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.