Training Log Archive: Craig

Went for a bit of a jog over to Bayswater to watch Liam play tennis.
Ran with the pack again but this time tried putting 1L of water in the bladder and didn't carry any bottles. Water in the bladder held the bottom of the pack off my back a little and I put my wallet up higher so didn't get any chafing on the lower back. Wore a singlet this time so I was a bit concerned the shoulder straps might rub a bit but it didn't seem to be a problem. It was more pleasant running without sloshing water near my ears but I really don't like drinking from the bladder so I think I might carry one 500mL bottle and use the bladder as a reserve. I did manage to get through most of the water, about 100mL left at the end, but didn't find it easy or enjoyable to drink.

The wild horses have been feeling a little more comfortable recently so I decided to give them a try on a longer run as I'm not sure the frees are ideal for 47km of gravel. My feet seemed to survive reasonably well so they might be a reasonable option for 6 inch, still undecided though.

The direct route to Bayswater would have been nowhere near long enough so I weaved around a bit on the way up through KP, then ran South of the river to the causeway. Stayed on the grass as much as I could to save the tread on the trail shoes but a lot of it is pretty soft so not as easy as I would have liked. Added a lap of Heirisson Island to add some distance. I knew there were still people camping there as the parkrun is still cancelled but I was a bit surprised how many tents there were spread all over the NE side of the island.

After Claisebrook Cove I had another runner pull onto the path just ahead of me. I was getting pretty bored by this stage so I thought I might try to catch up to have some company for a while, but he was going just a little faster than I wanted to, extending the gap by maybe 20-30m over the next 2km. At Bardon Park he went up to Fourth Ave while I went past Maylands Yacht Club so I was just ahead when he came back onto the path at East St. I knew he was only going a little faster than me so when he came past I said hello and lifted a little to stay on his shoulder. He completely ignored my hello and gradually lifted the pace to the point where we were hitting 3:50/km when I pulled the pin as I still had 10km to go. I was tempted to keep chasing to see how long he could keep it up but decided to cut across the grass to follow some shade instead. I could see a ditch up ahead and hoped I could find a dry enough point to get across but it was too wet and wide. That was probably a good thing as I'm sure I would have just got myself into trouble if I had been able to close up again. I was suffering enough by the end as it was.

I was aiming for 32.2km and I knew it was about 1km from Garratt Rd bridge to the tennis club so when I reached the bridge in just under 29km I decided to continue on past the Eric Singleton bird sanctuary and loop in from the back. I was getting pretty tired by this stage and I didn't really realise how far past Garratt Rd I had gone so after crossing Guildford Rd and turning back to the West I assumed the first major Rd I came to was Garratt Rd. I ran until I could see the railway and then back the other way until I could sees Guildford Rd before realising I was on King William St. That added an extra km that I really wasn't needing at that stage. I knew I needed 33.64km to reach 100km for the week and I was close enough to that by the time I found the tennis club that I decided I might as well keep running until it ticked over as a little consolation for the extra suffering.

Got there just in time to see the second half of Liam's first match. Still unbeaten in singles after 48 matches now.

C • Even I can tell 3

Recovery jog in KP with Rachel. Feeling reasonably OK by the end.

Wanted to run a bit faster because I was feeling good today. Unfortunately I didn't feel good but I ran a bit faster anyway. Felt a bit tired early on but pushed on hoping it would get better once I warmed up and got to the top of the hill but it never really did. Still feeling tired at the finish.

Easy run in KP with a bit through the streets at the end. Left heel pretty sore for the first 10 or 15 minutes.

12 miles with 7 miles tempo in KP. Feeling a bit tired still but felt as though I put in a good consistent effort and was slightly faster on the second lap so I'm happy with that. Managed to bash my head on the same bunch of gumnuts on both laps. They were hidden behind some leaves just above the peak of my cap. When I hit them on the first lap I thought, I have to remember that on the second lap, but on the second lap I was just thinking about how tired I felt. Feeling very tired running across the ovals at the end.

Easy run around KP with 6x100 at Rosalie Park at the end. Feeling better than yesterday but still a bit tired and had a bit of a tight spot in the right calf.

Slow jog around KP on the sandy tracks. Feeling very stiff and tired this morning, definitely feeling the effects of Saturday's run still. Left hip flexors started to seize up a bit towards the end. Saw Helen run past near Zamia Cafe so I sped up a little to catch up and run with her for a couple of minutes.