Stable April

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

I still find it staggering that I'm able to fall out of bed at 3:45 a.m. to get a quick 10km run in before work. Even more staggering that this morning I fairly bolted out the door actually keen to get running. Plodding up the hill and across the railway bridge I surprised a ring-tail possum running along the parapet - for a moment I thought in its panic it was going to jump onto the tracks below, but fortunately it took a chance on my intent and ran passed me to safety.

This was my first early morning Pacific Highway out-and-back 10km run for several weeks, and I was hoping for a good time. I felt OK at first, but strangely lethargic once underway and the legs were like iron on the hills, so in fact the run seemed to me quite slow. I deliberately didn't look at my watch - I felt I would just let things be and would see what time I ran without forcing the issue.

Conditions were fairly ideal but I saw only one other runner, and my regular elderly Asian gentleman who I always see out walking between Gordon and Killara at about 4:30. He never misses, and as we exchanged greetings I half expected him to comment in a school-masterly way that he hadn't seen me lately, but he just shouted his cheery hello and waved, as he always does. A nice old chap.

Otherwise uneventful I was very pleased to return home in 56:31, my second fastest time for that course, and just inside 2 hours half-marathon pace. I know I can run a lot faster, so it still looks promising for a good time in the race three weeks hence.

That notched up 50km for the week, so I'm back on track and feeling good with it.

Now to see where this takes me.

10.0km 56:31

YTD: 580.5km