Training Log Archive: fletch

So much for cranking out a solid training week in the run-up to Easter. Wednesday off was no great surprise. Full on day, and too knackered either side of work to get a run in.
Thursday still feeling tired (a disturbing pattern here). Thought at lunchtime that I'd run after work, but felt drained and dehydrated after finishing.
Friday I nearly got out of bed for Thursday's intervals session, but not quite. Was still keen at lunch time, then trod on a bee at the beach during the afternoon, which made things less comfortable, then remembered that I was meant to be mowing the lawn and cleaning the house for a Saturday home open. Raced home and did the housework, but wasn't quick enough to get it done and get to McGillivray. Finished up about 6pm, pretty knackered and couldn't face not eating dinner to run at 7:30pm, so another day gone. To top things off the home viewing was cancelled.
Had another good night's sleep, but woke up feeling wheezy and blocked up. Hopefully just a hayfevery reaction to lwan mowing. Seems to have improved a bit as the day has gone on. But got hung up doing housey things, so any run tonight is gonna be after dinner.
Anyone up for a 7:30ish run this evening??

C • I wish 1

Well, it took another puff of the ventolin to convince me that runnig would be OK, but glad I made it out the door. Running felt really easy for the first 5km and legs felt great (funny what a few days off will do). Unfortunately, my guts got unsettled about this point and got progressively worse. As I headed for the coast I was starting to desperately think through which public toilet would be closest and wondering if I had any chance of getting there. Never been so happy to see a building site portaloo in my life. That was about the 10km mark, and felt much better again after that. Ran steadily through to 80 minutes and then put in a 10 minute surge along the coast at '10km pace'. Didn't quite hit the pace, but felt OK, although the pounding on hard ground in oldish shoes was beginning to take its toll. Held 3:41's for the 10 minutes without looking at my watch, so that will do.
Right achilles was pretty sore after that, so shuffled slowly home from there.
Data to come when I am reunited with download cable.

Another short session with a high intensity and plenty of recovery. 2 laps of the grass farm, with jog back (340m) plus 4 minutes recovery.
Chris bolted at the start of the first one and it was all I could do to stay in touch. THankfully he faded after the big descent and I got through for the win. Second rep started far more conservatively. Still struggled big time up the main hill, but got going alright once it flattened out again and ran well through to the end.
7:47, 7:53. Much happier with those times than a couple of weeks ago.

Then jog over to SAS sandhill for 2 short reps again. 40, 43. Greg smashed me in a head to head on the second one, running a 35. Unbelievable.

Shattered and nauseous afterwards (again). Mixed a very slow shuffle with some walking back to the cars.

Made the important decision that all recovery runs between now and Easter must be done with a map in hand. Unfortunately, I then got stuck at work until late, so even if I was super motivated, I would only have been able to run after 7:30pm, which would have made map reading problematic. I wasn't that motivated, so it wasn't an issue :)

C • map reading 12

Tried out the new socks with the O-Rocs today and just about cut my legs off at the knees. Quite sore now, and stoopid toggles and cord have been disposed of. Socks are tight enough without them.

Pretty scrappy run in places. For what I believe is the first time ever, Craig ran around the technical part of the course with me. Was a real eye opener. I knew he read the map really well, and related it to the terrain really well, but it blew me away just how much more he saw of the terrain around us. Made it seem like I spent the whole time looking at my feet and totally unaware of what I was running through.

Couple of valuable lessons learnt. Need to do more than just slow down, need to really look around me as well as just at the map and make sure I see the important features, preferably before I am running past them. Wish I had done a run like that with Craig 15 years ago - not much time to put it into practice now... :(

C • Seeing more 12