Training Log Archive: Becks

Event: WCOC Paugussett
 

Uh oh. After today, I am very, very scared about the Highlander! I have trained every day this week, so will take next week easy in preparation! I am, however, more of a fan of score events when they're done WCOC style. With all the time in the world to plan your route beforehand, I decided to try and get everything, but also focus on the two tricky sessions as good control pick/flow practice. After 20 minutes it became quite apparent that my legs weren't going to carry me fast enough to get everything, so I concentrated on the most fun controls. Technically I was generally good, but I lost faith a bit through feeling tired and orienteered lazily on a couple of occasions, 63-40 being the most obvious error. I actually ended updoing twice as much climb, and thus this wasn't the cop out tired option at all. The complex bits were great though, and I was simplifying well. When I hit 44 I had 12 minutes remianing, tried for 47 but never saw the wall I wanted and didn't have the time to relocate, so went out to the track and headed back via four easy controls. Looking at where I hit the track, I must have been very close to 47. Speaking to those that made it round, I'm glad I didn't go down into the other controls - mind and body weren't really up for chugging through green.

I am a wreck this evening, and now very, very scared about the prospect of 26.2km! As Ali says, it's only 3 red courses AND a trail race...

Gulp!

(Distance is straight line, map with route is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/faintgirl/5027778936/

Event: West Point B-Meet
 

Wahey! Thanks to the wonderfulness that is Mike and Marie, and Kat and Boris, we were able to drive to West Rock and pick up a bike for me! I cycled home the non ghetto way and was very, very happy to be moving on wheels. Thanks guys!

Whoo hoo! A gold and a silver from our JEC boys in the sprints. Nice work Kris and Jamie!

Rest day today - Rob's birthday so I made him tasty breakfast in bed instead of running.

C • and 6

Made it out of the lab early (the bliss of Arthur being away at a conference!) and couldn't resist a run - there's surely not going to be many evenings left in the low 20s, so it would be a shame to miss out on them. I got to the bottom of East Rock and couldn't resist going to the top, and there was a beautiful view in the hazy golden light. Then down the Giant Steps and back home. Right hamstring pulling a bit, must stretch back out.

9 mins Z2, 4 x 5(2) threshold, 9 mins Z2. After our lovely meal last night (great to see our little place so full of smiley faces!) I decided to skip the run this morning and go for a now rare evening session. And lovely it was - got out there just in time to be all in daylight (Thanks to feet), and even spied a lesser spotted Boris on one of my favourite trails. Legs felt a bit tired at the start but powered up the hill reps hill as part of my second rep and felt alive after that. Really strong and fun.

Was annoyed/bemused again by the runners that run in the bike lanes up and down Orange, who expect to be treated as vehicles, and as such don't look or slow down to cross perpendicular roads, despite the fact they're often running the wrong way down the road, and are hidden from driver's view by parked cars. Really dangerous, I don't see what's to be gained by it at all.

Warm morning, I was taken surprise by the heat. Nice easy recovery run on the way to the gym.

Met Boris at the gym and went through Session 2 of the weights in full - used 22.5lb then switched to 17.5 for the power press onwards. Then went through some other exercises with Boris using just the bar. For a guy with a rubbish butt, his squats were not bad at all! I think we may be able to rescue something here...

Was brave with the help of Boris and went to find the indoor running track. Had a quick sprint round in 39 secs - apparently it is 200m. Either my running did take a turn for the better yesterday, or they are wrong. I'm going to go with the former :)

I'd been a bit scared of this session - mentally 4 x 800 (2) seemed tougher than anything I'd done before. Figured I needed to relax a bit and maybe ease off the pace to make it consistent. Another cool morning which helped. Got round the first one in 3.08, surprisingly close to old times, so it clearly worked. Chased a guy who leapt over the fence and did a few laps for the next one. Third was the toughest. On the fourth I tried to run it faster - going well at the first lap, lost a bit of pace on the 3rd 200 when things started to wobble a bit, then dug in round the bend...and then it struck. My stride lengthened, my legs flowed, and there it was. That feeling of running fast and strong, and really going somewhere. It was only for 100m, but it is a ridiculously long time since I've felt it. Here's to 200m of it next time!

3.08
3.06
3.11
3.05

C • sunday 1

Gorgeous morning number X! Lovely and cool today too, but still sunny. 4 mins Z2, 10 x 10(20) hills, then to the gym via the loos at College Woods. Almost didn't go out as I was sleepy but very glad I did. had a chat with a very nice lollipop man.

Strength session one. Same as end of last week, but with hip flexor leg raises instead of dips, because I felt like it. They were more fun. I remembered that hanging leg raises exist, and might try and get back to them.