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bigkevmatthews@gmail.com

Perth Marathon June 2016

This was my 12th Perth Marathon and I was coming into some form so was hoping for 2:45 – 2:50 and went through halfway dead on target. Last year I was injured before Perth , after some quality training,  and  this had played on my mind and I blew up to a 2:49. At halfway I was even contemplating dropping out as it’s an out and back twice course so you have the option to step of the course at halfway and just go home! I’ve never not finished a race and that kept me going, anyway that was last year.

This year at halfway I feel great and this spurred me on to a good second half and a 2:47 and change finish. 6th place, just outside the prizes for top5 (for the second year ) Managed to grab an age group win so all-in-all a good day and a springboard for the City to Surf marathon in August.

 

Sandwiched between the winner and second place. (I think runner 472 is playing pokamon)
Sandwiched between the winner and second place.

 

A Dennis Tan classic.
A Dennis Tan classic.
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Perth looking as beautiful as ever. Mind you the photo does not show the strong headwind for the last 4k.

World Masters , Perth 2016

First post on the World Masters in Perth October/November 2016. I’ve entered for the 5000m and the Marathon (you’d be mad not to really!) . I ran the Perth City to Surf marathon end of August so have 6 weeks of solid 150k a week training ahead of me. Ran a 100k recovery week last week and on for 160k this week so so far all going to plan.

The 5000m is a bit of fun really as it’s on the track and I only run track normally once a year max. The marathon is a different matter and I’m determined to try and place in my age group. This is made all the more difficult by being 49 and 10 months in a 45-50 age group ! If only they held it next February my task would have been so much easier. No worries, if you haven’t got to work for it, it ain’t worth working for.

I’ll use this category to track progress towards October 29th for the 5k and November 6th for the marathon.

http://www.perth2016.com

 

Double up days turning into double up weeks

A relaxing 10k racing the sunset after the 23k this morning. Double up days are the way forward if your body can take the extra load. No need for speed on the second run, just distance. I actually enjoy a good ‘slow’ second run as much as a tempo or threshold run. I know the second run is doing so much good without the need to jump into the pain box as it required for the thresholds and tempos. 6 days this week, 12 runs. Upton 144k for the week. Need 16k tomorrow for a 100mile week. All about numbers, you bet !! No hiding no we all have Garmins and Strava.  http://www.strava.com It’s been a busy week.

 

 

 

 

Trail Running

I love concrete, Garmin Watches, splits and racing. Once or twice a year I do venture outside the City limits into the hills for the 6 Inch ultra marathon. Last Sunday before Christmas Day. 4am start as in Perth it’s the middle of Summer , and we get a hot summer ! Anyway , love this shot taken by my mate Dennis Tan, sums up the event. img_0826

Notice two Garmins as one records distance and pace the other holds the course. Still managed to get lost in 2 of my 7 finishes !

Trail running takes concentration, notice nice cut on right knee.
Trail running takes concentration, notice nice cut on right knee.

Nutrition Rambling

Just set up a new category so my first blog on Nutrition. For a runner fuel is everything, like all machines with moving parts if you run out of fuel, or put the wrong fuel in, there’s going to be problems. I’ll go into detail regarding my views on the right food to fuel you but needless to say my first tip is to avoid man made sugar. If you learn nothing from this blog site but this,  my job is done.

Spring has sprung

Great morning for a run. Usual suspects all running a Park Run and because I have to drop the Wife and No1 Daughter at the airport tomorrow I had to go long by myself. Longs runs by yourself are a good time to reflect on ‘stuff’., anything really. Makes the K’s disappear if you can drift away and ponder. Today was an easy run until I heard footsteps behind me and then ‘it was on’ for 5k. Can’t be seen to be over taken. The vanity of a runner. After that runner was dispatched it was back to 4.15min/k pace until the end of the run which coincided with the local park run and a nice warm down with some friends. All in all a good mornings work and moving along to 130k for the week so far, and run number 11 for the week.

My first blog

Hello and welcome to the ‘ramblings of a runner’. I hope to install in you my passion for all things running and also encourage a healthier lifestyle and general wellness. Exciting times. It has taken me the best part of 4 hours to work out how to buy a domain, link it to software built for blogging and type this first post. So lets publish this and then I’m off to bed to recover.