Sunday Mar 2 |
 | Hill Running race 45:00 [5] | |
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| Me and Oli did the Glentress Terrain Duathlon today, he did the MTB and I did the hill run. We got to bed early, about 4am, after a team meating in Potterrow. Woke up feeling fresh and eager to run, sobered up over breakfast. Then we rocked on down to Glentress in the team Mercedes, clubland blasting out through the boom box; the only way to travel. Got there, signed on, then when and drooled over Ross Creber's team issue Trek. He is in the British Cycling Academy, and is one ot the best MTBers in the country. Prasad Prasad (that's his name) turned up on a Scott Spark Ltd, a full sus' bike that only wieghs 9.35kg, and sets you back £5200.
Anyway. The MTB was first, 2 different loops. Oli came through in about 7th, 3 mins down on Creber. Nae bad. So when the leaders came in I was expecting Oli to be about 5 or 6 mins down. I waited. And waited. 10 People in, so I guess he's had a mechanical, or a puncture. Arse. He eventually came in 29th with a cheeky "oops I went to wrong way and got lost" grin on his face. Classic. I set off on the run a bit to fast as I was a bit excited. It was a really good route, a little bit on forest roads, a little bit on single track, and some serious full on off road. First loop was an out and back to the top of the hill. As I came out of the treeline near the top of the hill the very cold rain turned into normal temperature snow. Nice. As I was descending back down some guy from Carnethy (possibly Adam Ward) told me I should take up hill running. My Edinburgh RC jersey and shaven legs must have made me look like a cyclist. Back to the race-center and then out for the 2nd "short-loop". Less people to catch now, and starting to get a bit tired. This short loop wasn't that short at all, but it was less hilly, lots of cross-country, like proper through the forest cross-country (rather than the golf-course cross-country). Legs really starting to feel heavy, and really rather needing a forest dump. A quick check over the shoulder to see if I've got enough of a gap. Man, I needed that.I then set off feeling much better, to find the finish about 400m round the corner. Oh well. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Got an easter egg at the finish and we won some wine for being first team.
After the race I could hardly move me legs, I wasn't able to even warm down. I could squat about 1cm before I had agonising muscle pain in my quads. Nice. Oh well, pain is gain. Then went to Sainsbury's and got some hot and spicy chicken wings.
Went for a meal with my flatmates as it was Ruth's birthday, then went bowling with the obligatory rude names. Good times. |
| Jogging 30:00 [3] | |
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| Warming up, and then jogging to keep warm waiting for Oli to finish. |
Saturday Mar 1 |
| Cycling 4:00:00 [3]69.0 mi (3:29 / mi) | |
| ahr:149 max:186 |
| 3000 Kcalories apparently. I doubt that. Max speed 42.7mph, I need to fit a bigger big ring on this thing. Cross winds were crazy today. 75mph gusts overnight, maybe still a few of them about, lurking in the bushes waiting for me to come past. Nearly got blown off a few times, and not in a good way. Had the shorts out, some good work on the tan. I reckon there was at least 1 dulux tone difference, but I think that was mainly dust from the road. I'm doing the running part of a terrain duathlon tomorrow, Oli is doing the MTB. So to prepare we're going to Vodka Revolutions and then Potterrow. |
Friday Feb 29 |
| Static Cycling 2:00:00 [4] | |
| ahr:150 |
| 2 hours on the spinning bike in the circuit gym. My mind is a fortress. Did a serious of 5 min hill climbs, then a 10, then a 15. Saw the Tullies (maxi and mini). If you're gonna climb a mountain, SOS by Stonebridge is THE song to do it to.
I then went down and thought it would be nice to do some squats, I aint done weights since well before the JK last year, so I was interested to see what I could lift. I warmed up and then did 4 reps, rested, put the weight up and repeat. 40 fine, 50, 60, fine, 70 ok, 80 hmm, 90 quite heavy, 100 yeah, this is heavy. 100 kind of makes me feel like my spine is being crushed when I take it off the rack. Still, it seems that cycling has kept my legs pretty damn strong.
I then did some extensive stretching and ornithology.
5 hours from entering to leaving the gym. Nice. |
Thursday Feb 28 |
| Note | |
| (rest day) |
| Legs feeling a little bit heavy, could have still training, but felt it would be nice to have a rest day. Went to Sainsbury's and bought a massive steak and some yorkshire puddings for for dinner (with gravy, oh yes!). Had a nap this afternoon, which turned into a bit of a sleep. Never mind. Watched a video on youtube of Tour de France crashes. I aint had one yet (mainly due to a lack of riding in the Tour de France) but I'm sure one is not too far round the corner. Nearly had one on the wednesday ride actaully, mainly because loads of punters turn up who fail to signal when there are potholes etc in the road, which helps when your riding 25mph wheel to wheel and your the 12th man, cos you can't really see anything. Like a big stinkin' pile of roadkill that nearly dropped me to the 'mac. Luckily I've got crazy mad skillz so kept it upright with just a small splattering of brains and guts. Lucky, as there was a car up my arse as well and I didn't really fancy going under it. Or over it. Round it would have been ok. |
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| C • do you not... 2 |
Wednesday Feb 27 |
| Jogging 32:00 [3] | |
| ahr:140 max:159 |
| Went down to the gym to run round Holyrood Park and do a bit of stretching. I ran round Holyrood Park (the Queen wasn't in) and did some stretching. Steroids man was training today. He looks rediculous, he's one of those people whose body type is not muscular, like most of us, but has taken so much weight gain, mega mass and steroids and done enough training that he has defied nature and got the torso of a greek god. However when you have a pea-head and chicken legs it makes you look like a total tool. Some people look stupid because that's the way the are and there is nothing they can do about it, this guy has spend thousands of squid and done thousands of hours of training to look that way. Tool. I think my thighs are fat. |
| Cycling 2:10:00 [3]36.0 mi (3:37 / mi) | |
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| EUCC training run. In shorts and reppin' the maillot à pois rouge, now if you're gonna turn up dressed as king of the mountains then you've got to be able to back it up. Fortunately for me, Silas who is a cat 2 rider for VeloEcosse was just cruising at the back, and I got payback against the Oggster for his crushing demolition of me the other week. After an epic wait at the top of the hill we decided to leave captain slow to die. There was much rejoicing. Clemmie (female, blonde, hot) was feeling a bit sick and the pace was a bit high, so I did the noble thing and pushed her up all the hills. Absolutely no alteria motive. Despite wearing shorts no tan lines are appearing yet, it may take a little longer, but it'll be worth it.
Went to the gym after for a sauna and stretch. Watched some of the girls basketball game, they sucked. Then watched the guys game. I cam in near the end of the 2nd quarter, and they were about 15 points down. Playing Heriot-Watt. They had brought along loads of wags and wannabe's, and were making a bit too much noise for our liking. They kept whistling and chanting during free-throws, which just aint cricket. They were cheering every basket like it was a match winner made after the buzzer, and the clearly didn't know anything about the sport. Anyway, we started giving them some chant back. And the boys picked up their game. By the 4th quarter they were only a few points behind, slowly clawing back. With about 4 mins to go they took the lead for the first time. And then started edging ahead. The Watt just couldn't handle the abuse from the gallery and the fact they had been giving it lip all game and were now losing. They must have felt like such fools when the buzzer went, turning a 15 ponit lead into a 10 point spanking. Ha ha, that'll teach them to come to our manor and talk smack. |
Tuesday Feb 26 |
| Static Cycling 45:00 [3] | |
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| Went down the gym in the morning for a little spin. I didn't feel like riding in the rain with 30mph winds today. Sat on the bike for 45 mins. Did some stretching. Had a sauna. Job done. Think I might go running tonight. |
| Running hills 50:00 [5] | |
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| Hill intervals, Arthur's Seat. I'm tired, I'm going to bed. |
Monday Feb 25 |
| Jogging 45:00 [3] | |
| ahr:141 |
| Woke up next to GG this morning, always a pleasure. Cooked him breakfast and everything. Structural geology was immense, can't get enough of the Mariana Trench back arc system, love it. Went for the banter jog with the Haries. Gave Coombs some abuse but he wasn't listening. Went through Waverly station, which was nice. Also went down the danger path of death. At one end was a big fence and signs saying path closed, at the other end was a similar big fence and a sign saying path close, in the middle was a really really nice path with nothing wrong with it at all. It was probably one of the best paths I have been down this week. |