Training Log Archive: Lizzie

Manuka trail run 30k (KC Collier Classic)

Originally this was going to clash with the Auckland Sprint Weekend. Completely forgot until a moment of realisation struck that I could now run it. What's amazing is that I had that realisation after running Holdsworth last week, and still signed up haha.
The event is contained entirely within one large sheep and beef farm in Eastern Hill Country, out the back of Eltham and on the shore of Lake Rotorangi. Imagine rugged farmland consisting of networks of very sharp and tall ridges, with the occassional section of native or plantation forest.
After last weekend I was happy to take the race at a steady pace - helped by there not being too many entrants, which made it easier to keep my own pace.
Race started with an easy loop on the fields by the river, where I took full opportunity to restock my legs full of thistles (got the last one from Oamaru out yesterday). Then headed up the first of many ridges, with an even steeper descent down the other side - I was already in a group of my own coming off the flats, but caught up the guys in front on the goat like descent :) From there we had a nice little foray into native bush, following a trapping line, before breifly emerging onto another spur track. We then took a detour back into the bush to the top of the spur - presumably just to take in the cute little viewpoint, although with the rainclouds comin in, there were no mountains to be seen today!
Down to the river flats for little loop before a steep ascent back up the spur track to the first aid station - this was supposedly at 8km, but my watch had 11.3km! At this point I decided not to really check distance on my watch, as I would probably be disappointed when the aid stations/finish didn't show up on cue!
Soon after the aid station, the 15km course split from the 30km, and I said goodbye to my running partner of the last few km. Fortunately the guy behind had caught up while I replenished my water, so had company on the next undulating bit around the top of a quite impressive ridgeline. In hindsight I could have pushed harder here, but was hard to know when you don't quite know what the course has in store ahead. This is also when the heavy rain warning proved itself true, with torrential rain on and off for the rest of the race.
Given the race was predomiinantly on clay farm tracks, the rain turned the downhills into super slick slip'n'slides, while the uphills really had to be negotiated with to make progress! After a bit of cat and mouse on the downhill/uphills, I unintentionally gapped it on my running buddy on the long descent into the 2nd aide station. Was a bit worried that he may have taken a fall when he didn't show up behind me at the drinks, but figured someone would pick him up if so...
A long stretch up the valley followed, surrounded by epic ridges, which I was certain they'd make us crawl up somewhere. Fortunately, the race directors were actually pretty nice, and brought us up a reasonably gradiented track to the "low" point in the ridge. The last hurdle before the finish was sweet talking the farm bull to allow me past, but once that was negotiated, it was just to slide down the hill, across the field and into the barn for a bbq and beer :)

Good fun race, would recommend, but we were actually very lucky with the rain - it would be a grueling race in the sun and heat!

Just an afterwork shake out of the legs. Kept it flat out at Topec

Just a fill in run prior to preseason. Decided Tuesday's session wasn't enough in itself, yet failed to get out for a run during the day (wfh guilt). Did a lap of Te Henui and the racecourse, then straight to preseason training

Preseason. Bit of 8v8 match play today. Always nice to be reminded that running fitness is not match fitness

afterwork lap of Te Henui and Pukekura. So muggy. The last two weeks have been so hard to sleep or get off the sofa to train!
The teenage pukekohe in Pukekura are hilarious as ever. So lanky!

First Preseason ⚽️ trainnig. Oh how I've missed the silliness of a load of gaggling 16 year olds :/ a few new older girls showed up, will do all i can to convince them to play for us this season!

Inglewood summer ⚽️. Got frustrated as the guys we were playing against were pretty condescending tonight. Kept complimenting us on our passing game, then just would toe poke the ball down the pitch to their striker, who would out trick our defender and blast it at the goal full strength. Oh well.
Scored twice. Bit concerned that its getting more common?

Cruise around Hawera checkng out a couple of potential sprint maps. Think one is a go, the other won't work without permission from the highschool to open their massive gates/fences (and even then, probably not enough)