Training Log Archive: Bruce

After the highs of last weekend's Vic Champs, I was brought back to earth this weekend with a nasty virus. Sore throat and feeling cold and a bit dizzy at times.
I guess if there is a good time to be sick, it was not a bad one. At least I was sick on the shortest day of the year (so does that mean I was sick for less time?).
I got to spend a couple of days at home on the weekend, but was feeling well enough on Monday to at least go to work.

Rest day. I have an interview to conduct at lunchtime, plus I'm feeling very tired and a bit off colour today.
Having to wake a couple of times for Sophie overnight didn't help.

My MLB team, Boston Redsox had a great start to the World Series yesterday, winning 13-1. It's looking like it may be over in 4 games.

C • with a narrow win today thi... 4

Airlie St hills x 10 at tempo pace
Hard work, but got through them all at a reasonably constant pace.
Rained throughout the session - I can't remember the last time that I could say that.

River Run to MacRobertson Bridge and back. A moderate start, that picked up the tempo on the last 3 or 4 kms.
It's taken about 3 days to regain most of the weight I lost through dehydration on Sunday.

Double Pyramid (250,500,750,500,250) x 2. 3mins b/w sets.
A fast group today, with 4 or 5 guys clearly faster than me. Still the high pace pulled me along, even though I was still feeling a bit jaded from the weekend.
0:42, 1:31, 2:22, 1:34, 0:44
0:44, 1:32, 2:25, 1:33, 0:43

Monday night recovery run with Nicola, Blair, Jasmine and Suse. Started out nice and slow up Merri Creek, but picked up the pace a little on the way back through Edinburgh and Darling Gardens.
Dion stayed home and cooked for us.

Event: Victorian Long Distance Championships
 

Victorian Long Distance Championships
My first ever victory at elite level in the Victorian Long Distance Champs on my 11th attempt.

Very hot again, about 34 degrees when I was running I think. A very tough course in those conditions. Blair had the advantage of cooler conditions starting with the organising club, but at least I had the advantage of knowing what time I had to beat.

I had a good start and was about 2 minutes up on Blair in the first 37 minutes at the spectator control. By the next control I caught Jim 4 minutes. I was hoping we would help each other keep the pace up, but we were both fading badly. Jim went a different way on the long leg and I broke away. Blair took time out of me on the 2 steep long legs, and by 19 I had actually lost the lead by 13 seconds. I took a safe way across a major erosion gully, and pushed hard to the end to extend the lead to 3 minutes in the last 15 minutes of the course and win 5 of the last 6 splits.

2nd Blair 98m02s
3rd Jymbo 107m31s
4th Dave Brownridge 130m41s

Many DNFs and several DNSs too.
Leon Keely was impressive 116mins (except for forgetting to punch the spectator control). He is developing very well.
Warren was leading after by a few seconds after 26 minutes, but quickly faded and pulled out after 38 mins. Morten was 5 minutes down on Warren when he also pulled out at the spectator control.

download GPS track on map for Jymbo and me (900KB)

A very satisfying set of results for the weekend. 2 races in technical terrain and no more than 15 seconds time lost on any control. A couple of trips up the Calder for specific gold mining training served me well.
I also peaked well for this weekend, feeling quite good physically for all but a couple of the long steepish legs in the warmest part of the day. Still there wasn't much I could do in terms of preparing for 34 degree temperatures. In my younger days, I would have wilted in those conditions and plodded home, but some good hydration, energy gels and physically easier route choices served me well at the end of the course.

Just the Vic Sprint Champs to go for the year now. I plan to do the MMM Romsey Relay in 2 weeks (4 x 3-4km road races in one day) and maybe a Corporate Cup race in preparation. After that, I'll go back to base training in summer.

C • well done 3