Sunday and Monday

Yesterday didn't run and just played soccer and did a long run of 12km today in around 55 minutes. Training tomorrow night which I'm looking forward to.

Back in Town

Good trip to Tasmania, did my first run there since being sick which was an easy 10km with Jonno. Today arrived early on the Spirit of Tasmania and got outside for a run. Joined my sister to run with her while she did some 1kers and I could get a bit of faster stuff in before continuing training. She did 5 1km reps and the times were 3:38, 3:38, 3:36, 3:37, 3:30. She is very happy with these and she is also off to National cross country representing Victoria in August. I ran home for around 10km all up.

Tassie

Yesterday, I didn't run in the all schools cross country but Haftu and Chris did. Haffie ran a great race coming in 3rd after out kicking the fourth guy in the last 200m. Chris came 12th in our age and he was pretty disappointed after being passed a lot in the last 3km. I am off to Tasmania on a school trip so should be a laugh. Might have to cash in on a few early mornings and get out pounding the pavement or maybe some hills would be good. Looking forward to it and anything beats school so no worries.

The chances

Yesterday went for an easy 8.5km and came down with a sore throat last night 2 days before all schools. It's a sick joke.

3 x 2km, 4 x 200m

Came to running club feeling great tonight and definitely performed. Haftu, Nick, Jasper, Dean and I training. Started off with the 2ker's with 4 minutes recovery between each, the first one a bit slower in 6:50. Didn't feel bad after that and probably went a bit fast on the next one finishing in 6:23 with the first and second kilometres in 3:12 and 3:11 respectively. Really surprised when I looked at the times after it didn't feel as hard as that. Then onto the last 2km, we went through 1km in 3:09 then a 3:07 for the last for 6:16 all up, stoked with that and managed a solid kick home as well. We then did a bit of speed work doing 4 x 200m with 200m float recovery and the last one on the track. 10.8km all together.

Regional Cross Country 2014 - Ballam Park

Race today, it was a struggle getting up after a few bigger nights, got myself up to the school for a bus ride up to the park. Miserable weather, but the rain made an exception for our race which helped. No spikes allowed which killed me though, although some pulled a very sneaky switcheroo and changed on the start line. Wore the new racing flats that I bought instead and they were very handy. Started off around a football oval, but not before a fence jump and a couple of ditches were required to navigate. Nick pulled ahead at this point before the first km, but I reeled him back in. There was 6 of us forming a leading line. We went up a hill, around and back down, then down a steeper grass section during which I pulled back up into third position. Through the first km in 3:06 which was fast, then pushed on up another long hill, the back around a steeper corner on which spikes would be useful. Didn't see Nick from then on although the pace slowed to 3:26 for the second km and accelerated again up to 3:19 on the third. It was now 4 of us. I came into the lead up another hill with everyone tucked behind me. They then overtook and the 4th km was in 3:34, a bit slow. Then around a soccer oval, the line spread out completely with me in 4th place and that's how we finished. The 5th km was in 3:18 although we had to run 500m extra which killed me. Really happy the race though I was up with the leaders, until 500m to go so stoked. Made it to the next round, State should be a killer.

Pre-race worries

Did an easy 10km yesterday and felt full of energy, but the calf was holding me back, just felt very strange. Had soccer today and played great, it was a bit sore in the first half but didn't notice it in the second. Thinking it will be okay tomorrow for the race. I then have All-Schools 6km on Saturday so a bit of a big week.

Embarrassing

Ate too much at lunch so way too full at training tonight. Did Swedish fartlek but I only managed 2.4km. Left calf was really sore as well,  bit worried to be honest,  just a bit of a poor effort really. Finished exams as well today so exhausted from that. Will rest tomorrow and go for an long, easy run on Saturday then just soccer on Sunday ready for the race Monday.

Surely Not

Today up at running club was Nick, Haftu, Dean, Declan and I. We did 2km, 1km, 2km, 1km, 150m. Felt solid throughout the whole 2km, but it could've been faster in 6:43. Then the 1km which felt too fast, but was actually average in 3:08. Then the 2nd 2km which was good in 6:31. Kicked home with Haftu after that and was hurting a bit. Then the last km was in 2:57 with the first 600m being too slow and we really picked it up in the last 4. The 150 was just for a bit of speed, didn't time it, but felt great the first 50m, then struggled and questioned why I did it as I tried to speak without vomiting, watching my 400m career fly away. Regional Cross Country next Monday, another race against Nick. But the real competition is this Thursday as we have a meeting at school about the race and doughnuts are often available. The one who consumes the most doughnuts wins the prize of "the person who consumed the most doughnuts". This is my year ladies and gentlemen. This, is my year. 

8km

Today did just over 8km in 38:28, felt solid then had soccer in the afternoon.

Easy 10km

Easy 10km today, needed water, alright run. Also got some road racing shoes, so sporty, they are Nike Cushlon LT.

Ethiopian Fartlek

Another fartlek session at running club tonight, Chris, Haffie and I. 30s, 45s, 60s, 90s, 2 mins, 3 mins all with a 1 min jog in between and doing that 3 times. Took it a bit easy at the start but the 3 minute definitely hurt. We rotated the lead with Chris taking the longer reps, Haffie taking the shorter ones and me taking the middle. Again on the second set the longer reps were  struggle, we were going fast though so really glad to be hanging on to the 2 of them. Then the third set really hurt and got dropped on the last 3 mins, but still completed just under km in that time so really happy with that. 15.6km all up, really sore now.

Easy 8km

This morning did an easy 8.3km in 41:14. Felt okay but it was harder than usual because of last night's tough session. Got exams the rest of the week, so a pain.

Kenyan

So Chris showed up last nnght which was a bit of a change in scenery. Dean as well, but Cheyne took his first sick day in about 26 years and threw in the towel with a bit of a cold. So we did the session just the three of us. For those who have forgotten, 2 minutes hard, 2 minutes easy x 8, then a walk then 1 minute hard, 1 minute easy x 8 is the session. Forgot my watch so had so go off Chris's times and it was strange not being able to see how much of the rep we had done. It was much quicker then usual though, I could feel that. I led the 4th and 6th reps of the 2 minutes with the Chris mainly leading them out. Don't know the pace we were going at, but I'd say it was around 3:00 just because it was so hard. We did 7.6km for the entire lot of 2 minutes and we normally only do 7.2 so that was a huge improvement. Then onto the 1's. Felt good at the start but hurt more and more and the pace kept growing as we got further into the session until we hit a really quick last rep and ran metres off 400m in 60s. Really happy, but it took a lot out of me. 12.6km all up.

Update

Did 10km yesterday in just under 50 minutes. Felt great like I could run all day like that. Bit stiff today though, 8km in around 40 minutes so the same pace for the easy runs. Then had soccer afterwards, sore now though, feeling fit.