The Secret training

6.30am, 90 minutes, SMH half marathon course

While contemplating where to go for this morning's long run, a moment of inspiration suggested the SMH 1/2 course for a bit of variety and secret training.

I was very slow to get going after yesterday's intervals. It took me 15 minutes to warm up and then I felt tired after 25 minutes. I reached the SMH 1/2 course at the Art Gallery to be overtaken by some weekend warriors. I skipped the Mrs Macquarie's Chair section since I've done that regularly and headed into the city.

It was quite good to run over the course after almost a year. From memory, the SMH 1/2 has ended up as my regular 'coming back from injury' race. So fatigue has set in early during past races, and I'm still haunted by the never-ending Hickson Road finishing straight.

This morning most sections of the course seemed shorter particularly around the Rocks. There were a few people running around the city but few others were on secret training. I stopped and stretched after 45 minutes, felt much better again, and then did a second lap of the course with a couple of shortcuts.