Training Log Archive: slow-twitch

easy run over to my local map (I have a local map!) and back. Hard to get started in both directions but rolling along nicely eventually.

Test run of the initial idea for the long course for next month's christening of the Porritt map. I had the intent to keep the pace nice and relaxed, but.. well, I had a map in my hand... Mainly worried about the overall course length (which doesn't seem too far out for a 'sprint' after all) and whether the long legs out into the streets really added value. Given what they add is about 10 mins of nearly dead running to set up one key route choice leg I think I will go back to the drawing board. I have to anyway because the football club has now extended it's fence to completely enclose their main pitch instead of having it stop in just the right place to set up a couple of cool legs. I'm always a fan of one particular sport taking exclusive access rights to a section of public park even when they're not using it. Although given what's happened to the footbridge round the corner since my last mapping visit (which is a further reason for course redesign if it's not going to be fixed in time) I suppose they have a point in trying to look after their club assets.

C • dead running 4

This was meant to be yesterday, but had more immediate priorities, then it was meant to be this morning but the temperature was already shooting up like a room full of junkies by the time I would have been ready... so went out after the thunderstorm had sort of cooled things down. Cobham/Boundary Bridges loop, a bit slow and sluggish (either a couple of days off or the lack of funds in the sleep-bank finally kicking in) but felt like I could maintain the pace for a quite a bit longer... if I'd wanted to!

Feeling like I've gone backwards as didn't make anything other than my warm-up, but I suppose on reflection I was getting at least as far on everything I tried tonight as I have so far in the new year. Meanwhile Stace was getting everything she tried.... so I guess I'm a good mentor at least? Can't get too dis-heartened about it all, especially having started the night by shelling out on a new 10-pass and even more shockingly, my own pair of shoes!

Recovery run on the riverbank. Don't think I have anything interesting to say about it, sorry.

OK, this is interesting... I was expecting to die in tonight's conditions - while not quite tropical I was keeping a close eye out for crocodiles where the course drops closest to the river. But I'm pretty sure that's the 3rd fastest time yet. What's more, probably a bit of a stretch to say I felt like I had something in reserve, but did feel in control of the pace most of the way, not something I can really say about any of the other quick runs. That number starting with 22 is starting to feel on!