Training Log Archive: AliC

Event: Blue Hills Traverse
 

Blue Hills Traverse

Wowzer, so I think that's the highest avg. HR I've had for a race since I got my Garmin! I totally didn't sense that while racing, felt I was going at a good, but not ridiculous speed, but I guess my judgement of what was normal speed might have been influenced by running around guys for the first half of the controls... Super-duper happy the hamstring held together. I first felt it at #9, and on the road and trail legs, focused on relaxing it as much as possible. Whenever it felt on the verge of badness, backed off.

Orienteering-wise, a good race in general. Some mass-navigating at the beginning where other people definitely sped the heading into controls. And the fury of people and the mass start meant I wasn't great about having next legs planned. Do agree on the two controls still needed for #2 and #3 out there. Or a long leg or something.

Was with/around Sam until 19 (group of guys- Clem, Sergei, Carl, Alan? pulled ahead to 18), when we both got a bit confused (I decided some rock feature I saw indicated I needed to go higher, but then we were too high) and then no one I really was too aware of after 20. I'm really interested to see what the splits analysis says about 20->21, I choose left of the line, coming straight up to the control from the East. Maybe faster on little trail although it goes up and over? Sam almost caught back up (not that I knew!) to 23, but then had problems with 24, which was easier from the approach I took.

675/2000

Traverse - Splits

Traverse - Splits

Ski with Alex in Littleton, lovely! Nice loop, perfect weather, awesome. Some dp mixed in, and 10 min of no poles.

Hammond Pond Night-O training (but during the day!)

Over to Ross and Sam's after, and headed out on a course at Hammond Pond. Just went out easy, and everything was going really well until right near the end when I totally goofed both 20 and 22. Lost focus, and got too confident with things. 20 I knew where I was at a giant bolder, got distracted from right direction by stream. 22, again, wrong direction, spend awhile trying to relocate. Annoyed most that the relocation took so very long. Both just needed better attention to bearing.

648/2000

Trying to let Dan sleep in a bit as he's on West Coast time, so went training at early o'clock. Slow warm up.

Drill set x 3 this time. All good, skips felt stronger than yesterday.

An experimental quicker mile on the track, 7.22. Trying to train the leg muscles that a quicker stride is also possible. No problems, kept wanting to push the pace, but kept attn to the Garmin- when it declared I was running under 7, I eased up. Happy it went ok!

The bare minimum core workout: 10 min abs, 2 min back, 2 min side plank with Alex at Peter and Gail's. When the samosas and beer came out, we weren't too tempted to continue...

Really great dinner, and tried the famous chocolate cake, the icing was chocolaty-fantastic. And planed the superstars weekend - come!

Specific strength with Alex- good workout, think we both went harder due to the company, especially the V2s... =) Was 4 x 1 min of: no poles, V2, triceps only, single-stick, double pole. The double pole felt so nice after the triceps and single-sticking. Abs are worth having!

No worrying pain of any sort, woo!

Little test of the hammy, felt fine, thought it was twinging once, but was super mild and no repeat.

So my current drills set is:
(high knees, kick-butts, grapevine (both ways), side skip (both ways), skips and backward run) x 2

Everything felt ok, only in skips did the hamstring feel a bit weak.

Woke up, and it was super icky, rain + wind so Alex and I wimped out on the double pole.

Strength instead - 10 min abs + circuits. Some super low-key hammy strengthening- no resistance, just going through the motion of lifting calf both standing and lying down. No pain, just feels a bit awkward, so probably worth strengthening...

Core and circuits with Alex! Nice to be able to do something, was careful the hamstring, which meant I skipped some exercises, did more ankle stuff. Yummy dinner afterwards too!