Queen Laura Calls the Shots

Friday. A quick trip to the Acupuncture place first up was the order of the day as i continue to recover from  what seems a never ending injury.
Down then to the Prince Alfred Pool (PAP) and arrived early to meet a client of mine who is in triathlon training and agreed to do a straight 1k with him before the guys got there. This guy is normally very slow so i thought just sit on his feet for the next 20 minutes and everything would be nice and easy. Unfortunately he has been swimming the house down over the past 6 months doing over 20ks a week and i was battling just to hang in there over the first 250 metres. Managed to stay with him and couldn't believe it when i saw 16.39 for the rep and probably the fastest Kay ever for me.
Buggered then even before the guys rock up and coach Walker sets us 6 x 200s, followed by 6 x 100s as Brendan, Eloquent, Cilais ,and Dave all looking at one another with no one keen to lead the lane at anytime.
Struggled through and held pretty much 3.15 -3.20s for the 200, and 1.34 -136 for the 100s depending on who took the lane.
3ks for the day.

Saturday. No Mikey (holidays yet again), No Enda (too cold) and No Kanser (injured) so met up with HuRTS #1 Lady Laura, Hardman J.C, Glen, , Ben and the Sweaty Sock (Craig) for the long run. Started out doing the normal 10k loop before Queen Laura stamped her authority on the morning and changed the route a little taking us all the way up Anzac Parade to Moore Park Road. It was also at this point they decided to run at marathon pace of 4 min ks.  10ks done in 43.45 (4.22 pace) and then took off for a another flat loop at the same pace. Couldn't believe i couldn't stay with J.C despite him already doing 26ks at this point and i was working at 3.59 pace for the 3.6k, A more sedate pace for the final lap as the guys were then done and Enda was passing so tagged on with him at 4.33s
18ks all up for the morning average 4.20s - pretty happy with that and touch wood the Achilles felt fine.
Late afternoon spent around the traps of Paddington in the company of Enda, Tom, PLOD, The Leech, Taffy James, Slim Sammy Agnew,  and what appeared half of England crammed into the tiny Grand National Pub. Great afternoon before heading across the road to watch the Lions give the Tahs a good shoeing. Fair play to the Tahs who i thought actually played well but the Lions were just to strong and powerful as they fine tune there game before next Saturday's first test.
Decided we hadn't had enough beer before so went back to the pub after the game  and this is where things started to get a little hazy.  I had Taffy James trying to blast out his best Tom Jones 'Delilah rendition, Tom in one ear baffled as to why Johnny Bartles keeps smashing him and wondering how he'll ever get back to #1, and Enda in the other continuing with his excuses and doing his best to keep his sister away from me :)
Cracking night had and can't wait to hit Brisvegas next weekend for the big one.

Lions Tour of Duty with Enda, Slim Sammy Agnew, Chairman Tommy Highnam, and Taffy James.

All on the same team for once , England, Wales and Ireland come together as ONE.

Enda after dragging me away from his sister who has promised me some more 'Young Enda' Photos in the next week or so :)

Lions on the way to another try against the Tahs.

...and YES there was ONE Aussie in the boozer, In fact it was Enda's Shrink Spark's in his Green & Gold that was later seen cleaning the floors.

Back out in the morning for another 15k run and will try to fit a swim in as well.

cheers