Training Log Archive: Craig

Warm up run at Calophylla all in terrain. Tight spot low in left calf.

State Series race at Calophylla. Started fairly well, taking time leaving controls when I needed to be accurate on compass (which was quite often). Still tending to leave controls with little more than direction and work out the rest on the way, lucky that almost always works in WA (probably why I do it). Lost time on a couple of controls in the flat areas even though I would have been within 10m of them on the first pass. All started to go wrong half way to 16 when I stepped on a rock crossing a creek through some green and jammed the front of my ankle by bending the toes up. Had to walk for a few minutes then started to jog deciding to take it easy to avoid hurting it again. Going down the hill from 18 to 19 stepped in a hole and rolled the ankle to the outside this time. Just starting to feel completely free in my movement again approaching 20 and rolled it again this time forwards and to the outside. Jog/walked very carefully for the last few short legs but still managed to hurt it again about 100m from the finish this time stepping on something with my heel and stretching it straight at the front. Hopped/walked to the finish. On the bright side the left achilles/heel didn't bother me much at all and I won by 44 minutes.

Warm up and down for WA sprint champs. A bit sore around Tib Post tendon in warm up.

WA sprint champs at Joondalup Education Precinct. Under instruction from physio to do enough to win and no more. Judged it perfectly winning by 2 seconds from Eoin. Didn't really intend to cut it that fine but basically I'm crap at sprint races at the best of times so going out without intending to race really hard means I'm pretty hopeless. I actually felt it was an ok race with just a couple of less than optimal but not dreadful route choices (partly due to the map being less than perfect). I wasn't consciously taking it easy but I certainly wasn't tired at all at the finish. Luckily I sped up a bit at the finish to look good where John was taking photos otherwise Eoin would have got me.

C • Well done 2

Ride to work from Darlington. Decided not to run today to give my achilles a bit of a rest and because I would struggle to fit in my 32 hours of work for the week. Started raining about 30 seconds after I started riding and never really stopped. Heaviest rain was at the start while I was coasting down the hill at around 55km/h with the rain hitting me in the eyes. Saw another guy from work (Andrew) in his car just before Barrack St so tried to race him to work (4-5km). Nearly stacked it going through the Barrack St intersection when my front wheel slipped on some wet leaves or something. Just missed the lights at UWA but still managed to beat Andrew to the door. Average speed just over 29km/h. I am not looking forward to putting my cycling gear back on for the ride home.

Ride from work to Darlington. Much drier this way but a bit cold with all the wet gear on, particularly towards the end. Very glad of the 39/25 today, used it all the way up the hill. I think it will be a while before I am ready to tackle Leithdale Rd.

Went to the physio again today. Had a bit of ultrasound on my left calf followed by some massage and one acupuncture needle to get rid of the final knot. Had right ankle and left foot taped. Told to stretch heaps, get regular massage, drink at least 3L a day and take magnesium supplements.

Easy run around North Ledge farm, same as last Saturday. Light rain all the way. Tightness in lower left calf early on eased after a few minutes but never completely went. Feeling quite good at the end apart from my achilles heel.

Usual (short) lap of KP with Ivan. Felt tired today, the cycling might be starting to get to me. I thought it would have been slower as I slowed down in the second half when Ivan dropped off.

Shortest version of old 90min loop with Rachel. Beautiful warm sunny spring day (27 degrees). Left calf a bit tight for the first 30min, middle 30min felt fine, last 30min a little sore on inside of heel just below ankle. Nice to run with Rachel again for a change. Didn't feel slow running at Rachel's pace but it was 9min slower than the last time I did this run alone. Picked up some heavy rocks to run up the last steep hill to see how hard it is for Rachel carrying an extra 5kg. Had to drop them half way up because I was struggling to keep up, reminded me I could stand to lose a few kilos myself.

Ride to work from Darlington. A bit cold going down the hill but really nice after that (tailwind).

Ride from work to Darlington. Unfortunately had to leave work at about 4:40 to get home in daylight. Sunny, still, lots of dolphins playing in the river.