Nice and easy 16 km (sort of)

Tonight was my first training run since Sunday's Geelong Half Marathon. I intended running last night after work but one thing led to another and well, I didn't. Took an annual leave day today, for Anzac Day, as I don't get public holidays as such. Don't worry, we get enough holidays to make up for it, though I wouldn't mind an extra couple of weeks. Headed out the door about 4.30 pm wearing my new running shirt, the prize from Sunday's event. Weather was ok, about 16 degs and not much wind to speak of. Ran my usual 16 km course incorporating the Werribee River to Shaws Rd and return. I was thinking about a fartlek session and that went out the window as soon as I was running. Decided it would be an easy run. At the turn-around point, just after the 8 km mark I changed my mind again and put a fast one in until 9 km clicked over on the Garmin. That particular lap or km was 3:52 and then I returned to slow and easy running. I was stuffed after that effort. Overall I ran 16.2 km in 1:20:57 which is a pace of 4:59 /km. My heart rate max/avg was 168/144. I've been thinking about my stomach problems which occurred during the Geelong Half Marathon. I believe it only occurred because I was probably not ready to run at a faster pace for an extended period of time. This was probably due to the fact that I hadn't really put in any decent speed work or fartlek type sessions. The Williamstown Marathon is in 5 weeks and if I want to crack the 3:30 barrier I think I will have to include some solid speed sessions in training.

Stats as of 25 Apr 2006	km’s
Today	16.2
Prev 7 Days	45.8
Prev 28 Days	116.7
Apr 2006	112.7
YTD	871.5
Month Average 2006	217.9
Weekly Average 2006	48.4
Total (2001 – to date)	8612.6