Training Log Archive: acejase

Jog round, some of it with Sam, jasen and James.

Stromlo Forest 30k - 3rd year in a row for me. Had blown up somewhat over last 10k last two times so wanted to not overcook things early this time. Was faced with decision time on that front very early as group formed and started to pull away from me after 500m - Shaun Creighton, Sam, Jasen, James Minto, Tomas Krajca and 3 guys I didn't know. I decided not to go with them as would've blown up for sure then. But with already no-one behind me for a way I was very much on my own and soit looked like becoming a 30k solo run.
Kept the pack in sight for a while and thought pacing myself would mean I might catch someone if they blew up. The 1st loop is 10k and headed back down the hill towards the crit track I was reminded of one of my dislikes of this event - a wall of 10k race runners coming up the track. Plenty of yelling out from me (didn't have my bike bell) to get them to keep right (pre race instructions) to let me through. Yelling didn't work very well with those wearing headphones, of which there were heaps. Back into the crit course and I was about a minute behind last year which was where I wanted to be.
Out again and this time behind the 10k wall of runners. Possibly more annoying now as ran through the field with plenty of yelling and plenty of headphone wearers. Probably took 3k to get a clear path, mostly uphill.
After 5k on this loop turned off th e10k course and onto the 20k course so went to completely on my own. Been having plenty of water and gels but day was getting hot and with virtually zero shade the heat was starting to have an impact. On the climb out where arachnocopia used to be finally saw few slow 50k runners (they started 30mins before us) and started to peg them off. Dwnhill through the radio tower paddocks and turned to slug it out up Mt Stromlo Was tiring a little but thought I had blown up by this stage last year. Was strong and consistent up Mt Stromlo if slow. New shoes much better than previous minimalist style ones for coming down Mt Stromlo and strode out. Hit the drinks at 5k to go and doused myself as well as a fair bit of water trying to recover some of the dehydration.
Was steady out of drinks when got a boost seeing Tomas Karjca up ahead - my hopes someone in the front group would fall out where confirmed. Tomas was starting to walk but looked over his shoulder at the wrong time, saw me and immediately started running. He was a fair way ahead of me but great (and painful) to be chasing someone. Soon saw another guy from the group, orange singlet, was just ahead of Tomas. We had a fair bit of uphill across the slopes of Mt Stromlo which I was, at best, solid up. Then turned for the 2k downhill to the finish. I hadn't caught Tomas by then and strode out but he probably pulled away from me in this stretch. Still he was in sight when we hit the crit circuit when and I finished 25s behind him. Later found out he ran off course where I caught him so he probably did 500m extra.
James Minto won in 2hrs05, Shaun Creighton 2nd 2.09 and Jasen 3rd 2.11. Unfortunately quite a few guys from leading pack ran off course - Sam had been 2nd but finished 6th after running an extra 2k. The markings where there but not good enough for a race like this especially towards the end where runners are tired, which is where Sam etc ran off course. James, Shaun and Jasen all said they didn't miss any turns.
Finished a minute quicker than last year and 7mins quicker than 2 years ago. Think the heat and running solo prevented me from being even quicker. Shoes went very well as ran downhill much better and nowhere near as sore as usual in quads and calves. Also pacing went well.
Hung round chatting to the boys and trying to convince Tomas to do 6ft before heading straight home so Belinda could run. Had a coffee at home but nothing else as bit nauseous. Good run and pleased after not going as well as would like at Two Peaks. Will almost certainly enter 6ft now.

Possibly slowest run ever recored. But I knew I'd feel better if I did some sort of warm down so shuffled two laps of the car park to get to 500m.

C • great run! 4

Half lap of Aranda in the afternoon heat. Surged a few of the hills to be ready to race tomorrow. Think the weariness is fading.

Couldn't get to Reid intervals today so ran solo from home after dropping girls at school. 2*EcMo Easy ints and 1* short EcMo on Gossan Hill. Long EcMos were 3.45 and 3.43 which is reasonable. Felt like getting some zip back from taking it easy.

Cutting laps at Manuka Pool. Love this old pool. Its an odd distance - longer than 25m but not 50m. I'd finished by the time all the talent ID guys had turned up (they'd got word about this guy cutting laps at Manuka pool....).

Run in to work doing 10* 1min on 1min off. Legs felt absolutely shot so didn't have much speed. Need to take it easy before Sunday's 30k race.

ITW. Cold again.

Home late.