Training Log Archive: jennycas

Dropped ute to parents' so they can borrow it for a camping trip, rode home, walked dog, drove to Morialta to meet Vanessa for 9am and we did the 3rd falls loop. Took it easy because legs very tired and stiff, and was rewarded by the sight of the trickle still going over the falls. Pretty humid but I'm not holding my breath that there will be enough rain so that I don't need to water parents' garden over the next month.

Across to meet Sheridan for coffee at Stranded Store, it was starting to rain. Riding home again, I got both soaked and cold. Looks like I'll be hanging the washing indoors and quarantining the dog until he dries off.

Legs a little tired. Dog more than a little disappointed when, after he'd eagerly watched me putting my shoes on, I then reached past his leash for my helmet.

C • fejora 3

Nice morning, finally found some momentum. And last night's killer headache (dehydration from yesterday's run?) had gone.

What's this funny annoying thing on my head? It's a headlamp! Yep, first of the darkness/torchlight runs. Long Gully, up & over the hill then back from the redwoods, chatting to Simon about sprint courses and mapping underpasses/multi levels. Ran Zara home across the golf course too.

31 to the top, so down was 28:30. Equivalent to my best times from last winter but I doubt I was thirsty enough then to go all the way to the tap at the BP. Suspect my quads may have an opinion tomorrow (unfortunately my neuroma did, this morning). Question is whether I can sustain similar pace for a whole half marathon?

3-Hills loop. Very nearly turned around and went home after 10 min, feeling about as flat as last night (breakfast probably would have helped) but once I'd made it up the first hill figured the rest wouldn't be worse. Did consciously try not to slacken off but still felt like I was plodding. Time not too shabby though.

Attack of the Killer Physio
Not that I didn't need poking and prodding, but the benefits of spending that time gossiping with one's favourite health service provider can also not be underestimated!

Actually put running gear on and ran about 4 blocks (legs were moving marginally faster than brain was) but got sidetracked by a fejoia tree so walked home with its produce and taste-tested immediately. Didn't go grocery shopping or cook proper food either, just moped around and raided the chocolate drawer.

It's always fun to finish off a carnival with a wet day, right? I doubt anyone was particularly inspired as we huddled in cars waiting for the rain to ease before squelching to the assembly area (does anyone know if that Impreza has made it back across the creek yet?) but having a well-set mass start loop race made a potentially diabolical area into something almost enjoyable, and I'd venture to suggest that lantana is easier to run through when wet than dry (also when properly mapped - the vegetation was quite reliable on this map).

Hard to quantify how well I did or didn't run, as with a small field and 3 dissimilar-distanced loops with a common pivot control halfway through each, I'd see others coming into and out of controls, but rarely on the same leg as me. Having hanging control flags made them often easier to spot, and I read the termite mounds fairly well mostly. First loop I did cleanly, second loop I was too far right on the first control then ended up going all the way to/around by the fence on 3-4, hardly a necessary detour. Dropped a bit low on 4 also. On 3rd loop I started to run out of legs, and coming over the hill heading S looking for a depression went rather more SW and bounced off a control from a previous loop. Finished this one as Anna & Aislinn were chasing each other into the finish; slightly demoralising, but I was excited to catch a glimpse of Zoe & Rachel W coming out of the first control on the last loop as I went into it - then I bounced off the access track we'd walked in by, and had to have another go at it, so lost them for good.

So, errors could have totalled as much as 8 min, but I sort of enjoyed the challenge, and the absence of grass seeds. And the whole week, actually, but I wish I could get back to being faster again.

C • Hoping 14