Training Log Archive: Lizzie

Holdsworth Jumbo race. About time for another crack at this one. As background - I grew up camping and hanging out here while my parents did the race. Mum's veterans record from 1999 still stands. I have 6 more years of training before I can try and claim that from her. I attempted back in 2013, and had a fantastic start to the race, before i started to feel dizzy and out of breathe, and generally just shit. The second half of the course was an absolute mission, in hindsight, I'm amazed I finished... So, time to try the race with a fully functioning heart, and knock one more pre-diagnosis demon off!

The start was pretty pacey this year, especially with everyone running the course clockwise (as a covid restriction). As a result I know I started harder than I should, despite holding back from the pace many were going! Soon realised that the weird gut I had at breakfast had not settled with food, and really started struggling with the climb. Immy came past after 3-4km, but there was no way I could go with her. That was the only time I saw her all race! I ground out the climb, but was 6 mins behind my previoius time at Powell hut. Refilled with water and continued onward and upward, was with a couple of other girls at this point, but just had nothing more to get ahead. Managed to choke down a muesli bar as I struggled on up, and finally got to the top of holdsworth in 96. I think I did 95 previously - and that was after a couple of sit-downs to push back dizziness! So definitely not my best climbing day.
From the top of Holdsworth though, it was game on! Finally some downhill to let me get into my stride, before some rugged undulating ridgeline across to Jumbo. Reached the top of Jumbo in 2.06, having gapped the girls and guys who I was with at the top of Holdsworth. From Jumbo it's a beautiful descent down to Jumbo hut, and then the precipitous rain-gauge track down to the river valley. I passed the 3rd and 4th women on the way down to the hut, and then completely smashed it down the rain-gauge with absolutely no regard for the health of my knees.
At Atiwhakitu hut at the bottom, I heard the marshal call through the 2nd place woman just in front of me, and caught a glimpse of her. I was really confused then, when I couldn't see her beyond the hut, no matter how long a straight stretch of track we got! Kind of assumed she'd stopped for water or something at the hut, but at this stage of the race there was little I could do but run to the extent my body allowed me to haha, so no big push from me! Got into a good rhythm, with a young bloke on my tail keeping me honest and not stopping on the stairs! When we got to the 1-person swing bridge I politely waited for him to cross behind me before continuing on...I was thus hugely disappointed when he blew up and disappeared from behind me a couple of minutes later! That wasn't part of the deal!
Managed to run strongly along the 7km flat back to the finish, where I found I was 3rd behind Immy and Hannah. Immy just smashed the race! While it seems Hannah put in a super boost on the flat at the end after hearing I was behind her haha.

3.13 overall, so still 3mins off mum's time (and 21 off dad's). Happy with the second half of the race, but disappointed in the climb. Much better than my last attempt though! I'll be back

work and travel

Went around Sunday's TOPEC course with Coady, giving tips on control placement and any possible last minute changes. I was navigating off the map on his phone, which was a bit weird. And made me very careful on the stream crossings! Probably should have worn long socks in hindsight, legs got pretty cut up by hidden brambles. We were out for 60mins, but think the strava moving time is pretty fair.

My friend has an overload of marrows at the moment, so went to take one off her hands. Enjoyed the looks I got running back home along the road with a marrow under my arm.

Eventually dragged myself out of the house (wfh now Omicron has broken the border). Just set off from home and found myself at Huatoki domain. Love the tracks here - but they require a few loops to make up a decent run.

Question for the readers: If a run has a loop at the end of it, does it still count as an out-and-back?

C • loop at the end of it 4

9pm futsal, just to get the blood pumping before bed. Fun match, even managed to curl a left footer into the top corner. Other side marked me a bit better after that.

Struggling to sleep with the heat this week. This combined with a long day sampling WQ at all the southern beaches, meant the evening was spent snoozing on the sofa.

Another work car shuffle. From home through to Pukekura park and Sarah's place to pick up a ute for fieldwork tomorrow.
Forgot to mention yesterday, there's a group of teenage pukekos at the park at the moment, they're hilarious, all legs with a bit of fluff at the top! Adorably silly.

Monday 5 aside ⚽️ Had a sub for the first time in a long time. And we were all there before kick off! Amazing!
Lost 3-1. We continue to play beautiful football, but always seem to lose to teams that have a couple of strong and fast blokes on their side. Oh well. Good fun.

Took some of the ⚽️ girls up onto the Pouakais for a mini-adventure. Headed out to the plane wreck (which mum and I didn't find in November). Successfully located this time around, followed by a swim at the waterfall, and a rock scramble down the stream. All the girls enjoyed themselves, and no twisted ankles, so I'll count that as a good day out!

Evening lap of Pukekura, making the most of the nice weather before a week of rain. Nothing remarkable to note, just the beauty of Pukekura