Training Log Archive: Clara

Cathedrals Challenge.

Longest and hardest (and slowest?) race I've ever done!

Chugged along the first few kms of steady and climb (catching a couple of guys on the climb :) ) before the epic Canyon Track. Lots of rock scrambling, which went on for longer than I expected. Then a nice runnable bit, before dropping down from the Farmyard. Descending is not my favourite, and I wasn't looking forward to doing it all again later.

A lady from work went past me at about 7km (well, she's on leave without pay from the Alex office) and she was the last person I saw.

Discovered the excellentness of watermelon as race food at Jawbone carpark aid station (and while everyone was complaining about running out of water, I finished with some still in my pack), and subsisted off that and race biscuits for the race.

Got called 2nd woman through the 10km (11.5km) mark, and though I should be able to hold that, although had my doubts later on when it was tougher than I remembered. In fact, the entire 2nd half of the race was pretty much just a slog.

Steady along to Neds, and then found the climb hard going (ran a lot more of it in December, though that was on fresh legs). Enjoyed the bit out towards Little Cathedral where I could run a bit, but was close to bonking on the climb back towards Cathedral Peak. The track back to Farmyard wasn't as bad as I remembered, but was being pretty careful on tired legs. As expected, the descent wasn't my favourite! Spent the longest of any aid station at the one 1km from the finish... Bit sad my Garmin didn't make it all the way to the finish, because I was pretty quick over the last 50m!

Never saw the first woman (turns out she finished 32mins in front!) - she was apparently a road runner doing her first trail race - mighty impressive! Happy with a 2nd place :)

Just a cruise in my new shoes. They hurt my feet a bit! Been feeling a bit flat and heavy all week so took it easy in preparation for Cathedrals on Sunday.

Evening not the Parkville Parkrun with Jayne.

Ran way faster than I had planned, mostly because Jayne took off like a shot. Also did 30s efforts ever 2'30, but by the end they probably weren't that much quicker than the normal pace.