Training Log Archive: markg

Quads really sore today.

I dragged myself out planning to do an easy jog and survive over an hour. After plodding my way to the Gap Ck Reserve I ran into Mat and Clive and despite being unsure my motivation would survive an increase in pace joined them, heading back to Chapel Hill and up to the summit. Managed to stick to Clive's heels up the hill, dropping Mat pretty early, but by the top I was shattered. We headed down Twisty's and then they headed for home via Anzac Park, I turned back toward home. My ankle was a bit better today, a little ache early on but it disappeared.

First massage and stretching in a while. Everything is very tight. Worked on the calves a bit trying to sort out ankle issue.

A bit of a motivation fail this morning. Right ankle was hurting, my usual track up Coot-tha was closed and I really just CBF'ed. Ankle problem started to kick in during 2nd weekend of Oceania. It feels a bit like shin-splints pain but around the knobby bit of the ankle.

The BCC parks people have closed the Honeyeater Tr from Chapel Hill up toward the lookout for 'improvements' because the current track has been found to be 'not walker friendly'. It sounds bloody ridiculous but I think their hand has been forced by idiots who insist on making new tracks beside the existing one and straight up and down the hill cutting through the switch-backs. If the council needs to modify the track for people who can't manage the stairs, should they also flatten the hill or install elevators for people who can't manage the slope? Where does it end? I just hope they don't ruin the experience of a fast descent through the switch-backs.

My first ride to work in many weeks and it was a nice morning for it though I was late getting started and it was a little warm. Felt stronger on the bike than previously but I'll wait for confirmation on the ride home before getting too excited.

Homewards. Still felt pretty good so pushed hard up all the hills. Felt buggered at the end.

Long leg of the Qld club relays at Rocks Riverside Park which I was running with Rachel and Aidan Tay. Made a tactical error on #1 heading right to avoid some green but only lost time and had to wait 30s or more in the queue for the lone punch. I was feeling fairly strong and started working my way up the pack, though a few seconds confusion leaving #5 dropped me a few places again. Raced Clive, Kurt, and Oliver C. through the latter section just pipping them at the end, though we were all shown up by young Matt Doyle and someone from the Neumann clan.

2nd leg which was a bit less than half of the scatter component. Made a 45s blue on #2 not adjusting to the scale but otherwise it was straightforward. Came in for the win. Time is a guess.

Time to get back to it and an easy jog around the burbs to do so. I had the usual morning lethargy but warmed up okay. My left knee is still bothersome.

Ran 2nd leg in a team with Clive and Mat. I wasn't expecting very much from this run, since I'd only managed to eat 3 pieces of toast since yesterday's long run, but it was run or leave the guys hanging.

Clive had a reasonable run and I went out mid-field, trying to keep a steady pace. This wasn't too hard through the paddocks but once we hit the forest and hills I was struggling. Unlike yesterday, when I'd run dosed up on Vitamin I, today I'd had none and my knee was painful enough to limit me to a shuffle on the steeper downhills, and make me pretty tentative in the rougher terrain. People started to run through me at the butterflies and that didn't stop until I got passed by previous back marker in the finish chute.

This run can claim to be my best run technically all carnival, unfortunately also the slowest.

Not a bad run, in fact I felt quite pleased with it immediately afterwards though the splits revealed a less satisfying run. I never felt particularly spry or strong today which I put down to my fall on Friday. My knee was a constant niggle and made me somewhat less confident in the rough terrain. I started well, if a little cautiously but picked it up on #2 and #3. I inexplicably took a wide route to the left on #4 and dropped 20-30s here and then struggled with the hill over to #5. My first big loss of time occurred on #6 when I failed to see the track option and persevered alongside the creek before stopping short of the control. I think this cost about 2min all told. I lost more time on #8 and #9 with poor options (high in both cases) trying to find some good running through the rock and lost another 1.30-2min. Ev caught me from 4min at #9 and was slowly getting away and out of sight at #15. My next big time loss followed in a hopeless execution of the long leg. I think I relaxed a little and drifted right coming out of #15 not hitting the track where I intended an despite having opportunities I never really got back to the plan and ran most of the leg through the forest. I spiked the control but the damage was done and another 4min lost. My run after this was pretty clean, only one mistake of 20-30s on #19 where numerous people seemed to have problems. Simon went through on the way to #20 and I hung off his tail through the open area before losing him on #27. Ev surprised me at #28 by coming from behind again, turned out he'd lost 5min+ at #19.

My stomach started aching on the way to #7 but was never more than an irritation. After the race, however, it started cramping badly and by the time we'd driven back to Cooma I was vomiting. It passed relatively quickly and by 10pm things had settled and I managed a piece of toast before bed.

Event: Oceania Sprint, Aust Long & Oceania Relays
 

A frustrating race because it was nearly a clean race and would have been one of my best results but things fell apart when I tripped at #12, banged my knees up, and broke my compass (the second in a week) ...

The race started okay, didn't really plan the first and took off straight, struggled in the rough forest and drifted right, ending up in the clearing to the right. Ran well through the till #5, though probably should have used the clearing on #3 instead of running straight. Took the wide option on long #6 but was a bit lazy about it and ran all the way to the fence instead keeping to the edge of the forest. Clean through to #10, was a bit hesitant on #11 losing a few seconds, and then I hit the deck. I got a bit angry about this and subsequently didn't pay enough attention through #12 and started off toward #15 instead of #13 losing 1min. Lost a little at #15, knee was hurting and I didn't really have the heart to push hard through the rest of the course.

Event: Oceania Long & Middle Distance Champs
 

16th about 30min(!) down on Rob Preston. Not a terrible run but brought down by a number of 1min-ish mistakes, a couple of poor route choices, including on the second long leg, and breaking my compass at half distance. I faded badly in the last 20min also, and had some cramping which is unusual for me, but I think was related to the cold, wet weather. Quite disappointing.

Course 1 - Splits