Week 17 - Getting Close to Neverest

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  1,664.45 kms in 17 weeks at ave  97.9 kms  ( down from 99.2 kms in week 16)

Last week:  77.45 kms

Altitude:  36,498 metres in 17 weeks at ave  2,147 metres ( down from  2,170 metres in week 16)

Last week:  1,770 metres

Most runners would know that tapering is difficult mentally as you should be at the top of your fitness game and ready to go.
Holding back, but still doing a bit. Easier said than done. Better to keep yourself busy with other things than worry about running.
I did a bit on each of the 3 days of the long weekend just gone. A good run on Saturday over to Mt Rob Roy where unfortunately I took a tumble. Kicked a rock, almost saved the fall, but still hit the ground. Skin off the right hand, left elbow & left leg. Injuries healing Ok, but hand has the biggest damage and will take time.
I bought a new pair of light weight semi padded gloves to protect if I fall again.
Neverest, a fund raising event on Mt Ainslie is on this Saturday. The gun runners, relay teams and the bike riders will be aiming to get to or past 8828 metres in altitude gain. That's the height of Mt Everest in Nepal. The fund raising is to assist with rebuilding schools in Nepal following the two earthquakes last year.
I'll be aiming for 6,000 metres in up hill. But to do that, I'll need to go around 80 kms in distance.
That's going to be a long tough day. I just hope all those altitude metres mentioned above get me through. We will see how I go.

Week 16 - Tapering Has Started

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  1,587.00 kms in 16 weeks at ave  99.2 kms ( down from 100.6 kms in week 15)

Last week:  77.9 kms

Altitude:  34,728 metres in 16 weeks at ave  2,170 metres ( up from 2,158 metres in week 15)

Last week:  2,360 metres

Only highlight of the past week was a wonderful but tough run/jog/walk & crawl along the southern end of the Bullen Range on Sunday.
Saturday was spent on top of Mt Tennent helping at the drink station/finish line during the ACT mountain running championships. Managed a couple of short jogs down the fire trail while waiting for the runners to arrive.
Sunday on Bullen Range was a great day. Out for 5 and half hours of moving time, around 6 hours total time for 40.4 kms with 1,650 metres of up hill. We just went up and down every slope we could find. Explored some side tracks , touched a few trig points as well as went down to the Deep Space Communications Centre to take a look up close.
The company of Gwynn who is doing UTA 50 km in the Blue Mountains in a couple of weeks time, made the day very pleasant indeed. Stopped at the river for a 10 minute relax, the water temp is getting cooler now that the summer heat has gone.
A good week, a few less kms off setting the increase in altitude.

Week 15 - Getting Harder to Mainatain Average

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  1,509.1 kms in 15 weeks at ave  100.6 kms  ( up from 100.3 kms in week 14)

Last week:  104.6 kms

Altitude:  32,368 metres in 15 weeks at ave  2,158 metres ( down from 2,162 metres in week 14 )

Last week:  2,100 metres

The past few weeks have been a struggle to maintain let alone increase the weekly averages. There has been only one week below 100 kms in past 11 weeks. That was the week leading up to and after the 6 hour on Sat 19th March.
However, it's only 2 weeks now to Neverest, so if I can just get past these next 5-7 days without a problem, then it's time to taper. One more long hilly run on Sunday, that should do it.
Nothing too different in week just gone with a good run up Mt Rob Roy, my 74th time on this mountain on Sunday. It's close to home, off road running all the way and you get both good distance and altitude.
A little tired this week as well partly due to going back to work. I start work early, the alarm goes off at 5:15 in the morning. It's dark going to work, it's getting cool as well as autumn takes hold. I'm not an early morning person. Retirement from work is getting close and looking forward to it.

Week 14 - Just Average

Running:  Year To Date

Distance:  1,404.5 kms in 14 weeks at ave  100.3 kms  ( up from 100.16 km in week 13 )

Last week:   102.4 kms

Altitude:  30,268 metres in 14 weeks at ave  2,162 metres ( up from 2,104 metres in week 13 )

Last week:  2,910 metres

A fairly average week to maintain weekly averages for the year. Highlights were a really good double trip over Mt Tennent on Saturday ( 28 kms) with  1600 metres of up hill finally breaking the 4 hour mark for the first time in 3 years.
Then backed that up with a nice walk along the fire trail on the western side of Googong Dam on Sunday ( 20 kms) with just under 500 metres of up hill. Just under 4 hours of walking time.
Sunday was the 21st and may be the last one with the group from work since we started in Sept 2012.
Otherwise, mixed up some shorter running with a few low hills.
Still trying to focus on Neverest at the end of the month but getting side tracked by house repairs, packing & decluttering.