Training Log Archive: Mounty

5k Pyrmont tempo again - same as yesterday - because I only had a singlet on and it was freezing. 19:08. Quicker than yesterday but felt easier. Go figure.

Moderate tempo 5km around the wharves - 19:52. Not sure what to call it when you aren't really stretching out but still feel slow. Unfit?

Bloody hot again.

Flatter and tireder than I would have expected. Plodded accordingly - more just to get outside than any meaningful kind of exercise.

I signed up on Saturday evening for a Milsons Pt to Manly trot with Bart and Ondrej, visions of a nice flat cruise around the zoo foreshore in mind.

Suspicions were raised early when Bart charged off in unexpected directions hunting stairs, and an explanation along the lines of 'I was going to tell you about the stairs plan last night but figured it wouldn't increase your chances of showing up'.

Credit where due, Bart had done a solid job in linking what felt like every set of stairs in Mosman up to and including the use of wharves.

The Manly to Spit section was busy with at least 2 charity events, and a fun stop to chat with early morning surfing stoners on top of a random side-track cliff.

Rolled in to Manly and straight on to a ferry to get home. Great morning out.

4x 1k tempo at Narrabeen. 3.33;3.26;3.25;3.23

Bit of a journey to Narabeen via Mittagong for an early morning softball game with Annika, and then hustle back for stick chucking training before Nationals on Monday.

An easy Monners session, Don't think I got very far.

Pyrmont plod. Feeling surprisingly flat and flat footed. Plodded accordingly.

Found myself unexpectedly at Cromer for gym (despite Toms injured hand) and threw in a beach run while I was there. Foreboding evening clouds - kinda cool.

Gentle evening leg loosener in Sheldon Forest. Legs were smashed.

A classic Andy run from St Leonard's to Lindfield in weather I probably wouldn't have got out of bed for if I wasn't meeting someone.

7am start from the train station down the bike paths, finding ourselves in the midst of the local park run for a bit.

In the spirit of adventure we decided to try cross country on the way to Tunks when confronted by a swollen river. First obstacle was a big waterfall which was kinda fun, before coming across a cave nicely setup for a homeless person. As the hillside got steeper and the lantana thicker, we bailed up the hill and cut thru some houses to reach the street. We somehow managed to pick a full on creepy hoarders house and had to climb a 2m locked fence to get out on to the street. Couldn't help noticing a big beware of the dogs sign on the outside of the fence as we headeded off.

Super heavy rain thru middle cove and castle cove trails, before another off track adventure searching for a new trail at the end of c cove. Didn't hit the trail but found a bizarre set of concrete stairs that go from willowie rd down to the water (nothing down there). Took 1.45 to do an interval up then. Perfect if I ever want to train for a blue mtns event ever again.

Finished running up the Nosh track to Lindfield which was underwater. Andy got a heap of leeches while I got none. I wonder if that was because I'd run thru the salt water at Echo pt.

Final obstacle was the tunnel under Archibald Rd, which was knee deep in fast flowing water.

Great morning out.

Pyrmont beer stairs with Andy and Bart.

The value of adding beer to one's Friday stairs session became evident when we all showed up despite the shocking weather. A little bit skaty under foot at times, but again much fun weaving around Pyrmont.

Balters XPA at Quarryman's before running back to the city - an absolute belter of a beer. I want another one.

Barangaroo headland warm-up and then ~5k tempo around the wharves, after Bart reminded me on Tuesday that I need to do more tempo around the wharves.

Heavy rain and warm - great running conditions.

Played in the gym for the first time in forever. Gonna hurt tomorrow I suspect.

Glebe foreshore tempo loop with Bart.

Ouch. The forcing of Sunday's tempo was returned with interest on a snappy loop around the Glebe foreshore. Hung on until the Fish Markets, and then took a wrong turn which I suspect was on purpose at some subconscious level as I was fucked.

Great session.

Early morning run from Andy's to mine up the GNW with Andy and Bart. Glorious morning to be on the trails...once overcoming the whole get out of bed thing.

Enjoyed feeling a bit of fitness starting to return, rather than just running from memory.

Geeze Sunday delivered a cracking summer day for mid March.

After the morning's run I enjoyed a little chill on Freshwater beach on the way to sailing - while Tom went for a surf/got smashed depending on one's perspective.

Then on to the ski for a paddle while he sailed with a 20kt nor' easter making both paddle and the unfolding sailing race entertaining.

13's sailing at Manly with Annika. The wind was moderate but the swell coming in the heads was huuuge - not breaking but enormous rollers making things super technical.

Lots of fun, but I'm glad that daddy-daughter language rules have an on-water exemption or we'd both be in trouble.

Pyrmont stair interval loop with Andy & Bart. 19 sets if you count going upstairs in Quarryman's for the double IPA to finish.

Jogged back to work wondering why I don't do this every Friday. Great session, and gee the IIPA packs a punch.

Coasteering around the Barangaroo headland sandstone to warm up, and then over to Pyrmont for a Monners session. A good combination, might add to the regular sessions list.

Narrabeen beach run from Fishermans on a stormy afternoon in the company of a 20kt+ southerly and a nasty ocean. The wind was strong enough that I struggled to match my own footsteps on the return journey.

Easy leg stretch around Barangaroo headland.

10 * 400s at Homebush track while Annika threw javs.

75,73,72,73,73||75,73,74,73,72.

Ouch. Just ouch.

Evening trot in the rain to Sheldon Forest. Cruisy and pleasant.

Over to Pyrmont for a few wharfies to stretch out the legs. Funny how a rogaine pops you in to 'slow' running mode and it takes a few intervals to wind 'em up again. 2:07,2:02,1:56 - faster each time but the perceived effort was about the same.

Found myself wondering if the rogaine course would still have been clearable if the weather was as today (muggy), rather than the nice 20 degrees and drizzle served up on Saturday.

Lunch cruise around Pyrmont. With hammies not providing a handbrake I was free to discover that Im pretty flat from Saturday. Residual fitness may get you around a run, but it doesn't help you recover quickly. A bit like how I can still drink a fair bit, but the hangovers are worse these days.