RECORD!

Wow! Today was meant to be a long run, somewhere in the 34 - 36k range. I was hoping o just go well and not have any issues as I did on last Sunday's long run. I had a great week of running leading up to today so I was excited to go well.

I got out at 7:30AM (race start time) and started my usual (as of late) route around town for about 8k before heading to the water. I got down to the water and ran around south beach for a bit, took a leak at La Vendi (cafe near the harbour) and then headed South along the paths for about 3 - 4km, turned around and came back. I passed by the harbour again at around the 20k marker, feeling great. I figured I'd head straight out, seeing how I felt, but do some extra running in the neighbourhoods in Fairy Meadow and Towradgi so I didn't go out TOO far in case something turned bad. By the time I got to Towradgi I was still feeling good and ran around that neighbourhood, checked my garmin and I was at 32k by the time I was ready to leave and head back. I was about 6.5 - 8.5k from home, depending on the roue I took back. More importantly, I was 10k from running a full marathon in training, and seeing what I was capable of when not even really "racing". I got back to the harbour at Wollongong around 35k, meaning I was now 7k from the marathon distance. I ran down to South beach and around WIN stadium and back up one of my favourite stretches of path, along the ocean, coming up towards the light tower. I knew it was going to happen and started to get excited. I was on pace to beat my marathon PB of 3:23. I could do the last 4k in 20 minutes and hit ~3:19 - 3:20. I didn't hold back though, I felt "good" and wanted to give myself the confidence that I can finish strong so I tried to keep the pace up (4:15 - 4:20/km) and just empty out the tank. I finished 42.2km in 3:14:38! Wicked! A marathon PB of like 8 minutes! and only 4 minutes of BQ time! (they give you to 3:10:59) My confidence for the Gold Coast Marathon is now sky high and I'm excited to get out there and race well. with our money situation, it very well may be my only race of the year, so I'm treating it as such.

Speaking of the money situ, it's gettin' bleaker and bleaker. We're barely scrapin' by here, wonderin' how we're gona cover everything and HOPING that we'll both find new jobs ASAP. It's hard for me right now because I'm in prac which takes most of my days Mon - Fri, and when retail closes at like 5ish most days during the week, the only week day I could work is Thursday eening, that's not great availability. On top of that, people are paid based on age here, and you get time and a half on Sat and double time on Sunday, so most businesses would rather save the $$$ and pay a 15 year old to work the weekend shifts. Anyways, no excuses. I'm still applying wherever I can think of, but not getting much back. I'll hafta really give 'er hell after we get back in July and see what I can scrape up. Believe me, I ain't picky at this point! I can't wait to get home and read this and laugh my ass off at myself. Either way this is a great learning experience. Julia too will have to find something SUPER fast when we get back because she can't work much longer at the Buffet place. As much as she hates the place, I think I'm gonna try and go in and see if I can get a job to replace her when she's done there. It's at least something, and I can always look for something else.

Tomorrow we go to the science centre on a field trip! It shold be interesting to see the dynamics of a field trip with a bunch of 7 - 9 year olds. I'll then show them some clips of slowmations and introduce the idea of doing one of these as a project, with the solar system theme. I'm excited!