Five Course Meal

Today:
Distance: 31.35 km
Time: 3 hrs 3 mins 47 secs
Rate: 5' 52" per km
Rest time: 54 seconds
Weather: sunny, cool, temp 9-15 degrees, humidity 50%, NW wind gentle to start then up to 35 kmph

Week:
Distance: 95.85 km
Running days: 5/7
Ave: 19.17 km per run day
August:
Distance: 151.9 km
Running days: 8/11
Ave: 18.99 km per run day
Year:
Distance: 2627.5 km
Running days: 144/223
Ave: 18.25 km per run day

None of this early morning running for me with a start time of 8:00 am from Molonglo Reach with CJ. Brindabella Classic training is in full swing now with only 10 Saturdays to go before the big day. We had decided not to take in the two mountain peaks of Majura and Ainslie, good idea but they still give that impression of needing to be tackled again. Another day, maybe SFT training next year.

As the heading said it was a case of 5 courses today to be taken in in small doses. We made to Campbell Park offices and found the first course, the January vet's handicap course, nice entree, flat, easy to digest.
Not long after we had the second course, Mt Ainslie vet's handicap course, bit of a hill, not very far, an appetiser, just getting warmed up.

The third course comes along quickly, Majura vet's handicap course heading out to Antill St, where you recover, take a couple of deep breaths as it passes behind the Watson houses, easy going before main course.

Main course is substantial, out following the Two Peaks course but missing the main ingredient ( Mt Majura) but the side salad was tasty as we went to the loop near the Federal Highway. The return on the undulating section takes in the Bush Capital marathon course, winding its way back behind Watson, Hackett and Ainslie past the War Memorial towards the gun club.

We needed to find a couple of kms today to go further than last week so dessert was a taste of where we had been earlier back to Campbell Park offices following the Bush Capital course.
Much of the run had been either sheltered from the wind or it had been gentle, but the hard part to swallow was in the last few mouthfuls as the strength increased significantly towards the end. Even washed down at the finish, it still left that feeling that it was hard work.

Another good day today, covered plenty of countryside where we had not been since early SFT training last year. Only a few kms longer than last week but a lot faster, well under 6 min pk pace. Good company again as well making the day very enjoyable, thanks CJ. Just need to get the planning as little better organised next time.

Rest time by my GPS was only 54 seconds so that was pleasing as was the effects of the cold water in LBG after the run. CJ left me to suffer alone but it was well worth the pain. Both calf muscles were very tight and a little sore after the run, but after a couple of times in the water for 30 seconds each time, the benefits were very noticeable. Both had loosened up considerably with no soreness at all. Good if you can handle the cold.