Training Log Archive: theway

Hard and hurty but great to do. I'm strong on steep ups and downs and can out-walk all the people around me. They pass me on all the flat run parts though :) Imo did well about 3 minutes ahead of me. I'm happy because my issues weren't too bad until the last 2 or 3k. Felt pretty good to top of One Tree Hill and skipping down it.

I started near the back with Imo and we took in easy for first few k's, chatting a bit. Settled into a rhythm as we climbed the first hill and saw Janet S step off course to retie a shoe lace. I would have liked to stop and recommend Ian's Shoelace website but... it wasn't the right time. Carried on and fell into a comfortable rhythm, back/hamstring niggle not bothering me, along the gently upward climb to the NSW border. Imo pulled ahead and B.A. in blue flew past me in the opposite direction.

Then we turned up One Tree Hill which is all steep, rocky and with plenty of steps. Everyone in front was walking. After a short while I realised that I could go a lot faster up hill since my back injury is not a problem here. I had to be careful of runners flying down towards us on same path, but snuck past at least a dozen people in the gaps. It was good to have a section that played to my strengths. At the top I didn't want to squander the time and places I'd saved so took only 15 second to drink and eat an orange segment. That might seem like a long time but people at my speed were spending twice that, enjoying the view and rest.

I joined the descent but again the train in front were a lot slower than my best down hill running so I looked for opportunities to zoom past. If only the whole run could feel like this! Anyway, it was a boost in confidence and carried me along for a few k's. Then my hammy niggle really started to make itself known. I knew it would so not grumpy about it. I slowed down, took walk breaks, and got to see a good selection of runners who caught and re-passed me. I'd met a woman at the start in identical shorts to mine, then I passed her on the way up the big hill, then she came back past me along here. We had "Hello Shorts-Sister!" exchanges every time which makes a race fun.

The last few k's were tough but I did enjoy the pretty single track through the bush. The lap around the oval took all my grit not to walk, so hard. Vegie burger and fruit was very good, I do like the not going home hungry part. Best thing of all is that my body feels better today (monday) than before the run yesterday - onwards and fastwards!

Feel I have been fighting a lurgy the past 2 days so no running. Rode to a long rehearsal today and spent all my energy improvising on the piano. Managed to pass on the jelly snakes bag that was passed around so that's a win.

Have been fighting off a slight man-cold all week, rather phlegmy and extra tired after runs and in morning. Very mild really

a quick spine warm up just before going out for run

Ridge with Imo and DustyDog. Walk warm up for about 8 minutes then a few short walk breaks during rest of run. I'll call it all running. Our last decent run before the 10k on sunday. Felt ok running continuously although I could feel the flatness of not eating breakfast (will eat before sunday's run). Route - along Pipeline then up Health run and joined the mtb tracks from there ( Belco Switchbacks, creek run, HideyHo, North Face, Whoopee, Just in Time :-) I'm getting the mtb tracks committed to memory), then back along Pipeline.

I felt lighter on my feet today, and it turns out I actually am a little lighter. Eating chips last night worked. Spine niggle continues to feel stronger and more stable and I can take slightly bigger steps - hurray for small improvements! Must avoid all sitting and do exercises.

Mt Majura with Crumin. To top via zigzag, back via normal ascent then back to grayson st. Did a bit of running but C was less keen. Windy day and I saw a rare spider - 3rd one I've ever seen and the other 2 were on Blackie. Body looks like fruit of Native Cherry, spider is ground crawling scary looking type.

to yoga and hall and back.

To C's, to Ridge and a short ride around the trails. Ride home after via shops

Warm up walk with 3 short hills near where I parked bike. Some rest walks later.

Run on the mtb tracks at far end of brucie. Felt hard today. In spite of extended warm up lower back is not happy. Ah well, I have good lungs.