2014 - The Year in Review.

January. After a less than impressive 2013 I was keen to start the New Year injury free and looking forward to see what the next 12 months brought me. Started with a Triathlon (my only one of the year) down at Heffron for the Maccabi Sprint finishing 2^nd only after one of the guys (who is also a HuRT member) didn’t shout out to me whilst leading  on the final turnaround on the run leg that saw me go too far. Little wonder Mikey isn’t a fan and has since tried to cancel his membership.

February.  The start of the Striders series out at Homebush and it certainly wasn’t the start I was after with a woeful  42.01 , just barely managing to outsprint HuRTS #1 female Renee.  No sign of Enda mind you as his first cold of the year prevents him from running.

Did my first ever Ocean swim out at Bondi, shocker nearly died 12 times over during the course of the 2ks as Ronan beats me by over 5 minutes and Enda even smashes me by over 60 seconds.

March. Missed the 6ft track, although never entered to be honest, great runs from the team across the table with Tucks 5^th home, run of the day though went to Taffy James in breaking 4hrs. Tells me his secret was that he concentrated on just chasing the sheep across the fields.

April. Another ordinary run at Striders sees me come home in 39.52, before venturing down to the Nation’s Capital for the first of my 5 Half Marathons for the year. Felt shocking all the way through and had Greta Truscott on my heels at 8k and was gone at this point. Found something on the second half though once the competitive instincts kicked in to stop the clock in 85.20.  Things were looking up in the pool though when I take out my first ever Swimming Trophy – winning the HuRTS 1k Time Trial ‘Golden Duck’ Handicap in 16.55

May. Busy time for the team with the running of the SMH Half marathon, and I start to think that I may have turned things around with a solid 82.58 for the day. On the downside though is the loss of the Churchill / Sands Cup to the Irish boys for the first time. Once more not without controversy, as the Irish tried every trick in the book to win, getting anyone remotely Irish running for them – It’s a disgrace but being the English gentlemen we are, we lose with dignity and hand the trophy over. I think most of their team were that ashamed only team captain Enda and Corky O’Conner even bothered to turn up for the celebrations post race.

June. Started to train well and with consistency but frustrating as it never transpired to any decent times?  37.44 at the Striders and then a fortnight later the HuRTS travelling team hit Launceston for the fast 10k, and I was only good for a 37.30. Cracker of a trip mind you, with some members travelling away for the first time and forced to witness the Chairman throwing a ‘few shapes’ on the dance floor – it was worth the flight over alone to witness it.

July.  Annual trip to the Gold Coast and the 3^rd Half of the year, but nearly never made it as was dying of the flu, Still soldiered on and struggled to get the 21ks done finishing in 88.55. I reckon it was worth HuRTS P.O.T.Y alone for the gallant effort to see me even make the start line in such circumstances.

Enda’s fine first 6 months was about to reach a year high when he runs a cracker of a Marathon in 2.38 (although many claimed he should have gone 2.36), Unfortunately this was about as good as it got for the Irishman and his year came crashing down after this.

Celebrated C.Ts 40^th Birthday Bash as well with 80s fancy dress, and sorry to have to witness Tommy H’s dancing was back on show for the second time in as many months ……. And NO it didn’t get any better.

Highlight, seeing Fats WITH Hair.

August. Biggest run of the year for the City to Surf, did OK to come home in 53.04  as the HuRTS squad formed teams of 5 that saw Muzza lead his ‘Yule be Alright Mate’ team to outright victory.

September. Striders run of 37.10 was about as good as it was to get for the year as we welcomed back Stevie ‘Wildman’ T back and with it came a respectable 5^th overall with the Chairman taking 2^nd. Last Half of the year as well and run 82.48 that I was pretty happy with although struggled over the last 4ks going back into the Domain big time. I start to get the regular Sunday long runs going in prep for Melbourne Marathon, never missing from after C2S right the way through Sept and up to race day

October. It didn’t’ take Stevie T long as he takes outright win at the Striders 10k, as I run a similar time to last month in 37.15, The HuRTS travelling army hit south to Melbourne and my first Marathon since Berlin over 12 months ago. Wasn’t in bad form but knew I would struggle over the final 10ks. It proved spot on as at the 30k mark I was goneski, bloody long way home from there but battled and was delighted to break the 3hr barrier once again with a 2.58:07 for the day

November. Started to get into the busy period , and not just on the running track. Last Striders of the year out at Lane Cove and it wasn’t the finish I was looking for coming home in 38.30 – On the plus side it was still some 20 minutes quicker then Enda could manage . As he grabs the headlines once more with his 58 minute run, going off road and deciding to take a ‘nap’ all in a mornings work. Certainly got the Story of the Year and gave Mikey great entertainment along the way.

Backed up with the opening Biathlon of the season and despite finishing in 19.15 it still wasn’t good enough to beat Tom and his breastroke

Had the popular J.P Morgan 5.6k race in Centennial Park, happy with the run finishing in 19.34 having a great battle with Lady Laura all the way (just beating her by about 5 seconds) and even better evening post race with Tom hosting all the team in the Allen’s tent.

Finally the HuRTS presentation saw its biggest gathering to honor the winners, that saw Quentin take top award for the year with his City to Surf Run, and Erika Ekland take the top female trophy away. Poor Mikey had to endure the Overachiever that he wasn’t happy with and I was sure Jeet was going to get sacked the following day at UBS as a result?

December.  Parties, Eating and Drinking were pretty much the order of the month, with Jeet, Fats turning 40, as well as many other social events to attend.

Finished off the year by taking out my 2^nd Golden Duck in the 1k Handicap race for December (16.55)and end the year as Swimming champ of 2014….. Never thought I’d ever say that? J

Have a tried to keep some level of fitness up but its bloody hard, hoping though that I do enter 2015 in better shape than when I started the year and really looking forward to 2015.

Year Highs.

Injury FREE year

Back running a Marathon and breaking 3 hrs

5 Half Marathons for the Year

J.P Morgan run

Camaraderie shown throughout the HuRTS team

The Launceston and Melbourne Tours, with many new faces on it.

Lows

Not being able to run sub 37 minutes for 10ks (best 37.10)

Losing the Churchill Cup to the Irish (despite blatant cheating……. Let it go Timmy , I’ve got to let it go …)

Tomorrow , I will look through my crystal ball and see what 2015 holds for me and the rest of the gang.

Happy New Year to all

Cheers

Last Run for 2014.

Well the last run for the year and after an easy few ks with my clients first up and standing around having a good old chat with Mermaid (Emma) I waited till the HuRTS Eastside boys came around before joining in with them.

With C.T leading the team around, also in attendance were Adrian, Saxon Moseley,  a Pommy guy ?,  Sammy J ( who looked like he run about 400k and been out on the drink for a month) and surprise surprise ….. Barts, who just can’t seem to stay away from the popular Eastside team (twice in as many days now)

Pace was pretty honest from the get go today and went around the outside of the park( 7ks)  before re-entering and basically doing a flat loop. Managed to do 10ks with the lads all up averaging 4.22s

14 for the morning, that sees the end to a satisfactory year. Pretty happy with the way it’s gone overall and even happier to stay injury free throughout the year.

So that wraps up the current year, hope you’ve had a good one and enjoyed the Trash that been written over the past 12 months, whether  you’ve been part of a smile, sledge or any type of slander that’s been written – it’s all done in good humor.

Have a great New Year, and hope all your goals are achieved in 2015

Stay Safe

Cheers

Timmy’s tip to kick start your New Year in the footy, Stoke take on the big boys of Man Utd in the Premiership at the home of football

Take the draw, Stoke 2 v Man Utd 2

2 x 3ks Centennial Reps

Mikey bailed on me so was just out with Sharonne early doors and after a flat lap warm up it was time for the 3k efforts once more. Knew I was struggling for time to get all 3 done so was looking at 2 decent reps of similar pace for the morning.

After a busy week or so, I was keen not to go out to fast and soon settled going through the first 1k in 3.36, Its around the 2.5k mark that it normally gets tough so had to stay focused coming around near the Fox gates before stopping the watch in 10.50

A 700m float back to the café and it was more of the same for the second, pretty much identical at every split, but somehow lost 3 seconds somewhere as I crossed out in 10.53

Pretty happy with that though all things considered – averaging 3.37s

Jumped on the bike for an easy 20k after as I saw some of HuRTS boys doing a session led out by C.T, and I didn’t miss the opportunity to hurl some abuse Bart’s way J

Last day of the year tomorrow and will be out for an easy 12k or so early doors to finish of a satisfactory year.

Will also post up my Year in Review and how it all panned out over the 12 months, the highs and the lows.

Cheers

He's Back... The Kanser Return (AGAIN)

The man they couldn’t root, shoot or electrocute is back …….. Yes Dave Ignatius Kane or Kanser to many has returned to training.

Got the call last night to join and help him out for his first (or was it second?) session back and boy with Kanser there is no such thing as ‘gently easing back into it’.  Went down to Moore Park just outside Fox Studio Gates at Centennial and did the Sean Williams 1k course on the grass x 2 for each rep

Set was 10 x 2k reps, now before you get all excited and scream out ‘lunatic’  it wasn’t 10 speed reps but more easy controlled pace. There was never any chance I’d do 10 after what I’d eat and drunk the past two days but promised Kanser I’d be good for 6 so joined in after his 2^nd. Was told to do them all around 4.07 pace (8.15) but even after the first rep Kanser was never going to let me lead any rep so I was happy just to roll around at 4 min/ks for each one.

A strict 30 second recovery after each kept  it honest and we were keeping a steady time, I got to 6 and although felt fine I called time and let him continue with the last 2 by himself.

A slight difference on our GPS watches, with Kanser measuring longer than mine, but the times for each rep were:

8.01, 7.59, 7.57, 7.55, 7.53, 7.50

Good session and hate to say it but Kanser looked pretty comfortable throughout, He even had a pop at me when I previously said that he will be back firing come MAY…… tells me know that he will be back in roughly 3-4 weeks ?? The alarm bells have already begun over in the Stankard household as Enda who was top Irishman for HALF of the year in 2014 will now struggle to be in the top 3 come the first race of the Striders with the likes of McClarnon, Kanser and Super Kev all ranked higher ?

I went down to knock a few ks out at Cloey Beach swimming  after with some in/outs followed by returning to the ‘House of Kanes’ for breakfast and numerous amounts of tea.

 Ohhhhhhhh, it’s great to have him back ……………. Now, if he could just find some sugar in the house it would be spot on J

Sunday run tomorrow, although have a mate back in town who wants beers tonight so I won’t promise that I will be seen anywhere near the park at 7am in the morning, but I will make an effort….. promise.

Proof that Kanser is back, doing the hard yards in an effort to regain his top spot... Fair play to him i say.

Cheers

Merry Christmas to All.

An Easy 7k first up before Mikey joined me for the 3^rd time this week (Geez, people will start talking?) along with T.B, Sonya, Emma Brown and one lad named Luca(?), Cruised around for the first 4ks at approx 4.50 pace picking up Renee along the way who was also out for a mornings trot.

Decent chat the whole way before I had to peel off at the conclusion of the 10k loop as worked called.

Another 17ks logged pre Xmas and a decent week before the mad food and drink takes over for the next 4 days straight.

Saw the elusive Dave ‘Kanser’ Kane out having a run so joined him once I was finished work.  He’s back full of enthusiasm and keen to get back into action in a BIG way come the new year. Just back from running the Hawaiian Marathon ( I told him I won’t embarrass him by telling everyone his time) but he did tell me he has a NEW trainer on the go and has already had all the fitness tests etc… and even sorted his diet out ( Obviously looking at him he hasn’t started it as yet?)

He must be serious as he mentioned that it will be around May before he gets to claim Irelands #1 Runner ….. Stay tuned, I say.

Talking the Irish, HuRTS ‘Human Headline’ Enda has been at it again, all these trips to China has now  come crashing down around him  (Literally ) with his latest antics bringing more shame on him.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/416676/Lingerie-thief-caught-as-pants-fall-through-ceiling

Also take a look out for the world Championship Darts that has begun at the ‘Ally Pally’ in England, Stoke well represented once more with 4 of the big guns in the hunt for the title. Two in particular Phil ‘the Power’ Taylor & Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis are the big hopes , although The Power is getting on a bit and the younger boys are coming through, I still expect him to be there or there about?

A quick wrap up of the first few days is here – check it out, brilliant.

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/9618747/love-the-darts

That’s all about for now pre Xmas, so have a great  Xmas day whatever you may be doing. Eat, drink and be Merry.

Take it easy and try not to overdo it on the beers or the Ham, although that’s exactly what I will be doing myself

Stay safe

Cheers

Merry Xmas

More running with Mikey - 3 x 3k Reps

Met up with Sharonne and Mikey for the second morning on the spin and decided on the 3 x 3k reps as a session, but I knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as yesterdays cruise.

A flat lap warm up first,  then starting at the café followed the path around to the Fox Gates at the 3k marker, Worked from the front with Mikey struggling at first but after 1k I felt him right on my shoulder, stayed this way until the 2.5k and then he seemed to hold the pace whilst I dropped off slightly as he crossed out in 10.46 to my 10.49

For the 2^nd rep we went back on ourselves, and straight away found it so much harder (with the wind and hills), felt I was gone from about the 1k point and basically labored for the remaining coming home in 11.42 with Mikey some 35 seconds ahead.

Struggled then to even find the strength for the 3^rd but went out hard and led out the first 1000m before the old ‘shoelace ‘ came undone was to hamper me. Actually stopped the watch and fixed up as Mikey continued away, re gathered and despite feeling shocking tried to lift to finish the last 800 strong.

Times were 10.49, 11.42, 11.40. Mikey was 10.46, 11.05, 11.31 ??

Not the best session in truth time wise, apart from the first rep. Still good to be able to knock out some resemblance of speed at this time of the year that I wouldn’t normally do.

13ks all up.

Think Mikey is coming back for the hat trick in the morning – back to an easy 15ks though that will be easier.

Cheers

Running with the C.E.O and another swim title.

A few weeks back it was the Chairman, and today I got the call from the C.E.O ‘Militant’ Mikey Conway to go for a run early in the park to kick start the final week before Xmas. Also joined by Old ‘Chesty Bonds ‘Dolph Lundgren Terence Bell fresh from another 3 year around the world holiday.

 Mikey’s first run all year he was telling in the A.M as we knocked out the normal 10k Sunday loop to start. Pretty much ‘chewed the fat’ over all things. Got talking how well everyone was going in the team and that certain people have really stood up over the past 12 months, But I was all ears when he mentioned that others WILL NEED TO LIFT THEIR  GAME MORE IN 2015 or they will have their cards marked ????

After the 10k loop we knocked out a flat 4ks and finished up with 14k for the morning in 63 minutes averaging 4.34s

Cracking morning and made a nice change to run with Mikey easy instead of smashing ourselves when we usually meet for the speed workouts throughout the week.

Will do the same with him again on Wednesday morning.

Into town at lunch for the final swim set before the Xmas break, some have already stopped work for 2014 so it was a smaller team today with only Todd, Leech, Sonya, Zoe, Liam around. Basically the Leech and I just sat on ‘Machine’ Todd’s feet for the first 5 x 200s coming in around the 3 minute mark for each ( I was around 3.02 – 3.07s)

Added a bit of fun after that with the team relays pairing up and each doing 5 x 100s alternating  for 1k in total

Seeds went 1 & 6 (Todd, Liam), 2 & 5(Leech, Sonya)  and 3 & 4(Zoe and I)

Jesus, here I was thinking it was going to be an easy set but had Todd homing in on me each 100 so was keen to hold the advantage that Zoe was giving me each time. A big effort from the token English lass on her final 100m meant I had about a 8 seconds lead and was lucky just to hold out as we took line honours.

Good session was knackered at the end, although feel my swimming is slowly on the up (….at last)

Will be back in the park early doors tomorrow and will do the speed work then instead of heading into town for the lunchtime set as I’m not sure who will be running or even around?

Had a cracker of a weekend, caught up with Pommy Paul Birch on Friday for beers, who has his parents over for holidays. Lovely people and Birchy is the spitting image of his old man (although his old man doesn’t have the fancy haircut like Paul), Mummy Birch was regaling old stories of a youthful Birchy and came out with a story of him getting arrested in years gone by and refused entry into Villa Park home of Aston Villa (I said the fans should try that every week),  Arrested for Drunk & Disorderly??  Mmmmmm, some things haven’t changed much over the years.

Down in the Shire yesterday, for lunch and drinks …… never saw Laura, Damo or even Eloise around, although I did get out early before the locals started getting messy and causing mayhem into the evening J

Cheers