Training Log Archive: Craig

Event: Bridges Fun Run
 

Warm up for Bridges Fun Run. Heart started playing up when I coughed crossing Victoria Ave after about 9 minutes.

Bridges Fun Run. Started towards the back of A group as I knew I was going to struggle to break 40 with my heart already playing up. Wasn't feeling particularly comfortable sitting on 4min/km but I recognised Rachel's breathing and foot strike over my left shoulder so I tried to go around people as they slowed to encourage Rachel not to drop off the pace. I don't think she took any notice. Struggled into the wind over the causeway just trying not to lose too much time before the downwind leg.

Tried to lift the pace as I turned off the bridge to go with the wind and I definitely started to move past people again here. Picked up a bit of time and hit 5k in spot on 20 minutes but I was starting to struggle to hold sub 4 while still being pushed along by the howling tailwind so sub 40 was looking out of reach. Still felt tight in my chest going with the wind but it was just staying the same so I started to wonder if it was just because I was running at the limits of my current fitness.

Reached 8k in 31:57 but when I hit the climb onto the narrows it hit back hard and almost knocked me out. A couple of groups went past like I was standing still and I thought about giving up and walking in but it felt better when I crested the hill so I pushed on. This is typical of my heart problem, I can run reasonably well if there is little resistance but as soon as I have to work hard I'm screwed. Looked for Rachel going on and off the Narrows and was disappointed to see how far back she was, I expected her to be passing me.

A guy passing me told me I had to do the last km in 3:55 to break 40 but there was no way I could do that into the wind and he was wrong anyway because my 9k split was 36:20. Couldn't even manage a sprint finish doing 4:30/km down the finish chute. Felt quite ill as I crossed the line and decided I shouldn't enter any more races like this.

Checked my pulse just after finishing and confirmed it was irregular but it was about another 20 minutes before I started having significant dizzy spells.

I feel strangely inclined to start training harder now.

Had the GPS doing auto 1k splits but they were a bit dodgy around the narrows. Real splits would have been something like...

3:59 3:59
8:06 4:07
12:15 4:09
16:10 3:55
20:00 3:50
23:54 3:54
27:51 3:57
31:57 4:06
36:20 4:23
40:33 4:13

Not sure my official result will be correct as my race number was 228 but the RFID tag on the back was number 229.

C • Not bad Craig 2

Trying to jog my heart back into rhythm. Didn't work but my legs felt pretty good anyway.

Down to the oval for 2k in 8:40 + 6x200 in 46 with 1min recoveries. Only did a couple of 200s on the oval then a few more similar efforts on the way home.
4:20 felt like about 10k pace but then so did the 200s so maybe I can go a bit faster. A dog stepped on my heel and pulled my shoe off about 600m into the 2k which was a bit annoying as I was just starting to get into a rhythm.
Raining as I set out but only lasted a few seconds. I think it rained a bit more but so light you hardly noticed.

Tried to go for a run but just wasn't up to it today. Heart was fine but I was tired and unmotivated so I cut it short and walked lots.