City2Surf ...

A week (and a day) ago I completed my first City2Surf and I have to admit it was not a great experience.  Rain 30mins before the start meant it was chilly and damp lining up, clothes, bottles and various other rubbish strewn across the start and for most of the course, bothersome shins that didn't warm up until AFTER heartbreak hill and most uncomfortable of all was busting for the loo just shy of 4kms - never knew running with a full bladder could be so painful!

My first thanks go to Woollahra Municipal Council for having the loos at the back of their council building open, saving me from continued pain and from having to queue for the porta-loo at the 4km mark.

What worked on the day?  I hit 8km and started to get comfortable and fall into a rhythm.  I still struggled a bit from time to time with shin pain and got to put into practice all the mental training around persevering and dealing with niggles and aches, and completed the race in 96minutes 36seconds - comfortably meeting my target of completing in under 100 minutes.  I proved to myself I can persevere! 

The BEST thing about the day was catching up with the legendary Rose and Colette from Team World Vision AND getting a fantabulous! leg massage by the wonderful people from the Australian College of Natural Therapies.  Team WV had a great setup on the first floor of Chapel by the Sea, warm and welcome with loads of food and drink as well as the massage team all set to care for tired legs and tight muscles.  Highlight of the day!

Fundraising

Crunch time is upon us and I need to complete my fundraising for World Vision by October 1st or I don't get to fulfill on my dream and run my first marathon in New York.  $4,630 to go, lots of plans in action with offers from the cafe at work to donate $1 from each coffee sold one day in September, creating a sponsored walk as part of a training run, guessing competitions, trivia nights and personal appeals?  

Can you help by donating online at http://www.teamworldvision.com.au/mikeedyejones_mmm?

What's Next?

I registered for the Half Marathon event at the Blackmore's Sydney Running Festival last Friday, so come Sunday September 18th I'll be at the start line (06:20!!) for the last of my event based training runs. I have to admit I'm nervous about being prepared in time given the trouble I have had the last few weeks with niggling aches in my shins. 

I heel strike, and therefore I suffer!

Last week I went to visit my physiotherapist (the ever patient Tony at ProActive Healthcare in North Ryde) to have my legs treated and my running style filmed and analysed, he found quite a few things for me to work on, two are the most significant:

1. I heel strike, hence the pain! 
2. I don't "kick" high enough. 

Having seen Tony again this morning where he taught me how to run - properly this time - I can feel (and thanks to running-cam, see) the difference. Tony has got me started on running on my mid to forefoot, and kicking me heel up off the ground.  All in all it makes for a shorter but faster step with my foot on the ground for less time. The ENERGY in that style of run is amazingly different to what I have experienced and I'm excited to get out and develop it further (under the watchful coaching of Tony and being sensible not to overdo it too soon and hurt myself).  I plan to post the video to remind myself of how to & how not to run so stay tuned to see what I'm talking about.