Training Log Archive: markg

ACT Long Champs and the Jim Sawkins Classic Handicap at Timber Tops. 3rd place, 6min behind Doyley. Got off to a bad start, with no warm-up and then missed the actual start as I made a last second decision to put my sunnies back in my bag. Doyley took off hard, dropping even Marty and I puffed along somewhere behind. The two of them were gone by the pivot control and I ran the rest of the course by myself. It turns out Marty and I had the same split but he stuffed the first control after the pivot majorly (perhaps ran the wrong loop first) and ended up half an hour down.

I ran okay, feeling a bit stronger in the terrain and on the hills. Nav wasn't too bad but got confused by the old map at my #8 and then lost focus for #9 so lost about 2min here. Apart from that there were only a few little misses including a natural break on the long hill climb. Happy to be so close to Doyley and Shep. Maybe things are looking okay for Aus champs?

A fun and fast course by Acejase. Pity the mass-start field wasn't bigger with more head-to-head racing.

Shadowed Ewan on the blue course. It was the first time he's done a course by himself and he did pretty well. He made one mistake which he sorted out before it got too bad and spent a lot of time confused at number 3 where there were two controls on track ends about 10-15m apart only one of which was on the blue course. Controlling oops.

Was planning to have an easier week for achilles health but it was getting out of control. Took myself out for an ascent of Mt Ainslie via the concrete path, which is a route I've not done before. I really struggled with the climb today, felt like I was barely able to keep running at times.

Afterwards went to the gym and did my isometric Achilles strengthening, bumping the weight up to 30kg. Had a good case of shaky leg after the run but just managed to get through the set.