Wed and Thurs

Well 24 hours from now, I'll be down one wisdom tooth, up two fillings and hopefully in very little discomfort. Unlike today, where after corp cup yesterday I did the 10x400 with Hurts at Rushcutters.
So Corp Cup yesterday was another exercise in futility and despite the course being 100m shorter than normal, I managed to do exactly the same time as when it is 100m longer than normal! Ridiculously frustrating despite missing Tuesday speed session and feeling really good on the way up. Did the first couple of kms faster than normal at sub 4min km pace but just had nothing on the back half (last km was 4.05 pace that is normally sub 4) and probably lost a load of time on the steps. So next race is number 100 and maybe everything is lining up for a sub 24 then. Stats for yesterday at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/158096348.
On to today and we headed across to Rushcutters Oval but a cricket match was taking place (who has time to play cricket on a Thursday lunchtime?) So it was a semi-measured 400m course and my garmin died on the third one (pathetic battery life as it was fully charged yesterday, off since lunchtime and yet it ran out after about 4 mins today). Pace was 3.30 for the first two but I reckon it dropped off during the set. First time I have been last for the whole session. Bit of an accident on the last repeat when one of the guys ran straight into a maiden and completely bowled her over - nobody's fault really and she was ok. Limited stats for today at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/158096346.

Good start to the week

Headed out for a ride this morning with Nick and Chris but Nick managed to sleep in so it was the two of us. Did La Per via Maroubra and back the same way but managed to convince Chris to avoid Arden Street on the way home. Not a bad ride but certainly didn't feel as good as the tri last week and not that happy with how the bike is running - chain taking a bit to get into the large chain ring and something is rubbing either tthe wheel rim or a pedal. All up roughly 30kms this moring and stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/157235847.
Backed up with the Monday Hurts session and a big crowd but no Mike or Tom. Laura, James and I kicked off the session and I stuck on the front trying to keep MC's 4.40 target average pace. Couple of guys went off the front and felt ok at the turn around so came back to CQ and an average pace of 4.39 - so not a bad effort given this morning's ride. Run stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/157235858. No Adam today as he suffered a Baker's cyst behind his left knee at the of last week but ultrasounds looked ok today and he managed an easy 5 kms. No run tomorrow as I want to give myself a good chance for my 99th Corp Cup on Wednesday.

Friday Swim with Todd's Trunks

Loving the Hurts Friday swim option despite being hopeless in the pool on Friday. I had forgotten how much I liked swim squads. Not a bad crowd with Todd, Mark M and Emma among the gang - and Todd sporting some serious lycra. A brand call FunkyTrunks and more of a euro-bather than a speedo cut but the colours are something to be seen. I stuck at the back for the 5 x 100m, 5x 200m and 5 x 100m with a 200m warm up. Managed the first 100m set on a 1.50 repeat but could only do 2 of the 200ms at that pace so took a breather and did 4 of 100m for a total of 1.5kms. Did 10 minute run up and came back in 8.55 and not a bad finish to the week.

Done In

Firstly, run stats from Moday are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/155402621. Got out today but had forgotten the Garmin so was free from the shackles of average km pace, distance etc and it felt great. Adam and Dat put in an appearance - having done 1 session for the year last week, Adam has done all Hurts sessions this week - better keep an eye on him. Only 8 of us today including Tom, MC, Jonathan, Mike Race and James. Adam and Dat were keen on just doing to Fox Studio gates and coming back via Oxford Street, so I pushed my pace up Ocean St and around the park to stick up the front with Tom and Jonathan - no way I would have kept going but it felt all right. Took it pretty easy coming back to the office and started to feel really crap after my shower - pain in my joints, have a very strange pain going from the left side of my neck across the top of my shoulder and really tired. Will get in an early night and hopefully feel better in the morning as keen to do the Hickson Road set tomorrow. All up about 15kms today.

Kurnell and Monday Run

Well after 6 years absence from the Kurnell sprint triathlon's I made a return to racing yesterday morning. While I didn't break the 70 minute barrier (overestimated my swimming and cycling ability and training) I certainly didn't disgrace myself. I was 17th overall in my age category (35-39 and 106 entrants) with a total of 71.23 and very happpy with splits of 13.50, 36.56 and 20.36 all including transition times. My full results are at http://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/RaceTecResults/MyResults.aspx?CId=1&RId=627&EId=1&AId=614. Thankfully the weather cleared up from the rain over the past 4 days so that we got a dry race although we could have done with a little less rain on the cycle course. That was the last one of the series and I'll be in the 40-45 category if I'm around for next year's series - if I did the same time I would have been 5 minutes off the best age group time.
I backed up with the Hurts monday run, but have left my garmin in the office. Big crowd today, and so much for MC's 4.40 recovery run pace, with Adam making his first Monday run of the year mind you it is his birthday today. He dropped off at Shelly Street and we were clocking an average pace on 4.33 - not what I needed after yesterday. I held on to Circular Quay and I think the watch had avergae pace at 4.25. Jim passed at the Hyatt but couldn't reply to his shout. All up I think about 49 mins for just over 11kms and I'll get the stats loaded tomorrow.

Wet Wet Wet

Didn't get to meet a top quality Scottish band from the 90's today - just got drenched running to and from the pool for the Hurts session. Must have been about 15 people turn up for the swim - not surprising given you would have been wetter running - including MC, Derek, Fast Charlie and Todd. Pool was pretty quiet when I arrived and straight into a 500m warm up and this week I maanged to do half the set and stick to the 1.50 time repeat. So all up 1.6kms in the pool and very happy to say that the run back felt fantastic - not sure what happens to your body some days, but everything just felt right and very easy on the way back. So probably 4kms of running toround out the week and hopefully put me in good shape for Sunday.

Poor Corp Cup

I really really dislike the corp cup. After reckoning the course is 20 secs longer with the open air cinema diversion, I was quietly confident that I could be pretty close to 24 today with the course back to normal. No such luck as I managed a 24.18. So three races left to break 24 for this series and it would be nice to do it before on on my 100th corp cup run in two races time. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/153624129.