Training Log Archive: acejase

Illness had not improved overnight with little sleep and a fair deal of sinus pain. Jog to start with Rob Jessop for warm up.

Feeling crook and starting with Mt Alexander in front of you is not good. Surprisingly picked up 2mins on Greg Barbour at control 1 - he mustve made a mistake. Couldnt stay with him, mostly through cbf, and then after 2min error on 4 and the long uphill leg ahead of me for 5 I started thinking about DNF. Once you start thinking DNF you are DNFing so I walked home.

Day 2 M40A - Splits

Warm up run to start with some minor level prancing. Ego boosted by positive comments about new Red Roos o-suit. Lift in self esteem balanced by general coughing, spluttering and flu like symptoms.

Figured I wasnt going to be physically great but with 80 odd controls ahead of me over 3 days had to get these ones right and hope I came good physically tomorrow. Was pretty sharp first few controls and generally good after that however kept wobbling between attack point and flag. Hoggster picked me up about half way - I thought 2mins but found out at the finish it was 4mins. He was orienteering beautifully and as my brain was fading into flu-fog I made a good call to stick with him. Held on fairly comfortably to the finish. Hoggster a classy win and Sherlock impressive in 2nd.

Day 1 Course 6 - Splits

Home sick but did exercises. Not good. Man-flu.

crash and burn. rode in ok, oh except for when a fellow rider pointed out a huntsman spider on my helmet at about half way, but started to come down with the A&Z illness about lunch time. Hot n colds etc. well timed for easter.

C • Huntsman 3

Short run from mechanics down to LakeG and back to Mall. Had intended to do ints or something similar but didnt feel quite right - in hindsight a sign of sickness to come.

Super commute. Didnt ride in till lunch time after being home with sick A&Z. Z wasnt really sick but wouldnt go to childcare alone. At about lunch time A made a sudden recovery as little kids sometimes do and I was, after a day of not eating and vomiting, trying to get some food into her to aid recovery when Z interupted to say "Daddy I think I'm going to vomit.". Sigh. Rode in at lunch time when BA got home to take over.

should add while little girls were lying on the couch taking turns to spew I had time to ring Reubs at MBC and order a new roadie. Sweet.

C • And you ordered a.... 4

Long earlyish (7am) morning run with ALJ. Down through Kangaroo Paddock, arboretum, Dairy Farmers and back through paddock. Home via newsagents at Jammo. Beautiful morning with light mist low across the lake and the sun rising. Cafe at Arboretum looked beautiful too (except it wasnt open...).

AFter hearing about all Hoggsters training for M40 I thought I better do some terrain running to try and keep within 10mins of him at Easter (10mins per day that is). Sausage eaten at Aranda Fete about an hour beforehand sat surprisingly well - maybe I should have tried one at 6FT?

Fair bit of water about without raining. Spending a bit of time researching a new bike at the mo and geeze it makes the current bike seem bad!

Ran into work from pre school drop off. Starting to feel recovered from Six Foot. Might have to try something faster on the weekend. Enjoying running without an agenda.

ride home fast in the semi dark with front lights sticky taped on to handle bars after i noticed a crucial bit of my ayup strap has fallen off.

Ride into work. Heavy bag with puter and lots of gear.

Run home in the autumn sun. Loverly. had been looking forward to it all day.

Lunchtime trot when a client cancelled. Pretty sluggish and could feel yesterdays not-so-long-long run. Beautiful day for it.

Cockies long run with GrantM, Devil, ALJ. Lizzie and EcMo. GrantM, somewhat impressively, had run from home. Bit nippy but set off up Majura where ALJ and I immediately dropped out the back door! Ah well. :) Felt pretty much like a normal long run except my pace was a bit slower than usual. ALJ peeled off at Hackett Hill and I cut the corner up Ainslie to keep up. Brekky afterwards at Deli Marx where they had run out of caramel flavour for the milkshake so much to the delight of the crowd I went the Lime milkshake. Old School.

So I got dropped at Mica Walter's 3rd birthday party after morning run. Thanks to GrantM and MaryMac for lift. Not unexpectedly Mica's Uncle, RobWalt, was there. Somewhat unexpectedly though he was wearing Salomon running shoes. A new pair of course. I didn't know Salomon made a pair of Party Shoes but there ya go. They were bright green so maybe thats the party look?

Little trot down to bike shop on LakeG. Nothing to see there.

super commuting.

first exercises since 6FT. motivation for exercises is low!

trying to keep on top of weight even though six foot and main goal over for the moment. dunno what next goal will be at this stage.

recovery trot down to wodes and back. felt ok but when i had to speed up to beat a car across the road I realised I didn't have a gear above "sluggish".

Slow super commuting

Event: Six foot track marathon
 

6FT track Marathon.

Beautiful morning, getting up in the dark and, under pressure from my fellow 6FTers Greg, ALJ and Devil, I was on time! We even got to the start early allowing time for a few chats and beating the toilet queue.

Went straight to start line after Wave 1 left but was already about 4 lines deep. Next time I'll come from the front. Solid pace down to the steps of Nellies Glen where it forms into the single file. Was quite slippery and already clearly more water than 2 years ago with puddles to be sploshed through and creeks to wade. Pace was ok for the steepness and slipperyness but a guy a few people ahead was slow - later by chance saw him finish in close to 6 hours. There was some initial banter amongst runners but it went eerily quiet as we all focussed on our feet and not falling a over t.

Out onto the main track and relieved to have made it through without a stack. Could feel the quads a little from the steep down - only been running about a k! Very soon into this section Canberra Runner Vince Craig fell in beside me and we set a reasonable long run pace. At one stage checked watch which said we were doing 4min10 ks but as this section is gentle down hill but it felt very easy and just the sought of pace I wanted with someone to chat too. Around Megalong Valley Vince dropped back for a pitstop but he caught me fairly quickly. He then got ahead a little as we entered the single track section to Cox's River when I had to adjust my timing ankle bracelet. Could hear the roar of Cox's River and soon enough we were upon it. 15.5k had felt very comfortable and unlike 2 years ago I felt like the race hadn't started. Crossing Cox's wasnt much deeper than last time - about stomach high - but the flow of the river was much faster and stronger and hanging onto the rope definitely required. The second part of the crossing gets rocky underfoot and the shorter lady in front of me really struggled - a tougher river crossing for her and ALJ compared to me!

Out of Cox's and its a 4k or so climb to Mini Mini Saddle. The first test. Plan was slow and steady climb and as per last time I was amazed as almost everyone around me walked. Exception was Dave Baldwin who had come from behind in Wave 3 and flew up the hill past me. Climb was again as planned with steady tough climb but not feeling like I was racing. The 2k down on the other side I found a little hard to get my rolling rhythm but no damage done. Had a gel at drinks, my 3rd for the race, and Rural Fire volunteer lady said I was half way there so I of course sang Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer back to her - think she was taken aback.

Started the 5k famed Pluviometer climb which was as tough as. Once again everyone walking but me as I plugged steadily up. Only saw one other guy running and thought "gee he's running slowly" - it took me 4k to catch him! Occasionally a walker would speed up to stay with me (which didnt take that much speeding up!). Had water at the half way up drinks stop and had been having a cup or so of water at every drinks stop.

Wrapt to see the Pluvi drinks station which meant the top especially as it came earlier than the garmin predicted - think the garmin missed some metres/satellites in the drop down Nellies Glen. Guts were feeling a little bit wobbly here so had water instead of gel and tried to get a wriggle on along Black Range as planned. Guts started to feel a little better after a while so about half way along the range had 3/4 of a gel. The Black Range is a gradual climb, especially compared with the Pluviometer and Mini Mini Saddle, but its tough after having run the other hills and entering the 30km mark/3 hrs.

I hadnt seen ALJ at all (she started 5mins ahead in Wave 1) and to be honest I felt I had been running well so was starting to think maybe I passed her at Coxs River or somewhere where things are a bit chaotic. But coming towards end of the range there she was running fantastically. I probably surged a little to catch her but not much - more just a boost. We didnt say too much as I passed her - like at our Mt Clear training run both in personal world of hurt. I had planned to run with her for a little while but I felt if I changed my rhythm I might be in trouble.

Got to the Deviation (34k) which is a good marker as there is more down than up from there. Wasnt sure about gel as guts had that dodgy period so had water. In hindsight probably should have had a gel or some sports drink or coke but after 2 years ago when I spent half an hour throwing up in the first aid tent at 28k mark I wasnt prepared to risk it.

Left the deviation and finally had a bit of downhill. Felt great and all of a sudden it seemed like I was gonna do make it well. Passed a guy who said something abotu me looking strong and I was really settling into my rhythm that I knew from late in all the 30k races I'd done this year. A real runners high. Unforuntately though the high ended v quickly - got to a steep long pinch, probably the last tough climb. I dug deep trying to jog it as I didn't want to walk which would risk my rhythm and besides was feeling good and strong. But then all of a sudden I was feeling like I was about to throw up - I literally was holding my chin to my chest to keep whatever was in my stomach down. I slowed trying to hold the spew in and then walked. I considered running and throwing up to get rid of it but again after last time I knew throwing up was not a good idea. I tried jogging when got to the peak of the hill but again felt the spew coming (sorry for the detail folks.... :)). Al and some others came by with Al checking I was ok. I started jogging thinking I could keep Al in sight and then come good again but things were not as they should be!

The next few k were not good with jogging/walking keeping spews at bay. I think my stomach started to come good but by then I was stiffening up in the legs and cramping in the hammys. I looked at the time at 40k which I think was around 4hrs5mins so I knew if I could get going again I would still do close to 4hrs 30. So I sort of cajoled myself along running most of the time but pretty slowly - not fun!

Finally got to what I knew was the final 3k downhill but that was certainly not a relief - quads killing and the fairly intense pain in right big toe on way down. Thought it was tightness of shoes but now (2 days later) the toe is swollen and infected - dunno what happened there. Could see the walls round Caves House and then start to hear the announcers sounds. Very pleased to get onto steps and pathways of Caves House and a cheer from BA, family and others. Made it! 4hrs 36 (just). 6FT is epic.

A few days later now not sure what happened. Its possible I had too much water and not enough salt/sugars/something else and when I went to dig a bit deeper the gut full of water revolted. But really I'm not sure as was going so well till then. Certainly once my rhythm was broken getting back going again was too much for me and the cramping didn't help.

On the plus side though really pleased with how I ran till 35k or so. Stuck to plan and strength was way better then before - think bike riding is good for me. Also the time was around what I wanted - I'd say I dropped 15mins or so in the last 9-10k. Marathons are just so tough, and this one more so with the climbs, that getting it 90% right can still result in dropping 15mins at the end!

Super impressive runs by ALJ and Devil, particularly ALJ who got the 5mins and more back on me. Devil just did the 45k as a sprint post Cradle Mountain. My mate Greg did well to finish at 3rd attempt in 5hrs40. Unfortunately went downhill for him from there ending up on a drip in first aid room (all good now though!). Finished with an enjoyable long weekend with family and friends although not keen on walking down stairs!

C • Great read 12

Trot in Katoomba to run the legs out after drive and multiple rest days. Just up to Coles and back and whats more Devil was there with his car to drive my milk and bread home. felt good.

didnt even commute. just tried to eat carbs.

C • Good luck 4

C • Congrats! 2

RTW and thne to O at Yarralumla Bays. Beautiful setting for final SS for the year. Watched Rob do his Twilight Series victory lap - bit odd seeing him run for 4.5k with his arms in the air and singing "I am the Champion" but hey whatever floats your boat.

Last 'hit out'. did a little loop and 2 aranda ovals with a half lap float in between. Felt pretty good except for the over analysing of how I felt. Wont do much now before saturday - commute ride tomorrow and probably try a jog on Friday but that might be hard to fit in with travel.

found some good spots with the massage ball. felt released.

6FT wave re-allocation - Now in Wave 2. Happy enough with that - pretty much where I fit. Wave 1ers a bit quick. Now for Nellies Glen steps strategy. In Wave 1 had the easy plan of take it easy to the steps as fast guys mean no blockages and fine for me to save pennies. Wave 3 was easy too as figures I would be faster than most so put some effort in to be up the front at the steps. But Wave 2.... hmmm.

C • good stuff 2

Evening trot to jammo and back. well just there as i bought too much to run back.

arvo run with RobW including much analysis of 6FT strategy.

RTW

Ride from work to Runners Shop then home, doing a Black Mtn rep on the way. Rep time pretty good for me although helped by being passed by a dude about 3/4 way up and trying to hang on.