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I felt the effects of some very hard training in my last two races. I raced over 3000 metres in Slovenia (5th) and over 1500 metres in Belgium (1st)- both in very slow times compared with my best. My team and I decided I would keep training with high intensity while in Belgium. I am hoping to reap the benefits in Beijing, but at the moment I’m pretty exhausted!
Donna
My next race has been confirmed- a 3000 metre flat race in Velenje, Slovenia. I had a hard training week in Belgium last week and I am happy that I am preparing well for Beijing. My coach, Peter Fortune arrived in Belgium last week and it is really good to have him here. It’s a bit squashy in the car with all of us, but with the changes to my racing program, I’ve needed the daily training advice.
The weather has been great. In the past week, we’ve found more forest areas to run in and a family animal park. We don’t get lost as often now, and I’m starting to get used to this lifestyle.
Donna
Donna has provided a video message from her temporary home in Ghent, Belgium. From everyone at donnamacfarlane.com and all her fans, we wish her a happy birthday for tomorrow.
[youtube]rHK3T2acIuE[/youtube]
At the last minute – literally hours before my 3000 metre race in Rabat, Morocco, I agreed to run as one of two pacemakers for the local star, who was aiming to break her national record of 8.29. I was instructed to lead the pace in laps three and four. With target times of 66 to 68 seconds, that was not easy! In hot but favourable conditions, we ran the first km in 2.50 and I covered 1500m in 4.15.
The local favourite, Mariem Alaoui Selsouli slowed down considerably over the second half of the race. She still managed to win by five seconds, but in 8.48- some 20 seconds slower than her aim. I ran around my PB over 1600 metres, and it would have made sense to withdraw at that point, but I was determined to finish. I ended up with 9.23- slower than my steeple race the week before!
It was a good warm up for my next proper race, which I hope will be a 1500 metres in a couple of weeks.
Donna
I race tonight in the 3000 metres in the Moroccan city of Rabat… 6am AUS time Sunday. I’m here to get some practice running in hot conditions and I’ll certainly get that. It’s a small field but the local athlete is out to break her national record of 8.29. I’ll be joined for company by the Belgian steeple athlete. I’m out of my comfort zone here… no-one speaks English and it’s a huge culture shock.
Donna
Follow this link to find Donna’s interview forRunners Tribe. The interview was pubished before Donna’s record run in Oslo.
I am so pleased to finally get the Australian record, because it is something I have been thinking about and hoping to achieve since the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. I’ve tried to break it a few times on my own, but I don’t run as well against the clock as when I’m in a racing situation. I haven’t had many competitive races over the steeples in my career, and I was lucky tonight that we had great competition and warm, still conditions. Given that, I am not surprised that I ran as fast as I did. I felt reasonably comfortable and in control tonight and I’m confident I can improve on my new time, given the right conditions. It gives me confidence to know that I have moved up a level in the steeplechase and I’m delighted to be finally out of the low 9.30’s!
Donna
