It's getting Hot!

Busy morning work wise although still found time to catch up with Taffy James early doors for a swim set, nearly died when he called 10 x 200s especially when there were just the two of us although in fairness he did allow extra break time and he did lead the whole lot out. Jimmy seemed to be cruising them all coming in each time under 3.20s, I on the other hand was working my @r$e off just to stay on his toes. Managed successfully for 6 reps then was forced to sit number 7 out (or risk being carted off to St Vincent’s) , jumped back in for rep 8 and basically was in survival mode once more to get to 10.

Jimmy’s looking in good shape and will be interesting to see how he goes this weekend in the Half Ironman up in Port Macquarie

Timmy’s Tip: 4hr.28.

Times for the 10 reps, 3.20, 3.22, 3.19, 3.20, 3.19, 3.20, x.xx, 3.18, 3.20, 3.19

35 degrees, 100 mile an hour winds, dry heat that left me as dry as Gandhi’s flip-flop again and a fat and unfit Timmy meant only one thing = Carnage, for today’s HuRTS 10 x 400s at Rushcutters. I knew it was never going to be easy and a good crew turned out despite the killer heat. We broke into 3 groups today and were more then happy to run in the 2^nd directed by Mikey. Ran shoulder to shoulder with Mikey, Todd and about 8 others on the first and was surprised when it was an 80 second lap. Managed to pick it up a little on the next couple but so did Mikey who was running about 3 seconds ahead for each one. I started to struggle around half way but was keen to dig deep and hang on the best I could.

Again not the best session with times down but at least I managed to keep them all consistent for the day, Mikey says conditions played a big factor and everyone’s times were down by about 3-4 seconds on each rep meaning I was running around 77s on a good day.

Times were: 80. 79, 78, 79, 80, 81, 80, 81, 80, 79

Happy to get that one done, Buggered at the end and enjoyed the company on the return to the of one Michael ‘The Italian Stallion’ Durante who was back for his first session with the group in over 12 months – Great to see him back, and you can tell a night out must be nearing when the Pizza Loving friend starts to make a comeback J

Always pleasing to chat with him and even better when he tells me he is the number one reader of the blog each day, Makes me laugh though when he tells me he always reads Tom’s at the same time …..Not because he enjoys it but more to get the link to mine, Love your work Durante J

Forgot to mention the other day, well done to ALL the HuRTS team that competed in the Melbourne Half/Marathon on the weekend, some brilliant times again with Razor Wareham’s 2.39 one of the best, Hardman J.Cs 2.49 also worth a mention,  but the best by a long way was the run of Lady Laura James who ran a 20 minute PB to come home in 2.47 (and knock my PB off by about 12 seconds I must add J ) – Stoked for her, especially with all the hard work she has put in over the months and nicer person you couldn’t meet (Especially when she supplies the Home made Scones)  And in my eyes is a certain for Performer of the Year when the big awards are handed out in a fortnights time.

Tomorrow its  back in the pool for a 3^rd day straight, keen to get my swim leg back up to where it was before I went away, as it’s a battle at the moment.

Cheers

The Road to Rio.

Stayed in the park after work this morning and did 6 x Paddington Hills and back fairly easy, just trying to get a little strength back in the legs, before doing a flat 4k loop. Worked the flat flat loop at 4.19 pace but to be honest I was breathing fairly heavy even at that.
10.4ks all up.
Lovely day out there so then decided to try to fit a swim session in, Leech joined me and also had an unlikely partner in Brendan who has improved in the 3 weeks I have been away. Any thoughts of an easy session went out the back door when "Brigadier Brendan' was more precise with his breaks then Militant Mikey and Corporal Boyd.
Copied Monday's set that the boys did which was 1 x 400, 2x 300, 3x 200 and 4x 100s
Struggled to hang on in truth and the boys weren't going easy on me either - making me do my turn on the front for 1 of the 300s and a two. Times were down a little on normal, although that was to be expected especially as I haven't been swimming now for 3 weeks.
2.2ks done in total.

Well World Cup 2014 is just around the corner now, and the boys qualified this morning against the Poles at Wembley in a tense match. It was like a local derby match with all the Poland fans at the game and I can't believe they booed the National Anthem, when most at the game actually live there and send there child benefit payments back to Poland (Ok Rant Over)
So all roads now lead to Rio ........bring it on , and keep this to yourself BUT the HuRTS boys on tour number 2 could be on the cards for the Marathon in Rio whilst the Cup is on :) It’s the nearest Enda/Kanser/ Taxi Man and The Leech will ever get to a World Cup anyway. Although the Leech was telling me he is keen as we all know how keen he is to wear the 3 Lions England Shirt and this could be his best chance.
I think the draw is made for the round robin matches early December and where all the teams will be based so hopefully the crew could be doing the Samba come June/July next year.

Back to Rushcutters tomorrow for the 10 x 400s, normally one of my better sessions, but it's going to hurt like hell this one.

Cheers

McKay Oval 6 x 800s

Well first day back into running since the Marathon and really the first bit of training I’ve done for about 7 weeks so whatever the session it was always going to be hard and long road back. So when I go the call from old mate Kanser last night telling me he was heading to McKay to do some 800s I thought I may as well join him (plus it meant I avoided the dreaded HuRTS tempo session that was on the cards at the same time).

After waiting the customary 15 minutes for the late arrival of Kanser (and he still wasn’t there) I decided to start the set solo, and it wasn’t to be long before my heart rate went sky high (and that was just getting to the 200 metre mark), battled around the first rep in 2.42 and that was about as good as it would be for the morning.  A couple of seconds slower on the 2^nd, but hopes were then raised when Kanser finally turned up as I thought I maybe able to hang onto him for the remaining 4…………WRONG. In fact I was goneski… pretty much done after the 3^rd rep and was just in survival mode for the second half of the session. Still on the bright side I finished it and there is only one way to go now.

Times for the morning were; 2.42, 2.45, 2.47, 2.50, 2.52, 2.52

Managed a 4k warm up and then had to do a further 5ks with a client at the end as a means of a cool down, so happy enough with nearly 14ks for the day.

Haven’t forgotten about the Berlin Wrap up, I just need to download a few photos and find the time to do the write up the justice it deserves after such a quality tour and seeing my head is all over the place with jet lag at the moment I think it best if I wait a few days before attempting to begin J

Cheers

Drawing to a Close

Well last day of the holiday today and what a busy week its been. Pretty full on that has seen me head to Wolverhampton for the horse races for a days, Liverpool and its city of culture for a day out and then probably every boozer around Stoke.
Its been a blast and so happy i made the call to tour although i think i am ready to return home now as not sure how much more my poor liver can take.
So Monday will see me out there for my first run since Berlin and i suspect Tuesdays HuRTS session is going to kill me.............Please  GOD don't let it be the 45 minute  tempo.

Will give a complete tour wrap up when i get back home and post many a photo that has seen so many good memories along the way.

Cheers

Stoke On Trent

Day 9 - 14
Left Munich in a slightly worst state then i arrived and headed home to Stoke for a week, the boys have taken a week off work and were keen to show me the sights of this cosmopolitan city
Been drinking non stop for a week now , God I'll be happy to get back to Sydney
More detailed report to come once i can get back on a computer
Prost

Oktoberfest Part 2.

 Day 8 - Wednesday 2nd October.

Out and about early and jumped on the big red bus (well it was actually Blue) to do our Tammy Tourist culture bit whilst on tour around Munich before heading back into town for a lunch and waited for the arrival of Kanser.
Great to see him and he was super keen to get to the Oktoberfest whilst me and the others were not so  after a marathon effort the previous day. Still Kanser's not one to be put off lightly and it didn't take much forcing to get me back either so with his work colleague Pete, Barts, Warrior Charlie, J-Fen, Dave we were on for part 2. Bid a farewell to Enda and Robbie the Taxi Man first up who both looked like broken men walking to the train station on there way to catch there flight back to Potato land.
The Hofbrau Festzelt was the venue of choice and with going in a lot later in the day it meant we had no table to start with but it wasn't to take long before we got chatting to the local Bavarians and were invited to share (dance) on the tables. This tent is world famous and partner to the iconic beer hall in the city centre it even has the beer pumped direct to the venue from the brewery. Its popular with the younger crowd  and was certainly very raucous as the Oompah band just kept cranking the volume up every 10 minutes it seemed. This is the only tent to have a standing area in the middle area that is affectionately nicknamed the 'Pig Pen' (shame Enda had to leave without seeing)
One of the many highlights of the day was standing on the table when all of a sudden a girl beside me just starts to down a beer, and before long about 6000 sets of eyes were on us as she downed a full Stein (one litre) as easy as Crystal Palace leak goals in the premiership.
With the atmosphere at electric pace and Kanser in full party mode a few of the touring party were to fall victim to the strong amber nectar just as Nena and her 99 Luftballoons bellowed out sending the locals ballistic. So with just Kanser, work mate Pete still on board we went to pay a visit to the Lowenbrau beer tent, Well this Lions doesn't sleep tonight as the huge imposing Lions sits proudly above the Lowenbrau tent entrance - Again a lively atmosphere greeted us and it didn't take long to get us back on the tables as Y.M.C.A and 'Take me Home, Country Roads was served up by the brass band.
I think that just about wraps up the evening as i can't really recall any further events although my trusty camera brings back certain moments from another cracker of a night.

Head back home this evening to Stoke and have a further big 7 days ahead, i think after all this my running career could just be over :)
Prost

Oktoberfest

 Day 7 - Tuesday 1st October.

Well if Sydney has the Opera House and Bridge, San Fran has the Golden Gate, and Paris the Eiffel Tower then Munich as its Oktoberfest. Few cities have and event of object so closely associated with it that the object or event becomes greater then the city but Oktoberfest comes close and its here where the HuRTS touring boys we to really hit there straps.
Another early start with breakie before getting into the Lederhosen and hitting down to the tent for a 10am start to get the best seats in the house.The early starters included C.T, Enda, Champagne and I with the Taxi Man and J- Fen not far behind once they got there costumes sorted,
With the first of the steins going down it wasn't long before the Bavarian Brass Band fired up and the party was soon in full swing and it wasn't much longer before we were on the tables dancing and toasting everyone including the lovely girl from Spain we had met the previous evening evening who had De hod gsheid hioz voa da Huttn.
C.T was the first to fall victim after not even reaching his record of 5 beers and had the dreaded walk of shame (well stumble really) with wife Greta called in to be taken home for the evening with the time still to hit 5pm. Fever pitch went up another notch around 7pm as the Oompah pah band ramped it up further and i can hardly put into words what the atmosphere was like but lets just say you wouldn't have thought we had all run a tough 42ks only 48 hours prior.
Enda and i then had the Nazi Police tap us on the shoulder late on and were asked to vacate the premises as we were told we were dancing on the tables TOO MUCH ...... Quality, So out the back door it was and straight back in the front and 5 minutes later  normal service was to resume´
Not sure what time we ended up (or even how we got home) but if you ever get the chance to get to the Oktoberfest then please take it as its as good as they say. The Winzerer Fahndl tent was our home for the day and i can fully recommend it. Its the one with the 25 metre tower that has a further 6 metre frothy stein of beer perched loud and proud on top.
I think a few of the lads start to head away today, although old mate Kanser is due in town later so it looks like another big night could be on the cards once again. Might head out first and play a little Tammy tourist and see some of the sights and who knows i could may even return to have another go at the Oktoberfest  to Z'dringga machd i biddschee a Mass.

Prost