Training Log Archive: Lizzie

British Sprint Champs qual.

Another "take it as it comes and don't push more than I feel up to" day. Body was better than yesterday but still something is off. So hard to tell if it's just jetlag or something more. Still negative.

Another mistake out of the triangle today. This time not getting my map oriented properly, getting confused by the gardens, and overshooting my little path. Still not quite sure how I managed it! A fast start in the open moor park, then over to the uni. I had to wait for a bus and the following cars on the un-manned road crossing to the uni, which I was pretty unimpressed about, and on the splits I've lost 10s.
Was happy to get in to the uni as it meant less straight running and hopefully a chance for more flow than speed. Unfortunately the course setting wasn't the best, with multiple dog-legs disguised as routechoice. Got through without any major problems, although lost another 10s on one leg, and slower on subsequent legs after being completely taken out by a teenage guy on one corner. Honestly, I think I need to bulk up so that basic physics doesn't annihilate me in these collisions every time.

Was again disappointed with how far behind I was, but felt a bit better after looking at splits and realising most time loss was due to #1 (my fault), the road crossing, and the collision, plus not being at full speed. I know my training has gone well up to leaving NZ, so just have to trust the form will come back over the next couple of weeks

C • Drop your shoulder 5

British sprint champs final.

A fair bit of faff from the organisers deciding whether us internationals could run the A final or not. Originally we were in the A start list, but then a revised list came out that demoted us to the B/C finals. The boys had a chat to the organisers and managed to get an A final run, but given how I've been feeling I didn't think it was worth arguing and was happy running the B final. Just protecting my ego and confidence a bit ;)

Made another(!) crap start, making a 90deg mistake out of the triangle. But then realised my 90deg mistake had actually taken me the way I wanted to go...two wrongs making a right. Once I had my map facing the right way, things got a lot easier. Had another time loss on #3 where I didn't spot the sneaky gap in the multilevel mapping (almost identical leg and same mistake I made at JK2016, so a bit of prep could have saved that one!). From there I felt smooth, just slow, which was the plan really.

...went to chat about the course to Laura and Kirsten afterwards, only to be told we were on different courses...they were running W35. Haha, we've spent so long running against each other, I just assumed! Guess I can rejoin them next year :)

C • B Final? 15

British Sprint Relay champs.

Hahaha. Nope. Not through the jetlag and travel hangover it turns out.
A debacle of a start, as I ripped my map trying to open it. Subsequently was very careful with the other two bits of tape keeping it closed, and only got it open well past the start triangle, where I was then stuck well back in the pack going down a narrowed walkway. Accelerated once we were out of this, only to loose my footing and faceplant/toboggan down a steep grass slope. Classy. First part of the course was chaos in the accomm area of the uni, with plenty of uncrossable hedges and dead-end controls. Being mid-pack I was colliding with girls both going in and out of every control, which was very irritating and just meant you could get zero flow or map reading done.
The course then opened out into fast flat running, where upon I quickly realised my body was not in fast mode! Really struggled through the course, and brought our team in a couple of minutes down. The others made up the time and brought us back to win, which kind of masked my terrible start.

Disappointing to be so far off the pace, though trying to be realistic given the travel and associated weariness and risk of bugs (felt off this morning, but Rat tests are negative)

Bit of a route choice exercise in south York. Legs feeling ok, lungs feeling ok. Fingers crossed getting through the jetlag.

Slightly longer lap of the fields with Tommy. legs less wobbly than yesterday but lungs more laboured

Finally arrived in UK. Got out in the evening to stretch the legs. Others nicely loop and scooped for me :)

Travel day. Ughh. Long haul travel is still terrible.

QB middle #2. Python upload.