Training Log Archive: Vaala

Had to leave work early and missed climbing. Bummer. This is so looking like turning into a repeat of last years ARC! But I did go for a walk later in the evening to try and cool the antsy feeling...

No time to think as I was supposed to start as I was still crossing the fence. Anyway, felt pretty tired to start with but sort of warmed up into it a bit after a while. Could see Nic in the distance to #1 so ran him down by #3 then could see Tessa so caught up to her eventually and we pretty much ran together with Allan who caught us at #8 I think. #9 was mysterious but the rest wasn't too bad although I did some silly things. Quite fun but the swim in the lake afterwards was the best bit.

Event: Katoa Po All Night Relay Weekend
 

SO hot! I was feeling pretty crap (turns out staying up late eating way too much popcorn and chocolate especially when you are sick is not a good idea...who knew?) and more than a little car sick so it was not a pleasant experience. Bumbled around at the first control then stuffed up #3 and #4 but the rest was okay although I shouldn't have taken the leg along the lake. Going round the road was way better in hindsight.

I really don't like the dark but at least this year I had an awesome headlight! Had to start in a mass start (of 2!) for leg 4 (how I sneaked in to run leg 4 I don't know but it was fine by me!) but it was pretty much me by myself the whole way which was actually quite cool although I really stuffed up the end of the long leg (#5) by not going far enough along the marsh but thinking I'd gone too far and then promptly messed up #6 as well for good measure. Then it was all good until #11 where I was bumbling around on the wrong side of the hill. The rest was fine and I was really quite happy.

C • Well done! 2

Out at the bike park. Wasn't feeling the flashest but not too bad and figured I really could do with the ride before next weekend. It was okay. I mean the forest was beautiful, the trails pretty much perfect, the weather awesome and I wasn't riding too terribly but when you don't feel 100% it feels a bit flat. I pushed up a couple of small hills simply because I didn't have the energy but for once I didn't go into telling myself that meant I sucked.

Was going to do the Girls On Top run tonight and was actually quite looking forward to it but really, I'm not feeling super and I have Taupo this weekend so finally decided against it. But I was feeling antsy and stressed and the evening was so beautiful so I went for a walk. The Pasifika concert was happening in Western Springs so I went down through Jaggers Bush and then along a track I'd never been on (Lemington Reserve) and out to Westmere Reserve. Had to sit down there for a little while... It's always interesting walking round quiet streets. I heard one young girl telling someone very firmly that it only rains once a day and another house was listening to Band of Horses which made my night. Getting home again felt exhausting...I should have eaten before I went out but a couple of my flatmates have taken over the kitchen 2 nights in a row trying to create this cactus thing that they can supposedly get high on...weird.

To and from the gym. When did it get so bloody cold in the mornings?! I wore a t-shirt most of last week...

C • lost 2

Ooo, I am definitely stronger than I used to be...climbing is doing good things :)

I should have done course 2 or 3 but I drove out all the way and am a sucker for punishment so dragged myself round course 1. Felt okay until just over halfway when I started to feel a bit shit, then more shit and ended with a lot of walking! Did a lot of silly nav things too 'cause my brain was a bit lightheaded. The best one was how I kind of had this idea there were only 18 controls instead of 19 so started off to the finish (or where I thought the finish was) from there...took a little bit to work out that, well, nothing fitted!!!