Training Log Archive: Becks

Feeling all inspired by Nicole Cooke's awesome gold medal this morning, and the fact that sun was kind of shining on and off went for a nice spin on the bike to try and get rid of some of yesterday's lactate )and give the new bike a go, seeing as my uber lock still hasn't arrived in the post so I can't yet trust it being locked up outside anywhere). Legs felt fine actually, and maintained a good pace down to Musselburgh, through Portobello, Leith, up the cycle path to Canonmills and then home along the Bridges. Much better than my earlier aborted attempt where I set off and got a puncture within ten minutes. Proper big screw stuck in at right angles, just burst the tyre instantly! Not a good start!

Jogging about and a few strides before the Haddington Half.

My first half marathon! I was aiming to run it as the first half of a marathon, and not as fast as I could for 13 miles, with a fast finish in the last three miles if I felt up to it. And I did! Aside from a brief 40 second behind a tree dash, when my stomach objected to a steep hill, it was all good! Was strong on the hills till the end, picking off a lot of people on the early mile that was almost entirely uphill, although the undulating nature of the course meant trying to keep mile times consistent wasn't really happening. Was maybe a little fast at the start, but settled in quite nicely after by the end of two miles. Was 4th woman, which is alright. Happy with my race anyway!

6.39 175 189
6.56 183 188
7.23 182 192
7.42 168 192 (HRM must have gone weird here)
7.44 186 192
7.03 185 190
7.15 185 190
7.22 187 190
8.01 188 192
2.59 - loo stop 38 secs 3.46 (6.45 - wow, must have legged it post loo stop!) 187 190
7.02 189 192
7.13 191 194
6.58 193 197
0.42 197 197

And...finish. So it looks like I am running at my marathon pace when my HR is under 190. If I go over this is when I start pushing into anaerobic - something to avoid early on. There were some decent hills here so there will be different challenges in Geneva. But yes - good start!

A very very decrepid jog around the field to try and warm down with Kitch. Both feeling worse than we had hoped to! Still, two more months to go!

Warm up to the Meadows carrying bag, ditched the bag and did some strides then shoulder it again for a bit of 1 minute on 1 minute off to speed my legs up for tomorrow.

Ten mins of one minute on one minute off walking - had rucksac on so not flying but not bad pace either.

And the rest of the way into work.

Today life hates me with a passion. I need to go for a run, but finding the motivation is eluding me majorly. Motivate me someone? Please?!

C • how about? 4

Home on new bike...mmm fast on new tyres. Unfortunately can't ride it around until my new lock arrives in the post as my insurance isn't valid with my present rubbish one.

4 miles at half marathon pace on the treadmill, testing out the new racing shoes. They feel niiiice.

Treadmill warm up.

It's weird, going faster seems easier on a treadmill but to go at a pace that actually feels easy to recover you have to slow waaaay down. Weird.

C • TM 1

My old bike died. I had to buy a new one. It's a sad, sad day. Buy buy to the £500 Dad gave me to save with on Sunday!

Usual core session with 6kg on sit ups etc, then -20kg on dips (after last time's revelation that I can actually pretty much dip without support if I actually engage my core properly), then -30kg on pull ups.

Jog into work with the rucksac. I want my bike back!