I've got the shoes like Higham.....

...to bastardize a line from Maroon 5 but my new pair of PrecisionWave 12 Mizuno's arrived 5 minutes before I headed out to do the Friday session. They are a lightweight neutral runner and  I think I might have discovered Tom's secret - I felt fantastic and managed to pull out a couple of 4.10's over the lkast couple of kms. Only about 7 of us out including Clive, Indrajit, MC and Russell and we were joined by Emma at the Farm Cove gates due to Striders North Head and the Coastal Classic tomorrow morning. No Garmin stats for today as my watch database was full but about 13kms all up and no pain in the calf at all today - so these could be miracle shoes. Not sure if I'll get out over the weekend but if not a good week and about 42kms this week.

Wednesday Longish One

Headed out with a decent crowd today of about 13 for the long run around Centennial, including Tom, MC, Jonathan and Mike Race. Weather was just stunning and the first warm run for a few months. Found myself out the front until Elizabeth Bay so knew the pace wasn't that fast and felt strong going up from Rushcutters to the top of Ocean Street. Was only planning on doing one lap and heading back but most of the guys split off at Fox Studios so I went with them and ended up doing about 13kms all up today. Not sure if it was the Pilates session yesterday but my legs felt great today and were moving really easily although still a slight twinge in the left calf. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/216335115. Not sure if doing the North Head 10km on Saturday yet but keen to try for a pb again although Adam has a knee problem which may scupper his changes of running on Saturday.

Monday Recovery Run

And it felt a bit like a tempo session! A big group today including MC, Adam, Mike Race, New Dad Rob, Indrajit, Dave and the return of Tom. Adam had 19kms in the legs from yesterday so was only planning on 10/11kms and Dave was aiming to get back to the Opera House. I wanted to see how I felt the OH and managed to keep going all the way home. Pretty happy with an average pace of 4.30 and todays stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/215574403. Pace started out nice and easy but by Circular Quay things had sped up a wee bit and we are 4.32 average by the turnaround at King Street Wharf. Ended up with Tom and Brendan from Circular Quay all the way home - Tom showing us some fancy footwork avoiding a pedestrian at CQ and he could cut quite a figure on the dance floor based on the sidestep I saw. MC let slip it is his 41st birthday tomorrow, so pas on your congrats if you see him. All up about 16kms today and a good start to the week. Pilates tomorrow and hopefully long run on Wednesday.

Back from Blighty

Sorry it's been quiet over the last week however I've been on a whistlestop trip to Scotland as a surprise for a mate's 40th. No running due to the poor service from For Runners By Runners who took two weeks to deliver a new pair of shoes, despite paying for 1st Class delivery, and they turned up the day after I left. So managed one 8km bike ride on my brother's mountain bike the day I arrived (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/214285545 and nothing else. I headed out today for the Hurts session and pretty happy with just over 10kms at 4.27 average pace. Small group today with MC, Big Sam, Indrajit and Dave and Dave Kane picking us up somewhere and leaving us early. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/214285539. Hoping to get out over the weekend for a longer one although in desperate need of new shoes as calves and right knee not great today.

Adam's Day

Adam pulled out all the stops yesterday to record a sub 57min run for the C2S and smashed his previous PB of 60.03 - a sensational effort in not the most pleasant of conditions. Well deserved result after all his training efforts over the last 3 or 4 months. Jim also did his first C2S for a good few years and managed a very respectable 72 from the blue pack - given it took him 14 mins to do the first 2 kms, he is on track for a red start if he does next year's run. I managed  a 58 flat and had nothing on the hills - not happy with the time and 12 seconds slower than last year. It's been good though as I've got the motivation back for running which had been lacking over the last month or two. Must have forgotten to stop the watch after the finish line, so stats a bit dodgy and are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/210039884.
Adam and I both headed out for a recovery run with Hurts today and large crowd. Come great results from yesterday with Indrajit doing a 55.24, Mike Race hopefully breaking 52 and Terence doing a 49 something. An easy 10kms and I'll not be out until later in the week due to work. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/210039871

Pre C2S Jog

Wow - Sydney is turning on the weather today and sincerely hoping that it is a different situation tomorrow morning. Wind is blowing a gale and temperature is hovering just north of baltic - feels like a real scottish autumn day. Headed out for a very easy 4kms wrapped up like a christmas present. Nearly blown off my feet running around the Clovelly headland but at least the legs felt strong and were moving easily. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/208992435 and looking forward to a good run tomorrow.

Almost as good as a gold medal....

After 8 years and 105 runs, I finally one a much coveted Corp Cup glass at the series presentation yesterday - they are not quite as rare as a gold medal but they are much admired and hold their value surprisingly well. I rocked up after doing about 12 kms of the Wednesday Hurts session (forgot to start watch at one point, so it only reads 9kms) and was justly rewarded for not heading back to the office for some lunch. Only five of us at the session including Mike Race, Dave and Indrajit headed out for the C2S route taking it easy. I turned at Rose Bay and felt not too bad on the hills on the way home and calves seem to be loosening up a bit - stats for yesterday and happy with a 4.53 average pace http://connect.garmin.com/activity/208410190.
Got out today for the 8 x gate to gate and again a small crowd of maybe 15 including Indrajit, Mark M and Rob C. Was taking it easy and very happy to keep between 3.50 and 4 min pace for the whole set - felt comfortably uncomfortable through the last 3. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/208410172 and will have a rest day tomorrow and head out for a 20 min run on Saturday before the big day.

What a Weekend

I will remember this weekend for the rest of my life. It started wiith Lisa Norden in the closest finish ever in the women's triathlon - Lisa used to train with our Spottidog triathlon squad when she was out in Sydney as a teenager. It was just fabulous to see her doing so well in the Olympics - and I did beat her once in a track run! Then to wake up to watch the 10000m and cheer on Benny, to find out about Jess and Greg, then see Mo Farah run a sensational race and take out another gold made me very proud to be British. The womens 100m was another excellent race, followed by the womens marathon last night - great finish by the Ethopian and very impressed with the Russian who came in third. A great result for the aussie girls and extreme respect for Willis who ran a 2.49 while injured for the whole event. Got up to watch Bolt do the business in the 100m and then got the best news of the weekend in that Andy Murray got gold over Federer - watch him go now, I reckon he will take out a Grand Slam in the next year. All of this puts my hard 7km run into perspective this morning but a stunning run from Bondi back to Clovelly and tried to push the hills hard. Stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/207178941.

Easy Friday

Only 6 of us out today for a nice easy Friday run. MC, Indrajit, Ray, Brendan and another guy headed out of the Monday course and I dropped off at the Opera House after 13.5 kms at 4.35 pace. Very happy that calves felt all right today and thinking that I might try out my 2XU calf socks for a hilly Sunday run, if all is well. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/205723789 and really looking forward to Ben St Lawrence in the 10,000m on Sunday morning - he is mates with a number of the Hurts squad and comes out when he is in town.

Sore Calves

Not sure what is going on but every time I run just now the bottom of both calves gets really tight and sore - very strange and perhaps it could be time for a new pair of shoes. Out today for the 4x2kms after a meeting over lunch stopped me getting a long one in yesterday so will have to try and make that up over the weekend. Big crowd including Tucks, MC, Adam, Hamish etc which meant we were split ino 4 groups. Adam only did three but flew on all of them managing about sub 3.40 pace for his sets. I managed a 3.53, 3.50, 3.57 and finshed on a 3.49 and the stats can be found at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/205723789. Started to feel ok on the last one but not that confident going in to the C2S. Adam will smash 60 this year and I'd be suggesting a sub 57 for him - could be a very interesting race.