The Six Foot Challenge

There is nothing like a bet to keep training interesting. My good friend and running inspiration "Corky" is starting an hour and five minutes earlier than me in the Six Foot Track, Last year she ran 5.38 and I ran 4.38 in 2009 on my last try.
So we may be finishing at the same time. I think she will run at least 5.20 so to beat her I will need to run 4.20. I don't know if I can do that, but the challenge is there.

Malabar Lapa 10k Mon 28th Feb

Spent all day out at sea. Thought I would be tired but I am strangely full of energy. Waited out some thunderstorms and went out at 7.30pm for an 'easy run' under a magnificent sunset. The legs were stiff for the first half but after 6k I ran into Bev and friend at Prince Henry then I got a second wind, and as I came back to Malabar I couldn't hold back and I ran the Howe St hill harder and faster than ever before. Strange. Thought I might pass out after I got to Prince Edward but managed to keep striding on to the end. Very pleased to have that much in reserve.

Equaliser 14k

Still felt sluggish but as the race went by felt better and better. Just wanted to maintain a good steady pace. Ran well everywhere and no trouble on the hill to finish in 66. The ran back half way down hill and came up again with Stef.
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Fri 27th Feb

Final day of marine course thank god. Michele is sick so went straight home to give serena a lift to orchestra. Then ran from the spot down to Centennial and one lap of outside track and back to spot.

Sat 28th Feb. Very tired. Out at 6.30 already getting hot and very humid.. No energy. Did slow 7k run to NSW links and back. Then went to Peats Ridge to pick up Kate's new horse.
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Malabar Lapa Circuit Wed 23/2/11

15k hilly run. Started slow at 7.30. Made it to Cathedral by 7.55 and then down to Browns Rock. No fisherman for the first time. Then feeling stronger powered across Congwong beach round Lapa and home. 70 mins all up.
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Wentworth Park Sprints

Still at super boring marine course at Glebe, nice misty rain, started with strides then got in 5 hard sprints on the grass. Not sure on distance, about 800m. First one in 2.55 and the final one in 2.30.

Mon 21-2-11 Centennial Park

Thank goodness a cool southerly came through during the night. After spending the day at the marine course I stopped at Centennial and ran 2 laps of the sand track just inside the boundary. Felt good. Ran the second lap faster. All up 13k in about 55mins.

Sunday 20/2/11

Got out at 5.30am and hoped to do 30k. But it was very warm and humid again. After 5k I new I had nothing. So I did leg exercises at the "Cathedral" as the sun came up and then slowly ran back home. Only 10k! Then off to the boring course. In the evening I had a good 8k run around the old grass skiing park opposit Honor's netball. Ran 5 circuits over the summit. A great place to run.

Lane Cove Ride Sat 19/2/11

Met Graeme at Lane Cove at 6am and did three stiff laps of the 10k circuit. It was very very warm and humid and the sweat was poring off me so badly that my hands were slippery on the bars. Good start to day though. In the afternoon visited Jan and the kids at Drummoyne. Found four black helium balloons up a tree and gave one each to the kids and Jan to make a wish with and let them go.

Wedding Anniversary Run 18/2/11

Still on the boring marine course, ran from Glebe to Neil's office at Annandale to dleiver a key and return. Pleasant 10k run through the leafy streets of the inner west. In the evening Michele and I saw the movie 127 Hours about Aaron Ralston. Was that rock trapping him good luck or bad luck? Good movie.

Malabar Hill Sprints 17-2-2011

After sitting through the world's most boring marine course for 8 hours, I got out for hill sprints up Howe St. Started with 13 strides across Pioneer Park including the knee squat (aargh) and the 10 intervals up Howe St and down Neptune with 2 minute breaks. Felt pretty crappy and dizzy but came good on the last three and ran them without stopping. After a five minute chat with Greg and Ricky finished off with slow jog around Malabar Circuit.

Malabar- Lapa Circuit Wed 16th Feb

No run Tue. Just too tired. On Wed had late run from Malabar to Lapa and back 10.3k in 43mins. Plenty of hills. Legs stiff for the first 3 k then increased speed on the way back. Powered uo Howe St.

Run to Glebe 12-13/2/2011

Sat - Ran to marine course in Glebe, then did strides at Wentworth Park and 5k run at lunchtime. Ran home again for 35k all up.

Sun - Back to the course on Sunday. Ran strides around Wentworth Park then 8k run before course again at Glebe. In the evening rode 8 laps/32k of Centennial with Graeme in 56 mins. Av speed 31kmh

Mon - Dental appointment in the morning left me with numbed left side for the day. Repeated ride with Graeme in evening for another 32k in 56mins.

Consistency - No injury

Monday - 12k easy jog to Lapa and back
Tuesday - 500m intervals at Pioneer Footy Park These were a challenge. Just by myself abvout 7.30. Great conditions just on sunset and the grass just cut. The first one was just 2.02 and I knew this would be tough. Made each one faster till the last one was 1.39. Didn't bust a gut.
Wednesday - Malabar-Cape Banks-Lapa Malabar - 13k. Pleasant evening run. felt full of energy.
Thursday -Evening run up Golf course hills - 6 repeats - then carry on 7k to Lap via the coast and then 6 interval laps of Lapa circuit.
Friday - At Glebe for a course (very boring) Ran 8k at lunchtime from Wentworth park up to St Andrews then down Pyrmont Bridge and around Ultime and back to Glebe.

The Super Hot Week ending Sun 6/2/2011

This was the hottest weather ever in Sydney with the temp upto 42 degrees and over 25 deg at night. Combined with high humidity it was very tiring. The trip last week hungover and I had a slow run Monday, intervals Tue and MLR Tue night. At work early Wed so no run.

Weather continued over 40 deg, so got out early for runs. Worst was Sat. Had planned to run Striders 10k but ran around Mutch park for 10k. A real challenge in the heat.

Sunday was the Meg Mega but I gave it a miss and ran the 15k Malabar circuit twice including down to Browns Rock. Took it easy. Felt pretty good. Time around 3.10.

Southerly change finally came through at 2pm Sunday and broke the hot spell.

OZ Downunder Race - Australia Day

Neil's first "proper" wheelchair race around the Rocks. We all went in to see him. The standard was very high. Ran the back part of the course with him. Then after eating at Rock's market ran home. Very hot.

Next day flew to Ballina with Kate and dropped her at Anthony's. Drove to Surfers and ran some intervals on a super hot day then went for a swim in the surf. Caught plane to Gladstone and stayed night with M & B.

Next day, Friday sorted out long boat and drove south. Slept at Scarrabolloti's lookout above Byron then spent day with Anthony and Keri. Then drove to Taree and slept in at a Motel till 11am. Has best of intentions of running but was exhausted. Continued on to Sydney. No run. Arrived Sunday 4pm.

Warriewood to Mona Vale Swim 23/1/11

Joined Mike, Judy, Judy's brother and Alex for the annual swim. Nice conditions but lots of blue bottles with a 10 knot NE breeze. Very hot and I got sunburnt during the swim and the run back. Great afternoon at M&S's as usual.