FLYING....at least on the Bike.

Out in the park once more for a tough bike set that was 4, 3, 2, and One full Lap efforts with a strong group, with an easy lap recovery after each set.
Broke up into little groups and there were 7 in mine as we set off on the first 4 lap effort, God the boys weren't hanging around this morning and i was working as hard as ever just to stay on, very thankful for the break at the end of the 4th that was done in a near record time for me in 21.45. Pretty much the same pace on the 2nd but saw us lose a few of the group on the way, lost even a few more on the double set and come the single lap we were down to 3.
Times were, 21.45, 16.15, 11.09, 5.26
Unbelievable times and its no wonder 'King of the Drafting' Coach John Hill does it all the time in races and has his crew that includes HuRTS Marshmallow Man and the Laughing Policeman follow suit as you reduce your times big style with 20% less effort - Pity the boys never seem to reproduce it come the races when the 'Draftbusters' are out in force and put a stop to this way of racing.
Returned home with 66ks ticking over, but the legs were very Jelly like.

Down to Rushcutters at lunch for the HuRTs 10 x 400s and a big crew on a bloody HOT day that even saw the return of J-Fen (amazing what the threat of getting the Underachiever Award will do to get people back out), Enda returned, and as usual Kanser rocked up late.
With Vlad leading the way with Tom and Bartles, i settled into the pretty big second group and kicked it off with a 72 second lap, Pretty much stayed on pace for the first 5 but lost it a little on reps 7 & 8 before bringing it home again for the final 10th
Rep times for the day were, 72, 71, 72, 72, 72, 73, 74, 74, 73, 70
Bloody tough session this one despite it being all done and dusted within 20 minutes, and looking around at everyone at the end i could see there wasn't much left in peoples tanks, in fact poor Enda was doing all he could to avoid Fertilizing the nearby flower bed at one point .
So its Striders the next call and i had a quiet word with HuRTS #1 Lady Laura and asked her nicely if she could avoid beating me and as a 'Kind English Gentleman' I would buy her a few drinks come presentation evening - Unfortunately Tommy H was nearby and 'Being a Kind Englishman ...But with more Money' offered to DOUBLE the amount of drinks if she does beat me. :)
Also bid  farewell to another member today as Michael "Killa' Killacoat informed the team that today was his last session as he is heading to the 'Old Dart' for work for a few years.  Good lad and a very good runner Killa is when in form  and i swear i saw a tear or two on Kanser's face when he told us he was leaving the team.

Berlin Bound #13 is Robert Eugene Costello aka Elvis, Taxi Man, or Herman to his mates.
Elvis has been with the team a few years now but really only came into recognition late last year when he improved his running in a big way that saw him in the frame for the 'Most Improved Runner ' at the HuRTS Awards in December (which he didn't get by the way). His one claim to fame and his biggest Achievement in Life was beating yours truly at last Octobers Striders 10k race out at Homebush (even better then becoming a dad he reckons) Has joined the ranks of the Ultra/Walkers Society and with Tucks away for the year maybe he has an eye of winning this award come the end of the year.
We welcomed Elvis into the Sub 3 hour club when he went to Dublin in October and with a Usain Bolt like last 100m managed to sneak under with 2 seconds to spare.  Great time from him BUT i fear joining the 2 point 4 club (2hr40s) a long way off for him at this point of time and the REAL Battle of the Bulge will come in September when the Warrior and Elvis go face to face.
Elvis also has the honour of being the Heaviest to Tip the Scales prior to becoming an athlete with the HuRTS team. With Kanser burning all the evidence of his in his youth, I have managed to find one that shows Elvis relegate Clyde down a spot :) In the photo it looks like he has just eaten half the HuRTs squad :)
Berlin Time Tip - 3hr:12 (that's without calling a Taxi home at the 32ks mark)

Elvis looking very happy at the end of Striders 10k race - Homebush.

Elvis with a win over 'Young Timmy' with Enda never far away when the camera's come out.

In his Pre HuRTS days - looking as if he's just eaten half the team.

........and finally from his TV days as Herman Munster c/o The Addams Family Fame from way back in the 60s (Ask Master Sweeney to tell you about it if you are too young to remember)

Tomorrow - The "Outsider' of the Group, Steve Bianchini (Tom's Mate)

Cheers