Belated Ms Walk 2011 Race Report

Being the 2nd time that I have done the Ms Walk to support 2 friends with Ms. First is Lorrie who is a wife of my very good Friend Ian, and second Mark who died a few years ago who also had MS. Both are/were good friends and it sad for both of them to have MS but they both live/lived life to the fullest.

The morning was cold with a strong north wind but the sun was out. Which if you were out of the wind it was not too bad. After doing a warm up I lined up at the start line ready for my 10km, event two laps of Albert Park. The horn sounded and off we went, at the start I thought I was a little over dressed for the event but as I worked my way around the course the wind cooled me down quickly. The first 3km’s or so my nose was all blocked up but as I got running it cleared up. I suggest it was related to the cold weather followed by me getting warm as I run. As we all came around by the start / finish line it was time to suck it up and carry on for another lap a few had enough.

The course was not too bad dry and no really bad water or mud hazards anywhere. I came around for the second time crossed in the line. I was happy that I did not stop and addition didn’t need to use the water stations at all. My watch recorded a time of 54m 20s, but the official time was 54m 18s. As this was the warm up for Run Melbourne then the Sandy Half Point I was very happy with my efforts. Now it’s time to put some hard work in place and get ready for Run Melbourne.

Watch out for my mid-year report card

Bike Porn and Sports Tracker for the Iphone

Some 14 months ago I purchased by first Road Bike a Giant Defy 1. Lately I have been thinking about upgrading the bike, so I have I am the proud owner of a Giant TCR Advance, again the guys at Freedom Machine in Port Melbourne helped me out – Thanks Guys!


Specifications
Frame: T-700 Advanced Composite w/ TCR Geometry
Forks: T-700 Advanced Composite W/ OverDrive Alloy Steerer
Sizes: XS:43cm, S:46.5cm, M:50cm, M-L: 53.5cm, L:55.5cm, XL:58.5cm
Colour: Composite/White/Red
Front Derail: Shimano Ultegra 6700
Rear Derail: Shimano Ultegra 6700
Gear Levers: Shimano Ultegra 6700 STI Shifter 10spd
Brake Levers: Shimano Ultegra 6700 STI
Brakes: Shimano Ultegra 6700 Alloy Dual Pivot
Cranks: Shimano Ultegra 6700 39/53T Integrated
B/Bracket: Shimano BB-71 Press-Fit Cartridge
Hubs: Shimano WH-RS80 C24 16/20H Carbon/Alloy Wheelset
Rims: Shimano WH-RS80 C24 16/20H Carbon/Alloy Wheelset
Spokes: Shimano WH-RS80 C24 16/20H Carbon/Alloy Wheelset
Tyres: Michelin Pro Race III Light 700x23C
Free Wheel: Shimano Ultegra 6700 12-25T 10spd
Handlebars: Giant Contact Oversize Alloy Medium Drop
Stem: Giant Contact Oversize 4 Bolt
S/Pillar: Giant Vector Aero 3K Carbon Micro-Adjust
Saddle: Fi'zi:k Arione/ Manganese Rail
Pedals: n/a
Chain: Shimano Ultegra 6700

Here is the pic of my new toy.

I have also been selected as a Beta tester for Sports Tracker Software for the Iphone. As a user of Sports Tracker on the Nokia handsets it will be interesting to see the differences are and get the application up to speed for release. At the moment I have been sick with a head cold for the last few weeks. I'm hoping that it will clear in time for next weekends 10km Ms Walk event.

Belated Mother’s Day Classic Race Report

This is the second time I have done this event and it’s been my warm up event to 10km session of running. Late Thursday night week ago after dealing with a friend emergency I noticed my throat felt a little funny. No big deal but by Friday I have sore throat and a bit of head cold. So I took it easy Saturday pre race day, early to bed, etc.


Morning of we made our way down to race still feeling poor I made up my mind to just finish the race not over do it but just finish and see what time I got.

After watching the two waves of 4km event go I lined up along with the rest of the 8km first wave people. I managed to get approx ½ meter back from the start line so I was happy. We listened to the all the pre race stuff which I try to block out and get run to go. Then the horn sounded and off we went, as we raced up to Anderson street and then down the turnaround I got swamped with other runners, as per normal I started out fast, too fast but wanted to be up the front. After the turn around came the first of the hard work, Anderson Street hill. Any Melbourne runner knows it’s a pain in the butt, up I went and around the back of the tan then down past the Shrine of Remembrance then back down along the road next to the Tan down towards the Myer Music Bowl then moving onto the Tan track past the start line and back up towards Anderson Street for the 2nd time. Feeling ok I pushed on up Anderson Street for the 2nd and last time. Going down and around for the two time felt good, as we came back down towards the Myer Music Bowl for the second time we headed left towards St Kilda and the finishing line, over the line I went. Thinking to myself it would not be a great time. Well It was and with a Head Cold!

Here are the official times

Time 41m 09s
Overall Place 1067
Category Place 696

As compared to last year which was a time of 42m 18s I have taken 1m 09s off last year..

Race Photo's if any to come, next event is Ms Walk

Ms Walk Race Report

With another cold, wet day in Melbourne offered a very interesting start to the day.

To be honest when I got there I felt like pulling out, I was cold, very cold but after the Warm up in front of the stage. We all line up wait for a few slow coachs then off we wet.

Yesterday's rain made the course dam under foot, there were some big puddles that needed to missed, few people didn't.

For the firsr 2.5km I held my own no-one passed me but then the fast people came through.

I made it to the line and I looked at the time 25m 09s. not a PB but close.

Overall I finished 47th or 37th Male and 11th in my age group

Didn't hurt too much at the end another done, some 5 weeks to go until Run Melbourne.

Another week over

OMG - We are all most half way through the year - Time flys.


Been busy runner, riding, swimmer training with a new PT, etc. time has just flown.

Reading my calender a min ago I noticed it's less than one week away from the MS Walk 5km/10km walk/run. It's not too late to event it's for a good cause.


Good luck to all racing next weekend.