Note
activity # time km +m
run 127 126:51:54 1629.76 (4:40) 5158
Rogaine 4 18:12:50 111.5 (9:48) 1908
cycle 8 8:19:26 213.16 (2:21) 388
MTB 6 5:20:00 19.0
Multisport 1 4:08:23 54.31 (4:34) 473
Windtrainer 4 2:15:02
paddle 1 30:00
notrunning 1 27:01 2.62 (10:19) 11
Unspecified 1 20:00
swim 1 15:00 0.6 (25:00)
Total 154 166:39:36 2030.95 793
Not hard to see where the focus was this year. Training from January - May went as well as it ever has, then I was dumb enough to go do a rogaine just because I was bored with running on flat surfaces. Initially I seemed to get away with it, but a few weeks later, my knee started to play up, which I strongly suspect was due to training loads with a few abnormal tight spots caused by the rogaine. A couple of weeks off didn't fix things, and I decided I was so close to the marathon that I would plough on regardless. Despite the less than ideal last 6 weeks of training, the marathon went pretty well, and I am sure I could run one a bit better with a less interrupted lead-in (8 day school camp finishing the day before is not ideal).
So, a 2:58 marathon ticked off the one major athletic goal for the year in July which was a good thing, as two weeks after the marathon, I tried one hard run, which only served to confirm that the achilles niggle that I had managed all year and actually felt completely in control of had been aggravated by altering my running technique to compensate for a sore knee (and then running a marathon in that state). That hard run would have been enough for me to with the Geraldton Harriers Club Champion Award again, but I was disqualified for not meeting minimum participation standards, primarily because that was the last time I was capable of running for the season.
Heading into a new year, I am at last running again, though not very much, and neither the knee or achilles have really convinced me that they are 100%, but seem to be coping with really low loads OK for now.
Undecided about any competitive goals for the year. Looks like I will be shot if I suggest a trip to the World Rogaining Champs. I am tempted by the nationals if I can find a partner, but can't see myself training properly if that is my sole goal through to September. That would also write off any crack at State Orienteering Champs the following weekend.
Local triathlons are at a time that really doesn't work for me, but I am contemplating a return to a more 'multisport' focus in training just to try to stay fit without breaking down again. Adventurethon being moved to June makes that a possible target, with the bonus that if I'm really not fit, or still can't paddle properly on the ocean, the Enduro version is a river only paddle (although the run leg is nowhere near as interesting as the long version).
This approach would have the added bonuses that :
a) it won't take long to pass 2015 cycling, paddling (or swimming) totals. (Being nearly 40 degrees today, I'm tempted to head out today to knock off two of those in one hit)
b) I might be fit enough in June to launch a half-hearted attempt to compete at either orienteering or rogaining later in the year.