|
RE: Long March Rocket
Running Canberra by remote control.
Phew, finally an end to the night shifts and hot weather has enabled me to complete a long run for the first time in two weeks. I fired up B.R.U.C.E.'s simulation mode and completed the Canberra half marathon course that I'm racing in three weeks time. Today was quite possibly the slowest half marathon I've ever run, but given recent conditions and the necessarily brutal transition from night shifts (finishing at 6 a.m.) to early mornings (which start at 6 a.m.) with just one day off in between I'm quite exhausted and therefore more than a little satisfied that today's effort was a job well done.
Well, to be honest I struggled over the last three kilometres or so, but I didn't let the pace (such as it was) drop and did the deed without a walk break. It's good to have familiarised myself with the course too, thanks to B.R.U.C.E.'s ability to hook up via wi-fi with Google maps and street view. It doesn't give the opportunity to look around and admire the scenery (which is the prime reason for running Canberra); and it's a bit like running with blinkers on: eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead, but it's good to get a feel for the course which has changed a bit since the last time I ran there three years ago.
The week ahead of early starts at work will see a few very early, pre-dawn jaunts around the local streets with probably a few hill reps sessions and maybe a return visit to one of my old favourites, the Pacific Highway run. With only two weeks until my first race of the year, the local 10km fun run with its murderous hills, followed a week later by the Canberra half, this could be just the ticket.
Oh, and as for the Track du Jour, I very nearly gave this to Gary Moore's "Too Tired", coming as it did upon the old lug holes just as I was really struggling into the last three kilometres, but let's put a more positive spin on it without ignoring Moore and acknowledging his days with Phil Lynott. This was a beauty and quite apt:
|
Long March Rocket
