Sunday, May 29, 2011

Western Wanderer STaR 29ks

A cast of thousands this morning. Actually about 15 in total including Hamburglar who was finally convinced to step up from the 6:10 group. Largest 6:20 group in ages. About 100 in total from Striders running today.

Started at Drummoyne pool and ran through Drummoyne, Russell Lea, Chiswick, Abbotsford, Wareemba, Cabarita, Concord, and back through Canada Bay, Five Dock and Rodd Point to the finish. I went short when we reached the bay run.

Started off pretty quick doing 4:20's for the 1st 7 ks as John Binfield and I ran from the front. I slowed up after a toilet stop and ran back mostly with Burglar and John Bowe to the finish.

Total was 29ks in 2:14:16. Average pace of 4:37 per klm. Nice speed for this run with a couple of hills in it and some stairs.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Aths NSW Cross Country Relays 4k

For the first time since 2008 the ground was dry at Miranda. Made it a lot easier to get around rather than the ankle deep mud of the last 2 years.
The Junior Striders had good runs getting 3 relay medals. We had 2 womens teams and they were both 5th.

Only one mens team and we were 35+ age group. I ran 2nd after Stephen Lim, with Pete Hibberd 3rd and EJ finishing. I think we were 9th out of 14 teams.

I timed myself as 15:34 which may be a bit faster as I didn't press the button for about 20m after the start. Didn't run as fast as I would have liked. State 10k road next week should be fun.

City 2 Surf times are changing

On the City 2 Surf website there is now a note on the entry page that reads:

"Due to huge demand for the top groups, the qualifying times will be changing in 2012. Further details and tighter qualifying times TBA."

Action Jackson suspects maybe a change to sub 54 for males and sub 59 for females for preferred. They may bring in the Q times on the red and green groups as well.

So anyone reading and aiming for a time better run just a little bit faster than you thought you would run this year.
This could be my one and only year of preferred if they tighten them too hard for 2012.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

MLR 15ks

Much better conditions than last few days. No wind or rain.
Ran from work up to Centennial Park and did a lap via Moore Park Rd and Anzac Pde on the way back.

Total was 15.41ks in 1:10:54. Average pace of 4:36 per klm.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Manly Fun Run 10.62ks

A lovely morning for a run. 12 degrees and not much wind at all. The race started at North Steyne Surf Club and went along the beach to Shelley beach before going up hill through the carpark and up again to get onto Bower St which eventually goes downhill for about 300m.

We then went up through the Intnl Hotel school grounds on the grass before getting out onto Darley Rd to continue uphill through the Artillery base to the memorial at North Head. Turnaround and head back downhill which is always my favourite part.

Back down to the beach via Bower Lane and back along to the Surf Club. Officially the distance was 10.62ks. Suspect it was shorter but it is a weird distance so no problem.

Finished 14th in 42:38 out of 800 runners.

P.S Tom was nowhere to be seen but rumour has it that his wife and kids held up the family name in the 2k and streeted the field.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

RB Harriers Yarra Bay Road Race 5.5k - 3rd

A Randwick Botany Harriers Road race held down at Yarra Bay near La Perouse. Great views of Botany Bay and the freight terminal across the cemetery.
Started on the grass for about 100m and then along a bike path before going out along the breakwall road into the Bay where we turned around. I was in 3rd until about the 700m mark and then took back the spot at about the 1.5k mark and held the position to the finish.

Coming back from the turnaround into the wind was tough and my speed slowed more than I wanted. Finished in 3rd with a time of 21:05 for the 5.5k. Average pace of 3:50 per klm.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

MLR 15ks

Ran from work up to Centennial Park and ran around the outside via Moore Park Rd and Anzac Pde. As well as a loop around Robertson Rd and then back to work.

All up 15.53ks in 1:12:17. Average pace of 4:39 per k.

Next year they will probably increase the numbers again Ewen but with a wave start possibly. Eagle I was expecting faster and was on pace until climbing up the hill from Hickson Rd.

Off to Striders awards dinner tomorrow night. No awards for me though.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

SMH Half Marathon - 85:02



First preferred start for me in a major race. Loved having to not line up before the start, although when I arrived to drop the bag off at 6am there were not too many people there. Funny considering the 13,000 entrants.

The start was a chilly 8 degrees and in the shade and wind it felt colder. Had a good start and was running almost straight off the gun. Had clear space just after getting into Macquarie St so was happy to keep the pace going. I don't like the Cahill Expressway to run across as there is no crowd and it just seems like a raised LA freeway. No soul.

My pace was ok and I went through the 5k in 19:10 which was about the same as last year. After that I began to lose focus and was not impressed by the hill up to one turnaround in Pyrmont. Surely there is a better spot? As the 10k approached I was met by Sub50 and Hamburglar who after both running 37's at Striders last week I thought would be ahead of me. 10k was passed in 39:14 but I wasn't running well as I couldn't get any faster than 4 min k pace.

Arrived at the 13k mark on Hickson Rd still with a 50 sec buffer under 4 min k pace-51:10. After that I completely lost form as I headed up HAKA hill(Hickson to Kent) and from there up to the corkscrew. Reaching the 15k in 59:52 I had lost the buffer and the downhill of the corkscrew with a nasty uphill at the end didn't help.

Tried to force my pace along the Cahill and was doing 2:28 ks with the screwed up Garmin at one stage. It didn't like the tunnel obviously. Up Macquarie St was a struggle and I only started to feel better after I did a few Hail Marys past the Cathedral. Downhill to the chair I tried to claw some time back but it didn't work. Made the 20k in 1:20:36 and missed a free lap dance as well. Bugger!

Struggled to the finish seeing what look liked my one year of SMH preferred passing as the clock ticked into the high 84's. Finished eventually on 85:02 off the gun and have thankfully been given 85:00 as my net so should keep the preferred start for another year. I think they use 85:59 as the cutoff so I should be ok.

Course was very tight in parts with the crowd. Especially around near Star City and then across the flyover which was really narrow. Thanks for everyone reading.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

2k, 1.6k, 1.2k, 800m, 400m

Done at ES Marks track tonight. Not so cold actually about 12 degrees but the wind was strong.
Did a 2k warmup before starting and a 2k cooldown after finishing.

Reps were 7:26(2k-3:43/k), 5:45(1.6k-3:35/k), 4:16(1.2k-3:33/k), 2:44(800m-3:25/k), 1:14(400m-3:05/k). Had a 400m walk recovery between reps.

Felt good, especially getting faster as the reps got shorter.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

MLR 13ks

A bit cold, 10 degrees tonight and windy. Ran from work up to Centennial Park and did a lap of the park via Moore Park Rd and Anzac Pde and ran back to work.

All up 13.06ks in 1:00:28. Average pace of 4:37 per klm.

Sunday, May 08, 2011

Tourist Trot STaR 28ks

Started at Centennial Park and did a lap of the park running towards Queens Park and then back up towards Oxford St before going out the Woollahra gates down to Edgecliff.
From then it was through Rushcutters Bay, Kings Cross and into the city.

Down to the Rocks and across the bridge doing a loop of Milsons Point before heading back across the bridge. Then through Circular Quay, the Botanical Gardens, Woolloomooloo, Garden Island and the cross again.

Then down past St Vincents Hospital, Hyde Park barracks, SFS and SCG to the finish.
Fast pace at the end doing 4:30's for the last 5ks but the first lot was pretty slow.

Total was 28ks in 2:18.20. Average pace of 4:56 per klm.

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Striders 10k Homebush

A bit cool this morning. Hands were very cold before I did a 2k warmup to get the blood moving.
Gave a few people a rundown on Boston urging everyone to do it when they get a qualifier as the race is that good with all the crowd cheering for you.

Race wasn't that flash going through 5k in about 19:35 and then finishing in 39:41. I'm listed as unknown on the Striders results for some reason?

Might take awhile to find some short speed again after the Marathon. Just need to find it by the time C2S rolls around so I can run under 55 mins.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

ES Marks Track 8x800m + 1x400m

Did a 2k warmup and a 2k cool down after finishing. Heaps of people on the track including about 30 from CanToo doing SMH half next week.

Reps were 2:42, 2:50, 2:52, 2:52, 2:50, 2:52, 2:48, 2:51. And then 1:15 for the 400m rep.

All done with a 200m walk recovery. Ran in the new racing flats. Brooks T7. They feel ok but can they run fast?

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

MLR 14ks

Ran from work up around Centennial Park and back to work. 17 degrees and no wind which which was great to run in tonight.

Total was 14.02ks in 1:05.24. Average pace of 4:39 per klm.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

Middle Harbour Picnic STaR 24ks

Not a good choice for a long run after a Marathon. H4 on the Striders hill scale and that starts straight off the bat.
Started at Roseville and ran across the Roseville bridge and up to Killarney Heights and then through Forestville and down to Seaforth where we had the only little part of very wet bush for the run.
Then it was down across the Spit to Mosman and then up Spit Hill to Awaba St where most of us went short. So then it was down to Primrose Park and up a couple of hills to Cammeray. down across the old stone bridge to Northbridge and back through Willougby to the finish at Roseville.

All up 24.55ks in 2:06:00. Average pace of 5:07 per klm. Legs were feeling it for most of the run.