Update - I've made the not so big decision to move the blog to a dedicated website. Good chance to improve the design and interface. New domain is http://www.racebrunchrepeat.com/ Thanks for reading! Hoey ...
Possibly a 3 month low in Sunday pre-run freshness but of course, I love the LR routine. Another Inner West resident to join the the SOTB team for laps of Centennial. First time for Tym B, which meant my 10km traverse starting 6am was not solo. Starting 5:00s, I hoped the tired legs would loosen but by 5km through Pyrmont, hope was out...
Full intention to pace Timmy to a 18 min 5k at St Peters Parkrun but walking out, Molly gave me 'that' look to which I could not say no. Strapped her on a leash and off we went. She asked for a run and a run she got. Slow pace, maybe 5:45s with some niggles persisting in each feet not to mention 90%...
Now a well-versed routine in an easy few laps at ABC during lunch. Fairly empty lanes today despite the obvious pleasure of a dip in such humid air. 400m solo, then Yum Cha Wong invaded my personal space after complaining the HuRTS crew were too quick over in the fast lane. Enjoyed the drafting assistance for 500m. YCW leaves by which time RG...
AM: Centennial Still early days in 2016, too premature to test a 2nd speed set this week down at Rushcutters. The latest victim of my relentless base building (at 5:00s pace) is Champ. Ordinarily I'd ride to work, but not so in the weather. 6km jog at 6:00s. Out to Centennial at lunch in soaring mid-30s temps. Ad-hoc route via St Vincents and...
Soaring temps again, which favoured a delineation from the status quo wharves recovery run. Joined 10 like-minded individuals from the Pillars out to Redleaf. Tym B can be credited with the idea. A slow 5km out to the pool which did not feel easy. Last week of school holiday saw a seriously overpopulated swimming area. Nevertheless, two laps done. Jogged back with Jeet,...
Not sure what the half mara recovery convention is but I'd imagine a 4x10 min hit-out is not in the rule book. Freshness wise, no better than yesterday yet it was easy to justify the merit of an easy tempo in this state. Legs protesting from get go at the Pillars. With regret I had to let Barts, JFen, Nick and Crossy go...
Yesterday's was less 'can I run 21km at 3:30s' and more 'how quickly can I recover from a half at the end of a 130km week'. Great news, I feel fine. Some juice lost in the quads but niggle free and high energy. Proof is in the pudding and the pudding involved a pretty relaxed 13km with the Monday Squad. Kept strides at...
What works for me is a low key 21.1km tacked onto a fairly heavy week. Thus, I planned a hit-out at the SMC pitted against local hero Tim Molesworth and regulars Rob C and Yum Cha Wong. Turned into a nice little expedition helped by the two girls being on cheer squad duties. Breakfast bribery always helps. Lead bike is the rabbit to...
Slightly unsure what I'm suppose to do on Saturdays? Speed, base, recovery or nothing. I just wing it. Feeling fresh again after an easy Wed-Fri and wanted this to continue. Enslaved Molly for some company and found a patch of grass down the canal offshoot West side of the Bay Run. Target 10x100m but then completed 17x. Efforts ranged from 70-90% where 90%...
Stuck to the swim plan despite the temp 3pts below my physiological cut-off (25 degrees). Fear of coldness was heightened by the wind-chill factor. Renee seemed keen after an 18 month ABC hiatus so I had no choice. Usual HuRTS swim team were as per Coach Walker's instruction whilst I discretely cruised in the adjacent lane. Trying to re-find the stroke feeling relatively...
Redleaf Pool is just magic in 38 degrees. Company included Conway, Lambert, Renee, Jono, Champ, Liam all having a similar distaste for the 8x800s at Rushcutters. The fine print ... hill, stairs and more stairs. Circled Garden Island, passed the team starting the 800s then proceeded up the nasty Loftus climb. Pushed this hill which was as high as my HR got for...
Niche group for the mid-week recovery that included Lambert, Yum Cha, Pete W, Champ and Christian. First 5km I was encumbered by 3 rounds with a 11:30am cheesebake of the ricotta variety. Not a good decision. Eventually, I came good and contented myself with 4:30s down to Barangaroo then back to CQ. Only Lambert was left by the end. 11.5km in 58 min....
Action packed day. Round 1 - alarm clock bang on 5:45am (i.e. Trinity), jumped onto the bike en route to Centennial to make the 6:30am tempo (Timmy's idea). A great idea in theory. Rolled onto Para Road, slid over bits of glass and blew the back wheel. 2km walk of shame back home, then an easy 7km jog to work via Blackwattle Bay....
Back to the standard Monday recovery. The heat almost caused me to consider a 2km exit plan (aka ABC swim). Almost. However, the squad was big within which there was some decent personality. 4:20s pace had me desperate for some slow company. Luckily, J'OC and Birchy turned up which was my ride around the Wharves. Solo from here catching the bunch by the...
Chased the 6:30am group in the distance around the Golf Course and only caught them within CP at 7am. Knew we were in for a tough run when the sports gels came out ... 6km. 4:30s to start but this was early days. Today's verbal entertainment was Frenchman's magical NZ trip and then Timmy vs. Enda's latest high stakes bets. Up the Woolahra...
Still in the mind-set where a single speed per week is enough (aka Thursday). Some of the lads I run with are talking about regular Park Run hit-outs. Little interest to me but we'll see. Kicked off Saturday alongside Champ for a Bay Run & Surrounds. Started at Rodd Point with a focus on adding easy kms into the legs. Actually felt fresh...
First swim in 3 weeks and what a disaster. First left the watch at my desk, then after a solo 3km jog to ABC my goggles snapped as I readied for an easy swim. $4.50 (or so) sunk cost in the pool entry so I had to proceed with (i) no watch, and (ii) no goggles. Struggled with poor fitness and zero visibility...
How fun does a pyramid set on a waterlogged Rushcutters Park sound? Tricky 400m, 800m, 1k then the same in reverse with 60s rest. Kicked the day off with 7km recovery run to work. Annoyed at the flatness in my legs thus putting a 30% chance to do the lunch set. Then comes some HuRTS email traffic suggesting a good turnout was in...
A band of misfits for today's lunch recovery run. The weather was shocking so the just the bravest were keen. Ireland's J'OC proposed Martin Place Bar as the start point, leaving me a little concerned whether booze or running was the go. Also with us was Yum Cha Wong back to Japan, broken-ribs Champ, soon to be NOTB-based Gleeso. Nice an easy pace...
Intention is to start 2016 both fresh and hungry so I've penciled in a few days of R&R. At best, 6-8km here and there. Monday - session involved a walk to Rebel Sport looking for discounted running shorts. Not successful. 6km jog home because I didn't want to die on my bike. Tuesday - the devil's temptation was to join a small dedicated...
Swelling South Of The Bridge (SOTB) numbers, almost 20 now. It’s now a massive group attracted to a combination of banter, soft turf, several pacing options and good nearby cafes. Meanwhile, I hear our NOTB rivals are battling mutiny. Post yesterday’s 400s, I figured the first ’16 LR would be a struggle. Not so, with the pace relaxed (4:40s) and my legs bafflingly...
If '14 was about patiently base building, then '15 was adding speed to that base. The help of HuRTS was needed to make the next step. The main highlights: 1. Base and Tune-Up Races (Jan to early Feb) - good aerobic fitness through Xmas but that is it. Struggled with PF injuries and perhaps anemia which 'limited' me to max 100-120km mileage with the...
Starting 2016 the right way! Easy 10km Bay Run CW before meeting JFen (planned) and Neil (unplanned) at King Georges Oval. Crossed paths with the Run Crew several times. Now JFen is a training demon and does not know an easy day - yes I was a little scared. Three of us kicked-off at 4:40s on an extended 9km Bay Run then finished...
