Training Log Archive: AliC

Woodcote Sportive ride

So this was pretty cool! A non-race, but timed, with two feed stations, and lotsa people out on their bikes on marked routes. I really, really enjoyed it. It was lovely weather, lovely going up and down and in and out in the Chilterns, and I managed to avoid getting a flat until the last 10k, and it was my front wheel. I tried pumping it back up, but that didn't help, so just finished on it flat, which just made a very jolty last bit, well, a bit slower too I'm sure. Everyone was getting flats all over the place, so I was happy mine waited til so late!

I didn't feel like that much of a horrible cyclist out there, must have gotten a bit used to it in the past few weeks. Got a Silver-standard time, a few minutes off of the Gold standard, which I could maybe have done, had I not stopped for flapjack at the two feed stations. But c'mon.... it's flapjack, much yummier than gels and goos.

Back to Reading, straight to the track to see SGB's 3k. Tired!!!

C • Gels and goos 2

Down to Reading on the bike! Made fewer mistakes this time, but sitll a few... a bit confused at the end of Busgrove Lane, and then I missed one of the final turns from Kidmore End to Tokers Green, which was frustrating, because I was about ready to be done by then.

Twice the distance tomorrow, yikes! I saw some of the signs up for the ride, directing people this way and that- the hill up towards Stoke Row from Ipsden will be a killer...

I could still feel my heel when I went over bumps today, but not quite so bad, I don't think, I hope...

Have a shiny new helmet, water bottle holder, cycling shorts, and hex key set for tomorrow's (down to Reading) and Sunday (the Sportive ride thingy).

Not springing for the pedal + shoe combo yet, having found that wearing fell shoes on the current pedals actually gives me quite good pedal-foot connection...

Heel is, well, still painful, but a bit different? It's felt really tingly the past 2 days, which is wierd. Now if I'm wearing shoes and step onto it, I don't feel much pain, unless I turn my foot inward and put pressure on one specific spot in the heel. Wierd.

C • Tingly is good 3

Hill Intervals on bike! Gotta get some sort of session in... So Garsington hill, many times, from many directions:

2:18 - up straight from Oxford direction
2:37 - 2nd way up
4:35 - 3rd way up
7:44 - 4th way up (Denton)
2:16 - up straight from Oxford direction again

The best hill was straight from Oxford I think. Steep, hard work. So much burn... others were more extended, absolutely gorgeous day out!! Should have avoided rush hour a bit more though.

Time on bike not doing intervals. Mostly downhill and not that much work, now that I think about it...

Am signing up for a Sportive cycle ride on Sunday. Have just decided to do the middle distance one, which is 58 miles. The long is 75, and looks like it has a neat little extra loop, but 58 miles is still about twice as far as I've been cycling... I could probably do the 75, but that could provoke yet another injury, and I don't think I could handle it on top of the just-healing thumb and already-injured heel...

10 min abs
2 min sideplank
2 min back stuff
1 min pushups
8 min leg stuff

While watching Olympics!

Middle of the day cycle ride. Because it was nice then, and I'm going to work from home for the next few days to stay off the foot.

Garsington - Baldons - Clifton Hampden - Wittenhams - Wallingford - Shillingford - Stadhampton

Goal was really to go see the clumps, was a nice ride, but a bit too much on busy roads, and not enough hills...

Heel feels fine cycling, unless I get jolted much by a particularly uneven road.

Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2166961

And, finally, went to see the doctor about my heel. Just my GP (general doctor), and his opinion is that I've bruised/stress fractured the bone itself. Why? Because none of the surrounding tendons seem to be upset at all, and it can't be plantar faciitis as I'm a happy camper standing on tip toe. There's just one point on the heel where any pressure make it real unhappy.

So the plan:
-avoid pressure to the heal as much as possible over the next 3 weeks- as little walking as required during the day, and using heel cushions when I do have to walk
-cycling/swimming is all fine
-return if it's not going away after 3 weeks

Hope this is it!!!!

C • diagnosis 6

OUOC circuits with Ian and Roy. Hid from the rain for a bit under the pavillion, and did what I could out of circuits (some extra abs, and no explosive leg stuff). Saw Ian's maps from France which look way fun!!! Would of been fun to be there for sure!

Afterwards, had about an equal-length chatter about stuff- bubbles, CCDchips, how awesome female brains are, linux, etc.