Michael Durante

Today was a very slow 4.5km early on with the kids followed by a run to work in a surprisingly quick 56:46 at lunchtime. Wore a backpack with my work shoes in and spent the whole run adjusting to make it comfortable. Spring has sprung. 27C today.

Where to start on partner in crime Mikey Durante? One of the most natural looking runners you'll ever meet. Bounces along like Zebedee. I first met him about 8 years ago doig Pain in the Domain when neither of us took running seriously. He would always smash me in the 800m rep around Farm Cove, which was natural being a 1:53 800m National finalist as a kid. I go to know him through mutual friend and fellow Allens employee Pete Beacroft, himself a 30min 10km runner - back in the days when Allens would smash any team around. Durante upped his training with the HuRT Squad and with his natural ability was able to clock 32:08 over 10km. He'd have gone quicker if:
(a) he hadn't picked up a long term knee injury; and
(b) he wasn't as fond of a beer as I am.
An all round good bloke.