Training Log Archive: Becks

Decided that, in order to sleep in after the humungously expensive and very tasty NY steak experience (thanks Tim and Cj!), I would get to Brooskvale under my own steam as opposed to imposing my laziness on others. However, my rough estimation of the distance was way off, and the cycle took almost twice as long as I would have liked. Took Whitney all the way up and then the Farmington Canal (longer but eons more pleasant) all the way back. Not too scary in the ghetto, had to carry the bike up a siding to get back onto the trail after the works bit.

Hence, did far more exercise today than was sensible. Not good!

Bleurgh. How much was I not feeling it out there today?! Nothing in the legs, brain on another planet. Spiked all the control sites but ran a bit down the wrong trail twice in between! Poor show. Felt tired and sluggish.

Not sure what's up - running feels good on trails during the week, but the last two O courses have been awful. Maybe I'm just not terrain fit? Today I think I was suffering from too much protein, not enough carbs and not enough sleep, so I'm hoping that tomorrow won't be a complete disaster. Would have liked my HRM today to see what that was doing, but annoyingly left it in the lab. Got a bit of a feeling of impending doom about it now though! Eep.

Green - Splits

Slept through my alarm, was annoyed I couldn't grab a quick cycle before 8.45 meeting, and then the heavens opened with crazy rain and I was glad I was saved the cycle.

Not sure how I'm going to make it to work in any way resembling dry though...

Plan today was an easy cycle to loosen up for the weekend. It was pouring with rain this morning though, so I didn't go. Didn't think my lady bike could hack it :)

Session 3 of strength, staying at light weights to attempt to not feel like a wreck this weekend. Boris came to join me, so it took longer but I think that's actually better as it forces me to rest. Quick bike to warm up, a few warm up exercises, then:

OH squat 4 x 8 45lb
SLDL 4 x 8 65lb (worried about hamstring, at least no worry with grip at this weight. Hamstring felt fine)
Step up with control descent 4 x 8 45lb
Landmines 4 x 8 45lb
Plyo press ups 4 x 8 (Beast)

Then a quick run through the stretching session to end. Leg was tight and moany before, and now the absence of tight is very noticeable. Nice.

C • Infamous drinking picture 1

Got to the track at 7.55 and it was already full of school kids - damn. Plan had been 4 x 1000m, so headed to College Woods and did 4 x 4 (2) mins instead. Half paved, half slightly windy gravel path, with one short steep uphill. Turned out to be just over a km, so though not my perfect work out for today, a good stand in. Did slightly less distance in first rep through dallying, then pretty much the same in all the others.

The rain. Mmmm...the rain. Hamstring felt totally fine when running hard, but tight on return.

George's four plus Kitch's back.

Rob joined Boris and I and we actually managed to run an actual recovery run. Dead easy pace, plenty of good chat, cool and damp. Really lovely. Felt significantly better than I expected to for most of the way round, with a slight tightening of right hamstring at one point.

3 out of 4 of George's stretches - couldn't figure out the piriformis one so subbed in one of my own. You'll have to show me that one at the Highlander George! Added on Kitch's back bend to finish. Need to try and stick with these, I am so bad at stretching.

C • piriformis 1

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/