Week 21 - Can Slow Down Now

Running:   Year to date

Distance:  1,529.3 kms in 21 weeks at ave  72.8 kms  ( down from 73.2 kms at week 20)

Last week:  65.4 kms

Altitude:   50,825 metres in 21 weeks at ave  2,420 metres ( up from 2,396 metres at week 20)

Last week:  2,900 metres

Really good consistent week of hills running. Last Sunday was a rest day not planned but due mainly to family visitors arriving unexpected. Good chance to freshen up.
Of the 6 running days, three had good hills in them with more than 600 metres of vertical each.
I have a group mountain fun, training, exploration run planned for next weekend. On Thursday, I did the second recce to find the easiest way to get 4 mountain peaks covered in the one day. Unfortunately, low cloud meant not getting to the summits of the couple I wanted to visit. But, given a clear sunny day, the scenery & views will make it all worthwhile.
I have covered my first vertical target for the year now with 50,000 metres of up in five months. I'll again target 100,000 metres of vert for the year, so can slow down the requirements. Winter is not really the time to be standing on alpine mountain peaks. Snow is forecast down to 900 metres on the mountains behind Hobart on Sunday. Might get a chance to get up close soon.
Otherwise, all good.

Week 20 - Good Consistency

Running: Year to date

Distance: 1,463.9 kms in 20 weeks at ave  73.2 kms ( up from 71.8 kms at week 19)

Last week:  100.35 kms

Altitude:  47,925 metres in 20 weeks at ave  2,396 metres ( up from 2,322 metres at week 19)

Last week:  3,813 metres

A really good week of consistent running/fast walking starting last Sunday with my first 6 hour Rogaine.
Three of us called Team Hickory entered although I was the only one with no experience. Both other team members did have some orienteering knowledge. My contribution was I could read a map and knew the sun should be in the north. We had a good day finishing 9th overall, 2nd in our veteran's age group, covering 33.8 kms with 840 metres of climbing through some suburban streets and open bush.
During the week, I managed two nice runs over "not been there before" mountains. Good to find new places. Both had scenic views through open cloudy skies.
To cap off a 7 day running week, I did my local hill, twice up Goat Hill. Lucky to get this done early morning as the rain started mid afternoon as it would have been cold with the southerly wind blowing.
So consistency was the key to the week. Run every day, although some were really easy, recovery type runs where I walk up some up the slopes, certainly not pushing the pace.
The aim is to get 50k metres in vert by end of this month, so that's now achievable. That will allow a slow down over the winter months & still get to 100k metres be year's end.
All good at the moment waiting for the first snow falls on the higher parts of the local mountains. A run or two in the powder snow will be nice before heading north to escape the winter cold.

Week 19 - Highs & Lows

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  1,363.55 kms in 19 weeks at ave  71.8 kms ( down from 73.85 kms in week 17)

Last 2 weeks:  108.1 kms

Altitude:  44,112 metres in 19 weeks at ave  2,322 metres ( down from 2,425 metres in week 17)

Last 2 weeks:  2,883 metres

The last two weeks was highlighted by a trip to the southern most point of Tasmania. This is where there is nothing but cold ocean water between you and Antarctica.
I had entered the marathon being conducted by the Compass Club. Their intention is to conduct a marathon run at each compass point plus in the centre of Australia. This was the first one.
However, the fickle Tasmanian weather was unkind. The previous days were Ok, for this time of year. But the late afternoon & night before, the heavens opened up with plenty of rain & big winds. Being in a very remote area, no phone reception, isolated trails & little hope for a quick rescue in need, the RD's made the decision to reduce the marathon to a half.
We were to still cover much of the same area, getting into the remote wilderness & still witnessing the rough sees of the Southern Ocean.
I was never going to trouble the leaders, so I took my time to enjoy the run. Took the camera & snapped plenty of pictures. I did have a good run taking just under 2 and half hours for the 21 kms. This may not look too fast but some of the pictures will show it was slow going as well as stopping for the photo opps.

With the tapering before, some running but expecting to be challenged by a full marathon, both distance & altitude for the past two weeks have gone backwards. However, not having to recover from a full marathon means post race was running was easy.
This weekend I'm attempting my first 6 hour rogaine. No idea of what to expect except find control points marked on a map. I'll just follow the team captain.