Just a brief note about 2009:
4016k in total so a little down on last year but still happy to get over 4000k. Learnt a lot this year and looking forward to logging some better, more consistent training.
Only 1 PB this year 21.1k 1:24.04 at the Busselton half marathon.
Happy New Year
I am a 27yr old ultra runner from Rockingham WA, married to Kate and we have a son called Noah. I run because I have a passion for it and I find freedom in pushing the limits of my ability.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Six Inch 2009
Splits
4k - 20:41
10.5k - 52:xx
23k - 1:54
Conveyor Belt - 2:17
35k - 2:58.30
41k (Marrinup) - 3:36
46k - 4:11.57
Felt great for about 30k but then really struggled through Oakly Dam and lost a fair bit of time. By the 35k aid station I knew I was in trouble but was hoping I could still hold on for a sub 4hr. Didn't happen, lost 5 minutes on my 2008 time between 35k and 41k so basically gave up the chase. Ran out of water with 5k to go which didn't help but given the hot conditions I wasn't too dissappointed by the time. Seemed like most people struggles over the last 11k.
Looking forward to next year. After seeing the splits this year I reckon I have a sub 3:50 in me on a good day.
97k for the week
Nate
4k - 20:41
10.5k - 52:xx
23k - 1:54
Conveyor Belt - 2:17
35k - 2:58.30
41k (Marrinup) - 3:36
46k - 4:11.57
Felt great for about 30k but then really struggled through Oakly Dam and lost a fair bit of time. By the 35k aid station I knew I was in trouble but was hoping I could still hold on for a sub 4hr. Didn't happen, lost 5 minutes on my 2008 time between 35k and 41k so basically gave up the chase. Ran out of water with 5k to go which didn't help but given the hot conditions I wasn't too dissappointed by the time. Seemed like most people struggles over the last 11k.
Looking forward to next year. After seeing the splits this year I reckon I have a sub 3:50 in me on a good day.
97k for the week
Nate
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Weekly Summary
A bit of a nothing week really. Only 68k as the long run didn't eventuate and I ended up not running on Thursday or Sunday. Had a couple of good hour runs but that was it really. 20k on Saturday night was tough (I think it was closer to 21k) and then Family got the remainder of my time.
Not too concerned as I should be fresh for Six Inch and hopefully be a good chance for a sub 4hr time. Dave is still my tip for the win, although he hasn't had a great year (distances less that 50k) experience and natural climbing ability will come into it. Top 5 should be fairly close though.
Still looking to get close to 100k this week including the race but we'll see how we go. BTW pulled up unbelievable from the IM Marathon, basically no pain/soreness at all.
Nate
Not too concerned as I should be fresh for Six Inch and hopefully be a good chance for a sub 4hr time. Dave is still my tip for the win, although he hasn't had a great year (distances less that 50k) experience and natural climbing ability will come into it. Top 5 should be fairly close though.
Still looking to get close to 100k this week including the race but we'll see how we go. BTW pulled up unbelievable from the IM Marathon, basically no pain/soreness at all.
Nate
Monday, December 7, 2009
Weekly summary
What a week! Tried to semi-taper for the IM marathon and that went well, although I felt terrible at the beginning of the week but picked up towards the end. Managed 36k before the IM which I was happy with and would have got more however Friday got away from me and I didn't run.
Saturday was hot, hot, hot!!! Our swimmer (my Uncle) had a great swim with 54:xx and our cyclist was having a great ride for 160k then hit the wall big time and came in around 5:55. Now I mentioned it was hot and not long before I started I heard someone say it was 35 degrees - and it felt it too.
I had given up all time goals now and was simply looking to run how I felt. Started out at a comfortable pace going through 6k in 29:50, then I started to feel the heat and the legs felt so heavy. I felt like I'd been running hard for 2hrs and it wasn't even 1hr. I was throwing 2 cups of iced water on my head at every aid station to try to keep cool and it was working. But to give you an idea of the heat, I would be wet after every aid station but by the time i reached the next one (2k) I was pretty much dry!
Felt fantastic between 15k and 25k and put in some real solid k's and 3:20 was looking like a possibility, but then my stomach problems started. I was so hungry as I started just after 1pm and hadn't really had lunch. The unusual start time played havoc with my nutrition strategy so at 25k I decided to go into survival mode. I walked the aid stations and ensured I drank water, cola and had some food. This slowed me down a lot but I was still running well between aid stations. I was also beginning to feel the cumulative effect of the heat so drinking was my number one priority. I wanted to get through the run well but not spend a few days recovering.
I battled through to the 36k mark and was starting to feel a little better and with 6k to go I decided to lift the pace. I still stopped at one more aid station but only breifly and then I began my finishing run. I was flying over the last 3k or so and looking at my splits from the net I covered the last 6.2k in just over 28 minutes. I was very relieved to cross the finish line in 3:37 (3:39 including transition) and although thirsty, hungry and so hot, I actually felt pretty good. I ended up with the 13th fastest marathon time out of the 110 teams and we came 20th in 10:31, not a bad effort at all really.
I ran 7k the next day and felt good so will be back to training this week for six inch in 2 weeks time. All up I managed 85k this week.
Saturday was hot, hot, hot!!! Our swimmer (my Uncle) had a great swim with 54:xx and our cyclist was having a great ride for 160k then hit the wall big time and came in around 5:55. Now I mentioned it was hot and not long before I started I heard someone say it was 35 degrees - and it felt it too.
I had given up all time goals now and was simply looking to run how I felt. Started out at a comfortable pace going through 6k in 29:50, then I started to feel the heat and the legs felt so heavy. I felt like I'd been running hard for 2hrs and it wasn't even 1hr. I was throwing 2 cups of iced water on my head at every aid station to try to keep cool and it was working. But to give you an idea of the heat, I would be wet after every aid station but by the time i reached the next one (2k) I was pretty much dry!
Felt fantastic between 15k and 25k and put in some real solid k's and 3:20 was looking like a possibility, but then my stomach problems started. I was so hungry as I started just after 1pm and hadn't really had lunch. The unusual start time played havoc with my nutrition strategy so at 25k I decided to go into survival mode. I walked the aid stations and ensured I drank water, cola and had some food. This slowed me down a lot but I was still running well between aid stations. I was also beginning to feel the cumulative effect of the heat so drinking was my number one priority. I wanted to get through the run well but not spend a few days recovering.
I battled through to the 36k mark and was starting to feel a little better and with 6k to go I decided to lift the pace. I still stopped at one more aid station but only breifly and then I began my finishing run. I was flying over the last 3k or so and looking at my splits from the net I covered the last 6.2k in just over 28 minutes. I was very relieved to cross the finish line in 3:37 (3:39 including transition) and although thirsty, hungry and so hot, I actually felt pretty good. I ended up with the 13th fastest marathon time out of the 110 teams and we came 20th in 10:31, not a bad effort at all really.
I ran 7k the next day and felt good so will be back to training this week for six inch in 2 weeks time. All up I managed 85k this week.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
I'm a Dad
Now I know this is a running blog but this is a special post about the Birth of Noah Matthew Fawkes on 1st December at 5:01am. It's funny because Kate was told by the doctor that the birth would progress quickly - so I joked about her beating my marathon PB of 3:10. Well, she smashed me by giving birth in a total of 2hrs and 51minutes!! Waters broke at 2:10am Tuesday morning and Noah was born @ 5:01am.
Feels so good to finally have him here after waiting so long and Kate was amazing as she was not able to have any real pain relief because of the speed of progression.
Both Kate and Noah are doing well although I think Kate could use an extra few hours sleep. I am back at work today and then will take a few days off for the IM and of course to do baby stuff.
This week will probably be fairly light on for k's with around 80k including the marathon, but we'll see. I want to run everyday before the race and I just saw that Perth's forecast for Saturday is 37 degrees! Busselton will probably be 4-5 degrees cooler but we're still looking at 30+ for race day. If it's too hot then I'll just be in survival mode and won't push too hard at all.
Welcome to the world Noah
Feels so good to finally have him here after waiting so long and Kate was amazing as she was not able to have any real pain relief because of the speed of progression.
Both Kate and Noah are doing well although I think Kate could use an extra few hours sleep. I am back at work today and then will take a few days off for the IM and of course to do baby stuff.
This week will probably be fairly light on for k's with around 80k including the marathon, but we'll see. I want to run everyday before the race and I just saw that Perth's forecast for Saturday is 37 degrees! Busselton will probably be 4-5 degrees cooler but we're still looking at 30+ for race day. If it's too hot then I'll just be in survival mode and won't push too hard at all.
Welcome to the world Noah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)