Ash McGrath feels the pain during the Mt Humphreys climb

We did a pyramid run today, which was 8-4-2-4-8, and did a bit of grid running. It was a bit tough on the lungs and the legs, and I think the boys were pretty cooked afterwards.

We’re looking forward to a recovery day tomorrow, and then we’ll get ready for our last couple of cracks before heading home.

Skills are the part of training that I most look forward to. I sit at the back and don’t really do too well at the running, so I look forward to getting out there and showing off my skills.

A lot of people have already spoken about how well guys like Redden, Patfull and Raines are going, but Aaron Cornelius is another who is running well - hopefully can take that into the season. And myself…I’m flying.

Ash McGrath says he isn't the biggest fan of the running sessions

The most challenging part so far has been rooming with James Polkinghorne. He’s a nice shy little kid, but there are days when I see a darker side to him, which I’m really starting to enjoy.

We’ve got two beds in the bedroom, and he likes to fold out the sofa in the lounge room. He brought the hard drive over to watch some movies and I think there are only so many times that I can watch ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 days’ in two weeks.

I’ve got plenty of other stories from the trip, but you know what happens on tour stays on tour.

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When we get back next week, I’ll let the younger guys know that while they were home working hard, we were working hard over here too.

Hopefully, while we’ve been gone, some of those kids can really stand up and take charge.

Some of us old blokes are getting on in age, and we can’t leave everything up to blokes like Redden, Polkinghorne and Rich to carry the load all the time.

- Ash McGrath

McGrath, Black and Banfield take a break from the bike-riding

The Mt Humphreys climb was torture, death and exhilaration all rolled into one.

I was down the back for most of the trip, and then got up the front for the last push up the mountain. Once we got to the top, I was pretty much ready to get home and get into a warm bed.