Training Log Archive: ColmM

With James. Too hungover to muster up any more.

a short shakeout. As usual with the early ones, plantar felt tight, but loosened a lot by the end.

Cuppers 5k on the track.

Quite a few people had entered and since you had to put in your estimated time for them to split the heats, I could see a good few people around similar-ish times to myself - aiming for sub-16. So, it felt like a good opportunity to go for it.
I could tell it was a bit windy when I arrived, similar to Wednesday, so I planned to tuck in on the back straight where possible.
People started quickly enough, and I found myself leading the 2nd pack early enough. But it was a brief enough affair as one or two people came by me and I didn't have to do too much of the work. The first 400 was inevitably a little quick, maybe 74 I think, but not too bad. So, I banked a couple of seconds on the first lap or two, but settled into around 76 pretty well and split the first km in 3'11, perfect. I kept with a group and we stayed fairly on pace for the 2nd km going through in 6'24 I think. I was content with the pacing, but I could tell it wasn't feeling too comfortable, and a short while after I had to go by as the group was slowing. I reeled in a couple of people over the next couple of laps, and got onto the back of 2 guys, but the pace had drifted, and I was struggling to see where I would gain the time back.
I considered going by the guy leading this new pack of 3, but suddenly realised it was feeling a bit too tough so I slotted in behind him and sat on. The laps were slowing to 78s and then eventually to 80ish and I knew 16 was gone. I was really hurting a bit and I had those fleeting thoughts of dropping out even though they were unrealistic. I kept plugging away, but couldn't find another mental state to kick on just drifted to an inevitable disappointment. The other 2 ran away from me in the last 600 & 400, but it didn't bother me too much.

Disappointing result, but not the end of the world by any means. I clearly am fit, and 16:24 is a solid time. A few more weeks on the track will give me a shot at breaking 16 if I find another race. Tricky though, as orienteering is still the focus of course, so I don't want to go breaking up training with too many races, but I also think a part of the issue today was the lack of racing - so it probably would do me good as well. My throat was absolutely burning afterwards. I'll keep an eye open and see what happens. Still pretty confident the fitness is good, just got to turn a bit of my strength into some speed as well.

Easy jog with James as he went off to spectate Lucy - who ran 19'55!

Another easy mini-taper jog, with some strides thrown in.

Easy mini-taper jog.

Morning one with Dad & Deirdre too for a little bit, round Battersea park, nice morning run loop. Need to catchup on sleep and life etc. at some point.

OUCCC session at Iffley Road track.

A session setup for the 5k at the weekend.
1600m (@10k), 2x 800m (@5k), 3x 400m (@3k).

Since I'm aiming for sub-16, the paces I went for were 80sec laps (3'20s), 76sec laps (3'10s), and 72sec laps (3'00/km).
Pretty on target for those paces, now just hopeful they're fair estimates and I didn't kill myself too much.
Times: 5'18, 2'33, 2'31, 71, 70, 71.

wee wytham lap between lectures with Euan. Head stinging.

very brief one into battersea park !

Easy Port meadow and then in the back of Wytham. That gate seems to be permanently locked so we hopped it which was a bit of work with the barbed wire etc, probably not an entrance to repeat. Delightful weather, so taps aff the whole way really, which gave me a few scrapes as I tumbled onto my back and got some nice cuts.
No feeling in the plantar which is positive after having taped it up for the orienteering yesterday, but I don't imagine it's completely gone.

a pub-run out to the perch and back.