Back once again for the renegade master

Feeling better yesterday so just a 6km jog to make sure. Had school footy today but the competition was steep so it was boundary umpiring for me. Really enjoyed it although the rain made it pretty bitter. A mate who has never played footy in his life lined up from 35 out and slotted it home for a key 6 points. Keep in mind his name is unofficially "falcon" so to be fair I'd back him to do anything. A bit sore from running around all day but got home and decided to go to the gym for a treadmill session inside as the poor weather hasn't relented all day. Did a 5km threshold in around 17:50 so a bit faster than usual. I was running next a man who was walking and playing solitaire on a computer at the same time which helped with the confidence. Another guy was on this strange moonwalking thing wearing cargo shorts with his hands in his pockets obviously getting in some hard moonwalking miles. It's a really nice gym but some strange people go there. Walked back through the weights area to have a look. Aggressive would be a nice way to describe those machines, but some guys who looked like the machines they were on were pumping out some reps and sets of who knows what so they apparently worked. 10km all up. I'm keen to race some body builders.

Down

Jogged yesterday 7.6 km in 34:42 but it was so much harder than it should've been. Probably the lead up to what got me this morning. Headache, sore throat and destroyed nose. I'd say I've got something. Probably fair though as I've flown under the radar and escaped being sick since January. Hopefully it's not too rough.

Last school cross country 2015

Today was cross country day and the main competition was Will who runs at Glenhuntly with me. Warmed up with max, another GHY boy, and did some drills while they played house songs in an attempt to get everyone keen to run 5k in the bitter wind. It wasn't all bad though, the commentators did have a sense of humour which was greatly appreciated by most and made the last 200m stretch better than your average last 200m stretch.

The start was mental as always, as the real winner is the man who completes the starting 300m first, with second place going to the man who can tackle the most people to the ground within that 300m while there is still sufficient numbers on the oval to conceal their true identity. I stayed with the competition and anyone in the way copped a hip and shoulder or a don't argue. Wasn't expecting the 3:23 first km split that appeared on my watch as I didn't feel the pace at all. It seemed to be too much for most of the crowd though as after 2km(3:20) it was just me and Will. Must've slowed slightly and came in at 3:26 through the third. Still feeling really good at this point.

The course took us back through the school so we received the cheers of many as we went back past the starting line. Will moved ahead of me and I tucked in behind him then but I feel as if that move might've taken it out of him as I went back around and started creating a gap. Kept the pace strong and felt the gap growing. Due to the 2 laps, walkers were in the way so I jumped on the asphalt to give myself space and pushed on.

A teacher, oblivious to the issue of not being able to run through people let me know to jump back on the pavement but probably due to my obvious fatigue and lack of response she let it go which was probably wise. Kept the pace strong all the way home and ended up with a time of 16:39 for just under 5km. Really happy as it's the first time I've managed to beat the school. Great run.

3, 2, 1

Running club tonight in the despicable weather that overcame Melbourne today. Just Tom and I doing the distance stuff which was 3 laps of the outside loop, followed by 2 laps then finally 1 lap. The cold made warming up tough so the first rep was the hardest I reckon. The third km within it was 3:36 so threshold pace and we should've been running faster. But we brought it home the last 600m for a solid 12:47 for just over 3.6km.

Next rep managed to hit an amazing rhythm and felt very strong. The idea was to have an easier session tonight so I wasn't going for any records. Time was 8:20 for just over 2.4km, felt like I could've run like that all day.

Did the last rep alone as Tom had a big night effort last night and was still recovering. Fair enough, went out slowly planning on closing strong and did just that, really running fast the last 200m and finishing with a time of 3:50 for the 1.2km. I reckon I could've run under 3:40 had I had someone with me and we ran consistently the whole way. 12 km all together.

Update

Squuuaaaaddd last night but only Tom and I doing the whole session. Kenyan fartlek, haven't done that in months. 8 x 2 mins easy, 2 mins hard and 6 x 1 min easy, 1 min hard. Haftu, who has hit some quality form, joined us for the first four 2's but easy for him as he's training with school on alternate days to us.

Feeling under the weather all day but trained really well. Covered 300m more than normal over the 2's and felt strong on the one's. 7.6km and 2.6 respectively. 13.8km all up. Felt the longer duration of hard work today, achy all over, but managed an easier 8km in 38:12.

Beaching it

Drove up to the beach today with Dad for a long run, but we went our separate ways along the path.  Really good run because of the lack of traffic lights minimised the constant stopping and starting.  Passed people on the way out and on the return so I found out I wasn't the only one doing more than 60 minutes today and props to them to be fair as I probably wouldn't have picked them to be running like that. Time was 1:18 something so a bit faster than normal for the 18km . I reckon it was because I could find a proper rhythm without roads to cross. 75.4 for the week.

Jells Hills

Hills yesterday for the first time is ages and definitely felt it after so long away. Started strong but the 7th one is what let me down, so next time I can hopefully keep that one fast. Again all the other runner murder the recovery so I continue to get overtaken on the recovery even though I'm running the hill faster. Pretty frustrating, but I really should just focus n my own session rather than racing at the same time.

Times for the 360m hill: 1:07, 1:11, 1:11, 1:12, 1:12, 1:15, 1:17, 1:10.

Good workout, I was exhausted for the rest of the day after. Went to see the new Avengers last night and never thought that there could be too much action in one film, but they pulled it off this time. Worth a watch though. Also getting around Game of Thrones and I've almost finished the first season so it's getting pretty intense. It's what is pulling me through VCE.