Lisa Weightman: Knock on Wood: RT Journals

by Lisa Weightman

What an awesome weekend for Team Telford!!  A course record and pb for Shelley (Michael Shelley), pbs for Andrea (Andrea Ilakovac), Louisa (Louisa Lobigs) and Michelle (Michelle French) in the 10k, a debut 2hr39m marathon and gold medallist in the Oceania Championships for Sarah (Sarah McRae) and a 69min Half for me, including running the fastest 10k time of my career in both the first and second 10k of the race!  All I find myself saying these last few months is ‘knock on wood.’.  Everything is going so well, ‘knock on wood’.  Running and life in general is so much fun and I just don’t want the excitement to end. 

Since Nagano the focus switched from riding the bike during recovery (I hope no one saw me walking it up the hills!) to building on what I have achieved in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.  Despite the strong focus on achieving my very best at the Games, my passion is firmly fixed on enjoying the journey with Lac. 

Despite the gloomy Melbourne weather in the lead up to Gold Coast we completed some amazing sessions on the Melbourne Uni Track and out on the Yarra trails.  Sessions which have given me great confidence in my ability and have been fun (once they were over of course!)!

Slogging it out on a long run in the rain and mud sounds horrendous for some, but underneath all that we can laugh about our crazy antics!  The fun is all about the people you have around you, making each run more than just a training session.  Out on the track with Hamish (Hamish Beaumont) one of the stars from AV’s Behind The Tent cheering Lac and I on, lap after lap of a Tuesday.  Warming up before Saturday morning sessions with Buster (Craig Motram), who provides inspiration after having such a long lay off with injury.  Laughing our way through the warm ups and cool downs with Kyles (Kylie Dick), Al (Allan Faila) and Dicki (Lisa Dick), not to forget the new addition Jules (Al and Dicki’s dog).  These are the moments in life that we remember. 

Lac and I are fortunate in that the recent success of the McWeightmans has brought about greater opportunities to make new friends and share new experiences.  Our first race since the trip to Nagano produced not one, but two course records in the Mallee12 in Mildura.  Lac broke Mona’s record for the 12km course by 7secs and surprised everyone in Mildura (my not so secret weapon)!  They didn’t realise that every run he beats me home, which means I am always on dishes that night!! 

Our trip to the Mallee was more about eating than running I think, brunches at Sumo Salad Café (thanks Mark!), freshly baked scones at Wamberra Station and an opportunity to share running experiences, catch up with family and enjoy a break from our fast paced lifestyle!  We are now the proud owners of his and hers Mallee Root trophies to ‘knock on’ and Tracey (Tracey Lee) your fruit cakes didn’t last long!!

After struggling with getting up before 6am on a few occasions over the last few weeks due to cold temperatures and just plain old tiredness, the effort has been well worth it after the successful weekend on the Gold Coast.  To then find out the time was fastest on Australian soil by a chick and currently 17^th fastest in the world just puts the icing on the cake.  If only I’d have ran that one second faster for a 68:59! 

Back to work this week (IBM), back to training at 6am and 6pm each day, Monday massages with therapist Brigitte Egan and soon back with Danielle (Danielle Stefano, VIS Sports Physiologist) in the VIS heat chamber, all in aid of a performance to be proud of at the games this year, with a lot of fun along the way I hope!  The journey continues.  Knock on wood…

[Congratulations to Cassie Fien and Jessica Trengrove for their outstanding performances at the Gold Coast.  Well deserved pbs for such wonderful girls.]