Thursday, July 30, 2015

Brisbane Marathon Festival, Sign On Sesion, Saturday Session and........The final Guest Blogger, Nick

Brisbane Marathon Festival

Entries are still open for any event (marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km or 2.5km kids) in the Brisbane Marathon Festival.  It's on this Weekend, 2 August 2015.  For more information go to www.brisbanemarathon.com

BRS has a team.  To enter follow the instructions on our "Whats On Page" here

For any BRSers competing lets all meet at the QUT side of the Goodwill Games Bridge as we have previous years.

Sign on Session

Just a reminder of our Upcoming Sign on Session:

WhenWednesday 5th August 
Time: 7pm after training
Where: the Ship Inn Beer Garden (bring a change of clothes, jumper, it might be chilly!)
What:
  • Sign-on to become a BRS member for 2015-2016 year (bring your $30 membership with you please as cash, there will be no eftpos)
  • Receive your BRS Membership Card to obtain our sponsor rewards
  • Update us on your goals for the upcoming year
  • An opportunity to ask coaches about membership, how BRS works, social events, upcoming events, and of course discuss your running goals
  • a great chance to catch up with friends and meet new ones!! 

SATURDAY SESSION

When: Saturday 1st August

Where: New Farm Park Rotunda

Time: 6am-7:30am

What:1.5 hr long run around the river, or
          50 min long run, followed by 5km Parkrun
          I encourage you to register with Parkrun its free!

Cost:$2

Markets are on again! So bring a blanket and some money for a well deserved post session breaky!

Warwick Pentath Run

Guest Blogger :Nick, talking about the final 1500m

The Mental Games: A tale of 1500m

Four races completed. 40.7km of pavement pounded. I'm tired, my legs are done and my calves are screaming. My approach for the final 1.5km of the weekend was to put in a hard effort. I had no particular time goal in mind. I didn't think too much about my collective time for the weekend until just before the race. Dan calculated I had a chance of finishing the event in under a total of 3 hours. The catch was I had to complete the race in under 5 minutes and 30 seconds (3:40m/km pace!). I have done this before in training and 5k races but never after running 40.5km! Queue the expectations! Being the harsh critic I am of myself, my satisfaction level for the weekend would now all come down these 1500 metres.

At the start line I was nervous and questioning myself as always. The 750m turnaround was visible but looked a very long way away. I figured I would just run solid in the first half and bring it home strong with the wind and a slight downward slope. Ten, nine, eight...three, two, one, bang! The first half played out almost the same as the other events over the weekend. Surrounded by the same guys. Same guys going too hard. There was one particular runner I had grown a dislike for because of his antics. There was no way I could let him beat me. Just like in all the other races he was in front of me for a period. I didn’t panic because I knew he would fade like a red t-shirt in the sun once we reached the turnaround.

As expected I passed him and a number of other guys right on the turnaround. Once I completed the turnaround my eyes were fixed on the golden finishing arch in the distance. The end was only a couple of minutes of pain away. I ran towards that golden arch like a hungry 8 year old runs towards the M shaped golden arches. The second half of the race was over in a flash. I was so fixed on the finish line I have little memory of it. I may have passed a few guys but there was no way I was going to let anybody pass me. I managed to bring it home in 8th place in 5 minutes 4 seconds (3:22m/km pace). I achieved my goal of a total event time under 3 hours and also picked up 3rd place in my age category for the race!

Even though we race against tens, hundreds and even thousands of people our primary competitor is always within. We are our harshest critic and toughest competitor. That little voice almost always takes a negative/conservative approach. This weekend was more a test of mental strength than physical fitness. I found warming up before every race following the first was quite a stiff and sore experience and I began to question how I would get through the race that followed. As soon as the race started the stiffness and soreness evaporated (somewhat!). The distraction of having other runners around me, the determination to get one up on the "rivals" I had developed over the weekend and knowing they are hurting as much as I pulled me through. Nothing is more demoralising than being passed approaching the end of a race. In every race I passed somebody in the closing stages. That helped silence that inner voice which gave me a great boost to finish strong.

Before I joined BRS I ran my first half marathon at this event 4 or 5 years ago. Back then I saw other running clubs competing in the event and hoped I could do the same myself one day. I had such a great time with the crew and the running was pretty good too. It would be great if we could get a big BRS crew out there next year. Major events like Gold Coast and Bridge to Brisbane are a buzz but I get the most enjoyment out of the smaller community run events. There is a lot more passion amongst the organisers and competitors and there is always a great feel about it. Many thanks to Matt, Liss, Dan and Bridget for the great weekend and well done on your efforts!

THANKS SOOOOO MUCH NICK for your contribution!!! Love it

Happy Running Renae & Matt

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Sign On Evening & Saturday Session

It's Membership Time!!!

We have been having alot of reports that our online sign on form is not up to date.  Apologies for that things have been so hectic lately!

So, instead we thought we woud have another sign on evening as we did last year.  This worked very well last time.


BRS membership works on a financial year basis from 1 July to 30 June each year. We also allow a grace period of July for members to keep paying $6 until all memberships are sorted. 

MEMBER SIGN-IN EVENT - be there! 

WhenWednesday 5th August 
Time: 7pm after training
Where: the Ship Inn Beer Garden (bring a change of clothes, jumper, it might be chilly!)
What:
  • Sign-on to become a BRS member for 2015-2016 year (bring your $30 membership with you please as cash, there will be no eftpos)
  • Receive your BRS Membership Card to obtain our sponsor rewards
  • Update us on your goals for the upcoming year
  • An opportunity to ask coaches about membership, how BRS works, social events, upcoming events, and of course discuss your running goals
  • a great chance to catch up with friends and meet new ones!! 
PLUS
  • Celebrate the BRS member birthdays from July-Sept with dinner and cake! (please note: dinner and drinks are at your own expense from the Ship Inn Menu).
No need to RSVP just be there! 

Saturday Session

When:  Saturday 25th July

Time: 6am to 7:30am

Where: Meeting Point, Car Park, Regatta Hotel, Sylvan Rd, Toowong

What: a long run, depending on your current goals. 

Breaky: 8:00am at the Regatta Hotel!!

Cost: $2
Happy Running!
Renae & Matt

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Our Holiday and Saturday Session

Bali

The adventures of Renae and Matt continue.......

It wouldn't be a typical holiday for the two of us without some kind of hiccup, this one being in the form of a volcanic eruption.  I am glad to say that we did make it back to Australia after only 3 days delay and we are back in the swing of regular lives in Brisbane again.

We had an awesome time, swimming, eating, drinking (in moderation of course) and shopping.  The people in Bali are so friendly, the weather a balmy 32 degrees every day and no rain.

We did manage to get some running in.  30 minutes every second day in that humidity is enough I think. Renae hit the local yoga studios for some hard core sessions (2 hours each!!)

We would like to take this opportunity to again offer our thanks to Matt and Liss for stepping up with training during the days we were delayed in Bali.  We couldn't do it without you guys.



















Saturday Session

When:  Saturday 18 July 2015

Time 6am -7:30am
           
WhereMeet on the steps of the Southbank Surf Club at Streets Beach, Southbank

What: Long Run with plenty of options.......
  • 1 hour run, followed by some stretching and chatting, 
  • Use the full 1 hour 30 min run
  • 55min run followed by parkrun 5km to help you push yourself for that last 5km!**NOTE: Parkrun meeting point has moved to the green opposite the River Quay. **

Breakyfollowed by Breaky and Coffee!

Cost: $2

Good luck to those doing Jetty to Jetty on Sunday! a fabulous event. 

Happy Running 

Renae & Matt 

Thursday, July 2, 2015

This Weekend, Next Week, and Beyond

Gold Coast Marathon Festival

It's here.  One of our premier events of the year.  Many of you have been training all year for this event (and some of you have been cramming).

Once again we will have the awesome BRS tent at the event.  Everyone is welcome to use it as a base to meet others, store gear and cheer on the athletes.  Sunday will also see us celebrating our achievements with pizza at the tent while the final runners of the marathon bring it home.

Where: The tent will be located in Anzac Park, between the entrance to Broadwater Parklands                          (finishers shute) and North St, Gold Coast Hwy intersection.  This location depends on how                many tents already set up when we get there, so just keep an eye out for the Blue and White.

What: Saturday 4th - 10km @ 6:30am
                                - 5.7km @ 8:00am
                                - 2km Junior dash @ 9:25am
                                - 4km Junior dash @ 9:40am
         
            Sunday 5th - half-Marathon @ 6:00am
                               - Marathon @ 7:20am

When: Renae and Matt will be at the tent 30 - 45 minutes before the first race of the day start.

Celebratory Lunch: It is not too late to RSVP to the pizza lunch on Sunday 5th.  Please SMS Renae                                     on 0447578205 if you are interested by 4pm today (friday).  Cost is $14, $5 kids under 10 includes soft drink.  BYO alcohol and plate

Other Stuff:  Race numbers will be located at the tent if you still need to pick them up.

Next Week

There will not be any training next week (Monday 6th - Sunday 12th).  Use this as down time to recover, relax and think about what event you want to do next.  Renae and Matt will be on a very well deserved holiday in Bali (awesome!!!).

Training will recommence on Monday 13th.  See you there.

Beyond - Upcoming Events

19th July
Jetty to Jetty Redcliffe
5, 10, 21km events
See the Whats on Page on the BRS website for details of the event and team entry.

26th July
Ipswich Park to Park
5, 10, 21km events
www.park2park.com.au

2nd August
Brisbane Running Festival
2.2, 5, 10, 21, 42km events
See the Whats on Page on the BRS website for details of the event and team entry.

Happy Running

Renae and Matt