Looking to the future

training Plan - 11 Km at 6:00 Actual - 9 Km at 5:32 Weekly Total - 48 km I was going to do 11 Km today, however I was a bit tired after yesterday's session. Rather than heading to a trail I decided to be less regimented and just do a big loop around the block (had the day off work today). Basically a squarish course along the major roads that enclose my part of the world, Canterbury rd, Middleborough rd, Burwood rd and Blackburn rd. Rather than worrying about the distance I just decided to run it, it also takes in some short sharp hills and turned out to be just about 9kms. I ran it because before I started running outdoors I used to think, Hmmm, I should do that big loop around the block, then I drove it one day and thought, naaaa, I'll never make it that far, so in way I did it to prove that I can. Anyway, I over ran a few times this week so it all works out in the end. Though I will be missing out on one extra 11Km run this week as I am off on a Rogaine on Sunday, though 6 hours through the bush will still be a good cardio work out. I am going to head out for my long run tomorrow, probably about 20/22 Kms. Now, why the obscure title?? A running friend, Rogo, asked me earlier in the week if I had checked the Sri Chinmoy results from the 28th to see how I would have placed if I had have run my goal time of 45 minutes. I did check quickly at the time and had a vague recollection that I might have gained a category placing. Well, I just checked again this afternoon and I can confirm that a 45 minute finish would have given me a category placing of 3rd, which would have meant a nice little bit of bling. The 3rd placed 18-39 female finished in 46:11, 2nd finished in 43:35, it would have been a 6th placing overall for the women. incidentally there were a couple of women in older categories that totally kicked my butt (40-49, 50-59 and 60-69), so that gives me heart for the future, looks like I'll be at this for a while. It also validates something that I have read in several publications that it takes 7 to 10 years of training for a distance athlete to reach their full potential. Now don't worry people I have not taken total leave of my senses, I do realise that when/if I get around to joining a club and I run in AV events that I will only be running for myself and that placings are not a reality. But with these Sri Chinmoy events it is looking like a possibility one day down the track and will certainly provide ongoing motivation. The 10Km I did on 26/3 earned me a category finish of 13th, on 28/5 I earned a category finish of 10th, so hopefully I keep moving in an upward trajectory :-) Alright - I just deleted that last paragraph, I was having a bitch but took it back. Those who know, know, I felt better just writing it even if I wasn't going to post it.