by Bill Wallace on July 26, 2010
Got a great message from Dave and World Running League today asking me where I’ve been.
Well I haven’t been running so no real point in blogging. BUT the next Perth City to Surf is at the end of August (around 5 weeks!) and I need to be in it.
Last year’s CS was 70 minutes and the year before that was 64 minutes so I’m hoping (wishing?) for anywhere between those two scores. Of course if anything is hard to cram, good running times are hard! 
This week it’s aslo back into the WRL and I got sent a tube of Lanacane to review. Chafing is such a pain in the … well you know. And prevention is always better than a cure!
Hopefully there’ll be more blogging. Until then please keep blogging yourself so I can enjoy the reads.
Bill
by Bill Wallace on June 7, 2010
After running on about the new toy (SE Xperia X10 – pardon the pun 
) I forgot to update the actual run! Winter in Perth is glorious at the moment. We could do with the rain but I’m not complaining about golden mornings blue sky and no wind.
The run yesterday was around Perth’s two bridges (Narrows and Causeway) which is 10k and it was very busy. The car parks were full and lots of people taking advantage of the weather.
It was great to see the WA and Australian cricket legend Dennis Lillee who said “G’day, how are ya?” as he jogged past. Good to see Dennis recognise me ! He hits 61 this year and he hasn’t missed a beat since retiring from cricket. I hope I’m that fit in 15 years’ time!
Overall a good run, ran most of it but find it interesting that in a race I’ll run 14 – 15k the whole way. While as I jog on my own I feel the need to stop and walk occasionally. Finally found my stride around the 7k mark (sheesh! ) Before the slack lay off I was learning to run slowly and have to get that back. My k’s were around the 6:00/k mark yesterday and even as I tried to run slower, it wasn’t working.
Well, back to the mid week runs this week, no excuses.
by Bill Wallace on June 6, 2010
It was time to renew my phone contract so decided to check out the android side of life and picked up a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10.
So far so good and the number of apps to log my running are numerous. None (so far) are up to Nike+’s smoothness and completeness but none are backed by company’s like Nike and Apple. So I’m happy to play with the apps that are available and test them out.
So I’m using Buddy Runner (as I did today) and there is another one (My Tracks) which I’ll try on my next run.
The GPS seems to be accurate enough and Buddy Runner announces my progress every half k. The funny thing is the voice is very computerised (not sure how Nike+ did theirs) and rather than just saying “seconds” it says “seh-KONDS” – if that makes sense. The emphasis being on the second syllable. Of course this doesn’t affect the distance, just sounds weird. Meh!
It covers all the usual stuff (refer image) and presents the dashboard in quite a simple to understand way. It seems to be attempting to replicate the Nike+ metaphor by showing how many runs have been completed by all users and how many kms they have done. Not necessarily better, just different.
Clearly I need to do a lot more running and the pace is all over the shop. What I do like about it is that it uploads from the phone as soon as the run is over. I don’t have to connect the phone to the Mac at home like I do with Nike+.
Hopefully the Android market continues to grow and develop and will match the iPhone and apps eventually. (though I wonder if it will ever match Apple in the total number of apps available!)
Anyway the phone is good with a lot of positives (like an 8MP camera) though sometimes there is a fair bit of lag between touching an icon and the app launching. With a system upgrade in September, that should be fixed.
by Bill Wallace on May 31, 2010
I’m still alive and back in training. If you’ve been reading you’ll know my achilles was a problem back in March and it prevented training for a bit. That was part injury, part mental. I didn’t feel comfortable running on it and then training just seemed to fall away.
But I have been running and exercising. Nothing worth writing about (obviously) so I haven’t bored anyone.
On the Race update (great plans for 2010, poor execution) I dd compete in the HBF Run For a Reason on May 23rd. 14ks and set a goal of 90 minutes. Made it in 1:29:54. Nothing like cutting it fine!
June 20 Marathon is out as the training has been non-existent but there is the Rottnest Marathon in October.
by Bill Wallace on April 4, 2010
One of the things I struggle with is the “belly”. It’s not huge but I’d rather it not be there at all. Of course that comes down to a good diet and good exercise. Nothing really new there.
But what I just discovered that IS new is that beer puts weight loss on hold.
Rather than repeat a really good post, Frank has written about it here at Male Weight Loss NOW!
The question: can you lose weight and drink beer clearly comes with an obvious “no!” response, but the surprise is in how the body reacts to alcohol in the system.
If you would rather not have a belly, head on over to Frank’s and check this article out. (plus I LOVE the graphic he has put with this! )
by Bill Wallace on April 3, 2010
It’s been a while since I posted for a number of reasons. The main one being someone exceeded their broadband limit and was reduced to dial up speed! 
I can’t remember when that happened last time but what a pain in the A$$ it is. When you are time poor and you need to jump on to quickly do something simple (blog post, check accounts … ) and 30 minutes later the page loads … sheesh! Anyway, we seem to be back to normal (though the speed is far from riveting at the moment!)
The achilles is holding up okay though still feeling it (not pain, just sense that it is there) when I run. This causes some nervousness that I am adding to the problem. So it is more exercises, more ice and, hopefully, more running.
Last week was the ASICS Bridges 10km run but Zoe (physio) said I wasn’t ready for the 10km. So I did the 5k instead. (Just another cross on my race plans for 2010!)
As you can see from the pictures below it really was a glorious day and while the breeze was cool, it was great to have around as the sun did it’s job warming us up as we ran.
The race started in a bunch and it was hard to get a clear path which slowed me down. Foolishly I had invoked the virtual partner on my Garmin 305 to try and beat 25 mins. Foolish because it took some time to get through the crowd, that meant I was behind which meant I had to catch up and without regular training prior to the race …. I ran out of puff!
See? Foolish!
And with all the technology hanging off me I didn’t start the iPhone Nike+ software. Add to that that when I crossed the finish line I didn’t push hard enough on my STOP button on the Garmin so it was still going 20 minutes later when we got in the car!
The results
Anyway my time of 27:20 (from the finish line readout) wasn’t a PB by any means but I was pleased to get back to an event.
- 94th out of 474 in total.
- 5th out of 15 in the 45 – 49 age group.
- 49th out of 159 males
So, while not a PB, not a bad result. However, age is clearly not any excuse as the person who came 2nd overall was in the 45-49 age group and he did it in 16:48! (holy cr4p!)
The FBH has begun this competition things as well which is great and she did it in around 37:00
Since the race I have done zip. Partly due to the fact that I can still feel my achilles occasionally, partly due to the “I’ll run tomorrow” syndrome (but you never do!).
Last night I decided to head out and do a slow easy run which ended up being 6.6k. Ran most of it with some walking toward the end as I became a little more conscious of the achilles.
The garden is getting a face lift today (as it did yesterday) so the mulching, digging new plants in, mowing and edging will be my “5k” today.
by Bill Wallace on March 21, 2010
Visited Zoe my physio Friday morning. All systems normal!
After another round of physio with no pain, aside from the physio’s own pressure, I was given permission to start running again.
Strict rules though:
- Just walk to begin with
- Then light pole light pole for 2k
- Ice immediately after
- Text me with how it feels
- Keep up the exercises
So, I dutifully kept to the plan (though I forgot ice each time!) but overall, took it nice and easy.
Running Again
It was good to get out again even though it was light pole to light pole. So easy! But good to go slow at this point.
I’m keeping up the stretching exercises which entails standing on the left (problem) leg and raising myself to stretch the achilles but also to bring the calf into play as well. To take pressure of the achilles, I assume. Anyway, I have to do these 3 times a day, 3 sets of 10. I think it has helped a lot in the recovery.
Zoe Brest is my physio (she has a Google alert every time her name comes up on the web! ) and I have to say she is great. To do the phsyio she does, allows me to text in with updates and she responds asking questions in detail about how it’s feeling etc. Fantastic!
She did the same when we were in Europe last Christmas when my daughter did her ankle in the first 2 days of a 5 week trip! Could have ruined the trip for all of us but Zoe’s advice and support made a LOT of difference. (anyway, that’s enough of a plug for her! )
HBF Asthma Bike Hike
- Bike Riders Arriving (Bloody nice day for it!)
Today was the HBF Asthma Bike Hike in Perth which was a 30km ride from Belmont race course up to Joondalup (a northern suburb for those playing at home)
8,500+ people do this and it was pretty crowded for a bit. A few accidents on the way.
- The crowd builds – and this is only one starting point …
Funny sight of the day
Our group met at a race track which has these towers for what I assume is for certain official people to watch the race from. This one had a sign that read “toilet” with an up arrow, meaning the toilets were ahead (not “up”) but that didn’t deter some who may have been caught short from trying!
- “Well, the sign says toilet!!!”
I was meant to meet up with a colleague from work but although we could see each other at the start point we couldn’t team up due to the crowds of bikes.
He took off first so my plan was to catch him pretty quick and then cycle on together.
Well, I caught him … at the 15km mark! I was worried that he had dutifully waited for me just after the start and I cycled off merrily in search of him. Anyway, we cycled the last 15km together and had a good chat along the way.
The 30k took just over 1 hour so I averaged around 30km per hour which I was pleased with.
Andrew had suggested that I try 30km/hr for 30 minutes as part of my achilles rehab. To be honest I didn’t think I could do that. Apparently I can! Thanks Andrew!
by Bill Wallace on March 17, 2010
Back to the Physio on Monday and things seem to be looking up.
The FBH and I went for a ride to the Mother-in-Law’s on Sunday which was a round trip of about 38kms. Pretty flat so that wasn’t too hard but we decided to do it on footpaths and not the road. That makes it a pretty bumpy ride.
Anyway, we made it there and back and it was good to get the legs going even if it wasn’t running.
The good thing about exercise is how good you feel after you’ve done it.
Monday was physio day as she worked the achilles again and this time there was no grimacing or real pain so things are looking up. The plan was to go to the pool to do some walking on it but work was really late Monday night.
Last night the FBH and I walked to our local for a bite. Just a steady 4km walk, no real effort. However I can feel the achilles this morning. Not painful but just conscious of it. Maybe that’s a little psychosomatic.
I will rest it again tonight or go to the pool and see how it pulls up.
Next Physio appointment is Friday and she’ll be telling me whether I can run this weekend or not. Hopefully I can.
This Sunday is the local HBF Freeway Bike Hike.
This is a 60, 30 or 10km ride along Perth’s freeway for asthma. Our company, VDM Group, is getting a group going to had off for the 30km ride. Hopefully we’ll get a good turn out and it’ll be a great way to start the day.
Later that same day I have been invited to a Polo Match. Never been to a polo game so that is going to be very interesting.
Do you yell? Cheer? Hurl abuse at the opposition?
Or is it all very sedate and courteous? A bit like tennis?
by Bill Wallace on March 13, 2010
I was lounging in bed this morning with my “corrected” coffee, when the FBH casually mentioned she was off for a walk. A walk! Yeah, right!
Thirty-odd minutes later she waltzes back in and declares that she has just run 5k.
Yes, folks she has RUN … 5k!
I had to get her to explain exactly where she had run “from” and “to” so I could come to grips that the FBH was fast catching up on my fitness level. And more than likely, in our next 10k race I would be coming in second!
Holy Batfish, Catman!!
This, of course, is not a competition (um, well, kind of …) but the FBH’s past has been one of complete abstinence from sport. Though there was a time about 20 years ago, when she hit the health club pretty hard.
Anyway, her workout is here, which to us the basically termed “to the shops and back”. She uses the Nokia SportsTracker software on her N95.
To the Shops n Back
I am duly impressed, proud and ever so slightly intimidated.
Love you, baby!
by Bill Wallace on March 13, 2010
Graphs, figures, stats … some of the more motivating aspects of my life until …
You will see from the graph comparisons below that March ain’t so good. Not only is it bereft of any exercise it looks much worse when compared to February.
February was my best month ever … over 100ks run and the plan for the Marathon was well on track.
Best month of runs
Now, due to the Achilles debacle, the runs are non existent.
Below is March so far. Note that not only is there one work out, but it was 10 days ago. Compare that to February where the biggest break was only 2 days!!!
... and the worst month ...
Sure I’ve ridden the bike and that is good cardio, but there is something about running which, well, just does it for me. Especially as the runs were getting longer.
Achilles Update
Achilles is still slightly swollen. Back to Physio on Monday morning. Can’t see em running for another week or two.
*** sigh ***
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …
- opening line from Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
