Training Log Archive: lost jokes

Spent the day moving out to Steenwijk (as it looks right now from april - sept). Body felt a bit tired but still wanted to go for a small run. Feeling heavy, but still a pleasant run. Small acceleration in the middle to 'wake up' my body a bit.

Alleycat in Groningen. My first one, I'd always wanted to take part in one and I saw there were some being organised right now for free with bikes provided, so decided to enter. Quite fun concept, not completely fair but fun anyway.

At the start we were told to go to the Grote Markt, so everybody blasted off and I desperately tried to follow, not knowing how to get there the fasted without map :P Got our maps there and already a bit spread set off. The course was basicly like a score-o, but some checkpoints could only be done after first doing another (draw your bike at one checkpoint, get it checked at another).

Checkpoint in the Noorderplantsoen was horribly off compared to the map, but I wasn't the only one circling around losing time. After that I lost some time at the Grote Markt, we had to come back to the exact same spot but the guy had moved around 20m (cafe didn't want him in front of their door), so took me a min to spot him.

Then we left the old city and went into the Stadspark. Again the checkpoint was off compared to the map, but I spotted the 'officials' before wandering around. Had to change 'grips', which took me quite some time because mine didn't want to cooperate :P Was already on my own since leaving the Noorderplantsoen, but spotted some guys just leaving the Stadspark checkpoint.

After that I had a good route choice to the Euroborg stadium, not falling for the trap of uncrossable canals. Small mistake after that again, the road I wanted to take didn't have a cycling path next to it, so after some hesitation I took it anyway. In as 4th, behind the three local bike messengers. Hearing the stories afterwards I guess I wasn't suicidal enough to win this... Winning time was 44.xx, my time 49.50.

Such nice weather today, couldn't stop myself going for a run. Bit tired/heavy/hungry. Running felt surprisingly easy though. Low heartrate.

Can feel my technique improving already. Drills are getting easier to perform. 3 accelerations at the end, focusing hard on technique.

Slow cool down, again low heartrate. Pretty good feeling to be able to run 5x this week, even though distances are still quite small :)

2x10 + 2x10. Shouldn't neglect these!

Right ankle/foot started hurting a bit at the front yesterday evening, seems I must've bumped into something or so. Didn't bother me at all today during activity.

Hip and ankle feeling good after three consecutive running days (even though wednesday was just a really short run). Another one either tomorrow or sunday.

Rerunning the Dutch middle distance champs 2009. Short warm-up to the start. Heavy going because of the soft sand and strong wind (Bft. 7). Decided not to start at the start triangle but at control 1, because of the building site just south of there. Didn't want to draw any attention to me ;)

Uilenbosch 1:7.500, distance ~3,75km.

Splits from 2009.
Map

Nice 12 degrees and sun today. Took me a bit of effort to get into the map, could barely find the 1st control. That reminded me how technical it was ;) Took my time to compare the map with the terrain around me, and then started. Didn't want to run full out, but make it a good technical training on close to race pace.

Afterwards I can say I was sloppy with my compass, not using it enough or not trusting it enough. That was hard anyway, because the dense vegetation forced me out of my direction all the time. Also having some trouble, especially in the beginning, with reading and understanding the contours and vegetation. Got better later, but I learned the hard way that a rough compass bearing and then hoping to relocate somewhere later doesn't work here...

1-2) Should've gone right around from the beginning, now fighting through the green. Some troubles matching the compass with my running direction. 15".

3) Shouldn't have followed the trail down, but gone more on the purple line. Sloppy after crossing the road, not slowing down to take in the detail. Came to a depression thinking it was the place of the control, but couldn't be sure so relocated and attacked it again. Turns out it was the right place. 10" + 2'20".

4) Good. Strong last part.

5) Misread the detail and overshot the control. 25".

6) Good. Took it easy in the end to make sure I didn't make a small mistake near the control.

7) Good in the first part, ticking off the two consecutive depressions. Then got confused in the more open area but kept running on compass. Suddenly found myself on a big clearing with two depressions on my left. "Oh, I'm already there!" :)

8) Wanted to go in between the hill and the huge depression in the final part of the leg, but drifted off when I saw a depression more south. When I started following that one and suddenly saw the large depression on my left I figured out what I did wrong. 1'00.

9) Rough compass to the road, didn't really understand the detail until there. Strong afterwards, really ticking off the catching features.

10) Vegetation here was still pretty much perfect. Slowed down enough to be sure of my location.

11) Maybe a bit too far off the line, but this seemed to give less climb. Small break at the control to tie my shoelaces again.

12) The first part I followed a small trail that was created here. Crossed the paved road and wasn't quite sure of my location. Doubted a bit, but then decided to follow my plan anyway. It's strange because I knew there was only one place I could be, but still I doubted. Climbed the hill and then kept doubting because the situation wasn't like I imagined. Ran to the other ridge and then finally relocated properly. 2'20".

13) Misread the map a bit and thought I was following the main hill ridge, but I dropped down to much. Stopped and relocated, then saw my mistake. 20".

14) Good. Had some problems seeing the sand as clearly as drawn on the map, but knew I was running in the right direction so no doubts.

15) Good. Felt in control all the time.

16) Enjoying the views up on the ridge. Small mistake when entering the re-entrant, in my mind I had to follow the side of the re-entrant, but the hill in the middle threw me off. 5".

17) Tough uphill.

18) Was here earlier on the way to 12...

19) A bit slow and unsure downhill, but good afterwards.

20) Easy.

After sitting in the sun for some time analysing my route I returned on the small sandy trails. Easy cool down.

Easy run with Natalia. First time in shorts again, warm and sunny! :) Hip a little bit stiff, but only very little.

Nice bike trip to the beach with Natalia.

Woke up this morning feeling good enough for at least a 20min run (also judging by my rest-HR), but was careful considering how I felt yesterday. As soon as I went out the door however I knew 30min wouldn't be a problem :) Just a steady run. Ankle feeling good, as always after mobilising. Hip ok too.

Shockwave + ankle mobilising at the fysio. Positive! Next appointment in four weeks.

Feeling a bit weak today, hope I'm not getting sick again. Probably also a result of yesterdays concert...