Training Log Archive: Vaala

Pouring with rain to add to the excitement but fortunately we managed to score a lift out to the event so we weren't drenched before the start. Didn't plan all that well and got too many 30 pointers when I could have gone further out and got higher points. If it had been a 2:30 length rogaine I would have got to experience Split Enz. Oh well. Good fun though but I don't think I like short mtb rogaines nearly as much as regular mtbo. Most amused by the grumpy man I met a couple of times who was all 'end of the world' about the weather. Made me laugh.

To and from events plus warm ups and warm downs.

Didn't think I had time to do course 1 before course closure as I was one of the last starts so did the middle course. Pretty easy mostly but I took a while to get into a groove (felt jaded from the early morning and mad dash to put the bikes together once we got there). Felt sort of shaky and a bit yuck. The only real mistake was #9 where I saw one of the direction arrows and assumed that it was a loop so rode down to where I thought the entrance was to discover it was 2 tracks coming out in the same place. Took me forever to work out what was going on and where I could get in. Then had to bike back up the hill to the track entrance. Bummer! 7 minutes down on the winner which I can definitely see (most of it in my mistake at #9!).

Course 1.
You could ride anywhere which was a bit of a strange experience. Was going pretty well at the start and caught up the 3 people who started ahead of me. Then I proceeded to overshoot control after control (i.e. ride right past them...even seeing them but thinking they weren't right!). Then to top it off I rode right past the finish and to the start area and was horribly confused! Oh well, good fun.

Course 2.
Blasted round the short course for a bit of fun. Got stuck behind some kids and their Mum at one point and then briefly stopped to help out another kid. Might have got under 5 minutes without that!

Back South again...feeling a bit gloomy about the lack of sunlight.

From the parents' along Eastern Beach, round Macleans Park then back via Bucklands Beach. Was going to do some intervals through the park but decided I should save my energy (which I didn't really have anyway!) for the weekend. A bit cloudy and humid this morning.

Climbing at Extreme Edge with Chris. Good, exhausting session.

From the parents along Eastern Beach then up through the Macleans park via various muddy and not so muddy tracks (and round in a few circles just for fun...and for added fun, I got jumped on by a massive dog and now have a sore, bruised arm!) down to the marina via some other tracks that got me a bit lost then along the boardwalk and along Bucklands Beach. Up to the end of Musick Point and then back to the house for a delicious breakfast. So sunny! Felt a lot better on the second half of the run, probably once my hands warmed up!

After a lovely walk in the hot sunshine I tagged along with Mum to her keep fit class which is basically very low impact aerobics. The old ladies put me to shame with the flexibility routines. I admired the lady wearing the brightly patterned leotard and pastel sweat band. I hope I have that kind of confidence when I'm her age.