Sunday and Monday

Yesterday didn't run and just played soccer and did a long run of 12km today in around 55 minutes. Training tomorrow night which I'm looking forward to.

Back in Town

Good trip to Tasmania, did my first run there since being sick which was an easy 10km with Jonno. Today arrived early on the Spirit of Tasmania and got outside for a run. Joined my sister to run with her while she did some 1kers and I could get a bit of faster stuff in before continuing training. She did 5 1km reps and the times were 3:38, 3:38, 3:36, 3:37, 3:30. She is very happy with these and she is also off to National cross country representing Victoria in August. I ran home for around 10km all up.

Tassie

Yesterday, I didn't run in the all schools cross country but Haftu and Chris did. Haffie ran a great race coming in 3rd after out kicking the fourth guy in the last 200m. Chris came 12th in our age and he was pretty disappointed after being passed a lot in the last 3km. I am off to Tasmania on a school trip so should be a laugh. Might have to cash in on a few early mornings and get out pounding the pavement or maybe some hills would be good. Looking forward to it and anything beats school so no worries.

The chances

Yesterday went for an easy 8.5km and came down with a sore throat last night 2 days before all schools. It's a sick joke.

3 x 2km, 4 x 200m

Came to running club feeling great tonight and definitely performed. Haftu, Nick, Jasper, Dean and I training. Started off with the 2ker's with 4 minutes recovery between each, the first one a bit slower in 6:50. Didn't feel bad after that and probably went a bit fast on the next one finishing in 6:23 with the first and second kilometres in 3:12 and 3:11 respectively. Really surprised when I looked at the times after it didn't feel as hard as that. Then onto the last 2km, we went through 1km in 3:09 then a 3:07 for the last for 6:16 all up, stoked with that and managed a solid kick home as well. We then did a bit of speed work doing 4 x 200m with 200m float recovery and the last one on the track. 10.8km all together.

Regional Cross Country 2014 - Ballam Park

Race today, it was a struggle getting up after a few bigger nights, got myself up to the school for a bus ride up to the park. Miserable weather, but the rain made an exception for our race which helped. No spikes allowed which killed me though, although some pulled a very sneaky switcheroo and changed on the start line. Wore the new racing flats that I bought instead and they were very handy. Started off around a football oval, but not before a fence jump and a couple of ditches were required to navigate. Nick pulled ahead at this point before the first km, but I reeled him back in. There was 6 of us forming a leading line. We went up a hill, around and back down, then down a steeper grass section during which I pulled back up into third position. Through the first km in 3:06 which was fast, then pushed on up another long hill, the back around a steeper corner on which spikes would be useful. Didn't see Nick from then on although the pace slowed to 3:26 for the second km and accelerated again up to 3:19 on the third. It was now 4 of us. I came into the lead up another hill with everyone tucked behind me. They then overtook and the 4th km was in 3:34, a bit slow. Then around a soccer oval, the line spread out completely with me in 4th place and that's how we finished. The 5th km was in 3:18 although we had to run 500m extra which killed me. Really happy the race though I was up with the leaders, until 500m to go so stoked. Made it to the next round, State should be a killer.

Pre-race worries

Did an easy 10km yesterday and felt full of energy, but the calf was holding me back, just felt very strange. Had soccer today and played great, it was a bit sore in the first half but didn't notice it in the second. Thinking it will be okay tomorrow for the race. I then have All-Schools 6km on Saturday so a bit of a big week.