Training Log Archive: W

Well, I would have liked to do a double, and probably I should have with a run in the morning, but instead I just did one workout, a Time Trial out at SWC. Have I mentioned the conditions were essentially perfect? Whipped out the World Cup Skis for a 10k classic. First classic ski of the year? Why not?

I pushed for an individual start, because I tend to ski to the race if its a mass start, and when its just the 5 of us, I'll ski with Jack until close enough to the line when I know I can outsprint him. I know he's fit so I'm always afraid to push out of fear of him dropping me like a stone when I run out of gas. This way I felt like I pushed harder while racing the clock. As I've said before, I think one of my biggest O-failings (aside from the horrible navigation skills) is that I just don't have the pain tolerance to push that little bit harder. I would hope that these kind of things might help me to do that, if I stay focused on my effort.

Anyhow, it was quite clear, right off the start, that my arms have not lifted weights in two years, because I took about three double poles and thought my arms would fall off. There were long sections that I had absolutely no business striding, but I'd be double poling and realize I was going slow as molasses, and had to switch. However, my striding felt good, high turnover, pretty good force on the skis, lots of extension. Not bad for the first time out.

Two lap course, did 15:42 on lap 1 and 15:54 on lap 2. I find it really weird that that's really not much faster of a 5k than most elite runners, because it felt way faster than I'd ever run. Possibly goes to show how slow of a skier I am now. I suppose a runner has the advantage on the uphills, and a lot of the flat, since we're just using our arms. Either way, the more I think about it, the more I think its a pretty damn slow time.

Oh, also! Didn't get the HR above 175. I feel like that speaks volume about my effort level. Surely I can go higher than that, unless my stroke volume is something like 13 litres.

Next Sunday: 10k Skate TT on Fischer Hole World Cup skis. What skis will you be skiing on? Oh, right.

Did I just go for a ski? On November 10? In pristine conditions? You bet your sweet bippy I did. All that snow made for some fine, fine skiing. Did Capilano first, was painfully slow beause it wasn't groomed, but then hopped over to Goldbar and they were just out with the bomby so things sped way up. Considering its November, conditions are ridiculous.

Are you skiing on your World Cup skis tomorrow? Commence jealousy in 3, 2, 1.... and then fast forward to 2:45.

C • Jealous 3

I worked multiple jobs today, and just didn't get to train today, dammit. Very annoyed at that because with the long-ish weekend I wanted to get around 12 or so. Realistically that would have required a bit more work during the week to achieve that. At least matching last week would have been nice, for progression's sake. And tomorrow is going to be just as bad.

With it still snowing and the trail atrocious, I ran to the shop to cover 6PM to 8. Not remarkably busy. The run, although working fairly hard, was still slow because no trails have been plowed yet.

Now, clearly the problem with running to the shop, is that two hours later, I had to run back home. I'm really not used to doing two workouts like that so close together. Makes one almost consider just calling it one workout. But, nah. Took a shorter route on the way home because my legs were tired after a long day of working/running/working/running again. Not a complaint though, since that morning I thought I wasn't going to get to run at all.

Well well, heavy snowfall in November? I guess so. About 20 centimetres fell, so I was quite excited to get out there and run in it. Thanks to extremely low clouds, I didn't need a headlamp and it was still super bright. Went down to my hidden trail beside the river and it was super quiet and I was all alone in the middle of a 1 million plus city. Awesome. Best run of the year.

Also a really, really hard run, since it was through shin deep snow. Slow and exhausting.

Took the day off, though probably shouldn't have. Played soccer, and once again, not enjoyable. My feet hurt, and people keep kicking me because they can't control their damn limbs. Its called proprioception. Work on it, dammit.

Toodled out for a morning run in the nice ish weather.

The nice-ish weather did not stick around. Its going to get wacky round here real real soon.

With the snow we got over the weekend kind of melting, most of the world was a sheet of ice today. Some parts were not so bad, some parts were pretty uggggly. Nevin very much nearly bit it coming down the hill from Queen E, and I would have promptly fallen directly on top of him as we both slid totally out of control.