Marcel Andrieux

Week 12 - Two Weeks to Go!!

What a month its been! I can hardly believe its been four weeks since my last post.

In that four weeks I have run my three longest distances ever - 15.5km, 16.62km and 17.26km all of which were tough, but the 17km especially so. The last 7 or so km's of that run were over a minute slower than I've been running lately and everything in my body just hurt - really hurt. I'm hoping that that's my worst run out of the way and that this week and race day will be back on track. My 15.5km run was a truly delightful one in Melbourne where I was given a blessed respite from the unrelenting heat and humidity we've been experiencing in Sydney this Autumn. My intention was to run from South Melbourne to Albert Park via St Kilda but I got a little lost and ended up in Brighton (about 4-5km from where I was meant to be) so I continued on to St Kilda to complete my 15km and then Ubered the rest of the way to Albert Park.... Sorry Raveendra, your car WAS lovely & clean.... Oops!

Also in the last four weeks I managed a PB of 30:30 for our 5km benchmark run with a PB 1km split of 5:15 and, perhaps most exciting of all I was officially inducted into the Can Too Fundraising Hall Of Fame for raising over $5000!!

Since starting this program I have run over 220km in a total of 25 hours and I figure that's a pretty good effort!

The support and generosity shown me throughout the program has been truly overwhelming and I am honoured and humbled by the amazing network of family, friends and colleagues who have really go behind me and helped me through. Not to mention our little West Pod training group - what an inspirational and fun bunch they are - without them and our coach Michelle (who is AWESOME) I would never have pushed myself this far out of my comfort zone.

One thing is for sure though - I have truly rediscovered my love of running (pain and suffering and all.....) and will definitely be back for another program!

Lindfield - Mapped

Lindfield - Can Too Contingent

Lindfield Results

Lindhills - West Pod

Week 8 Update - LindHills!

Well, here we are, week eight done and dusted - over half way in the program - and, with the support and generosity of all you lovely people, I have raised nearly $4000 towards Cure Cancer Australia and I'd LOVE to make it $5000!!

So to all of you who have so generously donated, THANK YOU! And to those who haven't yet, but would like to: Now is the time!!

http://www.cantoo.org.au/fundraisers/MarcelAndrieux0125

This week our track session was 6x800m and I not only achieved another set of negative splits I also posted a PB for the 800m! This was somewhat accidental as I messed up on my timings (converting minutes & seconds to decimal and back - yeah, not my strong point) So, I went out for my second 800m WAY faster than planned but I felt alright so I Ran with it (pardon the pun).

Then on Sunday we had the Lindfield "Fun" Run - let me tell you, there was not much fun about it! We were warned that it was tough. We were warned that it was hilly. But this was a BRUTAL 10km of almost unrelenting hills! It was two laps of a 5km course and there was a reasonable amount of walking up hills I must admit (especially on the second lap).

But, I managed to maintain a reasonable average pace of just under 7min/km (faster than last week's Bondi run) and I figure, if I can do that on this course, I'm a fair chance of doing better in the Half Marathon in a few week's time.

Having the Can Too coaches and mentors there to help us along was amazing - especially on the last big hill - about 200m and the tallest one of the course - right before the final Km to the finish line. They were literally running and talking us up that hill and getting us to the top when we (I) might otherwise have given. Absolute Champions.

And now we're getting to the business end of the training program - time to step up the pace, girl!

Apologies for my pic - I told you early on it wouldn't be pretty!

Coogee Runners

Week Seven Update

Easter Weekend! Trying to avoid the glut of chocolate in my house has proved a challenge but, for the most part I was reasonably good.

Track session this week was a 5km benchmark run and I posted my first perfect negative splits!! Pretty happy with that :-)

With no official coached session on the easter weekend, some of the ladies from my pod decided we would get together and do the Coogee to Bondi run and back on good Friday. It was a tough 12km with LOTS of stairs so really hard to get a good rhythm going. As a result my splits were not so perfect as Wednesday's Benchmark and overall pace was a lot slower than I would have liked but I completed the run and didn't feel too bad afterwards.

It was a truly beautiful morning and a spectacular location with great company and the added bonus of a swim in the ocean after to cool down.............. and coffee and toast of course!

Week 6 - Long Training Run 12km

Well, this weekend there were winners all round!

I had to miss the long training run on Saturday with my team as my son was playing in his T-Ball Grand Final - their first competitive season and they made it to the Grand Final...... AND WON!

As much as I would have liked to attempt my first 12km run together with my Can Too Pod, I wasn't about to miss a second of my boy's game (especially given that I'm the team manager ) <>> <> /> <>> <>> <>

Down and out..... just for a day.

I've been feeling a bit flat and unmotivated this week - nothing went to plan yesterday and with the stresses of work and the demands of two small boys weighing on me already, I found myself today on bed rest and Valium for a seized up neck.

How quickly a relaxing weekend away can be dissipated!

But then I received a few more of those lovely Can Too emails telling me I have more donations and when I logged in to my fundraising page I saw that

I have surpassed my fundraising goal!!!

Faith and motivation restored.

To all those wonderful supporters who have donated so far, THANK YOU, you guys rock!

But I'm not stopping here! I aim to back on my feet and back at the track tomorrow so, please, keep those donations coming!

Down? Yes. But most definitely not out.

I've got this.

Week 5 10km Long Run

I am spending a lovely couple of days in Pearl Beach with my beautiful cousins so I missed the Saturday long run with my team but I still managed to get it done here.

Working out a 10km course in a tiny seaside town is a challenge in itself - never mind the run! Which has served to highlight one of the amazing benefits of the Can Too program - the behind the scenes support, expertise of our coach and the encouragement of the team are invaluable in allowing us to focus on our training. Anyway, I managed to map out a course and even included some hill runs????????

Now it's my rest day and I've had a lovely cooked brekkie and am currently sitting on the deck enjoying the beautiful view.

Happy Sunday y'all - I hope yours is as delightful as mine.

week Five Post Recovery Week

So here we are in week five.

Time to step up the intensity after Recovery Week last week.

Tonight was a quick 5 x 800m interval with a 200m "kick" at the end of each...... Bit of a butt kicker but I feel good. And then a 10km long run this Saturday. I'll be in Pearl Beach so I'll have a beautiful view for it at least and I'm pretty certain I can be found having a dip in the beach afterwards ????????

Everyone in our little pod is doing so well and we've all improved a bit each week - that 21km will be a walk in the park by the time Michelle's done with us!

I was a little worried last week because I really struggled with the 8km long run on Saturday - couldn't get my breathing right, legs felt like lead and my balance was all off. I'm putting it down to being sleep deprived due to the revolting humid nights of late and not hydrating enough on Friday..... At least, I hope that's what it was.

I wasn't kidding when I said I'd be schlepping and sweating and puffing my way along the Parramatta river...... It wasn't pretty ????

But I'm not in this to look good - I'm in to challenge myself and raise some cash to help Cure Cancer.

I'lol do the challenging but I need you all to help me raise the cash so don't forget to click on to my "Sponsor Me" link and donate.

And now I have a hot date with my pillow ????

Night y'all ????

Week Three Long Training Run

So, I have just completed week three of training with Can Too run for the SMH Half Marathon.................. only 11 more to go <>> <>> <> <>> <>> <>> <> <>