Monday 6th April - 2km in the pool after work. Running late so busted out 80 laps straight up.

Tuesday 7th April - bit over 2km in the pool again. More drills this time. The regular 1km easy free, 500m flipper kick, 500m pull with a bit of butterfly at the end.

Wednesday 8th April - early morning ride with The Animal. Just short of 60km down to yarramundi and back before work. Got smashed on the hill yet again. Another 2.5 km swim in the evening, alone after The Animal actually had to work an honest day and didn't get back in time. Was going to swim 3km but met up with Olly and chatted about Port. More motivation to give it a crack next year.

Thursday 9th April - MMC run down Glenbrook NP. Just over 1 hour. Some rotting carcass somewhere off the trail gave a peculiar odour on the descent into the Gorge.

Friday 10th April - Mtn Bike Ride with the Bro and some local mtn bikers. Headed from Torwood Rd into Sun Valley, up what I have been informed is referred to as "Shit Hill", down 5 ways and along to Winnicoopa, up and along Wilson Way to Boorea St and out to Chicken Run down to the River and back along to the bottom of Old Bathurst, making our way to Mitchell's Pass and over Knapsack and up the back of the RAAF Base to have a morning Coffee (Coke) in Glenbrook. Finally back along highway to Valley Heights. Quite an epic for the mtn bike, but good fun. That afternoon was a fast 10km up at Lawson with Mr and Mrs Michael Donges and the man making a comeback, Joshua Thorpe of KT26ers fame. Some nasty hills on this little run.

Saturday 11th April - Backed up with Scam for what was supposed to be a 3 hr run, but as the run progressed it became apparent we were making good time. Felt suprisingly good after backing up from the evening before right up until the last climb into Blaxland. Scam powered on and added a little more at the end to get up the 2.5 hours he wanted. I was happy just to crawl back to the car at Marshal Mansion. Learnt a few things on this run: adequate hydration is crucial (going to have to get me one of those running belts I swore I'd never get, or carry a 600ml Mt Franklin bottle in Sleep Train Style); adequate nutrition is crucial (declined the generous offering of a spare gel from Scam at the 2 hr point, which in hind-sight would have possibly got me home in a lot less pain); and the body needs more than 12 hours to replenish energy stores. A reliable authority on running told me that you are allowed to add the distances together for multiple runs when they are run within a 24 hour window.

All in all happy with the effort as I have needed to push the body as far as it (apparently) can go, simply to know what it feels like and what it will take to push through that. The long weekend runs need to become a staple part of my training diet.

Sunday 12th April - the Easter Sabbath, so in true religious form I was back at work. Nonetheless it was still a day of rest as I did no training. Recovery from Saturday and in preparation for Monday mornings club tri.

Monday 13th April - Easter Monday Club Tri. Ok swim, Good bike and off to a good run that was shortened to 2.5 km. All in all not a bad effort. A little dissapointed the run was shortened because I felt like I was on track for a pb. 54.10 total, 12:30 swim, 31:56 ride, 9:43 run.