HuRTs 2 x 20 minutes with Ginger Cookies to finish.

Tuesday.

Despite the busy time of the year I still found time to head into town on Tuesday for the HuRTS 2 x 20 minute effort set and found surprisingly a big turnout that included top lads Tommy H, Hoey, Tongy, Englishman Nick Roberts, Barts, Jerome and even Enda made a rare start with us.

Hammering down with rain but it was actually pleasant to run in as I settled just behind the main decent group that included the likes of Jeet, Leech, Brucie and Stevie Perry, Worked at 3.48 pace alongside Asian Dave on the easier OUT 20 minutes and felt pretty comfortable and pulled up about 50m short of the squashed car covering 5.3ks

A decent 3 minute recovery before the return, and purposely upped the pace as I knew the hills were to come towards the back end and needed time to help compensate for the last 6 minutes or so. The first hill coming out from Farm Cove was tough but got a reprieve on the road back down to Mrs Macs Chair, but needed to dig deep coming back up as Jerome and Enda came past. Got a little bit of help, and tried to keep it ticking over with less than 5 minutes remaining. Hoey was next to come past, offering encouragement as he did and Tom wasn’t far behind.

The last 90 seconds or so is tough but manage to go past people that I’m happy with and get back to the Stone Gates some 12 seconds over the 20 minute cut-off time holding 3.53s for the return leg.

10.6k all up averaging 3.50s – not brilliant but solid enough effort for this time of the year.

Good bit of banter as people recovered and was made better by the Champs kind gesture to deliver his home made ‘Ginger’ biscuits for all (kindly baked by partner Lissy) that went down well.

A little warm down with Jeet and Gleeso after as Jeet let it slip that he will be back in sub 36 minute shape come February after his New York marathon exploits in November and agreed to give me a ‘very generous’ 2.5 minute handicap to kick off the season.

 

Wednesday.

Pretty easy and normally a rest day but found time to head to the pool and knocked out 2.1k with some 4, 3 2 and 100m efforts

 

Thursday will head to Rushcutters for the last season pre Xmas for the 6 x 1k reps.

 

Tommy H was back at training despite his 17th successive day on the beers.

As was Enda Stankard, I think those drugs he is taking from China is starting to take effect.

Cheers