First Corp Cup of the Series

And it wasn't great - felt like I was going really fast and kept Pete Jacobs (I think - winner of the Hurts tri-award) in my sights the whole way reckoning on him being a 23 minute man and came home in 24.19. Felt a lot faster and pretty gutted at the finish as I was hoping the recent speed work would pay off. Adam made an appearance and did a 28.50 - seeing the sports doctor tomorrow to get an idea on this groin injury which has kept him out of action for the year so far. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/267616783 and going to miss Hurts tomorrow as I have a 1pm meeting so will contemplate running home.

Finally a mention on Tom's Blog

It's take nearly two years to get some column inches on the second best Hurts running blog, but I've managed it today. Out for the Friday session and hadn't realised how warm or humid it was and a small crowd including Tom, Big Sam and Indrajit. Normal Monday route and I was enlightened, by an Englishman no less, on Burns Day that I run past a statue of the great Bard Rabbie Burns a few times a week. A little disappointed that the author of such great works as Ode to a Mouse, Address to the Haggis and Tam O'Shanter is stuck away in a shady corner in the Domain and not standding proud near the Opera House.
Anyway a nice easy pace today and everyone seems to be feeling the effects of their training at the moment so we must be doing something right. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/265725918 and about 40kms for the week.
Looking forward to my first Aussie day as a citizen tomorrow, so will need to get the aussie flag singlet, footy shorts and thongs on for the day.

Bit of a backlog

Been a tough week so far - have only missed Tuesday and feeling the effects of the triathlon.
Out on Monday for a roughly 11kms and then out again yesterday for about 12 - forgot to reset the watch from Monday's session so one entry for 23kms all up. Those stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/265298400.
A big crowd out today for the Rushcutters 8 x 800 and just as well as I was onlydoing teh timing and not the lap counts as I got to 5 and announced we were halfway through to be corrected by most of the group. Very happy with my times today, although similar to Mr Higham, I bonked on rep 4 and felt pretty average for the 5 and 6, but managed to pick it up for the last two. Reps were 2.56, 2.54, 2.53, 2.56, 2.54, 2.51, 2.48, 2.45 and just two secnds off my pb pace on the last one (3.25 pace) for this set. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/265451386
Just in from a vendor dinner at The Morrison where I had possibly the best shoulder of lamb ever - just feel off the bone onto my fork, found a couple of duck fat chips before entering my gob. Delish.

Friday Ride and First Triathlon Podium!

Managed to get out on Friday morning for a ride with Niki and Dan for an easy-ish La Per session before the heat picked up. Took my running stuff in to work but thought better of heading out in 45C. Stats for the ride are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/263941719.
Missed the Hurts Saturday run at Centennial but got in a swim in the avo at Clovelly, which was pretty lumpy - garmin at its best with 1.7kms for four laps. Check out the map at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/263941688.
Decided to do the Brats club sprint tri at Heffron this morning, thanks to Clyde for the heads up during the week. I've managed my first ever podium race finish with third overall in the general wave - not that they had a podium, but that's minor detail. Very happy with a 20.06 for the run leg and just need to get some more bike fitness before the March Kurnell. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/263941663 and official results are at http://oldwebsite.bratclub.com.au/images/Races/Results/2012-2013/tri_r4_2013.pdf (all the X numbers were the elite wave)

Short and hot Thursday

Missed the start of the 2km repeats today getting held up at work and then a 1.30 meeting meant I was able to get out for about 20 minutes before sweating myself over to Westpac Place for a meeting. Arrived at meeting looking like I had been in a shower fully clothed - stinking hot and humid today - think it hit 30 and tomorrow is looking like a 37-42C day!
Anyway, just did a very quick return trip run round the opera house and farm to cove to Mrs Macs at about 4.11 average pace. Stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/262966522 and watch didn't get a GPS hook up until the opera house, so about 5kms all up.

Wednesday

Out for the long run today with the intention of just doing 11/12 due a 2pm meeting but just missed the group, so headed off to Woolloomoolloo and up the steps towards Potts Point where I managed to catch them before we headed down into Elizabeth Bay. MC was back  and taking it easy on the hammy, along with Emma, Joanathan, Sam and I think Fats. Felt good going up the hills today and around the park was easy before I dropped out at Fox Studios and came back with Emma. Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/262663860.

Got home and headed down to Clovelly for a dip - water was clear and beautiful and just what I needed at the end of the day.
Rushcutters pyramid set tomorrow I think.

Bit of an Entry Backlog

Apologies to all my regular readers for the lack of content for the last few days - been entertaining/entertained since Thursday night!
Had  a great, hard Rushcutters 8x800 session on Thursday with a big crowd and managed a new pb of 3.23 pace. Stats for that run at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/260889827
Backed up for what I thought would be an easy Friday flat run, which according to Tom's blog was at an easy pace, for everyone to agree to do Balls Head. Struggled big time and was at the back with Big Sam who was also complaining about the session, until the Waverton bowling club, when he found a  fresh pair of legs and was off! Made it back and was very happy with a sub 5 min km average pace but was knackered. Stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/260889813 and must have forgotten to switch the garmin off after the run.
Late night on Saturday but headed out for the 6.30 striders session and missed the start so resigned myself to a flat lap of the park before going home and heading back to bed. No such luck as I met Laura and the striders at the flagpoles, so tucked in behind them and within 300m was about 5 meters off the pace. They were pushing it going up to the Oxford Street gates and along the top and even Laura wasn't suer she wass going to hang on. I dropped off at the Ocean St gates and came back around the park for 5.5kms all up. Got home but wasn't allowed back to bed! Stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/261974759
After yesterday's effort, had to get out today and a huge crowd for a Monday inclduing Tom, Dave, Big Same, Rob C, Timmy, Emma and Indrajit. Pace felt like it was on from the start, given the absence of Mike, but I was also struggling to breathe and chest felt really tight. Felt ok after the turnaround and pace picked up again coming back past the wharves, before Big Sam calmed people down. Happy with just shy of 11kms at 4.31 average pace. Stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/261974759

Wednesday Long Run

Bit rich calling it a long one when I only did 13kms but I was journalistically challenged for a title.
I managed to get a wee swim in yesterday morning before the heat set in and prevented any sane person from exercising during the day. Did two laps of Clovelly, so about 500m, and it was just stunning. Flat calm, clear water and the sun rising - bliss. Stats for yesterday are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/259952273

Got out today for the long run, a much better temperature and a  decent crowd including MC, Rob C, Laura, Emma, Tom, Big Sam and Jonathan. Left achilles was feeling a bit iffy on the way up, so decided to drop off at Fox Studios gates to avoid the hills on the way back. Was an easy pace and whole run felt good today. Laura, Emma and Mark took the shorter option so not a bad start to the new year already. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/259952272 and forgot to change my watch setting back to running so no splits.

Weekend Update and Monday Hurts

Managed to get a couple of outings on the weekend. Git in a ride with Nick to La Per on Friday morning so skipped the lunch run - stats for that ride are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/258490569.
I also managed to get out for a swim yesterday morning and took the garmin for the first time - little concerned about it's accuracy, but you can check out for yourself at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/258490525!
Return of the proper Hurts sessions today and a huge turnout for a Monday - must have been about 20 people today. MC led the way with Indrajit, Tom, Rob C, Big Sam, Sweeney and Ray among the regulars. Felt the heat a bit but the pace was pretty pleasant averaging 4.36 for the 11.4kms back to CQ. Had on a new pair of runners which felt a bit tight but the achilles and knees were feeling fine after my visit to Scott on Friday night. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/259170647.

Thursday Rushcutters

Managed to get out today and a pretty decent turn out for the time of year, including Tucks, Jonathan, Andy, Laura, Sonja and Emma. Wasn't really looking forward to the 10 x 450m set but once you get past the first three it seems to be ok until the last two. Was wearing new socks today and right foot was starting to blister after the first 5, so did the second half of the second in bare feet and it felt great. Pretty happy with my lap times of 98, 92, 94, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89 and I think a new pb of 86. Stats for the session are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/257346923.
Out for a La Per ride with Nick tomorrow, so may give the lunch session a miss as I have physio at night.

Stats for yesterday's session are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/257346942

First Run of 2013

Have left the Garmin in the office so no upload today. Got out with Jonathan Worswick for a nice 11km foreshore run at about 4.35 average pace, although last couple of kms were about 4.20-4.15 pace. Getting a little concerned at a niggle in the left achilles and some pain in the top oof both knees, so have booked in a massage/physio session for Friday night.
Need to start planning out the 2013 race goals and get this site updated - no desires for a marathon this year and would like to have a serious go at the 10km, C2S and a couple of halfs.