Amsterdam day and London home

Probably needed the lie in but decided on a run on a stunner of a day. This is my 12th trip here in 24 months and have pretty much ran every day and so know the streets well. Headed straight to the Reichs Musem along the canal before heading to the Vondelpark which is the Central Park of the DAM. Felt good today running 13.5 ks in 4.25s after a sluggish start including one whole circuit of the park.

Then to the office for all day boards but multi tasking with a massive closing today and the largest global IPO YTD. Totally stressed and not helped by severe sleep deprivation.

Tomorrow up at 5am again for flight with J to Geneva but the weather is looking decidedly rubbish.

Pictures of the 'perfect' Pulitzer (loved the card), my run incl the Vondelpark, the canals and then finally the view from the office which sums up Holland: football pitches and bike garages.

Lux day Amsterdam night

Got out early for 60mins around Lux. Slow and uneventful.

All day board meetings and then flight to the DAM for Dutch board dinner at the Pulitzer where we always stay. Stayed in room 585 which has its own roof terrace. If you are ever in Amsterdam there is only one place to stay and it's there.

Into bed late again.

Bamberg forest - Lux

Up at 5am for flight and busy day in Lux followed by run with Pol and Alain. 13.5ks in 4.25s in the Bamberg forest on the outskirts of Luxembourg City.

Pol is in great form. In 4 years time he could make the Olympics if he gets his marathon down to 2.18. Based on his 10k and half times this is doable but is yet to try one. I said to him that in 4 years time he will be 32 and must go for it.  He will only regret it otherwise.  

He needs to take a sobatical from work and it helps that Alain his boss and owner of their practice is also a runner. Have to say I really enjoy both their company. It was hilarious as Alain (late 50s) came on his bike and kept telling us how fluent Pol looked and how poorly I looked. Alain is well known in his country. Bizarrely he is a  loyal English football team supporter and was retelling the 73 Poland game when England failed to make it to the World Cup after drawing one each. Apparently the Poles only got out of their half once the entire game and that was to score their goal.

Alain then dropped me back into town for the board dinner.

Into bed late.

Severe sleep deprivation as have not slept properly for a number of nights now.

Pics of Lux town, the flight in and the Bamberg forest and Oberweis my favourite eaterie around the corner from the office:

Europe tour week - London

Started this week in London and jumped out at lunch for a lazy 10k in 4.50s. The pollution sucked and scored a whopping 9 out of 10.  It really does suck and can still feel the tar on the back of my throat hours later. Did my usual lunch route with a zillion people out for lunch today on a warm summers day.

Have been reading all the reports from back home in Manly (Sydney) and the devastation caused by the weekend storm. What on earth are the hardcore Manly NOTB crew going to do with no path now to run to Shelly beach? This is what it usually looks like:

And now today:

Took this picture at 6pm on the new bike lane just north of Blackfriars bridge. Transformed:

Sunday hot

Jogged 10 or so ks with J and boys on bikes to Kelsey park- me adding on some loops whilst there.

In the afternoon I headed out again across the road to the cricket grounds and ran 10 x 400s around the cricket pitch white lines whilst 2 games were being played. Was not quick but great to be running pretty much pain free with the marathon finally leaving my system. Mentally I figure it will stay for a while longer.

Nice bbq with Fam in the evening dans Le Jardin.

This week is always torture with a 5am start tomorrow to fly to Lux then Amstrdam Wednesday/Thursday and then J and I are up at 5am again on Friday AM to fly to Geneva.

Aim will be to run in 4 different countries this week. Depending on where we end up I may be able to sneak to 5. Most importantly I have teed up a run with Pol in Lux tomorrow. He does his slow runs sub 4 minks so will implore him to run slow slow.

Saturday gripes

Not much today with Tommy out all day with mates and Jack at all-day football tournament.

Managed a 15ker with the two younger boys partly on their bikes. Ended up being 4.35s with the middle ks more like 4.15s.

Onto football, I watched England's final warm up game and in short they were truely woeful. What is it with English football? I seriously do not get it.

My gripes:

1. Rooney needs to play deeper
2. We cannot play two up top - three as they played yesterday was an utter joke. In the entire game they mustered one effort on target. All of the top European teams play 1 up top.
3. It has to be Kane. Vardy on the bench
4. Alli should not play as a classic number 10 playmaker as he did yesterday. That's not his game. He needs to play exactly the same role as he plays for Spurs running the lines between midfield and attack. He has scored all his goals by ghosting into positions the opposition do not expect.
5. I have been Rooney's biggest critic but he has to play. I would play him in midfield as his distribution is second to none. He has been really effective there for Man U of late.
6. There is no one in the entire Englaish squad who has the ability to go past a player and create. Someone like Kingsley Coman of France who every time he gets the ball looks to beat his marker leaving a simple maths game with a player overlap
7. That's why England were so static yesterday
8. Sterling has had a poor second half to the season and has not played much but he was our best player at the World Cup. I have seen glimpses over the last few games that his form is returning. We desperately need him to play the Coman role.

So here is my team:

Hart
Clyne or Walker - Smalling - Stones - Rose
Dier
Rooney - Wiltshire
Alli - Sterling
Kane

Defending Alli drops right and Sterling left.
Attacking Alli central and Sterling left with Clyne/ Walker bombing on RHS overlap.

PS I really do not like Wiltshire as a person but unfortunately he has to play.

Whatever happens they need to avoid Germany as if they do come across them they will get smashed.

This is Leroy Sané who is going to set the Euros alight:

Mum's 70th birthday

Mum summoned us all round to hers for early evening drinks and food to celebrate. Cannot believe she is actually 70, some milestone. Dad got some oldies out of Mum as a child and have included some below. Mum has done a huge amount in her life and most importantly is still running today.

This is a classic photo of Mum feeding an actual baby lion?????

Mum on the left with school friend on the right:

Mum with the extended family (the little one in the white top) in the midst of Germany's great depression - nearly all women as her father (my Grandad) and her Grandad had both passed away - her Dad tragically when she was only three and shortly after 2WW.  These were tough times for my Grandma (Omi) who brought up 4 kids by herself working a number of jobs in order to keep her head above water.

Mum again in the middle with her 2 sisters either side and my Grandma (Omi) on the left:

Mum and bro Dirk who she was very close with and still is today:

Mum and Dirk again:

Extended family (Mum on the bottom right):

Mum and her bro:

Mum (on right) and her sister Heide:

Mum crossing the N pole in 1997:

T

Today on her birthday and her garden where she spends most of her time:

Earlier in the day I jumped to the gym for a 45 min solid 11k in 4.08s and then jumped straight into 45 mins of strength. Really enjoying this part and feel like I've lost a lot of conditioning by neglecting the gym work. Absolutely knackered after demolishing a ginormous lunch in the process.

Brutal Thursday

Work is crazy busy and only came up for air around 8pm. It was relentless all day. Still done now and working on some really interesting stuff at the moment. Actually really enjoying it.

I did have a 47 minute break at lunch and so sprinted for the lifts down to the basement and the gym, threw on some gear and then knocked out a 38min 10k. Then had to shower and sprint it back. Stressful at the time but really pleased I did it.

Apparently 10% of tickets are still unsold for the opening game of Euro 16. Terrorism fears are real.

Some of the stuff Jack brought home with him including stuff swapped with the Ajax and Spurs players:

Sir Ben Ainslie

Today we had Sir Ben come in to do a talk. This guy is legendary and in the same vein as James Cracknell. 4 straight golds in 4 consequentive Olympics and his favourite show is Only Fools and Horses. Say no more.

And he was on that 'team' who won the Americas Cup in 2013 from that notorious 8-1 losing position to the Kiwis. I remember this clearly as on that very morning of Sep 13 I was in Auckland for board meetings and in my hotel foyer were literally hundreds of drunk Kiwis prematurely celebrating sipping champagne. I remember thinking what is all this about and then more drunk Kiwis on the walk to the offices. Interestingly he put that comeback down to a Mourihno esque siege mentality. He then told of his one time dinner with Mourihno and the conversation around that subject.

Now the Americas Cup is Ben's sole focus leading the Range Rover British team. No British team has won in its 165 year history and only 1 team has ever won on debut. This time is different he says 'as this time he wants to win for queen and country' :)

On the Olympics in 2012 he said it was second to none given the feel good factor in the country and the realisation for Britian that we can host amazing events.

Other notable points:

1. Mentor: Russel Coots head of Oracle boat which won in 2013

2. Some life: he told of his sponsored travels to far reaching places still very young to sail boats operated by wealthy businessman with deep pockets

3. He spoke of his buddy Andrew Simpson who tragically lost his life last year after his boat capsized and he got trapped underneath the skull. It's a dangerous sport.

4. His goal: Trying to be the McLaren of the marine industry.

5. He questions notion that sailing is an elitist sport pointing to grass roots which is egalitarian.

6. Ingredients of success: ability to lead team, interact with all walks of life and rise to occasion to deal with pressure when called upon coupled with very high work ethic. You have to want success

7. Winning much better as a team (Americas Cup) versus Single comps (Olympics). Explains the very nexus of the HuRT squad

Super nice guy and would be not at all surprised if the Range Rover team bring home the Americas cup next year. I am always fascinated what makes these guys tick.

Got out for 40 mins at lunch and post 3kish warm up ran 5 x 1.2k intervals along the river on the new bike lanes. It's a revelation for London runners and they have taken it to be their own. Felt OK today not pushing it and averaging just over 3.30s with the last one Garmin messing around. Great to get out and do session during the day.