Nos Galan New Years Eve Road Race

I dipped my hand down a little further into my Tee Shirt draw this morning and pulled out my Test Dept Tee Shirt from 1984! Surely you'd think this Tee would be falling apart by now but it is still in remarkable condition, I'll have to google Test Dept to see if I can get an image or a flavour of their "music". The above image closely resembles the design of my Tee. I'd just left Uni in 84 and was still quite impressionable. Their music was about as avant garde as I got! But even more remarkable is the fact that I have a running Tee Shirt that I think is even older! It was from the Nos Galan New Years Eve Race held at South Welsh mining town Mountain Ash.

Wow see the coincidental design on this mornings Tee Shirt!!! Spookey!

I need to dig it out to to get the date but it is thread bare and has to be treated very gently (hope the wife hasn't thrown it out!). Actually the race that night was a bit of a shambles! I was in a second group and the lead group got mis directed so we became the lead group! I think I was running with the legendary Luton International Tony Simmonds and ended up maybe top 5? I cant remember! Of course a race at midnight on New Years eve would always be something special and this one was special because a whole bunch of my non running mates took the trip with me and Jeff Kaye to take part (Girlfriends also travelled but didn't race!). The Race (if its still going) is always started by a mystery famous runner. The year we ran Kirsty McDermott started us ( I think that's her name - a very good British international 800m runner).

Goodbye Matty Hayden Hello Lance Armstrong!

It's tough getting up at 5.00am just to go for a walk! Still maintaining my 6KM Roo daily! It always seems such a waste of running time! Well only another week of abstinence to go and hopefully that will pass quickly. Very highly motivated to get going again but of course shall be careful not to overdo it! I dare not get on the scales at the moment.

Really interested to see how Lance gets on in his return to competitive cycle racing in the Tour Down Under!

I enjoy the British TV show Life on Mars and I think its funny how America has to remake the show for an American audience! In many ways the show is a reworking of one that I grew up with and really loved - Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)!!

90 Push Ups

I did 90 push ups yesterday and a session this morning that went;

40, 50, 40, 40, 80 !!

I'm knocking on the door of 100!

12 Hundredths of a Second

12 hundredths of a second ! 

Not  a great deal of time but it was enough time for Dr Jamie Harrison to break my Australian M45 3000m Record at the weekend! In what Jamie told me was his first race as a 45 year old at the weekend Jamie eclipsed my time to record 8m56.32 if only the yellow vested 3rd placer in the photo above had leaned back a little further I'd be OK!! - Big Congratulations to Jamie and I'm sure he will go on to knock more time off it. As I said in a previous post the writing was on the wall with Jamie in such  great shape. Last year he ran 1500m in 4m08 and when you compare that to my paltry 4m18 speed I will not be surprised to see him go under 8m50. Indeed it is an honour to be on the same page as Jamie, as  20 years ago he'd beat me by a country mile. 

He is a 4 time winner of the Australian 10,000m title and compare his City to Surf pedigree 1989 42m26 compared to my 45m55! He is very close to claiming his 300th Road Race Win (I think he is up to win number 294 or there abouts!).

I shall lick my wounds and concentrate on distances where I believe I am better suited.

The M50 5000m record is currently 15m48 (yeah I know I'll have to wait three years!), and the M45 Hour record is 17,785metres and these are do able if I can ever shake off this knee problem!

I just saw this article on the Good Doctor!

 Athletics NSW - Organization License 

Waratah Invitational series - 10/01/2009
Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre
Event 22  Men 3000 metre
1 Bromley, Nick                U.T.S. North           8:21.18
2 Harrison, Jason              Parramatta C           8:49.63
3 Harrison, James              Bankstown Sp           8:56.34

Swimming at Rocky Hole

Great Time camping at Mount Mee State Forest!

Noise from the Cockatoos at dawn and dusk was a bit deafening but hi points were;

 night hike, huge lace monitor lizard, swimming at Rocky Hole, Driving the 4WD around the State Forest! - a great father and son bonding session.

I managed to put some of the other tracks into perspective for future runs and to describe them as long and mountainous would be accurate!

Geoff, cant wait till we can L'Traverse together!

Mount Mee

Lots of walking! Doing the 6KM Roo loop most days!

I saw a Koala yesterday - the first in a long while but didn't have a camera or phone to take any photos! Normally running I have my head down (Looking out for toads and snakes!)

This morning I did have my camera and came across two Roos bouncing along in front of me so took a short video!

The lack of running does have a positive side - this morning I was able to walk down the stairs in a normal forward motion rather than going backwards (= easier on the knees!)

Today I'm off to Mount Mee for a couple of days camping with Max - It's a real hot day here but up in the mountains it should be cooler!

Made it up to 78 Push Ups!

5000m - 14th in the World 15m41.44

Tues 30th 7.00pm  6KM Roo Walked Sandy 60m

Wed 31st  6.30am 6KM Roo Walked Sandy 57m

Yesterday aside from the walk with Sandy I swam laps in our pool. The water was like a warm bath!

This mornings walk was beautiful but our poor Beagle Sandy is not used to walking and she suffered in the heat! (It was 25 O at start and 27 O C at finish!). Quite a few runners out and about made me feel envious.

Year in Review

Top runs were;

Jan 25th 3000m 8m56.46 - 3rd Place and achieved a goal (Australian M45 Masters Record) I'd set two years before.

June 15th 12KM Sunshine Coast CC 12KM 2nd Place 41m14s (Masters Course Record) - Just 11 Secs behind Ben Holland who had beaten me by up to 2 mins through this series and then backed up with 10m02  3000m CC (Masters Course record)

July 20th 10K Jetty2Jetty 5th Place 32m36 

My Masters World Ranking positions dropped this year but overall I was satisfied because I did what I wanted over 3000m (wish they ranked the 3000m!), I improved my 1500m time, but I never really nailed a quality 5000m  - 14th in the World 15m41.44 

or 10,000m - 18th in the World 33m28.56

As one moves to the older side of the age category you would naturally expect that as you get older your performances start to drop off and also you come up against younger and younger competition just entering the category. Next year I would hope to improve both the 5 and 10.

Congrats to Keith Bateman on taking the Number One slot in the M50 1500m by a clear 4 Secs!

4 Week Break! - Spare me the Details

My Knees still hurt so I'm going to take another 4 weeks off running to see if I can get them right. I have a goal to be fit at the end of May - hope to be running in Europe and want to be at my best and pain free and feel that there is no point continuing at present as the condition could become chronic. In the meantime I shall concentrate on Core exercise in an effort to keep some weight off and be in the best shape possible for getting back into running.

Spare Me The Details - The Offspring

Iggy Pop The Passenger

Saturday Shornecliffe 5KM Time trial 16m57s 1st

I was a little stiff from last nights effort but ran OK. As soon as I got out of the car I noticed the wind was back again! The course was altered from last month to be 'out' 1.25KM turnaround, (2.5KM lap), so would have cost a few seconds with the extra turns. I'm not sure if coping with the wind in 1.25KM bursts was better of worse. It was real warm (at 5.00am it was 25 O C) going back out with the wind at the second turn. Today was also a no watches guess your time. I reckoned last month I'd only just restarted training so I had to factor in 17m35 last time, 4 weeks of training, a hard 11KM last night and what factor to account for the wind and turnarounds? I guessed 17m00 so was pretty close!

Other people in attendance today included; David Scroope (all the way from the Sunshine Coast!),

Andy Clowes, Phil Klien and Ian Kent. I haven't seen Kenty for ages, he was taking things gently running 18m40.

The Orange Tree, Totteridge

Friday Boxing Day 6.00pm 11Km Roo+Lake 41m14s

I felt lethargic all day today, Stinking Hot and I was hanging around waiting for the sun to go down before getting out on a run and I  guess I just wanted to get out and hit the road. I started strongly which is always a good sign and I worked hard to maintain momentum. My split times were all good but I held myself back just a little because tomorrow morning I intend getting over to Shornecliffe for the Run Inn 5KM, and also because my knees were still hurting!

Poured with sweat (1.5KG of sweat loss during run!), happy with  a 41m14 = getting down towards decent times indicative of being fit. A 40m Something would have sounded better and a 39m Something  would mean I was fit.

I managed a 30, 35, 30, 30, 50 Push Up session. I've been a bit slack recently and seemed to regress so I'm concentrating on trying to be more consistent and conquer this session comfortably (!!) before moving on.

Boxing Day is somewhat different in the UK! Our Club normally had a Boxing Day Handicap Run and a drink up at the Orange Tree in Totteridge after.

The above photo is Stuey Moore taking it seriously in jock strap with me chasing in Pink Mesh! Conditions today couldn't be more extreme.

"it's a better one, its a better one, IT'S A BETTER ONE!"

Thursday Christmas Day 9.00am 25min run in very humid conditions.

I was paying the price for debauchery on Christmas Eve - I made that fateful mistake of mixing wine and beer - Never Again!

I remember Daley Thompson would always train on Christmas Day, he said if he didn't he knew his great rival Jurgen Hingsen would be stealing a march on him.

Aint Gonna Bump No More

Wed Christmas Eve 5.00am 23 O C 11KM Roo+Lake 46m27

Warm and humid, went OK (for a morning run).

74 sec shocker (7777)

Mon 6.00pm   11KM Roo+Lake 46m42 Recovery

Tues 5.00am Nudgee 10 X 400m 75secs recovery ave 71secs

72, 73, 74(!), 69, 70, 70, 70, 70, 70, 67

Really found it difficult getting going possibly Morning Lethargy possible due to body condition.

After the third interval 74 sec shocker I concentrated on relaxation, back lift and quick feet and I somehow managed to magic up a 69! (I'd read a good article by Peter Sandery in the latest Masters Yearbook). Isn't it amazing how a bit of relaxation actually helps your speed rather than my typical attitude fight the track fight the body and if it don't hurt it ain't no good!

K Break

Sat. 3.00pm 6 X 1K (Geoff&Errol's) 3m18, 3m25, 3m19, 3m20, 3m21, 3m16 - 60secs Jog Recovery

A tough tough 'K'!!

Sun. Up at 5.00am Running by 6.30am 25K ?? L' Traverse 2h02m48s

More City to Surf training. I had curry and beer last night at Geoff & Nicole's (very nice) and felt guilty when I got to the top of L'Traverse where I had intended to turn back so carried on for an extra 10mins to make it a round hour at turnaround. Much cooler temp today than last week and I carried a bottle to 17mins and drank and left it for my return. It took me 9m30 to traverse the 'hill' at L' Traverse!.

I had a realisation on my run that perhaps the name "L' Traverse" doesn't have any special significance or exotic foreign history! This was because at roughly the 2KM point there is a sign that says 'K Break' and so I realised that the signs are just some forestry way of naming things and it just goes in an alphabetical order !!( K, L, N, M etc) and the ' is just added by me because I'm an esoteric ponce!

It does not detract from the fact that L' Traverse is Running Paradise!

Poker Face

Fri 6.00pm 11km Roo+Lake 43m53

I had some beers last night so don't fancy getting out this morning, today is going to be a 37 O C day so don't fancy a run at lunchtime, perhaps this evening if there isn't a storm!
This morning was woken through the night by humidity and claps and cracks of thunder but don't think it actually rained!

We didn't get a storm so I went out when I got home. It was 31 O C at 6.00pm!

I worked hard all the way but like Tues I felt I put a lot of effort in for an average time 43m53! Perhaps the heat does affect me! - My P.B. is 38m55.

Lady Gaga Poker Face

Tues. 6.00pm 11KM Roo+Lake 43m08

I put in an awful lot of effort for a mediocre time.

Wed. 6.00pm Nudgee 10 X 400m Ave 72 - 120m jog recovery.

Started with a 68 and finished with a 70, blustery/windy conditions, hard work!

Thurs 5.00am 11KM Roo+Lake 47m42 Recovery run

Oh my aching body!

Bear Grylls

Mon 12.00noon 11KM Bridges 43m40s

Remarkably my body held up OK following yesterdays run, hot conditions again today but I had the comfort of a multitude of drinking fountains.

Push Ups. Managed a 68 Maximum effort and did a couple of sessions of;

30,35,30,30,50

Love Loveday's Road & L'Traverse

Sun  6.00am   Loveday's Road and L'Traverse   2H38m10

Was up at 5.00am and drove to the mountains for City to Surf training! Ran bare chested but had the benefit of shade most of the way. Was going to turnaround on the hour but thought I'd like to see if I could make it to the Archer Camp site. The added incentive for me was the possibility of getting a drink at half way point. As it turned out, I ran for an hour & 15 before turning around, as I was again descending off a giant hill side that I'd have to return up! No sign of the mythical Archer Camp Site and no drink !! I became fixated at the lack of water and was half wondering if I should do a Bear Grylls and squeeze out my arm band with the thumbs directed into the mouth for a taste of sweat!! or stop and scoop some up from a puddle/pond along the way , however, I survived (just) without such drastic measures, but certainly wont do that again without a bottle to the 1/4 mark or a hydration pack. I thought I ran a comfortable lick most of the way but have no idea how far 2h38m10 sec is worth on a severely undulating track. I had no company at all during that time save for one 4WD and 2 X 3 pack of trail bike riders. All up, a huge run for me!

My 2litres of ice cold lemon cordial never tasted so good at the finish. Drove home and felt tired,

we went to the beach at Bribie this arvo = surf side at Woorim = beautiful! Water was fantastic, another 32 O C day! Knees were in a lot pain driving to Bribie, I ended up pulling over and let Natalie drive so I could stretch/straighten  out my legs. A real bad aching sensation I sometimes get in the mornings on the train, I'm normally OK after I get moving again. These photos are from the last time I ran L'Traverse.

Middlesborough 1 Arsenal 1

Mars Venus Moon Face

Sat 5.00pm 32 O C !! 11KM Roo+Lake 41m40

As you all know I enjoy extreme variety in my training so today I ran topless! There was a thick blanket of cloud so no chance of getting burnt and it was late in the day.
I find that either the embarrassment of exposing my mm thick triceps or the freedom of movement of topless running always gets me moving quickly and as I had rested Friday I put the hammer down. The conditions were like Cairns out there. My fingers were wrinkled like I'd had a long bath. I'd hydrated well beforehand and even so stopped for another drink on route.
My time today probably makes it into my all time top 20 runs on Roo+Lake so quite good going (pushing through the pain).
I took these photos in my back garden a fortnight ago when Mars and Venus were sitting close together above the new moon which gave a 'face' like appearance! I think you had to be DownUnder to see it - Kids thought it was cool,hard to get the image real clear as the long exposure at night caused some shake!!
Geoff not much Johnny Diesel on imeem, couldn't find '15ft of snow' but this one sounds good?

Everyday is like Sunday

Wed 6.00pm 11km Roo+Lake 42m47s

Pushed it

Thurs 5.00am 11km Roo+Lake 46m23s

Paid for it!

Porto 2 Arsenal 0

Kerryn McCann

Tuesday  12.00 Midday 11KM Bridges 44m21

Knees hurt enough for me to go back to the Docs this afternoon for more anti inflams! 

I hope they do the trick but of course I realise that they are only masking the pain and that I'll have to get an MRI scan to see what the underlying problem is.

On the positive side I managed 61 push ups in a single maximum test last week and last night my session was ;

30, 35, 30, 30, 40. 

I've come a long way since I only managed 35 all out at the outset of the 100 campaign!

I think it might even have added a mm to to my Triceps!

Shocking news about Kerryn McCann - heart goes out to her family. It always puts things in perspective and makes you thankful and cherish everything you have.

A Momentous Day for Oli

Monday 2.00pm  11KM Roo+Lake  44m29

Was off work today to take Oli to the Orthodontist to get his braces removed, a momentous day for any teenager! 

He'll still have to wear a retainer, but that wont be so visible.

Temp and humidity was way down on yesterday's preposterous conditions! 

Sunday's session left its mark (pain wise).

Melting at Nudgee

Sun. 8.00am   Nudgee  10 X 400m 70sec jog rest

68s. 72. 72. 71 .69. 71. 72 72. 71. 68

1.5M WU 1M WD

Goes with out saying the conditions were close to horrific! The humidity level had the sweat pouring from me from the warm up. Managed three intervals before I had to dispense with the singlet (vest) because of the weight!!

Two sprinters and their coach were training. The coach complimented me on moving well but then said I should drop my shoulders to make it easier on myself! I spent the next five intervals trying to work out how your supposed to drop your shoulders! Still their presence probably made me pick things up and stay respectable. The starting 68 was a bolt from the blue and had me worried I'd blow up on number two! Concentrated on trying to keep relaxed (drop them shoulders!!) and keeping it honest over the last 100m when the lactic was really kicking in and I was struggling to maintain form. Really felt shagged and momentarily thought maybe I'd cut it down to just 8 X, but determination to see it through prevailed. I was so drenched after I had to get my shorts off and drive home in a towel!! I was glad I didn't have an accident!! 

Happy with session but God only knows how I managed to string 7.5 X 72 together last Jan. I have a long way to go. Later in the day , back up the ladder my knees gave me serious jip.

Arsenal 1 Wigan 0

Apex Corner

2.00pm 33 O C 6KM Roo 24m57

One of those days when I did listen to my body and cut the run short.
It was way too hot and too humid for running, got back and jumped straight in the pool.

Amazing how refreshing even 30 O C water can be! Was thinking of getting down the track but time got away from me, maybe tomorrow.

Party Season so far has been relatively tame for me. Declined to attend a client party during the week. First work party on Fri night at the Ship Inn was short and sweet as Natalie had a birthday party , I left at 6.00pm and also had to miss the Brisbane Cool Runners do that night!
Secretly I'm happy to have missed or skipped drinks as I do tend to go all out and I have this suspicion it might not help my running! Still there is a long way to go and I have purchased a carton of my favourite beer for the holidays = Budvar ,
THE BEST BEER in the WORLD!

Amongst the ariel photos of London I noticed this one which I didn't immediately recognise as APEX Corner Mill Hill, about 1KM from where I used to live! I used to have to negotiate this roundabout MINIMUM of twice a day! Also I used to run under/through it twice a day everyday (Out and Back) - sure looks nicer from the air than it does from the ground!

London from above at Night

Fri   5.00am  11KMRoo+Lake 45m46

Still dripping with sweat! Brisbane is becoming like Darwin with a storm every night!

Felt OK this morning

JK sent me this link which has some stunning photos of London at night. They made me feel homesick - what a beautiful city London is!

Of course the collection is made complete with a photo of the Emirates Stadium,

home of Football - The Mighty Gooners!

91% relative humidity

Thurs  5.00am   11KM  Roo+Lake  46m16

More steady stuff, just building base fitness before even consider more intensive stuff.
Have come off the Anti Inflams this week so will be interested to see how my body reacts. I'm about 67/68KG so still about 4Kg to lose before I'm at racing weight. Fabulously tough running conditions out there as always; About 22 O C and 91% relative humidity - I'm dripping!

Running Comfortably Numb

Wed 5.00am 11KM Roo+Lake 47m03

Hello.
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone home?

Come on, now.
I hear youre feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain,
Get you on your feet again.

Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts:
Can you show me where it hurts?

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ships smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I cant hear what youre sayin.
When I was a child I had a fever.
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I got that feeling once again.
I cant explain, you would not understand.
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

Ok.
Just a little pinprick. [ping]
Therell be no more --aaaaaahhhhh!
But you may feel a little sick.

Can you stand up?
I do believe its working. good.
Thatll keep you going for the show.
Come on its time to go.

There is no pain, you are receding.
A distant ships smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I cant hear what youre sayin.
When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse,
Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.

Nic Dougal

Monday  12.00  30 O C !  11Km Bridges run 44m17

The river path off the Storey Bridge has been closed off for weeks, though I ran this course last week, having the embarrassment of turning around at the closed off section and trying to find my way back on to the path via the roads I again forgot and did the turnaround thing again and completely messed up my route back to the path = probably heat delirium!

Tuesday  6.30am   Pat Carroll 3KM Time Trial  9m 36s   2nd place  (No Cat)

Carrying on from Saturday's 5KM Time Trial, I again ventured out into competition, completely lacking the preparation I would ideally bank before racing! No long runs, no interval sessions, four weeks no training. So I had no expectations. Matty Phillips tipped me the wink before the start that young gun Nic Dougal was really on form having run 9m28 last month , so I was comfortable seeing him disappear off into the distance to run a PB 9m17 (and record a PCRG Course Record). I turned around in 4m40 (1.5KM), I deliberately refrained from doing press ups after Saturday to allow my arms the chance to give me some drive (as opposed to last Saturday)

the other encouraging thing was the lack of wind. The course was out and back with some kinks and slight elevations. I shall enjoy coming back and giving this a real bash when I'm fit. Happy to put down a mark and to be out there racing! 

Pat Carroll and all his helpers put a great deal into organising this monthly Time Trial (Race), much appreciated by all those who take part. 

It was a perfect day, warm conditions but blue blue sky, just beautiful.

My race day companions ,Geoff H ran well to dip under 11m (10m58) and 68 y.o. Erroll Holmes ('Don't call me Flynn') ran a PB 12m55!!

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2