Training Log Archive: acejase

Absolutely freezing. After queueing for my number came back to car to sit in warm for a little while longer. Then jogged and came back to change cap for beanie to race in. Last heard on radio before turned off was current temperature -5.5 degrees. What would've made a good photo was instead of runners milling round start line waiting they were all milling round lake edge out of shadows and in line of sunshine.

YMCA Runners Club Half. As mentioned really cold and started with cold fingers and toes despite gloves and obviously shoes and socks. Beanie was a good choice. Was aiming for around 3min55ks and sub 85 but just wanted to find a good pace and see what happens. After first k or so Laura and Kim, who are both sub 3hr marathoners, were about 30m in front so thought it would be good to use them as a guide plus how I was feeling and less so the watch. Felt pretty comfortable along road through Yarralumla although a bit on my own behind the laura-kim pack.
Got to bike path and newish secton of course down the perimeter of Weston Park and felt like I was going fast but decided I should be ok. By the end of Weston Park loop I'd caught up to laura and kim and sat in behind them, particularly laura as kim dropped back a bit.
Almost went a over t as hit bridge at inlet before Governor Generals Drive - covered in ice and the new lunar racers needed spikes in them to stay upright! Slowed cautiously until hitting the sunny side of the bridge. Had planned to have gels at 4k and 8k but the gel felt like a brick with the cold so warmed it a little in my hand before probably having half of it with water at Governor Generals Drive. Harder to have gels when you are running at pace compared with say 6 foot. Would have been more manageable if not -5 too.
Down the hill from Governor Generals and through to Scrivener Dam I was half a stride ahead of Laura and thought I should try to minimise the effort a bit so I didn't over cook it. Despite this started to drop Laura and was on my own by the end of Scrivener Dam.
Probably forgot the whole go steady thing after that and tried to keep pushing on, initially aiming to keep going at this pace till after loop down into Black Mtn Peninsula. Had the rest of my gel and some water at Barrenjoey Drive drinks before mowing down the guy in front of me (I just wanted to say "mowing down" - probably edged past more accurate).
Black Mtn Peninsula section a bit annoying with bike path windy turns including a virtual elbow turn at one point. Nothing like a bit of accelerating and decelerating after 15k....
Came out of Black Mtn Peninsula section and was still feeling strong - felt like one of the long tempo runs I've been doing which is a good sign for training. Started to set my mind to finishing strong and was trying to keep pace up as much as possible. Was basically running 3min50-55s with drinks (was just carbo rinsing sports drink) and hills knocking 5-10 seconds off each km.
Passed another guy going up onto Commonwealth Ave Bridge and felt like I was sprinting (I wasn't!) especially after James Minto gave me a rev up coming down off the bridge. Overcooked it a bit as started to have a spew in the finish chute but held things together (sort of) till crossed line. Probably should save my "sprinting" for a bit closer to finish line than 800m.
Time was new PB by 3s as done on same race (but slightly different course) 3 years ago. Finished 16th overall and 3rd in my old mans age class. Felt pretty strong through the end and fine afterwards - not like sometimes when hobble-walk to the car. Makes me think could've gone a little quicker with better pacing but still not gonna complain about a PB!
Cake and sports drink at finish before driving out to O to watch, socialise and parent. The guy from Sly Fox coffee plied me with excellent brew several times throughout the day - best coffee at O ever. Good race and good day (until watching the footy in the arvo....).

C • Great effort! 3

C • Sly Fox Coffee 3

I may not have been hobbling but time and cold meant a jog to the car, back to the toilet and back to car was all I could manage.

ACT Middle Distance Champs. Started late due to children/no split starts. Aim was to trot round saving for tomorrow. Felt physically jumping out of my skin and tried to keep HR below Zone 4 which did, even walking once to bring it back down. Hit first loop controls pretty well until the flat gully leading into the pivot control. Missed 90s - 2mins being off to the left on both controls. Lost probably another 90s on depression control on 2nd loop being too high. Also thought depression was a shallow gully which didn't help. Surprisingly finished 2nd in M40 a few mins down on Tate Needham but a few mins up on DavtheFlav and Matt Stocks well back.

Blobby morning run as part of mini taper for half. Cold. Got the paper off the truck which was sweet.

Mona Fartlek on bike path through Bruce Ridge and AIS. Only session I'll do this week as ease off for half marathon on weekend. Pushed speed on ints. Finished at Two before Ten for coffee before school pick up. Ah the life...

C • Best of luck 2

Looking out office window for ride home I thought it looked like light drizzle so should be right. It wasn't light drizzle. Pelted down. So cold and wet going up Aranda Hill.

Commutering.