The End of a Sydney Era!!

I have not been the best on this blog... I have written only around 3 entries and yet done so much more.. In the last 3 months since the Canberra Marathon i have a run a 62km Ultra Marathon, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and completed a 100km Cyle Race here in Australia... (very sore and very unprepared for that one). I entered on the Friday afternoon at 13.00 and raced the race at 07.00 on the Sat morning... Literally got the worst saddle arse ever and couldn't do anything for the rest of the weekend!!
I am on Facebook and met some really great people that have raced the MDS so starting to build a library or training plans etc for the 09 race.
Moving to Madrid, Spain also which is going to be incredible (i hope) espesially as i can really start to get the whole fund raising thing ahppening and training can get a move on too. Since arriving back after Kili training has been slow...
Goiung to get on this more and more but 1st entry after a while done!!
Ciao
Charlie

Marathon Finisher!!

So, here it is... The finishing medal... Looking back it was such a brilliant day and pumped for the next one.... Have booked into the Ultra on 16th June and looking forward to a hiking holiday in Tasmania now on June 9th before Kilimanjaro on June 26th..... Can't Wait!!

Fund Raising... Bruce Help!! There seems to be loads of fund raising going on from your end of the equation.. I have not raised a bean or have a sponsor like the Marie Curie.. What or who should i contact to be on the same page.. Have you raised much?? Good work at being the stand out party on your singles night.. I was invited to one the other week but declined, maybe i should toughen up and get in there and mingle...

Talking of good will - its Anzac Day today in Aus to pay our respects to all the diggers who faught and lost and thier lives in battle over recent years.. Such an excellent day for all who served for thier country to march throught the streets with banners, bagpipes, flags and a top pocket covered in badges.. plus its a day off.

Training this week --- 10km on Friday (marathon previous Sun) before Filex (NSW Fitness Expo over 3 Days), weights with A McKenna on Mon and 15km this morning...... and that, is it!!

Canberra Marathon - Number 745

WOW!!!
What a weekend.. Ran my first marathon at the weekend which blew my mind.. Absolutly incredible and a real eye opener of what i can actually achieve.. It all started on Fri afternoon, took the Top Achievers from work out for lunch and was forced into havin g 4 Coronas.. This threw me massivly as i was sure the alcohol ruining my chances of finishing.... Worried, i left and got an early night. Sat was relaxed, heaps of pasta, bread, PB Electrolyte Fluid and a drive around the course in my car.... Pasta party Sat night where i met some incredible people.. Ultra Marathoner's, Empire State Climbers, Nile and Amazon River Runners - truly an inspiring bunch of people..
So up Sunday @ 05.00 for toast and geared up. At the start line for 06.40 - Start gun 07.00!!!!
What an incredible feeling starting your first Marathon, the cheers the people and the general atmosphere, excellent!! Slow start, only a 1000 runners but a slim road to get us off.. 1st lap around the Houses of Parliament was amazing, thousands of spectators due to a hot air balloon festival happening the same morning!! Felt soo strong for the first 32km it was unreal, overtaking the 4hr pacemaker runner, then the 3.45 pacemaker, then the 3.30 pacemaker... The only blunder was not realising part of the race was a 2 lap course, at one point i thought i was heading for a sub 3hr marathon before i realised i had to run around a 2nd time... Rubbish.. The spectators were incredible, finding my name in the marathon program cheering me as i ran, even the microphone guy at the finish line was cheering my name on down the finishing stretch!!
CROSSED THE FINISH LINE - 3Hrs 26Min and 43Sec
Such an incredible weekend, didn't get too sore considering its the 1st time i have run that distance in the time.. Will add some photo's when i download them from the camera!!
Ultra Marathon next - thinking Sat 16 Jun POOR MAN'S COMRADES - FAT ASS RUN (NSW) - its a 96km run so starting to train this weekend.... Bruce, i love you buddy - you are a true friend and i probably wouldn't have done it with out your lead... Nice!!!

1st Entry

Well, Bruce started his blog months ago but i am a little behind him. Didn't really want to start wrtiting untill i felt i was actually achieving something. The last 3 months i have really started my training with the climax being next weekend for the Canberra Marathon. I am reasonably confident with my training leading up to the big day being OK..... I did a 34km cross country last week in 3hrs 45mins but some niggling injury in my anterior left calf is on my mind all the time.

In the lead up to next week i have done 3 x 25km races, 2 x 30km races and a 1 x 34km race and have been running around 60 - 70 km / week with usually 2 x Fartlek sessions in there as well. So, keeping busy. Tomorrow i am doing a 10km fast road race to get an idea of how quickly i can do 10km. Wish me Luck....

As soon as next weekend is over the plan is to move on to an Ultra before June. I am seriously dedicated right now so need to keep this enthusiasm up for as long as possible. My sister and i are climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at the end of June so need to get prepared for that also.

Going to leave this one now but know i will be back soon..
Cheers - Happy Running