I'm back, baby!

This morning I ran 14k and it felt GREAT. Actually, I should clarify. I felt terrible to begin with, had niggles all the way, but after I managed the run and with nary a kilometre at slower than a 6:30 pace, I feel enlivened and reassured and recommitted to kicking butt at the City2Surf.

It felt like it was going to be a tough one going out, my knee was hurting from the outset and I could feel that my form wasn’t very good, so I concentrated on making sure my toes weren’t clenching inside my shoes (a terrible habit, I think I picked it up with an old pair of shoes that were badly fitted, and my feet slipped back and forth badly), turning my hips out properly, and keeping my shoulders loose. I didn’t really watch my pace at all, alternating between obsessing about my form and distracting myself with the latest Zumba instructor CD. I must have had the energy to burn though, as I don’t feel like I was going out too hard and I finished the 14k in under an hour and a half. I don’t know if aiming for an 80 minute C2S is really feasible, but I’m not going to hold myself back on that account. I’m going to go for it. Eye of the tiger, etc.

I think it’s the tilt on the footpaths that causes my hip clickin’ evilness and my left knee problems. I can also really feel the transition between the different surfaces more than I used to. Pavement isn’t as springy, and tarmac bike paths don’t cause as much impact up my legs.

On the costume front, I think I want to run the City 2 Surf in something like this:

Yes indeedy. A dirndl. Then I can run straight to the pub after the race. What do you folks reckon?

State of Affairs

Okay. It’s two thirds of the way through July. The City2Surf is in... 24 days. I have barely trained.

I had a cold at one point. Eh. It’s not important. It’s all excuses. I’m going to spare myself the rationalisation.

I haven’t run at all this week. I did a 12k on Saturday, slow as hell. A couple of 6k staggers home during last week. Before that, a half-hearted 9k on the previous Saturday.

I think my performance will be seriously lacking at the race, so there is only one question now.

What ridiculous costume should I wear to run the City2Surf?

This is the way I figure it - I’m probably going to run the whole way, not in a spectacular fashion but not breaking any records. I will feel like I’ve wasted my potential.

BUT, if I run in a stupid (and hopefully lightweight) costume, I will feel like a massive tool, and other race participants will treat me accordingly. Plus, it has always looked like a great deal of fun.

So what do you reckon, silent blogosphere? Little red riding hood? A simple tutu?