Mater movements

10km from the Mater.  Some great trails through Artarmon Reserve which you don't expect in the middle of a city.  Hilly and tired.  45mins.

Tradey Tuesday

After a day of manual labour around the house I knocked out the 15km Allambie Hill/Seaforth Oval route in the early evening in 68:22 (4:33's) feeling very sore.

Loving the short track speed skating at the Olympics.  It's got to be the best spectator sport.

Long run with friends!

Finally some company after weeks of long runs solo.  Met Andy and Macca at home, caught up with Jamie then met Tiger and Amy at Dee Why.  Up around Narrabeen Lake and back.  36.3km all up in 2:46:34 (4:34's).  We started off very slowly (I still had a hangover from too many red wines) at 6am but Tiger and Jamie were throwing a few quick ones in there on the way back through Cromer.

Very tired now.  I'm still struggling to back up for the long run after pushing the Parkrun the day before.

Curl Curl Parkrun - 1st in 16:28

So this morning we had the Truscotts, Jamie, Macca, Justin, Charlie, Pete W, Big Mikey H and 188 other people for the increasingly popular Curl Curl Parkrun.  Lovely morning with little wind and lots of PBs out there.  Went off quite quick feeling confident and trying to drop CT who's only recently returned from foot surgery (albeit on a 2014 running streak).  Well, the tenacious bugger just wouldn't let go.  I started to lose it a bit at 3km and he took the lead only for me to have another pop going up the hill on Harbord Rd.  On the bridge with 600m to go and he's still on my shoulder.  Keep on increasing the pace and gradually get a slight gap so that there's no mad sprint thank God.

Pleased with the time off biggest week in 4 months (and first mid-week session in same period).  Impressed by CTs time off little training.  Macca went well for another PB in 17:30. ML Charlie also avoided getting chicked by Greta off seemingly little training.  He could go well if he applied himself.

Jog there and back the long way for circa 16km.

Just before 3km.  CT in 2nd, with Big Mikey H and Jamie in the background.

Plod

Very easy jog to Shelley, bumping into Ben and Big Sam swilling beer from brown paper bags along Manly beach.  Felt very virtuous.

10.5km in 49mins (4:36's) which brings up 100km for the week.  Being anal like most runners, there was a reason for running 10.5km.  First 100km week since October.

Tempo Time

Was planning a 2km TT with Barts but he pussied out so I did a 16.5km tempo instead (because it's really similar) - usual route to Shelley Beach and back with an extra loop of the Golf Course.

Bit of wind going down the beach which made me tired at the 9km mark and quite warm (25C) but otherwise felt great.  Finished in 59:44 (3:36's).  Very happy with that - about 10s per km faster than I was expecting.  In better shape than I had thought.

Stats

More easy stuff

Been reading about marathon training and sounds like everything I'm doing at the moment is contrary to an effective marathon training plan.  But, in 2 weeks time I'll be back to HuRTS sessions so might as well enjoy the easy training for a bit longer.

Today was 12km easy in 4:27's with Charlie on his bike.  Charlie provided a constant stream of conversation which avoided any dull moments.

Another pain free run.  This nightly liaison with the foam roller seems to be working a treat. Struggling this evening with big pudding cravings.

Finally, thank God Joe Kinnear is gone.  Now just for Mike Ashley.

Long run in the heat

Only chance to get out today was at 1pm in 30C heat.  Did 34km around Narrabeen with a loop of the Golf Course at the end.  2:29:31 (4:23's).  Bumped into Macca early on so did a few km with him.  Last few km were a struggle in the heat running from bubbler to bubbler but at least the pace didn't slow.  Maybe this sugar free diet is working.

No discipline

Drinking wine until 2am last night so just 12km easy in 4:23's today.  Will do the long run tomorrow.

Ran in my new Wave Rider 17's.  Felt good, but will reserve judgment until tomorrow to see how the various niggles are.

Striders 10km Homebush - 5th in 34:57

Went out like it was a 5km, came home like it was a marathon.  

Felt magic in the first km running with the leaders (Dave Criniti, Neil P and Robin W) but then they suddenly drifted in front and I was running solo.  Aware that someone wasn't too far behind and at the bridge switchback saw that Fats and Quentin were right behind.  They came past at 5km reached in 17:00 and I was ready to step off the course.  It was warm and very humid as ever and I knew the second lap would be a struggle.  Fats and Q pulled ahead but then at 7km they both slowed and I was back on board.  Pushed on with Q who pulled ahead for his customary 7s cushion and I was happy it was all over.

Fairly satisfied given it's off 80km per week and no HuRTS sessions in 3 months.  But need to start some proper work soon.

Nice run by Neil P to win in 33:19 and Macca will be satisfied with 36:50 but not too many other happy faces out there this morning.

Not worth mentioning

7.5km very easy in 4:45's.

Got a bet with Enda for tomorrow morning's 10km at Homebush.  I'm giving him a 30s headstart for $20.  Hope he's not in PB form.

More easy as

14km easy and untimed with 5 efforts towards the end.  Felt great today.  No pain in knee for first time in months after plenty of foam roller work recently.

Early doors

10km easy in 44:10 early doors while kids at squads.  Few strides towards end but tired after last night's efforts.  Bumped into LFCharlie on the beach emerging from the waves Ursulla Andress style.

Cop out hills

Planned on something harder like a 5km tempo within a 14km run but persuaded myself out of it so just did the Allambie Hill/Seaforth Oval route but pushed hard on the 4.5km Allambie Hill.

Just over 15km in 65:54 (4:20's) but a good pace up the hill.  Stats.

Bogan fringe

32km around Narrabeen solo.  2:17 something (4:17's) so a solid hit out. Said hello to the super-smooth Angus McGillavray in Cromer but other than dodging the Narrabeen trailer park locals setting up shop early doors for Australia Day, that was about it.  

Back home

Yesterday was a bloody hilly 19km on the roads from Crackenback (or "Crack 'n Sac" as the kids call it) to Jindabyne.  4:33's.

Today was a very easy 7km around home in the late afternoon after unpacking.  Felt pretty good.  4:27's.

Holiday catch-up

Monday was 5km very easy picking up the car.

Tuesday was a rest travelling to Canberra.

Wednesday was 10km on trails around Lake Crackenback resort.  Runners heaven here.  

Today we climbed Kosciusko (about 14km round trip) with me carrying Claudia on my shoulders 90% of the way.  Too knackered to run when I got back.  Sensational views though on a crystal clear day - some of the best I've ever seen.

Getting longer

30.4km in 2:17 something (4:31's) with Quentin around and about Manly including up to North Head.  Hot as we ran at 10am and legs were very tired after yesterday.  

Must remind myself when deep in marathon training that there's no such thing as an easy 30km when you're not used to it.

Curl Curl Parkrun - 1st in 16:27

Jogged over with Macca with another good crowd with Andy, Justin and Big Mikey H back again with Jonny B, the Tiger and Amy also showing.  Some random dude from Belgium also turned up.

Binfield went off quickest with the Belgian chap following him.  I was a few yards behind at 1km and 2km.  On the jog to the start I told Macca he needed to get under 18mins and the way to do it is to attack the 3rd km.  So I tried to do the same.  Caught them at 3km but the effort in doing so meant I dropped off a bit to the 4th km.  Then at 4km the pace dropped a bit so I thought it was a chance to push on.  Luckily neither JB not Eddie Merckx followed so I wasn't subjected to a sprint finish I'd no doubt lose.

So the yo-yo'ing continues but very happy with today's time and to have a good competitive run.  Hats off to JB who did all the work.  Runs of the day go to Macca who smashed through 18mins with a 17:44 and Amy who crushed her PB with a 17:30, paced by the Tiger.

Awesome video of a monkey bar kids fight.

Easy Friday

14km route to Shelley and back.  60:50 (4:20's).  31:24 on the way out, 29:26 on the return.  Nice and easy with a few strides thrown in at the end. Canny warm like.

The Stats.

Sammy's bailed on 4 gorges tomorrow with too any pullouts so I'll do Parkrun.  Again.  Not sure which set of legs will show up tomorrow.