Had reservations about battling the weather via a jog to work. Perfect timing as I headed out at 6am - cleared up and enjoyed an easy 6km to work. No chance to run at lunch (meeting), so turned out to be my lightest day in a long time bar a mini bricks after work. 30 min cycle home via Pyrmont, then a short...
Joined Wongy for an easy 11km around Hickson wharves. Really letting the legs recover from a tough last 4 weeks. Felt good for doing such a slow 5:40 min/km. Elected not to ride home given the rain. Looks like next few days will be nasty. ...
With 16km banked on Monday, my legs still feel a touch sub-par. HuRTS session 8x5 min with 90s rest starting at Stone Pillars. Cut this in half ... that was my plan. Huge huge turn out, including Conway returning plus Garth giving it a go. Must be the rare sunlight dragging everyone out. Warned the lads I'd drop off after 4 in advance....
My maiden brunch at Pinbone was a runaway success on every level. Restaurant-quality food at highly digestible pricing. These guys cater for sophisticated palates that can actually appreciate several of the Asian-inspired choices. Shame on several rookie diners who I observed eating just eggs on toast. Two health warnings: - Sunday wait times comparable to the check-in counter for my Tiger Airways flight last...
A good close to the week. Though I wanted to truncate my usual long run (legs flat), I still to post a solid week of mileage. Late night out was no obstacle to an early am start. Headed down to the Bay Run turning westward and basically wondering around Five Dock, Chiswick and Drummoyne. I've committed to one 'cross-training' session a week. Hence...
Friday - Redleaf Nice and easy run joined by Conway. Started on Macquarie and headed around Potts Point, Rushcutters and back around the hills of Darlinghurst. This is the course we were doing in the lead up to Xmas (normally ending in a quick dip at Redleaf pool). Didn't get to swim, but turned back at 8km. Pace was pretty mild, around 5:30s...
All clear from the doc. Iron levels normal vs. Xmas when it was way below recommended level. Anyway heading out the door felt like magic. No rain? What a privilege. Legs feeling strangely heavy so my 7km to work was slower than usual. Matt from work sent an email around to Wooey, Charlie and I for a 4:30 pace 10k run to Balls...
Morning shower Wow what a day. So I reasoned last night that surely, the weather can't get much worse than Mon/Tues.... Rolled out at 5:45am in my running gear, opened the door and had a mild heart attack. Wow. Too late to head back into bed now! It's all about attitude and I tried to take a positive mentality. Up Victoria Rd (Rozelle)...
The decision by CT to shorten the fartlek was met with absolutely no objection. In units of minutes, one set is 3 on, 1 off, 2 on, 1 off then 1 on, 1 off. Since and repeat for 4 sets. Turnaround at 18 min. Amazed at the turnout on a completely horrid day: pissing down rain, howling winds. I was so disincentivised to...
A run through Blackwattle Bay in pouring rain left me completely drenched and miserable before work. Skipping a lunch run was not a difficult decision. However, come 6:30pm I once again backed myself against mother nature. Ran through Chinatown, Ultimo and down Glebe and possibly had the most fun I have in a long time. The howling tailwind and water was incredible...
Decide to take the 'soft' option on a lazy Sunday morning (and not race). Ducked out at an easy pace down Paramatta Road just after 6am. Tried to time the 8.5km to Centennial such that I'd arrive at the Kiosk bang on 7am. Watch must be slow! All I saw was a bunch of 8-odd girls standing around for a boot camp. Figured...
I promised my stomach a second round at Revolver, post a top quartile eggs-in-skillet performance (review here). With Perth Parkrun friends Hamish (H), Sally (S) and Maddie (M) in town and my desire to impress, I figured this a safe play. House made spiced chai latte - $4.50 My chai latte was particularly creamy. The sweetness was too much, made so by an...
Really took it easy today. Undecided what the coming weekend might entail (running wise that is). Would like to keep the legs fresh. Resisted the temptation to run at lunch. Great excuse to run home from work. Crossed Pyrmont bridge then circled the wharves before tracking Blackwattle Bay. 10km all up at 6 min/km. Should I do the 30km SMC on Sunday (Smithfield)?...
With a new routine of a 10pm bed time, I'm finding myself up earlier and earlier. Brought Molly down towards to King George Park, near the base of the Iron Cove Bridge. Almost instinctively, took the shoes off and proceed to run in circles for 8km (500m laps). Felt better the longer I went. Had the dog chasing me the whole way. Turned...
Charlie kindly signed me up for pacing duties for Matt from work. Final round of Corporate Cup and Matt was 1pt behind Will. These two have been neck and neck the entire season. A PB plus 20s lead over Will was the aim. Plan was 4 min/km downhill, and 4:10s on the ascend back up from Mrs M Chair. Out at an early...
Monday - HuRTS MLR Finally my bike is back in one piece. Thought myself clever enough to remove the wheel, replace the tube. Couldn't figure out how to refit the back wheel and called in the missus to help. Worked a charm, meaning I enjoyed a double commute on the saddle. Fairly solid turnaround for the HuRTS wharves run at lunch. Pace was...
Straddled on a T-intersection along Bondi North, this corner carries many demons. Each August in the City to Surf, you're fighting a 14km losing battle starting from Hyde Park. Heartbreak Hill has just stabbed you in the chest with a fork. Roaring crowds, salty smell of the beach ...the tape must be 200m away! Sadly that thought is as premature (and sinful) as...
With a pending brunch in Bondi, I was highly motivated to work up a serious appetite. Food tastes best when one is hungry. Fact. Wanted to join the HuRTS 7am group starting at Kiosk. Leaving the house at 6:27am left me 33 min to get to the Kiosk (8km away). Hence the precedent was set for an unusually hard run, with pacing moving...
I'd say Thursday's speed left a few niggles in the left foot again. Yesterday I linked up with Conway for a Hickson easy run. Looks like he's back from PF issues. So this morning it was hard to say no to a lazy Bay Run recovery. Threw in a few sets of push-ups along the way, but finished the 12km in 69 min....
My initial visit to Shenkin Kitchen was a resounding success. They say don't fix something that is not broken; hence a revisit (now with 6 mouths to feed) was due. Photo journey below and the 9.5/10 was reconfirmed. Shenkin clipboard menu Had The Bite last time. Falafel crust giving way to a creamy centre is magic. The Bite - avocado falafel ball with...
First session in 6 weeks and I came away feeling extremely proud. I've been avoiding proper intervals / quality since Feb using every excuse in the book - taper, reverse taper, niggles etc. Lucky Charlie D dragged me along else I'd be doing 6 min/km around Hickson Wharves. 20 min of hill reps on the grass near the Art Gallery. Big turnout of...
Monday - LR via Lane Cove With the folks back in town, I decided half way through a morning Bay Run recovery to head over to Artarmon for an overdue visit. For me of course, this means via foot (not car). Covered exactly 21.1km crossing Gladesville Bride then some back streets through Lane Cove. The perfect half distance was completed via bizarre-looking zig-zagging...
Thursday - Swansea farmland Out at the crack of dawn for my last chance to explore Swansea. Did a lazy 12km south of the sleepy town. Hit several dead ends, found a few little hills and applied corresponding surges. Left foot felt a little funny again. Hence the low mileage day. 12km all up at 5:35 min/km. Friday - Launceston Cataract Gorcge and...
Tasmania has bred several quality runners over the years. Having been 'chicked' by a local just two weeks ago (Six Foot Track), I was intrigued. The hills, the food, or both? I flew down to Hobart just to investigate; armed with fresh legs, an empty stomach and a generous food budget. Machine Laundry Cafe, Hobart (29 March 2015) Machine Laundry Cafe, Hobart Brunch...
