Soft

Well you could tell there were Hurts drinks on last night by the four of us of turned up for the Friday session today. Big Sam, Trailwalker Jon and a new guy headed out on the Monday course and were almost blown into the harbour. Pace was on a bit from the start and going round the bottom of Farm Cove at about 4.25 pace I wasn't sure I was going be abel to keep it up. We were hit by a wall of wind at the back of the opera house - have never experienced anything like it. I was almost stopped in my tracks and honestly thought I would go backwards - only learnt this avo that it was gusting up to 100kms. Bit blustery around Hickson Road but quite pleasant coming back. Finished up at Circular Quay with a couple of quicker kms for aabout 45kms for the week all of which have been run at 4.22 average or quicker! No wonder I'm cactus tonight. Might try for a long one on Sunday morning weather permitting. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/219728462

Thursday Speed Set

With the Corp Cup in the legs, I wasn't sure doing the 8 gate to gates was going to be a great idea but certain it was better than 10x550m argyll street hill reps. Only 5 of us turned up for that set after two late program changes from Tom and Mike Race. Three of the group were doing about 3.20 pace and luckily another guy was planning to do about 3.55 so we stick together for the sessoin. Very happy to start the set at 3.48 pace and finish with two at 3.39 pace after Wednesday effort so feeling a bit more confident for the half. Stats for Thursday at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/219728483

Corp Cup

Bit of a delay getting things posted this week due to an evening out and friends over for dinner. So Wednesday was Corp Cup day and Sydeny turned up the heat with 27C and starting to remember what it is like to run in the summer again. Felt quite strong for most of the course and a bit disappointed to only manage a 24.20 - certainly felt a lot faster but maybe my hard Monday had taken its toll on the legs. Stats for the run are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/219728495

Hard Monday

Didn't quite run according to the Monday recovery run plan and feeling the effort now. Decent sized group today and some good performances from the Coastal Classic and the Striders 10km over the weekend. Seems the Striders course was 150m long so just as well I didn't go. MC managed a Garmin pb but alas that won't count!
Did the whole set today and knew it was going to be tough when we were doing 4.25 pace at the second km, so just decided to do the set as a hard training run for the half and finished with a couple of 4.10's at around the 13/14km mark. So all up 16kms today and a good start to the week - stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/218266498.

I've got the shoes like Higham.....

...to bastardize a line from Maroon 5 but my new pair of PrecisionWave 12 Mizuno's arrived 5 minutes before I headed out to do the Friday session. They are a lightweight neutral runner and  I think I might have discovered Tom's secret - I felt fantastic and managed to pull out a couple of 4.10's over the lkast couple of kms. Only about 7 of us out including Clive, Indrajit, MC and Russell and we were joined by Emma at the Farm Cove gates due to Striders North Head and the Coastal Classic tomorrow morning. No Garmin stats for today as my watch database was full but about 13kms all up and no pain in the calf at all today - so these could be miracle shoes. Not sure if I'll get out over the weekend but if not a good week and about 42kms this week.

Wednesday Longish One

Headed out with a decent crowd today of about 13 for the long run around Centennial, including Tom, MC, Jonathan and Mike Race. Weather was just stunning and the first warm run for a few months. Found myself out the front until Elizabeth Bay so knew the pace wasn't that fast and felt strong going up from Rushcutters to the top of Ocean Street. Was only planning on doing one lap and heading back but most of the guys split off at Fox Studios so I went with them and ended up doing about 13kms all up today. Not sure if it was the Pilates session yesterday but my legs felt great today and were moving really easily although still a slight twinge in the left calf. Stats for today are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/216335115. Not sure if doing the North Head 10km on Saturday yet but keen to try for a pb again although Adam has a knee problem which may scupper his changes of running on Saturday.

Monday Recovery Run

And it felt a bit like a tempo session! A big group today including MC, Adam, Mike Race, New Dad Rob, Indrajit, Dave and the return of Tom. Adam had 19kms in the legs from yesterday so was only planning on 10/11kms and Dave was aiming to get back to the Opera House. I wanted to see how I felt the OH and managed to keep going all the way home. Pretty happy with an average pace of 4.30 and todays stats are at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/215574403. Pace started out nice and easy but by Circular Quay things had sped up a wee bit and we are 4.32 average by the turnaround at King Street Wharf. Ended up with Tom and Brendan from Circular Quay all the way home - Tom showing us some fancy footwork avoiding a pedestrian at CQ and he could cut quite a figure on the dance floor based on the sidestep I saw. MC let slip it is his 41st birthday tomorrow, so pas on your congrats if you see him. All up about 16kms today and a good start to the week. Pilates tomorrow and hopefully long run on Wednesday.