Hmm...Mister U2 was out again this morning. I got a better look as today he was walking across the crossing smoking a fag in his fetching purple Pertex. It was only after I'd just cycled past that he launched into the big "ooohhh ohhh uuuhh oohhhh," bit at the end.
He actually has a good voice. But now I am a bit freaked out by it.
Running30:00 [2] 3.6 mi (8:20 / mi) ahr:161 max:168
Easy aerobic run. Absolutely stonking day - feel even worse about being in the lab now. Hamstrings starting to loosen. Still, this time next week I'll be on the train down to London, and the day after I'll be flying to New York. It can't come too soon!
5 mins aerobic to Inverleith, 3 x 2mins 40 secs threshold, 1 min rest, 9 mins warm down and back. Hammies tight, I had to actively try not to run all hunched up.
Short run to and round Inverleith Park. 9 mins aerobic, 4 mins strides focussing on fast feet, then 11 minutes of sub threshold. It must be a very long time since I did some proper strides, as doing them fast and well was actually really, really hard. My HR rocketed too! Crazy.
This goes down as core, as it's not really strength, more the support system. Short little circuit with:
3 super sets of Steve's special crunches sitting on something wobbly.
3 x 10 press ups
3 x 10 tricep dips
Funny plank with arms forward and to the side 3 x 20 secs each side
3 x 10 each leg single leg lowers
2 x 10 each leg lunges
If anyone knows any other exercises I can do without fancy gym equipment, I'd like to hear them!
I have been struggling this week with getting into the lab and doing stuff. It's been a rubbish week. But this morning I managed to actually get up vaguely on time, and cycled off, and while I was waiting at the traffic lights at the end of Waterloo Place, I heard an almightly hullabuloo. The shouting got closer and closer, and when I turned around to investigate there was a man in a bright purple raincoat, running along the street with huuuuge headphones on, yelping along to U2's "With or Without You" at the top of his voice with a massive grin on his face.
It was quite simply the best thing I have seen in a very long time.
From now on my intensities refer to a more set HR rather than a general feeling, so my training diary will start to look a bit different. This was 13 mins sub threshold (HR165-175) with 6 mins aerobic either side (155-165). Pace during sub threshold was 7.35 minute miles, which works out just about perfect. Nice to start with small amounts of training that feel manageable at the moment, and be building up when I start writing, hand in, then much more volume when I can live again. Yey! But for now, 25 minutes is an achieveable target, and it's all about them!
Ended up having to cycle half way across town with a rapidly cooling takeaway pasta in my bag and I was deadlocked out of Rob's house. Bummer. My pasta was still surprisingly tasty when I finally got to it.