Training Log Archive: Anvil

Did the beep test. Why? Some friends of mine have started a fitness campaign and want to measure their progress (engineers, everything must be graphed, charted and analysed - can't hide the geek in this profession).
Since I haven't done it since Pacque used to make us to them as juniors, decided to give it a go.
Got 12-4, which I though was pretty crap, but;

the 20m length was measured with a 20x1m lengths of measuring tape
the test was conducted on Itunes on a laptop, which a different mp3 for each stage. Problem was Itunes does funny stuff between each mp3, so if you notice my time, we were doing the stages a lot quicker - should have been about 12:20!
We did it on wet grass - stage 12 was the limiting speed for me before I started slipping at each turn.

Probably won't do it again, I prefer time trials as a measure of fitness.

After the trial, went off and rode around Richmond Park. Absolute beaut day, best yet - I even caught the sun! I acually forgot how nice the warmth of the sun can feel.

Cause it was such a nice day, decided to give the tube the shaft and ride out to Tower Bridge for some beers in the sun my the river.
Wandered down the river afterwards and came across a Dutch festival. Apart from lots of people in orange shirts it didn't seem very Dutch. Just lots of chips, donuts and beer. Not that I'm complaining, the chips were incredible.

Had planned to rind out to the Windmilers hill session, but as I was heading out there it as so nice riding I just decided to keep going. Did a Ubolt to stop at the Sainsbury's in Wimbledon to pick up some food for tea and then just rode around the back streets exploring for a while.
Had a squiz at some tennis courts that they have some competition as and headed home via Southfields as it got dark. Some decent hills in the area, made a nice change.
Nice day #4.

Nice easy run around the towpath and zig zagged back through Barnes Common to get over 45 mins. Another cracker evening, I don't know if it will top yesterdays max of 19.5 (this months peak, as reported in all the papers). Feels like summer is finally coming, touch wood.

C • LOST - season 8 1

Speed session with the Windmilers. Originally meant to be 3 x 600m x 2, but we dropped to 3 x 400m on the second batch due to fading light. In teams of 3, did 600m then recovered while the other 2 did their laps. Probably too long a recovery, but a good session to get to know other club members. Felt OK, a little heavy in the legs though.
600s
2:00 126/168
2:02 165/176
2:00 168/180

400s
1:10 163/177
1:15 161/179
1:17 160/178

First team I was in we came second (I don't care what they say, we all know it was a race). Cause we were too fast, they swapped me out to another team, and we came last on the 400s. Boo.

Warm up to/from the track. Not counting recoveries cause it was just stading round sledging other teams.

More thoughts on the weekend:
Inverness was fantastic. Quiet, green, sunny (I know that one was lucky), people and traffic free, mountain and ocean nearby - everything London isn't and makes me appreciate what I've left behind back home. Added bonus that it was in Macbeth country - saw signs for Cawdor castle (my Grade 10 English teacher would be so proud)
Emit still sucks and is not conducive to control flow if you want to punch the back up. Felt lika a massive numpty doing a ridiculous corkscrew manouvre in front of all the spectators at the final relay control.
Instead of sooking about the vegetation, get over it - everyone else has the same map.
Similar to above, instead of nitpicking and complaining, be thankful I'm running on a new quality area instead of a Launceston paddock map or in Buckland for the 20th time. (Complaining about emit doesn't count)
Go for more runs on Pittwater when I'm home.
http://www.boc2008.routegadget.co.uk/boc/reitti.cg...

C • launceston paddock map 2

Easy recovery run, just cause I can.
HR jumped up right at the beginning, after the weekend I guess it was preemptively thinking, 'what's this bastard gonna make me do today'. Took 10 mins for it to settle.

Event: British Relays
 

Brit Relay Champs up at Culbin West.
That was more like it! 2nd leg runner in SLOW's A team. Out 1st leg runner Raplh came back only a couple minutes off the pace. Headed out in 7th place with a group of other, but I head no idea who was on my course and the splits were pretty significant. Decided not to worry about anyone else and just put my head down and go for it. Pretty good in the first section, a slight wobble on #3 running to a similar shaped knoll just to the south of the one I wanted. Caught back up to 2 blokes who got the slip on me at #7 but never saw them again in the subsequent splits in the low vis green. No real time losses for the rest of the course except I was far too hesitant in the circle stopping and checking the detail before heading in. I was spot on for each one and it cost my result from being a good one, to a great one (for me).
Felt really good running - I think I'm more suited to courses of this length at the moment. I enjoy them a lot more too. I wasn't really tired at the end so I think if I can sort out my navigational confidence, I'll be able to post some more credible times.
Again great forest, even faster in places than yesterday and I felt it was mapped much better. Sections reminded me of 5 Mile Beach (before it was bulldozed) and when the sun came out and you were in a thick bunch of pines, the smell made me feel like I was running through Pittwater in the summer.
Ended up 12th overall I think out of about 30, so pretty pleasing result.
Great finish to the mens relay as well, with close sprint finishes for 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th.