Training Log Archive: TimMIn the 7 days ending May 12, 2019:
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Saturday May 11, 2019 #
Running 55:40 [5] 13.18 km (4:13 / km) +650m 3:23 / km
Flower Scar / Hill Intercounties - 13th.
Wasn't too sure how to approach this one: haven't really done any hills for a while so thought it could be quite dangerous to start hard, particularly as a lot of the climb came right after the start so you could be ruined after 5 minutes or so. I was actually surprised that the start wasn't faster, and even more surprised that the first climb didn't seem to be too horrendous. Felt quite good up the road and then the single file trail. It was a nice enough gradient and settled in to a nice rhythm, picking past a few hard starters. Once we came out of the trees I was just a bit behind Jonny and not too far off the lead pack. It started to feel a little painful but then we turned down a track and had a short break from climbing.
I'd found myself amongst Carl Bell, Joe Baxter and Jack Wood just before heading up the climb that I assumed would be the last main one. Jack and Joe seemed to put in a burst of effort but it was short lived, and although I was starting to hurt quite bad, I managed to stick in on the basis that after this it was just a rolling downhill with a few smaller inclines. Matt Elk came passed on this bit, but I was surprised that Carl Bell didn't. Had assumed he'd be an animal on the climbs, but it was actually on the main track that he came alongside. Stayed with him, working really quite hard, and was crushed to see another climb coming up.
Oh well, somehow got it done without losing any ground and then it was some more fast stuff down a gravel track. By this point Jonny seemed to be moving through quite nicely, and Eóin and Ewan weren't too far ahead. I thought the gap might close on the more runnable bits but it didn't, instead it was just a case of gassing it and admiring the sexual style of Carl Bell from behind.
Through a little bit of rougher / more technical stuff the gap to the people in front did shrink a bit, although this then opened once more when we hit a little track in the forest. It was one of those rutted, low branches, muddy things that is exactly what you demolish in an o race, but I felt completely ruined at what felt like 6min k's. Expected to go backwards but somehow nothing happened and instead we hit a rather lovely sweeping descent through the forest. Was back on the shoulder of Mr Bellos, who must have been slightly irritated by my deafening footstrikes compared to his delicate, graceful gliding down the track.
When we turned back up a little climb, could see Jack Wood behind and was grateful to have a slight gap because I really did feel f*cked by now. Ground to the top, Carlos off on one, and thought it might be a horrifying last few kilometres into the finish.
Indeed it was a rather horrifying experience, with far more short climbs than I expected, and the crawl was very much on. It was perhaps made more bearable by catching a few people who had gone slightly off course, and because Eóin and Ewan still hadn't got nay further ahead.
Felt drained on the last short one, but a few words from Eóin at the turn helped, and the sight of Nath not too far behind was a good motivator. I was pretty confident that if I made it to the top then I wouldn't lose any ground on the flat and then descent. Very much enjoyed coming down through the woods to finish just behind Eoin and Ewan.
I guess I woukd have liked to finish higher, but my main feels are that it was so much fun to race against the guys towards the top of the races I spend hours drooling over. Hopefully with a little more climbing in the legs I can get stronger and then start finishing higher up.
Top day of racing, and great to be part of the team.
Don't know why, but I was also quite surprised at how hard this felt. I guess because there were no super long or strep climbs, or any technical bits, it meant that it was full gas all the way. Heart rate was through the roof for most of it, similar feeling to the road Relays 10k.
Wasn't too sure how to approach this one: haven't really done any hills for a while so thought it could be quite dangerous to start hard, particularly as a lot of the climb came right after the start so you could be ruined after 5 minutes or so. I was actually surprised that the start wasn't faster, and even more surprised that the first climb didn't seem to be too horrendous. Felt quite good up the road and then the single file trail. It was a nice enough gradient and settled in to a nice rhythm, picking past a few hard starters. Once we came out of the trees I was just a bit behind Jonny and not too far off the lead pack. It started to feel a little painful but then we turned down a track and had a short break from climbing.
I'd found myself amongst Carl Bell, Joe Baxter and Jack Wood just before heading up the climb that I assumed would be the last main one. Jack and Joe seemed to put in a burst of effort but it was short lived, and although I was starting to hurt quite bad, I managed to stick in on the basis that after this it was just a rolling downhill with a few smaller inclines. Matt Elk came passed on this bit, but I was surprised that Carl Bell didn't. Had assumed he'd be an animal on the climbs, but it was actually on the main track that he came alongside. Stayed with him, working really quite hard, and was crushed to see another climb coming up.
Oh well, somehow got it done without losing any ground and then it was some more fast stuff down a gravel track. By this point Jonny seemed to be moving through quite nicely, and Eóin and Ewan weren't too far ahead. I thought the gap might close on the more runnable bits but it didn't, instead it was just a case of gassing it and admiring the sexual style of Carl Bell from behind.
Through a little bit of rougher / more technical stuff the gap to the people in front did shrink a bit, although this then opened once more when we hit a little track in the forest. It was one of those rutted, low branches, muddy things that is exactly what you demolish in an o race, but I felt completely ruined at what felt like 6min k's. Expected to go backwards but somehow nothing happened and instead we hit a rather lovely sweeping descent through the forest. Was back on the shoulder of Mr Bellos, who must have been slightly irritated by my deafening footstrikes compared to his delicate, graceful gliding down the track.
When we turned back up a little climb, could see Jack Wood behind and was grateful to have a slight gap because I really did feel f*cked by now. Ground to the top, Carlos off on one, and thought it might be a horrifying last few kilometres into the finish.
Indeed it was a rather horrifying experience, with far more short climbs than I expected, and the crawl was very much on. It was perhaps made more bearable by catching a few people who had gone slightly off course, and because Eóin and Ewan still hadn't got nay further ahead.
Felt drained on the last short one, but a few words from Eóin at the turn helped, and the sight of Nath not too far behind was a good motivator. I was pretty confident that if I made it to the top then I wouldn't lose any ground on the flat and then descent. Very much enjoyed coming down through the woods to finish just behind Eoin and Ewan.
I guess I woukd have liked to finish higher, but my main feels are that it was so much fun to race against the guys towards the top of the races I spend hours drooling over. Hopefully with a little more climbing in the legs I can get stronger and then start finishing higher up.
Top day of racing, and great to be part of the team.
Don't know why, but I was also quite surprised at how hard this felt. I guess because there were no super long or strep climbs, or any technical bits, it meant that it was full gas all the way. Heart rate was through the roof for most of it, similar feeling to the road Relays 10k.