Training Log Archive: Torino

Rode over to Sandra because she had been waiting for Christoph, Molly and Eliza to arrive (and they didn't until much later). Stayed a little, chatting and looking after Matti and Lena etc. Finally, rode home again but couldn't find the strength to do anything challenging or even pushing it. It felt good though to be outside, this last week had been tough mentally.

Since the orienteering went quite well for my hamstring pull, I felt that a "normal" training in the woods could be next. It really went quite well, the pain is no longer sharp but rather dull, but running seems possible again. Except on the flatter parts, I still needed to stay in the shorter stride for now. No speed yet possible with a little longer strides.
The woods were nice and cool, in parts still very muddy.

Running to the start; I knew I was pressed for time as we had brought up Matti and Lena with the bus. With the uphill to the start from the bus station on the pass, I could not really run that much, but hurried anyway.

Nat. meet in the same area as WOC 2012 middle distance was. Hurried after the start, too, and not surpringsly, couldn't find the first control. But headed out to a trail and found an intersection (I was too far to the right), and went back to my flag.
This area is exceedingly difficult with knolls, rocks, cliffs, ravines, ditches and the ground was covered with high grass and hidden holes, dead branches, etc. Ver hard to get a decent speed in that terrain and still not lose touch with the map, because of poor visibility and very complicated relief.
Usually, when it's that hard technically, I fare better than most as I remain fully concentrated and not being able to advance fast, is not that much of a disadvantage. Actually, started enjoying it and found most controls except for #8 where I must have passed within 20 m and did not see it but found lots of other flags. Ended up close to my 2nd control, so I returned and finally found my flag. Lost about 7 min.
In the end placed 9th out of 28 which I was quite happy about because I haden't orienteered nor run that much.

Meeting Sandra on the track for her to check out her health and ankle; and for me to check my hamstring pull and running ability for tomorrow's orienteering race.
It felt better than expected and the rounds on the wood-chip track just zommed by mostly with Sandra doing all the talking and me the breathing! Very hot and sunny day :-), finally!

Going down with Molly, Christoph and little Eliza to the lake. Went by myself back a slow jog along the lake. In spots the ground was so saturated, my feet just sank in. Amazing the water we've been having, an absolutely awful week.Jogged on and off, twice walking while I answered a phone call. Tomorrow is the baptism of Matti and Lena!

Leasurely jog on Planeyse in the evening trying out how running would feel on my hamstring pull. Not bad, but absolutely no strength or speed yet.

Yoga class; could stretch out and release tightness in hamstring pull even though it hurt quite a bit, but relaxing into those stretches really helped. Amazing.

Ran the "Frauenlauf" (women's race) with 16'000 others despite my hamstring pull (partial tear) and glad I could finish and jog all the way. But it wasn't pretty as I just couldn't push, the muscles didn't give it back to me. Quite frustrating. But now, it doesn't feel any worse than yesterday, just need a lot more patience with it. :'-/). Still happy to be part of it on my old "home turf" around the place we lived in Bern and that I have now that T-Shirt, too.
Only the first km going slightly downhill was fine, then the constant little uphills were too much for me at this point, and I just could jog, still "fighting", but more was not possible.
Looming rain the whole time but had only sprinkles and the temps were perfect.

I was looking for an easy bike ride before the running race I had planned and signed-up to do on Sunday. It was a beautiful day full of sunshine for a change!

Started out with Urs, but after about an hour, he wanted to get back after we ate our sandwiches along the Zihl. Continued to Le Landeron and turned, going back higher through the vineyards to above Cressier (2 very pretty medieval towns) and keeping on climbing. After another rainy morning and lots and lots of rain the last few days (with flooding in parts), it finally dried out a bit and the sun was very welcoming. On the way back through the woods, the forest roads were again very muddy, so my clean bike looked as bad as last Monday before I had washed it.
Long ride but a lot of it on paved roads and whenever I was in traffic, I really pushed the pace. Felt good.

Yoga class. At the beginning I could barely sit on the map but with the slow stretches, it loosened up considerably. Super!

Started out with a friend on a (finally) sunny day from her house in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and we were both looking forward to the biking (she is much stronger than I) and some chatting in beautiful areas. Then, after about 4 km, she went down a steep, short trail not seeing that it was more like a step onto the road and fell. I reassessed the situation and how she was (very pale, holding her hand), and looking at her forearm and wrist, I was sure something was broken, dislocated or all of that. I immediately called her partner/husband to come and pick her up. They left, she was in big pain and shaking.
So, I felt horrible, of course, what should I do now? I didn't bring a map (!) nor my I-phone but from her description, I knew a little what she had planned. Going back would not serve anybody and just waiting with them for news at a hospital or Dr. seemed pointless.
And I continued, first really shook up and slowly and once I reached the hilltop and crest I was going to follow, I felt better and better. I followed the forest road through meadows with cows and once alongside a little herd of horses (7-9) with 3 foals, one of them very shaky on its legs and eyeing me suspiciously. This was so much fun, I talked to them and eventually they let me pass.
I love that area of "Communal" which I have known from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Because the woods are still fully soaked with water and mud, I stayed on a paved road to Grand Sommartel (where Matti and Lena's baptism will take place in 2 weeks. From there I turned right and was searching for a trail to stay high going to "Entre Monts" but dropped too far twds Le Locle on a muddy, rocky and awful trails. Having Veronique's incident still very present in my mind, I took no chances and walked a lot as I didn't want to fall out in nowhere's land with no I-phone nor map. Eventually, made it back to their place and I was so glad that they were back home. Verdict: broken radius and surgery tomorrow with fixating it with a plate.
The route was just wonderful on a sunny day, and so much more could be done once the trails dry out a little. Today, was at a slower pace and did not push at all.

Wanting to get some exercise in and caught a break between rain showers. The woods were very wet, even soaked full of water.
I was curious how my running was with my right hamstring tendon tear, and it was kind of getting better.
But then between 2 and 3 km I stumbled over an invisible root and was trying to catch myself from falling meaning that my right leg extended fully and a lightning pain shot again through the attachment of the hamstring muscle. Needless to say, I was so annoyed and this now feels much worse. Hobbled back.

Another dreary, grey, rainy day. I woke up exhausted even after sleeping for 9+ hours. It was probably not enough after the previous, "busy" night with a sick Matti. So, by lunch, the rain stopped and I kicked myself out the door, maybe just for a short ride, maybe more, just checking how I felt. I was determined to look for paved or forest roads, but I was still covered in mud when I came back.
The ride back was mostly on big roads and I tried to push it which I not always succeeded. Felt good at the end and so glad I went.

More stretches and yoga poses in the evening. Really does me good.

Some easy yoga stretches while Lena was playing and doing a few yoga poses, too, when she didn't want to help me ;-)).