Training Log Archive: Vaala

From Michael's parents house in Rangiora to home. Firstly, I didn't get lost!!!!! This is a huge miracle for anyone who knows my getting lost sagas (and those desperate calls to Michael to tell me where I've managed to end up). Michael was obviously not quite so convinced I'd make it without getting lost (well, he was actually checking I was okay since I got a bit of confidence knocked out last week by that car but I'm sure he wasn't totally convinced I would make it without a wrong turn). Secondly, there was a horrible crosswind. Thirdly, I got across the scary bridge (only scary because people talked it up beforehand...and there were no cars behind me so it was fine). Fourthly, my legs felt good and mostly recovered. I must be awesome...or something like that.

C • Must be... 2

The last of Tim's rogaines with Michael but the only one I've done (being good to try and rest my foot from these long, torturous races). It was freezing to start off with...for the first little while we had snow falling around us. But the weather cleared and turned out awesome by the end.

Our route was pretty good but I felt pretty tired on the first climb and bush bash. Breathing was also really bad today. Might be partly because I hadn't had nearly enough sleep this week. We ran quite a lot and I hit the wall at about 3:15 about halfway up some super steep hill which required hands and feet to get up (or maybe that was because I was so tired!).

The last half an hour was a pretty speedy run to get down the final hill and get the last of the close controls in time...we made it with about a minute to spare!

Awesome race. Controls all appeared to be in the correct place and the map seemed pretty good (much better than the last rogaine we did!). Now I am completely exhausted but I've noticed I've got better in these longer races at pushing right near to the edge of what I can.

After dinner with Michael. We just went the short route up the steps to the Village Green and back down Dyers Pass. My legs still work but I am so tired :(

Too tired and too busy. Last night shattered me! Gotta rest up for this rogaine on Saturday anyway...if Tane is racing with Andy then perhaps I have my one and only teeny tiny chance of beating him (Tane that is...I've already bet Andy lots at rogaines...and hills!!). My arm is quite sore today too.

Got hit by a car on my way home from work today so I was all shaky riding over to the run and back. My chain had come off after the run so I was busy fixing that when Steve and Rob just rode off without me :(

C • You never said that you got... 4

Wednesday night run. Good turnout tonight despite it being really cold. Quite possibly my best attempt at running up the hills thanks to Georgia's good pacing all the way up even when it got steep and I wanted to die. Normally I think I stop a couple of times on the way so yay! Died on the bush tracks though and then felt a bit shaky all the way down the hill especially when everyone decided to dive off into the tussocks. Good run with good company and it cheered me up after a crappy day.

C • Pacing 2

5 minutes on some random walkery thing that felt like it wanted to throw me off then 5 minutes on the cross trainer. Everything else was full.

At the Pioneer Gym with Michael 'cause it was wet which meant no mtbing as per the original plan and it seemed like a bit of a laugh. Various arms and legs stuff on the fancy machines then a little bit of core stuff. My arms now feel like total jelly. Even washing my hair afterwards felt exhausting!

Little run along the river the long way then up and down a bit by the hospital then up the street and the steps of DOOM where I died...all the way to Dyers Pass Road then back down the hill to home. Feeling SO slow and unfit especially on the hills but that's okay. Those steps are very mean. Listening to random comedy shows seem to help my breathing when I'm running which is good because it's been getting really really bad again. It seems to help me stop panicking and I appear to worry a lot less about how slow I am (or at least think I am) running. The "sound" experiment seems successful! Music, however, doesn't help at all.