Sluggish Saturday

Seriously lacking motivation and enthusiasm this morning but managed to drag myself out for 13kms around the park. Another decent group with Laura, Enda, Russell, Renaud, Fast Charlie and a couple of others at the start and aim for the group was for two laps at 4.30 pace then marathon pace for the last 10kms - lucky I was only aiming for 20kms tops! Felt crap from the get go but managed to stay on the front for the first lap and keep the pace up for the 8km hill. Timmy joined us after the first lap and I could only manage a lap of the park before nature called in an urgent manner and I had to make use of the best toilet block in the park. All up 13kms at 4.29 pace, so not bad but would have liked to have done closer to 20 today. Almost 50kms for the week. Stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/367784921

Friday with Jim

A very pleasant run with Jim today over to Lavender Bay and back. Felt more like summer than the last day of winter with a temp supposed to be around 26-28. Jim is looking fit and well underestimating his ability for the Blackmores half - he should be hitting around 95 and not settling for a sub 100. Hoping to get out for the long run tomorrow although negotiations around Father's Day breakfast in bed (Anna's request) and getting out tomorrow (my preference) aren't going quite in my favour. All up about 8 kms today although garmin wasn't playing ball for some reason, so no stats.

Catch Up

Managed to get out for the long run on Saturday and a decent crowd with Laura in charge. Unfortunately she took a sickening fall on the first lap - thankfully she is ok with just some bruising and grazes. She is a pretty tough cookie. All up I got in 14 kms which is what I was aiming for. Stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/366494970.
Forgot the Garmin on Monday so no stats but did about 10km with the last 3 at pace with Ray. Good to see Adam back out and hopefully he can get some form back over the next couple of months.
Was late getting out today so headed around the Rocks to the Hickson Road wharves and started to double back to catch the group. A huge Wednesday MLR group today - must have been about 20 and a stunning day for it. Came back to CQ for about 15kms all up and right knee feeling a bit tight so will roll out the ITB tonight and hopefully be good for Rushcutters 8x800 tomorrow. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/366494940

Corp Cup and Rushcutters Pyramid

Pretty happy with a 23.25 for the corp cup yesterday albeit on an altered course. Adam was walking it due to a man flu so though I was on my own. Had noticed these footsteps behind me for the first 3kms and as I came down from the Boy Charlton Derek pipes up that I'm slowing down! Tried to keep the pace up but he put on a spurt at the Botanic Garden and just couldn't go with him. Stats for yesterday are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/362629994
Out today for one of my least favourite sessions at Rushcutters - a decent crowd for an easy run over where we split into 3 groups. Second group quite quickly split in two and I was running with MC, Jeet and Ellie although MC disappeared after the second set. Felt good at the halfway point of the 4 lap set and managed to keep the pace going though to the end - pace for each as follows 3.50(1 lap), 3.41(2 laps), 3.36 (3laps), 3.38 (4 laps), 3.36 (3 laps), 3.29 (2 laps), 3.08 (1 lap). Stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/363106561. Rest day tomorrow and long run Saturday morning.

Catch Up

A very easy week mainly due to a 3 day training course for which my legs were exceptionally grateful. Got out on Friday - was a minute late and no sign of anyone so headed over to the Art Gallery but still no shows until Ray turned up at the same spot. Headed off with him at a very easy pace and as we were going under the Bridge we were caught by Big Sam and two others. Pace remained pleasant with Ray and Sam discussing how worried they both were about doing a long Tom run in the morning. Neither of them showed up today, so maybe it didn't go so well. Stats for Friday are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/361523313
Had an easy weekend with no running and back out today for a huge turnout. Normal suspects included MC, Indrajit, LF Charlie, Ellie, Laura, Russell and Brendan. Again a nice easy 10kms at 4.36 pace. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/361523313

C2S

Firstly, stats from an easy 10km Thursday session are here
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357674735.
Secondly, totally chuffed with a 3.05 minute pb at the C2S yesterday with a 54.43 official result. Great runs by all of the Hurt Squad with run of the day going to Laura with a 5th place overall. Also great results by Adam (58.40) having been injured for most of the year and Jim finally cracking the 70 minute mark with a high 68 and into the red group for next year. Stats for yesterday are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357674701.
Out for a very easy 10km with the squad today and stats for that at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/357674687

Wednesday Easy

Out for a nice easy one today as tapering for C2S with a decent crowd including MC, Mike Race, Big Sam and Clyde. Not sure what happened to the garmin - doesn't look like it started for the first couple of kms, so I suspect I did somewhere around 10kms. MC has calculated my C2S time as 55 flat, so will need to see if I can live up to expectations. Will do another easy on tomorrow and that will be it until Sunday. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/354877063

Lane Cove 10km

A bit of a chilly start this morning but a decent crowd out for the Striders 10km Lane Cove run. This is a great C2S trial run course - should be able to do first 10kms of C2S in the same time as this race. Small crowd of Hurts runners at the start including Andy H, Young Timmy, James, Renee, Ellie, Emma and Big Sam. Went off hard for the first km - about 3.45 pace I think then pulled it back it bit for the hills on the next 4 kms and then pushed hard on the last 5kms which are always the fastest. Didn't feel that fresh on the hills but that might have been due to yesterdays run but still a pb over this course by 20 seconds and a boost for C2S. Some great results today - especially Emma who was flying - gave me a scare at Scribbly Gums - and did close to 40and Ellie who might just have snuck in under 40. Big Sam was flying with a 38.01. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/352409230

Friday Easy One

Out for what I was hoping was a flat 7/8 kms to find just Big Sam, Tom and Barts at the start and a decision to do a lap of Centennial Park. Not sure this was the best prep for the Lane Cove 10km tomorrow but time will tell. Nice easy pace and felt it pretty easy on the hills up to Centennial which is hopefully a good sign for C2S. All up about 13kms and quite fortunate to have survived given Tom's lassez faire attitude to crossing roads. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/352109990