Long Monday

Missed yesterday as I slept in for the only available morning slot so did 20km today - out to Darling Point and back (missing Garden Island) and then around Balls Head. Ran with Robbo and then Kanser for the Balls Head loop. Nice and easy all the way but still tired by the end. 1:39:10 all up so may be a bit over 20km as it didn't feel as slow as 5 min per km pace.

Followed by an easy tiger massage - pretty painful on the left achilles.

Striders 10km Lane Cove

2nd in 33:16.

Splits went as follows:

1km: 3:15
2km: 6:33
3km: 9:57
4km: missed
5km: 16:57
6km: 20:22
7km: 23:39
8km: 26:53
9km: too busy worrying about Tucks and Uncle Dave
10km: 33:16

Really pleased with the race. Cool conditions with no wind and gentle rain - ideal running weather. Set off with Glenn (and EJ) before he eased away after the first km. Then ran with Tucks up to Scribbly, making a small gap at the bottom which he would close as soon as we hit any sort of hill. We had about a 20 yard lead on Uncle Dave at the top of Scribbly but by the 5km turnaround Unc had clawed it back. He then went flying past coming down the hill so I just tried to latch onto him to prevent him building a gap. Basically, Dave was responsible for ensuring the second half was so quick. Tucks, Dave and I swapped the lead until the hill just before 8km where I knew I'd either be dropped or would be able to push on strongly towards the end. I was determined it wasn't going to be another sprint finish. I was feeling pretty average at around 7km but suddenly felt better at the 8km hill so pushed on. Built up a small gap over Tucks and Dave then so basically just tried to pile on the pressure over the last 2km. Could see that Glenn was slowing in front so that was something to aim for at the same time.

TJA - sorry to hear about the injury problems. It's been a great battle all season so hope to see you back out again soon. You were spot on for the prediction for the second 5km (16:19) but couldnt manage the first 5km.

Now for State 3km on Friday, JPMorgan the following Wednesday then an end of season rest.

Easy run

Very easy 14km run around Balls Head with Kanser, Springer and Ray. Humid and a bit damp. 64:33.

Looking forward to the race tomorrow (and a good night's sleep in the basement tonight). Only one aim, to beat TJA and take out the 2007 10km series...

Mona Fartlek

Mona Fartlek with Anthony, Ray, Richard H, Enda, Durante, Phil W and a few of the ING guys. Lower turnout than usual but those who did seem to be getting better each week. Ran it all with Anthony. Richard H was with us until near the Art Gallery when nature called. Reached 3 yards past the final lamp-post before the Stone Pillars (about 10 yards short of them). Wasn't pushing as hard on the way out as last time but still felt pretty tired in the legs. Was hanging onto Anthony all the way back and we were quick as a result. Reached the turn at the end of the Opera House - further than before.

About 10km all up.

Steady run

10km route run anti-clockwise. Was apprehensive about this one as I was knackered yesterday afternoon and evening after the 400s session. Set off today feeling a bit sore in the thighs and hammies but had shaken off any tiredness and was feeling pretty good. Ran a good steady pace the whole way finishing in 41:25. 6:05 for the Manly mile. Much cooler today and a following wind along the beachfront made things easier.

Alternative Pain

3 x 4 x 400m at Rushcutters Oval. Met up with Durante, Tucks, Anthony, Luke, Phil Dove, Chris G and jogged down to Rushcutters in the heat - about 25C today so not as oppressive as yesterday.

Same session as last time - heading off every two minutes (so about 50 seconds rest) but with 3 mins between each set. Times went:

67, 68, 67, 68 - 68, 68, 68, 68 - 68, 68, 68, 67.

Pleased with the consistency and improvement from last time out but everyone seems to be improving at a greater rate! Ran the first set at the front mostly with Tucks. Phil and Anthony appeared at the front more often in the second set but trailed the last set (mainly the last two) behind Durante, Anthony Phil and Tucks.

Crawled home behind everyone else absolutely knackered. Felt quite comfortable when running the 400s though. About 11km all up.

Medium Long Run

Planned to do a long one today after missing yesterday but only had 80 minutes by the time I got out a lunchtime. Started running about 4:20 kms in the 32C heat and rapidly wilted. Cut short plans to run 80 minutes and crawled home after 73 minutes feeling absolutely knackered. Haven't felt so poor on a run in ages. Probably managed about 16km.

Recovery run

10km route (now G-Mapped at 10.2km) anti-clockwise. 44:57. Felt very sore and tired to begin with - put down to the cumulative lack of sleep and a tough couple of training days. Better by Queenscliff.

Long Fartlek

13km (route attached) Fartlek - 2 mins slow and 2 mins fast. 51:43 all up so averaged 3:52 per km. Fast sections must have been well under 3:30 per km. Tough run. Right knee and achilles sore at the end. No wind but quite warm and humid.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1413865

Campbell Road Intervals

Saw the usual email from the Thursday lunchtime squad today and felt guilty about missing Hickson Road so decided to punish myself with some solo intervals instead. Ran 10 x 660m around Campbell Parade off 1 minute. Straight off the bat with no gap between any sets. They went:

2:02; 2:03; 2:03; 2:04; 2:03; 2:00; 2:01; 2:01; 1:59; 1:54

Really pleased with how they went. I think the first few were slower because it's mentally tough running 10 with no gap. Was expecting to slow down after a bad night with Maggie last night - only 5 hours of sleep interrupted twice.

2km there and back for 11km all up.

Not another easy 10km

Same route, but back to running clockwise again. Cool again, but with a headwind for most of the way. Exactly the same time as yesterday (42:07) but 57 seconds slower over the first section to Manly SLSC so proof if ever that I'm accelerating during the course of each of these runs. Have to admit to putting a bit of effort in over the final 2km though. Not sure why I'm over analysing these runs, guess I've got nothing else to concentrate on.

Yet another easy 10km

Same route as yesterday. Felt great today though - finally feel as though I've recovered from the tough training of the past few weeks and looking forward to getting back into it again. 42:07 today. Speeded up the whole way around. 6:15 for the mile along Manly Beach. Most interesting part of the run was overtaking a bloke walking along Pittwater Road. As I did, he spun around with his fists raised as if he was about to clock me. It was pretty impressive although his left fist was a bit low. I took it as a good sign as I obviously wasn't breathing too heavily before I overtook him.

Thanks to everyone for the messages. Maggie is doing well - lost less than 10% of bodyweight in the first 4 days and now feeding pretty well.

Another easy 10km

Yesterday's run in reverse. Not as easy as yesterday though, quicker at 43:09 (confirming the theory that if you run a new course on 2 consecutive days you'll always run quicker the second day) and much hotter at 30C. Legs felt sluggish as a result.

Easy 10km

Struggling with sleep at the moment so just planning to take it easy this week. Will try and do a bit of a Paul Arthur taper for the final Striders 10km, State 3km and JPMorgan trifecta - easy in the penultimate week then a normal week's training leading up to the race(s).

Today was 10km via Campbell Parade, Queenslciff, Manly Beach, around to Shelly but cutting short back to the wharf and then the reverse of the 7.5km route. 44:40. Bumped into Richard H opposite the Corso and tentatively planned an interval session locally on Thursday.

Maggie Rose Highnam

Was born today at 3.30pm, weighing in at 2.8kg and 49.5cm long. As you can see, Kirst and I are chuffed to bits. Bec and Billy show signs of excitement for about 5 minutes before something distracts them, but Charlie doesn't know what's about to hit him.

No time for a run today...

Long run to Work

19km run to work via Queenscliff and Manly with the usual 4 marathon pace stretches. 82:09. Was running quite easily but could feel the effects of last night's run in my legs. My start timing the quick stetches as I have no idea week to week whether I'm running the slow recoveries quicker or the quick stretches quicker. I guess the former as I felt pretty comfortable on each of the quick stretches.

Another lovely morning - cool and clear, bit of a breeze but nothing to complain about.

Run Home

Few too many champagnes last night for a long run in this morning then needed to get home quick this evening so ran the 14km straight home at quite a decent pace adding the three marathon pace stretches on top. 28:10 at Toyota Garage and 54:26 all up. Cool and clear evening - great for running. Felt good.

400s

Rather than Pain suggested a 400's session down at Rushcutters Bay. Good turnout with Tucks, Anthony, Durante, Richard H, Tim C, Chris G, Ray, Christian, Bill and Luke. Bloody hot today (about 29C) so was feeling lethargic and lacking in enthusiasm before we started.

However, once we did get going it went really well. Ran 3 x 4 x 400m - pretty accurately marked out as we measured it on two Garmin's before we started. 50 seconds rest between each rep and 2:50 between each set. Times went:

69, 70, 71, 70, 69, 69, 69, 69, 69, 69, 69, 69.

I should be a pacemaker.

Ran in front for the first two sets and then Anthony pushed ahead in the last 3 and Tucks and Durante pushed the final one.

Please to have done it. Felt pretty comfortable running them (no lactic) but was absolutely spent on the jog back to the office. Not sure whether that was due to the heat (but nobody else seemed to be struggling as I was). Quite a bit of wind on the final bend but it was undoubtedly helping us to start with.

Recovery Run

14km around Balls Head with Serg, Tucks, Durante and Ray. Pretty warm today (26C) but nice gentle run. Feeling the effects of yesterday's run as the legs were pretty tired. 64:30.

Striders Internal Half Marathon

Great event. It's more like a hard time trial than a race. My handicap assumed a time of 76 minutes which I just managed to sneak inside with a 75:50. Not bad given you run by yourself and it's a hilly course (2 laps of the Striders Lane Cove 10km route but going further up the hill at Scribbly Gums). Tucks was the only person behind, starting on 73 minutes. Spent the whole race on the switchback sections working out by how much he was catching me - turned out he was catching quite significantly - running a quick 73:36.

I was in no-mans land most of the way as the people directly in front were Richard H and Tim C on 79 minutes. My 5km splits went 18:02, 36:12, 54:32 and 72:18. Pushed the last 5km as by then I was starting to catch people and the spirits were lifted. Caught Richard H at 20km and realised I need 3:40 over the last 1.1km to beat our handicaps so I told him we had to start working and ran a quick last 1.1km as a result. Tim C had a great run and was probably second fastest behind Tucks.

Beautiful day - sunny, no wind and cool (in Lane Cove NP certainly - bit warmer down on the beach afterwards).

Where was Ray? Where was Uncle Dave after negotiating a better handicap?