Biathlon Day

Wednesday was out for a small brick session in the park again and worked on 3/4 lap efforts on the bike x 8 then just turned the legs over for an easy couple of Ks after, nothing to difficult.
Today went out and had planned to ride but with the heavy rain making it a miserable morning decided against it and just returned home after work doing bugger all for the morning. Did also think about going for a swim but will just wait now till this evenings Biathlon that is on down at  the Boy Charlton.
Looking forward to a hit out in what will be a very tough 20 minutes for me - Seems the HuRTS boys ( and girls) are dropping like flys with a few non starters already.
I can see me finishing stone last to be honest on the bases that i can barely run and my swimming is very poor, but we will see how it goes.
My top 3 in order are
1.Smolley
2. Pete Walker
3. Christian Ellis
Although Tom is not running strong at the moment he will still be miles ahead of me on the run and i don't think i will be able to swim him down over the short 300m
Will be interesting to see how the man himself goes - Kanser, who is running well and in fact was having lessons earlier in the year. J-Fen is also on debut and we shall see how his swim training has been going with his buddy Micheal Phelps has worked out?

A full report and photos will be up tomorrow

A damning report released overnight in the world of cycling has tarnished Old Lance Armstrong's case even more. Don't want to get to caught up in it as the whole thing is a mess from the start. But i will say how can someone be found guilty when he has NEVER tested positive (in over 500 tests) and the only evidence against him is from witness testimony ( his teammates, who are all drug cheats - so where is there credibility? )
Anyway as i say, what do i know? The only person who really DOES know everything about the whole sorry episode is a certain HuRTS member from over in the 'Long White Cloud' Country who would have Lance hung for such horrific crimes to mankind if he had his way.
It was only a few years back that he was his best mate on the 'Tour' ..........Oh how times have changed :)

Will express more views on the sporting blog.

HuRTS member along side Lance in the glory years.

Cheers

HuRTS 45 minute Tempo

Cycled into town for the HuRTS 45 minute tempo session, turning at 22.5 minutes for what is normally a bugger of a set and one that i harbour a great dislike.
Big crowd out with all the usual suspects lining up at the Stone Arches, set off with former #1 Tucks who was taking it easy after his 2nd at Fitzroy Falls on the weekend and it wasn't long to see everyone disappear out front, Had a good chat with Tucks, as Chris Graham and Old Warrior Charlie run with us - felt pretty comfortable and managed to reach outside the Theatre Company ( 5.6ks) before the turnaround. Made a big effort to pick up the pace, and was automatically too quick for Tucks who continued at the same pace, caught a group ahead at the passenger terminal ( yes there were people slower then me ) and then passed the Warrior outside the Opera House. Knew i would get back and had time in the bank but wanted to keep the pace up to see what i had left. Didn't feel that strong on any little hills though and was glad once i had gone past the A.B.C Pool.
Luckily enough no one passed me on the way back so I'll take that as a positive - but i was a little perplexed when i saw Kanser near the Art Gallery as i knew he hadn't come by at any stage. Got back to the start line in 43.59 so a minute quicker. Pretty tired after that in truth but happy to get over 11.2ks done in 44 minutes.

Will be out on the bike for a small brick session in the morning followed by a swim if i get the time.

Cheers

PS, For the Record;
 Found out later the reason i didn't see Kanser come by me was that he took a short cut, as he didn't want to trouble his Achilles.
Lets hope he doesn't feel the need to do the same in the Dublin Marathon he plans to do later this month :)

Drama at the Boy

With only 27 days to go before the big Noosa Tri up in the Sunshine Coast coming up and after seeing how i went last Saturday it was time to refocus and get the head down training wise for the next 3 weeks or so.
To kick start the week it was into the park and decided on the 2 x 6k Woollarha Hill loops that i do, Had the ipod all set and was looking forward to a bit of Bowie and Co when the battery died before i had even started.
Had no GPS watch either so i just run on feel today and completed the first lap in 26.44 (about 4.27 pace) then held the 2nd pace to slightly under to do a 26.20(4.23s) - Pretty happy with that, it didn't seem much slower then i raced on Saturday :)
12ks all up in 53.05

It was then down for the lunchtime swim at the Boy Charlton Pool where i met up with Pete Walker, Toddie, and Champ for a tough old session ahead. Was just tipping along nicely at my own pace when we are then joined by non other then the man himself .........Enda Stankard, and his mate Irish Kev. We do a couple more 200s before Pete calls for one fast 300 rep so we could assess our times ahead of Thursday's Biathlon. It was about this time the drama was about to unfold, Enda made me go ahead of him so he could sit on my feet ( easier) I worked the first 100 well and was surprised to see him already dropped, kept up a solid pace for the 2nd and despite falling off the guy ahead of me i held the 3rd 100 in a rather decent time for me. After a short recovery i then proceed to look back down the pool to see Enda flailing his arms all over the shop and looking in a world of pain. It wasn't just me who was concerned, the two Lifesavers on duty for the day had to put down there Ham & Cheese Sarnies to check out that he wasn't about to cark it before retreading in fits of laughter.
Luckily for us he was OK, as we then knocked out 8 x 100s, and with every swimming aid going - pool buoy, paddles, flippers ( i drew the line though when he tried to bring his lie low out) he was all set to go again,
Pretty happy to get through this one , and this pool is certainly faster then the one i have been swimming in over the past 6 weeks. With the salt water making it more buoyant i reckon it adds about 4-5 seconds per 100 meters.
Poor Enda was a broken man come the end of the set, and when he said he hadn't swum in 6 months, the normally quiet Pete Walker pipes up "looks more like 6 years" it was more then he could take.The Ambos were called to fish Enda out the water to take him up to St Vincents to recover.
For me.........Well, looking back i had a half decent footy career over in England, played abit of cricket in my day, class myself as a average club runner who has taken a few scalps in races over the years. But when it comes to swimming the list of achievements is very bare with only Chairman Tommy Highnam that i can have claimed to beat, that was DOUBLED today as i can now add one , Enda Patrick Stankard on the honours board.  Yes all those boring and laborious hours swimming up that little black line have paid off :)

After witnessing that Enda's odds have fallen big time with bookie Paddy Power and is now rated at 81/1 to take out Thursday's event with those closer suggesting that he wont even front. The only money coming for him is that he is now odds on 4/6 that he will have a cold come the big night.
The big winner who will be looking on is Tommy H who must also fancy his chances of turning Enda over in the pool as well it would appear?
Pete Walker firms in the market, and with Richie High's old calf's playing up and Champaign Charlie in Kona the only worry for Mr Walker is whether his mate Smolley will show up?

Will be back out there tomorrow for the dreaded 45 minute run tempo session

Enda at the end of today's swim session - poor lad, struggles on Saturday and then again in the pool :)

Cheers

Homebush Striders - 38.44, The Comeback.

Boy oh Boy that was hard, but good to be back.

Out to Homebush this morning for the 9th race in the Striders series that also doubled up as the "Ballykissangel 10k' with every Irishman in town except "Father Ted'  out to get there glory and pound a flesh against 'Young Timmy' who was returning after his recent injury.
Good crew out there with Enda, Conor, Ronan, Walker, Richie P, Eamo, Macca. 'The leech', Elvis Costello, John Bowe and top HuRTS girl Swedish Anna looking to give the girls race a good shake. No sign of Kanser mind you who it seems was running scared of Enda after making a $50 bet that he would beat him giving him 40 seconds start ? Good banter before the start and even got on for a few bets with the Irish contingent, Enda giving me 3 mins start, Palmer +3 mins,  and Conor/ Ronan of scratch
To be honest i knew this was always going to be tough but as i always say you need to know where you are and these races are a great way to find out, that's why i am a regular at ALL these races.
Gun goes off and quickly settle behind Pete Walker , whom i know is in good form, stay on his shoulder for about 2.5ks before that was about the last i was to see of him for the morning, start to feel it around the 'Common area at 4ks and as i complete the first lap am surprised to see Anna join me - Jump on her for a k or two and get dragged along only to be dropped at the 7k mark, Next up was Robbie Costello (Elvis) having the run of his life to go past and spit out Lindop you English Pig as he flew by. Had loads of negative thoughts at 8ks and was just hanging in and was wondering who else would be next by, managed to hold out till the 9.4k mark coming back up on the road and nearly had a heart attack when i saw Conor about 5 metres behind and that was enough to spur me into action for one final kick for the last 500 metres to cross the line in 38.44
Bloody tough morning for me , but in truth delighted to get through it and hopefully in another 4 weeks (before Noosa) and 7 (for Thailand) i can hopefully get some sharpness and ks back into the legs.
Had the customary abuse as i was dying on the finish line with Elvis jumping around after getting a PB (huge Congrats) - not seen him that excited since the late "Mr Fixit' Jimmy Saville announced on "Top of the Pops' that "Oliver's Army' had hit the number one spot on the charts back in 1979.
Despite my ordinary run i managed to win some dosh from Enda who run poorly and only beat me by 2mins.59, and i collect from Conor, Didn't get a cash bet on with Ronan, but he left saying "Timmy, you may have won the battle today , but you haven't won the war" ( In relation to Noosa i think he was referring to)
Some indifferent runs out there from the HuRTS crew, as mentioned Elvis with his PB, and winning girl Anna were the standouts, average runs from Eoin (melb next week) and Pete Walker ( world tris) who should be firing at this stage, Flop of the Day would go to our mate Enda, after talking the talk all week and been flying in training, mixing it with Kanser could only come up with a Mikey Conway like 35.45 for the morning ( at least he got something out the wreck by getting a collect from Kanser's no show)
Race results from this morning;
http://www.sydneystriders.org.au/10k/12/TK12R09OR.shtml


Will be out in the morning for a few miles around the park, hopefully i will have pulled up OK from this morning

Congrats to Tom and Tucks who both took out 2nd spots in the Fitzroy Falls 10k and Marathon respectively, not sure on Tom's time, but heard Tucks knocked out a 2.48 - wont be enough to get him the Performer of the Year, but solid effort all the same.

Jason Heyden, Pete Walker, Timmy, Ronan, Enda,  Homebush

Smashed by the Irish Lads , Elvis and Enda..........Oh the Shame.

Even more Irish boys, The Leech ( Eoin) and Eamo, It must be an Irish thing this hands on Hips ?

Pete Walker & Christian Ellis

Beaten by Elvis and 'chicked by Anna, could things get any worse?

HuRTS girl New #1 - Anna Fitz after taking out the women's race( and Timmy) this morning :)


Note. Upon returning to my car in the car park, i see a now delirious Elvis atop of my car on the roof doing an Irish Jig blasting out the words to 'Fields of Athenry' ..............My God when will it end? ....I can tell you, It will be at the J.P Morgan 5.6k at Centennial Park when the English team will be back to full strength and firing on all cylinders, so LOOK OUT :)

Have a great weekend
Cheers

On the Up

Wednesday morning was spent in the park again with work and i got the chance to do a bit of a Brick session with a client, wasn't at full tilt but more miles in the legs nonetheless. Saw Enda YET again for the 2nd day straight on another of his NONE training days....this guys getting worse.

Thursday, Did mean to go into town with the lads but thought better of it when i saw the temps hitting 30+ as well as didn't want to overdo it as i am running at the Striders on Saturday. So headed  for the safer option of a swim ( first for the week) and as a confidence builder decided to do 2ks straight . Surprisingly felt pretty good and only lost 12 seconds on the 2nd Kay - Still not fast but i am more then happy with that, and at least i know that i can do the distance and things are certainly looking up.

Will rest up tomorrow and just go swimming again before heading out to Homebush for Saturday's Striders run,
Next week is the first really challenge/test for many with the opening of the Biathlon down at the Boy Charlton Pool, already had a few who said they can't make it, But we can all rejoice as the Chairman is still pencilled in, as to is former #1 Tucks, could be an interesting battle between the two.
Will frame a betting market over the weekend after i but a call through to Paddy Power :)
Can tell you though that Pete Walker is already at unbackable odds, the guy was flying on Tuesday at running.

Cheers

HuRT 10 x 3 Minute Efforts

A beautiful spring day in town as i returned to the HuRTS fold for the first session back post injury, This session always seems to bring the crowd and today was no exception with all the usual crew out although noticeable absentees were Highnam, High and Slim Sammy Agnew, On the plus side it was good to see Bartles back out there as it was to see former #1 Tucks back running after his 100k walk overseas recently. Let the front guys go on the first rep and tucked in with MrAce and Adam Conquest on the first rep, with no GPS anymore i asked MrAce what the pace was and was surprised to hear him say 3.30s, got back with a few seconds to spare and then basically was getting to the same spot on each one after that. Even had Elvis working off us for the remaining 8 (when did he get fast - last time i saw him racing Tommy Highnam was making a balls up of the pacing duties as he tried to break 40 mins), also hot on my tail was Bill Batt who looked as if he was moving OK.
Decided even before the start today that i was only going to do 10 - and i think it worked pretty well, the calf feels fine so it looks like i have made first base.

A milestone was achieved out there today with Irish lads Kanser and Stankard both completing 10 sets for the first time ever, ( Enda's previous PB was 7.5),  He did look a bit pale though at the end as he and Kane were pushing the final rep, and don't be surprised to hear him come out with another ailment tomorrow. He actually started telling me about his recent woes on the 3rd rep and was still going at the conclusion of the 7th.

Had a chat with Mikey on the way back to the office , who gave me the rundown of events from Sunday at 'The House of Kane's - A good time was had by all accounts although Mikey did say to me
"Timmy, you weren't wrong about it being an Aldi House, there was the Aldi BBQ, Aldi outdoor setting, Aldi Sausages, Aldi Sauce , and was even serving us Aldi $1.99 bottles of wine - it was great and now i know where i can go to save some money when i am asked to go buy a bottle of plonk for the boys"


Cheers

The 3 Gorges Ride...126ks Done.

After a monster weekend with all the footy finals and a 8 hour spree spent in the boozer yesterday it took all my willpower to be up early today to meet the boys for the big 3 Gorges ride up North. Meet up with Mr Angry (Clyde) , Mrs Clyde (Krone), Laughing Policeman ( Samsy), Champagne Charlie Low, The Leech (Eoin) Geordie Lass Sian, Kiwi Benny Lowe and picked up Captain Josh along the way.
Knew this was going to be a big one but was keen to get a long ride in before the upcoming tris, Happy to just sit in as we made our way up to Hornsby, and then on to Galston before the first of the big 3 climbs for the day. Loved the downhill before that though as we flew down at high speeds, Got through that OK and then enjoyed the countryside before heading down to Berowra Waters and the ferry across before the 2nd hit out. With 70ks ticking over we then meandered down to Bobbin Head and then back up for the final hill of the day before stopping at the top for coffees and then witnessed Clyde smash down the biggest piece of cake in a record 2 minutes (and that was just for starters) then getting back on the highway for the final 30 ks home.
Tough old ride and by the time i got back home i had done 126ks for the day - The longest I've done for a very long time, Great day and happy to get through it - and the best part of it all ..........I didn't get yelled at once by Clyde, Got the customary 'Don't confuse your ambition with your ability' line as i dropped him on the first climb only for him to go past me about 1k further up , but i knew I'd done OK when that was all i heard from Mr Angry himself :)

Will be interesting to see how i go tomorrow now as my legs feel tired and heavy even now - so God knows how the first session back will be?

Not seen Kanser over the weekend either, I did hear through the grapevine that he had a Grand Final BBQ around his gaff yesterday but Young Timmy here didn't make the 'A List' apparently my ticket went to Mikey Conway ..........Charming :) i think i must have upset him a couple of weeks back when i said he wouldn't run sub 76.30 at the S.R.F and the poor lad has taken it to heart.

Also just had the latest in from Hawaii with Kona only a couple of weeks away our man PLOD has been asked to do an interview for American TV on how the other HuRTS and Centennial Park guys will go. Check it out as he tells how Champagne Charlie will go.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/13740811/hawaii

Cheers