Training Log Archive: markg

Warm up from home to the Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

PTE 3.0

Mousdash. Was hoping for a cracking race today but it just didn't work out for me. Legs felt very dead early on, then I probably pushed a bit too hard early on in the big climb and at 3.3km I cracked and walked a few short stretches. I tried to keep it steady along the top but motivation was a bit low and didn't have much left for the hills. I was yo-yo-ing off the guy just in front along here but approaching the lookout I put in an effort and caught him as we went over. This was 8km in 35.30 and on schedule to finish in a similar time to last year. About 100m later a stitch developed and I knew it wasn't going away. Slowed to a jog and walked a little but I couldn't shake it. Finally after turning onto Mt Cooth-the road it started to fade and I decided I would at least finish strong and overtake a few people, and managed to knock out the last 500m in 1.25.

So a disappointing finish, 3min down on last year. Not sure why the legs felt so crap, either I hadn't recovered from the maximal efforts on Thu and the Coot-tha ascent on Friday morning, or it was the hip and glute release work I did last night.

PTE 5.0

Working on hips and glutes.

Morning plod up Coot-tha and back. Took it easy but even so felt really flat once I was at the top and would've happily sat down and waited for the cafe to open so I could have a coffee and some breakfast. Left heel is still sore, I think it's probably related to the ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago.

Did a fitness test today at the QUT Human Movement and Exercise clinic so I can start attending what is dubbed the circuit class but they're going to prepare a plan for me with more functional exercises and less circuit machines. I don't think they get many fit people here so there was a lot of 'excellent' assessments - it turned out to be a great way to make an below average athlete feel good about himself!

Push ups: 28
Crunches: 60
Standing vertical jump: 70cm (I may have this wrong as it seems a lot)
Sit and reach: 31cm
Sorenson test (hamstring, glute and lower back endurance): test max of 3min
Single leg balance: test max of 3min both sides (boring!)
Single leg balance eyes closed: 2.27/2.17 (also boring but harder!)

This was followed by a maximal effort on the treadmill starting at 22.00/km (also boring!) with a 5% grade and progressing to 5.12/km with a 12% grade at 3min intervals. Managed to get 2min in to the last one (188 BPM) before deciding I'd hurt myself enough. I wasn't hooked up to all the gas cart stuff and didn't give any blood so no lactate threshold or V02Max.

Haven't managed to do anything this week and I'm in a bit of a boo about it. Sore heel, sore foot and tight hamstring aren't helping ...