Training Log Archive: shanel

Slightly longer than a short easy session and trying to run at normal cruising pace.

Was pretty slow for the first half, but started putting some effort in and built up to a better pace towards the end and put in a mega sprint finish, just getting over 20kph at the end.

Event: (Badge) Calophylla
 

After discovering I'd left my bike shoes at home (I'd thought I'd left in the back of the car from Sat, but had actually taken them inside to try to dry out by the fire some more since they were still wet from Fri.) eventually came up with a plan of riding to the start area (8km from the not start area) and getting Belinda to meet us there with my shoes. So road with sneakers on MTB pedals to the start, which wasn't too bad after all. Got the the start, and the officials said it was OK for us to miss our start time and start later, so we waited until my shoes arrived then snuck in and eventually got started.

We got started and planned to do one minute turns on the front. Plan last a couple of minutes until we were engulfed by a couple of big teams who caught us and then couldn't be arsed clearing off, so we spent most of the next 2 laps (16km each) taking turns on the front with the cows and the cafe racers, we'd go in front when they got too slow, then one of them would go in front, then we'd be hemmed in with there teams of 9 each crowding in our little team of 5/4.

Eventually when there were 3 or 4 other big teams all screwing about around us they cleared off and left us in peace. By this time we'd lost Luke's mate Matt, who piked at the end of the first lap because he'd had a flu during the week. And Luke stopped at the end of the second lap to sort out his seat which had dropped on him (I think we should have all stopped for him to sort it out, but I didn't know what the problem was when he stopped).

So that left the AP'ers (me, Danger and Jacko) to our own devices for the third lap, before Luke rejoined us for the last two laps. I was kinda surprised Luke had so much go at this stage, as I thought he'd stopped for a rest, unfortunately he had a bit too much go and kept going off the front leaving a gap for me to flail around in, trying not to lose Danger and Jacko off the back.

I think next time we need to stick to our plan (although it was kinda unavoidable with the other teams around us) and rotate through the front.

Pity Byford clashes with KillaBrook, I really want to do the ride from home some time.

Back to the not start at the speed dome, found the problem with swapping shoes at the other start is that I now had no normal shoes, so went barefoot.

Good session working on braking, off camber cornering, normal corners, plummeting down mountainsides and playing in the skills park. Survived unscathed despite a couple of close calls.

Might need to try to sneak in another visit there next weekend whilst I'm in the area on Sat or Sun.

Darling Downs to Claremont

Plodded into the gentle NW all the way. Found a couple of guys to take turns with heading up the drag strip, which helped lift the average pace slightly.

C • Shame 2

Claremont - Floreat

Gave up watching the radar and waiting for a break in the rain and headed out for the doddle out to Floreat for the post rogaine BBQ.

After sitting in the rain waiting for my GPS to sort itself out, I forgot to start it. The as I pushed off a bus went past and sprayed a few thousand gallons of water over me, then I went up the side street to head up the hill and filled my shoes with water as I went through some flooding.

Otherwise a pleasant trip with the wind trying hard to blow me into the traffic, not that I could really notice since I couldn't see much anyway.

Pity I didn't have to ride all the way home, as the 30km/h tailwind would have kicked arse (actually Champion Lakes was blowing over 46-48km/h), especially since the freeway traffic was probably stationary.

Hard work early trying to keep up with tRicky and evo, then hard work not keeping up.

Just before we finished the bolt that the rudder pivots on lost it's not, leaving the rudder dangling around and me veering in random directions every now and again, luckily only for a few minutes to get back Mt Henry.

Realised as I turned out of the driveway at home that I'd left my GPS at home, but didn't have time to go back for it.

Good to see a doubling of our numbers from last week, which worked nicely with my plan of sitting on the back for a recovery ride.

Managed to put my headlamp on my helmet in an unbalanced way that made my helmet all wonky again, and then didn't even use the headlamp.

Danger kept me company up the water tower climb, whilst Jake and Dalto played off the front, then we reversed for Devils Elbow, with Danger making a hard fast break approaching the top and blasting away.

Finally put in an effort around the tennis courts, but didn't last long before the legs protested.

Danger suggested we leadout at UWA, but I was quickly off the back before I had any chance to make a contribution to the effort.

After getting through this mornings ride OK, I thought I'd make it to running even if it was just for a recovery session. Unfortunately my foot was giving me grieve when I finished work, the blister which painfully burst a few hours before the end of the rogaine, seems to be unhappy. So I piked and went home and put ice on my foot.

C • Softie 3