Christmas excess

Away in the Hunter with the family at the moment but still managing to squeeze a few runs in.

Fri 23rd: 10k easy

Sat 24th: 5k tempo with Tim. Ended up with an average pace of 3.35 but struggled through this one with a terrible hangover. In fact, this has been a huge month of drinking for me, I will be happy when January rolls around.

Sun 25th: 50 mins easy no garmin so around 11k

Mon 26th: 20k at 4.30 pace

Tues 27th: 60 mins easy, no garmin again, opted to run on the inside trail in centennial. Ended up with 8 short hill reps.

Wed 28th: Tempo 2 by 4k, basically ran on the highway from Lovedale to Cessnock. The first rep was into in the wind averaging 3.45, the return leg was breeze averaging 3.32.

Thurs 29th: 10.5k easy, ran to Ed's parents house for a feast of steak and beer..

Let England Shake...

Yep, it's that time of the year!! What are the top 3 albums of the year?
So in order
1) Let England Shake - PJ Harvey
2) Torches - Foster the People
3) 21 - Adele

Let England Shake was a country mile ahead of the competition, a little like Tucks when it comes to the HuRT squad. A political tour de force that appreciates the demise of the English empire but still yearns for the country who believe 'the sun never set upon it's empire'. Funny with talk of the Euro collapsing the focus is firmly on the Eastern side of the world!! In saying that methinks with the Olympics in London and England getting a pretty easy group in the Euro it may be a glorious year in 2012 for ENGLAND....Cameron's call to shun Europe adds further credence to the rise of the auld English Empire. But please don't tell Timmy!

Torches is a great summer album, 'pump up kids' which is getting plenty of airplay is only half the story...contains some great rocking tunes...

Well with someone like Adele we've all heard it all before but i was pleasantly surprised how good the album is. Some great classic tunes that the whole family will love.

Honourable mentions - the fleet foxes, Wilco & Bon Iver.

On the running front, out with the HuRT squad for an easy 45 mins on Monday, on Tuesday I had a stomach bug so rested, on Wednesday got out for 4k by 2 with 2 min rest. Felt good with the 1st rep avging 3.27 and the second in 3.29. Today I got out for an easy 8k catching the tail end of the HuRT squad..

In Sweeney fashion, i will add youtube clips to give you a snapshot of my music of the year...

Let England Shake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7mcM9kWPHw&ob=av3n

Pump up kids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLK7hrRijes

Adele
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw&ob=av2e

Weekend running

Thurs: 8 by 400s off 2 mins, avg’d 72 for each rep.

Fri: Easy 10k, plantar in the right foot was very sore, noticed it on the way down the HuRTs awards. Concerning as the left plantar plagued me last year. Great night at the HuRTs awards! Great to see so many people turn up!

Sat: Easy 8k with the plantar noticeable.

Sun: 22.5k in 1hr 45 mins with Tim. Again plantar noticeable and after a full on week drinking i was just happy to get through the run.

For the record

Just in case I forget, I better log my kms

Fri: Terrible hangover, still managed 10k

Sat: same as Friday and the hangover was just as bad

Sun: Wedding anniversary so back on the drink but managed to get up a run 7k easy with Conway for a few kms and then 14k steady in centennial (54.20 so about 3.50 pace). It was hot and it was a tough run, Conway was with me for the first 2k but fell 2 mins behind over the next 14k.

Mon: 10k easy, struggled through this one! I was just tired from all the alcohol running through my veins.

Tues: 20 mins by 2 with the HuRT squad, The first 20 felt relatively easy (3.35 pace), just ran with TB and chatted our way down to Hickson Rd. The way back was fine until the Boy Chartlon hill, Tom put a little gap into myself and Jono Fenton. I had to work a little harder to get on the back of him again (3.33 avg).

Wed: 10k easy

Missed the HuRTs session today but will try to get out this evening before another big night on the beer!!! It's a good thing auld Timmy can only have a few beers...i may get home at a reasonable hour tonight!

Thoughts turn to Glenbrook

Well i've entered the 34k race in Glenbrook next weekend, I need a 6foot qualifier and it looks like the easiest race on the calendar.

Wed: Easy 10k with Berger from work who is also running 6foot, we chatted about the race and training required to run a successful race. Essentially I need to get back training on the hills....like Guinness it will give me strength ;)

Thurs: (4 by 2k)
Out with the HuRT squad, i was planning (3.25 pace) as I am still a little worried about my calf. Basically ran with Jono for the 1st 3 reps (6.42, 6.38, 6.36), calf was tighting up so I opted to take it a little easier for the last rep. Ran with Tom, Conway and Clyde and hit the first km in 3.27, then with about 700m left, Clyde started to kick down, I went with him and for some reason he told to 'go', i pushed on with Jason A who put a few seconds into me in the last 100m but managed to run the last km in 3.08. Happy with the session. Tucks took it easy today, Timmy was in a world of pain..he looked a broken man finishing the last rep...he needs to drop over to the house at the weekend for some breaky.....actually my daughter is already into this running lark, she whizs by me and says 'Daddy look at me, I'm very fast'. This morning she was telling me 'i'm faster than Timmy'....oh dear maybe she is right! Well on the evidence today, she's not wrong!!!

Lessons for us all..

Mon: Easy 10k with the HuRT squad, went to the front and had a good chat to Conway about Timmy and Enda's performance in the 'land of smiles'. Also chatted about T Bell's effort in Kepler. Apparently TB will be out of action for a while, shame really as he was going well. Definitely lessons here for us all, TB went in with a niggle and ended up with an injury that will keep him out for a while.
Tues: With only a 1 hour window, borrowed Eamo's garmin, 2k warm up, 6k effort (@ 3.29 pace), 2k cool down. Temps was nice and cool and it felt relatively easy keeping the pace at 3:30. No issues with the calf, so will look to a V02 session on Thursday.

6foot (I think i'm in)

Sat: 10k with a 5k tempo in the middle (17.26), got out in the arvo and it was pretty hot out there.

Sun: Change in the weather, it was wet and windy, hit centennial on my own for 32k at 4.25 pace, never felt that comfortable throughout. Started out at 4.25 but the wind was factor with some km in 4.35 and others in 4.10..

I entered 6foot at the weekend, i think i'm in. Confusion reigned during the online rego process. It leaves me with little choice, I need to run Hobart as you are required to run a qualifier prior to Jan 18. Ah well at least the decision is made for me..

Kids central

With the 'good wife' away sunning herself in Maui, I didn't think I would get much running in but I am happy to report I logged a few kms
Mon: 10k with the HuRT squad
Tues: 10k run with a steady 5k in the middle at 3.50 pace
Wed: Spin session (90 secs hard, 30 easy by 10), 6k easy run, plenty of stretching
Thurs: 50 min easy run
Fri: Run to centennial 2k, lap around the park (3.6), 8 by 400 in the oval with a 20 second float, didn't have a watch. Difficult to know what pace i was running in the oval (approx 3.30-340 pace). 2k cool down. Timmy has asked me to enter 6foot for him...just hope both of us get in? The 'good wife's' week away has flown by and the kids have been very good, though i did bribe them with the odd ice cream and they love the ipad.
I spotted this...the 10 best running blogs
I was sure Timmy's 3 Ts would make the cut...