Wednesday mixed bag

Knackered when the alarm woke me at 5.30am but dragged my ass to Carl's for the strength session. Quite a bit of upper body work, lots of core and a sustained spell on the hammies.

Then slogged over the bridges to work, bumping into the Gibson twins on the Harbour Bridge and telling them about HuRTS.

Now sat in Dolce eating a 3 egg omelette with extra sausage, orange juice and a flat white. Just what the doctor (at least the exercise physiologist) ordered after 2 hours of exercise. Beautiful morning.

HuRTS 4 x 10mins

Fair crowd today given the time of year. Felt knackered early on in the heat and humidity and ran with Dicky H and Kanser for the first rep letting Barts scuttle off ahead. Reached a little beyond the Art Gallery. 9:38 on return. Better on 3rd leg getting closer to Barts (with Smolly killing it) reaching level with the bubbler and then better still in 4th back in 9:20.

We were all cooked at this stage so did what HuRTS does best in summer with about 15 of us jumping in the harbour. 'Twas bliss. Then headed back to the office for Partners Xmas lunch of turkey, ham, prawns, all the trimmings, 2 trifles and a glass of Pinot. More bliss.

Monday meander

16km Monday route with a group that started with about 8, swelled to about 15 and then diminished such that just JW and I finished. Felt good today. The foam roller does wonders. About 4:20 pace average.

Sunday solo

No-one to run with this morning so headed out early for 2 hours solo. As ever running solo I obsessed with the watch too much and ended up running too quick and feeling pretty tired by the end. Having said that, I would have coped with this pace over this distance easy pre-Gold Coast so makes you realise how much fitness you gain while marathon training. Pretty warm this morning mind and appreciated the jump in the pool after, even with the kids clambering all over me.

Just extended loops around Manly keeping it flat. Saw Pete W as usual and Bart looking as though he was moving. All up 27.24km in 1:55:14 (4:14's).

Elder brother Alec was over this weekend with his family and we managed a rare group shot.

2012 in Review

Sunday was 25km on the beautiful trails of Glenworth Valley at Peat's Ridge Festival. Bumped into Russell at the Festival and tentatively arranged to meet him but he was a no-show. 2 hours so very slow but it was hot and all trails and I'd been partying it up.

Monday was 11.4km on similar trails in 52mins.

Today was the usual 14km Manly route in 62:01 - 31:00 on the way out and 31:01 on the way back. Boringly consistent.

Not sure what to make of 2012. Only one PB - being that in the marathon at Gold Coast but a few other "close-to" PB's. The biggest disappointment was not running a good 10km time - the distance I judge form on most. I was in good form in May but got sick just before the State 10km when I reckon I may have PB'ed. Top 3 races were:

1. Novice Cross Country. 3rd in a tough, close race. Ran a PB and beat some good names.

2. JPMorgan CC. Came back from hammie problems and ran my second fastest time to finish 4th. Tucks was too strong but had a great run himself.

3. SMH Half marathon. Fell apart towards the end but close to the PB on a tough course. And I reckon my PB was set on a short course in any case.

Didn't put GC Marathon in the top 3 as I missed my aim (albeit only by 1 second) but it was fairly conservative in any case. I've yet to attack a marathon, still being too scared of the distance. Having said that, I was probably fittest at that point in the year, having done some great long runs with Macca in the lead up. We'll be replicating that this year but I also want to gradually increase the base mileage. Out with him tomorrow morning for 20km with some fas bits.

Sat hilly

Planned to get out with Dicky and the gang at 6am but Kirst rolling in drunk at 3am and proceeding to play loud music with her girlfriends until 4am put paid to that.

Got out at 7am for the Seaforth/Spit to Manly hilly 13km route. Pushed the hills and got the heart rate going. 57:30. Will be doing this route more regularly.

HuRT Squad Awards

Just an easy 12km with Kanser today running off the hangover. The first 2km were brutal but then started to feel like a normal person again.

Last night was a bit of a blur for me. Had my department Xmas lunch down at Wharf 2 so was drinking from 12.30pm. It's fair to say I didn't cover myself in glory. See Timmy's blog for details.

Anyway, full results were as follows:

Triathlon award:

Nominees included Sonya, John Binfield, Brendan Krone, Timmy and Clyde.

3rd place: Enda
2nd place: Fast Charlie
Winner: Pete Walker

Ultra runner of the Year

Nominees included Andy and Terrence.

3rd place: Fats
2nd place: Jonathan Worswick
Winner: Tucks

The HuRTS Spirit Award

Nominees included Timmy, Richie H, Mike Race, Bill Batt, Macca, Anna, J-Fen, Andy, Kanser and Enda.

3rd place: Ray
2nd pace: Me
Winner: MC

The Serg Award (Underachiever of the Year)

Nominees included Clyde, Kanser and Richie H.

3rd place: Mike
2nd place: Timmy
Winner: Fast Charlie

Most Improved

Nominees included Michael Ho, Macca, Angus, Emma, J-Fen, Anna, Andy and Fats.

3rd place: Rob C
2nd place: Mike Race
Winner: Indrajeet Aich

Female Performance of the Year

3rd place: Emma
2nd place: Anna
Winner: Laura

Male Performance of the Year

Nominees included Mike Race, me, Terrence and MC(!)

3rd place: Tucks
2nd place: Ray
Winner: Fats

Wednesday strength

Jogged to Carl's did a strength session with him then ran 11km at 4:40 pace to pick the car up from its service.

Will be seeing Carl weekly in a ploy to remain injury free.

Big Awards night tomorrow. Timmy has the odds but don't believe a jot of it.

HuRTS tempo

45mins. Felt refreshed, I think from running am yesterday instead of the usual pm. So set off quicker than recently with Barts and a fit looking triathlete who turned out to be Andy Cross, a chap I've had many close battles with (but, for once, usually come out on the winning side). He ran 17:57 recently at JPMorgan.

Felt comfy in the way out, Andy pushed the pace on the way back before stopping half way around Farm Cove. This left me and Barts to finish it off up the hills and I pushed myself too hard getting back in 44:50 for 12.9km (3:29's). Have felt average since. Silly as I promised myself recently not to do this.

Different Monday

Had to run to Oxford Falls early doors to pick up the car that Kirst had left at yesterday's BBQ after drinking too much wine, great lush that she is. Went up the beaches to Dee Why then through Cromer and up the brutal Beacon Hill.

Had a following wind most of the way so felt good. 13.7km in 61mins (4:29's). Was quicker until the hills started.

Sunday Morning

25km with Macca around and about in 1:52ish (4:30's). Canny warm like.

Holding it together

Yesterday was 15km easy with MC, Irish JB, Paul B and bumping into Hamburglar at the end.

Office Christmas Party in the evening. Very good night. Even danced (to Living on a Prayer). Got home at 3am then alarm went off at 5.30am and dragged my wretched body to Passmore Reserve where I watched and pitifully part participated in Bart and Frik's sub40 10km time trial. Fantastic result by them both running 39:40'ish. If Bart did more HuRTS he'd be up for Improver of the Year in Thursday's awards night - a bloke who claimed he couldn't run a km in under 5minutes 18 months ago is now smashing out sub4's and looking cruisy while doing so.

95kms last week. 91kms the week before.

HuRTS Pyramid

Small crowd on a beautiful day. MC, James E, Ben O'B, Enda, Kanser, the returning young Timmy, Rob C, Luke and girls Laura and Caroline was about it.

Ran from the front but to be honest felt pretty average with the legs just dead. MC and Enda ran very well and were just behind on each rep. But it was a beautiful day and a pleasure just to be out there.

Did 4.5km with Billy (Charlie and Mags on their bikes) this morning and at this stage of the season I'll count those extra kms so 16km all up.

Run home

Busy again at lunch so just a run home. Planned to take it very easy but felt pretty bouncy and ran a respectable 56:38.

Been checking out Billy's blog and have come to the realisation that Wordpress is much better than Blogger. Bit late now.

Hard run to work

Have a lunch on today so needed to replicate the session. Only option was to run hard into work. Which I hate, because it's so bloody hilly and hard. Satisfying afterwards mind.

Sunday I nearly stood on a snake. Today I nearly stood on an Eastern Water Dragon. Was just about to come over Spit Bridge when this big boy jumps out of the bushes almost under my feet. For the next 5m I ran, splay legged, trying to avoid him as he ran in front of me. In fact, it probably looked as though I was mimicking his running style.

Anyway, the run hurt like hell. But ended up with 50:21 so a pretty good time. Would have been nice to get under 50.

Sore Sunday

Pulled out of the Manly Dam 10km as I was being a pussy and was worried about turning an ankle trying to run that course fast. Ended up heading over to Willoughby after persuading Barts to run his local Striders long run. Well, it was 30km of bush and hills and my legs were shot by the end. In fact, got home and, not having eaten enough, completely zonked out on the sofa. 1:24 or so. Started with Flake, John Bowe, Mark F, Snaitch and Barts but by the end it was just Bart's and I with John a few minutes behind.

highlight of the run was running along a road in Castlecragwhen Bart's casually says "snake" while pointing to the ground. I'm wondering quizzically what he's on about before I notice I'm about to step on one, dodging it at the last moment.

Chores for rest of the day and now I'm the worlds tiredest man. But did manage to watch "City of God" tonight which I reckon rates 5 popcorns on the Timmy chart.

King of the Trails

Just an easy 14km in 100% humidity and 30C+ this morning. 62 mins. Much more pleasant along Manly beach though.

Massive congrats to Fats who came 2nd in the Kepler Challenge this morning and broke 5 hours for the first time. Tucks also did well on his first outing over there finishing 5th in 5:15. Had a text from Tucks this morning saying little more than "Fats is a beast!". I should challenge them both to a 1500m prior to HuRT Squad Awards night - hopefully they'll be a little buggered for a while.

HuRTS 900m reps

Over to Rushcutters on yet another hot day for 8 x 900m reps off a rolling 5 mins. Wasn't in the mood to kill myself and knew we'd all die in the heat so took it conservatively. Barts would do the first lap and I'd take over pace, swapping duties on the second lap and then we would reverse the responsibility on the next rep. That way we rolled through them OK.

Rep times went:

2:53, 2:53, 2:53, 2:51, 2:51, 2:51. 2:49, 2:39

Jogged back for 12km all up. MC ran very well averaging 2:55's being very close on many of the reps as did James E.

I'm in for Six Foot Track. Sole aim is to beat TB's PB.

Struggle city

Ran to work in 58:24. Felt very average the whole way. Far too humid or is this just an excuse? It's forecast to be 41C on Saturday. That's a valid excuse.

HuRTS 2 x 20mins

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Took me back 25 years to lunchtimes in the schoolyard today. MC and Rob were the school bullies and a chap cheating in his exams was the victim. In true lawyerly fashion I hid in the background and pretended to talk about the session.

The session was a toughie. MC called CQ too busy so we had to touch the Opera House gates and come back up the hills on each 20min rep. J-Fen flew off followed by Angus Mc and Barts while I followed next with Fats who drifted away from me slightly coming back around Farm Cove. Caught Barts near the end and finished the 20mins at 5.62km (3:33's). It was hot and humid, I was caked with sweat so tried to hold back a bit, knowing the second rep would be hard to maintain. Ran the second rep upfront with Barts and only pulled ahead slightly on the final hills finishing at 5.58km (3:35's).

Then the fighting began.

BTW, Billy now has a blog to record his training - BillytheBomb