JJ's 40th

Monster day. Up early to run into work (c.17ks) and then followed up with strength training at lunch. Heavy focus on core and glutes at the moment.

Then in the evening we had JJ's 40th at the Dandeleyan bar, the Mondrian hotel (@ London Sea Containers) on the river. All my crew there who I have known since the age of 10, Steve, Jeremy, Odin, G-man Hall and others plus better halves.  Top night.

JJ is a diamond.  Brockley boy who has 'done good'. All my mates have no kids so JJ and I have a lot in common. He like me also took the brave decision to get the hell out of London at the expense of not seeing his mates. I have a tonne of respect for him that he made the move in order to create a much better future for his three kids. Tough for him to see it but it is by far and away the right decision.

JJ dserves enormous credit for being able to put himself in tough situations (out of his comfort zone) for the greater good. In 2007 JJ and I were roped up together going up Mont Blanc. It was nerve racking and scary as hell but he soldiered on - it took serious guts. This sums him up. He is also one of very few people I know that is comfortable with talking to people from ALL walks of life. JJ has the unique ability to relate to anyone. He is a very fortunate guy who has everything he could possible ask for. Most importantly he stays grounded. 

Moreover, he has always been there for me and has been with me for all of my most memorable life occasions: wedding in Sydney, Tommy's birth, my first London marathon in 2000, school, the list goes on. Am fortunate to have him as a constant friend and feel bad that have not made more effort since being back in the UK  - I have been struggling in that time.

The highlight of the evening was him doing his dance with all of us blurting out a chorus of happy birthday. After many beers and cocktails Jacqueline and I sprinted for the last train.

10 T

Not much time so banged out 10 (3.59s) at lunch.

I overheat whilst running the treadmill. So does not really work for tempo session.

Jog home from TS in the evening (3k). 

One busy day, lots of volatility out there.

Need to book skiing. 2 weeks are in order.

Mum

Combined a busy work day with a running rest day. Had planned on 30 mins of strength but the window never opened. Thinking about a tempo in the morning.

Mum did meet me for coffee tho which is always nice. Mum is a free spirit. Took up running in her 40s with 3 kids and full time job and ran 3.36 in her debut marathon (London) back in the day and got a bunch of awards for doing so. In my last year of Uni in 97 she was also part of the first ever women's only expedition to reach the North Pole. Mum and dad have also been to the top of Mont Blanc in their late 50s and still love skiing and high hut walking in the Alps. As kids we were dragged there both in summer and winter months.

http://www.carolinehamilton.com/book.htm

MLR

Had to go to Victoria to renew my passport this afternoon so decided on running there past Buckingham Palace (5k) and then running home.  This added an additional 5ks to the 17k home, only I added another 2 going over Chelsea Bridge for 24ks all up.  I was toast at Denmark Hill (c. 15ks) and nearly pulled the pin there but told myself to man up. With 5ks to go I had nothing left after racking up 65 odd ks in the last 3 days.  I crawled through the front door.

* A tinge of sadness saying farewell to my passport from the last 10 years.  It was falling to pieces and has clocked some serious mileage.

** Jack has finally succumbed to wearing long trousers.  His school frowns on the kids wearing shorts and so out of principal he has continued to brave the conditions.  'A sign of respect to my Australian heritage' he says :)

*** Now watching Liverpool smash Stoke and this time without having to throw Timmy's Stoke videos into the bin pre-game (the normal ritual).  I think this proves the theory once and for all that Sparky cannot manage.

Set #3
https://www.strava.com/activities/463712983

Set #2
https://www.strava.com/activities/463712392

Set #1
https://www.strava.com/activities/463711762

Back to work Monday

Back up for it today and everyone back on deck. A pleasant day in London so did my 11k lunch circuit through Covent Garden, The Mall, Westminster/ BB, Southbank, Tower Bridge, TOL, St Pauls  and back to Fleet Street.

 

I did more strength with Jacquers yesterday too and actually felt fine. So much so that ran 4 minute ks almost comfortably.

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/462919081

The best football journalist out there:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/02/tv-football-fans-leeds-united

Long run Sunday (80k week)

Oh boy I was dreading this and going by yesterday's form it was going to be grim. In fact as soon as I met Roger I blurted that I was unsure if I could stomach 30. He quickly dismissed it and so off we went.

We went past where the boys play their footie at Bishops Justice and then continued towards Farnborough. At 13.7 ks (63 minutes, 4.39s) we turned with Roger complaining that we were going too slowly (that's elite runners for you :)...). We got back in 59 minutes (4.18s) to make it 27.5ish ks in 2hrs 2mins (4.28s.) The longest run in 9 months done and thank goodness.

 

http://strava.com/activities/461901704

 

Chelsea at Selhurst in the arvo. The less said about game the better. Did I say I cannot stand Chelsea? At the very least Jack and I plus the rest of the Selhurst faithful gave it to them.

 

Pardew needs to break the bank to keep Bolasie. We cannot score without him.

 

2 Jan Saturday

My legs were jelly from my strength session with Jacquers the day before. I stumbled around in the dark down to Beckenham Place park and looped home for 11ks in 4.50s. My legs were absolutely cactus. I have realised I am completely unfit.

Tomorrow have planned 30ks with Messi. And I am dreading it, the first long'en. Roger aka Messi will run 2.38 in London in April. You heard it here first.

NYD

And so a new year dawns.  A successful year on the work front but mixed in so far as my running was concerned.  Most importantly the family have all made their way:

J - happy, buoyant and forever the vibrant social animal. Could not do what I do without her.

T - now at big school and feels like I have him for another year before the dreaded P. Really enjoyed being out with him / J a couple of days back.

J Jnr - freaked out by thought that he also will be at big school in September. The Schalke week was fantastic.

L - happy and constantly on my case for more surfing and skiing.

R - already in the second year of primary school and tough as old boots.

My running wrap is pretty meagre in content as I really only gave London a shot. Bearing in mind I had not ran for 2 years, had my cortisone in late Nov 14 and only started running in Jan 15 a 2.51 marathon was all I could muster.  I have spoken before about running a 2.40.59 marathon in April but I am off the pace and feels unrealsitic but I am not giving up hope.

In 2015 I ran c.3,200ks at c.300 runs.  In 2016 would like to hit 4k.

My favourtite moment of the year was stepping out of Salzburg airport, the boys with outstretched arms catching heavy snow flakes - seeing them for the first time - and the Semana Grande festival in San Sebastian in the summer.

The London episode continues to offer on the one hand rich experiences like no other place can (it feels like the epicentre of the globe right now) and then on the other is utterly dysfunctional (eg the trains are a nightmare). To conquer London you need exceedingly high energy levels, it will not take pity.  Rudimental tickets booked today - start as you mean to go on.

In 2016 we are all determined to have some more skiing and surfing family adventures.  The 2 weeks in Austria exceeded expectations with the three elder boys skiing tough icy blacks with me after 4 days as did the surfing holidays in Mauritius and Biarritz/San S.

* managed a 10.5k in the late evening with Jack on the bike in 4.15s

NYE

Managed 5k at lunch and then some half hearted strength.

Happy new year.

I love this story:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10153201159726987&id=9815486986

Wedding anniversary

As with every other year J and I both forgot. Thankfully I remembered first around 3pm and so I carry the goodwill credits into the new year.

I have a tonne of admin and managed to get through a fair bit before heading to the gym downstairs at lunchtime. Instinctively I ramped up to 4 minute ks and left it at that for 40 minutes. Felt average but thank goodness the hammy was fine.

Then early evening I met J and Tommy on Regents Street, London is majestic this time of year. I literally cannot remember the last time it was just the three of us and was like being out with my mates. There was one funny episode when we all legged it to the bus stop just as the bus left only for us to peg it back again by the second stop on route back to Victoria. Tommy won the sprints on both occasions.

Tommy was 6 weeks old when we got married in 2003 and so seemed only right that it was just him again when we snuck in a couple of pints at the Shortlands Tavern on the way home.

Back on it

Work today so ambled down to gym at lunch to try out the hammy. 4.48s for 65 minutes is where I settled, nothing quicker.  13ish ks. Thank god.

Peckham

Stunning winters day with boys playing in shorts and tees. Go figure. Nipped into Bromley with younger two then Palace with the big Tom followed by Stevie's party in Peckham.

Palace were average today with injuries taking their toll and could only muster a 0 - 0 draw at home to Swansea. Gilt edged chances missed by Bamford and Zaha. They need to break the bank to keep Bolasie. No coincidence that no goals in last two games with him out injured. Incredible stat that our forwards have contributed the grand total of one goal and we are still 5th!

Day #8 of enforced rest.

Just the 6 of us

Jeff left today and we all just hung out. Proper family time.

Day #7 of imposed rest. Hammy is 30% better but not yet ready. Had some more acupuncture with my Chinese doctor.

The Force has been awakened

In true uncle Jeff form he surprised the boys with Star Wars tickets. It was bloody excellent.

Day #6 of imposed rest.

Christmas at mum and dads

Up real early for boys to smash open their pressies. Then straight back to bed. Rolled back out at midday.

Headed over to my mums and dads with my Sis, Paul, my Bro, Tirana all the grandchildren plus Tirana's mum and uncle Jeff. Jacqui's gynormous turkey was the best I have ever had. 

Nice day with extended family time. I am always super quiet over Christmas, always been like that. Day #5 of self imposed rest. Hammy fractionally better.

Christmas Eve

Took the whole family into the office so that they can see where I have been for the last 12 months and to prove that have not been making it up. For me it's always a nice way to close out the year.

Uncle J arrived this evening.

The hammy is still super sore and have left the strapping on. Hoping it's a 3 week thing and not anything more otherwise my April plans are dashed.

Boys are growing up.

Injured

Hammy now too sore to walk. Not the Christmas pressie I was wanting. 

Hitting the wall

Today was a case of accepting that I had nothing more to give. After a gruelling year I am officially worn out. Had planned to run home and test the gluet but am simply done for. I cannot ever remembering feeling so mentally and physically fatigued.  Physical fatigue is something I have been able to deal with but overlaying that with mental exhaustion is trying.

Nothing much of note today other than team lunch and more grenades to catch.

Need to take it easy over Christmas. Notwithstanding the general tightness on right side the gluet is much better thanks mostly to yesterday's massage.

It is rediculously mild in London:

Down and out

Still busy at work and hammy still sore. Not a good combo in Christmas week. Next year I really must take this week off.

Got a massage at lunch. Feels a touch better but not in good spirits.

Let Father Christmas please being me a new bill of health.

* The 3 big boys at my mum and dads to see Cats in the West end. Just having Ryder is almost enjoyable :)

Right gluet (80k for week / 35 @4minks)

After all the boozing the body is creaking. I rolled out of bed to jog the block to meet Messi. I knew I was struggling after 400 meters. At 14k I even had to stop with the right gluet pinching my hammy. Managed 17ks in the end around Norman Park and no way near the 25 I was hoping for.

Got home and jumped in the car to Bromley to get me some acupuncture which has helped a little followed by 2 viscously hot baths.

Melissa and the kids (another old Manly family) said their farewells this afternoon. She has fighting spirit in a horribly tough situation. Admirable is an understatement.

Jacqui's cheesecake. Amazing.