Training Log Archive: VaalaIn the 31 days ending Oct 31, 2010:
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Sunday Oct 31, 2010 #
10 AM
MTB 2:10:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
At the bike park. Went up and did that new Treasure Island again which is quite fun but getting sandy already then down through some of my usual tracks. Bumped into Rob (and Jess) at the playground and we went on some adventures and as scared as I was about riding with him it was actually really cool. That far end track I'd never done before might be a new favourite. Awesome ride.
3 PM
Road Bike 1:05:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Feeling good and the weather was so nice so went for a little blat along the cycleway. Definitely riding faster even when I'm feeling tired but there was a wicked headwind on the way home which was a bit of a grind.
Saturday Oct 30, 2010 #
7 PM
Walk 28:00 [3]
shoes: Mizuno Wave Nirvana 4
A brisk walk from home round the lake and then back up again with a few minor detours (I found a track I don't remember ever being on before which was quite exciting). It was a miracle I ever got out the door at all today. Chest feeling like there is a sock made of sandpaper shoved down it and I was quite determined to hide under the covers all day so this was much more of an achievement than it appears. Feel a bit better now though.
Friday Oct 29, 2010 #
1 PM
MTB 1:45:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
With Rob from their place up along the road as far as Wilson Road then adventuring round through some bush and farmland before riding back through the forest to get back again. Awesome scenery and was pretty cool except that my breathing has got so bad and my chest is starting to hurt a lot too so I had to walk too many hills. Got diagnosed with bad anxiety yesterday and since I don't want to take medication if I can help it I guess it's off to see the breathing clinic next week.
4 PM
Kayaking 1:00:00 [3]
With Marquita out in the estuary. Beautiful weather and it was really quite relaxing (well, apart from my arms which were telling me they were tired and I don't think my technique is all that good!). The wind made it all a bit more exciting and we went a different direction to normal so that was quite cool.
Thursday Oct 28, 2010 #
6 AM
Road Bike 1:25:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Trying a new morning route through Herne Bay then along the waterfront (and through the Viaduct, dodging all the runners) to St Heliers Bay then up to Remuera and back home via the Domain. Beautiful morning but traffic lights suck and having a steep hill 3 minutes after riding out my front gate was a bit rough!
Wednesday Oct 27, 2010 #
Road Bike 30:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
To and from the gym. A little bit wobbly after all that time on my nice stable mountain bike!
6 AM
Gym (arm weights and core) 35:00 [3]
My right shoulder doesn't feel so good. I think I must have landed on it when I fell off on Saturday. I just noticed all my cycling tan lines and how many bruises and scratches are all over my legs!
Sunday Oct 24, 2010 #
MTB warm up/down 10:00 [2]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
To the start. It was freezing cold.
10 AM
MTB race (Australian MTBO Long) 2:44:28 [3] 30.0 km (5:29 / km)
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Wheatsheaf
SO frustrating. On the first hill along the road to 2 I was feeling shattered already! Stuffed up 4 by trying to go through the very vague single track instead of back out and round then fell into a deep and freezing cold bog coming down a hill to 5 and right in front of Di too! My whole bike ended up submerged and most of me too! After that I couldn't stop shivering and was feeling rather frustrated. Then I thought I'd try and avoid too much steep climb from 7 to 8 so took the low route only to find the track had turned into, well, basically a swamp. Had to carry my bike close to half of the leg which was just ridiculous and I felt pretty pissed off that there was no indication it was going to be like this. Oh well, the rest went okay but I had nothing left. So glad to be finished!
SO frustrating. On the first hill along the road to 2 I was feeling shattered already! Stuffed up 4 by trying to go through the very vague single track instead of back out and round then fell into a deep and freezing cold bog coming down a hill to 5 and right in front of Di too! My whole bike ended up submerged and most of me too! After that I couldn't stop shivering and was feeling rather frustrated. Then I thought I'd try and avoid too much steep climb from 7 to 8 so took the low route only to find the track had turned into, well, basically a swamp. Had to carry my bike close to half of the leg which was just ridiculous and I felt pretty pissed off that there was no indication it was going to be like this. Oh well, the rest went okay but I had nothing left. So glad to be finished!
Saturday Oct 23, 2010 #
MTB warm up/down 30:00 [2]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
To the starts of the middle and the sprint and back from the finish of the middle.
11 AM
MTB race (Australian MTBO Middle) 1:32:46 [4] 14.5 km (6:24 / km)
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Old Quartz Hill
Mostly okay but very physical. A few hesitations and patches of lack of confidence and then a patch of craziness when I choose to continue along the singletrack instead of head back out to the track (it seemed more fun, to heck with the time it might take). Only a couple of mistakes near the end when I was pretty knackered. Ended up at 13 before 12 and as I didn't see the track I was looking for and then started down a wrong track just before 14 but worked it out fairly quickly.
Mostly okay but very physical. A few hesitations and patches of lack of confidence and then a patch of craziness when I choose to continue along the singletrack instead of head back out to the track (it seemed more fun, to heck with the time it might take). Only a couple of mistakes near the end when I was pretty knackered. Ended up at 13 before 12 and as I didn't see the track I was looking for and then started down a wrong track just before 14 but worked it out fairly quickly.
3 PM
MTB race (Australian MTBO Sprint) 58:13 [3] 7.8 km (7:28 / km)
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Clinker Hill
Oh dear! To the first control was fine but shattering as it was straight up quite a steep track. Then I was fine out to the main road towards 2 but somehow got myself so confused and couldn't work out where I was when I got to the road as it didn't look how I imagined and my brain felt fried. So frustrating as I was less than 100 metres away from the damn thing. Then I think it was coming down to 3 or 4 (can't remember now) that I came off and whacked my right knee and left hand really hard against some rocks and it hurt like hell. Lost all confidence and concentration for the rest of the course. Grrrr.
Oh dear! To the first control was fine but shattering as it was straight up quite a steep track. Then I was fine out to the main road towards 2 but somehow got myself so confused and couldn't work out where I was when I got to the road as it didn't look how I imagined and my brain felt fried. So frustrating as I was less than 100 metres away from the damn thing. Then I think it was coming down to 3 or 4 (can't remember now) that I came off and whacked my right knee and left hand really hard against some rocks and it hurt like hell. Lost all confidence and concentration for the rest of the course. Grrrr.
Friday Oct 22, 2010 #
4 AM
MTB 1:30:00 [2]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Hmmm, this was supposed to be a nice little half an hour relaxing ride around some tracks near the hostel. Well it turned into a much longer, rather epic adventure! We all took off round some tracks above some river before coming out on the road up by Daylseford. Then most of us carried on to a track round the lake there. We crossed some bridge that had been roped off saying track closed and it was really nice for quite some time (apart from having to lift your bike over fallen trees every now and again). All was okay (although there were more hills than I would have liked) until Steve somehow managed to fall down a cliff which caused quite a lot of panic. Somehow, miraculously, he was okay but I was even more nervous riding along the cliff edge than I had been before.
Thursday Oct 21, 2010 #
10 AM
MTB 1:00:00 [2]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Mosquito Flat
Relocation exercise following Pete. I'm not so good at this 'cause I have a terrible memory for tracks! Clearly I've just got to keep in touch with the map otherwise there's no hope!
Relocation exercise following Pete. I'm not so good at this 'cause I have a terrible memory for tracks! Clearly I've just got to keep in touch with the map otherwise there's no hope!
11 AM
MTB 30:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Mosquito Flat
Long legs. This was pretty easy but when I was busy reading my map on a nice, fairly clean bit of track, I rode straight into a big log and crashed into the rocks so ended up with a lovely bloody knee. Not nearly as bad as Dave's fall thankfully since all my bones were still in one piece.
Long legs. This was pretty easy but when I was busy reading my map on a nice, fairly clean bit of track, I rode straight into a big log and crashed into the rocks so ended up with a lovely bloody knee. Not nearly as bad as Dave's fall thankfully since all my bones were still in one piece.
12 PM
MTB 29:06 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Mosquito Flat
Sprint race exercise. The track out of the first control just vanished completely so I had to use my imagination and then between 2 and 3 everyone was going in all sorts of weird directions and I let it throw me off. Lost way too much time there as I really had it sorted if I'd just stuck to my original plan. The rest was fine.
Sprint race exercise. The track out of the first control just vanished completely so I had to use my imagination and then between 2 and 3 everyone was going in all sorts of weird directions and I let it throw me off. Lost way too much time there as I really had it sorted if I'd just stuck to my original plan. The rest was fine.
4 PM
Walk 1:00:00 [1]
shoes: Mizuno Wave Nirvana 5
Walk around some O map from a previous world cup race (or something like that). Crazy map! The foot seemed okay. It was blisteringly hot though and I was so glad I had taken my camelbak with me.
Wednesday Oct 20, 2010 #
12 PM
MTB 1:30:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Creswick Forest
Training exercise with Marquita. It was really good and my riding was heaps better than yesterday, managing to ride most things. We lost the track at one point and had to kind of improvise which was quite fun!
Training exercise with Marquita. It was really good and my riding was heaps better than yesterday, managing to ride most things. We lost the track at one point and had to kind of improvise which was quite fun!
2 PM
MTB 10:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Riding up to the next start triangle with Owen.
MTB 50:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Creswick Forest
Loop mostly on forest roads. I intended to do the intermediate loop but was looking at the short loop so improvised and did a kind of figure of 8 to make it longer. Physically tough work as it was quite a steep map.
Loop mostly on forest roads. I intended to do the intermediate loop but was looking at the short loop so improvised and did a kind of figure of 8 to make it longer. Physically tough work as it was quite a steep map.
Tuesday Oct 19, 2010 #
11 AM
MTB 1:00:00 [2]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Bull Gully Wells
Training exercise with Yett and Rob. Not feeling at all confident on the bike again. Yett is amazing though.
Training exercise with Yett and Rob. Not feeling at all confident on the bike again. Yett is amazing though.
1 PM
MTB 50:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Bull Gully Wells
Yellow line track exercise. Riding much better. Only made one error but the tracks were pretty vague at that point so wasn't too fussed and worked it out pretty quick. It had a lot of hills in it though...
Yellow line track exercise. Riding much better. Only made one error but the tracks were pretty vague at that point so wasn't too fussed and worked it out pretty quick. It had a lot of hills in it though...
Monday Oct 18, 2010 #
11 AM
MTB 4:00:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
The "rest day"!! Most of the group went hiking or on a bike mission with Rob but Di and I tackled the Skipton to Ballarat rail trail. What she failed to mention was that we were doing it the other direction to most people because, well, going the direction we went it was mostly uphill! It certainly wasn't just the 'turn of the legs' I was sold! But it was awesome. Oh, and I got hit by a magpie (you can see where it rammed into my helmet). Absolutely shattered afterwards though.
Sunday Oct 17, 2010 #
MTB warm up/down 10:00 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Up the hill to the start. It was freezing and I felt pretty shattered by the time I got to the top...good start!!!
2 PM
MTB race (SA MTBO - Middle) 2:00:37 [3]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Mount Richmond Forest
Hmmm, my first ever DNF. It was freezing, the tracks felt impossible (so much sand) and my breathing was getting pretty bad. I was feeling hopelessly stubborn so went all the way out to the far end of the map to 9 but decided after that it just wasn't worth it 'cause I couldn't concentrate and felt awful. Feeling pretty miserable afterwards.
Hmmm, my first ever DNF. It was freezing, the tracks felt impossible (so much sand) and my breathing was getting pretty bad. I was feeling hopelessly stubborn so went all the way out to the far end of the map to 9 but decided after that it just wasn't worth it 'cause I couldn't concentrate and felt awful. Feeling pretty miserable afterwards.
Saturday Oct 16, 2010 #
10 AM
MTB 45:00 [1]
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Training ride with Michael Wood checking that we'd put our bikes together right, could still ride and could still navigate. Some tracks were a bit overgrown. Feeling nervous but not quite as terrified as earlier.
2 PM
MTB race (SA MTBO Long) 2:13:55 [4] 29.0 km (4:37 / km)
shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Caroline Forest
Fairly flat and not particularly technical navigational-wise although if you'd lost concentration in the grid of tracks it could have been confusing. Riding across the yellow is a bit weird to get used to. Went mostly okay apart from hesitating too much on the single track from 7-8 (it seemed to take forever) and leaving 10 in completely the wrong direction across the yellow.
Fairly flat and not particularly technical navigational-wise although if you'd lost concentration in the grid of tracks it could have been confusing. Riding across the yellow is a bit weird to get used to. Went mostly okay apart from hesitating too much on the single track from 7-8 (it seemed to take forever) and leaving 10 in completely the wrong direction across the yellow.
Wednesday Oct 13, 2010 #
Road Bike 30:00 [3]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
To and from the gym. It was windy.
6 AM
Peloton (Spin) class intervals 45:00 [4]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
With Tania. It was a bit of a weird class but I kind of got used to it by the end so started out not that hard but was really pushing it by the end. She does use some weird music though.
Tuesday Oct 12, 2010 #
Road Bike 30:00 [3]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
To and from the gym. It was freezing and the tips of my fingers froze. I need full finger gloves.
6 AM
Gym (arm weights and core) 30:00 [3]
(injured)
Monday Oct 11, 2010 #
Note
(injured) (rest day)
It was SO cold today...in fact the weather report said it was colder here than in Dunedin by 3 degrees which is just plain ridiculous.
Sunday Oct 10, 2010 #
10 AM
MTB 2:15:00 [3]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Down from the gate to the bike park and then bumped into Andy, Big Mike and a couple of their mates just as they were heading out and joined up with them. So awesome and a great bunch of people to ride with. Did a couple of new trails which was cool. I was actually sad I had to abandon them early as they were heading up the top while I had to get back. Then biked down to the orienteering. I am now sort of looking forward to Aussie. Mission accomplished. Yay!
Saturday Oct 9, 2010 #
10 AM
MTB 2:00:00 [3]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
Biked from the gate down to the bike park then did a few nice loops trying to build my confidence up again after last week. I walked over the odd bit that scared me...things that didn't used to either which was frustrating but I really don't want to loose confidence before Aussie. I then biked to the orienteering and got covered in mud. Thankfully not too much uphill along the gravel roads apart from the awful hill coming out of the bike park when it decided to bucket with rain on me.
Friday Oct 8, 2010 #
Event: Auckland Champs + TONIC
7 AM
Road Bike 3:40:00 [4]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Epic. I rode out to Kumeu the long way (i.e. right around the estuary along the roads) then to Scenic Drive via Waitakere Road. Up, along and down Scenic Drive (the opposite way to last time...and again I saw a few cyclists going the other way to me but none my way so I guess people ride either direction but I just don't see them) then home again. Was pretty knackered on the little hill back home (that's the problem with living at the top!) and nearly wobbled right into a car at the lights although that was probably more to do with the fact I was pretty damn starving by then as I hadn't taken quite enough to eat. Awesome ride though and stunning weather. My legs liked the hills too :)
C • hmmm 1
Thursday Oct 7, 2010 #
Note
(injured) (rest day)
So it turns out I probably hit my head or something on Sunday on my way down the bank. After feeling so awesome yesterday morning I ended up having to go home early from work (as in 11am kind of early). Feeling quite a lot better today though but not pushing my luck. Oh, and I noticed yesterday that my main bruise has grown even bigger, perhaps 3 times the size it was on Monday. Still a bit sore too.
Wednesday Oct 6, 2010 #
Road Bike 30:00 [3]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
To and from the gym. Traffic lights suck...especially when they will only go green if there is a car which is highly frustrating when there are cars coming from all the other directions. Am I invisible or something?
6 AM
Peloton (Spin) class intervals 45:00 [5]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Oh man, so hot. Went hard out because, despite feeling all sore still this morning, my legs decided they felt great after all once I got on one of the spin bikes. No standing up and I don't even feel self conscious about that any more. A few too many sprints for my liking (Maria seems to love this whole sprinting thing) but all good fun.
Tuesday Oct 5, 2010 #
Road Bike 30:00 [3]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
To and from the gym. Legs seem to be coping okay but still all sore. Oh, and some car drivers are just arseholes.
C • Cars 1
6 AM
Gym (arm weights and core) 35:00 [3]
(injured)
Monday Oct 4, 2010 #
Note
(injured) (rest day)
I hurt all over and the big bruise keeps getting darker. Awesome.
Sunday Oct 3, 2010 #
11 AM
MTB 1:30:00 [2]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Monte Rosa MTB
At Rob and Marquita's. I started off feeling crappy but I seem to take a while to warm up when biking and also there was a lot of hill to get up. Then things started improving and I was going along okay until I slipped and fell several metres down a bank. There was a moment of panic as I thought the bike was going to come down after me but thankfully it stayed at the top. All I was trying to do was get on the damn bike when my left foot slipped. Well, at least I only came away with some nice bruises and scrapes. Then the rest of the ride was, um, not very good as I was a bit sore and definitely more than a little freaked out. Oh well. At least I didn't get lost which is probably a first out there!
Saturday Oct 2, 2010 #
8 AM
Road Bike 2:35:00 [4]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
I thought it was time to man up and do something a bit tougher so did the Scenic Drive loop. From home towards Titirangi, then up and along Scenic Drive, back down through Swanson and then back home along the cycleway. I was knackered but not as much as I anticipated. The hills were not as bad as my head was telling me they'd be and I only used granny gear once on the first steep hill but after that I was away. Yay! It was very scenic too but I was trying not to fall off so didn't take too much time to admire the views. Heaps and heaps of cyclists coming the other way along the Scenic Drive section but I didn't ever see anyone going my way. My feet got a bit numb or tingly or something near the end so I should probably look at getting road pedals at some stage but it wasn't too bad.
Friday Oct 1, 2010 #
3 PM
Road Bike 1:00:00 [2]
(injured) shoes: Louis Garneau Revo XR
Little cruise out along the cycleway to the creek and back again. Got a puncture on the way home and got to fix it for the first time on my road bike so I was quite proud! Not very fast though!