Ashes time

Easy recovery day just 3 full flat laps of the park this morning for just short of 11ks. Cruised around the first two laps but upped the pace on the 3rd. Worked at 4 min/ks for the final 3.7k coming home with a 14.45 lap.
My computer is still down so another short post but couldn't finish of without mentioning the cricket ashes that starts tonight at Trent Bridge. Will give a full rundown on how I see the series going in tomorrow's write up.
Early tip - take England to win the series and retain the little urn 3 - 0

Cheers

HuRTS Tempo 45 minutes (60 seconds ON / 30seconds OFF

Back with the boys again today for the 45 minute tempo session, good turnout with even the Gold Coast crew of Tom, Bartles and Lady Laura out for a recovery run. good to have Mickey back as well after his latest (9th) holiday of the year.
Went out rather hard just sitting behind Razor , Skippy Heyden and two other guys felt OK but was made slightly harder by the fact I was running by myself. Made it to the Barangaroo turnoff at  5.9ks at the half way mark (3.47 pace average) and knew it was going to be tough to get back in the same amount of time. Could see Mikey and Peter Walker ahead but never really got close to them as the hills got the better of me not to mention that I found it very slippery under foot especially coming around by the Opera House forecourt.
Got back in 45.28 some 28 seconds over with the average dropping out to 3.53 for the return leg.
Managed 11.8ks in total, still along way back for me but at least it's heading in the right direction.

Shorter post today as computer is stuffed - may have a virus? So doing this on the iPad that I am not used to, hopefully back to the quality material the Trash readers are used to and expect tomorrow :)

Cheers

The Lions brand gets Stronger.

Well what a weekend that proved to be!

Smaller crew for swim team today with only Coach Walker, Champ, Eloquent and I showing with all the other Aussies refusing to show face after Saturday nights destruction. No sign of Aussie Dave who i believe is gathering his beer money to settle his bets, No Sign of Taffy James who was last seen frequenting a boozer on Oxford St with the Welsh Choir close by singing 'Bread of Heaven' and certainly No show from Enda who PBed on Saturday managing 4 schooners and still managed to get home in one piece.

Tough set today once more with 5 x 200, 8 x 100s and plenty of drills in between.  I led the 1st, 4th and 5th and made Julia and Champ do some work for the 2nd & 3rd reps to give me a brief breather on the 200s. Despite struggling through the times weren't to bad to be honest recording the following:
3.12, 3.19, 3.26, 3.13, 3.13, 1.30, 1.37, 1.45, 1.39, 1.37, 1.40, 1.36, 1.33
2.3ks all up.

Will be back out in the morning for a run as been a little slack over the past 4 days or so in all the excitement, Managed to take in the Manics on Friday with the Taffy Lad, big night as the beers were in full flow, Had to back up on the Saturday and all the pubs around Surry Hills were pumping with reds shirts and anticipation. Magic journey out there on the train catching up with Enda, Slim Sammy Agnew(and his mates), Ronan, as well as a host of my mates throughout the afternoon. Bettered only by the game itself, Close game up till just after half time when the Aussies got it back to 16 -19 before we finally TURNED up and started to play our best footy of the series as the Wobblies struggled to contain our big boys. It was reigning trys after that as we were well in party mode well before the first of the Aussie crowd had departed with still over 15 minutes of the match remaining (why do they do that?)
Needless to say the party continued till the early hours of Sunday and the rest of the day was a struggle, as all i was fit for was to check the computer from time to time to see how the crew progressed up in the Gold Coast. Happy to report again they were ALL on fire, with the Timmy's Best Bet saluting the followers with the Chairman Tommy H getting one over Bartles on his way to a new PB, Run of the day must go to HuRTS #1 ...Lady Laura who knocked out an impressive 78 minute half.
Small turnout at the Striders on Saturday i see, although it didn't stop The Leech (Eoin) from getting on the podium with a 34.57 to take 3rd spot. Our dear friend Enda again FAILS to break the 35 minute barrier ....This is getting ridiculous, And i really do think that Kanser may be right in his Mikey like assessment of the Galway Lad, and that it's now playing with his head mentally?

Some fantastic results over the weekend on the sporting front, Non bigger then the Lions, but OUR Andy Murray finally takes out Wimbledon, Froome leads the Yellow Jersey in the Tour, and even an Irishman took out a stage win I'm led to believe, some bloke called  Dean Martin (thought he was a film star come singer?), chuck in Brownlee(triathlon) and McDowell in the Golf, all we need now is a clean sweep in the Ashes that starts this Wednesday at Trent Bridge to complete the set.
Didn't think it could get much better after last years Olympics, but it appears it can as another year passes and we rediscover our Pride in being British on the sporting front.
The Lions brand just got a whole lot stronger thanks to that historic win and i can't wait for another 4 years to pass when we venture over to N.Z and give those Kiwis what for, as our boys will only get stronger from this.

With Enda pre game after another FAILURE at attempting to run a sub 35 minute 10k - Maybe Kane is right?

The scene of an historic win, next up to feel the pain of the Lions is the Kiwis in 4 years time.

Many a Yellow Hat left behind at full time - And they were FREE, although Mikey Conway does want a refund on his despite him being in the States at the time of the game:)

Manics Lions Tour - Friday evening

Cheers

Lions, Lions, Lions.......

With Sydney Harbour and Quay areas a swarm of Red today i ventured back for my lunchtime swim with the guys for the first time in over 2 weeks. Good turnout with Catfish Chris (he even makes Pete Walker look slow), The Leech (for the first time), Brendan, Cialis, Eloquent, Aussie Dave and Champ all set for the 2 x 400, 4 x 200 and 4 x 100s that Pete Walker had left us to do.
Happy to sit back on the first as the guys powered there way and i was knackered touching out the first 400 in a sharpish 6.37, slowed slightly on the 2nd rep as i was left to wonder if i could manage to to get the whole set done. Never did any work at the front today apart from one of the 100s and was happy to sit on Brendan's and Julia's feet for the session.
Times were;
400s = 6.37, 6.52
200s = 3.11, 3.17, 3.18, 3.19
100s = 1.32, 1.37, 1.36, 1.35
500 warm up and 100 cool down to get 2.6ks for the day

Beside the big weekend with the Lions that i have already mentioned ( a few times ) its also Gold Coast Marathon /Half weekend up north. Normally a big turnout for the boys and girls for this but i think numbers are down a little this year for some reason.
Good luck to all that are racing, everyone seems in pretty good form so once again i can't wait to see the results come through. Timmy's best bet this weekend is that the Chairman Tommy H will turn the current #1 Bart's over in the 21ks. I know its a big call but i am backing our Old Geordie mate on this one ( i always do - until he races the REAL #1 ...Tucks*****)
Talking of Tucks i believe he's also got a walk on this weekend even representing Australia? So good luck to him as well, That walking caper that they domust be a tough gig as i see one of the HuRTS boys got a DNF against his name last week ..... Bad when you can't even walk to the finish line :)
The Roth Ironman boys also fly out this weekend in prep for the race next Sunday - best wishes to Proffesor PLOD, Angry Boy Clyde, The Leech Eoin, and the 'Laughing Policeman' Sambo.

No running for me this weekend as out tonight to watch the Manic's play and a few beers with the Taffy Lad James M, and then the big day tomorrow, In town all afternoon before heading out to Homebush to see the Lions batter these Wobblies by 6 points

Have a good weekend,
Train safe
Cheers

***** Tucks must be the ONLY guy in Wales that hasn't been picked for the Lions run on side.

Leaderless Lions.

Tuesday P.M - Forced myself down to the pool early evening after work as i haven't swum in over two weeks - and boy it showed. Managed to knock out 2.2ks in total but felt very slow and had to battle my way through it, Can't believe how much I've lost in that short of time.

Wednesday. Saw both the Leech and Enda running around the park so joined them whilst on my bike for a lap or so as they talked $hite for 30 minutes . The Leech is flying at the moment as he prepares to fly out for his Roth Ironman next weekend, you know he's going well and confident when he agrees to give me 2 minutes come City to Surf time (normally he's the tightest man in the Eastern Suburbs)
Had to go down again to E.S Marks Oval later and decided to spin around and do a few more 400s, Not quick but happy enough to get the legs ticking over.

Thursday. More a recovery day and was back in the park first up and just did 60 minutes very easy pace, No idea of exact pace as the GPS died on me as i was about to start. about 13ks all up I'd imagine?

Big news out of the Lions camp yesterday was the shock omission of the great Brian O'Driscoll from the team for Saturday's decider. Telling me he wasn't going to be captain i could probably accept but to find he's NOT even in the team???...... Pleeeeaaaaaaaassssssssssssssseeeeeeee - its a joke.
With no BoD, O'Connell or Warburton in the team it leaves us without a natural leader on the park and now surely gives the balance of power back to the Aussies in the crucial decider.
Not sure what this Kiwi Plonker Gatland is up to (i think he's lost the plot to be honest) with another 6 changes and it shows a sign of desperation from the man in charge if you ask me. We are still in it mind and this could be Gatland's finest hour if it all comes off but it is my personal view point that i wish for any future British Lions Tours that we get a home grown coach from either Ireland, Wales or England and someone who understands the meaning of what the Lions stand for, not to mention the passion involved not only to the players but also the superb fans who pay thousands to travel half way around the world. Don't know what it is with the Kiwis but just because they have a good Rugby team they think they know and can conquer everything what stands before them. I sometimes go on about the Aussies lacking in culture but to be honest the boys from the 'Great White Cloud' country are worse. it's an old age joke that the only culture you'll find in New Zealand is in a tub of Yoplait and the two words should NEVER be put together in a sentence.
Anyway, we still got to believe and if you are looking for the early Timmy's Tip this week, take the Lions by 6 points and stay on one of the two  Irishman (yes there is others besides the Welsh playing) Sexton or Bowe to be the first try scorer.

Gatland's wife after hearing that hubby had left Irish legend out of the team for Saturday's massive game in Sydney.

Cheers

 

 

McKay Oval 15 x 400s (with 60 seconds recovery)

Stole an old session from old time HuRTS favorite good guy, supreme athlete and International jet setter Terence (Dolph Lundgren lookalike) Bell. Decided to do 15 x 400s down at McKay Oval after work this morning by myself working of a 60 second break, T.B used to do 20 and sometimes 25 of these as he reckoned even doing them at a slower pace and more comfortable  (still faster then race pace mind) you get the body more accustomed to actual race situations.
Thought I'd try to roll around around in 80 second efforts (3.20 pace) - easier then flat out but still 10 seconds quicker then my intended 3.30 pace that i dream of getting back to.
With a still very wet and slippery track on the oval the first 4 felt OK as my aim was to try to get them all in and around the same time for each rep. Had the normal feeling that i was struggling to hold the pace around 7 & 8 and even had self doubts that i would get the whole 15 done at one point. Once number 10 was done the mindset changed somewhat as i then knew the finishing line wasn't far away as i counted the last few home.
Times for each 81, 81, 79, 80, 80, 80, 80, 79, 80, 79, 80, 80, 81, 81, 78.
Happy with that especially as the legs still felt tired before i started due to the Sunday long run.
A 4k warm up flat lap before helped to get the legs loosened up though.
Cheers

Let the Training Program Begin.

Recovery day today and boy did i need it as i was very tired after yesterdays long run, not to mention that my feet were in bits with blisters after running in the rain for two hours.
July 1 and the first day of the official Berlin training begins today - started off by going to see my new Strength & Conditioning guy over in Bondi. Really want to concentrate on my many weaknesses and the core being one of them. Did a session with the trainer and looking forward to the next 12 weeks ahead.
Missed the lunchtime swim yet again which is not good but i think the core work is far more important at the moment although still keen to maintain at least some swim fitness.


Returned home to find a nice surprise in the post thanks to the HuRTS pensioners taking out the team event in the recent S.M.H Half Marathon. No thanks to my time with Richie P, Macca and one other who i just forget(???) getting us over the line.
Relaxing day then and decided to go over old times and take in the Glory Years at Stoke with some old DVDs - Great memories :)

Had Poor Kanser filling me in with his injury woes yesterday, despite me saying i saw him out running last Thursday, all is NOT good I'm afraid to report :(  I have spoke about this operation he's had and i will (promise) to give you all the details sometime this week (just don't want to upset him to early)
Also had Enda pestering me ALL day about trying to get a bet on and take the 9 minutes handicap start that he is giving me - he must be training well is all i can say if he is so sure :)

HuRTS Pensioners taking out 1st place at the recent S.M.H Half - and going one better then the Younger HuRTS boys :)

Arhhhhh, the memories of watching Terry Conroy flying down that wing - Glory Years, Might give a loan out to my mate Slim Sammy Agnew as he wouldn't have seen such football over the years down at the 'Palace' as he prepares for a year in the Premiership with the big boys :)

Cheers