Faulty Watch, or Just Slow ?

Into the park again this morning and decided on doing 12ks all up that included a 4k warm up then 1k hard, 1 k easy x 4. The 1st & 3rd ks on the same stretch of the park as was the 2nd &4th.
Armed with the new(ish) GPS Watch and after a lap warm up it was straight into the 1st rep, Felt i was travelling OK on a beautiful Autumn morning but was surprised when i saw a 3.58 recorded. A further k recovery and the 2nd wasn't much quicker,
Now i know I'm not in career best form at the moment but surely i was travelling faster times then what this watch was telling me for today ???????
The 1k reps were, 3.58, 3.51, 3.55, 3.52, recoveries were around the 5 min mark.
Jeez what with the pin flying out yesterday, dodgy times and satellites today .......... not sure of this watch at this stage.
It could end up being on eBay by the end of the weekend, if it doesn't get its act together.

12ks all up in 54 mins - average 4.34 pace.

Will be out running long tomorrow with Kanser in and around the park, not been done for a few weeks now but will be worth his carry on if the 'Good Wife' gets the Bacon & Eggs on the go at the conclusion :)

Cheers

Friday Cruise

Into the city to meet up with Tom and Tucks and a new guy Joel(?) for a cruise 14ks. Pretty easy pace although Tom was feeling the efforts of having a tough session in beating me last night. Caught up with Kanser half way around who then told me he's off on another break - this time to QLD and said he will be bringing the 'dry Needles, and Strassburg Sock with him in the hope of curing Master Sweeney when he pays a visit :)
Had an unwelcome stop around by the Hyatt Hotel when the pin snapped out my watch and nearly sent it in the Harbour, a bit of D.I.Y from Tom (think he was glad for the break) and we were back on our way
14ks all up average 4.39 pace
Day 1 of the new program DONE :)

Oh the big NEWS from last night - Again Enda hits the front page. A couple of weeks back he was giving it large ones on his Woolongong Olympic Distance Triathlon he did in a record time of 2.01? .... and raving on how he did so well in the 10k run..........What our little potato friend DID NOT tell us was that the bike leg was SHORT and only measured 36ks and NOT the regular 40ks .................SHAME ON YOU :)
Got me thinking and Toms on the same wavelength here..........but rumour going around is that Melbourne Ironman run leg was only 39.8ks in distance. I have my little man walking around there now with his wheel measuring it as i write.
Hold the Phone..........there could be more

Also heard that a few of you can not open or read the Blog on your computers....????? not sure why, i will check it out and hopefully fix the problem. May be the reason why readership has dipped under the 2 million for the first time :)

Have a great weekend
Cheers

Biathlon Wrap Up.

Last race of the Biathlon season before the clocks go back and what a BIG letdown it turned out to be.
Had drummed it up for the past fortnight, but with people going down like flies with excuses coming left, right, and centre i went along thinking there was only going to Pete Walker and I. Was surprised then when i saw Christian, Mark Milligan (Milly), The Mermaid, Taffy, Ronah, and .....wait for it..... Chairman Tom making a late entry:)
The normal banter and trash talk before we set off, and Tom was first away, I sat in about 4th for the first k, and then seemed to have nothing on the first hill as a powerfully Milly came flying by. Got to the turn in 7 mins, and hoped to bring it home on the downhill................Wrong, Pete Walker was next to fly by at the 3k mark and worse was to follow as Christian and Taffy came up to me and tried to push past. Hit the pool 5 seconds behind Walker in 14.03, but knew i was goneski at this point.
Stood on the side of the deck whilst Christian flew in and i waited for the Taffy lad to enter the water whilst i was taking in the 'Big Ones'. Swim was then very uneventful and didn't make any ground on anyone as a few people swum over the top of me, Did 5.14 for the swim and touched the wall in a disappointing 19.41.
Tom was like a Cheshire Cat at the end and he hasn't been as excited since his Dad took him to see the 'Karate Kid 2 in 1986 :)
Pete Walker blitzed it (as expected) to get 2nd overall, and the Mermaid took out 1st girl for the night.
Me.... well, its a case of getting down to some serious training - Starting today, no more messing around and decided i need to get into town more and do the hard yards if i want the rewards. Will meet Tom for 15ks today
Last nights times were;
1.Peter Walker    18.29
2. M. Milly           18.58
3. Christian           19.21
4. Tom                  19.26
5. Timmy              19.41
6. Ronan                20.22
7. Mermaid Em    20.36

HuRTs number 1 Biathlete of the Year, Pete Walker having a beer and showing off his Tigger T- Shirt he stole from his youngest son :)


The only good point of the race was i smashed the Irish entry and didn't suffer getting 'Chicked' by the Mermaid :)

Over to the Tilbury after for a few scoops, True to form Lisa (L.L) was already there with her half empty bottle of  Bolla Champagne, as was 'Westie',' Norman' Stickman, Wildman - Stevie T, some good chat and i even took the first 'Wager' for the Gold Coast Festival, with L.L taking me on for $50 that she can get within 15 minutes of my time in the Half Marathon come July.


*** Got a startling revelation that was revealed to me last night, that will cause more embarrassment for one of our Irish friends AGAIN..... will tell all in the next blog

Cheers              

Big ks & Brick Session

Very busy morning working, and i had a client who is training for Triathlons and wanted a session on the bike, problem there is its his strongest leg and bloody strong on it that meant i was working hard even to keep up. Session i had for him was 5,10,15, 15, 10, 5 minute efforts, and with the warm up lap or two it meant i was up to 50ks before i was due to do my Brick session straight after with Roger.
Met Roger and the session was
1x lap (bike), 1 flagpole (500 mtr run)
2x bike,         2 x Flagpole (1k)
2x bike,         2x Flagpole (1k)
1x bike,         1x Flagpole( 500 mtr)
Very tough for me and was wrecked by the end, struggled and barely got through the last couple of laps on the bike, although i was OK running holding sub ~ 3.30s
90 odd ks on the bike for the morning , most of it was done in efforts - Most i have ridden for ages.

Not many coming forward for tomorrows Bi at the Pool, although i did hear from Mermaid Emma, who is keen..............Oh GOD (Please don't let me get Chicked, or else I'll never hear the end of it for the remainder of the year), it really is a strong possibility though especially with her fantastic swim leg.
*** Lets hope she can pip J-Fen though *** :)
Pete Walker is unbackable favorite,

cheers

2 x 3k Reps - Centennial Park

Busy morning with work so was on the bike for multiple visits to the Park this morning that saw me rack up over 50ks for the morning , but it also meant that i was to miss the HuRTs session once more.
Got a break in between classes so did a session i did a couple of weeks back - 2 x 3ks reps with a 600mtr float after each rep.
Perfect morning to run (unlike the last time i did this) so no excuses today, felt OK running the first k in 3.24, then just tried to hold the pace after that. Always slightly tougher last k as we come back to the rise by Fox Studio gates but was happy to stop the clock in 10.24. Floated the recovery (very , very easy) before trying to replicate the 2nd lap. Pace was slightly slower on the 2nd although didn't lose to much overall. Good session this one, and was happy to see that i was faster then 10 days ago when i last did it.

1st Rep = 10.24 Ave 3..28 pace (3.24, 3.28, 3.27)
2nd Rep = 10.29 Ave 3.30 pace (3.26, 3.32, 3.30)

Saw a tired and stressed out Kanser just about to start his 10k tempo, had a quick chat and the chaps a wreck at the moment, I tried to lift his spirits by telling him 'Not to worry to much - he'll beat Enda one day and regain the Irish title that Enda is currently holding'
Don't think it helped much as he then went and struggled trying to hold 3.45 pace - Still he remains confident and was even talking up his chances for the Striders Lane Cove on Saturday week:)

Still getting a million and one calls/texts from Enda about his performance on Sunday, Its got to stop , i might even have to change my mobile. Either that or i will have to race just to keep him quiet :)

Biathlon next on the program for Thursday........Still a little quiet from all so will have to check out who's in ?
Cheers

Swimming Cure

Woke to a thumping head after one to many yeasts last night and decided early a swim was going to be the order of the day as a means of getting right. Went down more for a cure then a workout, but was fine once in the water
Got there early again and repeated Fridays effort by doing a 1k time trial before the boys arrived, getting quicker as well as i knocked over 17.42 today before M.C, Pete W, Mark M, Christian all arrived to do the 4 x 100s, and 8 x 200s session working off 1.45s
Did the 100s , and the did every 2nd 200, Coming in under 1.40s for the 100s and did 3.20, 3.18, 3.19 and 3.25 for the 200s
Feeling better in the water in the last two swims , so hopefully i can continue to improve.

Well , what can i say.......... Can not finish of without reporting on the Melbourne Ironman yesterday, Huge Congratulations go out to all the lads, in particular old training partner Richie Palmer, and old foe Enda Stankard who both had the races they dream of. Enda has been on the phone and text me 187 times (in 30 minutes ) letting me know all about his race, and even demanded that i write about it on today's blog :) to get off the bike and a run a 3.05 marathon was unreal, he even told me that he smashed Charlie Low as well. Anyway i think he was still drunk as he happily agreed to give me 4 minutes start in the Sydney Half Marathon on that effort ( did tell him i only 3)
Think i got my pre race predictions pretty spot on as well, with Charlie and Hardman J.C both booking there Kona spots - Great effort guys
Even had Enda sending me photos of his race , and has even asked me to put this one on as its one of the better ones he has:)

Enda (left) in his proudest moment.... not quiet sure about his eyes :)

Suggest we all go on holidays for a couple of weeks, as when Enda is around you know he is going to be unbearable now :)

This Thursday is the last Biathlon of the series and bragging rights will be up for grabs within the HuRTs team, Pete Walker is unbackable favorite, With M.C already withdrawn with injury, Kane will be putting his swimming skills on the line, and heard J- Fen will be making his much awaited debut.any other takers please email me to let me know,
A full report on all runners will be submitted later in the week
cheers

Sri Chinmoy Half Marathon

Was graced this morning with some of the HuRTs boys from the Northern Beaches and over the bridge for the Sri Chinmoy Half Marathon in Centennial Park. On the start line was J- Fen, Ben, Mark Mill, Dicky G, M.C, Elvis ( aka, Rob Costello) and the 'A team Boys' Paul Macca, and Slim Sam who decided the pancakes were a better option then having to run and listen to the Chairman for two hours around Manly.
A little warm up with J- Fen, before hitting the start line with plans to hopefully run a steady pace between 3.50 - 3.55s per/k for the morning .
Settled early and went through the first 5ks a tat quick in 19.12 ahead of the boys, who were soon on my tail, Slim Sam caught me about 8ks and we run together for a while as i hit 10ks in 38.37.... He was showing me no mercy though and dropped me big time as he went in search of bigger fry. Struggled from here for the next section of the run and blew out even further for the 3rd 5ks. Hung on though and crossed the line in 83.16, averaging 3.54s for the mornings work
5k splits were, 19.12, 19.25, 19.44, 19.58, 4.56
So faded a little in the second half of the run but was generally happy with the run and time overall. Reckon another 4-5 weeks and I'll be stronger again.
Some solid runs from the boys as well, non better then Dicky Green , who run a fast 80 (?) Macca, picked  the pace up and finished strong despite him doing 10ks before, Slim Sam showed his class and put in another solid run before London to finish in 81.xx . The big disappointment to all will be the sad sight of Mickey Conway walking back to the finish line after 'Pinging' his 'Heart...sorry Hammy for a record 16 time just as he was showing some strong form:(
At the finish area it was on for young and old as the breaky and pancakes were served up, Slim Sam racked up a PB for the morning and was looking good to smash Kanser's record at one time when he demolished 9 pancakes in 12 minutes before pacing himself better for the next 6:)
Highlight of the morning was seeing J-Fen get 'Yellow Carded' by the lady serving breaky , as he had his feet on the food table, Oh Dear........ 'Would you do that at home young man' she said. wasn't helped by me saying 'Yes, he would that's the norm in Nashville' :)
No sign of Kanser for the morning mind you , rumour was he slept in? Boys weren't happy as they were looking for a good 'Cuppa ' to finish of the mornings work.
Need to pick up the training now for the next 4-5 weeks in April in order to be ready for some racing in May.

North Shore Boys, J-Fen, Dicky G, and Ben. Please keep 'your feet off the table next time, though :)

Class Acts, Macca and Slim Sam, loading the Pancakes on for a PB effort:)

Macca, J-Fen Timmy, Slim Sam, Ben and Dicky.
Sorry, no Mikey in the photo he was back home having treatment on his famous Hammy.

Out now for a few drinks at another Irish BBQ for the afternoon , thank goodness i don't have an early start tomorrow.
cheers