Training Log Archive: theway

I can feel my quads. How good is that! I knew yesterday was worth a 4. Woohoo!!

I don't believe the sun ever shines at Stromlo, and that's why I like it so much. Pushed myself today while being careful never to push beyond my max level. I didn't slow down at the end but my legs were toasted so I suppose I got it about right. My legs are not very well adapted to down hill running yet so I hope they feel ok tomorrow. I implemented the duck a heap and it was Very helpful. I'm not that strong up hill either but at least I ran more of the ups today than ever before.

I had only a few short rest walks on first climb to top of Stromlo, on the second ascent I walked most of the very steep climb but ran the flatter bits (usually short). I pulled away from another runner who ran the whole way up this hill, so walking still works for me :) I took a large, chocolate, 2nd place in my age class trophy home. Hurray for small events.

Very sociable today; almost all of the 22k runners in front of me exchanged an encouragement after their turnaround. SwissMiss told me I was going fast which was very kind of her ;) Snuck over the finish line just before the heavens opened. Had a good chat to Gemma and Jeremy afterwards then a great discussion with Damien S about how much Hanny's coaching is helping us. A few of us had a laugh about a guy running with a music player (no headphones!!) in his back pack. It was loud and so distorted it was incomprehensible. Maybe his coach is a rock musician and delivers secret inspirational messages this way...?

Drove SwissMiss home in exchange for a thorough smell-check by Maggie. She is keen, committed and thorough!

C • Congrats 4

Each week I look forward to this more, the company and the bushland make this perfect. We started late at 6.30am but it was cool and overcast for the whole run so well timed. From War Mem we headed north to water tank, looped around and back south to back of Campbell. Up hill on FT toward upper quarry; running and practising Hanny's Homework although using the Chi-running C shape instead of The Butler (I don't know any butlers). We took a few walk breaks as I was a bit tired (2 late nights at Impro theatre) but ran most of the way until very steep rocky ST. The last bit of track into the quarry is very nice, an old cutting/vehicle track, now rough, messy and overgrown with side collapsing in places.

After a short rest at the quarry admiring the orange cliffs and a bracken filled gully we returned via a faint ST that contours before heading downhill to meet up with Run-up route. Back to bike. I really like this quarry loop but the beginning of it has a lot of traffic and not the best views. I'll see what I can dream up for Imo next time.

To and from yoga, including Killer Cobby hill.

Another great class - perfect recovery after Hanny's hills last night. Boat and half boat were good. Did 2 complete rounds of Salute to Sun (double last week).

How to run hills (up and down) with Hanny. Group training session with about 20 people starting from Aranda oval. I was pretty nervous about being able to keep up but I was fine. It was most enjoyable and very useful! Some tips on cadence, posture, alignment, landing, then specific ways to handle particular gradients. I'm all hill-inspired now :)

Apart from something funny about my elbows I am not doing too badly. Hanny thought our group was surprisingly good technically, overall :)

I don't know where we went or how far or even how long, but I've guessed 50mins. VERY glad that I boldly decided to do this. We have homework this week and a second session next monday where we do some harder/faster running. I can't wait! I feel like i've turned a corner after a couple of soggy and slothful weeks.

Attacking R glute medius. Must have worked harder than I thought, or perhaps it was the "How not to run" intervals which I embraced with the fervour and committment of a trained actor. Damn!