Berlin .....OUT

Well it was always going to be a battle but today was D- Day and sorry to report that I have succumbed to injury that has now ruled me out of Berlin. Very disappointed but not a lot I can do,

Full write up later.

Swim 1k Time Trial Time - 16.44

Decided to miss the Thursday HuRTS session yesterday as not keen to push the body to much and risk any injuries preferring to save myself for the more important Saturday Long run this week (another 30k plus)

Friday – It was time trial time at the pool for the monthly 1k rep that coach Walker has successfully organized over the winter months, Absolute cracker of a day that brought some fine sights down to the pool ( taffy James has never seen anything like it…. Well he does come from Cardiff I suppose), Great turnout with 12 on the start line although no sign of Champagne Charlie or Enda. First to go off scratch was MrAce (with a more then generous handicap) followed by last months Golden Duck winner Champ.  I wasn’t far behind and was soon on my way, settled early and was moving OK and soon caught Julia but couldn’t believe when Taffy Lad James gave me a good bump out the way on the turn already catching me at the 550 mark. Tried desperately to get on his feet and surprised that I could for the next 300 before there was nearly an almighty head on when Champ, Taffy, J.C, Elan and came together on the turn.

Happy with my 16.44 for the day an improvement of 23 seconds on last month, Elan took out the fastest swim of the day with a blistering 13.11 also taking out the Golden Duck as he was the first home on handicap as well. MrAce needs to go back to school to count to 10, as when he took of for his 21^st lap it cost him certain victory as no official time was recorded and Elan only going past him with less then 50 meters to go – amateur J

So back out in the morning for the 30k with Enda and a few of the others, think we are down to do 2 x normal 10k loops then one at Marathon Pace….Ouch, that could be tough.

Another big weekend of footy with two massive matches, The Old Liverpool vs. Man Utd is on again followed by the North London Derby between Arsenal and The Yid Boys from Tottenham., Going to back the mighty Reds this week against Man Utd as I think there confidence is up and Anfield will be rocking no doubt that may just get them over the line.

Timmy’s Tip – Liverpool 2 Man Utd 1,

                    Arsenal 2 Tottenham 2

Unfortunately the Potters are away to the Scrap Dealers of West Ham and I can’t see us coming away from there with anything – West Ham to win 2 -1

Times for today's 1k swim trial

What we swim for.... the 'Green Duck' Green because Angus refuses to give back the Golden Duck after his win in June, and Champs not giving us the 'Red Duck' back either :)
Elan takes the honours today with his blistering 13.11 time

Have a great weekend
Train well and stay safe
Cheers

Trying just to stay in one piece.

Caught up with the BRAT Hardmen (Enda, J.C and the Laughing Policeman Samsy) this morning to help tick the ks off, Good craic although J.C was very quiet this morning and looked in a world of hurt so much I didn’t even get one sledge out of him in 30 minutes, with him failing to even attempt the Woollarha Hill? Enda on the other hand is flying fresh from his 76 half marathon on the weekend and has a spring in his step to go with his newfound ‘Cocky attitude’ that is on show in time for Berlin . Rolled around the 6k loop in about 4.25 pace before going on to do one of the 10k outside loops at the same pace.

4.26 average all up for 15ks in total – bit shorter then I wanted but my hip was starting to niggle …………..please tell me its not another hurdle, It seems to be one battle after another these past 8 months?

Cheers

Centennial Park 6 x 1k Reps (90 Seconds Recovery)

Busy morning with work so decided to stay on in the park and do my own set today instead of taking another 2 hours out the day to join the boys.
Went with the staple 6 x 1k reps (90 Second break), and after having a chat with Kanser on Sunday over breaky it was best to do them working at 90%.
Rolled over the first coming in on 3.28, felt OK and was looking to hold the remaining all around the same pace. Had to work harder around rep 4 & 5 just to come in under the 3.30 and I'm pretty sure i was working above the 90% mark.
Happy to get them all done though, although its certainly nothing to write home about and any confidence i had is slowly diminishing with less then 5 weeks to go...... Just have to keep reminding myself to 'keep plugging away'

Plan in the morning is to run 20ks for midweek medium long run, might see if the BRAT Hardmen are around at any point to help pass the time and ks away.

Well another Ashes series is wrapped up with the boys retaining the little Urn once again, Not really the finish we all had hoped when the ridiculous bad light rule stopped play when England only needed a further 21 runs to wrap it up. In fairness though they perhaps didn't deserve it after i witnessed a poor display of slow play on days 2 and 3. It was like watching paint dry at one stage.
Won't be long before the return series starts in Brissy in November, think it will be closer when the Aussies play on home soil.
Hope you all took the tip i gave on the 10th July's posting where i stated a 3 - 0 victory to the English boys, bit of extra spending money for Berlin if so :)

Cheers

Long Run with Bacon & Eggs to Finish

 Busy morning in and around the park with the ‘5k Colour Run that was held in Centennial that saw thousands of young girls swarming everywhere Met up with C.T first up who run the 10k loop with me before Kanser joined us around the 6k mark, Pace was honest and felt OK as we crossed in 44.48 (4.29 pace), Chris departed about the 14k mark to join another crew and all of a sudden the tempo seemed to pick up almost instantly. The GPS died at the 18k mark but had the trusty stopwatch to see that the 2^nd 10k was done in 44 dead (4.23) Seemed to struggle around the 24 k mark as the pace was picked up YET again…..Kanser does help me out loads but he’s a nightmare to run with as you are never running side by side and he is always some 5 meters ahead at any stage of the run. Managed to hang in there to complete the 3^rd 10k in 43.01 and was pleased when Kanser was then done for the day as it meant I could do the extra 3ks at a more sedate pace. 12.43 (3ks)

All up 33ks in 2.24, Battled my way through it and in truth I found the last 10ks really hard and got me thinking that despite getting my long runs in over the past month or so I am so far behind where I should be and there is less then 5 weeks to the big one. Still 47ks over the weekend, so I can’t really do anymore at this stage.

A quick trip back to the ‘House of Kane’s’ where the ice pool never felt so good for those aching muscles, and better still the old ‘Bacon & Eggs’ were back on the menu, alongside the best Cuppa EVER served in the household (please tell me it wasn’t Aldi)

Felt tired all day after that and those beers were a godsend in the afternoon.

Monday – Legs felt heavy and went for a swim with the boys (and Girl….Julia was back), had a cracking start as I stayed on Todd’s toes for the first 400 with a record 6.27 but sadly it was all downhill after that. I was buggered and even missed a couple of the 200s out at one point.

A good massage followed as I tried to get some life back in the legs before the speed set that old Kanser has lined up for me on Tuesday ( 6 x 1k Reps)

Cheers

Back into It..... As the Assassin Strikes Again.

Well after a forced week of doing bugger all I was back out there this morning for a hit out, I have plans to run long with Kanser in the morning so today was just about getting out there and knocking out an hour or so.
Caught the Saturday long run crew just as they were about to finish there first lap, waited an age for them and wondered what had happened (thought they may have waited for Kanser at the start?). Finally saw C.T and a gang of about 8 in tow, Saw a very sheepish Eamonn ‘The Assassin’ about 10 metres behind and its here it all started to fall in place as to why they were late. (More later)
Did the first 10k loop including the Woollahra Hill in 44.02 (4.25 pace) feeling remarkably good, even pushing the pace at times running with ‘Allo Allo’ Rene and C.T. A 4k flat lap followed as I picked it up slightly (4.18s) to finish up with 14ks done in 61 minutes (4.22 pace)
Happy with that and good to get back out there, as mentioned will go long with Kanser in the morning – lets just hope there is no repeat of last Sundays performance.

Back to the INCIDENT …. Yes the Irish Assassin has struck again, after taking out Slim Sammy Agnew earlier in the year, Eamo decided to upend Lady Laura this morning after only 7 ks( it’s the only way to slow her down it seems), Laura taking a full on tumble, banging her head with claret spilling from her mouth. Outcome……..the end of her morning as she was whisked off to the local hospital to get checked out (more for precaution). Good news is she is fine and will be back with the team next week,
Don’t know why but I felt sorry for Eamo, as every bugger kept there distance from him after that, I on the other hand had a quick word and asked him if he could come out and run with Enda sometime next week J


Big night again (when isn’t it?) on the footy with Stoke playing Slim Sammy Agnew’s newly promoted team Palace at the home of footy ‘The Brit’ already had Sam on the blower to me jumping up and down wanting to get his bets on (I think he’s already drunk to be honest) anyway I’ve taken him on and seeing I’m a fair bloke I’ve give him the draw as well.
Timmy’s Tip ‘Stoke 2 – C.Palace 0

Finally good luck to Enda tomorrow who is venturing north to the Central Coast for a Half Marathon, see he’s taking on Richie Palmer. And this may surprise many BUT I’m tipping Echinacea to get a rare win over Mr P ……. Let’s wait and see J

Have a good weekend
Also, many thanks to the people who have either text or emailed me to check on my well being, happy to report that I’m back on track and hopefully all is well
Cheers

Crime Scene set up as Lady Laura becomes Irish Eamo 'the Assassin's next victim.

Long Run Curtailed

Was looking forward to the Sunday long run this week after another pretty solid weeks training behind me, so met up with a good team that included Enda, Kenny, Super Kev, The Leech, Ben Ten and a couple of others.

Set off on the first 10k loop but felt physically sick after only about 4ks into the run, stayed in touch with the boys for the whole loop but was forced to pull the pin on completion.

Felt terrible and there was really no point of trying to go on, I was forced to sit in the park for about 30 minutes after trying to steady myself for the short drive home that was to follow. To add insult to injury my groin was then playing up towards the end of the 45 minute run that I did manage

Oh dear….. Can’t take a trick at the moment L

Going back to bed. Will discuss the overnight footy tomorrow but in the meantime I hope you had a flutter on the Liverpool vs. Stoke result that I gave out yesterday?