Moore Park 8ks

Just down to the start of Moore Park and back. Felt like my legs were not moving at all tonight.

8.19ks in 41:31.

Moore Park 10ks

Hot day to start. Up to 30 degrees but only 21 degrees at 7PM when I started. Just ran down to Moore Park Rd and back.

Total was 10.58ks in 54:30.

Centennial Park 21ks

Missed my run in the morning mainly due to a lack of sleep due to asthma and then falling asleep on the lounge for 2 hrs. Probably needed it.

Run was at 3 in the afternoon. Not too hot only 22 degrees. Sun still out though. Nice run around the Moore and Centennial Park areas. Staying on the grass mostly.

Total was 20.84ks in 1:47:57.

Longest run since Gold Coast Half in July.

An hour in Moore Park 12ks

Down to Moore Park and around there. 16 degrees. Lots of traffic. Especially bikes.

Total was 12:03ks in 1:00:37.

Moore Park 10ks

Moore Park along Anzac Pde. No speed still but still using the asthma puffer. Very frustrating as I can't sleep either. Waking up choking.

10.04ks in 50:14.

Moore Park 8ks

Down to Cleveland St and back. Very boring. Hamstring and asthma still there. 17 degree start.

8.52ks in 41:54.

Randwick 7ks

Down to Moore Park and back via Alison Rd going past the racecourse.

7.57ks 38:07.

Randwick & Centennial Park 10ks

Still hampered by the hamstring and asthma. Hopefully I can breathe one day again.

Total was 10.23ks in 52:17.

Randwick 6ks

From home down and along one part of Centennial Park and back. Still trying to get the hamstring and asthma complaints to go away.

6.17ks in 33:35.

City 2 Surf 2015

Arrived about 6:30AM to the baggage area and wandered past the toilets with no lines. Then down to the start line about 6:40AM to find only about a dozen lined up. Mostly usual suspects. Maybe Fairfax and the don't arrive 30 mins before the gun email had an effect?

Start was made up of standing around having a chat and praying the sun came out from behind the trees which it did. Seemed to help but in fact the tempo was 6 degrees but with the 20k westerly we had during the race it was really 2.5 degrees.

Asthma and hamstring were noted as being a problem before the race so I expected not to be able to run fast at all. So it was proven as I had to run with my inhaler.

Found the crowds really rude this year as heaps of runners trying to get through gaps that they can't get through just belt your elbows without a hint of sorry. Next year I'm running with Michael Clarkes unused cricket bat. Will see more hits at least.

Splits I noted. Could be adjusted later as I press the button when the gun went and couldn't work out if there even was a start mat?

5k 23:15
7.2k(clock) 34:57
10k 48:55
14k 68:04. Avge pace 4:51 per klm.

Neg split 34:57/33:07. At least I'll keep the red start for next year.

Centennial Park 12ks

Ran down to Centennial Park and watched a bit of the 50/100k CP Ultra going around the park. Ran with Eagle and Horrie for a part of a lap.

Total was 12.14ks in 1:02:55.

Long Block 7ks

Been too busy and hamstring being worked on so not much running. Ran around the block at work. This is the block if I go one way as there is a train line and industrial estates in the middle so I don't think you can cut any off. Damn long block.

Total was 7:02ks in 35:31.

Randwick 3ks

Physio wanted me to tray a run after a few sessions. Didn't work well. Hamstring still sore.

3.16ks in 18:36. Had to walk for part of it as the hamstring was grabbing behind the knee.

Gold Coast Half Marathon 1:45:08

Best forgotten about with almost no training and a sore hamstring.

10 degree start at 6AM and minimal wind. Obviously the Half is always in the dark so no hat or sunnies needed which is always good.

Garmin measured me running 21.18ks which is good considering the crowds. I must have been ok at taking the racing line then which is always a good thing. Shortest course possible. Was not a happy birthday either.

SMH Half marathon 91:36

Another course change by Fairfax taking out the Barangaroo loop and the finish loop in college st. Added a hill at circular quay to replace it. 

Start time is now 6:45am to get us off the streets earlier.

Run was ok since I've only had 2 weeks training since Paris marathon. Passed about 70 people in the 2nd half to finish 538th. No rain during the race but streets were wet. 

Nearly 10,000 runners in the race with Tom highnam getting 4th. Excellent. Getting a new laptop this week so hopefully can update blog. 

Paris Marathon 3:08:43

Running on merrily until about the 25k mark doing 4:20k pace or 22 min 5 k pace when the tunnels came and I lost touch with the garmin and it and I didn't recover till the 30k mark.

By that stage I was doing 4:35-4:40k's and couldn't get it back.

Conditions were great. Nice and cool and crowded as you expect with 40,000 runners.

Forgot to look at Youtube for the cobblestones in the last 10ks. They hurt like hell on more sore Achilles. Remember Youtube next time. Heaps of support on the course with plenty out watching in the streets and cheering the runners.

Expo was huge. Largest since I was at Boston.

I finished the race 1884th and 3:08:43 which was my best since the PB in 2010. Which makes it a 45-49 Age Group PB as well. And I'm faster than Blue Dog for the age.

Splits 10k 43:55, Half 1:32:26, 30k 2:12:27.

Not too bad splits 1:32:26/1:36:17.

1884th out of 40,259 Finishers. Top 5% in a Marathon I'll take that.

Lost in Rome 19ks

Lost in Rome was rather dramatic but the map probably shows how bad it was. Cold day and I had so much trouble when I got back to the hotel as it used keys I couldn't turn the key and had to get hotel staff to help me. Fingers were frozen.

https://www.strava.com/activities/280481658

It ended up being 19.2ks in 1:40:30. Intention was and hour and a half but getting lost didn't help. Last run before the Marathon next week in Paris.

Hopefully the course is marked.

Botany Bay Trails 20ks

Ran from work down to La Perouse and back. Ran into the bush and rocks through La Perouse and the Bay headland near NSW golf club and back.
Got a bit sunburnt but I did start at midday so a bit of the suntan cream wore off by the time I got back.
Not exactly long enough for 2 weeks before a Marathon as I like a 2 hour run.

This was 20.2ks in 1:44. So, slow and not long enough.

MLR 15ks

Centennial Park inside and outside feeling great. 15.3ks in 1:06:55. Average pace of 4:22 per klm.

Centennial & Moore Park 20ks

Two laps in and out of Moore Park and Centennial Park in the afternoon. Not ideal and not long enough for Paris either.

20.1ks in 1:39:32.

Centennial Park 6ks

Centennial Park on the grass. Only 6.5ks in 32:30.
Got the legs working again after Six Foot Track.

Six Foot Track Marathon 4:56:17 = PB

Ran and walked a PB. Old one was from my first race in 2007 of 5:02:08. Had a much better time than last years no training 6:11.

Need to update later.

Striders Balmain Bungle STaR 23ks

Have not run a Striders STaR since the Christmas on last year. Too much on half the time to get to one.
Drummoyne start and through Balmain and Lilyfield, missed the Canterbury section to run back through Ashfield to the start.

Total was 23.1ks in 1:55:10. Average pace of 4:59 per klm. Six Foot next week may not be flash.

Striders North Head 10k Race

Starting from the speed hump just below the parade grounds at North Head these days. Don't like it I prefer the stone arch start that we did years ago.

Rained for most of the race so extra weight was being carried by all. Could have been me unfit too.

10ks in 40:44. I know, shit!

Marathon Pace Run 9ks

Inside and outside of Centennial Park. Mainly on the flat bits.

Total was 9.2ks in 37:03. Average pace of 3:59 per klm.

Striders Equaliser 14ks

Usual hard bush and road in Belrose. Doesn't get any easier. Always mud and water in the creeks and on the trails.

Total was 14ks despite the garmin measuring 13.8ks. Total was 1:09:51. One of my better runs.

Manly Marathon 42ks

Fairy Bower to Narrabeen Lagoon and back. Including a circle around to the far side of the lagoon track. But the bridge wasn't open so had to run back the same way.

Total was 42.2ks in 3:48:23. Average pace of 5:24 per klm.

Last 10k was basically a 6 min per klm shuffle as my Achilles had given up on the way back from Dee Why. It was all about time on feet for Six Foot which helped later.

Jack Carter Cup Soft Sand Race - 10th win

My surf clubs distance event at Palm Beach. Although the run for me was only 1.8ks.

Our swimmer came out first, who passed to the ski paddler still in first, who passed to me.
I did my huge contribution of 1.8ks in 8:57 along the wet sand with the tide coming in. I then passed to the board paddler who had a long paddle for the win.

The board paddler and my 10th win and the swimmer and ski paddlers 9th. We might have to front up for another couple of years to get us all up on double figures. Good fun. Another pair of sun glasses.

 

Stayed for the beers and BBQ afterwards this time. Next year we hopefully get the swimmer and the ski paddler their 10 wins.

Centennial Park & Heartbreak Hill 40ks

Started out a bit late at 6:40am. Lucky it was cloudy this morning so wasn't too bad. Still 85% humidity though.
Ran from the park up to Christison Park at Watson's Bay via Randwick, Waverly and Bondi Junction. Then back along the same route as City 2 Surf but stayed on Old South Head Rd.

Back near the park I did a couple of laps outside around Moore Park to finish for the day.
Slow run and I sprained my ankle a couple of times running on the grass.

Total was 40.34 ks in 3:26:48.

5 x 1.3k Hill Reps

25 Degrees. 80% humidity and 25k winds. Sweated bucket loads tonight. Singlet was plastered on at the end.
Did the hill reps on Parriwi Rd in Mosman.

Total was 12.6ks with the uphill effort and the downhill recovery. 1:04:28. Average pace of 5:08/k.

MLR 17ks

30k winds. 75% humidity. Was not pleasant to run in tonight.
Ran in and around Centennial Park and Moore Park.

Total was 17.18ks in 1:19:46. Average pace of 4:39/k.

13 x 400m Downhill Reps

On the grass in Centennial Park from the Oxford St gates down to the restaurant.

Total ended up being 10.5ks in 47:54. Average pace of 4:35/k. Of course that was including running back uphill as a recovery.

Did a 1k warmup and a 1k cool down afterwards.

Centennial Park Grass 16ks

As I said not enough time this morning. So did another run in the afternoon as I need my k's up for Six Foot Track and Paris.

So did 2 laps of Centennial Park and part of Moore Park on the grass. Helped that the trees provide great cover from the sun.

Total was 16.2ks in 1:24:33. Average pace of 5:13/k.

Manly, Allambie, Seaforth 25ks

Not enough time this morning for a really long run as I had to do something late morning.
Started out just before 7 and ran down to Queenscliff and then over to Manly Vale where I then ran up Allambie Rd until getting to Warringah Aquatic Centre.

Crossed over Wakehurst Parkway and then ran back down to Seaforth through the bush. Nice bush full of pine trees and a few annoying mountain bikers. I don't know how they get in there as the track is only handlebar wide.

Then ran down to the Spit Bridge and back up the other side through Clontarf to get back to Manly.

All up 25.2ks in 2:16:47. Average pace of 5:25/k.

Allambie Rd hill is 3.6ks. Plus I was pretty slow in the bush.

Centennial & Moore Parks 20ks

Mostly on the grass for this one. Inside and outside of Centennial Park plus past the SCG and SFS as well.

Total was 20.5ks in 1:37:33. Average pace of 4:46/k.

Centennial Park 16ks

3 laps of Centennial Park mainly on the road. Pretty windy which didn't help. Also a cricket game was on at the SCG which didn't help the parking beforehand.

Total was 16.2ks in 1:13:33. Average pace of 4:32/k.