It has been a long busy month and some training has been done in this time.
I have managed to run everyday when i havent had to fly for games, so i am still getting the runs marked off, quality is not there still, but i am happy that i am running and still building a base.

Every man and his dog has just about come in for a massage before this weekends half ironman, lets hope everyone does well.

so the last week has been fitting runs in between clients or early mornings on the days i dont have to attend footy training, sunday game 18 km, monday 8km with gerry and cody along the beach from cott, tues footy, wed fit in a small run between clients, thurs am run 5km and 6* 400m, pm footy training, friday 5 km in between clients, and saturday is to be an easy 8 km before a game.

Enjoy

John Steffensen

I have been lucky enough to meet many great athletes in my line of work and very short running career.

But yesterday I was able to massage 400 metre Commonwealth Games Champion John Steffensen. Who is in Perth currently for the Australian National Champs which double as the Commonwealth Games selection Trials.

John is one of the nicest and down to earth guys I have met, being the good Perth Boy he is.

Here is a photo of a signed shoe John has run in and a Shirt he signed for me.

Best running regards

It is that time of the year where the best australian runners jumpers and throwers all meet at the nationals and this year it also happens to be a commonwealth games selection trials, oh and the first time in i cant remember when it was held in Perth.

I have been lucky enough in my short aths "career", to be competing at an under 21/open titles many years ago now and could go and watch many australian athletes compete who i had seen on tv now they were live in from of my eyes warming up on the warm up track just like you and i.

I recommend to anyone remotely interested in aths/running or sport to go down and have a watch on friday/saturday or sunday. I have a good friend of mine Courtney Carter competing in the 5000m final on saturday night and even though i have to go away to Adelaide to umpire this week i will be trying my best to get down and watch him come 9pm.

There are so many other events this weekend that would be well worth watching. 400m mens final, Australia are one of the top 400m relay teams and have some top quality 400m runners. Pole Vault with Steve Hooker. And my personal fav on Sunday the mens 1500m final with one of the best fields of the weekend and being one of the toughest track events having to get through heat and final.

So if you have some time go down support your Australian Aths

Enjoy

Ps my week last week looked like
sunday 15k
monday 0k (after 55k on the weekend, i was spent)
tuesday 8k (5* 800m)
wednesday 10k
thurs 11k (4* 1.3k)
friday 10k
saturday 0k (it hurts)

It has been a busy week. I Worked and, well that's all really. Work was flat out this week and training suffered. My only help was the long weekend when I was able to get in 38 km on Friday and Saturday to boost the week to about 70 km. Yeah over half my weeks km were done in 2 days. My week went.

Sunday. Game. 18 km approx
Monday. 8 km all I could fit in
Tuesday. Training with umpires. 3 km
Wednesday. Wife's Birthday work all day til 7. No run
Thursday. Training with umpires. 4 km
Friday. Morning 12 km. Evening 8 km
Saturday. Game. 18 km approx

But I can't add hours in a day to train so I get by and try to make the most of when I can train hard. Using a umpiring game as a really hard tempo session. Not many other people are running 18 km tempo's. You just need to put the work in when you can. Everyone has one of these weeks.

My week always starts off on Sunday so I have a good head start this week after getting out to Helena Valley and doing a 14 km loop with one of the other umpiring guys and a world class duathlete. It was tough but after doing it a few times now am feeling stronger everytime.

Let's try for a better week this week

Ok so it is the week of WA state champs so i am going to give you all my little preview of winners and people to watch for the 800m, 1500m, 5km and the Bridges Fun Run.

800m. The 800m is really the toughest race to predict with a really strong field and pbs all really close together. The 3 to watch are the young gun Marc See, the old head Scott Tamblin and the south of the border Tex Mex Felipe De Castro Cruz.

If these three guys are lined up across the track with 200 to go we will have a race on people...

and the winner? Tambo, Strong and fast with the quickest pb in the field should win

1500m. One man can and will win this event and that is Marc See. He has been the stand out 1500m running this year for a west aussie, every race he has run this year he looks better and better and only a week ago i saw him destroy a strong field and run away from them with 600 to go and not look like tiring.

5km. Carter v Busi. 2 weeks ago carter was just over run by Busi in a 1500m. The places will be reversed this weekend. Strong super strong carter runs more km than anyone else in WA and in this event he will run away with the race after 2 k not to be touched or seen again.

And the Bridges Fun Run. One name stands above all for this 10 km event and that is last years City to Surf fun run runner up. Raf Baugh, fired up from his second place in the c2s. Raf will be out to win again one of the most presigious fun runs in Perth. Watch out for the great Ray Boyd to ruffle a few feathers early.

Enjoy if you are running or spectating

SO the past few days have not gone exactly to plan monday was meant to be a 2 session day. It ended up being a no session day, work in the morning so wasnt able to get out for an easy run to recover after Helena. Then in the evening well do i really need to mention why i wasnt able to run monday night? lets just say i like my head without dents in it.

Tuesday i ran easy 6 or so km again not exactly to plan but atleast i got out, as a younger runner this may have worried me more not getting out for those runs.

But a wise OLD man has helped me see the light, for all the runs i have missed i have done more so here is a simple visual and mental exercise to put ur mind at rest. Take out your phone book, that is your past year in sessions trained. Rip out a page for all the sessions you missed, then pick up that phone book and try and rip it in half?? Can you do it??

No you didnt, unless u missed 364 days of running and if you did that your probably not so worried about those missed sessions.

So get out there and enjoy your running people

It has been a relatively good training week for yours truely. On thursday I got my 2 sessions in and also ran twice Friday, although easy. 12 k is still 12. Why easy you ask? Well even if you didn't I'm going to tell you anyway. Yesterday was round 1 of the WAFL and my first real full game for the year. Tough? Yes.

I got to run with 2 of the younger members of the WAFL panel with one of them making there debut

So on estimate 16 to 18 k was covered at a good tempo pace. As a boundary umpire we are either running flat out or not at all.

I then tried to back up with 17 k out at Helena today with the boys. Just the out and back. I STRUGGLED. Came in well behind all the guys that ran short loop, but I think they knew what I was going through. The first few long runs the day after games will be tough. But as my old coach Vic said what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right??? No I am only going to be stronger for it. And I have 17 k under my belt for the week already.

I am once again hoping to run twice on Monday again trying to get the k's in the kegs with some Tuesday and Thursday speed track type sessions to get the legs ticking over nicely.

We shall see how the week turns out soon.

Enjoy