Training Log Archive: Bruce

Melbourne Forest Loop 1.5 laps
On the first lap I tried to run at 38 minute pace, even though I was planning to more than 1 lap. To do this I used the GPS virtual partner to ensure that I kept up a good pace. The virtual partner took a 80m lead at the eastern end of the course (east of Chandler Hwy), but I slowly pegged it back and finished on track.
I started the second lap a little more relaxed for about 10 minutes, and fell about 120m behind the virtual partner. I then raced hard for 10 minutes and caught the virtual partner by the time I reached the Eastern Fwy bridge. I stopped at this point, before another 4 minutes interval back to the pipe bridge finish location.
The virtual partner is a fun way to do some a hard terrain session when there is no one else to run with.

Easy run at lunchtime. Ileft a bit late and tried to catch the MMM group for 3 laps of the 2 bridges. I could see them on the other side of the Yarra, but they must have changed their mind and headed off on the river run instead.
Rather than have to put in a long surge to catch them I opted for a solo run back around the MCG and then a couple of laps of Fitzroy Gardens.

I ran across the Gosh's paddock Collingwood training ground. They have certainly done some nice work on the grass here since Collingwood started training there. I guess that's some of the Lexus and Emerites money going to work.

Botanical Fartlek 2 laps.
Feeling ok considering that I raced yesterday. Consequently, the floats were a little slower than some sessions, but the surges were still fast.
I took out my usual stage 5, but also a surprise win on stage 9. This was about 69 seconds for 450m. I didn't know that my legs could go that fast.

Corporate Cup Round 3
13:08. 17 degrees and windy. I was moving ok early, but I never really felt like I was in a good rhythm. I ran with the 12:25 pack, but it turned out that there was no-one at my pace, and I ran solo the whole way.
A good start - probably too fast, but settled down ok and ran a very good first half.
I started to slow a little at 2km, and then didn't really have much speed over the last half.
0:48 0:49 0:50 0:54uphill 3:20 1st km - good start
0:58up 0:50 0:48 0:52 6:48 2km 3:28 2nd km - good until 1.75km
0:55 0:55 0:50 0:52 10:20 3km 3:32 3rd km - a bit windy but too slow
0:48 0:48 0:47 0:24-125m. about 3:20 last km.

I used the magic of GPS to take splits today. I didn't even have to touch the watch. It just kept beeping as I went past the distance markers. The only trouble was that it seemed to measure about 5m short each time from 2.5km onwards. This made my splits look good, but my overall time was not as good as I'd expected from the splits.
It will be interesting to do this again to see how the distance measurements compare.

Rest day.
Team lunch at work.

Slow recovery run, meandering through the Botanical Gardens, MCG, and Fitzroy Gardens.
I felt very lethargic today. Perhaps time for a rest day tomorrow.

Maxi 3hr score event at Hepburn Diggings.
The map was given out before the race, and there was no doubt that all controls were gettable. This limited the amount of planning necessary, but there were still 3 or 4 decisions to be made.
Adam and Leon looked like the only serious competition, and it turned out that we all headed out the same way. I was feeling a bit stiff and sore from yesterday's hard training sessions, so I was content to sit back for a while.
After 15 minutes I took a gamble and collected a few in a different order to the others. At about the 45 minutes stage the three of us were back together again. I started running a bit better and led the pack for about 30 minutes. I let Leon go at drinks stop to see which way he would go. He almost went a different way, but then diverted once he saw my direction and was back behind me again soon after.
I took an opportunity when running through some low visibility light green to divert to another route, probably a little further but with a bit more track running. In the next 40 minutes I created a gap of 7 minutes.
Towards the end my battle was with the clock. I ended up completing all controls in 1h59m, just over 1 hour inside the time limit.
Quite a good run from both Scammell and Leon, with Adam just winning a sprint finish in 2h06m. I haven't looked at splits yet, but I think they made a small mistake after I left them, and it looks like the running speed also dropped a little.