Laura Wins Sydney Half

What a fantastic result for Laura taking out the half today with a new pb. Guess who the drinks are on at the Hurts annual party! Also a great run for Ellie with an 88 and she is going to blitz the Melbourne Marathon in a couple of weeks.
Bad news for Jim today who tore a calf muscle around the 7km mark on Art Gallery Rd - he'll be Happy to have managed another pb by 40 secs today although really wanted an 84 in the number but just didn't have the legs around the hills at Pyrmont and can see from the stats that is where I lost it. Happy to finish strongly though with the last 4kms all sub 4 minute pace. Oh well, next year I all is well!
Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/379238419

Easy Friday

Last run before the half and a good crowd out for an easy one around the Monday route. MC, Indrajit, Tom and Paul among the regulars. Pace was roughly 4.35 for just shy of 10.5 and the new Wave Sayonara's felt great but will stick to the most recent pair of Wave Precisions for Sunday. Stats for yesterday are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/378689456

Corp Cup

Cracking day and a lot different from Monday! Felt exceptionally flat after spending most of yesterday in the air and wasn't confident of a decent time or particularly motivated to be honest. Adam, Ant and Deeks were at the start so a little bit or rivalry and banter was had by all. Couldn't get a lock on the Garmin so started off without any idea how fast I was going. Deeks passed me just after Mrs Macs and no way I was going to keep up with him. Lots of people out today so held up quite a lot which I reckon added 10-15 secs. Passed Adam at the pool on the way back and just managed to hold on for the last two kms. Not great seeing someone being treated by paramedics close to the parliament building - didn't look like a corp cup runner, but unpleasant all the same and trust they are ok. Happy with a 23.25 but it hurt. Meetings over lunch tomorrow so will do an easy one on Friday before the half on Sunday. Dodgy stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/377539985

Damp Monday

Wow - bit of a shock to the system to be heading out on a cold, wet and windy day after the last 4-6 weeks of weather. Not a huge crowd today but the hardcore ones were out including MC, Russell, Laura, Ellie, James, Barts and Jonathan W. Felt great all the way around today despite having yesterday's run in the legs. All up about 11kms and Garmin must have had a bit of a problem as I certainly didn't do a 3.32 at 5km! Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/376591941

Last Long Run

Managed to get in a 7km run in Brissie during the week - Garmin seems to think I did it a lot quicker than I did for some reason. Stats at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/375803094.
A team event on Friday stopped me getting out, but managed to head out this morning for a longer one with Enda, James, Ronan, Owen and a couple of others. The National 50km race was on in Centennial and Andy Heyden passed us on his way to an impressive 2nd place with a 3.18 effort - just 7 minutes quicker than my marathon effort and 8kms longer! Anyway, 16kms all up at 4.25 pace and felt strong today, especially on the hills. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/375803082.
Will be an easyish week in the lead up to the half on Sunday, with a day trip to Hobart on Tuesday and corp cup on Wednesday keeping the kms down, so hopefully a good taper.

Monday Hurts

Decent crowd out today and some good performances at Striders on the weekend as well as some long efforts from the marathon trainers. This was going to be my main run this week as off to Brisbane tomorrow until Thursday - will take the kit with me, but it's not the same as running with Hurts! All up about 13kms and managed to pick up the pace on the last few although I think the 3.36 might be a Garmin aberration. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/372948357

Hickson Rd

Three days of speed work on the trot and the legs were not happy on the run up although I ended up feeling ok for the set. Big crowd out today and we all started off together before the natural order of things settled down. Good to see Mike Race and Emma back out and Laura, Ellie, Big Sam, Brendan and Tom among the other regulars. Had also forgotten the Garmin so had no timing available and just paced myself off Brenda for the first couple and Mike for the last three. Seemed to be holding around 4.15 for the 1.2kms and a average pace of roughly 3.30 - good target for 5km TT. All up probably about 9kms today with the run there and back. Anna off to Melbourne tomorrow for an overnight, so hoping that I will get out for the long Sunday session.

5km TT and Corp Cup

Another hard 5km TT last night and should have done better than a 3 second improvement on last month, with an 18.43. Forgot the Garmin so was running blind, which was quite pleasant for a change, with just the time being called each 400m by Clyde. Started off too hard with an 85 lap and then just managed to hold 90 sec laps for the rest of the set. Only 7 of us out last night, so second last again with a fellow Scotsman from Wick doing a sub 16.
Wasn't entirely happy about backing up for the Corp Cup today and the legs felt tired on the run up so wasn't looking forward to it at all. Saw Derek at the start, so all hopes of a an easy-ish one went out the window. Felt ok on the first couple of kms but dropped off a bit on the last two while still trying to hold on to Derek and Pete Walker. Very surprised to come home with a 23.15, second fastest time ever, although a slightly shorter course. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/370381408. Not really looking forward to another speed set tomorrow but won't be out Friday or Saturday as Anna off to Melbourne for a 25 year school reunion.

Monday Hurts

Another stunning Sydney day - cannot believe how good the weather has been for the last 3-4 weeks - and a decent turn out for the Monday recovery run. Kind of wishing I was training for a marathon again as that is all the talk at the moment and it's making me think seriously about another one. Usual suspects out including MC, LF Charlie, Laura, Ellie, Russell, Big Sam and Ray. Garmin didn't get a lock on until after the ABC so I think I was about 13kms all up having come back to the opera house and roughly 4.20 ish pace, which felt all right. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/369227468