Last weekend was the Gold Coast Marathon weekend. G, S and I all did the half-marathon, along with our friend M. None of us were aiming for PB’s as we were all a bit under-trained but we had goals and made them. I decided to aim for 2:10 which is the pace I’m hoping to run in the marathon in September. I was not feeling super optimistic about this because my longest run so far in this training cycle was 15.5 KM, run very slowly. The weather was perfect and I was feeling great (which can be a bit of a lottery at the moment due to hormones and the associated migraines). Let’s just say, that the pace felt good for most of the race and I finished in 2:10:04. S, G and M also hit or exceeded their expectations so everyone was pretty happy with themselves.

We had brunch then went home for showers, naps and lazing around.

In the evening we went to Kiyomi for our celebration dinner. This was a return visit for us. We had the banquet and some a few different sakes. The food was still very good. I love Japanese.

Sunday was another early morning start to see the marathoners run past our place. The elites are amazing. I don’t think I can even run 10 m at the pace they’re running the marathon. We also got to cheer on some friends before nabbing a table at the Winey Cow while we waited for the elites to come through on their way back.

Afterwards we went back up to the apartment to pack up so we could check out by 10 am. We saw one friend running back up from our balcony.

Once we were packed up we parked the car on the street then met up with friends for a coffee. Then it was time to hit the road heading north to Brisbane airport to drop S off for her flight home. That went off without a hitch and then we continued to Sunshine Coast airport to pick up H and finally on to Noosa. We are staying in the apartment my parents stayed in the last couple of years because they have moved to a different one with a lift. Once at Noosa we picked up some groceries from the supermarket, then walked down to see my parents.

This week has involved the usual things—work, running, we joined the gym up here for four weeks so I’ve done a couple of strength sessions. I also looked after my niece one day. My sister, J, and her daughter are staying with my parents and J had to do a couple of days work in Brisbane but on that day mum had high blood pressure and had to go into the hospital so H and I took over those duties. I’ve also had a cluster of migraines this week. I’m so glad they were this week instead of last week which was lucky timing. I’m hoping I will be OK this weekend to get my scheduled runs done. H and I have also been doing some puzzles we picked up form the op shop.

What we’ve been eating in Noosa:

• Normal breakfasts
• Tray bake chicken thighs
• Pan-fried fish
• Quinoa and brown rice bowls with lots of veggies and either tuna or black beans for lunch
• Leftovers
• Dad took us out for dinner at Gusto and for lunch at Izakaya Ate
• We went out to dinner at The Stone Bowl Vietnamese
• We have also had coffee at The Depot and Bullitt Espresso