Striders 10km Homebush 3rd in 34:28

Didn't know what to expect this morning. It was a low turnout due to the long weekend and school holidays with only Robin Whiteley of the front runners. Set off quite quickly and shortly formed a group with Tucks and another chap who seemed to be a mate of Robin's. They were pushing along so I forced myself to stick to them to get dragged through. Went through 1km in 3:13, but 2km in 6:38 so knew it wasn't going to be quick. Really don't like this course - too many twists and turns to break the rythmn and it always picks up any humidity.

Just ran with Tucks until 5km (17:03) where other chap droped out. Then Tucks started to gap me. I was a good distance ahead of 4th so just tried to keep the pace honest for the rest of the race. Funny that beforehand Kanser said on this course you can take your time at 5km, double it and add 25seconds, which is basically what happened to me. Tucks did well to negative split and run 34:00, probably closing on Robin in the process.

Another good solid run in amongst a hard block of training but truth is I have to improve by a minute in a month to be where I want to be. Most of the HuRT squad struggled today, Kanser running a high 36, MC running a high 37, Timmy struggling with injury in the 39's. Dicky H was the exception improving by a minute from last month to finish 5th in 35:21, ahead of the Tiger.

Nice to win a cap and pair of shoes. About the only Striders race in the last 5 years that 34:28 would permit that.

Easy Friday

Very easy 12km run on the usual harbourside route but cutting short at Circular Quay. Ran with Scottish chap from BT and Laura, with King James and a few others also around. Ray joined in later. 54 mins.

400s

Busy today so arranged to meet up with Kanser early doors for some 400s around Rushcutters Oval. Beautiful day, about 19C but crystal clear with a slight breeze. We ran full loops of the Oval (448m) rather than trying to work out where 400m was, did a 1 minute jog between each one and started the next loop whereever we were at the end of the minute.

Reps went as follows:

81, 82, 81, 81, 82, 81, 80, 80, 80, 79.

So between 70-73s for 400m. Didn't kill myself doing them so I think there's more to come. Listened to Dave Sweeney's advice and tried to relax while runing them.

Really nice session. Warm up and down for 10km all up.

Easy Wed

Slightly longer this week just running the Monday route by myself. Bumped into Dicky H, Sam and Andy along the way. 33:45 at the turn and 66:45 all up for the 15.8km.

HuRTS 14 x 3mins

26C today and sunny, conditions we haven't had in months. As a result, I started this toughest of sessions pretty conservatively so as not to kill myself later on. The last time I did this session was when I had a cold post City2Surf which put me out of action for 3-4 weeks. Ran with Tucks, JF and Dicky H. Smallish crowd behind us including MC (getting pretty fit), Kanser, Timmy L, LF Charlie, RMR and others.

We averaged about 3:22's (900m). Picked up on reps 11 and 12 (after Tucks and Dicky H pulled out) but had to run the last 2 by myself which went back to 3:22's. Not too shattered at the end so OK with that.

Great views around Farm Cove today. Gotta love this Summer weather. Timmy was walking with a limp at the end of the session but I don't think it had anything to do with his stress fracture.

Easy Monday

Very easy Monday route with MC, Brendan, Kanser, Timmy C, LF Charlie, Warrior Luke and others. Picked the pace up with Brendan from the Opera House home. 15.8km in 1:10:08.

Blue Mountains

Saturday was another 10km tempo. Ran from the rental house to Evans Lookout and back. Felt great on the way out. Realised why on the way back where hill upon hill appeared. Gmapped at 10.4km. 39:17 (but 18:54 at half way). Stopped at Evans Lookout just at sunset and it was magic.

Theme of hills continued today when I was out at 6am for a 2 hour run. Ran from the house straight down into Megalong Valley, turned around after 59mins then ran home. Megalong Valley is 400m closer to sea level than Blackheath, and the final 6km was straight uphill with no respite. So it took a bit longer to get back. All up 26.4km in 2:03:20.

Megalong Valley is a beautiful spot so went back afterwards for a walk along Six Foot Track, hence the picture...

Easyish Friday

Just a jog to work. Beautiful warm morning which made it a pleasure. Not such a pleasure for the residents of Balgowlah, Mosman, Neutral Bay and Kirribilli who had to face my pasty white skin for the first time in months. Highlight of the run was almost stepping on a 1.5ft long Eastern Water Dragon in Clontarf.

Tired today. 106km for the week has caught up with me. 27:10 at Spit Junction and 57:38 all up.

Not quite 400s

Took a 5km detour to jog over to Rushcutters, found the Oval closed so marked out what I thought was roughly a 400m track around the fields next door. I think it was closer to 315m-320m, but after the first rep I wasn't going to change it so decided to run 13 of them instead of 10 to keep the overall distance about the same. Reps went:

56, 57, 57, 57, 56, 56, 56, 56, 56, 56, 56, 56, 55

Strict 45s rest between each one.

Good to keep them consistent but wasn't lactic or dizzy at the end as I would be if I was pushing myself against others.

Jogged back the long way for about 13km all up.

Easy Wednesday

Tried and failed to get out at lunch so ran home. Was going to extend it to 19km but was feeling tired so decided not to push it on the first proper week back. 30:10 at Toyota Garage, 48:48 with 2km to go but then caught Lucy Chapman so jogged back with her chatting all the way. 57:56 in the end. Didn't realise she lives in the street next to ours. Will try and catch up with her and Dickyboy for some Saturday sessions.

HuRTS 45mins Fartlek

It did HuRT today. Beautiful Spring day but a small crowd due to the running festival over the weekend. Young Timmy rocked up but is becoming Kanser-like in his injury woes. MC was there with Todd, JF, Marty, King James, LF Charlie, Pete W and others but only Tucks and the Judge seemed to be taking it seriously. I tried to hang on to them but they had gapped me by Mrs Macquarie's Chair. From then on I was on my own. Turned half way down Hickson Road (between the 2nd and 3rd speed bumps) so a fair effort but struggled to get back. Tucks roared past around Circular Quay as I limped back home, only managing to reach the Art Gallery on 45mins. But to put it in context, Tucks went through 10km in 34:00 and I guess I was about a minute behind. Another session in the bag and it's been a while so I just need to harden the legs up.

Easy Monday

Just the full Monday route with Wildman (grrr) and Kanser for part of the way. 15.8km in 69:48. Nice and easy.

Long Manly Route

Hadn't done this in a while and knew I'd run too quick if I did the old flat 10km loops so planned to do this very easy. Felt great to start with and was slowing myself down. 43:27 at 10km, 1:12:05 at the stone arch and still feeling great. Only started to run out of energy coming along the Manly to Spit section (unrecognizable now they've improved the path). Finished in 2:01:12 - one of my quickest times for this route. Hopefully means I'm finally over the bloody bug.

Frustrated not to be out there racing today. Some mixed results. Sounds like Darren had a flyer, JB sounded disappointed with his 2:38 but Sydney probably isn't the course to run quick. CT ran 2:43 so I should have taken him up on the bet. JF won me $50 after toasting the Tiger. Robbie dropped out of the half at 14km.

.....just notice that Mike Race smashed through the 3hr mark with a 2:56 - fantastic result mate and well deserved.

Manly 10.2km

Haven't done this run in a while but fancied throwing in a couple of hills and only had a 45min window. Went off pretty quick and maintained the good steady pace. 15:05 at Queenscliff, 21:08 at Manly SLSC and 38:38 all up. Bumped into Dickyboy at Queenscliff. Like my Manly tempo runs.

Good luck to all running tomorrow. GO JOHNNY FENTON!! TAME THE TIGER!!!

HuRTS Hickson Road

Rocked up to a small crowd due to Sydney Marathon Festival this weekend. Just planned on rolling through the reps to see how I felt. Ray, Chris G, Todd, Marc, Darren and a new chap called Josh Rix were there. Turns out Josh is a pro-triathlete sponsored by the Giant team so was pretty handy. Reps went as follows:

4:00
3:45
3:46
3:41
3:41

Felt pretty comfortable and didn't smash myself but I'll be playing it cagey for a while.

Big race for Benny this weekend. Not least in that he's running on hallowed turf (the streets of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) but also that he'll be up against Mottram (Aussie 5000m record holder) and Collis Birmingham (Aussie 10,000m record holder) in the first race they've all been in together in a long time. If he can beat them both he'll pretty much establish himself as the current top distance runner in Australia. Apparently not tapering for it though. Dad, make sure you're there...

Run home

Busy at lunch so an easy run home. Was quite quick though due to the amount of rest I've had recently. 30:05 at Toyota Garage and 56:50 all up. Nice clear night. Spring has arrived. Praise the Lord.

Starting new program

Felt slightly dodgy all last week. Started to feel worse on Saturday, first nauseous then started throwing up in the evening. I reckon I've had a low level gastro bug since the week after C2S. Feeling better enough today to try a 6km easy jog. Ran past the boys doing their 4 x 10mins. Not concentrating on anything other than getting well and fit enough for JPMorgan/State 3km in 8 weeks time.

Sick note

I am Darren Anderton.

Decided to take the week off. Came down sick again after Sunday. Same thing again, flu-like symptoms. Shouldn't have raced on the weekend. Need to be careful as it's been almost 4 weeks now.

Middle Harbour Picnic STaR

Small crowd at the 6.20am group of JB, CT, PT, Flakey, Steve Hume and Jo Cowan. Nearly all are running Sydney Marathon so were only doing 25km as a taper so I stuck to that too. Lovely day for it (although still a bit blowy). Struggled on the hills though, not sure whether as a result of yesterday's race or the lingering effects of the virus. Pace was very easy. Feel pretty average now with aching shoulders and a slight headache. 2 hours exactly and 25.2kms.

Striders 10km North Head 10th in 34:25

Showed up to find the unofficial HuRT Squad 10km Championships forming. Massive crowd including JB, Andy, Tucks, Darren, Timmy, Kanser, MC, TB, JF, Rob, RMR, Dicky H, Richie P and Geoffrey. The Tiger and Bleasel were also there, setting up our bet nicely. Conditions were pretty shocking - strong blustery winds and raining. I wanted to take it easy at the start as I was worried about how the effects of the illness would play out so plan was just track Tucks as he never goes off quick.

Went to plan to start with - nice sedate start then we started picking our way through the field. First km was reached in 3:18 and was feeling fine. JB, CT, Uncle Dave, Thamal and a triathlete were in a front group having gone off very quick. I started to climb the hills and immediately knew it wasn't going to be my day - the legs just felt dead. Heard the masses gathering behind me. Then started to try to pull away along the long straight over the speed bumps but it was direcly into a strong wind and all I was doing was providing a wind shield for everyone else. As soon as we turned at the Hospital the crowd (including the Tiger, Andy, Bleasel and Darren) started to pull ahead. I was now running again with Tucks who also seemed to be struggling. Stayed this way until 5km (reached in 17:10). I was considering pulling out at this stage but knew I'd never live it down so just carried on. Then Tucks and I seemed to get into a rythmn and the Tiger started coming back towards us. Soon after we picked up Brendan Davies and then Bleasel and another chap. All was well with the world again. Then I started to think about trying to beat Tucks but at 9km he seemed to put a surge in which I just couldn't be bothered to bridge. However, a bloke behind started to catch and I wasn't going to allow him to beat me so sped up to hold him off. In doing so I started to catch Tucks. A bit annoyed that I didn't put more effort in but there you go.

So mixed feelings. Managed to salvage something from what was looking like a dire situation at 5km. Almost an even split (17:10, 17:15). Affected by the recent illness so hopefully things will be better in 2 weeks at Sydney Half. Timmy was far more affected by recent flu and struggled in 38:xx so $50 from him but Gary pulled a fast finish out the bag to overtake a tiring Bleasel in the final km to take $50 from me. In fact, Bleasel must think I have a set plan in these races as I've overtaken him with 2.5km to go in our last 3 outings at North Head.

JB was a bit disappointed to be beaten by CT but has huge km in his legs so will come good after a taper for Sydney Full. Andy had performance of the day to run 34:00 in bad conditions. In fact, Steve Jackson said that the course was 20 seconds long as they put the 3km turnaround marker 50 yards too far down the road. I blame Fats. He plainly didn't want anyone PB'ing. Other great performances were Gary's 34:49 and JF finishing just in front of him. Kanser was smiling like a Cheshire Cat to beat Timmy and run low 36.

Great to catch up with everyone before and afterwards. Didn't stress so much about this race this morning and it makes the whole event much more enjoyable.