Training Log Archive: Dangerman

Event: Anaconda Adventure Race
 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/56049616
Time: 1:29:24
Off we go!
1, 2...3, 4 people passed so far and we haven't even left the bitumen. A right turn and onto the long, sandy and corrugated road up the hill. This was an awesome climb. Each corner revealed more ascent and more targets :-) By the time I reached the top, I had 22 people passed already.

The sandy downhill would have been awesome.... but I was stuck behind some gumbies basically stopping on each corner and, most importantly, in front of the camera set up for the jump :-/ Their brake locking antics also spewed up dust so I couldn't see. Lost at least a 1 minute here but I managed to keep smiling and thanking people for letting me past.

28 by the bottom of the hill and a bit :-) My tyres were just the right pressure to handle the sand, road combo. The sandy stretches weren't long enough to justify low pressures and I managed to get through them all without stopping....unless some gumby stopped in front of me! The process went like this: 1) see sand 2) hammer it (Danger Sprint) 3) weight over the back wheel and hey presto!

I tried riding the nasty hill. Got 50m up, couldn't move my weight over and slipped in to the sandy bog. Wasn't any point anyway, as the rest was murder. Tried running it, jogging it and then just a fast paced walk - still managed to be over my limit! Tried riding a few times on the way to the top and eventually managed it, allowing me to pass a whole heap before the climb was out.

Legs started to hurt at this stage without the HR going nuts. I had to push myself to keep the pace up. On the way to the BMX track, I did my best to draft for as little as possible and keep going. I found that, on the straights, some riders would gap me, but as soon as the sand arrived, or a corner for that matter, I caught up. I would just pass them, thinking the next straight they would pass me, but no! The obstacles just stopped them dead.

On a road (could have been Skippy Rd), I saw a camera and a hill :-) I hammered it, top gear, legs burning and zoomed past him on the near side. GPS said 66km/h! Huge gulps of breath after that one ;-)

BMX track went ok with me almost, but not quite, doing the jumps. On the way out, I binned it on the pea gravel. Caught me by surprise so I couldn't even put my leg out. I got up, continued on but noticed that low gears weren't working well. Oh well, I used the chainrings instead and it seemed to work well enough.

Some more hammering down the long hill and a quick TA entry technique to the delight of the spectators. Team run now, sigh.

Transition from Ski to MTB

3rd paddle on the boat finally! So good to be paddling again!

I found a reasonable pace on the flat and tried to keep it on the ocean. Passed Andre on the flat but then stayed 50m in front for the rest of it.

I got into a fun game/ rhythm. I would catch the boat in front by following it and using the wake and then I would go to the next one. I ended up zig zagging heaps because of this but it seemed the best way to go.

At one stage, I saw a blue bow to my left. It just stayed there though for some reason. After it didn't respond to my change of pace, I decided fine, go in front. I ended up drafting this guy for 30 minutes or so! But....he was in an Endorfin!

Had no idea what was going on at the turn around point with the paths of the boats crossing. I went to go the right way but the jet ski said left at the blue buoy so I followed the group like a dumb sheep.

The paddle back was nice and this was where I noticed that my wrist was ok. Initially, the underside of my forearm hurt heaps but that passed and then I was pain free! Summer paddles may be back on the agenda!

My portage was non-Dolfumentary worthy but I had to put the boat on the shoulder in the end. Ok transition onto the bike.

Transition MTB to team run

Not wanting to break tradition, I set a similar pace to last time I did the MTB leg in 2008 - way too quick. Poor Jess was struggling with the idea of running so quick but kept up fine. Mike also went quite with no more encouraging words being spoken. This lasted about 5 minutes where I managed to maintain under 5min/km!

After that it was all over though. Luckily, there was a bottle neck around the trails and I got to walk a bit to recover. Jess and Mike started talking again at this stage which also helped. After all the trails, I did my best to think of the finish. Managed 6:05min/km after the walking section with another sub 5min/km effort in the last minute.

Come to think of it, I am pretty impressed with that running effort :-)

Augusta - Splits

leg/knee tuck stretch, back stretch, hammies, back to the floor bridge, clams, quads, hip flexors, hip abductors, supported single leg squats, unsupported single leg squats.

Last night, I did everything thing I knew of to stop this bike creaking. Re-install the BB (complete with thread locker and grease), re-install chainring bolts (grease and threadlocker too) and grease the drop outs. I also had a go and lubricating the seat rails as they might be the cause too.

No idea whether it worked as I was listening to music on the way to work. Must remember to listen to the bike on the way home.

I merged onto the bike path with 2 commuters in front, spaced apart and going at an OK pace. I thought I'd see if I can hold onto them today, just to see if the legs still worked. I got commuter 1 but he struggled up the incline to the bridge over Powis street, so I grabbed commuter 2's wheel. However, he did the same on the incline on the bridge itself so I was on the front.

I picked up the pace still holding back a little and continued my ride in. Then, a steam train rolled past. Given that I wanted to see if the legs still worked, I jumped on. Hmm... we're going rather quick here. Very quick and I am working really hard. I steal a peak at the speed: 40km/h. Hmmm.. Must be the slight downhill gradient. Adjacent to the Leederville ovals I see 39km/h... hmmm..... As the Leederville bridges approach, I gulp, summon The V, and try to stick with him.

Luckily, the steam train's huge pistons seem to be weighing him down a bit as I easily hold him on the rises. But the decline is hard again and I work work work to hold on. 40 again. Shite. This is beginning to hurt. Through the 3 way intersection of death at a safe speed (a sensible steam train we have here), up the small rise and I am busting to stay on the wheel. I feel that metalic feeling in my mouth and see his wheel 2 metres away. I think of Rule 10 (you don't stop fighting a gorilla when you get tired, you stop when the gorilla gets tired) and put in a burst to get on that damn wheel again. Bingo. Huge intakes of breath here while I count my lucky stars I only had a bread roll for breaky (which I can now taste).

Across Fitzgerald on an orange light which the steam train hestitates at. I shoot past thinking that I don't want to lose speed as I would cook (overheat) while sitting at the lights with no wind to cool me down. I go to change lanes and turn my head to check for cars and there he is, about 20m back, seeing me gulp for air. I do my best to keep a respectable pace and get to the Ent Cent Bridge in tatters.

That was intense. I hit and went way over my limit twice on that ride. Oh well, I guess I find out whether the legs still work.

I think I have worn my cleats out.

From Training Stuff

From Training Stuff

C • Ummmmm 1

I was supposed to do a 2hr easy ride today but didn't have the time to do, nor tomorrow. So, instead, I put in an effort after the fun of the morning. Legs burned but had some power which was nice. Hopefully 2 more days rest and they will feel better still!

leg/knee tuck stretch, back stretch, hammies, back to the floor bridge, clams, quads, hip flexors, hip abductors, supported single leg squats, unsupported single leg squats.

Another gentle ride in although this time it was getting a bit warm. Here comes summer! I'm not overly excited by the ultra hot weather I must say. When it's ultra hot the sea breeze is usually a fizzer which means poor paddling weather and hot evenings in my little unairconditioned hot box of a house.

Day 3 without caffeine.
Still alive.
No headache - I know it's coming though.

C • I'm eating chocolate-coated... 6

Legs still feeling empty or is it that they are just afraid of trying? Another cruisey ride home with the setting sun in the background. ST reckons this was another MTB ride given the speed! Ha!

leg/knee tuck stretch
back stretch
hammies
back to the floor bridge
clams
quads
hip flexors
hip abductors
supported single leg squats
unsupported single leg squats

I'm opting out of doing the MTB race this evening. Legs are still a bit empty and I expect that they will feel like this for the remainder of the week. Better look after them before Anaconda. I just know I'll be hammering it then given that I will be starting closer to the back of the field.
Why back of the field?
Our runner is a good smooth surface runner.
Our swimmer is a superfish that will be taking it easy.
Our paddler doesn't (me).
Which means I get to start the MTB towards the tail of the field which...... is AWESOME! I can't wait to see how many people I can pass. I'm aiming for 100.

C • Not quite 100 on the MTB, b... 1

A 45min easy riding with high cadence was the plan. I started to ride at my normal pace and purposely dropped it down 2 gears to get the legs spinning without having to try very hard. Not sure if it did the trick as my legs still feel pretty empty.