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Bravehearts 777 State runner - Melbourne 2018

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It is now 6 hours post event. My mind is overwhelmed with emotion and my thoughts are overflowing. I need to capture them before I lose them. So... A quick back story. I had a wish to run a sub 4:30 at the Gold Coast Marathon but, due to the never ending house build (oh no she's banging on about that again) it became apparent that GC was not going to happen this year. This led me to look around for a local marathon and I found the Melbourne leg of the Bravehearts 777 event. Fabulous!! Being only a few days prior to GC it fitted perfectly with my training plan. Winning. AND, I was happy to support the cause. I knew Dani from parkrun and admired her immensely, so I felt really good about being there for the Melbourne event. Fast forward to today. I knew I had prepared well. A few niggles had seen me back off my training pace a little but other than that I was in good shape. I had the usual pre race day doubts which my friends kindly endured (bless you all). I we...
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L is for Limbo

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Today's blog comes to you by the letter L (limbo) and the number 5 (5 year plan). For the last 3 years I've ran 15-20 events per year. More than one a month. This has taken me from a beginner runner stepping up from a 5km parkrun, to running my first attempt at the 50km distance. Running regular events has kept me motivated as there has always been another race to train for, and it has allowed me to keep a base of fitness where I can manage a half marathon on a whim. It means that although life has been a whirlwind of medals and road trips, motivation has been easy to maintain. I'm a planner. Planning training, strategy and event arrangements is all a part of the fun. So....hello 2018. To give you the background, Paul and I have had a 5 year plan to relocate our family from Melbourne's South Eastern suburbs, to the West. A big move but one I have looked forward to and enjoyed planning (surprise surprise). The plan was for us to be in our new home by Christmas 201...
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My first Two Bays - running naked

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It's a funny thing about blogs.....you start to compose them in your head while you are driving, or in bed, or walking, and then when you finally sit down to put pen to paper (figuratively speaking) all the really clever stuff you had previously compiled disappears. Poo. Anyhoo, let's put context to this event called Two Bays. It is a 28 km trail run from Dromana to Cape Schanck. It has ridiculous elevation, beautiful views, stunning trails and a fantastic vibe. Some REALLY crazy people run it both ways for 56 km. RESPECT. And....those who embrace the theme and dress up in hawaiian shirts or hula skirts get a preferred start, all adding to the colourful atmosphere. The event has a qualifying time and although this was my third year of qualifying, it was the first time I was running it. Three years of FOMO was causing a lot of nerves! I don't really even know what I was nervous about. I had a lei for decoration, my personalised bib said #BELIKEMEL (might have been dr...
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Upstream Challenge - having a crack at 50

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It is 5 days post event now, time to reflect on Saturday and to create a written account of my first attempt at running 50 kms. I say that as if I expect there to be more attempts. Let's be honest...there probably will. As mentioned previously it has been my goal all year to run the 50kms at the Upstream Challenge. I had bide my time, waiting till I felt I was strong enough to do the distance justice. Melbourne Marathon was my last long run and I was disciplined in continuing my training runs between the two events. Did I train well? I have no idea. And It probably doesn't matter. This one wasn't about times, it was about the journey and sharing it with a friend. This year fate threw a new ruddy my way. Jodie and I ran the 44 together at GOR, had a fabulous adventure in Sydney for City2Surf, were team mates in the Surf Coast Century relay as well as countless parkrun trips around Victoria. She was up for the challenge of an ultra so there we were, at another start line ...
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Did I just do that?

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Last Sunday 15th October, 2017 I ran my fourth  marathon. Not only did I run it, I ran it faster than I thought I ever could. To clarify, it was fast for ME (and I'm pretty darn proud of it too). The funny thing about speed is that it is completely relative to the individual. My 'fast' may be someone else's 'comfortable', someone else's 'fast' may be my 'cruisey'.  But let’s go back a few months... I had not planned to run Melbourne Marathon this year. I have had my eye on a bigger prize - an Ultra Marathon. I had wanted to attempt the Upstream Challenge 50km for a while, but I hadn’t felt I was strong enough or had ‘earn't the right’. After running the last 20kms of the course last year supporting Fiona my mind was set and it became my goal for 2017. Then, twice I found myself swept up in the excitement with friends and I entered the Great Ocean Road Marathon in May and then Melbourne Marathon in October. I happen to think that two M...
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Let's talk about long runs.....

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Sunday was a scheduled long run day. I had made plans with my friend Jodie to run from Oliver's Hill in Frankston along the Kananook Creek Trail to Seaford Wetlands, where we'd do a loop and return. Jodie had done this route before but I had not (mistake). The morning of the run arrives and the weather isn't great. A message from Jodie says she's pulling out - she's been sick and not keen to run in the rain. Fair call! I understand completely. But.....my stubborn nature refuses to call off my run. Rain or no rain. So I figure I'll wing it alone (do you see the problem here?) Driving to Frankston the rain is torrential. I'm thinking Jodie is a lot smarter than me! I arrive at the start point and the rain has subsided. Phew! I don't mind running in the rain but I'd prefer to start off dry. At least the sun is out for the start! Long runs are arduous. I am an adventurer at heart and exploring new trails helps to make the trainin...
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Surf Coast Century 2017 - Relay

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12 months ago I watched some friends run in a relay team for The Surf Coast Century at Anglesea. I saw them starting on the beach in the dark ankle deep in water, I saw them wading waist deep under a bridge, I saw them scrambling over rocks.... and I wanted in on the fun. I told myself  'I'm doing that next year!' A plan was in motion. I put out the call for others to join me in a team of four to complete the 100 kms. My friends responded and we created a group to discuss details. Accommodation was sourced in Anglesea (Air BNB) and the issue of legs (the relay type) was debated. Jo put up her hand for the first leg (Coastline Crusade) which was the flattest but ran the whole way along the beach. Next Amanda requested the second leg (Ironbark Basin) which was 28kms. Jodie was not bothered , saying she didn't mind which leg she did so I looked at the remaining two to decide which I preferred. The third leg (Currawong Falls), was also 28kms and had the most elevati...
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