Training Log Archive: AnvilIn the 7 days ending Nov 14, 2015:
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Saturday Nov 14, 2015 #
2 PM
Running - Trail 19:00:00 [3] 50.0 mi (22:48 / mi) +1000m 21:28 / mi
Worlds Toughest Mudder 2015
After missing 2014 and seeing what an improvement they'd made on course design from 2013, there was no way I was missing it this year.
The timing and location sucks, on the other side of the country in the middle of an ARK season leaves almost no time on either side of the race to do much else, but what the hell, life is for living, sleep when I'm dead and all that other seize the fish stuff.
Anyway, got the the start line with all my stuff in order. First hour was obstacle free, to spread the field and create no obstacle bottle necks once they open up. Got in a really crappy spot early, was basically walking the first 500m, which is good from a 24 hour race perspective, but since the first hour was obstacle free, those were 'free miles' so it would have been nice to be a little further ahead (they guys out in front got almost 2 laps in before the hour was up!)
Lap 2 was no problem. Passed all but one obstacle, only failed the Operation one in the video I linked a few days ago.
Lap 3, started to feel a little crampy, which quickly became a lot crampy. It had been quite warm in the sun and come to think of it now, I probably should have got my salt levels up before the race. Got into a lot of trouble at 'Upper Decker', a rope climb into a tunnel, cramping really hard pulling my legs up and then got tangled in the rope. A few stressful minutes passed until I got out of it and was on my way. Took the rest of that lap very cautiously and mega refuled in the pit.
Started to feel better on Lap 4, but then part way through got that feeling of PF I had 2 years ago. Decided to slow it right down, walking a lot more sections. It never got any worse, but my pace slowed a lot right after that.
Lap 5-6 were uneventful, in the dark and feeling really good. I was eating a lot more than previous races (usually 2 of pizza slice/high cal drink/banana and a 1-2 bottles of water/gatorade + salt/electrolyte tab). Would head out feeling pretty full, but I think it was the reason I never got tired/sore/fatigued.
Lap 7 is where it all fell apart. The 2am half way mark was looming and all I could think about was, 'I've already done 35miles/7 laps and at my current pace of 2 hours per lap, I'll still have to do 6 more laps before it's over AND 2 of those will still be in the dark AND even when the sun comes up, there still 8 hours to go...' Get into the pit pretty miserable to find Joe and Bobby (who I'd been travelling with) have both pulled out due to cold.... This didn't help. I eat again, think about going out and decide to go the the aid tent to get a cup of coffee and rest a little - I hadn't taken more than 5 mins in the pit at that point and thought it might get my act together. 1 cup of coffee became 2, then a hot chocolate and suddenly an hour has gone by, I'm cold and my hamstrings are locked up.
The most annoying this is, I know this sort of thing happens even as it was happening, but was just too far in the hole to stop it. I wasn't sore, I wasn't cold, I wan't tired or hungry - the best adjective I can find was overwhelmed. What I needed was someone to kick my arse and get me back out there.
I get back to the tent cold, strip all my gear off and sleep for a couple of hours. When Bobby gets up at 6 to go out again, it motivates me to go out. Daylight definitely helps and by the time I'm geared up, I've got a surge of adrenline and am pumped to get out.
Knock out lap #8 comfortably and when I get back, Bobby and I decide to get 2 more laps in before the 2pm start line closure. We're pretty matched with speed and finish off the race. I get 50 miles, he got 45. The final 2 laps were so easy to complete with another person. I know for sure if I'd had someone with me I wouldn't have stopped at 2am.
However, at around 49.5 miles, I got a very sharp pain in my left knee around the ACL. It got a lot worse after the final cliff jump and I had to hobble into the finish, so maybe 50 miles was all I was destined to get anyway. Fortunately its not been permanent.
So that's this year for the books. Nutrition went really well and I corrected the early salt/cramp problem well. A little bummed I couldn't go any longer, 1 more lap puts me in the top 100, 2 more in the top 50. But, that's what I had this year.
A year and a bit at Alchemy has done wonders. 2 years ago I was failing and taking the penalty on all obstacles that required upper body strength after 3 or 4 laps. I didn't fail a single one the whole 10 laps, though I went straight to the penalty sandbag carry for Operation after getting shocked that one time. (again that was no big deal). It has been a trade off, I don't run very fast any more (and I am gonna look to change that for 2016).
Although I did 50 miles 2 years ago, this year was considered the hardest course they've ever set, so I consider it a big improvement. Finally, it's a great event to be a part of, the TM community at this level are a bunch of really cool people and I'm still buzzing thinking about it now almost 7 days later.
There's a rumour that it may move back to NJ for 2016, which will suit me a lot. Potential for a lot more people to travel down with and race with.
After missing 2014 and seeing what an improvement they'd made on course design from 2013, there was no way I was missing it this year.
The timing and location sucks, on the other side of the country in the middle of an ARK season leaves almost no time on either side of the race to do much else, but what the hell, life is for living, sleep when I'm dead and all that other seize the fish stuff.
Anyway, got the the start line with all my stuff in order. First hour was obstacle free, to spread the field and create no obstacle bottle necks once they open up. Got in a really crappy spot early, was basically walking the first 500m, which is good from a 24 hour race perspective, but since the first hour was obstacle free, those were 'free miles' so it would have been nice to be a little further ahead (they guys out in front got almost 2 laps in before the hour was up!)
Lap 2 was no problem. Passed all but one obstacle, only failed the Operation one in the video I linked a few days ago.
Lap 3, started to feel a little crampy, which quickly became a lot crampy. It had been quite warm in the sun and come to think of it now, I probably should have got my salt levels up before the race. Got into a lot of trouble at 'Upper Decker', a rope climb into a tunnel, cramping really hard pulling my legs up and then got tangled in the rope. A few stressful minutes passed until I got out of it and was on my way. Took the rest of that lap very cautiously and mega refuled in the pit.
Started to feel better on Lap 4, but then part way through got that feeling of PF I had 2 years ago. Decided to slow it right down, walking a lot more sections. It never got any worse, but my pace slowed a lot right after that.
Lap 5-6 were uneventful, in the dark and feeling really good. I was eating a lot more than previous races (usually 2 of pizza slice/high cal drink/banana and a 1-2 bottles of water/gatorade + salt/electrolyte tab). Would head out feeling pretty full, but I think it was the reason I never got tired/sore/fatigued.
Lap 7 is where it all fell apart. The 2am half way mark was looming and all I could think about was, 'I've already done 35miles/7 laps and at my current pace of 2 hours per lap, I'll still have to do 6 more laps before it's over AND 2 of those will still be in the dark AND even when the sun comes up, there still 8 hours to go...' Get into the pit pretty miserable to find Joe and Bobby (who I'd been travelling with) have both pulled out due to cold.... This didn't help. I eat again, think about going out and decide to go the the aid tent to get a cup of coffee and rest a little - I hadn't taken more than 5 mins in the pit at that point and thought it might get my act together. 1 cup of coffee became 2, then a hot chocolate and suddenly an hour has gone by, I'm cold and my hamstrings are locked up.
The most annoying this is, I know this sort of thing happens even as it was happening, but was just too far in the hole to stop it. I wasn't sore, I wasn't cold, I wan't tired or hungry - the best adjective I can find was overwhelmed. What I needed was someone to kick my arse and get me back out there.
I get back to the tent cold, strip all my gear off and sleep for a couple of hours. When Bobby gets up at 6 to go out again, it motivates me to go out. Daylight definitely helps and by the time I'm geared up, I've got a surge of adrenline and am pumped to get out.
Knock out lap #8 comfortably and when I get back, Bobby and I decide to get 2 more laps in before the 2pm start line closure. We're pretty matched with speed and finish off the race. I get 50 miles, he got 45. The final 2 laps were so easy to complete with another person. I know for sure if I'd had someone with me I wouldn't have stopped at 2am.
However, at around 49.5 miles, I got a very sharp pain in my left knee around the ACL. It got a lot worse after the final cliff jump and I had to hobble into the finish, so maybe 50 miles was all I was destined to get anyway. Fortunately its not been permanent.
So that's this year for the books. Nutrition went really well and I corrected the early salt/cramp problem well. A little bummed I couldn't go any longer, 1 more lap puts me in the top 100, 2 more in the top 50. But, that's what I had this year.
A year and a bit at Alchemy has done wonders. 2 years ago I was failing and taking the penalty on all obstacles that required upper body strength after 3 or 4 laps. I didn't fail a single one the whole 10 laps, though I went straight to the penalty sandbag carry for Operation after getting shocked that one time. (again that was no big deal). It has been a trade off, I don't run very fast any more (and I am gonna look to change that for 2016).
Although I did 50 miles 2 years ago, this year was considered the hardest course they've ever set, so I consider it a big improvement. Finally, it's a great event to be a part of, the TM community at this level are a bunch of really cool people and I'm still buzzing thinking about it now almost 7 days later.
There's a rumour that it may move back to NJ for 2016, which will suit me a lot. Potential for a lot more people to travel down with and race with.
Wednesday Nov 11, 2015 #
9 AM
CF 40:00 [3]
'Murph' was scheduled today, which is 2x1mile runs sandwiched between a huge volume of push ups, pull ups and squats. (A memorial day tradition, the WOD is named after a Navy Seal who died in action).
Since this one has a reputation of ruining people for days after I decided it was wise to opt out. Instead, did both mile runs with 'Helen' in between, a baseline WOD I've wanted to redo since we did it in April.
3x400m run, 21 24kg KB swings and 12 pull ups. Knocked it off in 7:59, which was enough to comfortably get on the gyms top 5 board for that one.
Beaut day to run and felt fresh.
Since this one has a reputation of ruining people for days after I decided it was wise to opt out. Instead, did both mile runs with 'Helen' in between, a baseline WOD I've wanted to redo since we did it in April.
3x400m run, 21 24kg KB swings and 12 pull ups. Knocked it off in 7:59, which was enough to comfortably get on the gyms top 5 board for that one.
Beaut day to run and felt fresh.
Tuesday Nov 10, 2015 #
9 AM
CF 40:00 [3]
Push Press 1RM: 170lb PB to keep the streak alive
10x10 24" box jumps, 10 sit ups in 7:20
10x10 24" box jumps, 10 sit ups in 7:20
5 PM
Running - Trail 25:00 [3]
Ended up doing a fair bit of running for ARK
Monday Nov 9, 2015 #
9 AM
CF 40:00 [3]
Front squat 1RM @ 235lbs - PB streak continues
9 min partner AMRAP
Partner A planks, while B does 20 24kg KB swings & 10 hand release push ups, then switch. 8+20
Finishes with some more muscle up attempts. Getting so very close, got all the way above the rings today, but too unstable to lock out of the dip.
9 min partner AMRAP
Partner A planks, while B does 20 24kg KB swings & 10 hand release push ups, then switch. 8+20
Finishes with some more muscle up attempts. Getting so very close, got all the way above the rings today, but too unstable to lock out of the dip.
Sunday Nov 8, 2015 #
Running - Trail 40:00 [3]
Bit and pieces of running through the day taking photos and chasing teams though the woods. Even had to piggyback AG! at one point so maybe I could log this as a gym workout.
Probably my favourite Raid the Hammer to date. Great course, perfect conditions and Johnny Blonde for lunch.
No unhappy teams and everyone back before course closure. Cannot stress how smoothly a day like this runs having 2 partners in crime and a horde of volunteers.
Probably my favourite Raid the Hammer to date. Great course, perfect conditions and Johnny Blonde for lunch.
No unhappy teams and everyone back before course closure. Cannot stress how smoothly a day like this runs having 2 partners in crime and a horde of volunteers.
C • Thanks 17