Training Log Archive: BIGpete

Lapped it up in the south west. bacon and eggs for breaky, out to a bush shack brewery and some olive oil place.

Car can get unpacked tomorrow.

Event: Anaconda Adventure Race
 

Well here were are again with the anaconda and this year I have carried through the majority of the fitness I have built. A few things that have left me a little unprepared is the knee injury I had on the Avon descent, however after taking off about 5-6 weeks from running and riding I feel that it has almost healed and was ready for training. As part of this though I lost quite a bit of speed and preparation on the run and bike legs.

The 2 goals I had for the race this year was:
* have a smooth race with no hypothermia and other factors that cause me time sitting down in the race
* hit around the 6 hour mark and if possible under it.

Starting off the rocks I had a pretty sloppy start. The chaos on the rocks had a lot to do about it, however I wanted to pace myself so that I did not burn out too early.

Over first set of rocks I rolled my ankle about a dozen times which proved to be a little sore in sections for the rest of the run however it held up. In this section I got put down the field quite a bit, however I was not too worried about it. Took the high road on the single track on the first split track but was moving at a comfortable pace so was not too worried, somehow ameko was in front of me at this stage. I could not let this last for too long. I sat about 20m behind him until the next split in the course. I took the high track as I figured I would spend less time having to watch out for my ankle rolling on rocks. When the track rejoined with the track from the rocks I flew past those that were coming up from the rocks and did not see ameko for the rest of the race.

Got onto the dirt road up the hill and was able to open up quite a bit in my stride and gain quite a few places up the hill as well as going down it. Oh the perks of having long legs.

I had not done any sand running preparation, however did not seam to care on the sand. Just kept going at a comfortable pace keeping in mind I had 5 hours left.

At the 42minute mark in the race the fastest male team flew past me and a few minutes after that the next and then the teams kept on coming.

Had to walk a few times over the rocks and sand to recover my breathe but did not worry about this.

I much preferred the trails off the beach as I headed to the airport, a few almost trips along that road into the pot holes and down the single track into the TA.

I had a 7 minute / km target for this leg and just beat it.

Into the TA to put on my wetsuit trousers. I did a pretty bonehead thing and forgot I had running shorts still on, so just pulled them over the running shorts and had a laugh.

Went into the swim with low expectations and wanted to use it as a recovery leg of the race. This worked out well.

Within about the first km I felt my leg muscle twitch a bit and then the cramping began. I just let my legs dangle behind me and just used my arms to keep me moving through the water.

As mentioned by Juffy, the water was particularly not scenic, however I did spot a 2m sting ray in the water which went under my swimming path. Never seen one before.

This 1.9km felt further than last time, almost missed the last buoy. Did i happen to mention I need glasses to see and my goggles dont assist. That makes swimming fun.

I hate swimming.

Well into the TA and just needed to put the PDF on....well bonehead moment again and put the PFD over my race bib. Of came PFD and bib and then back on PFD and bib.

Around the first buoy in the river I passed about 10 people :) Oh the joys of a fibreglass ski! Just before the river mouth though legs began to cramp and stuck out the legs over the sides to stretch them out so that I went into the breaking waves and not cramping, lost 2 or 3 places here, but then passed them all again in the breaking waves and gained places all the way through the paddle on the open ocean.

Arms were getting really tired. I had worn them out in the swim and my paddling felt a little sloppy.

The main thing in this paddle leg was that I did not fall out, even only after owning the ski for 1 week :) Sorry to disappoint Wally

Came up the boat ramp and lost a few places here as stupid adventure races with plastics barged up and knocked into my precious ski

Out of the TA like a rocket. did not take me long up the corrugated road to slow down. Took the downhill as quick as I could roll it and put in the occasional efforts to speed up.

Past the airfield and just cruised all the way to the sand hill of doom. Got into the granny gears pretty early to make sure I was in gear for the top of the hill.

Walked up the hill slowly. A few people tried to be heroes and tried riding up the hill...haha! Had very little in the tank left but kept going. Andre passed me here. was good to see a familiar face. Got some pretty sore cramps as I hit one of the sand patches along the fire trail. Got out to the road and popped in some jelly beans to fuel me up for a little longer.

Hit 65km/hr down the 4WD track into the tight left....whooohoo!

Once we started heading back into the town on the bitumen I drafted a few people which helped heaps.

I almost got stuck behind a slow fella on the last fast single track on the way into the TA but put in an effort to make sure this did not happen. Flew down this track and felt good.

Got to the dismount section.....BANG! both legs cramped out fully and I could not move. had to sit down for 1 minute to stretch them out and then hobbled over to my shoes in the TA.

Legs so sore....but kept going. Walk, jog, walk, jog.

Made it to the finish!

Overall Results for anaconda were a lot better than the last 2 years:

2010 Results
Total Time 6:09:26
Overall Plc. 349 / 607
Category Placing 68 / 118
Gender Placing 248 / 386
Average Pace: 10.36 km/hr (63.80 km)

2009 Results
Total Time 7:03:56
Overall Plc. 543 / 565
Category Placing 102 / 107
Gender Placing 349 / 362
Average Pace: 8.90 km/hr (62.90 km)

2008 Results
Total Time 7:55:57
Overall Plc. 567 / 566
Category Placing 87 / 87
Gender Placing 335 / 336
Average Pace: 6.57 km/hr (52.10 km)

With just missing out on the sub 6 hours in the race I was a little disappointed, however I have come a long way in 2 years. I could hit 5:15 if I extrapolate my times next year and I could win the year after. I wish it worked that way

C • 2008 2

finally a rest day

milled around on the ocean for a while...nothing more than practicsing falling out and climbing back in again with a PDF.

The water was very nice considering the temp today

C • I prefer XML 7

I had my bike in at the shops getting serviced last week and decided it was a really good idea to check that everything is working pre anaconda. they replaced the disc brake pads and the front one barely stops me and squeals like a cat getting strangled. Hopefully they can fix this tomorrow or thurs.

C • Bed time 2

I think i have found the one reason if I was going to ever live north of the river or east of perth...the fremantle doctor!

Rode from work to my brother-in-laws place in Scarborough and thoroughly enjoyed the tail wind all the way up the coast.