Training Log Archive: slow-twitch

40-60 mins

Hour plus

So the wonderful training schedule lasted one day. Woke to find the recurred calf strain had not magically gone away. At various times during the day reduced to mere tightness, making things very tempting. But staying in a house with lots of stairs served to remind me often enough that going for a run would probably convert mild discomfort to sheer agony. Very frustrating when staying in pretty much the ideal spot in Wellington to base a long run from. Will see how things respond to a couple of days of heat pad treatment.

Light run, mod duration

1st session on the list successfully ticked off! Feeling very heavy in the legs after a night of Minuit-induced dancing followed by little sleep but survived. In Palmy, out to the riverbank via the public golf course, tried to go upstream but found that all closed off for flood protection work so battled through the headwind down to the private golf course, then back again. Calf started hurting after 30 mins, for now I'm going to try to believe it is merely allergic to running in PN.

Realised just in time that it's still worthwhile getting back on program for nationals. Do need a bit more self discipline though... With another trip to Palmy (with bonus Welly thrown in this time too) coming up, this weekend is the crunch test!

Tonight's session was just a remember-how-to-put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other session. A little bit stop start and definitely not great on the steepest bits but otherwise not as ugly as I was expecting. Ankle started feeling a bit tweaky too....

Have programmed in what I need to do before nationals. Now just have to actually do the sessions as they pop up. Yay for attackpoint, making us do stuff!

C • yes 1

Honestly can't remember if I did this on monday as well. Think it was another victim of the weekend's festivities

Half a good night's sleep again. grrr. Oh well, will be too busy getting to know the B'dale/Palmy road even better this pm to schedule a run anyway. There are stuff-all hills in Palmy though, so while it will be a busy weekend I think I will pack running shoes & see what happens...

This waking up nearly 2 hours before required thing is just getting silly! No run today, then.

Also got in some bonus manly grunting a couple of hours later trying to remove a fallen tree from a track (and in the end making do with creating enough space for a hilux to squeeze through)

Intended to be an intervals session but right from the start of the first int just couldn't maintain any sort of speed or intensity. So after a couple more false starts just gently ran round for a bit. Could have been due to a tougher day's work than I'd realised (admittedly I normally wouldn't bother with any sort of workout after the rat monitoring day 1 effort, let alone a tough one, but felt ok when we got home...), or still short of sleep (have been going to bed earlier but just seem to end up waking earlier) or possibly feeling a bit ill - so hope I'm not coming down with something.

Also aware wasn't doing enough to protect my ankle - don't think it's after effects of sunday's roll, but more a weird vertical torsion across the arch of the foot when I had an awkward landing off a fence today.

All round: Fail.

60 minute score at Whakaipo Bay. Hot hot hot, with Nic the Sweat Monster almost causing fatal map disintegration. Map bags can be useful in fine weather too. Collected 21 out of 30, for top score of 290 (I find it slightly embarrasing how good some of the Taupo orienteers probably think I am). Had to drop a few intended low pointers towards the end but even if things had gone completely to plan would probably not have been able to get much more. Was finding the controls OK (a little time loss in the circle on two) but had more significant loss not really getting the exit right on two (both in bush and one I ended up coming out completely the wrong side of the bush patch). Controls mostly quite easy, but happily I spiked the couple in really wiggly gully systems. Also really struggled on uphills, and even getting into a proper running pace right at the start - but that came right by the end. Hopefully this was enough to blast my traditional drop in motivation in the build-up to a major race. Though I did manage to throw in my traditional ankle roll in the build up to a major race. Hopefully will feel ok tomorrow...

really really really need a few nights good sleep in a row....

Decided that yesterday's interval effort was such a wash out that the various hills I'd walked up this afternoon trying to find a bird playing the "let's see how far I can travel in 2 days" game was sufficient enoug recovery. Getting home at 6, and the proximity of cold beer, may have influenced this decision

Actually felt mostly alive when I woke up this morning, so celebrated with some push-ups etc

The usual 4 x 4 minutes, using the "12th patch loop". Still feeling a bit tired and tight in the calf, and aware it's been a few weeks off so intended to ease back a bit from the usual pace. Turns out I didn't need to try, an ease back from the usual pace was all I was capable of. Feeling quite awful by the end too. Need a couple more good sleeps I think.

Warm up and down and 2 min recoveries.

A question for NCEA maths: Nic has 3 pairs of thorlo or similar socks, and buys 2 more pairs. How many pairs can he now find?

C • socks 2

got into bad sleep patterns over the weekend & feeling pretty wrecked today. Usually bounce back fairly quickly though so hopefully will sleep deep tonight and all will be good tomorrow.

I think I've pretty much avoided the Huka walkway this season - I remember why now: fear of buggering up my calves on the harder surface (they were getting quite sore towards the end and not too great now, but I think they've felt this bad before then pretty much nothing the next day). Went out in the early afternoon, ie stupidly hot, so trouble getting started again but soon came right and enjoyed the stretch out. Had in the back of my mind this might be the day that I strike out for Aratiatia, but the sensible part of the brain was in control and I turned around after a bit over 40 mins - still further than I've been before and just downstream of Wairakei power station. Quick check of the map reassures me that I wasn't stupidly close to Aratiatia, but close enough it is worth trying at a cooler time of year. All started to fall apart around the hour mark though and a real battle on the return from the falls to spa park. Good hot soak afterwards.

A building site has appeared at about the point I used to turn around - I believe this might be where the Taupo bypass will cross the Waikato if it is finished before all the oil runs out. I would like to know who is responsible for the safety signs approaching the site, because I got a good giggle from the juxtaposition of the "Tree felling" and "Heavy plant crossing" signs...

Weather cooled down just enough at just the right time this evening. Went up to the airstrip, and "found" some new paddocks immediately to the north which were good fun for a spot of terrain-play (would have been more fun without the excellent crop of thistles). Really ugly to start with but the running seemed to improve after a while, so worth getting out there. But really one of those days (weeks?) where being an ecologist and a try-hard athlete is not the best combination

C • hello nic from ecology 1

filthy hot this afternoon, but do intend to get the shoes back on later...

C • Filthy hot 6

....back into it

Stopped at Ohakune on the drive home for a recovery session. Mangawhero forest walk - nice spot for it though if there's a next time I might just do it anticlockwise so the big climb isn't at the beginning. Feeling very sore, calves especially, but able to keep up a good relaxed pace despite that. Intent is for an easy week this week - shouldn't be too hard to hold myself to...