Training Log Archive: fletch

Ptthhhh

Still suffering from post-race lethargy. Achilles are shot.

Achilles have been better since Augusta than before, so thought I’d try running. Tight at insertions for first km but lloosened up reasonably. Calves got sore at about 2km, left worse, but never got too bad.
Nice to be out and doing something.

Ouch. More later.

Have been waiting for this for a long time. Training never really got going, and not being able to run in the lead up was disappointing but figured I had spent enough time on/in the water and on the bike that I might survive.

Started the run more conservatively than 6 years ago, bit probably got through the first km just as well placed, as I didn’t totally miss the point where you cut up behind the fence and run on the Cape to Cape track this time - makes a big difference.
Had to make a concerted effort to slow jog the beach sections, as keeping the effort under control rock hopping was impossible. Despite this, I was more or less holding my place.When we headed inland, again I had to remind myself of what was ahead and jog steadily rather than pushing. Still started to pick my way through a few people that had started to suffer. Achilles and calves were, incredibly, a complete non-issue.

Very slow transition getting shoes untied, wetsuit on and heading out to sea. The start of the swim felt comfortable physically, but was very slow, as I couldn’t see the buoy that I was aiming for (it was blue) and it was further out than I expected, so I kept stopping, looking, not seeing it, repeat ad nauseum.
Bit better rhythm reading back the yellow gate buoy. No great pace, and claves were trying to cramp through the later part of the swim , so just plodded along.
800m sand run to transition didn’t feel good, as calves etc really didn’t want to work.
Pretty good conditions for the paddle, but a reasonably strong breeze and a big enough shore break that I figured there was a fair chance that I’d go for an early swim, so I left my wettie on for the paddle, rather than risk getting cold. Don’t know if this is part of ehat made the paddle feel so hard, but I did go for a swim, so I was happy with my choice. Somewhere along the line I had pinched a nerve in my right arm, which unfortunately affected my ability to grip the paddle properly, so despite feeling pretty stable for the 6km into the wind, I just felt like my stroke had no power and I was moving very slowly. By the time I hit the turnaround, I was getting pretty tired and jist couldn’t grt the boat up to speed to catch more than a couple of runners the whole way.
Rounded out the paddle by picking a terrible line back through the break, getting caught between 2 waves an unceremoniously dumped. Waves were coming through close enough together and I was tired enough that getting back on just wasn’t happening and I probably lost another 5-10 minute here.
Extremely leisurely transition (nearly 9 minutes) getting onto the bike, changing into full bike kit and trying to make up for everything I hadn’t eaten or drunk in 2 hrs of paddling.
Riding my new bike was good fun. I took the ride steadily and it certainly wasn’t fast, but neither did I blow up, which I was pretty happy with.
Legs felt good enough at the end that I could run the short trip to the finish line feeling pretty good and with nothing overly sore.

Glad to have done it. Undecided if I want to do it again in Eagle Bay next year. Paddling will need more work to make the race more fun and I’m not sure I can be bothered.

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