Friday meander

Very easy 8km around and about. Bumped into MC and Mrs Tucks (not together).

100km for the week.

HuRTS Pyramid session

Lovely day. Good crowd. Over to Rushcutters. We despatched Jason to negotiate with the groundsmen who had stuck up a "Ground closed" sign, but alas to no avail. So across to the rugby field to mark out a 400m track. That basically consisted of running around the edge of the field and adding a bit on at the end. Wasn't quite a full loop so two laps was longer than 2 x 1 laps, if you know what I mean.

Bartles, Tucks, Jason, Richie H, TB, Luke, Ben, Pete W, LF Charlie all there, with a number of others, including the return of J-Fen! Turns out he's back off running for 2 weeks looking after his back. Even Big Mikey H showed up but disappeared after a couple of reps. Plainly UBS are working him too hard. He needs to move to MC's team.

Reps went as follows:

1 lap (383m): 67s
2 laps (802m): 2:21
3 laps (1.18km): 3:34
4 laps (1.57km): 4:49
3 laps: 3:33
2 laps: 2:16
1 lap: 58s

Rest was half the time of the previous rep. Richie was doing the timing. However, for the last rep I told him to cut short the rest time to blunt the impact of the burglars who save themselves for the final rep. My cunning plan worked a treat. Ran just in front of Bartles (going very well) for all reps with Tucks taking it easy following his win at W2B. Jason and TB were looking very good too.

Got a call from Bec (my eldest) this afternoon very excited about her District athletics meet up at Narrabeen track today. She came 3rd in her 800m heat running 3:03 so is through to the final tomorrow. A good placing there will see her through to Zone for the first time. We'll be talking tactics tonight.

Slow Wed

Had a massage booked with the Tiger at 9.10am so just ran to Lime Street from home. Very tired from yesterday's efforts. Set my Garmin at the start of the run and it still had yesterday's session showing. I didn't stop the watch yesterday for each rep so it just showed the total - 13.09km in 50:30 for an average pace of 3:52 p/km but that includes 10.5 minutes of rest (walking, chatting), so no wonder I was still buggered.

Just put one foot in front of the other for the first 3km. Felt a bit better from then on but more than happy to stop at Gary's. He sorted out the achilles and PF nicely.

13.29km in 57:55 (4:21's).

HuRTS 8 x 5mins

My secretary saw me about to write my blog and sent an email suggesting the following:

"Well guys, I was on fire today! My secretary would have been very proud of me running faster than Forrest Gump (my all time idol).

Back in the office I worked on churning my stomach up by mixing juice, yoghurt and chocolate - I'll keep you posted on that experiment!

I'm about to go and get coffee and forget to buy lollies for the bowl - lately I've had dementia and forgot my secretary's coffee yesterday - I felt so horrible.

Talk to y'all tomorrow,

Forrest Gump"

Wasn't quite like that. Big crowd today despite the temperature dipping back to Winter climes again, but with a few of the big guns (Tucks, new boy Stuart, J-Fen and, err, Young Timmy) missing. I tucked in behind the flying Bartles with Fast Charlie on my shoulder and Dicky H just behind. Ran the first 6 at 3:15 to 3:16 pace. Then at the end of rep 5 Rich says, "what's the further we've ever got, it's to that big rock isn't it?". Bartles indicated it was within reach and, running back on rep 6 I pass a flying Keith Bateman going the other way. That was enough to stoke my fragile ego, so set off quicker on rep 7 and pushed all the way, finishing past the big rock and at the start of the fence at the bottom of the ABC hill. Averaged 3:09 pace. Bartles was about 15 yards back. Was feeling good at this stage (apart from a dodgy stomach - cue secretary email above - which I've had for 24 hours) so ran the final rep with Bartles pushing ahead of him towards the end averaging 3:06.

Great session. Felt comfortable at 3:15's but had to push hard to go any quicker. Rodgered now.

Good to see a few familiar faces returning to sessions, MC, LF Charlie and Anna in particular.

Oh no, Mo!

Screamed at the telly last night during the 10,000m World Champs final. First due to the atrocious coverage from the Koreans (let's hope there's a Korean running the 5000m) and then the agonising final lap for anyone who follows British sport.

Set about training with renewed vigour today inspired by Mo's words in the post race press conference. Safe to say I don't think last night will dampen his enthusiasm. Having missed a long run yesterday, I went early today planning on catching up with Kanser along Barangaroo and the rest of the squad for the second half. Kanser was nowhere to be seen, bumped into Clyde instead at CQ and ran with him. Really didn't want to be running when by myself but time flew when I had someone to run with. Caught up with the rest of the squad (and Kanser) at Farm Cove and turned with them. To complete the string of accidental acquaintances, bumped into the Tiger near the Hyatt on the way back and ran with him for a bit.

Pace slowed a lot when I joined the group. PF was sore by the end, it doesn't like it when I run long and slow. More worryingly, my right knee was (and still is) sore, just on the knuckle on the inside and particularly when I lift my leg. I've been switching the ice from left foot to right knee all afternoon.

All up 28.12km in 2:02:59 (4:22's).

Not the Pub to Pub

Woke up with a red wine head and sore body. Hauled my ass back to Luna Park to pick up the car and that was my run for the day. PF pretty sore after yesterday's efforts. Having said all that, the pace wasn't too bad after putting some effort in up Parriwi Rd. I've become obsessed about working my glutes on hills. 10.78km in 45:32 (4:13's). Will go long tomorrow.

Good job I didn't bother fronting up to Pub to Pub. Vlad won it ahead of the Horne and Truscott, so even getting on the podium would have been unlikely. Ominous that the Horne was ahead of Truscott. Sounds like he's almost back. So no more easy Fun Run wins available.

Tempo Saturday

Had to decide between a 14km tempo and hills, so took the easy option. Good running conditions, cool but little wind. Fairly non-descript run. Said hello to Tony Wong en route and that was about it. 13.92km (measured short this time) in 49:48 (3:34's). Turned in 24:59 so 10 seconds quicker on the way back. Ran through 10km in 35:52.

Going to a charidee ball tonight so decided against Pub to Pub in the morning.

Just heard a rumour that Tucks won Willy to Billy today. Fantastic result if correct, well done mate.

Easy Friday

Back to back interviews, calls and meetings today so ran in. Felt very average for the first 2km (yesterday's hangover diet of Hungry Jacks and lollies didn't help) then got into it. 26:03 (chasing two cyclists up Parriwi Rd) at Spit Junction and 55:12 all up. Beautiful day. Dare I say it, Spring is here.

96km for the week.

Easy Wed

Interviewing at lunch so headed out just after 1pm for a shortened one lap of Centennial with Dicky H and Andy. Legs very tired, but a nice easy run on a beautiful day chatting to the boys, mainly taking the piss out of Timmy.

View from office window this arvo below:

HuRTS Progressive tempo

We had it all today. Big crowd, popular session. Started out at 4 mins per km in a group with Tucks, new boy Stuart from Deutsche Bank, Jason, Dicky H and JB. We were pretty strict about dropping the pace to 3:50's after 10mins, then 30:40's after 20mins but after the turn (at 23.5mins), suddenly we seemed to throw in a 3:20. Then under the Harbour Bridge I could see a big crowd of the squad standing around someone and feared something bad was up. Anna had had an epileptic fit (discovered after she'd actually had 2). Someone said an ambulance had been called and rather than more people crowding her, we set off again.

Pace dropped again after 30mins but rather than running 3:30s I clocked splits of 3:15 and 3:17. Sensed the group was splitting up and only Tucks was still there coming around Farm Cove. Pushed the hills back home (running a 3:25 split up the hills feeling really good) to finish in 44:20 (12.36km). Final Gate to Gate in 9:45.

Feeling in good form at the moment. Looking forward to a race.

Anna recovered OK. She sensed she was recovering after the second fit and cancelled the ambulance with Bartles giving her a lift home.

Sorting out stuff in storage and came across this photo. It's of me winning the Boys Northern X-Country Championships in Feb 1989. You can see why I was never any good at rugby, and notice the spazzy left hand which remains 22 years on.

Easy Monday

Got caught on a call so trotted out by myself bumping into the group along Hickson Road. Turned with them and ran back, chatting to Wildman, Dicky H, Pete W and Laura along the way. Felt great today, PF and achilles are good, I'm convinced the straight leg, grab foot while sitting down stretch is the cure to all my ills.

12.03km in 49:44 (4:09's).

Back to long Sunday

Caught up with Dickyboy and Ben at 6.30am at the ABC Pool for what I was hoping would be a nice easy run along some bush trails. They are both doing the 3 hour pacing job at the Sydney marathon so are planning on a few longer runs over the next few weeks. I'd jogged down to meet them at a very easy pace still struggling after last night's efforts, only for Dickyboy to set off like a hare at 4:10 pace. I asked what was going on, and he said they were planning on running at 3 hour pace (4:12's) but with some 5km intervals "a bit quicker". Hell, this was news to me. After struggling to keep up suddenly we were off on the first faster paced section. Started to feel OK at this stage. Took a magic gel ("Smart") at 10km and felt better again. The first faster section I was averaging 3:57's. Easy run through the bush next to Narrabeen lake and we were off on the second fast section (16km - 21km). Averaged these in the low 3:50's pulling ahead of Dicky and Ben. Fortunately, it finished just at the bottom of the nasty hill climbing out of Dee Why. Final quick section (26-31km) was basically Queenscliff to Shelley and back, but cutting back via Pacific Parade. Dicky was running really well at this stage and we did the whole section in 3:45's. Coming back from Shelley I started to get tired. Dicky mentioned that my old Geordie accent came out as I got more tired. I must have sounded like Jimmy Nail by North Steyne.

All up 31.89km in 2:12:26 (4:09's).

Great run by Wildman to finish 9th in the National XC Champs yesterday (thanks for the heads up Flakey). He's getting closer and closer to the big guns.

Old Manly route - PB!

Planned 14km tempo but ran out of time so I did my old 7.5km Manly route hard. 1.5km warm up then just attacked it. First 2km in 6:50 so knew I was on course. Couple of km splits along Manly beach of 3:21 and 3:18, was buggered running up the Suwarrow hill but finished in 25:23 (3:26's). Over a minute PB from March 2008.

Short jog after for 10km all up.

Easy Friday

Out in the cold, howling wind and heavy showers for a very easy run around Centennial with Kanser and the King. 12.47km in 55:59 (4:29's). Ran without orthotics for the first time in 3 years. Loved the feeling of going "au naturel", we'll see whether I avoid any achilles reaction.

70km for the week.

HuRTS Mona Fartlek

Peeps still taking it easy. Non J-Fen, no Y-TimTam, nobody to push for the T-Shirt. T-Ucks, B-Artles, D-High, Scott(?) and I ran together fairly easy, hitting all the hills at the bad spots and finishing about 15s short of the gates. Felt good on the way back so and ran the 30s quite well to finish well in time. Jog back around the course with T-Bell, S-Pringer, T-Ucks and E-Stank (that's right, he's back!) in the sunshine. E-Stank's talking about avoiding all racing until he can get fit enough to beat Y-TimTam - so sometime early December when he hits the summer booze then.

Fitting it in

Saw the Tiger. He sorted out my PF. Paid him $100. Wish Kanser would do the same. Busy at work. Ran home. Felt great. 54:31. More work. Pints of Kolsch at 4 Pines. All's well that end's well. Note the single spacing.

HuRTS 14 x 3mins

Beautiful day today (C2S weather) and, despite having a sore left plantar fascia, decided to head out for a chat and jog. Big crowd but with no-one putting in any effort other than good old Kanser, who moaned about the fact that we were plodding around and took off. Timmy should be scared, he's starting to look dangerous. I only did 10 along with Dicky H, J-Fen and "top 16" Laura. PF felt better after though. Ran without heel raises for the first time in 2 years as my achilles feels almost cured.

Paper results came out today. Net time was 46:49. Timmy's was 49:17 so he is claiming the $50 by 2 seconds. Flakey has rightly pointed out that no-one cares about net times, gun times are where it's at. So I'll hold my cash for the time being. Truscott ended up with 46:47, hadn't realised it was so close in my desperation to reach the line. He's angling for a head to head bet at JPMorgan. I might take him on, it's my favourite race and will get me through the bloody 400m's sessions that lie in store.

One for Alec - the mighty Manly Vale Falcons (2011)....

C2S: 27th in 46:56

Drove in with Dickyboy and Ben with great plans to take my high caffeinated gel 30 mins prior to the race and run a stormer. Dropped my bag off in the luggage trucks and shortly after realised that i'd left my gel in my bag. It was pissing down with rain. I thought C2S guaranteed good weather? We all huddled near the gents toilets in the Domain and Timmy mentioned that he had a spare gel so I swallowed that, convinced that my race plans were back on track.

Lined up well before the start and the tension was the same as ever. I had Richie H and Timmy next to me so the mood was fairly light but soon enough we were on our way. Tried not to go too crazy down William St but what can you do when sprinting downhill in front of 85,000 people? Jason I and Bartles were in front, as well as the 2 leading ladies so I figured I was being fairly sensilble. Overtook them going through Edgecliff and noticed I was making a load of places on the hills. The same happened through Double Bay where I caught Keith Bateman. At this stage I could see a group of Tom Crasti, Truscott, Chadi Elashka, Anthony Farrugia and Charlie Low in front and figured I was going very well - all guys I'm normally well behind and yet they were in striking distance. I seemed to be struggling on the flats and downhills and going well on the uphills. At the start of Heartbreak Charlie pulled off the the side and I started to catch Chadi. Went past him at 7km and started to get pretty excited - i've never beaten Chadi before but started to concentrate on Truscott in front. I was now by myself and trying to hold it together but probably drifting a bit. At 10.5km Chadi came past again and I used him to drag me along. Some big chap came past on the long downhill into Bondi but then suddenly Chadi and he gapped me on the slight rise along Campbell Parade. At this stage I was suffering and just trying to hold it together. Finally at the turn with 300m to go I have a quick look over my shoulder and who should I see but Tucks! The f**king Burglar! Haven't seen him all race and assumed he was about 2 minutes back but there he is within 8 seconds (or "the pocket" as Timmy calls it). With 6-0 for the season I wasn't going to allow him to get this one so just started sprinting all out thinking he'll have to suffer to win this one. In the course of sprinting I caught and over took Chadi for a first time win over him. Ironic that it took Tucks behind me to make me do that. Finished just behind Truscott to get in under 47 mins.

Very pleased with the placing but a bit disappointed with the time. I felt great today - especially on the uphills and based on who I was running with expected something in the low 46's but when I went through 10km in 34:00 I knew it wasn't on.

Fantastic time afterwards. Fair few beers in the AAR Chalet then dancing in the Pie Face Chalet. All very random but part and parcel of C2S.

Some great runs by JF in particular in 47:41 and Timmy in 49:22. I lost a heap of cash on bets but well worth it.

Last shouts

6km very easy in the evening with a few run throughs.

Was getting coffee this morning in my usual spot and bumped into Paul McClarnon, a Strider who's a decent runner (he beat Timmy by 6 seconds last week at Lane Cove). Turns out he lives on Bellevue St, one next to ours, so should have another occasional Sunday morning companion for the long runs.

Congrats to the Tiger on the birth of a new cub, Koji. He was trying a very dodgy bet about Millie not giving birth before I finished C2S, knowing full well she was in labour. We eventually agreed on a complicated 4 way combo:

$50 Harry S beats Marty D
$50 Norman doesn't go sub 43
$50 I don't go sub 46:30
$50 Timmy isn't over 49:30

I reckon I'll get 2 so we should be even.

More tapering

Very easy 11.38km in 48:58 with Timmy, Dickyboy, Big Sam, Norman, Russell, Indrajeet, Dom etc. Plenty of trash talk. Timmy said he was going to rile my big brother Jamie and looks like he achieved his aim. I can hear Alec laughing all the way from Melbourne.

Taper time - getting excited

Out for a very easy 13km run with MC, Kanser, Craig, Brendan, James, Russell etc.

Run at 4:30's but you can tell it is taper time as I just couldn't be arsed. Told Kanser he was looking a bit heavy and he got all upset with me, going silent like a 14 year old girl for the next 5km. I could only coax him out of it by raising the issue of Timmy's mental fragility in the face of big races, and he was on to that like a red rag to a bull - telling me how Timmy didn't have the wealth of racing experience that we did and, having not tasted success at a young age, didn't know how to handle it in his mid-life. I thought this was going over the top a bit, but was just happy to hear the big fella talking again.

MC pulled up lame (tweaked hamstring) at the Opera House. This was about 90 seconds after we told him that Laura was going to smash him on Sunday and I was getting ready to lay a bet. I'll let you work out the correlation.

Otherwise not much else to report. Here are my C2S predictions:

1. Norman: I'd say 43:10, but then he always smashes my expectation, so I'll go aggressive and say 42:40.

2. Fast Charlie: Hit form beautifully. Done a load of big hill sessions. Performs when fit and not injured. 45:15.

3. Bartles: Some big kms in prep for NYC marathon and has speed, but a relative newcomer to this toughest of courses. 47:13.

4. Tucks: Has struggled to find form after his stress reaction injury or alternatively is pulling the best bluffing act ever. Don't discount the latter. But being a betting man, I'll go with the former: 47:57

5. JB: My bet for next HuRTs man home. Struggled since GCM but has class and determination in spades. Knows the race well. 48:10

6. JF: A real step up in form recently and some very impressive hill reps. The only factor against him is, like Bartles, a lack of experience over the course. 48:15.

7. Richie H: Good form over 10min reps. Will be chasing JF the whole way. 48:25.

8. Richie P: Consistent performer. Will be desperate to hold off Timmy. 49:02.

9. Timmy: Form of his life but big questions over mental fragility following State 10km where he should have run 30s quicker. Will he be equally obsessed about getting under 50mins? I think so. 49:45.

10. Big Sam: Yesterday showed signs of regaining his pre-GCM form. Should be enough to get him back in front of Dickyboy. 50:25.

11. Dickyboy: Mr Consistent. Been turning up to more HuRTs sessions recently so I reckon he'll be slightly quicker than '09. 50:30.

12. Laura: Will take the honour of being first HuRTs girl home. And don't underestimate that. 51:40.

13. Flakey: Scraped into preferreds this year. Won't be happening next year. 54:30.

14. LF Charlie: Who? Anyone seen him? 57:30, narrowly holding off...

15. Lisa: First of the CBA girls in 57:40.

Top three will be Shelley, followed by Adams and then Dent.

HuRTS Gate to Gates

Final hit out before the big one on Sunday. Everyone's nerves were palpable. Young Timmy could barely keep his hands still (despite the fact that only Emma of the girls showed up). Fast Charlie was in the zone. Tucks was silent. Dicky H wouldn't stop going on about Timmy's recent rate of improvement. Bartles and JF were too scared to even show up. Most scared of all was MC, who has foolishly offered to pace Laura. On current form, this is like me offering to pace Mo Farah. More excited than anyone was me. Went off like a hare with just Fast Charlie following. Started to go lactic after 4 reps, so decided to ease off, before coming good again on the final one. No idea whether this will turn out to be a sensible session or not. Felt OK after though so hopefully no damage done. Reps for the 909m were as follows:

2:40 (2:56 pace)
2:42
2:40
2:40
3:04 (3:22 pace)
3:00
3:02
2:46 (3:02 pace)

All off a 2 minute rest.

10km all up.

Easy run home

Missed going out with the boys during the day due to a work lunch so ran home, with the rib eye steak, potato gratin and fine slice of Tiramisu still heavy on my stomach.

15:35 at Ben Boyd, 29:00 at Toyota Garage and 54:30 all up. Otherwise pretty uneventful.

Getting excited/nervous about Sunday now.

Long Manly route

My old Manly route via Burnt Bridge Creek, Queenscliff, Shelley, North Head, Collins Beach and Manly to Spit cutting back from Tania Park. Felt really sluggish for the first 10k (43:20), took a gel after an hour then it was a different story. Felt magic in the second half finishing strongly in a course PB of 1:58:58. There could be something in this. I always run crap first thing in the morning so maybe it's partly nutrition. I think I may take a gel pre-C2S next week.

Striders 10km - Lane Cove

Caught a lift with Ben, Paul, Dicky Boy and Big Sam and turned up on a coolish morning but not half as cold as Lane Cove usually is for the August race. I was on 40 min pacing duties so none of the usual nerves and could just enjoy the beautiful surrounds of Lane Cove National Park on a cool but clear morning.

Nice training run. I decided to go at straight 4 min kms the whole way which probably helped no one as I was passing a load of people going up the hills but before being overtaken by them on the downhills. Kanser, being too close to me than he should have been, gave me a stack of abuse the whole way on my pacing skills. I reckon he could have run 2 mins quicker if he'd just kept his mouth shut. Nice chats with Action, Christian, Marty Doak and Ron though. Finished in 39:54 with splits of 3:59, 3:53, 3:55, 4:04, 4:07, 3:59, 4:00, 3:59, 4:05, 4:01. What's Kanser complaining about?

Couple of photos:

Tom with chins:



Mags:

The Return of Wildman

HuRTS Drinks last night at Cargo Bar. Norman Cook was put to bed and Wildman came out to play, to lead me astray as usual. The result was a monstrous hangover this morning, so big thanks to Clyde and Dicky H (suffering as badly as me) for dragging me through 40mins at lunchtime. Toughest run of the year.

A few more bets were laid (noted here for evidence):

Richie giving Timmy a 1 minute headstart at C2S. Timmy finally agreeing a 2:30 headstart against me. Each for $50.

Wildman giving me a 2 minute headstart at ABC biathlon and Timmy 2:20, each for $50.

101km for the week.

HuRTS Hickson Road

The toughest session. I worry about it all morning when it's on. Tucks says he does the same. Hurts like hell and mental torture. Felt knackered this morning (probably half psychosymatic) but feeling the effects of a tought fortnight back after 3 weeks rest. Thought I'd just push the first and see how I felt. I normally don't run the first quick enough. Good group of Bartles, Tucks, Jason, JF, Dicky H, Timmy, Dickyboy and Big Sam up front. Bartles was on my shoulder until half way through each rep and I'd try to kick at each set of speed bumps on the way out and each bridge on the way back which gave me a few seconds for each rep. They went as follows:

3:35 (3:02 pace)
3:35 (3:04 pace)
3:34 (3:01 pace)
3:35 (3:04 pace)
3:32 (2:59 pace)

Bit of wind on the return leg (10m shorter) which made the times consistent. Went lactic half way through the penultimate rep. Just sprinted through the final one from half way home.

Pleased with the session. 10km all up.

Wednesday MLR

Usual route on a warm day (24C mid-Winter!) with Norman Cook, Clyde, Jonathan W and Ben Decreuse (to start with). Pace was honest from the outset but felt OK. Thurston was scaring us with his predicted time for C2S.

All up 18.64km in 1:17:48 (4:10's).

Locked in 2 new bets. Durante's giving me a 1 minute headstart for $50 in the first biathlon of the series (need to find a pool soon) and I'm giving JF a 1:30 headstart for C2S ($20).

HuRTS 4 x 3km

Tough old session this one. Basically you're running for the same period of time as the 8 x 5mins reps, but with only 6 minutes total rest as opposed to 10.5 mins total rest.

Another big crowd, ran from the front with Fast Charlie pulling ahead about half way through each one and gapping the rest of us considerably. Had Bartles on my shoulder the whole way through the first 2 reps with Richie H, JF, Tucks, Vicky Jo, JB and Timmy (yes, you read that right) just behind. However, this session is all about the 3rd rep (read Timmy's Blog for evidence) - the penultimate is always the toughest and this session makes it doubly hard as you run it up hill. Put a real effort in on this one trying to keep the time consistent knowing I could just roll back downhill on the last. Times went as follows:

9:54 (3:23's)
9:28 (3:14's)
9:54
9:25

Got a bit excited about this session for a while thinking it was the fastest I'd done it until I checked my blog from 22nd July 2008, shortly before running my C2S PB. So maybe a PB isn't on the cards.

Good session nonetheless. Had stomach cramps all afternoon just like the old days so obviously put a bit of effort in today.

Locked in a $50 bet with Timmy giving him a 2:30 headstart for C2S. The guy is on form and giving him such a generous start was the only way I could pin him down. He's obviously been learning sharking skills from Richie H.

Easy Monday

With the Banks on holiday, it was a lower turnout on a cracking day. Ray showed up, fresh from his 2nd place in the Cities Marathon yesterday (2:40:05) where he netted himself $3,000! Jonathan W, Big Sam, Pete W, Brendan and a couple of others also there. Usual route. Watch died again so no idea of the time but Sam said we were averaging 4:14's overall when he peeled off at CQ.

15.8km.

Longish run

Spent last night at a charity trivia thing at Paddo RSL and left the car there overnight so plan today was eventually to finish up picking up the car. Caught up with Dickyboy, Big Sam and Big Ben at 6.30am and Dicky led us on a trail tour through Mosman. Mosman has more hills than Rome. And plenty of trails too. The pace was slow as a result but tough on the old legs. Eventually popped out at Spit Junction after 16km so I said farewell to the boys and headed into the City and on to Paddo.

Nice run on another beautiful morning. Looks as though the crap weather has ended for now. Felt OK at the end despite it being my first long run in 6 weeks (discounting GCM). All up 25.5km in 2:00:56 (4:44's).

Havent had any issues with my achilles now since GCM. No idea why that is. Still do the eccentric loading but have slowed the speed of them down a lot and it seems to be working.

NSW Short Course X-Country

I've been late to 2 races in my life. The first was when I was 11 and Dad turned up at the Morpeth Road Races in time for the Colts race, but not the Minor Colts race. In fact, as we drove to the race, we drove past a bunch of young kids running fast down the road and when I pointed out to Dad that it looked like we were late, he just said, don't worry, they're just warming up. He was wrong. The only other race I've missed was the ANSW Short Course X-Country in 2008. I turned up after getting lost just in time to hear the gun go off.

Today, at the same race, it was very close to being the same. Turned up with 3 minutes to spare, Flakey asked whether I had my chip yet and when I said no, very kindly raced off to get it. I attached it to my lace, ran to the start, and then the gun went off.

Felt very average after only about 400m. Richie Roberts pulled inexorably ahead and after about 1.5km who should appear on my shoulder but my close rival from 2008, Dr Jamie Harrison. We basically ran together hauling younger runners in until the drag of a hill on the final lap when I pulled slightly ahead and started to catch the 2 runners in front. Stayed with them until the end, with me finishing between the 2 in a sprint finish. Clocked 26:27 after running laps of 8:29, 9:00 and 8:58. Very similar to last year (26:22 with splits of 8:32, 9:01 and 8:49). Definitely felt Thursday's hills still in my legs today but pleased to crank out another race.

Beautiful day today - warm, clear and no wind. Had a great time.

Easy Friday

Run to work. Legs felt great at the start until I hit the first hill. That was how the rest of the run went. Fine and moving well along the flats and downs, crumbled when faced with any incline. I think yesterday must have taken it out of me. Doesn't bode well for the X-Country tomorrow.

26:43 at Spit Junction then 56:19 all up. Still a reasonable time.

98km for the week.

HuRTS - Hills

New hill this week - starting opposite the Lowenbrau Keller (just to tease us all) and running up Argyle St before turning to the top of Observatory Hill. Lower turnout than usual due to mavericks organising break out sessions but still a decent crowd up front with Tucks, Bartles, Jason, Dicky H, Dicky G, JF and Young Timmy forming a good little group. JF was on fire today pushing ahead of us all, although there were some raised eyebrows when he decided to jog back down with the rapidly improving Lisa after the 8th, run with us on the 9th and then up stumps. Definitely some mind games going on there. Equally with Young Timmy who seemed to get confused about the route on the jog back down the hill. Every rep.

Tried to hold on to Tucks and Bartles on the hills, without much luck at the start but with better luck towards the end. Good session, as the first rise is run fast with the hill kicking up in gradient towards the end. Legs felt wobbly after, which is always a good sign. I think I was doing about 2:12/2:13 for each rep, but the watch died on me.

14km all up.

Wednesday MLR

Stuffed at work. Turn up 5 mins late. Everyone gone. Take an age to get a satellite reading (that sentence wouldn't have appeared in many runners' training diaries 10 years ago). Set off at pace trying to catch the squad. Run past Craig and King James near King Cross (not sure what route they took after that), and Norman Cook, Andy, Jonathan Worswick and Mr Ace near Rushcutters Oval. Fortunately they chose against the fast pace sections today as I'd already been running sub 4's to catch them up. Pace did lift though. Nice run around Centennial, telling Norman all the same stories I told him on Monday forgetting that I ran with him then too. He was polite though. Jonathan regaled us with tales of ultra runs through muddy fields, with only Andy showing vague signs of interest. Pace stayed honest throughout.

Distance felt fine but was starving and energy depleted towards the end. Not helped running past Harry's Cafe de Wheels at 18km.

All up 18.56km in 1:17:07 (4:09's).

HuRTS 5min reps

Showed up today wanting to push myself to see how much I'd lost since GCM and how much of a struggle C2S is going to be. Cast of thousands again, I won't mention everyone's name as I only know about half the group now. The female contingent is growing with Sonya, Lisa, Emma and Laura showing up - Laura fresh from her 38:50 over the 11km Sutho to Surf (going through 10km in 35:10) - that's basically National standard.

I ran from the front with Bartles, Jason I, JF, Tucks, Quentin, Dicky H and new chap Jo fresh from Melbourne (perhaps he can be Vicky Jo) who is with ANZ - Dicky is already replenishing his JPMorgan team following the loss of Benny Saint. Kept all the reps very consistent - went through 1km in 3:17 each time on the way out and 3:19 on the way back. The only variation was on the final rep where I averaged 3:14 pace. Big crowd for the first 6 but only Bartles staying there for the final 2. Fast Charlie also joined in on the final 2. Felt great out there today. Was worried all the way through that the recent lack of mileage would hit me towards the end but just managed to stave off the legs going wobbly.

Just noticed Mo Farah's fantastic run in the 5000m Diamond League meet in Monaco - beating all the top names (Lagat, Merga, T Bekele, Kipchoge) and running the world leading time this year - yet the English press has largely ignored it. The Brits haven't had a runner this good since Cram.

15km all up.

HuRTS Monday

Usual route, but a liner was in at Barangaroo so we did a detour then stayed on Hickson Road on the return. Cast of thousands again, the group just gets bigger and bigger. It splintered a bit today though as we weren't hanging around. I ran with Norman Cook and Durante and on the return with a chap called Angus who was pushing the pace. It was all sub4 min kms from CQ back home. Dicky H, JF, Pete W, Craig and Ray were around but taking it easy.

All up 15.4km in 1:03:05 (4:06's). Felt great today. True test will be how I feel after tomorrow's session.

More steady Manly stuff

Was supposed to meet Quentin, Sam and Dickyboy for a long bush run this morning but after sinking a bottle of wine and two whiskies last night, then staying up to watch Cadel perform heroics in the TT, the last thing I was capable of at 6.30am was running. So headed out later for a route to Shelley then finishing up the hills in Balgowlah Heights to pick up the car where I'd left it the night before.

Very similar to yesterday, started easily then picked up the pace the whole way, putting in some effort in the final 3km up the hills. 11.41km in 45:25 (3:58's).

Steady Manly stuff

Ran the 7km route to Shelley then cut back via Pacific Parade. Steady to start with, picked up the effort after turning at Shelley and really pushed the final hill up Suwarrow. 10.34km in 40:42 (3:56 pace). Felt pretty good but that's 3 weeks off for you. Not much else to report, didn't see anyone I knew, Manly beach seems to have disappeared with all these storms.

Running! (Part 2)

Last Saturday I said I struggled towards the end. Woke up Sunday feeling like crap, went to the doctor who prescribed me strong antibiotics for a chest infection and sinusitis. So no running until today.

Unfortunately, today wasn't the best day to start up again - freezing cold and bucketing down with rain. Dicky Green (who claims to be a Northerner) sent an email saying that even mad poms wouldn't be going out today. Wasn't having a bar of that. Put my Gore-tex jacket on and leapt into it. After your hair gets soaked within the first 20 seconds, it's not too bad. Ran past LF Charlie and Pete W before bumping into Quentin and started running with him. Then who should pop out from behind a tree but Tucks, so the Three Amigos all ran together just like every other race this season.

All up 10km in 42 mins. Nice to be back into it, feeling a bit better this time.

Usual Saturday

Headed out for the usual Saturday 14km route. Felt fine to start with running at about 4min kms (the Garmin ran out at 2km) but got tired at about 8km and struggled home to be honest. In fact, stopped at Campbell Pde at 11.5km where Alec had been looking after the kids. He'd been timing them doing laps around the 650m bike track so plainly is as competitive as me. Jogged the final 2.5km after that. Might pass on the long run tomorrow and just do more of the same rather than pushing too early. I really missed Kirsten so I might give tomorrow's run a miss and spend the day with her. I just don't know what I would do without her.

Getting there

Run to work. Felt very bouncy to start with but heavy legged by the end. Cold is gradually going. 26:32 at Spit Junction and 56:12 all up so not too shabby a time. Ran in the new Mizuno Wave Elixir 6's that we won at the City Mile Dash. Quite hard compared to my Brooks' but nice and light.

HuRTS New Hills

Major excitement within the HuRTS camp today with MC introducing a new session to the calendar. With C2S in mind, the plan was for long hills, and did it pull a crowd! We basically had a turnout rivalling the C2S itself today, all waiting attentively for instructions from MC. We did a slow jog up to work out the course to start, realised it was 750m so decided on 7 reps.

Still with a hacking cough I decided on taking it easy and found myself with JF, Timmy, Luke, MC, Richie H and a load others. Norman Cook was miles out front, with Fast Charlie isolated behind and Bartles further isolated behind him. Luke and I took a short cut on the run back down the hill (trying to shorten the recovery) while others didn't, so we found ourselves running together behind Bartles.

Reps went 2:51; 2:57; 2:58; 3:01. Then my chest felt really tight so I stopped, hurled some abuse at Young Timmy, and jogged back. Still happy to take baby steps at the moment.

About 11km all up. I reckon that session may be quite good. The lads were taking it too easy though - often the way with a new one.

Running!

Whoa!

Have I been sick. Even Enda's been taking notes.

Had Monday and Tuesday off post marathon. Then Wednesday started to come down with a bad cold but was swamped at work so just had to fight through. Thought I was pulling out of it over the weekend but then Monday I was a shivering, feverish mess and spent the day in bed, drinking Lucozade and eating Mars Bars. Best day ever. Chest still feels full of crap but ventured out this evening for 10.58km around the Opera House, Hickson Road, Darling Harbour, Chinatown and Central in 44:21 (4:11's). Chest tight but legs felt great after all the rest. Coughed up a lung at the end. Then walking back to the office the thighs felt strangely sensitive so still the lingering effects of the marathon. But running again! Feels good.

4.5 weeks to go to City to Surf. Holy crap, nowhere near enough time. Will just aim to train hard and hopefully be on an upward curve come race time.

Gold Coast Marathon - 24th in 2:36:40

After all the worry about health in the week leading up, woke up on the day feeling good. Andy and I were sharing the apartment so walked over the the start with him and hung about in the elite area admiring the Kenyans and Troopy etc. generally feeling a little out of place. Didn't even do a jog as a warm up and before I knew it we were on the start line wishing Ray, JB, Big Sam, Quentin, Andy and Richie P a last minute good luck.

Race plan was to go out at 3:40's at least until 25km, see if I could hold it until 30km and then just battle my way to the finish. And that's the way it went. Quickly formed a group with JB, Tongey and a couple of other guys just banging out the 3:40's like clockwork. If a split edged up to 3:42, JB or I would put a bit of an effort in to bring the next one down to 3:38. It was almost fun. I wouldn't say it ever felt entirely comfortable (I was thinking this when I was running - at any point I'd rather be sat on the beach) but it's unlike any other race where you are under pressure the whole way. It was nice to turn at Burleigh Heads and get a load of shouts and "Go Striders" from the runners going the other way. At about 18km JB gapped me. I checked my watch and I was still running 3:40's so I let him go. He seemed to struggle a bit at 23km when I caught him again and at this point I was feeling great - heading back through Surfers and knowing I'd soon be back to the start/finish line. We had dropped Tongey and the other two guys so it was just us running together and regularly overtaking runners who had gone off too quick. At the turn in Main Beach (about 29km) I sensed JB was dropping off so concentrated on running strongly up the one gentle hill on the whole course. Running through the start/finish area at 31km was magic - loads of shouts from the HuRT Squad and with splits of 3:36 and 3:37 between 30 and 32km the encouragement obviously lifted the pace. But then suddenly you're own your own again, heading away from the crowds and the finish line and past the infamous 32km mark. I caught and passed a tiring Quentin here (he had barfed 2km earlier) and was catching other runners but the km splits were dropping - 3:45, 3:47 then 3:50. It wasn't like I was hurting badly but I just couldn't make the legs move. Luckily managed to stop the slide at 3:50 and held that pace for 4kms between 35-39km. 39-40km was a struggle at 3:53 but then suddenly you can see the finish line and the mood lifts again.

The run into the finish was brilliant. Massive crowds, could hear and see JF and Timmy screaming their heads off. Saw that I was going to get under 2:37 so start waving my fists in the air like a madman. The best feeling I've had finishing a race. Got a bit emotional after crossing the line and had to pull myself together a bit before going to meet everyone.

Big thanks to JB who got me through three quarters of the race with very even splits (5km splits went 18:15, 18:22, 18:27, 18:20, 18:22, 18:26, 18:40, 19:27). But massive thanks to Big Sam and Quentin for those 35km training runs with Sam putting his foot down and banging out the sub4 min kms from 25km onwards - I'm sure they had the biggest impact. Sam himself, despite being completely out of action for nearly 4 weeks, was on for 2:46 before cramping badly at 38km.

Some big beers afters with Young Timmy (celebrating a famous victory over Enda), Tucks, Quentin, Sam, Enda, Rob and JF.

Will definitely be back for another. But it's not as hard as Six .

Me, Timmy, JB, Andy and Quentin

Friday all alone

Easy 10km squeezing it in during a manic day at work. Pretty stressful at the moment. 10km route in 42:09. Sounds faster than it felt, but then again I've been pissing around for 2 weeks now.

Tucks mate, that's rotten news. What's the suggested rest period? Might have to schedule a few races shortly after it ends so that I can address the one-sided head to heads this year...

Making it up as I go along

Chest feels a bit better each day. Decided to give it a proper test by doing a few fast sprints along Hickson Road. Hooked up with JC in the changing rooms (that doesn't sound right) and jogged down together. Was expecting a couple of guys who aren't racing this weekend but was greeted by a cast of thousands. Just cruised through each rep in 3:40 pace but put in a fast sprint for 30 seconds on each one. Did each rep in 4:06 (3:30 pace) which, if nothing else, was a masterclass in even pacing. Only did 4, then jogged back. 9km all up.

Chest a bit tight after but better than yesterday. More confident about Sunday as a result.

My predictions for the weekend:

Marathon:

1. Quentin: 2:32:50
2. Tongey: 2:34:20
3. Binfield: 2:35:25
4. Heyden: 2:36:40
5. Ray: 2:37:35
6. Dicky P: 2:45:50
7. Big Sam: 2:48:48
8. The Burglar: 2:53:49

Half:

1. Lara Tamsett: 1:11:10
2. Tucks: 1:11:21 (sorry mate, she's just too strong)
3. Enda: 1:15:59
4. Young Timmy: 1:16:01

10km:

1. Old Man Sweeney: 33:09
2. JF: 33:58
3. Kanser: 36:01
4. MC: 36:10

So there you have it.

Bad Tom

Was feeling slightly better so headed out with MC, Wildman, Craig and client Frik for a very easy 10km run in 45:00. Chest still a bit tight but much better than yesterday. Will test it again tomorrow with some sprints.

Check out THIS LINK to send messages of support (or abuse, as you like) during Sunday's (hopeful) marathon. Move your mouse to the right hand side of the screen for the supporters message service. There will be big screens at certain checkpoints on the course and when I run over the checkpoint mat your message of support/abuse will pop up on the big screen. How cool is that.

The Times

Was worried about the lingering, wheezy, chesty cough this morning so checked into the nearest doctor I could find who had availability. Mr Miyagi was a nice chap. But he told me I might die if I ran the marathon on Sunday. Apparently I've got a viral chest infection. I told him that I hadn't done all this training and come this far to be side-tracked but some vague threat of imminent death. He seemed sympathetic to my position, prescribed me some steroids and told me to come back on Friday for another check (and another $185 cheque).

So no running today.

Big news of the day was the establishment of Enda's Blog. "The voice of reason" has been promised for quite some time so I hope it lives up to its pre-billing. I seem to have copped a spray already. Poor Young Timmy is in tears. Also adding a link to Keith Bateman's blog, just so I can keep track on his training. Bit too much pulpit preaching on the barefoot malarkey for my liking, but the fella's results speak for themselves.

Monday plod

Crikey. Cast of thousands today. Monday is becoming the most popular HuRTS meeting day. Perhaps it's because it's run at such an easy pace. Is HuRTS' popularity at the expense of its quality? Though good to see Emma and Laura spearheading the female HuRTS (perhaps they need their own name; "Lady HuRTS", "HuRTS Ladies", "HuRTS the Girls" or "WHuRTS"?).

Chatted to Mat K (getting back from injury), MC, JF, Springer, Ray and Dicky H. Just 11.5km at 4:30's. Still got a bit of a chesty cough. Feeling very lethargic now. Should try to fit in another massage this week pre-Thursday.