Is anybody out there? The title for this blog post comes from the coaching philosophy of Tom 'Tinman' Schwartz. Tom tells a story about building a snowman as a boy and rolling a ball of snow for the base of the snowman. His mum calls him in for lunch; he returns and is disappointed that his ball won't budge from the frozen ground. The first 'rule' of good distance running training is to 'keep the ball rolling' — avoid superman workouts that might leave you too sore to complete the following day's training. Build day upon day, week upon week, year upon year and your running will improve. Interruptions from injury and illness will be minimized.
My ball of snow has been carefully rolling since the hamstring injury which followed the City to Surf last August. Weekly distance has been hovering between 50 and 60 kilometres. Races have been few and far between with large fun runs cancelled although there are plenty of local events (limited to 100 starters at the moment). No parkrun 5k runs which is a bit sad.
The racing goal this year is to run as much under 25 minutes for 5k as I can. The one 5k I've raced was the YCRC Runners Shop 5k (road) on 18 July, finishing 50th in 25:38. The field was composed of mainly fast juniors (the winning times were 14:52 and 18:32). I was running alone very early on, with Speedygeoff disappearing in the distance to run a good 24:12 at the age of 72. It looks like parkruns won't start up again until next year so my 5k races will be on the track from October or on the road at the weekly 5k Customs Joggers run. I hope you are all well — I'll catch up on blog reading over the coming weeks.
Geoff with some of the lunchtime Speedygeese runners
12 comments:
Hi Ewen. Yes, I remember that you met and ran with Steve when he visited a few years back. Very sad, indeed.
Anyway, glad to know that you're putting in 50-60k a week and feeling ok. We're having a brutally hot August, but I'm also managing about 60k per week.
Japan is not the country for small, informal races, and all of the medium/large ones have been cancelled - fall and winter - so we really don't have any choices. Our club 5k time trial each month is the extent of my racing for the foreseeable future.
Great to see the return of you blog Ewen! :). May even consider reviving my own running blog.
Thanks Bob. I've seen how hot it's been over there recently. At least you have some 5k 'racing' - parkrun had just commenced in Japan and now it's on hold everywhere.
Unknown, you should!
Hi,
I came across your easy interval method (Verheul) and was wondering if you have any update about it?
Thanks
Mike
It is get to hear that the ball is still rolling. Well done with your occasional racing. I look forward to reading about a sub-25 in the not too distant future. Geoff is running impressively, and the sun shining on the Speedy Geese looks lovely; it is only the length of the lunch-time shadows that indicates that it is winter.
Mike, thanks for asking. I did a big block of Verheul the first half of this year. I will talk about it in the next post.
Canute, thanks again for checking in. Very warm today again, up to 17 C, just like an English summer!
Thanks AR. I've been reading your blog too :)
Hi Ewen, and yes, we're still out here! Thanks for the post - gives a little more insight than the hurried "g'day mate!" as we pass each other every few months!
Keep on running and blogging Ewen. Fb and strava killed the blogging star is in play but blogging lives on. I m not on the blog very often now but I intend trying to do monthly or annual updates as a minimum. Run on, blog on. Keep those sub 25 5km runs happening...
Good to hear from you Tim! Keep that Stromlo Local Legend status going.
Thanks TB, even an annual update is okay - looking forward to it.
Keep at that sub 25 goal Ewen... By the way Parkrun just started again last weekend here in Perth, and on 14th November the WA border might reopen.
I've done a 2020 blog post @ trailblazers blog since 2005. It is an annual update I think for me this year, but might progress to monthly or maybe even weekly blog updates soon if things get a lot better organised for me eventually. Currently commuting 2 hours per day and working fulltime so a bit flat out for various reasons...
I'll have to try and do some intervals and some Parkruns.
Go well and keep blogging.
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