back from nz...

as it appears people come to this site from time to time to check out what’s going on in the life of shogun so for those who have nothing better to do i thought i had better start blogging on a more regular schedule. i know i’ve said it before but here goes…

as i no longer keep a training log or diary i thought i had better put something down before my runs have faded off into some dark part of my brain which can no longer be accessed. damn university years and herbal plant experimentation…

ok time for the update

flew over to the south island of new zealand on the 21st august, hired a campervan and proceeded to drive around with the troop checking it out. waking up on the first morning to be greeted with snow capped mountains in the distance was exciting for all – especially the little ones as they had never seen snow. managed to run around 8-12km on most days at whatever pace my legs could handle considering the terrain (and hills). definitely ran up a hill or two while there…

running highlights included:-

- evening run around the lake at wanaka
- a sunset, early evening run along the lake at queenstown
- hill session on the steep streets around queenstown (the following morning)
- stroll along the kepler track with the family – kids and wife all broke into various runs and it brought out smiles in all
- hilly run around dunedin including hard up 3 mile hill
- baldwin street - the “steepest street in the world” ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_street)

the view looking down from the top

reading up and following eastern nutritional healing practices i've been think about following a monk lifestyle experiment and subsist on brown rice and mung beans for a time and see how it works out. perhaps i'll be taken to a higher spiritual plane. long miles on the trails and hills of the blue mountains, living and eating minimal sounds like a great way to achieve inner peace and reach my zen state.

i've also managed to get back into the training now that i'm home and it started off nicely to a well organised (thanks to the bmmc crew and most notably scam) night run on home trails - the oaks fire trail no less. 25k of undulating trail with supurb bmmc folk and cr flatlanders. to say that i struggled would be an understatement but you have to start somewhere. i was disappointed with how much fitness i have lost over the last few weeks and with a pain on the inside of my ankle which i could only feel on the climbs i was happy to reach the ranger station signaling the end - of course i still had to get back to the car at glenbrook station. great runs by b+ and prince d (who also started out with the 23k option from wentie falls).

i felt a little stiff and sore over the weekend after the run but managed to get out on sunday night for a good hour or so.

training summary:-

friday:
26km oaks fire trail night run - 2:06?

saturday:
shopping, gardening and unpacking - long day...

sunday:
1 hour run up to warimoo and back with diversions.

monday:
missed planned run due to daughter needing to be picked up with school so i'll call my training - a 20minute fartlek session with dog in the backyard. he's been missed...

tuesday:
met up with simon down the river and put in a solid session - 15min hard, 10min hard, 5min with whatever i had left (which was little). backed up with a run at lunch.

wednesday:
50minutes around the river and into the hills - tired. went to bed with sore legs and a belly full of good food (green smoothie).

thursday:
legs felt good when i woke and was happy for another meet up with simon for a solid 1min fast, 30sec jog session around the river which left me feeling great. backed up again at lunch with a long climb up mitchells and to the bridge over knapsack. kept it nice and chilled...

friday:
repeated yesterday's lunch run up to the bridge and back. on the return threw in some short speed variations (fancy name for faster running from power pole to power pole). will finish up the day with another easy run down to the bottom of a local hill for about 10 uphill sprints to finish my legs and the week off.
totals: 2 quality sessions, 1 long run, 3 doubles and about 130-135km of running