Training Log Archive: Kat

A bit of running before the start, but not much. (And even these five minutes were broken up into two parts, with a break in between.)

Leith Hill Half Marathon. Reasonably hilly, mostly on dirt trail, but a few hundred meters on pavement as well. Some of the tracks had turned into big puddles, but overall footing was ok. There was also a few hundred meters of sandy track (for horses maybe?).

Very well-organized race and everybody seemed to have fun. We were all very supportive of each other. I must have said "well done" at least twenty times during the run, but I also heard lots of encouragement myself.

Overall, I raced well. As expected, I passed lots of people on the downhills, but was not strong enough on the uphills. Although I was the first woman after the first 15-20 minutes, once we hit the long uphill section (steady uphill for several miles), several women passed me and I couldn't do anything about it. My quads are just not strong enough yet! But, on the upside, it gave me great satisfaction to beat a girl who was running side by side with me in the last several hundred meters, because it was a downhill finish. And goal of finishing in under 2.5 hours achieved! :)

My quads are really, *really* sore now. I tried to not kill myself out there (walked a few steep parts that I could have run, for instance), but I still think I'm going to need a very easy week to allow my muscles to recover.

RESULTS: Results here. I was 8th female, about five minutes back of the winner. 58th overall, out of 230 finishers, about 25 minutes back of the overall (male) winner.

C • Good job! 1

Definitely recovering, at least.

Run to South Park and one of my usual out-and-back loops. The pace was surprisingly good, but it felt like effort - felt slightly weak, achey, wooden legs, etc. Got plenty of sunshine, though.

A few running drills, to see if I could get myself to feel faster and better. Worked somewhat.

Run home.

Still sick, but definitely recovering. And last night I managed to sleep on my back for the first time since I fell last Thursday, which is good. Now all I have to do is eats lots of food, stretch, and hope that on Sunday I'll feel much better.

C • Sunday? 2

C • And lots of sleep! 3

This is the fifth day of me being sick and it's getting to the point where I become annoyed and frustrated. Not because I can't train, but because the constant symptoms make it hard to enjoy anything. I haven't had a good night's sleep since last week and it's hard to concentrate on my work.

Three easy-ish laps around Christ Church meadow while cheering on runners doing Teddy Hall Relays. Felt better than yesterday, but legs were kind of heavy.

Jumping, with several mini-sprints. Since the weather was nice, I did this out on the lawn today, where there is a slight incline. Even just 20 seconds of fast jumping produces burning calves. Definitely good cross-training when there are no hills readily available!

Easy run around Christ Church meadow. I can just about run normally now - only some slight stiffness in my back!

Slight sore throat and really annoying headache. Argh.

Planned rest day, but would have taken one even if it wasn't planned. On top of everything else, I seem to have caught Anne's cold...

C • :( 6