The first articles in The Sunday Mail have begun appearing and training is well and truly underway for many. I’ve started quite slowly, just trying to get the legs adjusted to regular running again and have been running 30-40 minutes 4 times per week.

I have been able to maintain this for a good month now and am ready to try and increase my intensity a bit to make some progress. I’ve begun running some intervals in some of my runs and am going to try incorporate some hills next.

It has supposedly been the wettest Adelaide July in some years but, luckily, I have managed to avoid most of it–finding a rain-free half and hour even on the wettest day. It has been a bit windy though but my new Brooks jacket has been a brilliant purchase. Lightweight, waterproof, hooded – an absolute necessity at this time of the year.

I also bought some new shoes because last year I wasn’t accustomed to running in the shoes I ran in. The result was blistering unlike I’ve ever experienced.

Hopefully posting my progress will help me remain accountable and persevere with my training. I know Steve is training hard and so is the rest of Adelaide.

To anyone else training, keep it up. If I can do it, anyone can.

Bad stuff

TransAdelaide

Come on, TransAdelaide. Surely they would be able to work out that the regularly scheduled Sunday morning train services aren’t adequate for this day. Firstly, if they run on time you still won’t make it without rushing straight to the start line from the train station. Secondly, the increase in people means the trains don’t run on time. Another carriage or two would’ve be good too although I think they did put an extra carriage on – it still wasn’t enough. I don’t particularly mind but not having to rush through the masses to get to the baggage trucks before they left would be nice.

The Fruit

I think it is great that they are promoting healthy eating and providing participants with free fruit at the finish line BUT is it too much to ask for it to be ripe? I picked up a pear and it was very hard and almost green inside. Well, I didn’t eat it. Same story with the bananas – I took a few pears and bananas home and didn’t eat them for a couple of days.

Good stuff

The participants

The number of people who take part just gets bigger every year. Over 28 000 people entered this year, a record – till next year. It really is something special when you come to where Anzac Highway crosses the train tracks. From this slightly elevated position you can see a sea of people in front of you for km’s – 4 lanes wide of runners. That is my favourite part of the whole run.

If you haven’t entered before, have a read of Steve’s first City-Bay fun run for some inspiration. This event really is for everyone so get involved.

The Entertainment

I absolutely love the various bands and musicians set up along the route. I always take my earphones out and give them a clap as I pass. They really add to the day.

The Finish Line

Need I say more? 12kms of running is complete – the pain is over.

Other Stuff
Before I put it to rest, I just want to state a goal for my time next year. Disappointingly, this year I was slower than last year. Next year, I am going to actually do some regular running in preparation [at least two months] and am going to run a sub-55 minute time.

You can hold me to that.

Last year’s entry was a decision made only a couple of days prior to the event and was quite a daunting leap of faith. Can I do it? I asked myself. Oh well, I’ll have a crack I thought.

and have a crack I did, finishing my first City-Bay without stopping to walk at all in the not-too-shabby time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 16 seconds. Nothing flash but not embarassing.

Next year I’ll go under an hour I said. Yeah, I’ll do it properly and train and stuff.

Well that didn’t happen because the run is next Sunday and I haven’t trained for it. I mean, I have gone for a jog on an irregular basis but, if anything, I am probably 5-10 minutes slower than I was last year – and I didn’t train then either.

Now I am tossing up whether or not I should enter again this year. I’ll have to pay the late entry fee again. [argh!!]

In trying to decide, I did dust off the Under Armour compression pants the other day and go for a run. Oh my, my lungs were burning and I was suffering a terrible stitch within 10 minutes but I did survive.

I guess I have to enter this year if for no other reason than to get a better photo of me crossing the finish line. They have camera’s set up to capture that triumphant moment and I knew there were camera but did I look up or raise my arms in the air like an Olympic champion?

No. I basically had my head down. I still bought the photo but this year I’ll be running right under the middle of the finish gates, arms raised and smiling for the cameras.

Yep, OK, I’ve decided. I have to enter now.