Training Log Archive: Billenicus

Event: BAOC: Big Basin
 

BAOC event, Big Basin. Red course 5.3Km 520m

Amazing forest, just a pity it was so steep! Opted not to do the longest course as had a flight to catch, and the registration process took a lot longer than expected. Good decision as the physicality made it very slow. Some of the slopes were very difficult to get along or up because of the steepness and the crumbly soil, plus fallen trees presented significant obstacles.

Plenty of mistakes. Struggled to get into the map, and it wasn't always correct. Features were there but not necessarily correct innrelation to each other.

Lost 2 mins at 1 because the map was not correct; hit the spur very close to the control, but had aimed off to be safe. Scrappy on 2 and 3 - mainly just hesitant. Small misses at 5 (15 sec) and 6 (45 sec). Lost 2 mins at 11 hunting very close to the control in the fallen trees - not correct wrt the spur down the hill from 10. Lost 30 sec at 17.

Physically felt very average and didn't put too much effort in - too busy enjoying the location. Heel got a bit sore. Also struggling to read the map.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. A completely random loop round nearly all of the park with some extra exploring.

Mostly fairly gentle, particularly at the start as a bit hungover. But sped up later. Surprised how tired I felt afterwards. Heel slightly sore towards the end, but generally seeming a lot improved - barely modifying my running style at all. Very enjoyable.

Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks. Shortened version of the loop I've done before along the ridge and back through a bit of suburbia.

Not sure what 92F is in real numbers, but I'm sure it begins with a 3, and it felt like a sauna! Would have run a bit further but didn't want to overdo it in that heat.

Heel fealing by far the best it's been since the injury. Hardly any pain, though still going a bit gingerly downhill.

In the gym in a hotel just next to Vancouver airport, about 4 hours after landing. Reasonable workout using the random setting at a medium-hard intensity level.

Feeling OK, but sweating buckets!

NB Two Tuesdays this week. The first was a rest day.

Followed the biking with a spell on the treadmill while bizarrely watching a Kerry v Tyrone All-Ireland Gaelic football semi-final.

Very easy to start with while the legs recovered from the biking, but sped up and was feeling good. Ran it all on a 4% incline and as a result had no problem at all with the heel. Heel is still a bit sore in general, but think there are now signs of improvement.

Whitemans Valley loop ACW. Wet, and with a variable Northerly.

Didn't push too hard and felt pretty good so surprised to be quite so slow. But conditions weren't great. As expected, heel no problem at all.