Training Log Archive: Craney

Triple tri run 1. After breaking down on the third run last year, I managed to persuade Davo to let me get away with only doing two runs this year. Still, not in the best of shape right now, so set off fairly cautiously up Majura. Felt alright at the top though so decided to push on a bit through the pines and up to Ainslie. Had fun flying down the steep descent before grinding out some slightly achey 3:45s along the final few flat tarmac kms. Not a bad effort but not exactly quick in the context of previous attempts.

Triple tri run 2. By now the leading team of 9 was about an hour ahead, and we'd gapped the other teams, so it was a lonely slog up Taylor with the sun beating down on my back. Not feeling too tired but achiness starting to set in, even the descent felt a bit laboured. Got onto the roads and took a split so I could aim for 3:45s for the last 5km tarmac. Settled into a rhythm and was quite pleased to manage that aim. Actually felt reasonably good at the end (compared to previous years) but maybe that was partially psychological at not having to do any more runs. Happy to be able to keep racing the distance today even if the speed isn't all that.

To avoid me running again, Ben then swam and transitioned straight onto the MTB, and Davo picked up the last run and brought us home leading team of 3. Which was nice.

Steady run around Farrer Ridge. Quite stiff to begin with but loosened off as it progressed, which was kind of the plan given tomorrow's shenanigans.

Quite a fun course on Remembrance Park, taking us around the back of Ainslie to the old quarry. A fair bit of climb in the first half saw me languishing about 40secs behind Marty. Then some downhill control picking help me catch him back up. Then a 400m downhill run-in saw him pass me for the win. Fun times.

6x400m then 4x100m at south oval. Not very me but I’m in training for a beer mile.

Usual Monday LBM and ANBG loop which hasn’t been very usual recently due to busy-ness at work. Felt very stiff.

The Killer from Cotter Crossing. Warm day so took water with me. Bullen Range climbs were steeper than I remembered - hence the name I guess. Last one up to the trig was especially steep and slippery. Trig gone. Found my way okay back through the pines - no evidence of last week’s fire, must’ve been further south. Quite achy again at the end.

Three Taylors up the three steep rocky paths. Feeling very out of shape but able to keep going consistently (albeit slow). Good workout though.

Various control hanging and collecting on Mt Taylor. Mt Taylor is a cool map with a great variety of terrain types and plenty of challenging and beautiful potential control sites, but most of it is normally ignored in favour of the pleasant enough but very boring flatter section in the north. I had to stretch the guidelines for orange courses in order to make the best use of this terrain, so they were somewhat red - but I justified that on the basis of variety and that it would average out with all of the greeny-oranges that we often get. Shame that the rain made the rocks more treacherous than they would otherwise have been. Fredo’s time was very good - I was about 2:30mins slower on Saturday knowing the course! I don’t know what the best route on the long leg is - probably 4 very similar options where the best depends what you’re strongest at as an individual. To beat Fredo’s split on the widest option you’d need to run around 3:40/km I think.

Control hanging on Taylor at night with distant lightening approaching over the ranges.

15x90secs around Farrer and Isaacs. Feeling pretty stiff and sluggish.