Training Log Archive: bill_l

Event: Battle the Bluff Half Marathon
 

Well, that was a disaster (personally speaking). Emily & Erl did a great job on the race.

It was hot. Well into the upper 70s by start. And steamy.

Wore pack with 2 liters of nuun ice water. 2 Ecaps every 20 starting at 40. Gel at 60 and 110ish.

With the heat, my plan was to go out easy on the first half and the push for the second. During the pre-race, Emily said there were a lot of trees down, especially on the first half. So that was another point for the plan.


Went out at a comfortable pace and tried to keep it at the fast end of easy. Maybe 5 or 6 runners ahead of me at the camp ground hill including 2 M50+. Ron H was out of sight by then. Would catch him or not. The other guy was breathing pretty hard and pushed up the hill at a run. I walked it and lost sight but figured I'd catch him later since I didn't feel like I was working that hard. Got passed by 3 on the hill, all < 50.

Hit aid station 2 and the halfway point at 1:02:xx feeling hot but good. About .75 mile later, at the 2nd real hill, I came around the corner and the #2 +50 was about 50m ahead and walking. That meant all I needed to do was keep to the easier pace and i'd catch him easily. No idea how far ahead Ron was but didn't really care. Caught and passed #2 the 9 mile marker at 1:24xx (he asked the time).

I felt great until I didn't and then I totally died. About 10.3 I climbed over a tree and came down on a rock or something that rolled my ankle. Boom. Cramp. Soon I got passed by #2 guy again. Another cramp at the 4th aid station. All in left leg so far. Then I caught a toe on a rock. Normally no big deal but this time the whole left leg failed. I tried to get it back under me but just couldn't extend it far enough (at all really). 3 or 4 diving steps trying to pull up but to no avail. Left hand hit first (big flesh wound) followed closely by quad (massive bruise) and lateral shin (scrape and a bruise). About a minute on the ground waiting out the cramps. Walked it in from there, about 2.5 miles.

Passed by a 50+ in the last 1/2 mile. Again, no interest in going deeper into the hole so let him go. Passed by leading F50+ not long after.

4th M50+? No idea overall. 1st M50+ was 2:10:xx so my course record stands for anot her year....

At 8pm, let side is pretty sore. Neck and shoulder are stiff. Otherwise feel ok.

Add a goose egg lump on or about the it band insertion point.

C • sounds like you really did ... 9

Micro run. Similar conditions to tomorrow. 77f 80% humidity.

Comparing training this yr vs last, less speed work this year but more weekly mileage/hours. See how that works out on Sunday. Something was definitely off last year. High hr and legs were crampy before the race even started. Sick < 2 week prior.

2:03:xx is the time to beat. Should be doable.

C • 2:03? Is that your own tim... 6

Altered the route a bit.... lockwood/jackson/big bend. Cut about a mile off, but Big Bend is getting pretty rough.

Home via rei to pick up some ecaps. They weren't all that friendly about bringing my bike into the store....

First homeward commute needing a light.

Got to bed late, sleep won. Unplanned zero day.

Grants to Gravois

Slept an extra hour so a late start.

Double trained on the way out so took a brief detour around Scott/Woodlawn/Monroe. Second train was just cleared the crossing as I got back to Holmes.

Warmish and very humid.

Grants to Gravois

Woke up around 345. Seemed like I wasn't going back to sleep so got up at 4 and started everything an hour early.

68f 100%. Sticky.

Lots of bikes out. Most with lights. One without light or helmet.

Interesting podcast on bionic and sensory perception. Another on Sarah Blakely.

Grants to Watson

Testing the ankle. No issues during or immediately after. See what it feels like tomorrow.

Perfect morning. 58F.