Firstly A Thank You
I want to thank everyone that has reached out during the week following the launch of the Peak2Soon Podcast it’s been a project I’ve been sitting on for a while, I had offers to start it with friends and other runners, but I took a risk in starting it myself.
I’m excited at what I have lined up for it next, a local runner who I think will go down in history as one of our greatest ultra runners, there isn’t a run I’ve been on lately where her name hasn’t been said in conversation, some of you know who I’m talking about, for others the surprise I’m hoping will be worth the wait!
Of course any feedback you can find me at peak_2_soon_running on Instagram or drop me a message on Facebook or in the comment section.
Normalise What Works For You
One of my biggest breakthroughs as a runner has been incorporating a dedicated rest day into my weekly routine. While some may interpret a rest day differently, for me, it simply means a day where I don't run.
I understand that for some runners, running every day is possible, but for the average runner, it's not sustainable.
When the pandemic hit Canberra, the Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, imposed a one-hour daily running limit. I was in the midst of training for my first Ultra at Stromlo, which was later postponed due to health risks. So, I decided to run 10 kilometres a day for 100 days.
It resulted in my biggest month of running ever in November 2021 with 412.5 kilometres, but by the end of the streak, running had become a chore rather than a joy. The only other time I felt that way was after finishing a race called Kowen. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the race or my achievement of running a half marathon just a month after Kosci, but because I had lost sight of why I run.
We all run because we enjoy it, but it wasn't until I recently spoke to Coast to Kosci winner Rob Mason that I realised I needed to embrace what his coach, Martin Fryer, calls "Hippy Running."
So, I took these lessons and applied them during a challenging hill session with my coach, Shiree, at Denman Prospect. The next day, I set my alarm for 3:45 am and hit the streets of Canberra, running a half marathon before many people had even gotten out of bed. But it was enjoyable because I was almost in a trance-like state for most of it. I barely looked at my watch the entire run and felt much better for it.
Here's to more "Hippy Running" this year.
Doing More Cool Sh*t In 2023
This year is the year to be doing "cool sh*t" and chasing our dreams, that's why this week's blog is titled as such. With the pandemic hopefully becoming less of an impact on our lives, it's the perfect time to take a leap of faith and set our sights on new goals.
I recently had a conversation with my friend Nat about this, last year she followed me into the snow and signed up for Ultra Trail Kosciuszko 100, absolutely smashing it. Since she signed up, our friendship has grown stronger and I like to think we're "enablers" for each other - encouraging each other to push ourselves and chase our dreams. Our coach, Shiree, plays a similar role, but she also gives us the tools in helping us achieve our goals.
Currently, I'm chasing a dream that I've been talking about with friends, but haven't fully committed to yet: the Sri Chimnoy 100. The fear of DNF'ing (Did Not Finish) in a race is something that scares me, but I know that even the best runners have had to face this at some point in their careers.
My dilemma is that I need to shave six hours off my Ultra Trail Kosciuszko time to make cut off, the positive side is that it’s a race in a place I call home on trails I know like the back of my hand.
I recently spoke to my friend Jodie, who is another "enabler" like Nat. She's running Canberra's premier backyard race, "The Gumby." Seeing my friend Ben Grimshaw win it last year sparked my interest, but the fear of DNF'ing in a race still holds me back.
But, as the fear factor starts to fade, I've decided to take on a new challenge and signed up for my first 12-hour track endurance event. It's a different type of running than I'm used to, but I'm excited to embrace the new challenge.
So, my question to you is, what "cool sh*t" are you doing this year?
Training For The Week
Monday: Rest Day, took Duke for a nice walk around the block in the evening.
Tuesday: Incorporated my 20 per cent of higher intensity for the week starting with a 25 minute tempo run before I got a call, I then set out for 10 sets of 400 metres at 4:30 pace, this hurt as a session as I haven’t been doing enough of these type of sets lately.
Wednesday: I took it easy with a 70 minute zone 2 run through the beautiful suburb of Franklin.
Thursday: A killer interval session with Elevate, hiking and uphill efforts with downhill transitions at Denman Prospect, felt like I really nailed my walking uphill efforts, which is where I can make the most improvement, along with the steep declines.
Friday: I tackled the Canberra light rail route and combined it with Running For Resilience, I clocked a solid 23.5km run, with Tony and Maria Wallace giving me a lift to the light rail to get home after I called it a day.
Saturday: I crushed my parkrun personal best with a time of 24:58 at Tuggeranong parkrun! Beating my previous best by 70 seconds. Still 90 seconds off my all-time personal best, but making progress!
Sunday: I faced the challenging hills of Bullen Range with my Lazy Glutes crew, pushing through the brutal undulating run, this absolutely kicked my butt, but I’m so glad to see my friends running so well at the moment!
Total: 88.3 kilometres, 12 hours and 19 minutes, 2,027 metres of elevation
Another really solid week in the books following last week’s record run, had some glimpses of brilliance including my parkrun pb, legs feel really good at the moment, it’s now just about staying injury free before The Archie.
Monday Motivation Hero
I met Alex Noon through chance, she saw I was doing The Archie in February and reached out to me on messenger after recently joining Elevate. Alex sent me photos she took on course last year, as well as notes that she had kept about the race in helping me prepare.
What Alex told me about her preparation for The Archie was that it was her first ultra! (we did this after she drove me out to Stockyard Spur for a training run to prepare me) She started training a few months prior to last year’s event, with the intention of doing it with a friend who sadly got injured, but that was just the beginning of an incredible year for Alex, she also completed The Simpson Desert Ultra (75 kilometres), Shoalhaven Summit (47 kilometres), Lonely Mountain Ultra (50 kilometres) and Great Southern Endurance Run (56 kilometres).
Oh, and she’s just about to take part in an incredible six day trek/race in New Zealand. So what does she do to train for it this week? 38 kilometres in the middle of the day in 30 plus degrees, back it up with a 28 kilometre trek through Kowen, then head back to Kowen the next night and do a half marathon, she ended up with 116 kilometres for the week.
What I haven’t told you yet is that Alex is in her 60s, if anyone ever says to you that it’s too late in your life to go out and do something I use people like Alex as an example, I can only hope that decades down the track I’m running as well as she is, I’m grateful for her friendship.
My 2023 Calendar So Far
The Archie - 18th February
Sri Chinmoy 48 Hour Track Festival - 12 Hour - 25th March
Gumbaby - 23rd April
Potential Radar:
Sri Chimnoy Canberra 100
Bright 4 Peaks
Stromlo 50
Bondi2Manly
Lonely Mountain Ultra
Shoalhaven Summit
Great Southern Endurance Run
Ultra Trail Kosciuszko 100
Poutinerest - my own Neverest Challenge
Completed
Kowen New Year’s Resolution Run 21.5 kilometres - 2:49:30
I DNF’d my first race ever, the Neverest Challenge. Couldn’t have enjoyed it anymore and proud I gave it a crack.