Run home

Easy run home. Legs at a high cadence but barely breathing, one of those enjoyable runs where everything feels right. Strong Northerly facing me most of the way. 58:23.

120km for the week. Plan is to get 8 weeks in around this mileage without worrying too much about the quality sessions. Then to drop the mileage slightly and improve the quality. Trick will be to keep the niggles and sickness at bay.

Even more easy running

Woke up. Tried to move legs. Struggled. Swung legs out of bed like Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. Hobbled to bathroom. Resolved not to run hills today. Limped into work. Received text from Andy saying he had a meeting and couldn't make session anyway. Sent email to Tucks, Andy, Timmy and Dicky H pulling out of the session. Copped abuse from Timmy. Dicky H also wanted an easy one so met him with the rest of the HuRT Squad prior to their session. Jogged 12km in 57mins with Dicky H around and about, throwing abuse at Timmy while doing his Farm Cove reps. Caught site of Andy doing SECRET TRAINING ON HICKSON ROAD!! So his meeting was with Mr Pain, address Hickson Road! Outrageous behavious which won't be forgotten. Legs feel much better for the run.

Busy Wednesday

Jogged the 4km to Carl's this morning to do the plyometric session. I'll soon be able to do this (cheers Tucks for the link). Getting much better at the hops, bounds and leaps.

Then out for 19km with the boys at lunchtime. Legs felt very heavy from the morning and wasn't helped by the very high humidity. To be honest, I dragged myself around the 19km in 1:29:05. Dicky H, MC, King James, RMR, Marty, Christian and Todd were there. Followed it all up with a Tiger massage to put me back on the straight and narrow.

HuRTS 45mins Fartlek

Jeepers Creepers! One of the biggest HuRTS turnouts ever recorded today. Must be the New Years' resolutions because the weather wasn't crash hot. Well, it was very warm, but overcast and very humid. I was sweating like Mutha Bacon.

Set off in a big group with Tucks, Quentin, Ray, Andy, Rich H and JF. This whittled down to me, Tucks, Quentin and Ray (only running half) around the Opera House. Then I needed to pee, so did so, and tried to catch JF, Andy and Rich before the turn. Just caught Rich on the turn so ran back with him trying to drop him all the way but he's a tenacious bugger, only dropping back coming around Farm Cove. Tucks came by at the Opera House (he went through 10km in 35mins) and I tried to hold on to him but with no success. He was flying. And I was knackered. At least Quentin didn't come by.

Finished up in 45:12 despite more time to run back due to my stop on the way out. Legs are tired with the extra mileage and the humidity didn't help. Poor old Timmy though. He was as pale as a ghost and looked well spent. I think he believes that frolicking in the pool and posing on a bike will get him fit. But he learned his lesson today.

2km warm up and 3km warm down with Tucks and Andy for at least 17km all up.

Another easy recovery

..but I need it. Very easy Monday route (with a few variations due to open air cinemas and cruise ships) in 1:09:38 with Rich H, Marty, Andy, Kanser (yes, Kanser!), Simon, Rob, Eamo, Indrajeet, Luke etc. Probably about 15km. Humid today but legs felt much better by the end.

Very easy recovery

Just the 10.2km Manly route late this afternoon. Legs were very heavy after yesterday but happily no aches and pains. 44:59.

The Bush Run

Caught up with Dicky Green and his mate Ben this morning for what he described as a run to "Red Hill". Dicky's a bush specialist, winner of the Oxfam Trailwalker in Australia and the UK and sniffs out bush tracks like a pig after truffles. I didn't realise that you could do a 30km run from the front door of my house and run 25kms of that run in the bush. I found places and tracks this morning I was completely unaware of despite living in the Manly area for 8 years. It was great. Perfect training for Six Foot. Not a bad pace but necessarily slow because of all the off road stuff.

30km in 2:35.

Plyo and jogs

Plyo session with Carl so did a 25min jog beforehand from Spit Bridge to Spit Junction (taking in a few streets of happy Mosman) and back then repeated it after the plyo session. Will see how the legs hold up for the long run tomorrow morning (rather than Sunday) around Manly dam with Dicky Green.

11km all up.

Very easy recovery

Very easy jog around the Manly 10.2km route in the heat at lunchtime. Legs felt tired after last nights efforts so happy just to coast around. 44:35.

5000m Blacktown

Turned up with the sole aim of pacing Keith through 3000m in 9:15 to set him up for a crack at the 55+ world record of 15:36. That works out at 74s per lap so was aiming for 73's, realizing that if you look for 74's you'll end up with 74.5 etc, and pretty soon you're 3 seconds over.

Warmed up with Keith and Wayne Bulloch and the conditions were perfect - cool, light drizzle and no wind. The race was supposed to be a combined 3000m/5000m but because the record attempt was on they had to separate them. Luckily, we got to go first. Was pretty nervous at the start but set off and settled into the pace very quickly, feeling pretty comfortable through 1km in 3:05, spot on. Bit tougher for the second km but again bang on 6:10. Tougher again for the third where I was starting to suffer but went through in 9:16 making way for Keith. Keith went on to smash the record in 15:29, a great result.

I stopped at 3km, one of the officials asked if I was pulling out but I was worried I might disqualify Keith or something if I did so I told her I was just having a breather. She looked a bit bemused so I started jogging around the final 5 laps in lane 2. Soon started to feel ok again so picked up the pace and ended in 17:00 or maybe just under, so not a bad workout in the end.

Forgot to mention that I turned up just in time to see the Tiger run his 800m which he did looking very strong and finishing in a pb of 1:57.7. Well done mate. Glad I didn't have any money on that one.

10pm all up.

More of the same

Same as yesterday, but came the 14km route home as opposed to straight back after reaching the 10km mark. 2km in 8:39, 5km in 20:58, 10km in 40:49 (really pushed the Shelly Beach hill though - 2:19 for that) and 55:23 all up. Felt strong today.

Got a text from Sean this evening asking whether I'd pace Keith through 3km on his way to a 55+ World Record attempt over 5000m at Blacktown tomorrow night. He wants to get to 3km in 9:15. Thought it sounded like a bit of fun so agreed to do it. I'm now questioning my sanity! Haven't done any speedwork since the State 3000m in mid November. 9:15 will hurt. Still, nothing to lose so I'll give it a shot.

Easy 13km

Ran the Burnt Bridge Creek, Queenscliff, Shelly Beach route going through 2km in 8:45, 5km (where I saw Tony Wong hammering the young Striders) in 21:33 and 10km in 41:33 then came home the quickest way I could find. All up 54:07. Felt a bit tired until 5km then got a second wind, running against the wind down Manly beach. Aches and pains of yesterday gone.

Emerald Excursion STaR

30.5km in 2:21:20. Rocked up and only recognised Keith Bateman among the 6:20 starters but soon joined by Ray coming around Pyrmont. Pace gradually picked up all the way around (only Keith, myself and a Kiwi girl called Jo finishing together) but coped fine. Arch of my left foot sore though.

Farewell 2010

 
 
 
 

Wednesday's run I was feeling crap. Also had real problems with my wisdom teeth. On Thursday, I could only manage the Manly 7.5km route in 31:17 feeling really sorry for myself. Teeth got worse, saw a dentist and was put on antibiotics for an infection. Took New Year's Eve off feeling sorry for myself. Feeling better today so managed the flat 10km route but without a watch taking it very easy in the 30C heat and enjoying the run. Never seen Manly beach so busy.

2010 was an interesting year. First year of no PBs since I started running properly again in 2005. Having said that, I started with zero fitness in January and had to work from there without trying to get fit too quick and reinjuring myself. It was a year when I peaked for races and tried not to go all out in every one I ran. In general, it worked pretty well. Highlights for me were:

1. JPMorgan CC - highest placing I've achieved (3rd), not the fastest time but a real race for 3rd place and with 600m to go I was destined for 6th.

2. Gold Coast 10km - got back into the low 33's after struggling in the 34s and 35s up until that point which was a real boost to the confidence.

3. City to Surf - got into the top 50, second fastest time and not too far off the PB.

Other good runs were the Minimos (for a change) and the Run for Fun. All my Striders runs were pretty average. Most disappointing run was the State 3000m, having done a load of speedwork. Wasn't feeling right on the day and sure I'll go quicker next year.

Aims for the near term are Six Foot Track and JPMorgan in April....

Slow hour

After filling my belly with Colombian food and Coke, the last thing I wanted to do was go for a run. But that was the only time available, so I trudged off with a stitch feeling lethargic and generally crap. 2km in 9:04, 5km in 22:28, 10km in 44:40 and 59:38 all up. At least I got out there. Bumped into Ryan Cantwell on Condamine.

Steady hour

Not quite. Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation, Shelly Beach,Osbourne Road route but cutting short up Fairlight Street to end. 2km in 8:37, 5km in 20:50, 10kmin 40:45 and 54:52 all up. Felt good today.

Christmas 2010

 

Carl session

Jogged to Carl's via Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation (21:42), did a non-plyo session with Carl (notable minor achievement being my first ever full squat on a Dura Disk without touching the ground) then jogged back home the same way (21:53). Pretty tired after yesterday.

Six Foot training week 1

Inspired into action after talking to Jamie last night, I set off on my first long run in 2 months at lunchtime. Decided on 1:45 going up all the Northern Beaches (so turning after 52.5 minutes). The Long Reef lagoon had broken through to the ocean so even got to practice the Cox's River crossing wading up above my waist. Felt very average for the first 20 minutes then started to feel good. Kept going until the Fire Station at Narrabeen which I reached in 55:16. When I did this run early last year I would be stuffed by Dee Why coming back so it was good to know I've got a bit more base as I still felt good. Having said that, the Griffin St hill is a bugger.

Got back in 1:48:39 so 53:23 for the second half.

Merry Christmas

7.5km Manly route done this Argo on a fabulous day. Lovely views along Manly beach, Young Timmy would have appreciated this run. Felt pretty tired to begin with but soon picked up and was moving well along the beachfront. Made a bit of effort over the final 2km to try and get home in under 29mins but just missed with a 29:04.

Merry Christmas everyone.