Slumpity Slump

Took yesterday off so did the session today instead.  I missed last week's 79 continuous (one of the sessions I think does me the world of good) so did it today instead - from work.  Just the usual route sticking to the water's edge.  Strong winds today which made some of the fast sections really tough.

Saw Barts out there and rival Kevin Robertson - yelling out a high to both despite being in a fast section each time. A slow average on the Fartlek and tempo but still managed 20km all up (3:58's). Hopefully it does some good.

111km for the week.

Run home

After a hell of a day at work and with a sore achilles, the last thing I wanted to do was run home.  Seriously contemplated the taxi option but I'd told Maggie she had to go to run training (after a day of touch footy) so felt like a hypocrit if I pulled out.  So I plodded home.

Achilles actually felt better as the run went on and wasn't as sore as expected.  Kirst was in bed by the time I arrived (9.20pm) so this was dinner:

Struggle Double

AM:  3 loops of Nolans and Passmore.

PM:  Jogged to ES Marks.  Session was 4 laps, 3 laps then 2 laps.  Matt was doing 15 laps aiming for steady 70's.  We had to pace him around, taking a 2 lap break between each of our reps.  

I'm struggling a bit at the moment.  Before getting sick last week I was just tired but put it down to the step up to 120km weeks.  Now I feel like I'm recovering from the cold. Legs felt sluggish and I've got no bounce or enthusiasm to push each rep.

Lost touch with Matty, Keith and Jared after 1km and held on to 4:51 for the 4 lapper.  Bit better on the 3 lapper with Matt and Keith pulling ahead on the final lap.  3:36 I think.  2 lapper and held on for 500m before Alex cruised past with me finishing 2s back from the group (2:22).

Matt continues his fantastic form to run 17:39 for his 6km.  That's a 14:44 5km along the way.

Then a bit of a break before starting the 10 x 300m reps off a rolling 2mins.  I finished each rep about 10m behind the rest of the group with Jared smashing out each rep in 45s with the last in 42s. He's getting stronger by the week.  A girl from Runcrew (Abi Regan) was also putting me to shame running her reps in 47/48.  I was at least consistent with each rep at 50/51s.  Consistently mediocre.

Sat down after and my calf started cramping.  Then did a stretch and the top of my quad started cramping.  Then later did a hip flexor stretch and my abs started cramping!  So I think I need to pump in some magnesium.

Warm down for 14km all up.

Centennial wanderings

Missed the squad so headed up to Centennial solo for a loop and return.  Love heading out there as you feel as though you leave the City behind.

Bit heavy legged to start but better by end.  15km in 4:35's.

Some great results in Berlin last night.  Neil ran a fantastic 2:31 off a disrupted prep.  Craig "took it easy" (someone needs to have a word with him) for a 2:44 but run of the day was Julia Degan setting a PB in 2:42.  This from a World Champ representative who struggles to win Striders 10km.  No one transitions to the full better.

Old man trophy arrived today:

Back to Sunday usual

Smaller crowd this week with Macca, Dicky, Elle, Toby, Ben and man-of-the-moment Scotty joining me for the usual route.  Scotty has hit some great form after upping his mileage to 120kms per week post GC.  He's doing that as well as maintaining the speed sessions, and as a result ran 15:48 at Parkrun yesterday smashing my PB and doing it pretty much solo (sounds like Lewis and Matt Robbie were with him early on).  I think I'll avoid racing him for a while.

Felt fine today until about 25km when my shoulders and neck started to feel a bit achey and generally felt lethargic - just the effects of the virus flushing out I think.  This coincided with me and Scotty catching Macca and me turning to Macca and saying "I'm going to push ahead to Emporio".  About 300m later Macca runs alongside me and says "so when are you pushing ahead?".

So we got to Emporio and Macca starts explaining his decision to run the Half in Melbourne and not the full.  After about 20mins of long-winded explanations, it dawned on me that he's too worried the Cap'n would beat him if he ran the full..

Please to have got it done.  Epsom bath salts and a couple of magnesium tablets should sort out the soreness.

30km in 4:25's.

Southern Highlands

Well, the flu (bad cold really) hit and I took Wednesday off work feeling sorry for myself.  Just cold and shivery and streaming nose with a sore throat.  Started to feel better by Friday.

Down in Sutton Forest overnight Friday with Kirst.  Got up early Sat morning and ran 10km from the Peppers place in my Saucony Kinvaras.  Not sure I can use them for training (at least, my achilles would need time to adapt) but will be good for long tempos, Halfs and Marathons.  Felt good towards the end pushing the pace a bit.  4:15's.

Tuesday double?

AM:  6km to the wharf via Shelley Beach.  My first run to Shelley since the June storm.  

Have a sore throat and think in coming down with a cold so will see about training tonight..

Monday recovery

Just an easy run home from work at the end of the day.  66mins (4:45's).  I think I've finally found the shortest route home:

Sydney Half - pacing

Set the alarm for the ungodly hour of 4:30am.  This gave me 10mins to wash, dress, put lenses in, eat banana and drink large glass of water.  Then out to Bike Addiction to get a lift from Hamish.  Picked up Macca and Darren on the way and then into Macca's office in North Sydney where Darren decided to avail himself of the employees toiletries.

Down to the start line to pick up the pacing flag where I met Timmy and Muz. Here we are, bleary eyed, at 5.50am:

Treated like royalty at the start line and we're off.  Run the uphill section (such a crap start to this race - only the Sun Run ranks worse and that race is a joke) and I do a 3:40 thinking "this isn't going to be fun".  Find a group including LJ and J-Fen and can see Muz just ahead so all is good.  Suddenly you run down off the bridge and we're flying, running a km split of 3:30 feeling fantastic.  See the leaders switching back and The Vonk looks good followed by Hamish Mc and Alex and then Macca.  Then on Cahill Expressway I hear someone swearing loudly in front and Muz has pulled up lame - his calf blowing from protecting his  achilles.

The next few km I'm running with Burkey at the front of a group of about 10 and we starting clipping off the kms regularly at an even pace.  Here we are through Hyde Park:

The group in front falls apart a bit and we catch Eoin at 10km (37:30) with Darren up ahead.  Catch Darren in Pyrmont at 13km and get a good luck at the runners here due to the switchbacks.  Vlad is going well, Renee is having a cracker of a run but LJ is having an off day.

The group is still holding together and in shouting at anyone threatening to drop off.  I was worrying about the hills on the flyovers at Darling Harbour but they divert you around the water's edge so that it's a great - flat - final 7km.  Catch Brendon F at 16km and from here it's just encouraging the group to hold together.

Darren and David from Clutz start to pick up the pace at 17km finishing very strongly.  By 20km I can see the group is going to make it so drop back a bit to encourage those behind.  First Hamish (coming home strong) then Marc Ashworth and others.  We're in the final finish chute now and there's an Indian chap who's struggling but on the cusp of making it.  I'm screaming at him (to the amusement of the crowd) and he musters a sprint to get through with 3s to spare.  And the fella is in tears and comes over to say thank you after. I was welling up.

A great run.  I like the course although a few too many switchbacks to be fast.  Some great performances out there with Marc, Darren and Brendon all doing fantastically to go under 80 for the first time.  But run of the day to Renee in 83:36.  She just gets better and better.  Take a look at the Striders website and see how high that places her on the Striders Half Marathon Ladder.

Will try to race this next year.

Parkrun

Old Man v 800m man.  Jogged to Curl Curl to see Jared warming up and a few other familiar faces including the Cap'n and Pete W.  Had a chat and found out Jared had instructions to run the first 3km in 9:30 and then "feel the pain".  So my morning was set from that.

Off we go and Jared shoots off looking like he's cruising while I take 2 strides for every one of his.  Through 1km in 3:02 - holy crap.  I push on a bit through 2km in 6:12 and then 3km in 9:32 and he's starting to breathe hard.  I gap him up the hill but I'm cooked here too.  Get home feeling uncomfortable in 16:07.  Smashed by that first km.  Strava said I set a personal record for the first half, but was 17s slower than my record on the second half.  That says it all.

The Cap'n is showing some form to finish 3rd in 17:16.  Jogged home with him for 11km all up.

Interesting day

AM:  6.5km with 3 loops of Nolans and Passmore on the grass.  Did it because my achilles was still sore.  Not sure why I haven't been doing it before as, after the first lap (watching some young chick pone me) I felt great.

Lunch:  Most disappointing HuRTS turnout in a long time. Only about 10 people today.  If others continue to organise their own sessions to suit themselves - and encourage others within the squad to join them- then the HuRT Squad will disintegrate.

Did a shortened version of the Timmy Hills and Tempo set with 12mins of hills and a 3km tempo being just one loop of Mrs Macs.  Fats and Mikey L were pushing the hills with me barely hanging on before putting in a late effort.  This was token given Fats was doing the full 20mins.  Then into the tempo where I gave it a shot with Mikey L before struggling on the hills before Darren Moyle and Tongey brought me home in 9:36 (3:20's).  Followed by a 4.5km cool down solo.  

The squad is 10 years old this month but needs a lease of life.  My recent turnout has not assisted.

MLR

Achilles a bit tight again so decided against a hilly run to work and instead did a lunchtime MLR with Hoey and BK ending with another 4 x Domain carpark hills.  18km in a slow 4:45's.

Tired at the moment but sick of saying that so will bore you with my work day instead.  6 coffees (3 piccolos, 1 latte and 2 flat whites), 4 meetings, 1 shirt pick-up, usual pasta salad and quiche plus fizzy water and small muffin from Delisse for lunch (oops, forgot wallet and they gave it to me on credit but promised I'd return and have just realised I didn't), probably 15 phone calls, probably 150 emails, 1 new instruction, 1 interview (nice bloke, we'll probably make him an offer) and did a small amount of what the average person might call 'law'.

Plodtastic

AM:  6+km in the early morn before brekkie with Kirst at Emporio.  Achilles tight.  Plod plod plod.

PM:  5km jog to ES Marks from work to be met by Coach Ben saying it was "12x400m with 200m float - with Matty", which basically translated as 17 and a half laps solo trying to avoid being lapped by Matt.  Nice.  

Ran 23:08 in total for the 7km (3:18's) with the 400's in 74/75 and the 200's in 44/45.  Hard work solo and legs felt heavy the whole way.  Gary told me to run lighter at one point but I couldn't tonight.  Managed to avoid being lapped by 5s!  Matty ran 22:00. 

3km warm down around the track with a further 2km from Jared's to the Wharf.  He is getting fitter rapidly every week, running his 1km reps in 2:50 then 2:40 tonight before 300's in 44s.  He's doing Parkrun on Sat and I reckon if I turn up I'll need to be 20s ahead at 4km to beat him.

23km all up for the day.

Monday bloody Monday

Just an easy 17km with the squad which included some hills at the end (Domain car park).  Ended up running with this nice chap from Clayton Utz at the end who told me that stories of my summer clerk interview style ("5km does not make you a long distance runner") was doing the rounds.

Easy loosener

Very easy untimed run around the Allambie Hill route.  Really enjoyed it.

Birthday pressie

Just the same old long run with Barts, Craig, Macca, CT, the Vonk and Elle.  Very tired after last night's session so I was happy enough just to drag myself around.  Barts had had a few beers the night before so he hung back with Elle and myself towards the end.

Elle going great with another 37km run in the bag at 4:30 pace.  She should smash 3 hours at Melbourne at this rate.

Friday the new Thursday

Had the day off work today to go clothes shopping with Kirst for my birthday tomorrow.  I think it was more a treat for her than me.  But it meant I could rest yesterday which was important as I was very sore and tired.  Today was much better:

AM:  6km easy along the beach bumping into Mrs Cap'n.

PM:  2km warm up then continuous 10km - 3km hard, 500m jog, 3km Fartlek (7 x 300m with 150m float), 500m jog then 3km hard.  First 3km hard in 10:09, hard to tell Fartlek 3km pace due to the 500m jog but it was roughly the same, then final 3km hard in 9:56.  All around the paths of Nolans and Passmore dodging the Friday night touch footy teams (including Mags and Charlie).

Pushed it, felt OK, all up 10k in 34:31 which is solid. I just run different in my flats.

2km warm down for 14km, 20km for the day and 120km for the week including some solid sessions.  Tough week.

Wednesday MLR

Hilly route in via Manly Vale PS (horned by Chris Yates) and North Balgowlah.  18.5km in 4:43's, just getting it done. 

Tuesday double day killer

AM:  30 mins easy to South Steyne and back seeing Q, Erika and the Cap'n along the way.  Little more than a shuffle  at just over 6km.

PM:  Jogged to ES Marks from work then borrowed Gary's flats (more comfy than mine, might start investing in New Balances) before being told the session - 2km hard followed by 10x400m.  Told Jared and I were to lead the 2km in 70's, with Matt and Keith doing 4km.  Decided to lead the first lap as I honestly couldn't see myself holding that pace for more than 1.  We went through in 70, 2:22, 3:33, 4:45 then finished in 5:56.  Km split in 2:57.

Was pretty rooted after that but got a fair break before the 400's started.  I just watched on as the rest of the squad are considerably better at running 400 reps than me. Jared floats around making 63's look like a jog while Alex R opens up making 66's a stroll.  I was happy to keep them all at 68s, with reps 7 and 8 at 69s when I was really struggling.

Absolutely knackered at the end rolling around on the track for a good 5mins.  Haven't felt that tired from a session in years.  2km warm down around the track then a 2km jog from Jared's to Manly Wharf for 15km all up and 21km for the day.

Have to point out how well Matt Hudson is running.  An 11:50 4km followed by 10 400's in 63 with the last in 60 flat.  He was flying.

Monday recovery

Meeting at lunch so snuck out in the late afternoon for an easy recovery run.  Headed up to Centennial to feel as though I was out of the City, always like that loop.

13.5km with the body feeling sore and tired.  But better for the leg stretcher.  4:36's.

Fathers Day

Dragged my ass around the usual route with Macca, Darren, the Cap'n, Dicky, Elle, Craig, Lewis, Scotty and Ben.  Survival mode this morning.  But a brekkie burrito wrap in Troubador and a few beers in the arvo at 4 Pines with Darren, Erika, Macca and Birchy made everything a lot better.

Striders North Head - 1st in 32:53

Well, as a Fathers Day present I insisted on the whole family coming to support this morning.  And it's a good job they did, as I reckon I only won it because they were there.

Nice long warm up having arrived early and saw a good crowd on the start line, albeit with Barts and CT running 3:30's as part of a long run and Neil just testing himself out following illness and injury.  But loads others too including front runners Scotty, the Vonk and Lewis along with Macca, J-Fen, Mike L, Brendon, Streck, Birchy, the Cap'n, Craig, Binfield, Darren and, from the ladies, Erika, Elle and Renee.

Started off heading to the front and soon became aware there was a group of 3 of us after the first km - Scotty, the Vonk and myself.  The Vonk headed to the front in the 2nd km claiming it was for a photo opportunity.  Otherwise I would lead other than when we came to a hill where I sensed Scotty was testing us out.  Tried to keep the pace honest as I knew that was my best chance of breaking away before the young 'uns beat me in a sprint.

5km in 16:20 but sounds like the pace was fairly consistent and we were slowed by the wind.  Up the false flat in the 6th km and Scotty again applies the pressure.  Get to the car park for the final time and I sense the Vonk is dropping a bit so try to push the hill at 8km but it's into the wind and, in any case, Scotty has the same idea.  Again, push along the long straight knowing I have to give it one final shot only for Scotty to come past almost apologetically for not taking the wind.  Is he taking the piss?!  Pretty much consign myself to 2nd at that stage.

But, after 9km heading towards the stone arch for the final time I sense I've got a couple of yards so turn the hairpin and give it my all, also knowing the kids and Kirst are standing at the water stop 300m up the road.  Can't let him come past now so just concentrate on form and give it everything.

Cross the line and I'm buggered.  That really hurt.  Didn't feel bouncy at all today, was a slog the whole way.  Maybe due to a bigger workload this week or just on a down cycle post C2S.

Watch as Binfield comes through in 4th marking a successful return to form and Lewis just behind.  Need to have a word with Lewis, he should really be jostling with Scotty and myself given his training form.  Barts, the 35min pacer, leaves poor old J-Fen for dead in the final km so that J-Fen cross the line solo with Elvis legs in 35:01.  Seriously, I've only seen one pacer worse than him but she wasn't present this morning.

Easy warm down with the crew then over with dozens to Emporio, ground central for runners' brekkie.

Scotty dishing out some punishment:

The crew's warm down, sorry cool down:

Hardcore posse

Little bit of rain and Sydney runs for cover.  Seriously, this is the pussiest city on earth.

Just Enda, Renee and Hipster Chris (the irony!) joining in today.  Just a very easy 7km for me before the race tomorrow.

115km for the week, building up from 70 then 90 post C2S.

HuRTS 5 x 1km

Not quite the Tiger's session but not far off and when I don't run in the am and HuRTS is on offer, I can't turn it down.

Great crowd today with the promise of Timmy's cones, even if we were entertained by Reg Bartley's poorer cousin.  Barts (looking like Mike Teevee), Q, Jerome, Andy, Brendon, Timmy, the Whorswick, Erika (bravely surviving group 1), Elle, Renee, amongst loads more.  Felt a bit tired jogging over but after one rep the aches are largely forgotten.

Ran with Q for all 5 with Barts just behind.  Times went 3:04, 3:04, 3:01, 2:59 and 2:55.  In truth I felt the last couple a lot battling with Q.  But another solid set of speed done.

Long warm down with Q and Barts for 13km all up.

The warm down: