Training Log Archive: Wally80

Went down early and padded out the boat with some foam, I put another 20mm on top of the 10mm already in the seat, it was good on the base but I need to shave some off the sides, I also need to repair the torn bit at the back. With the footplates I added 10mm of foam to the heel and toes, this worked OK until it fell off so I need some stiffer rubber and a better method of attaching it. Plus I want to put some hard foam behind the base of the footplate to stop some of the flex when I heel drive.

Went out and pootled around for a while during Rach’s technique session, arms were predictably smashed still from climbing so I needed the long warm up.

With the session proper I only did the first three races then bailed. I was getting a lot of arm pump so I thought it was a wise call. I still managed to beat Raf in all three races despite hilaritys trash talking on the weekend. She wasn’t there to witness the humiliation though.

C • I've heard 13

Event: Boundless AR - KillaAvon
 

After a few aborted attempts this was my first time racing with Rach since our honeymoon. I got to hang around heckling other teams before the race whilst Rach did all the map mark-up as she was the primary nav for the race. I got to nav some of the foot sections so I didn’t get too bored.

Off the start we fairly quickly dropped to the back whilst the pack sorted itself out, once the confusion cleared out we got moving and between the combination of the fast teams overshooting the first control and some tow rope shenanigans meant we hit TA1 with the lead pack.

Out on the O leg and a bunch of people ran away from us through the first couple of controls before they all massively overshot #3. We ducked in with the Maids to punch and sneak off then the Maids stuffed #4 whilst we just ducked in to it and took off. We were on our own in the lead for most of the leg with tRicky coming past on the way to #7 (he didn’t appreciate our cheerleader routine complete with special dance). I got a bit sloppy towards the end and went in too high on the last two controls and let a pair of blokes came past right near the end to be second back to TA.

And discover Rach had a flat. Bugger. We changed it out whilst a few teams came through, looking at the paths out we decided to go the long way to avoid more flats. Didn’t matter though since the new tube went flat as well and we had to stop and change it again, costing us another bunch of spots.

We kinda took the foot off the accelerator for a while here since we were way back in the field but a quick turnaround at Muresk got us back into the bunch. The leg at Muresk was the greatest disappointment of the race though. I mean, we rode in past a sign off to a Pig Skills section of the farm and the boys didn’t manage to include it in the race? Poor form.

Back out on the road with Marty and we trundled along till the Maids came past again, we were hanging on the back OK until the solo’s who had gone for the bonuses came past and the group speed went up a notch. The surging in the group was killing us as the tow rope would fling Rach at me till she had to stop pedalling then it would stretch out as she dropped back. We gave up pretty quickly and let the group go.

It was a good call in the end as they all overshot the next control and we realized they had stopped, looked left and could see the control. A quick duck over the rail and we took off down the road, then quickly looped back to the path along the river. Rach made a brilliant tactical decision to go to the toilet here and whilst two teams lost the path and started slogging up the river bed we ducked out the other side of the bushes and kept going on the track. We had no problems with the last two controls and came in to Northam fairly happily.

We decided to go for a bit of a trot around Northam to stretch the legs out, we picked up 7 CP’s but I am not sure if we made time or not through here, especially after a reading skills fail at CP A. My glutes started pinging towards the end of this run and t was a slow shuffle back to TA.

Out onto the bikes for a last leg home we very quickly decided to flag the Ommaney climb, and as we went up the spur to the next CP I was glad for the decision. My legs started screaming about here and didn’t stop for the entire length of the Kep. I was really contemplating getting off and walking a few times and I think it was only because we were riding with Marty that my competitive urges were enough to keep going. A nice rest on the roll down Trimmer road meant that the legs were fresh enough to drive it home hard taking turns with Marty to face the headwind.

Fun race, we weren’t fast but we were fairly smooth. It was nice to end up mid pack considering our puncture problems. Rach is pretty sold on a tubeless set up now. Completely smashed afterwards, but a day later my rock climbing muscles hurt much more than any running and riding muscles.

Still think we should have done some Pig Skills.

C • Pig skills 1

Grabbed a tester paddle from CDU and went out for a trial and some technique work with Rach. paddle was OK so I am now the proud owner of a Epic mid wing blade. I contemplated the mid-large blade since that is what T2 and Josh use but I figured the mid would be better for when I was tired in AR's. I left my old Stealth blade at the shop to get a smart shaft put in it so I can use it in Caffeinated this year.

Plus, I picked up one of the new sharkskin tops, it is a normal sharkskin material vest with compression material for the arms. it looks good.

Climbing for Cricket.

My first time climbing since........ well, ever. I actually quite enjoyed it, I made a couple of 16's and had some fun on a chimney climb. Once I fell off once I got more confident, and fell of a few more times as a result.

Robbie called at 4:30 adn tried to wuss out. I abused him.

I called Robbie at 5:55 and tired to wuss out. he abused me.

We ended up having a fairly nice run, the rain had minly stopped and we were sheltered from the wind for the most part. I feel like I am running much better than I was a month or two ago. Rolled from running into the new Floreat. Clancy's was better.

Pootle in with Rach. Now that I have decided that I am allergic to my icebreaker stuff and I can't find my arm warmers I am going to have to figure out a new plan for winter clothing. Any suggestions?

C • Give your icebteaker stuff ... 4

Ride home with Rach via Mike and Tanya's new house for a looksee.

Almost more blokes than chicks tonight! and with the addition of Robbie it made for a faster run in general, plus a fair bit of pain on Mount St. Clayton rocked up for his first run back in a pair of Vibrams to ensure he got heckled.

Lovely morning to be out on the bike. Abs felt fine when I woke up but they are a little sore now.

Rode home in the rain, actually quite pleasant once I was thoroughly wet.

Good photos of the bridge duck on the weekend.
http://wanakikamoocow.smugmug.com/Sports/Flatwater...