Canberra turns down the temperature

Ever since we returned from Western Australia we have felt the brunt of Canberra's much cooler temperatures. I was also celebrating my birthday for about a week before the day, as in eating far too much yummy food and drinking far too much wine. However, I have also been running nearly every day and have been to the gym a few times. The weekend after our return I competed in the YMCA Canberra Runners' Club (YCRC) Half Marathon. I felt good on the day and ran comfortably but unfortunately I think I must have taken it a little easier than I should have as my finish time was 5 minutes slower than the Weston Creek Half which I ran five weeks before the marathon.

Total distance: 21.1km (plus 1.5km warm up)

Time taken: 2:06
Average pace per km: 5:59
Calories burned: 1167

Running the half in my Griffin singlet

CJ and I show off our medals after the half.

Dinner in the evening with good friends 

On Thursday I celebrated my 62nd birthday. Scarey stuff being this old. I certainly don't feel any older but I have definitely slowed down over the last ten years running-wise!  

 

Birthday celebrations

There have been lunches, coffees and breakfasts to celebrate with friends. On Thursday Mr B took me for a lovely surprise lunch at one of my favourite restaurants and in the evening our Canberra family joined us for takeaways and cupcakes!

On my birthday morning I took Teddy for a brisk run before over-indulging for the rest of the day.

Total distance: 6km

Time taken: 34:30
Average pace per km: 5:45

On Tuesday I went to the Tuesday group run with Marg and we ran to Haig Park. I also ran with Alan and Marilyn. The three of us had run the YCRC Half so it was definitely a gentle run.

Total distance: 9.2km

It was my turn to supply champagne as mine was the next birthday and Marg had baked the most delicious chocolate mud cake - yummo!

Wednesday

Today I ran BBQ Stakes. I also ran it last week in an embarrassing time of 38: 08 for the 6km hilly run. Today's time was 36:41 which was an improvement although still two minutes off my PB for that course. Average pace per km: 6:02

Yesterday Saturday morning I ran with (or rather, followed) Jen and Andy from the ferry terminal. We ran the West Basin on an absolutely freezing, sleety and windy morning. It was bitterly cold although we did warm up and there was some shelter among the trees. I wore running gloves, ear warmers, running tights to my knees and a spray jacket for the first few kms and the only items to come off were my ear warmers and gloves. 

Total distance: 16km

Time taken:  1:39

Average pace per km: 6:11

Calories burned: 884

Ewen met us after his run and we (Andy, Ewen and I) headed off to meet Liz at Urban Foods for coffee and cake - a lovely catch up.

Later in the afternoon our girls and their partners came to stay overnight and take us both to dinner as our birthdays are only three weeks apart. We had such a lovely time and were happily spoilt as they bought us an ipad as a joint birthday gift. We had now better learn to share tee hee! It's fantastic and will be so easy to take overseas when we fly away on Wednesday.

This morning (Sunday) Mr B and I were rostered on duty at the Vets' Monthly Handicap in West Stromlo. It was cold to start but the sun came out and it was perfect running weather. In the mid afternoon, after the family had left, I went out for a most enjoyable run dressed only in singlet and shorts. The weather was so different from yesterday. The sun shone and I had new music downloaded. It was glorious winter weather - clear and cold but sunny with blue blue skies. These are the sort of days I love to run.

Total distance: 8.01km

Time taken: 48.44mins
Average pace per km: 6:05mins
Calories burned: 438

We have only three more sleeps before we head off for Singapore and a few days later on to the UK, Turkey, Northern Spain and the south of France for eight whole weeks! It's a good thing Teddy loves his alternative home. He knows something is going on as he follows me everywhere like a little lamb.