Sticking with the Leech in the Pool.

Still no running so it was down to the pool once again and teamed up with my new Wednesday partner in crime Eoin the Leech for an extra swim session.
Nothing major really, just a longer easier warm up then decided to do some 200s, Made the Leech take out the first one, before he returned the favour for the 2nd, swapped again but then he made me do the final two for the day. Times were pretty much kept even throughout the 5 although it did feel tougher on the final two.
Rep times: 3.13, 3.15, 3.16, 3.10, 3.13
Will be back out in the morning with the Taffy Lad Jimmy James Matthews and he certainly doesn't hang around so will be happy just to sit on his feet for the whole set.

Berlin News. Well after much deliberation i have decided that i will GO to Berlin next week after all, Had a good chat with many over the past few days including of all people Champagne Charlie Low who was keen to see me on that plane.  Won't be racing that's for sure, but i reckon a few days watching and supporting the boys not to mention the Oktoberfest in Munich is just what i need at the moment.  Really sorry to see Tommy H and Slim Sammy Agnew not there but there will be plenty more races and tours to come for them, Still a great team heading over and now I've locked it in i am really excited to be heading out next week.
There has certainly been a lot of ups and downs on the whole for the team but those that have made the start line are all looking good and i will give a brief rundown and assess the latest predictions over the course of this week.

Cheers

The Party Wrap Up.

Well i did promise it was going to be a big one and last nights party to celebrate the Chairman Tommy H's 40th didn't disappoint.
Had to get a lift over with Enda after Stevie T aka Wildman, Norman Cook, D Cup not only took my spot at the Kane breakfast table but now also gets my seat in the car.Arrived to fine a huge gathering at the Highnam manor with a great turnout from the HuRTS crew to honour our leaders big day. Had a great chat with many over the course of a few hours and i nearly didn't recognize some without there sweaty singlet and shorts on - I've never seen Razor Wareham without his Beau Geste French Style hat on. Also good to catch up with Richie High who we don't see as much these days. As expected a lot of talk surrounded Berlin and the boys are all set now with most of the training done and everyone is looking in fine form. The food and drink was top notch for the day , with the beers in full flow - i reckon i had a beer from pretty much all over the world with a constant supply of Corona's, Heineken and (Jimmy) Boags keeping me well lubricated. Tom's cake was pretty appropriate as well, a massive Voltaren in line with him taking about a dozen a day of late to help him with his niggles. Had the customary chat with mate Slim Sammy Agnew about all things footy and gave him little hope of getting a result at Manchester Utd later that evening.
Daytime soon turned into night and with many departing (including the 750 kids that were present) it was left to the diehards to continue the party, step up to the plate Warrior Charlie ( and wife Ali) , Slim Sammy, Barts, and Tom & Kirsten. The night started to get a bit blurry from this stage but not before i remember seeing Warrior Charlie starting to throw a few shapes on the dance floor ( makes a better dancer then runner i think) , unfortunately the same can't be said about the Chairman.
Cracker of an afternoon/evening spent and many thanks to Tom and Kirsten for hosting and supplying all the food and drinks throughout.
Thanks as well to Enda for the lift over, and also to Stevie Wildman for taking me seat in the Kanemobile :)

A few things i did find out after chatting to everyone yesterday that you may find interesting.
Top 10 Facts about the HuRTS boys/girls

1. Richie 'Ee, by Gum' Green, is not a Yorkshire man at all - he's actually from ESSEX can you believe. Tells me he never misses T.V show 'The only Way to Essex' every week
2.Slim Sammy Agnew's 4 Boys - actually do dislike Stoke City (they kept telling me every time they passed me) Will have to sort that out.
3. Richie High & Enda still have that Man Love that started way back in Singapore
4.C.T and Greta already have a 5k run lined up for young Jaden despite him being only 18 months old.
5. Cylde (Angry Boy) doesn't do Canapes that well - instead of taking a serve he takes the whole tray
6. Host Tom can run well but he'll never win 'Come Dancing'
7. Razor Wareham actually owns a pair of jeans and scrubs up pretty good outside the training paddock
8. Fats and Skippy Heyden have now taken to wearing the tablecloth as shirts.
9. Champagne Charlie Low - is not a Southerner at all ... He's actually a Scouser (yep, i couldn't believe it either) better watch my wallet next time we go out.
10. Timmy might be going to the Ukraine to live in the very near future :)

With Tom H - Happy 40th .

Stevie T and Slim Sammy Agnew.

Enda with his latest supply of Dodgy Chinese Drugs that will see him smash a 2.40 in Berlin.

'The Shining Star' Kirsten.

Razor Wareham minus the HAT.

Fats, Skippy Heyden (complete with tablecloths) alongside Richie High.

The Two Mikey's MrAce and Conway with Mrs Ace

The crew - including C.T, J-Fen Kanser, Tom Greta, Stevie T, Barts. Mikey and Ben.

Tom with Cake.

The Dancers - Ali, Charlie, Tommy H and Kirst.

Don't give up the day job.... or the running.

Cheers

Its Party Time ...Bring It On

Headed into town once more for the 4th swim of the week, and despite NO Coach Walker or any of the speedsters there was still a good turnout that included MrAce, Cialis, Champ, Julia, QLDer Dave, The Leech and Brendan all set for the 5 x 200s and 10 x 100s that Pete had left for us.
Any thoughts of an easier session were soon put to bed as MrAce was on police duty with our recovery times. Everyone was forced to work from the front at various stages today and 'The Champ' continues to improve - I think his 200 rep was done in about 3.18? Not bad for a guy who used to struggle to hold 4 minutes 12 months back.
Good session again and was more then happy with my 3.08 turn on the 200s (although had every floatation aid available to me bar a little motor)
2.4ks done for day and brings it to approx 8.5ks for the week since Monday.

Well i seem to be saying it every week of late BUT this weekend is a BIG ONE and not just on the English Footy. More important is the celebration of our Chairman Tommy H who turned 40 earlier in the week. Going over to help mark the occasion where I'm sure a good showing from the HuRTS boys will also be in attendance.
Looking forward to it and i will post a full report with photos sometime next week.

Just on the footy - Stoke are up against it this week against Man City, could be a bit of a 'Banana skin' game for Man C but you would still have to think they have enough firepower up front to turn the locals over.
Timmy's Tip Stoke 1 v Man City 2

Over at Old Trafford it could be a cricket score with Slim Sammy Agnew's Palace up against Man Utd ...Oh dear. I best be nice to Sammy and I'll only predict a 3 - 0 scoreline :)
In the battle of the Mediocre Cup that we have Enda'sVilla take on Tom's Toon (Newcastle) in the first head to head for the season.
Enda will have bragging rights in this one i predict - Aston Villa to win 1 - 0


Have a great weekend,
Train well
Cheers

Swimming and Speed Dating Taffy James Style.

Wednesday. Saw the BRAT/Hardmen running around the park that included Enda, PLOD and Mr Grecian 2000 himself Ronan, Bit of a chat before taking myself down to the pool for a bit of a dip. Struggled along and after a warm up decided on knocking out a straight 1k rep. Pretty busy and was held up at various stages and only touched out in 18.01 A few drills to finish with for 1600m all up.

Thursday - Met up with Taffy James at the pool for an extra session and after a warm up worked out a set that was 3 x 300, 3 x 200, and 3 x 100s. With him the stronger swimmer i thought I'd let him lead the whole lot (bar one of hte 100s) Great set as well as i tried my best to hang on to him throughout. Solid enough on the times, that were:
4.58, 4.53, 4.55, 3.12, 3.13, 3.13, 1.33, 1.33, 135
Good chat with the Taffy lad after over coffee chatting away about the English footy and also about this evening he wants me to attend with him that has proved so popular in his hometown back in Cardiff, Wales. Its basically a speed dating evening and all sounded good and nearly had me hooked until he got out some photos of the previous night..... now I'm not so sure :)
Managed to pinch one of his photos for the readers to check out - Please don't look no further is you are easily offended or under the age of 18 :)

Also was back to see physio Nick yesterday and after a lot of prodding and needles stuck everywhere the hip does feel a lot easier today - So fingers crossed.

Taffy James 4th from the right at his last Speed Dating night (Welsh style) that he is trying to get me to this weekend, I'm not so sure, BUT i hear Clyde has already got his ticket.

Cheers

Cycle and Happy Birthday to the Chairman.

Hottest day of the year and it was ugly, had the bike back out this morning for a cruisy ride around the park. Just did an hour or so and it was a nightmare with that high wind and dust blowing everywhere. Its amazing the hip feels fine when I’m on the bike but I struggle to even walk when off it.

Back to see Physio Nick again in the morning at Bondi hopefully he can weave more of his magic to help get me back on the road, sooner rather then later.

Also couldn’t let the post go by without special mention to the Chairman Tommy Highnam who celebrates the big 4 Zero today – Happy birthday mate. Yet another one who gets to joins the HuRTS Pensioners Club for the team events we put in for. Getting a good club together these days with the likes of Razor Wareham, Richie High & Palmer, Macca McClarnon, Mikey Conway, Pete Walker, Tony (Fats) Fattorini…well I’m not sure if he is actually over 40 but seeing as he looks it I’ll add him in, and now the Chairman.

Still only turned 40 today and it seems as if his body is already falling apart, heard last week his Achilles goes and then this morning he mistakes his Zimmer frame for his bike and then takes a tumble cycling into work coming along the Wakehurst Parkway. Of course the TRASH was there to bring the photos.

Tom on his way to work celebrating turning 40 - Unfortunately travelling at 6ks per/hour proved to much for his now frail body and stacked it coming down the Wakehurst Parkway.

Cheers

Swimming with the Birthday Girl

A return to the pool to begin the week and a smaller then usual crowd with only Pete, Champ, Cialis, the return of QLDer Dave and young birthday girl herself Julia. Coach Walker had perhaps his easiest swim ever with no other hotshot on show, although the rest of us were working as hard as ever.

Set was 1 x 400, 5 x 200, and 5 x 100

Tried to sit with Pete on the first rep (told you he was taking it easy) and surprised when we touched out with a quick 6.40, we then shared the 200s with the Leech who was a late arrival all done between 3.14 – 3.17.

Worked hard for the final 100s and got Pete to help us on the last as we stopped the clock with a 1.29

Tipping along OK in the swimming and hopefully all the sessions done throughout the winter months will help when I get back into any triathlons over the summer months, not to mention the Biathlons that are always a lot of fun at the A.B.C Pool against fellow HuRTS members.

Cheers

Back on the Bike, The Three Gorges - 128ks

With no running for the past week or so I decided to get back on the bike today and after putting a call into Irish ace POD I arranged to met up with the BRAT/Hardmen/Sparks Elite boys for the lovely and  spectacular ride north for the Three Gorges that takes in Galston, Berowra Waters and Bobbin Head.  Early start catching up with Irish boys Evan, Paul Hanley, POD, The Laughing Policemen (Samsy), Angry Man Clyde, and Kroney.

It’s a long ride this one and certainly not the easiest for my first ride in months so was a little nervous at the start especially cycling alongside Clyde, whose not known for his patience and small talk on such mornings.

Travelled well out of town and it wasn’t long till we hit Galston and the first big downhill of the morning that we flew down and in turn meant a good 4ks of climbing on the other side, pretty much managed to stay with POD on this one, before heading out to Berowra. Again flew down the winding bends to the awaiting ferry then another 4ks of torture that saw the Laughing Policeman carry me to the top for this section. Happy to sit with POD on the freeway over to Bobbing Head before the team had its own ‘King of the Mountain’ race for the final hit out of the day. Managed to survive that before the final 30k or so cruise back home along the Pacific Highway. Was feeling pretty good in general although once we hit Chatswood I was starting to struggle and was more then happy to get back into town still with the boys. Made our way back into the park for a much deserved coffee and Bacon & Egg Roll before adding the extra 6.5k back to home solo.

128ks all up for me and certainly the longest ride I’ve done for months – Very happy to get through it and realize that my overall fitness can’t be as bad as I first thought.

Angry Boy Clyde sent me the stats for today’s ride (I know Master Sweeney loves stuff like this) – I have to add an extra 13ks on to the total for getting to/from the park as well.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/372229412

Thanks to the boys for the ride, really enjoyed and 3 things of interest to come from the 4 hours plus of riding as a result:

1. Think I managed to understand a record 6 words that come out of Paul Hanley’s mouth with his broad Cork Accent he has J
2. Irish Evan has the weakest bladder in history with a record 17 pee stops for the morning (4 before we even crossed the Harbour Bridge) J
3. 128ks for the day and Angry Boy Clyde didn’t shout at me once ( I must have rode OK) J

Out for the much deserved arvo beers then up in Newtown – ahhhh bliss.

Well as I briefly touched on the subject last week, I have unfortunately had to pull the pin on my Berlin Dream due to injury. Very disappointed to be honest, but injury has got the better of me with a hip injury that seems to have come from nowhere?  Haven’t posted all week as trying to get my head around it, but hopefully all OK now and there will always be more races to come in the future but in the more immediate future I need to get myself fixed up.

As for still going ‘On Tour’ …. I’m still undecided on that as well, Don’t want to make a drama out of it but there are one to two things I want to sort out before making my mind up come the end of the week. I know the boys will still have a great time even in my absence and with Enda leading the charges around I will hopefully be kept in the loop of all the shenanigans of what goes on in Berlin and Munich.

Although no running last week I still managed to keep up the Monday and Friday swim sessions and will be back for more tomorrow to start the week with.

Had a cracker of an evening last night – Got a gig on the radio talking all things English Football for 2 hours, Talked everything from Champions, Transfers, Stoke in the early days and teams I’ve tipped for relegation (yes Crystal Palace even got a mention) Was paranoid at one point that someone I knew maybe was listening and attempted to phone in ………..But happy to report that all went well, and I will be making a return again in the not so distant future.

 Cheers

Back in the Park after 120 odd ks on the bike with (left of table) POD, Evan and Cork Paul Hanley, (right side) Laughing Policeman Samsy, Kroney, and Angry Man Clyde.... Cheers Boys.