Italian Swimming and Lunch Run

A very fresh start to the the day when I took my Italian brother-in-law, Paulo, down to clovelly for an early morning swim. Water temp was "bracing"to put it nicely and it didn't help that I was in speedos, although the ladies doing their early morning runs seemed to be quite happy with my attire. I managed to do one in an out and Paulo managed about 75 meters before escaping up the first set of steps complaining about the cold water - this is from a guy who lives in Melbourne! Fair play to "el lad" as he doesn't like ocean swimming although for a minute I thought he had drowned and panic was almost setting in before I saw his bobbing around. He has requested another swim on Friday, so willl see how we go. I missed the Hurts session today as I forgot the set started at 12.10 so just headed out on my own for 5kms around farm cove - legs had nothing after yesterday's session so a very easy 4.45km pace and the stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131837058. Looking forward to first ABC biathlon in about 7 years with Wayne tomorrow night and hope I can do about 20 minutes for 4km run and 300m swim.

Farm Cove Sweatfest

I think this might have been the hottest I have ever felt running today despite having a visor and singlet - getting some pretty classy singlet tan lines as well which is delighting the wife. A big crowd for the 14 x 3mins session today and I was late getting out so very disappointed to see that I hadn't missed the first two. A lot of the regular faces around including James, Laura, MC, Tom, Brendan, Tucks, Ray etc and the first session at which I've seen Simmo attend. After the first one, I set a goal of 10 as the legs were feeling the effects of the cycle and run yesterday. Very happy with pretty consistent 3.50 pace for the set and even happier to finish. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131654893. Weather permitting I'l try and get out for an early swim tomorrow before doing some of the Hurts long run. Not sure the ABC Biathlon will happen on Thursday night as it appears only two of us can make it, so might have to be a post Xmas session with a few of the guys.

La Per, Hurts and the Return of Tom

First day in about 6 years where I have done two exercise sessions and not feeling too bad. Got out for a ride to La Perouse with Nick at 5.45 this morning and got in 20kms at an average pace of 25kms per hour. Was a stunning morning and remembered how much I enjoyed getting out for morning ride sessions - sun rising, hardly any traffic and good to get some exercise in early doors. Ride stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131464240. Backed it up with half the Monday Hurts session and big crowd out but more importantly the return of Mr Higham after a few weeks off due to an achilles problem. No Adam today as he is on a Perth junket but managed to get Dat out for a second tim and Mike King made his debut. They both did well and held on until the opera house and came back along the wharves. Managed to stay out front for most of the session although pace was only around 4.35 for most of the set. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131464234# and a good start to the week.

Friday

After sampling the delights of Kogarah yesterday morning I made it out for the Hurts session and only four of us turned up, including Emma and not sure who the other guys were. Surprisingly small turn out given votes are being cast for the Hurts annual awards night and there could still be time to sneak in a couple of extra nominations. Emma was feeling a touch jaded after her leaving drinks on Thursday so we just did the Monday route and came back to CQ. Headed out around 4.40/4.35 pace and then picked it up a bit from the turnaround at around 4.20's with a sub 4 min for the last km. Felt great again today despite the midweek man cold and just really enjoying running at the moment. Anyhoo stats are here for yesterday http://connect.garmin.com/activity/130768121# and hoping to get out for a ride in the morning with Nick if the weather complies.

Sick

Came down with a man cold on Monday night and managed in to work yesterday but succumbed this morning so no run today. Hoping to be back at work tomorrow but not sure I'll get to the hurts sprint session so maybe long run on Friday.

Monday Hurts

Didn't let my badly grazed leg stop me from running today - lesser men would have succumbed to the injury, plus I wanted to be asked how I got what looks like 5 claw marks. Had a story about the neighbour's rottweiler ready and apart from Brendan, not a single query - so hurtful that they don't care! A great result for Tucks and Rob on the weekend at some ridiculous half marathon in the blue mountains resulting in neither of them being able to make the run today. Seemingly you run 10kms down a hill and 10kms back up with a fall/rise of 800m. Tucks broke the course record by 5 mins and Rob came in the top 10.
My effort today pales in comparison but happy to say I started at the front and although I only went back as far as the opera house I stayed out front the whole way - nothing too fast today averaging 4.37 pace for the 12kms. Passed Dat and Mike around Farm Cove and unfortunately touched Dat's bare shoulder on the way through which was quite disturbing and sweaty. Anyway, stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/130067813 and about 13kms in total today so a good start to the week. Started feeling very raspy in the throat with a raw back of the nose about 4.30 so off to hit a hot toddy to see if I can nip something in the bud. All day workshop tomorrow so hoping to get to the long run on Wednesday.

Another catch up post

Been a busy couple of days so a couple of catch ups to do today. Got out for the corp cup presentation run on Wednesday with Adam and did about 6kms easy but for got to start the GArmin so not stats. Both fronted up for the hurts Hickson Road 1.2km sprints session on Thursday and managed to be pretty consistent for all 5 around the 3.40kms pace and stats for that session are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/129718075. Left calf felt pretty ordinary for the last two - similar pain to that which I experienced in the marathon - so will take it easy on the speed stuff and do some stretching. So all up about 6kms again on Thursday taking the total to roughly 24kms for the week.
Down at the beach with the family yesterday morning and managed to get about a 1km of swimming in and then headed out for a ride this morning with Nick. Nothing but eastern suburbs hills this morning after I quite embarassingly fell off the bike outside my front door - nice cog marks on the back of my right calf! So about 30 km this morning and it felt like they were all uphill - stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/129718078. Hoping for some more running this week and will maybe sneak in a ride somewhere. Might even try to get out of my bed early and go and do some swimming as I'm contemplating thinking about a Kurnell sprint tri in the new year.

Posting Backlog

Apologies for the delay in posting any updates - looks like one of my work computers was stolen from the office on Friday avo so having to resort to wifey's machine.
Did the foxtel lap on Friday and managed just over 7 kms in 30 minutes - not that happy but oe of the hardest short distance runs I have done. Suspect the combination of JPM and treadmill didn't help.
Managed to get out for a swim at Clovelly on Saturday while the Hamish was sleeping and got 6 laps in, so suspect somewhere between 1 and 2kms and it felt great. Shoulders however not too happy today but didn't stop me getting out for the Hurts session today. Due to lack of computer, Garmin wasn't charged so no runs stats but similar route to last Monday's run so roughly 12kms but man was it hot and humid. I suspect that is one of the hottest runs I have ever done and it took about an hour before I stopped sweating at my desk - pretty pleasant for the workmates!
Got home and took the kids for a dip tonight which was just magic and very cooling. Hope this isn't the standard for the rest of the summer!

JPM Challenge

A very sticky night for the JPM last night and very chuffed to be able to report that I did a pb of 21.38 and came home first in the BT team! Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/127519331 and can't believe I managed to average around 3.50 per km!
Foxtel Lap is on tomorrow so another 30 minutes of hard slog.

Friday Run

Managed to get out for the Hurts session on Friday and got another 12kms taking the weekly total to 38. Had the garmin on but forgot to bring the cradle home from work, so not stats for this session to upload yet. Got a day off today (Monday) to take the brother and sis-in-law to the airport for their trip home to Scotland and think I might just wander down to Clovelly for a swim and some sand sprints given it is a stunning morning. Looking forward to the JPM on Wednesday night.

Blew away the cobwebs

Good run at lunch today and a decent size of group again for the long run session including James, Adam, Russell and Mike. Route was the usual Centennial Park one and Adam was only keen for 10kms and James wanted to do 12km. Felt pretty ordinary getting to the park and Adam left us at the top of Ocean Street, but once in the park legs felt good which was just as well as wewere knocking out 4.20/4.15 pace. Headed off at the Fox Studio gates with James and another guy to come back via Oxford Street although we encountered a slight delay due a contact incident wuth James. Was a bit touch and go that it was going to make a reappearance from behind his eye but he got it out and back in again. So all up another 13kms today and stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/125966362# Absolutely no pain in the left foot today for the first time since the City to Surf, so hope it stays that way for the JPMand Foxtel lap next week.
Weather permitting I'm out for a ride with Nick in the morning at about 5.45 and doesn't look like I will get  a speed session in due to restructure announcements over lunch.