 kilos now. Still too heavy to be doing what I am doing.

Anyway, the mountain bike (on the road - raining) ride yesterday was tough after the 15k run. I hit the wall, and was really fatigued. Lesson learnt. Run early, not just before the ride.

Marc also told me that there is a Relay for Life (18 hours) in his home town of Kiama this year, too, so that will be on the agenda as well. I think we will take that one a little easy, as it is two weeks before the North Face 100. An hour on and an hour off, with a team of two (Go for Broke - our team name) sounds like a plan. I will keep you informed.

Oh, and the Garmin rocks. It is tracking everything for me. I love it, and I am trying to convince Marc to get one, too. Not sure if he will.

Live the Dream, until next time.

Anton Guinea

Another year, another adventure (or list of them actually)

2010 will be a big year. Here are some of my sporting goals and activities for this year:

1. Moolooloaba Triathlon (Olympic Distance) - March 28
2. The North Face 100 (100 km mountain run) - May 15
3. The Kokoda Challenge (96 km team walk) - July
4. Relay for life (100 km track run) - July
5. Rydges Yeppoon Half Ironman - August
6. Noosa Triathlon (Olmpic Distance) - October
7. Short Sprint Distance Triathlons at Rydes in Yeppoon

It would be good to do a marathon, an off road triathlon or an endurance mountain bike or road bike event, also, at some stage this year.

Anyway, I am going to track my progress throughout the year.

Currently, the physical condition that I am will not allow me to achieve any of the above events, with all of the Christmas cheer and holiday residue still clogging my waist line, my shorts, and probably my arteries.

So, on January 18, I was about 92 kg. I figure I need to be under the 80 mark to be at my best, so that is my goal weight by the Mooloolaba triathlon, which is about 8 weeks away. A good goal to get started on.

To assist with this pursuit, I have purchased a Garmin training aid (a GPS watch, that tracks distance, speed, HRM and every other statistic known to man). It is prime and links up to the computer for great results and tracking. There is no hiding with the Garmin in full swing. The results are there.

Anyway, I started in earnest this week, and I will tell you more about that soon.

I am going to track my progress weekly.

It will be a big year, come along for the ride.

Anton Guinea