Heating up

Pretty warm this morning and I was still sore from yesterday, lay in for a bit before doing 10km in 44:17. Training is rough as tomorrow.

 Cricket wasn't exciting enough, the best game was New Zealand v South Africa by far.

Bob's Beat

Long run this morning. The phone playing my music stopped working 3kms in which was a pain in the neck because I had to run with earphones with no sound coming out. Luckily ran into Dad at 12k and gave the mess of wires to him. Time was 1:19:01 for the 18km. Last 4km were all under 4:15 pace as well with lap 18 coming in at 4:04. Sore now though. Cricket World cup final today, and the theme song is the most inspirational thing the world has ever seen but the name "Bob's beat" doesn't really incite much. Get around it.

Big Big Night

Late home last night so ran early afternoon with Chris. Felt good but tired so I tried to get the session done okay. Started off with a 4km threshold in 14:09. Not too bad and felt good after that, recovered fairly fast. Never felt like I was maxing out or giving it everything which as a good sign, but also that's what a threshold is meant to be. Then some 400's on the track in 75s, 72s, 69s before Chris dropped out wretching. Probably deserved it for partying too hard, but my last 400 was really nothing special in 73s. 10.4 all together. Lots of km's this holidays, build a base before cross.

Vic Twilight Classic

Yesterday was probably the most amazing conditions for running I've ever seen. Not a breath of wind, a nice temperature hovering around 19 degrees all day and a bit cooler in the early evening. However that was my rest day and so thunderstorms were forecasted for race day. At the track, it was the back straight during which we were running against the wind. I was put in the 3000m B race and Chris was running the 5000m with Eloise Wellings going for the World Championships Qualifier of 15:20. My race was first, fast start, the starting 200m in 34s. Didn't feel it though. Jumped on board of the 2 lead runners and stayed with them. First lap was 73s, perfect as far as I was concerned. Stayed with the 2 leaders, through 1km in 3:02 and I felt the second guy dying. On the fourth lap, I went by while the wind was behind me, planning to push the pace or to just latch onto the leader. Managed to latch on and went through 2km in 6:09 as the leader was starting to gap me. Kept on hammering as I hard as I could, just to attempt a strong finish. Alone, however the wind took its toll and the gap grew. Last lap I just went as fast as I could run and ended up running 9:23. Really happy as that's a 13s PB in rough conditions. Really stoked to able to run this. Chris ended up running 16:01 after going out in 6:04 through 2km after staying with Wellings. Great run from him, a PB and Wellings managed to hit her qualifier, running 15:17 I think with a fairly aggressive coach getting loud with 200 left to travel. Stoked with my result though, I've been trying to go under 9:30 for years now it seems. Looking forward to continuing to race.

Not planned

So yesterday was told by Coach Cheyne to enter the Vic running network twilight classic 3000m on Thursday, so running club tonight was lower intensity taper. Chris and I were on the track doing 1200m, 800m, 600m, 400m, 200m. It was pouring with rain the whole time, windy as well which is just unbelievably frustrating as I get nervous as to what form I'm in. So cold today that I was wearing trackies and a hoodie while warming up and doing drills. Winter is setting in. The 1200m was okay, I led the second lap into the brutal wind. Time was 3:49, but I was tensing up to much, trying too hard to take it easy. When someone says easy taper, I think I shouldn't be trying so then I stress when it's harder than I reckon. Combined with the abhorrent conditions, it wasn't great mentally. In this race, I'm going to understand that it's going to be rough and then I think I'll relax. The next rep was the 800m and I led it out way too fast in 68s. We ended up running 2:21, not too shabby at all. Then the 600m which was 1:50 and solid. During the 400m, the wind picked up and made the last 100m brutal and we only ran 72s. Keeping in mind, this was not at all maxing out. The 200m was 31s and it felt easy which was good. 8km all together.

Ironman

Long run with Chris this evening. Really wasn't feeling it and felt sick the whole way round. Tired after big night last night which didn't help at all. The Ironman was on as we ran along the beach which was good to watch. They were around 36km into the marathon so they were hurting but trotting along at around about 7 minute k's or so. At the turn around I stopped my watch and forgot to start it which just shows I wasn't on my game. In the past I've tripped, fallen and while floating in the air, hit the stop button. One of my finest accomplishments . It meant I didn't get an accurate time but I would've said around 1 hour 23 for the 18km. Just didn't have anything left in the last km's like usual which was disappointing because I genuinely enjoy trying to run faster on long runs. Anyway here are some photo's of Mum and I yesterday doing the hill session. 63.7km for the week. I might take it easier this week so I can hammer out training during the school holidays.

Mountains

Did a hill session yesterday at Jells which was so tough as usual. I went with mum and there was about 30 people doing the session. Chris came along too, but Beau made the start really fast. This is the trouble with the session, no one understands jog recovery so the recovery is no longer recovery but pretty much a threshold. It's unbelievably frustrating when trying to form a pack because it seems that no one wants to train properly. I slowed down more on the recovery but I was still moving at 4:30's or so. Anyway really happy with yesterday as I kept the times consistent which is unheard of with this session. 360m hill, they went: 65s, 69s, 71s, 72s,  71s, 71s, 71s, 67s. Went out the same speed as usual so I reckon I've become fitter. Or maybe the recovery down the hill is the actual rep and I've got it all wrong. 12.5 all together.

You mad breh?

Yes, so mad. Fuming actually. Up to some 1km reps again and the weather was awful. First rep, a hurricane started I was soaked through within 150m. The wind wasn't bad then but it stepped up. Training with just Chris but these are the sessions that count. I must not be in too bad shape as I was happy with my times. 3:11, 3:12, 3:05, 3:05, 3:03, 2:58. There's a netball training ground right where we train and on the second last rep a netball mum drove across the track without looking out for runners completely cutting us off and killing the time. I would've run 2:59 for that second last I'd say. The on the last Chris wasn't feeling it and I surged a few times with 500m to go. Got a few metres on him but the he got me and went by with 200m to go. We both kicked hard and he got a second on me. Happy with my speed as well right now, I feel like my kick has improved after always trying to make the last rep the quickest. 10.8km all up. 

Yesterday and Today

Running club yesterday and Tom was back from America, so pretty good to have some more numbers. Haftu was away though as well as Jasper who was recovering from Nationals. He pulled a 4:18 out of the bag in the 1500m with a solid 8th in Australia. Anyway the session was 1200m + 300m x 4 with 90s between the 1.2k and the 3 and 2 and a half minutes between the 3 and the 1.2km. Wasn't feeling amazing to be honest, felt like a had a log in my stomach but I trained not badly. Times went like this 4:00, 52s, 3:54, 51s up to halfway and was happy so far. More tired than I would've hoped but I was sticking with Chris. Then it got tough. 3:51, 51s, followed by a 3:50 then 42s. Chris managed a ridiculous 3:38 last 1200m so not sure how he pulled that. But the last 300 was the hot topic. Chris went out hard but I was feeling okay then and reeled him back in after 200m. I was running pretty much all out then, but Chris found another gear and got home about a second in front of me. Stoked with that last 42s though, no idea how I did that. 10.1km all up.

Tonight did 12km by myself and got the tunes pumping. Good run, felt fairly easy averaging around 4:30's.

Apologies

Haven't updated in a while, that's my fault. Saturday really wasn't feeling it but tried to do a threshold. Hit 2km in 7:27 or so and pulled the pin and jogged home. Only 7.5k. Then yesterday ran with Chris in the evening did a long run of 18km in 1:23:27. Nothing too fast, probably because I've got this feeling Chris isn't running long on a Sunday. I felt fine the whole way round. Didn't run tonight because I needed to get some work done and I was just tired as. Club tomorrow though, so should be okay. 67.5km for the week.

2km Threshold and 400's

Yesterday got down to running club. Only Chris, Cody, Romin(new guys) and I. Started off with a 2km threshold in 6:47 and barely felt it which was a good sign. It was Chris's idea as Shermo only gave us 8 4's for an entire session which probably wasn't enough for just getting into cross season. Chris pulled ahead in the threshy and finished 5 seconds ahead of me, just wanted to not go too hard and I had never done this kind of session before. The first 6 400's were done on the outside 1200m loop with the first and 4th with a hill in it. The last 4 were on the track but Chris dropped out after 8. Rough headwind as well which made the last 100m on the track such a struggle for each of them. Times were: 72s, 70s, 69s, 72s, 72s, 68s, 67s, 68s, 69s, 65s. 60 seconds recovery between each to keep it aerobic and really happy with how it went. 10.8km all up.

6 x 1kers

Last night rocked up to running club feeling not amazing. Was then informed that we were doing k reps to everyone's dismay. Just Haftu, Declan, Cody (new guy) and I doing the session as Jasper is in Sydney about to run nationals and Chris was sick. Declan only did half the session and Haffie did 5 instead of 6 so the last one on my own was so rough, combined with the aggressive headwind and feeling tired from the start. Times were okay though with 3 minutes walking recovery. Mine were 3:06, 3:05, 3:02, 3:02, 3:00, 2:59. Really happy to have gone sub 3 for the last. 10.8km in the end, I'm getting the impression our squad is kind of falling apart but I don't know why. Tonight did 10km by myself and again felt okay. Nothing special and didn't get a time.

Brinking it

Public holiday today which always the week a bit more bearable so got out for a run this evening. Did a 5km threshold in 18:05 which I thought wasn't bad. Caught the Monday night squad just as they were finishing a lap and one of the members Max, a sub 4:30 over 1500m who is renowned for taking it easy, stopped his warm up with all the 13 year old girls, until I convinced him to keep going by getting on the abusive language. That was just before I was going to get to 4km where I usually stop, but max's presence definitely pulled me through to get the last km done. I think I felt worse than I actually was as I talked to Max relatively easily. Had to lean on a fence at the end though so it wasn't all fun and games. 10.4km all together.

Solid Stuff

18km long run yesterday in 1:18:48 so not too bad. Need a new long run route though and some socialisation as well.

This Morning

Pretty knackered still from formal so just did a 6 x 50m session with matt. An Italian bloke jumped in after the first rep who we had never seen before and gave us some life advice. Apparently he had run 4:14 1500m back in the day but he wasn't in that kind of form now as was apparent by after the third rep. Nice guy though. 8km all up for me.

Formal as can be

So didn't run on Thursday night as I had the school formal which was great to be honest. Pre's, then formal, then after party pre's, then after party so a fairly big night. Had a great time to be honest it, was such a laugh. It was ridiculously sweaty dancing at the actual formal, but still got around it at the AP. Here's some pictures of the first Pre's.

I went with Sash

More Mates

Ash and I

Some of the Fellas



Sticks and I and our Psych teacher

Sash and I with 2K15 Cutest couple- Jonno runs with me often

Hold my hair back while I munt

Yesterday got out for a run. 2km in wanted to do a session so did 2 x 5 minute efforts which killed. Never do a session with earphones in. Then just kept running and struggled hard, thought the large amounts of volume these last 2 weeks might've been the cause but tonight's session removed the doubt from my mind. Got up to my mum's squad tonight who have a fairly strong junior aspect to them. Ran with Sam "Mr 8:52" Toll, Beau Lang and Jack Bullock doing 4 x 400m and 4 x 200m on the track. Bit of speed never hurt anyone, however the Class A drug has. Took only 60s off between the 4's and was given a very generous 2 minutes between the 2's which made it stupidly lactic. These guys all go out ridiculously fast and to be honest I was expecting to get dropped but Cheyne obviously knows what he's doing as I started reeling Jack and Beau in with 250m to go on each rep. Sam was 20m in front on each one. My times were solid in : 65s, 65s, 65s, 66s. The 200's were similar except they went out faster. Again Sam flew ahead but I reeled Beau and Jack in once again before the finish. On the last I waited until 100m to go and kicked as hard as I could. Reeled in Beau but Jack killed it the first 100m so I couldn't make it up. Times were all 27s each so I've got some speed. Don't tell the Rozzers. Felt rough as afterwards, felt genuinely sick and had a huge headache but got a cool down done and felt better. 9.4km all together. Got formal tomorrow, should be quality.

8km

Yesterday did 8km fairly well. Just to get the legs ticking over. Had to pick up my suit for formal today so missing training which is a pain so I'll get down to another squads session tomorrow night. Just about to do an easy run now.

Transformers

Been getting around the transformers films of late. Genuine classics. Anyway pumped out 18km after studying most of the day. Ran into Nick at the beach so picked up the pace back home. Too many stops at traffic lights though which wasn't ideal and missed my watch start at one of them until I noticed. So 18km in around 1:17:30 I'd day. Good run, although didn't feel spectacular at the start, soon got into it. Big week this week with the school formal on Thursday so I'll get the photos up. I'll miss training Thursday because of it and replace it with hopefully a massive night. Should be good. 69.8km for the week, only 200m shy of that big 70. Did jumping squats last night as well and paying for that now.