Training Log Archive: Clara

MUAC 5000m meet.

Was aiming for 21 but have plenty of excuses :) (first 5k track race, HOT and sunny and couldn't see down the back straight, pretty big weekend and a day at work...).

Started off making good time and got down to about 10s under pace. Was feeling good but then it just got harder. Must have blown up as things seemed to get further and further from the goal pace pretty quickly. Was chasing down MUAC Anna and was all set to pass her with 600 to go, but must have dozed off as she pulled away again. Did get past someone else with 150 to go though.

Still happy I gave it a go (would do another one) and super-appreciative of the orienteering cheer squad :)

C • Well done! You looked prett... 2

Training camp - Chewton

Pairs exercise with Sarah Davies, taking it in turns to talk out loud about the leg. I really like this exercise as it makes me think consciously about all the stuff I don't normally notice. Compass work still a bit off.

Training camp - Chewton

Solved the problem of my bad compass work - cracked it on the way to 6 and all the oil leaked out over my map! But navigated better (although maybe a bit slower) after that! Really need to improve speed through terrain, and map reading at speed.

Training camp - Chewton

Went sans compass, which made a few controls a bit more difficult. Got thrown when I got to the area which had been cleared and had a new dam built, and had to convince myself that I hadn't somehow gone the wrong direction over the hill. Generally happy though :)

Training camp - Melvillles Caves

Found it pretty slow going out there (and tough taking bearings without north lines). Seemed to be very slow at moving through the terrain. Navigation was ok though. Started to lose focus towards the end, so skipped a few controls.

Training camp - Bermuda Triangle

Control pick exercise. Started off ok, but again started to lose focus near the end (not planning a tricky leg). Need to improve my compass work.

So many complaints tonight! Tired body, tired mind, period pain and nerve pain (?) near groin. Time to visit my unqualified healthcare professional who can at least fix nerve pain.

Work stairs. Bailed on them last night (and trivia) as I was feeling wrecked at work after a couple of days with too much to do.

2'54
2'51
2'47
2'55
2'48

Very slow lap of the park afterwards.

Bendigo ToDay - hagaby, Kalimna Park, Castlemaine

Started off a bit slowly and my legs were feeling pretty heavy. Slogged it out and got Brody in sight when we got into the mining at the end (behind him until 24 because I couldn't read any of the mining detail). Got past at 24 but lost it on the final control when I went to the one we'd been to on the first loop :( Was great to have someone to race/push me at the end.

Bendigo ToDay - sprint. Castlemaine SC

Between this race and course setting for MSW I've worked out that I have trouble picking the shortest route, even when I'm not under pressure. Was pretty hesitant this evening and went through the one gap 5 times.

Kathmandu run club.

Arrived late and (after remembering to charge it at work) left my Garmin in my bag.

Steady run up the river to Fairfield boat house, and tempo back. Felt like I couldn't really go any faster on the way out, but managed to heading back.

Coburg hills by the lake.

10x hills up to the carpark. Felt like it was probably a good thing to do some speed on asphalt instead of trails for a change. Feeling ok :)

Sunday morning long run.

Feeling fairly tired, both in the legs and just generally. Cruised up the creek for a lap of the Reservoir aths track and back. Solid.

Hot, sweaty roll up the creek and back on still tired legs.

Kathmandu run club.

Steady run tonight, which suited me fine! Steve seemed much more recovered than me :( I guess he was only running for 3 hrs on Sunday.

Recovery jog round the 'Burg on very sore legs.

In hindsight, it's not surprising I struggled in the 2nd half of the race on Sunday, given my longest long run has been 14km.

Quads are 4-Peaks kind of smashed, and shoulders are really sore. Back was sore for the last 5ish km of the run, but has pulled up fine.

Cathedrals Challenge.

Longest and hardest (and slowest?) race I've ever done!

Chugged along the first few kms of steady and climb (catching a couple of guys on the climb :) ) before the epic Canyon Track. Lots of rock scrambling, which went on for longer than I expected. Then a nice runnable bit, before dropping down from the Farmyard. Descending is not my favourite, and I wasn't looking forward to doing it all again later.

A lady from work went past me at about 7km (well, she's on leave without pay from the Alex office) and she was the last person I saw.

Discovered the excellentness of watermelon as race food at Jawbone carpark aid station (and while everyone was complaining about running out of water, I finished with some still in my pack), and subsisted off that and race biscuits for the race.

Got called 2nd woman through the 10km (11.5km) mark, and though I should be able to hold that, although had my doubts later on when it was tougher than I remembered. In fact, the entire 2nd half of the race was pretty much just a slog.

Steady along to Neds, and then found the climb hard going (ran a lot more of it in December, though that was on fresh legs). Enjoyed the bit out towards Little Cathedral where I could run a bit, but was close to bonking on the climb back towards Cathedral Peak. The track back to Farmyard wasn't as bad as I remembered, but was being pretty careful on tired legs. As expected, the descent wasn't my favourite! Spent the longest of any aid station at the one 1km from the finish... Bit sad my Garmin didn't make it all the way to the finish, because I was pretty quick over the last 50m!

Never saw the first woman (turns out she finished 32mins in front!) - she was apparently a road runner doing her first trail race - mighty impressive! Happy with a 2nd place :)

Just a cruise in my new shoes. They hurt my feet a bit! Been feeling a bit flat and heavy all week so took it easy in preparation for Cathedrals on Sunday.