Hottest 100

Well, after a shocker last year I did better in my guessing this time in the little comp with Mat and Toasty. We get to pick 5 songs that we think will make the top ten. My predictions (in no particular order), and where they rated were ...

(2) Silverchair - Straight Lines
(9) Soko - I'll Kill Her
(27) Operator Please - Just A Song About Ping Pong
(1) Muse - Knights of Cydonia
(39) Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire

I would've bet anything that Silverchair would end up number 1. They were close with just 13 votes out of the 700,000 odd recieved separating them from Muse. I also thought Operator Please would rate much higher. Cut Copy was my 'dark horse', I was way off!

Anyway, I ended up with 3. Mat also scored 3 but I picked the number 1 so that put me in front :-) Toasty scored 2.


So, they were my predictions but these were my ten official votes ...

Bonde Do Role - Solta O Frango
Camera Obscura - If Looks Could Kill
(21) Chemical Brothers - The Salmon Dance
(59) Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
Jamie T - Sheila
Jens Lekman - The Opposite Of Hallelujah
Kenneth Bager (Feat. Julee Cruise) - Les Fleurs
Mark Ronson (Feat. Amy Winehouse) - Valerie
Matt Costa - Mr. Pitiful
(9) Soko - I'll Kill Her

Good to see a few of them made the top 100.

Anyone else out there vote?

Steak & Kidney

Very easy run Monday.

Tuesday at PCRG was hills - probably my fave session.

Late night Tuesday at The Police (concert, not station!) so skipped the early start at Mt Coot-tha and ran a cruisey 15k later. Also didn't want hills 2 days in a row.

Thurs and Fri at PCRG was 1 x 4mins, 2 x 3mins, 2 x 2 mins. Went 100% on Thurs and about 80% on Fri.

Spent the long weekend in Sydney and did the CR 5k Challenge on Saturday. Started with JD and Rags in the 22min group and fear of them running me over kept me honest. Splits were roughly 4:20, 4:20, 4:20, 4:16, 4:16. Nice and consitent with a strong finish - can't complain about that. Total time was 21:32, my best 5k in a couple of years. Can't complain about that either :-)

Long run Sunday - ran from Annandale to Five Dock to Drummoyne and hooked up with a bunch of Striders and set off on the Western Wanderers course. Hung in with them and their sub 5:10 pace for about 18k then took the shortcut back to the bay (and slowed down) before running back to Annandale. About 38k all up in 3hrs 25mins.

Total for the week - 110k

Heading back from Friday's PCRG sess at West End Ironman Scott.

All is still going well. In the past I've usually done 80 to 90k per week in the lead up to marathons. The extra kms are coming from doing a slow recovery run rather than having a rest day (though I will rest if I feel I need to), and doing a warmup before the warmup at PCRG. Anyway, it didn't seem to hurt my 5k on Saturday.

I think I'll max out at 110k though. I'm not tired or too niggly but don't want to take any chances.

So Far So Good

Week 1
Started with the traditional NYE morn lap of Mt Coot-tha (at cruise pace - 52mins) and barby brekky.

Easy runs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Went to PCRG Thursday and Friday (took it easy Fri) but on Thurs ran hard and had a very slight improvement from last month in my 1k reps (4:01 to 4:05).

Saturday - 25k in around 2h10m.

10k 'no watch' run at BRRC on Sunday. My plan was to run at 5min pace and allowing for a couple of drink stops I nominated a time of 50:10. Thought I was going a bit too fast so slowed it down at the 9k mark. Finished in 50:40 - I really needed to speed it up in that last km!

Total for the week - 92k


Week 2
Very easy run Monday.

Tuesday was the monthly 3k TT but my calf had been bugging me since Monday arvo, the sort of dull pain you get after a cramp. So at the last minute decided not to race it. Celeste, Tom and I surrounded new recruit Sonja who said she wanted a sub 16. We told her she could do 15 and actually dragged her (and nagged her) to a 14:27!

Had a good Mt Coot-tha on Wednesday (48:55), and it seemed to sort the calf out.

Solid session Thursday at the PCRG steady run (incl 10k at 4:50 pace).

Was feeling good Friday at PCRG and so really worked hard (various timed efforts).

28k on Saturday averaging 5:30 pace.

Short Green Bridge loop with Dan on Sunday at around 6min pace. Cooled off in the South Bank pool afterwards - noice :-)

Total for the week - 100k


Sonja, Tess & Celeste at finish of the TT


Week 3
Very easy run Monday.

Tuesday was mostly 30/30s at PCRG. Rather than risk hurting myself (as I seem to do on the short stuff) did the fast ones at about 90% and the slow ones a little faster than a jog.

Wednesday did one of my best Coot-tha laps ever - 47:16 :-) Got to the ABC in 19:16. Now to work on going under 19.

Thurs and Fri at PCRG was 2 x 3mins and 1 x 6mins plus some GC hills. Went 100% on Thurs and about 80% on Fri.

Did 30k on Saturday (av 5:25 pace). It was a struggle, I wasn't so much tired but the legs could sure feel all the hard work from the previous four days.

14k at BRRC on Sunday. Though it had been a big week thought I'd go and just do a steady run as it was part of the championship series and points were up for grabs. Sat on 4:50s for most of the way but actually felt stronger in the second half and was able to pass a few people. Final km was 4:32. Did a 30 second negative split and finished 4th (lady) in 66:52.

Total for the week - 108k


Tess & Sal - almost at the top of GC Hill



Pretty happy with the way things are progessing so far. The extra milage doesn't seem to be doing any harm, no more niggles than usual and I'm starting to 'feel' fit.

And now for the best news - I managed to top the points table for the BRRC Champs for 2007! That's what happens when those faster than you (and trust me, there are more than a few) don't compete in the minimum 4 races. Or they are injured. Or pregnant.

Just call me Steven Bradbury :-)