Training Log Archive: theway

Mt Tennent bushwalk with Felix, enjoying the landscape, views and early morning light. It was a brisk walk (Felix is fitter now) but with stops to look at things. It was easy to get up at 4.30am to meet someone before 5, and we were on the trail before 6am and saw someone with an ultra pack leave just before us. Cool and overcast with very fine misty rain high up.

On the way up we saw some guys packing up their tents from the night before and stopped to chat. They were having a good time. Didn't see anyone else on the way up. It was cold on top so after some almonds and dates (my best combo) we pootled down. Below cypress lookout we came across a strange group of partying Indians or Sri Lankans I think. They were sipping beers with some empty cans stowed in pack pockets and walking very slowly, chatting happily away. We said hello and asked if they were going to the top. "Oh no!" said the man in front. I wasn't surprised to hear that.
"We are going to Honeysuckle Creek. Someone is picking us up there at 5pm."
"Um... that's a long way, do you know all the turn offs?" I asked.
He seemed to, although he did ask us to send a search party if they didn't make it. I hope they had a successful day.

The walk down. It was a bit hard on the knees until I invented a new Stair Descending Walking Gait. Felix was so impressed that he adopted it immediately. "Wow, this works!" He thinks I need to think of a catchy name and market it. Naturally I can't give details here, except to say that on sunday morning as I write this my knees are Perfect! Yes, after 2 hours of sometimes steep and deep stairs I am all good. Stoked!

Woke up with L knee feeling almost perfect, much better than yesterday in morning. Either the harder/ more thorough strength session did it, or not running. Hoping it's the former although I'm betting that resisting the lure of AIS track was a wise move. Must continue sensibleness until end of year... Must...

Met with Rics You've Got Options group. Up blackie, down to circum, one lap which was super fast for first 5 minutes while I chased Rick, felt like flying. Then I died and dropped to back. Jogged back down to Frith Road then we met for a tasty dinner at Tudo's where I had house specialty of duck noodle soup. What a great night and a friendly bunch. I look forward to joining them again. I worked a lot harder than I would on my own.

Knees didn't really love the friday night run, especially going down blackie at a jog. But not too bad.

Woke up to a sore aching L knee while still lying down. Not good, must take better care.

Made session harder and more thorough. Feel so good afterwards, this is how I should be doing strength etc. Knees good :)

I'd forgotten how lovely 6am is for running. Met imo at warmem. After short walking warm/up, went north taking upper FT with hill (75m climb) to start of Sculpture ST. Up to saddle, right onto CCT then did an all out stair sprint at the end (for 190m climb). A drink and a little rest then we took a dirt track down that was very steep with lots of "steps". I fell way behind looking after my knees. A very good workout.

With Imo on Mt Ainslie. Good to be up early again with balloons and moons. Very pleasant running morning; overcast, cool and still. Lots of runners about. After a 5 minute walk warm up we ran up to upper quarry via firetrails walking only the very steep track at the top. One lap of quarry then straight back via horizontal track. This is a good short loop without too much climb. L knee felt fine.

Continuing knees rehab.

Training is completely ad hoc at the moment so when an urge for a walk in the warm air on blackie hit me I gave in. Beautiful evening to be out and soon the walking seemed a bit slow and since this morning was an easy run I thought there would be no harm in working on my strength in the interests of knees rehab. So I did some uphill running and drills.

At top of blackie I noticed a ?new track off to right of Run-up track at a perfect low gradient for fast hill running with good form. Did the loop in 60secs then walked down run up track to do 2 more in exactly 50 secs each at prob 90% effort which felt bloody fantastic.

Took care walking down (with some slow run c/d too) as I could feel L knee niggling. Dropped in at ben's on way home for a Real Cup of Tea, or two.

Accelerations, drills and easy hills.

60 (testing route), 50, 50 described above. Rest time indeterminate. Felt SO good.

C • Turning Pro? 2