A date with The Pretenders

92.5kg (what a joke!)

Just home from an evening at the State Theatre with The Church and The Pretenders, the State is such an intimate venue and our seats were brilliant, seven rows from the front and smack bang in the centre. What a fantastic evening out. The Church were surprisingly rocky, I can’t remember The Church being so hard. The Pretenders lived up to all my expectations. Both bands were very tight but the brilliance of The Pretenders shone through. The two newer members of the Pretenders, Adam Seymour, Guitar and Nick Wilkinson, Bass very good and very young, really carved things up while Chrissie Hynde proved beyond any doubt that She is the singer’s singer while adding lots of rhythm and proving to be very handy on the guitar, Chrissie is the quintessential rock chic who clearly loves entertaining. Martin Chambers bashed the skins and played to the crowd in a Wallabies jersey then later revealed his true colours, an English world cup rugby jersey, which attracted a chorus of boos from the aging congregation. So many great songs, such a short time to enjoy them in. No grand show just tight, well played rock in a classic venue.

On Sunday I ran with the City Tatts Harriers and managed to keep up with the fast group. Must say that it was bad training. They’d belt off then stop and talk then race off again.

Monday was easy, and today was hills with the team from sweat. Managed to knock out 17km today but felt weak and achy. Hope I’m not getting a cold. The Cradle pack is packed just got to run it now.

Off to bed with all those Pretenders tunes swimming around in my head. Oh another thing, Chrissie suggested that the Divynals were reforming and the Pretenders were considering some dates in Australia in 18 months or so.. Imagine that, two Chrissies on stage together. You heard it here first.

Shoe ratio 8:7!

92.4kg down 0.6kg from last post.

Thanks for the comments everyone. I’ll wear the Montrails at Cradle. Like many others the search is on for a new pair of trail shoes. I have been eyeing off the inov-8 brand. The one I like is the F-lite 300. Not a full blown rough terrain shoe, rather more of a trail/road fusion. Noticed Fats was wearing some new inov-8 roclite 285 yesterday at training. Unfortunately I couldn’t get close enough to have a close look on account of Fats being so bloody fast. Anyhow, 285 grams is a bit light for me and I’m really just looking for something with stone protection that is hard wearing. For the technical stuff I’ll put up with my Montrails, which weigh 340 grams.

I organised my shoes during the week and somehow I seem to have more action oriented shoes than casual/work/dress shoes. Is this ratio an important measure of one’s commitment to the athletic ethos? My ratio is 8:7 (eight athletic shoes to seven dress or casual) Thongs not included, sandals determined by use. What’s your ratio?

Monday was an easy day and I ran for 20min.

Tuesday was intervals. 2x 3km + 1x 1km. Must admit I bludged the first 3km because I was chatting with Simon about Cradle. Managed 12:05 for the second 3km and bludged the 1km. Hot, humid and uncomfortable

Wednesday was supposed to be a 90min run but only managed 55min in the dying moments of the day due to workload and schedule crisis.

Thursday slept in and got to training late. 7 small hills in around 2:30 to 2min 45sec. I was so hot and sweaty that I decided to run the whole way to work (logic flaw?). All up around 160min of running without food or water. Felt good.

Off for 30min today and taking the kids camping at a place Mister G recommended if the fires have stopped threatening the campsite.

Fires rule the trails

The news came through on Saturday that there was a fire close to the Overland track down Cradle Mountain way in Tasmania. I just could not believe it. This is the summer where every trail run seems to have been affected by fires in some way or another. Apparently the track has been reopened and the 40 hikers that were waiting are now on their way. The fire has not been contained yet and is 10km from the track. Lets hope the race still goes ahead on Saturday the 3rd of February.

After reading some of the race reports on the AURA Cradle site I made the decision to wear my trail shoes. I am currently having a love/hate relationship with my Montrail Continental Divides. I hate them because the soles did not handle the Brindabella run and wore down badly in the space of 55km. They are quite stiff and make my soles sore and they aren't that light. I was reading that the same fellow won the race two years in a row and his time was 1hr 20min different from the previous year. Basically when the track is good it's good. When it's wet ie. most of the time, it's crap. So I'll wear my Montrails.

Training is going well. Weight isn't. I jumped on the scales this morning and tipped them at 93kg. This is a joke, I must slow down my insatiable desire to eat at every opportunity. From now on every post on this blog will have my weight recorded for all to see.

So far as training is concerned. On Friday 19/1 I was scheduled for an easy day. I had fully intended to go for a lunchtime jaunt but I didn't manage to get out there. We had a dinner to go to on Friday night and returned home at 11pm. I was feeling so guilty that I decided to pull the shoes on and run for 40min. I arrived home just before midnight feeling much better for the run. The BBQ meal had settled and wasn't so uncomfortable in my gut.

Yesterday Sat 20/1, I had another easy day on the schedule so just ran to Bondi Junction to do some shopping and back home with a backpack full of goodies.

Today Sunday 21/1, I went to the Striders STaR at Drummoyne. I arrived 4min after the 6:10am had departed and decided to chase rather than wait for the 6:20 group. The 6:10am group were taking it easy so I caught them about at about the 3.5km mark. It was good seeing Spud and Hamburglar in the group. Must admit I felt a bit out of place running on a flat street course with Spud. I'm more at home on the trails.

The pace from the 9km to the 21km mark was fast and apparently we had quite a few 4:30min/km efforts in there. managed to hang on until the 22km mark and yelled out to spud to drop his map so that I could find my way back. Spud decided that it was too hot to keep up that pace and ran with me for a while. The main group slowed and we caught them at a drink stop. But decided to jog the last few km in at a relaxed pace. The 29km took around 2hrs 30min if you take into account the late start. I wonder if this type of running will help me at Cradle Mountain, I doubt it. Strong hit out all the same.

Just checking the schedule, I was supposed to do 3hrs today and only managed 2hrs 30min. Considering pulling on the shoes and heading out for 30min and listening to the Cricket. Things just got interesting in the one day match against NZ. Australia 3 for 17.

Late nights & 1 mile intervals don't mix

Well I really over did it in the last 24hrs. After yesterday's hell session with Scott and Spud I decided to get some work done at the office. Ended up getting home after 12am. Then dragged myself along to intervals with Sean Williams.

The main session was 3 x 1 mile efforts. I managed get through them despite being tired, exhausted and emotional. My times were 6:37, 6:27, 6:27 which I was quite happy with considering.

The weather is so wet and humid here in Sydney that my gear is always soaked. In fact my cap hadn't dried out from the run yesterday and I was almost gagging while I was running to the session this morning. Took me a while to realise that I needed a peg for my nose to stop the putrid smell from permeating my nostrils.

Tomorrow is an easy day. Might go for a run/swim/run tomorrow.

24 kays of humidity

After attending a dinner in Newcastle last night and not getting home till after 1am. I managed to set off early and meet spud and ishowells for some early morning running. The first 10kays was relaxed and controlled the second 10 fast. The last four was a bit of a struggle. Terrain covered was a mix of trail in the Lane Cove national park and road on the striders 10km course. Managed to keep up which was a bit surprising as both the others are quicker than me. According to Scott we did the 24 in 2:17

Got back to work absolutely drenched with perspiration, freaked a few people out because I hadn't worn nipple protection and there was a bit of bleeding going on.

All sights set on Cradle now. Leave has been approved and flights are booked. Pack has been prepared and is as light as.. Just need to figure out my carrying food.

10 Mile Tuesday

I've been thinking rhymes lately. yesterday I realised that the great tradition of Aussie poets was dead. So I spent the today sitting in meetings and thought of poems. Here's the first verses of a little ditty I came up with day dreaming on a conference call this morning.

it's not the time to think of rhymes coz Cradle Mountain's looming, I'll be on the track with gear and pack a running and a hooning.

If I chance upon a tiger I'll be sure to keep his secret, the little blighter's not extinct just starring on a leaflet.

84 kays is a mighty long way but for me it's just a warmup. i'll be sure to pack some power bars in case my gu gets thrown up.

UCB you watch me mate I'll be itching for a thrashing, I'll go out hard then crash and burn in typical ultra fashion

get the idea..

Monday was an easy day so I ran for 30 min on the coastal track from Clovelly to Tamarama via Bronte beach. Absolutely stunning day. Sydney at it's best.

Tuesday was a 6km time trial in Centennial Park where I managed 24:24. Not bloody good enough. I ran there from home and continued on to the city. Felt good dispite the slow time.
cheers from the cell phone.. Brendan

Striders Pymble STaR

Sunday 14/1/07 I had a nice 29.1km hilly run with the Sydney Striders this morning, perfect cool conditions and a very sheltered course. The 6am group left the carpark with about 60 runners, many of them faster than me. But thought I'd hang about and go with the 6:10am group but there were only about eight of us. Thought I had made a mistake as the 6:10am group were going a bit quick, it was quite hilly then someone said we were doing 4:45m/km (ie. too fast for me on a hilly course).

I hung on until about 8km to go as the 6:20am group came through with fire in their eyes, Superflake was hanging in and making it look bloody easy, then I blew up. Ran the last 8km with Bandanna and Sportsman.

Quite a short hard hitout, noice! Thanks for the lift Paul.

SHAKE & BAKE baby!

Well I've got to hand it to Mellum, they had a great year. And I've got to hand it to GBH too, we had a great year as well. Within GBH we've got Blue Dog who is on another planet, fantastic year mate. Then there is Horrie and me. We at least there used to be until Horrie started getting podium finishes in major races. Don't take this the wrong way, I am so thrilled that all the hard work that Horrie and Blue Dog have put in is paying off. Now that my training is consistent I'm starting to come up as well. Things are looking up and we've laid the foundations and for an even better 2007.

I was just watching Talladega Nights and the two main characters remind me of Horrie and me. For those who haven't seen it it is a movie about running. Don't believe me? Watch it and you'll realise that when it comes down to the wire it's the running that Ricky Bobby does that pays off. SHAKE & BAKE is the little saying that Ricky and Cal keep reciting all the way through the movie. Get it out, and get it on or go & see it. It's got the lot. Male bonding, car races, fast food, and love of the great nation of the US of A.

Phew.

Last week was a biggie. On Saturday I ran in the Portsea Twilight and posted a very satisfying 31:30 for the 6.7km, I proceeded to mark the two bays course for the following day and raced in my own 56km race. I felt ok going out but felt flat coming back. I could claim that C2K was still in the legs or that I had pushed too hard in the short run the night before. But in reality I feel that my 6:55 for the 56km was a fair reflection of my fitness. Not too bad but not great. I was really happy to get a great field of 16 along to the run, with a number of great runners and others I just like being around. Pity I couldn't hang around because I needed to get to the airport.

On Monday I had 12km on the schedule and decided to run into town from home, I tried to run it but only manged 10km with a number of walk breaks. My legs were sore and I was tired. Tuesday was hill work with SWEAT and I got through the whole session (big tick). Wednesday was 45min but I was feeling ok so ended up running for 150min (including somehow losing Spud after i took a wrong turn). Thurs was fartlek but I miised the SWEAT session due to an early meeting and ran from work at Lane Cove into the city and surged on the hills.

Yesterday (friday) I was so weak, I decided to do a 1hr (22km) bike ride instead of running the 20min on the schedule. Finally, I'm just back from an hour of running where I decided to add in 5 x 400m efforts in bare feet down at McKay oval.

Tomorrow. 2hr 30min on the schedule. I'll either run with the striders or the tatts.

Until next time... SHAKE & BAKE baby!

Tostesterone, d'oh!

Tuesday 2/1/07
After a meeting some friends at their Portsea house for breakfast, which turned into lunch, I was challenged by one of their house guests to a rowing machine regatta. The lad is 21 and taller than me and heavier than me and has zero percent fat and is in the melb uni boat crew. We set the ergometer to 1000 metres and off we went. The kid posted a new house record of 3:39.4 and beat the 2 year old record by 3 seconds. Then it was my turn. I grimaced and wrenched my way to what would have been a new house record of 3:40.3. So the little shit beat me by 0.9 of a second. He couldn't believe that a 44 year old who hadn't been in a boat for over 20 years could get that close to him on zero training. Caught the little fucker looking at me all afternoon.

So now I've hurt my lower back. The kid doesn't know it, but I got back to our beach shack and iced, and covered my lower back in voltarin gel and lay down for a couple of hours. Testosterone is an evil chemical.

Managed to get out and struggle through 90min of trail at an easy pace.

1/1/07 New years day
decided to do 2 x 4km efforts. Went to a flat section of road and ran the first one at an average pace of 4:36min/km slightly overshot the 4km so I carried on for 4.5km. Walked a bit then turned and realised I was running into a head wind. Did the second 4.5km rep at 4:44 min/km average. 10km all up.

Happy New Year 2007

After a year of irregular posts I thought I would be a bit more diligent
and actually use this blog medium as a training diary.

After all there's a big series of races coming up. This will all lead up
to the crescendo on June 23 where I'll be joining 20 other Aussies in our
attempt to secure ourselves a Western States 100 finishers buckle.

Racing seems to get me fit quicker than training. Here's a draft list of
races/runs that will get me fit for the big one in June.

Jan 6 Two Bays Trail (Vic) 55km
Feb 3 Cradle Mtn (Tas) 84km
Feb 18 Training on WS course 64km
Mar 10 Six Foot Track (NSW) 90km
April 6 Easter Training Camp
April 28 Prom 100 (Vic) 100km
May 20 Glasshouse 50 (Qld) 80km

The training camp location is a toss up between Thredbo or the Mornington.

Melb trailwalker two weeks after Six Foot Track is another option.

There's my plan..

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