Run race (Bristol 10k) 46:13 10.17 km (4:33 / km) +46m4:27 / km ahr:181 max:192 slept:4.5 shoes: Feet2 - Yellow
Bristol 10k, targets this year were PB (47:35) and Office Record (46:17), of which I was confident I could break my PB, but sure that the Office Record would be out of my reach. Phil gave me the advice of working out the schedule and sticking to it even if it might feel slow at the start. Oddly, it DID feel slow even though it is normally faster than I run.
About 3k in I was doing fine, heart rate still under 180, and a few seconds inside the avg pace I needed to be going to break the office record, and my confidence was growing. Until at the 4k banner I noticed that my watch was buzzing the km well before I reached the banner.... at the 5k banner I time checked and sure enough I was just OUTSIDE the time I needed to be, and my HR was steadily climbing in the sunshine. The slight incline up cumberland road had me give up thoughts of breaking 46:17 and decided just to go for my PB. Up redcliff hill, I felt fine, but coming down the otherside my HR was over 190 and I started breathing in a laboured way, so tried to keep going and let my HR drop a bit. Stopped looking at time or HR as didnt want to know and just pushed as hard as my poor little beating heart would let me go, and opened up properly once I saw the finish line. Crossed the line and stopped my watch at 46:13... official time of 46:11, and the office record is back with me! Phil's advice paid off, thanks!
To be fair, Laura ran 46:17 last year starting in a much slower wave, so I reckon she could go a fair bit faster.
I realised that I love orienteering because you don't have enthusiastic guys on cherrypickers shouting at you before the start, or loud disco music thumping out tunes while you are waiting to start. On the other hand it was the first time I have started in the appropriate wave for my pace, rather than in a slower one to be with colleagues, and it was unusually enjoyable to be around other people running at a similar speed rather than ducking and dodging to get past people. And lovely to have so many people out cheering all the runners. But still, give me forest over road running anyday!!
Took bike around to friend who tinkers with bikes, he said nothing he could do as wheel badly buckled. Took it to Jake's bikes who were fantastic, took the wheel off, pointed to massively buckled disk brake rotor, big dent in wheel (probably both will need replacing) and then showed me a huge dent, possible problem with down tube of frame. They said there wasn't much point in fixing/replacing wheel until frame has been looked at by a frame specialist... didn't charge anything despite spending about 20-30 mins of their time looking the bike over etc. Very impressed although pissed off about a world where people try and nick bikes and then just damage them when they can't nick them.... #movingtolapland
Finished the day taking it easy, tidying my house and planning to have an early night before the 10k, until I realised that Eurovision was on the telly and I could livestream the tiomila... so stayed up watching the tiomila until about 1.30am and set an alarm for 5am to see the finish.... exciting racing at the end!
When I had my coaching session a few weeks ago, the coach told me he had also seen another guy from Bristol a few days prior, so put us in touch. Paul and I met up for a ski tonight, to form the informal bristol rollerski club. Paul on classics, me on freestyle, so I took it really slow so as not to get too far ahead, just what I needed, a gentle enjoyable ski. Next time both on Classics!
Mostly went Mogren, got quite a decent run using wassberg on way back to car. Quite a lot of simple double polling to stay at pace with Paul.
Orienteering race (BOK Urban 2 Penpole) 43:35 6.42 km (6:47 / km) +148m6:05 / km ahr:162 max:179 slept:6.5 weight:79.6kg shoes: VJ irocks (new)
Was planning on cycling to this event as a warm up, discovered that some toerag had smashed my derailleur and buckled my wheel in an attempt to nick my bike... (I presume that is what the plan is, cannot think of another way to do that damage!).
So had to push bike home with wheel constantly jamming and drive.
Once I got there though thoroughly enjoyed the run, only real mistake was on 16 where I ran too far on the path below and ended up in a re-entrant and had to track back to the depression. Otherwise happy with my time, only 12 minutes behind Ben and within 5 minutes of Mark, so not bad for me!
Run (BOK Swan at Swineford) 1:07:33 10.27 km (6:35 / km) +253m5:51 / km ahr:148 max:174 slept:6.0 weight:79.3kg shoes: Feet2 - Yellow
Straight up hill right from start was a bit brutal, should have warmed up in car park but was too lazy as usual. Breathing very heavy going up hill, had to walk last 100m. Was cross with myself for not pushing through. Better coming down the hill and on the flat. Great pie in the Swan. Big slice of a big pie, lots more filling than pastry...