The Run to Melbourne: November 30 - December 5

Tuesday, November 30

I made an early start (by my standards) to beat the heat. As it is, jumping out of bed isn’t difficult at the moment with the sunrise nearing its’ summer peak.

The run amounted to an eleven km block under four minute pace, initially working for it into the standard northerly, though the pace came much more readily on return.

Five km in the 3:40’s and 15.09 km @ 3:55 altogether was a solid hitout in the belated seasonal conditions, so the short turnaround to work was an effort to head back out the door.

Welcome news of being granted a preferred start for Melbourne arrived in the evening, which will make life just that little bit easier avoiding the scrum off the line!

Wednesday, December 1

What shaped as a nothing run - as is often the case in taper mode, was boosted by coming across Brian McGinley and Dion Finocchiaro, who are both primed for big showings next weekend across the half and marathon proper.

For reasons I can’t explain, I’ve found that a consistent pace and lower heart rate occur much more comfortably with company, regardless of the exertion level.

Considering that it was another morning of high humidity and sustained overnight warmth, I was pleased with an average HR of 132 bpm across 16.15 km @ 4:38.

From there it was onto an extended day at work, where the skies grew increasingly darker outside until giving way. I was properly spent by the time I returned by way of Uber with the train line again crippled by flooding…

Thursday, December 2

As if on cue, Wednesday’s descent repeated itself no sooner than I made my way over to training.

Within ten minutes of departing, visibility was becoming marginal and the concern of being stranded in flooded roads presented a brief cause for concern.

Thankfully, that threat abated by the time I reached Punt Rd, not that it rendered the already diabolical post lockdown driving standards of many any less unpredictable…

Just as I thought the trip was going to prove less uneventful than envisaged, I found myself stranded in a traffic jam some 500 metres from the track, with a bottleneck at the Heidelberg Rd on ramp delaying me for over 20 minutes, and 60 door to track!

Thankfully, I’d still made it in decent time, with the hint of blue sky emerging because Melbourne things.

And by the time I was midway through a humid warm up encompassing Northcote Gorge, of course things had turned south again.

As the final true workout prior to Melbourne - up to 8 x 1 km off a two minute recovery, I was intent on concluding on a strong note, short of burying myself this close to the date.

Not that the intermittent downpour and prevailing wind helped, but I never felt comfortable during the session, struggling for turnover.

By the first float, my stomach had already developed a stitch which I struggled to shake for the balance of the workout.

In the circumstances, I was content to cap it after six reps at a slightly inconsistent return of 3:15, 10, 12, 17, 15 & 10/km on a sodden track, after struggling to hold on to Tom and Xavier, who made it look easy.

After pressing through an uncomfortable cool down, the journey home was enjoyably straightforward in well under 30 minutes. What a difference a few hours make!

Friday, December 3

Continuing to discover that alarms are redundant at this time of the year, I was awake before 6 and out the door before 6:30 for recovery.

The cooler conditions which swept through on Thursday evening made for a refreshing run. My HR was strikingly low, with an average of 129 bpm - which is as low as I can ever recall, for 10.06 km @ 4:41.

I placed this down to some heat adaptation from the past few days rising to the surface, and with a little luck, an indication of some underlying fitness leading into Melbourne.

Saturday, December 4

Despite an indifferent stomach which wasn’t really in the mood to pick up the pace, the planned tempo effort fell into an accidental progressive which increased at ideal intervals without much intention.

Concluding with a 3:30, a short and sharp (not like the latest lockdown was pitched) 9 km @ 3:54 was more than sufficient a week out.

My Garmin registering a new VO2 record of 74 was certainly a surprise considering how unspectacular I felt, though I’ll take it!

It’s difficult to gauge the legitimacy of a watch’s feedback and what that translates to in real terms - particularly in the recent lost years. All I can say is that its’ race predictions are a little generous…

Sunday, December 5

With just 20 km to navigate, I jumped in with a good crew comprising Dion Finocchiaro and Mark Guirguis, alongside Andrew Dubar and Tom Crouch at various stages along the bayside path, ticking the legs over with little urgency - averaging 4:31.

There was a distinct air of the “it’s the week before a marathon”, with few runners out breaking into anything beyond a comfortable pace.

It’s a welcome sensation after everything we’ve endured, particularly the manner in which Gold Coast fell through, so the goal over the subsequent six days will be to enjoy each to the fullest until the one we’ve been waiting for arrives.

A rare Sunday stint at work was busy enough, with many in full swing on the Christmas barbecue and end of year party junket.

I took in the back half of the Bathurst 1000 on my return, which was claimed by Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth.

Just like that, race week is upon us. Not for the first time, the hard yards are in the bank, let’s hope that this time it amounts to something, You can’t blame anybody for being cynical and not believing it’s happening until we’re on the start line come Sunday!