Home Strait

Well, writing to you from beautiful Far North Queensland. The above photo was taken at Port Douglas markets with my kids, sister and niece.The other south of Cairns, the kids are grimacing and holding their noses because of the strong smell coming from the sugar cane processing plant. I love this smell like that of of malted sugar.

This coming Sunday I'll run my marathon and while I'm looking forward to it I'm not sure even now of my race plan. As you know I had a good build up, the best I've done to date, but since coming here I've quickly slipped into holiday mode and lost a bit of focus. Been eating more than I should and not running to my taper plan, still I am basically in good shape and although sub 3 may be a bit beyond me this race I will, all things being equal, PB and have a nice race. Anyway as you all know anything can happen on race day so there is no point speculating at this stage. I'll do my best.

By the way nice country you have here, well done ;)

Mate!!

Well I'm off for 5 weeks in Australia. Just brush up on my "Australian" on the plane tonight and gargle with some VB in the morning and she'll be right. I'll blog next from there.

see you later

Scott F"#? all to do with you ;)

Tape her!

Hope you're well, no problems with me. Did 36kms this morning that is the last long run before my goal race in Townsville. I have 3 more weeks and while I pretty much know how to taper the week before the next two weeks I'm not too sure about. Any advice would be appreciated.

My weekly mileage for the past 9 weeks has been as follows, 98kms,104,112,122,80,121,124,109,107. I've been doing one speedwork session a week for those 9 weeks and one medium long run at 4:15 pace each week but nothing too long from about 8kms to 20kms.

Did my long run today and although is wasn't at anywhere near the pace I want to run at in Townsville I 'm taking two positives from it, one it was done in the heat, 27 to 33 degrees and I was able to handle this so the winter temp at Townsville shouldn't be too hot for me. And I'm feeling recovered enough only a few hours after this run that I could, if I was so inclined, run another slow 10k or so.

I think I have done the work to get a PB this next race and now just have to get the final balance right so I can hit the line strong at fit. Anyway any advice would be good, but I think I will err on the side of caution. The last full marathon I raced (while I had nowhere near the build up mileage wise as this time)I blew, I think, by training too hard up until a few days before that race.

Anyway if all goes well I might try the cup tape caper come race day evening ;)

George Carlin

Hope you're all well and to those running at the Gold Coast this weekend I'm going to upload a performance by George Carlin in honor of him and you. Robert Song mentioned recently about the benefit of staying relaxed before a goal race and there is nothing better than some fine comedy to take your mind off yourself and the race.

Besides that I love this guy not exactly for what he says here but because he is so consistently fearless and honest. He never not talks about something just because it is considered off limits and even when seemingly preaching he remains funny to the core. I have not see a comedian of his caliber. All the best for your respective races. Be fearless too ;)