Secret Blog for Killing Track and Parkrun PBs

Steve and I up early at Stromlo. Keith also this morning down south. All doing the same set. It was sunny and hot. The set: 2500m warm up, 4 x 100m, 6,5,4,3,2,1 minute efforts, 60 seconds jog recovery, 2000m warm down. Keith in his set ran 6min 1690m, 5min 1330m, 4min 1090m, 3min 760m, 2min 540m, 1min 290m. He ran some PB splits, average splits and slower splits, much like us. Hotter the core temp, slower the split. Steve and I quicker than previous set, slower on second last effort. Final 1 min was 400m in 71. I was through 1km in 3:13 on first effort, made 1800m in 6min. Lost a lot of fluid out there. Kathy on coast ran a hard set with nice views. Mia also on coast drowned her IPhone. That's it for 2015. Best wishes for all of us in 2016. It's an Olympic year, a year World Masters Athletics Championships are here in OZ, Australian Masters Athletics Championships in Adelaide. My racing season begins next Sunday in Hobart with the Australian Masters Half Marathon Championsh...

Keith today on his mid-week run to complete 120km (last 7 days) and a speed session yesterday in Bega on grass track. Finish for today was in the cool waters of the mighty Snowy River, a great way to end the session. Last two days have been difficult running for all who start running later than 8am. It's hot and draining on the body. I must admit I am sluggish in this weather. I'm running on grass almost exclusively trying to aid recovery to my left foot. It's a bit bruised and with some nerve damage. I can put it down to a poor choice of shoes a month ago. Absolutely no pain running on grass although an average of 120km per week for a year solid is a strain everywhere. Last two days 90 minutes of running each day, same tmoz with a set to boot with Steve. Set tmoz: 6,5,4,3,2,1 minute intervals, 60 second float recovery, at maximum threshold for first 3-4 efforts, above maximum threshold last 2-3 efforts with a kick last effort.

Up early this morning with Steve at Stromlo, cool with wind from the south, sunny. The set: 2500m warm up, 4 x 100m, 600m 1:47, 500m 1:31, 400m 71, 300m 53, 200m 31 all with 60 seconds 100m jog recovery, 3500m warm down. Steve slightly behind first two efforts, same splits to finish. Nice having Steve out there to push me. Easily my best 600m & 500m combined and a PB set for the session. We were both fully lactate in the last three efforts. Next set Thursday at same venue 6,5,4,3,2,1 minute efforts with 1 minute float recovery.

Weather warm to hot, track recently cut, light winds. Just Steve, Mia, Tori, Minnie and myself. All except Tori did same set. The set: 2500m warm up, 4 x 100m, 6,5,4,3,2,1 minute efforts on undulating 2000m loop with 1-2 minutes recovery. 1500m warm down. I did two sets, the first with Steve around 3:30/km and 1 minute recovery, second with Mia around 4:00/km and 2 minute recovery. That made it a big morning, 18km all up. Yesterday a long run also at Stromlo of 20km, most of it at 4:00/km. I was feeling flat today from that session. Keith did the same session during ParkRun going through 5km in 19:00 (including recovery breaks)before finishing the set. He ran with his son Andrew.

Keith and I did a similar set today, 200km or so apart. I'll describe Keith's session. In Bega on the flat. 3km warm up and warm down, 5 x 100m in 17 seconds, 6 minutes (1680m), 5 minutes (1380m), 4 minutes (1090m, 3 minutes (840m), 2 minutes (?), 1 minute (310m). It was overcast and some wind, mid-20s.

A set on my own this afternoon, all up 80 minutes including lactate set. It was windy but much cooler than it has been. The set: 40 minutes warm up, 4 x 100m, 600m 1:50, 500m 1:30, 400m 70, 300m 51, 200m 32, 100m jog recovery in 60 seconds, 30 minutes warm down. Keith in Bega fatigued from a very hot week and some hard work. Managed a long interval set with a short interval to finish. He should be much better for training in a couple of days, Those successive very hot days sure knock you about.

Preparatory Period 2 Mid December-late January Aims to develop: Maintain aerobic fitness during Christmas break, keep the sessions going...and turn head off from racing until Australian Masters Athletics Half Marathon on 10 January, follow that up with ACT Masters 10000m Championships late January...re-evaluate. Training Goal: Aim to fit in these three sessions each week plus minimum one long run 90 minutes plus. Long XC intervals: 6,5,4,3,2,1 min, 1 minute recovery jog, maximum threshold to above maximum threshold (no time pressure) Long Intervals (track or XC): , 4 minute recovery: Set: 2000m, 1500m, 1200m, 800m, 400m (under time pressure) Short Progressive Lactate Intervals: 600m, 500m, 400m, 300m, 200m with 1 minute/100m jog recovery (track or XC) All sessions to begin and conclude with stretching and 4 x 100m strides, also progressive. Core / upper body conditioning 4-5 times per week, small doses. The period is slightly different than previous years with the half m...

We arrived at Stromlo this morning with the Brumbies Rugby team training in full swing and using up much of the track doing weights, hill sprints and short track touch rugby. Luckily they left shortly after we arrived. Yesterday was a two party day, one with work, the other with runners. Not much sleep, a little seedy but very happy. It was also very hot so a short session replaced the usual Stromlo set. In the bush birthday girl KT & Charlie did some walking. On track Kathy, Alison, Mia, Gabe, SK and myself did the running. The set: 4500m warm up, 4 x 100m, 600m, 500m, 400m, 300m, 200m efforts with 100m walk/jog recovery. 1500m warm down. The heat didn't make much difference on such a short set. There was no wind to speak of. The seediness affected some, not me. My splits: 600m 1:51, 500m 1:34, 400m 66, 300m 52, 200m 30. That's as good on grass this season, I felt good. In Bega Keith ran with the park runners. His splits: 3:26, 3:43, 3:47, 3:53, 3:43 = 18:38 all with...

As usual the final track meet for the year is all about fun with a little bit of serious competition. There is a caber toss, standing long and triple jump, obstacle race, guess your time 2000m with no watch and walk relay. On the serious side is the Presidents 100m handicap. It's always a fun night. I wasn't there for the obstacle race (video 2014), was there for the Presidents 100m handicap (video 2015). Congrats to Sue Bourke, 7 years straight, John Lamb 2 years straight (4th win). Of me: Guess your time 2000m 2nd best guess of 6:29.3, won smoked chicken, vegetarian am I, gave away:-). Backed up in 3000m, warm up two laps, strides 4 x 200-500m, tempo 800m, last 200m 33sec, 10:40ish.

Weather hot, windy, sunny, low humidity. At track today rather than cross country. Helen away, replaced by Mia with regular Kathy, both W60+. The set: 2500m warm up, 4 x 100m (19,16,15,16), 600m 1:49, 500m 1:30, 400m 71, 300m 51, 200m 32. 1500m warm down. Mia and Kathy both ran great splits, 3:50/km on 500m effort and quicker from there. The track was full of athletes, I couldn't give 100% for safety sake and just as well. A tough set with no set-backs. It will be in the 30s and getting hotter all week. There are also three Christmas parties. I'll have to do the bulk of my running in the morning or the week will be cactus.

Weather sunny, cool to very warm, slight breeze. Track not cut for 18 days, getting slower by the day but still reasonably quick. The sets: Full Stromlo set for me of 2000m, 1500m, 1200m, 800m, 400m. For Minnie, Gabe, Mia, Kathy 6,5,4,3,2,1 minute intervals, 2 minutes jog recovery and regroup. I paced them through first two efforts, first 1000m in 4:06. There is a world of difference between these two sets. For full Stromlo using a beeping watch set at 3:20/km or 3:10/km using posts every 100m, try to be under schedule all the way, full gas, every second counts, over maximum threshold. For 6,4,3,2,1 minute set done by feel at or near maximum threshold. The only more relevant set we do is on track later in the season 2000m, 1600m, 1200m, 800m, 400m or three efforts of near 2000m with very long recovery paced to absolute limit. Of me: Very surprising!! I've been fit the entire year but didn't expect these sort of numbers in December, more like February or March just before Aus...

Keith in Melbourne 17:47 for 5000m with last lap 77. 35 starters made it a big classy field. Splits: 1000m 3:33, 2000m 7:06, 3000m 10:39, 4000m 14:20?, final 1000m 3:27. Great run from Keith. Steve continues to get back into things with a similar set to earlier in the week. 1000m efforts (200m on, 200m off). Making good progress. 3000m at Woden: Weather very warm but still. Penultimate meet for 2015. I came hoping to do a 5000m but got roped into a 4 x 1500m relay just prior to the 5000m. Ran the 3000m instead. Results: Me 10:03, Helen 12:56 (season best), Minnie 14:19 (season best). Only Bronwyn did the 5000m, 22:54. Last race in 2015 for Helen, a good way to finish before heading OS. Minnie another big chunk off this evening, continues to regain some form. Of me: No training on Wednesday after straining my shin while picking the morning raspberries of all things. I couldn't run at all without pain. Did the usual self physio, massage, ice, rolling pin etc. Wasn't sure if I ...

Weather very warm, some wind, sunny or partly cloudy. The XC track is slowing up, not cut for a fortnight, sand on the surface. The set: 5000m warm up, 4 x 100m, 600m, 500m, 400m, 200m, 1500m warm down. Helen, Kathy and I started together. My splits: 600m 1:51, 500m 1:34, 400m 69, 300m 53, 200m 31. Recovery was 60 seconds jog 100m. Didn't feel great, fatigue from training, racing and a big weekend. Splits were good. Mostly a slight cross/head wind slowing all the efforts except the 300m which is up hill (as is 500m). Helen and Kathy (roughly): 600m 2:17, 500m 2:04, 400m 89, 300m 75, 200m 39. Keith a short set today, he is racing 5000m on Thursday in Melbourne. Good luck Keith. Splits were good today. Hard weekend for Keith, lots of work. Steve showing good recovery signs. 10km this morning with Jane's group, 3000m set of 200m efforts included. I won't see Steve until 2016, no doubt he will be well and truly back into it by then. Thursday at track will be a 3000m / 5000...

Keith near Bemboka on Saturday 6 (1570m),5 (1500m),4(1100m) minute intervals in the afternoon, very hot. Sunday long run, assume followed by pie and coffee at bakery. Steve 9km and getting quicker. No sign of hammy issue. Steve will be right to go when he returns from holiday. Minnie, Mia, Gabe and I long runs this morning in different locations. It was hot especially if starting late. Of me: 90 minutes through the arboretum, around 4:00/km. Felt good again until last 10 minutes, heat stress. Many of us spent the afternoon in the bush with Helen and John. Food, wine, good company, nice scenery, lots of swims in the dam. Very nice.

The weather very warm, no wind to speak of, sunny. Grass not cut for almost two weeks, no rain so has barely grown. Surface similar speed to last week. An early start today with Minnie, Helen, Kathy and myself. Gabe and Mia started 30 minutes later when we had finished our set. Steve still on the mend, ran 10km in 46 minutes a couple of days ago. The set: 5000m warm up, 4 x 100m, 6,5,4,3,2,1 minute efforts with 2 minutes jog recovery, 2500m warm down. As usual the girls were all close together. Helen the quickest with first group, went through first 1000m in 4:17. Mia starting later 1000m in around 4:00, quicker than last week. Of me: No pacing the girls today, I was at maximum threshold from the start and over maximum threshold for the last three efforts. In the 6 minute effort I was through 1000m in 3:13 which is almost identical to last week. I was fatigued from Thursday's efforts but had some good running form for the whole session. Last effort went through 300m in 51 secon...

Great night for track running. Cool, some wind, dry air. Back at AIS track which is slow for distance, quick for sprinting (altitude and surface). Higgins 800m Handicap: Big field, great to see. Same result as last year with 1 John Lamb M65, 2 me but completely different race as I never got near John last year. This time a much quicker start from me, caught John (14 seconds head start) with 200m to go, had a nice sit until 100m to go, John was just too good in finish straight. Bravo John. Helen and Kathy ran similar times. No results as yet, will know more of what went on behind when I do. Spiral 7 lap Handicap (roughly 3000m): I haven't done one of these for a while, it was great fun. Roughly 10:14 for 3000m with an 800m cough, not flat out. Helen roughly 12:50 for 3000m, her best effort this season over that distance. Again a decent amount of runners for the final race. Supper after. Easy running tomorrow, next session Saturday.

Keith in Bega 2.5km warm up, 5 x 100m (17,17,16,17,17), 1400m (4:34), 1200m (4:05), 400m (79). Keith racing 5000m in Melbourne next Thursday. Steve continues his recovery from hammy issue, now up to 9km. This afternoon an easy run on the flat of 85 minutes. I haven't been to the ridge for a while. 17 March 2012 I believe. We had some great fun post session painting feet. Today just a change of venue and out of the elements. Some pine tree shade all day, often protected from wind.