Is That A Tomato In My Fruit Salad?

I have had some time normally occupied by training over this past winter to read and was fascinated to get stuck into '3:59.4 The quest to Break the 4 Minute Mile' by John Bryant in this time. In particular I was drawn to the Oxford way, which seems largely to revolve around the concept of not actually doing too much. As we all know if you train too much and too hard it is just going to make you tired for your races.

This concept of amateurism, despite its apparent negative impact and undoubted delay in the achievement of the 4 minute mile, appeals to me and as such I can see myself easing into the realms of amateur training. Particularly the don't do too much part. As they say what is good for the GOOSE. . . . . (Wisdom v Knowledge I say). Yes I think I am going to be very amateur indeed!

Things seem to be falling into place a little at the current point in time. It seems that for the first time in many months I have been able to put a few consecutive(ish) days together without too many pains and aches getting in the way. All be it at decreased intensity and duration for now. Build it again piece at a time.

Sunday 4th October
In the misty mountains a morning spent reliving ones teenage years can only be best spent on a grown mans BMX. Pulled out the Mt Bike and cruised off from the returned ones house at 6.30am (all be it 5.30 thanks Mr Savings time). Too much fun is never enough as puddles and mud flew everywhere on the circuit out to St Columbas-Gross Head Sth-down Bees Nest-Blue Gum Swamp and finish.

Most impressive was the returned ones attempts to take on the skate park on a wet morning. Didn't actually realise a person could slide that far. All up around 20kms of Mt Biking, good cardio and no pressure on the achilles.

Monday 5th October
Mt Bike again, this time with Dr Phil into the national park. A basic Bennets ridge circuit with early entry into Euroka and up Bennets. On to gate and back down single track. More puddles more mud more fun and still no pressure put into achilles. The lightning was a little concerning but such is such. Again close enough to 20kms.

Tuesday 6th October
Time to give the achilles a test with a planned circuit around the espresso run followed by a touch of exploratory running to try and knock back Espresso to a 3km (15min) circuit for Mister G's secret plan.

Nice lap of espresso in around 28mins but didn't quite get it right on shortening it to a 15min circuit. It is down to 25mins for the shortened version so far and more thought will have to go into trying to make the desired 15min circuit whilst retaining as many points of interest as possible.

Wednesday 7th October
No training but very enjoyable day in Sydney with Mum starting with a sea food cooking dem, lunch at the fish markets and then walking around the foreshore to Darling Harbour for more coffee and food.

Thursday 8th October
Golf day (in Orange) meant no time for training, but hey I'm an advocate of the Oxford way these days so all is good. Played crap and almost got eaten by a snake on the third hole (no it wasn't just sleeping in the sun it wanted me).

It's a long way to drive to play a game of golf is Orange.

Friday 9th October
An AM run around Something Snappy got the heart going early. Felt good for the last couple of days off and climbed out from the fire trail in a touch under 3 mins. Not supper fast but enough to feel the heart rate rise. No pain in achilles on climb was most welcomed. About 25 mins overall satisfactory for a casual jaunt.

PM Mt Bike in National Park with the returned one turned into a longer ride than originally planned. Ended up through Euroka up Bennets on to gate then out to Nepean Lookout before returning down single track (till the inevitable puncture that used the last spare pushed us out to the Oaks to ensure we got out with all tyres inflated) Estimated around 30kms.

Saturday 10th October
WLDMR Championships kick off at 7.30pm our time. Wonder what it would be like to know a World Champion and one of the newest Wallabies. That would make for an exciting week for one reliant on others abilities to feel success in the world of sport.

Got out for a run in the National Park this morning. Plenty of Bikes around but besides a solo runner climbing out from causeway as I entered no runners seen. Cruised up along Oaks to Bennets Ridge before turning off back down to Euroka. Decided to add another set of stairs down to Nepean River and back on the way and with the climb from Durak Camp site and the climb out of causeway at the finish was very happy that the achilles seems to have held up.

It's been quite nice running solo of late and today was no exception. The sounds of "The Kings Of Leon" were perfect today as an adjunct to the run and I feel really good after my coffee's and run. 1hr 28mins 17 seconds.

Can only think that if I felt so good the Sleep Train must be ready to smoke the course. As Guru Bobs says:

"The fact that no one understands you

does not mean your brilliant"