Training Log Archive: Anvil

Handicapped cross country (all grass) at Howrah. Had roughly the handicap I'd expect, but felt like arse and ran like arse - so was constantly being passed by people who actually warm up and prepare for races. Not one of my better days.

5 mins warm up, HR was high and knew it was going to be a struggle. Much more enjoyable warm down with Ilka and Julia.

Spent most of yesterday evening reading up on the best way to get from Helsinki to Bodo over 3 weeks. Not sure what to do about Jukola as I haven't bothered doing anything about making or finding a team - if it wasn't in the direction I wanted to head (Savolinna) I'd consider ditching it, especially as I discovered the Midnight Sun marathon in Tromso the following weekend. If these are the toughest decisions I have to make in my life at the moment, I can't really complain!

Night Training. Set a moderate course on Waverly Park.
Tricky, tricky, tricky - please ignore the km rate! Even though I'd put out tapes earlier, I still struggled on a some of them. Direction was generally good, but you get so badly punished by being slightly off in the dark. Good fun though, will do a few more.

Putting out the toilet paper before hand. Learnt a bit about how to set a decent night course.
The sandstone area at the top of the park is awesomely complex and well mapped, yet I've never had a single control off track in there - it would make a good sprint area, why we don't use it baffles me.

Secret Tour at Battery Point, just Nicko, Brea and myself.
Sweet loop, had a section where we went down through the Uni, there are some awesome sections in there - tiny corridors next to buildings with walkways above and stairways that twist and spit you out where you don't expect it, must be mapped ASAP.
Felt uber heavy tonight - fricken cold tonight, I don't like it.

C • Tour 3

Time to start up the longer intervals again - haven't done them since I ran with the Windmilers, and I miss them. Well, not so much any more.
4x1.6ks, spent a long time pondering today where to do them - have decided that it's better to do them as a circuit cause when you have a defined end point it makes it easier to pace than when you're waiting for the watch to beep you out. Was thinking of loops around Rosny or Howrah bike track when it came to me - the old Clarence High 1.6km fitness test loop, can't get much more old skool than that.
Felt OK, better than I thought I would - the first 400m is veeeery slightly uphill and makes it a bit of a struggle to get through, but the next section through the school is a bit twisty which makes the metres melt away.
Splits: 5:45 (162/175), 5:40 (167/176), 5:43 (170/179), 5:49 (174/181).
Not too displeased with the times - considering it was a solo session with a fair few turns and dark sections where I slowed a little to prevent any accidents.
Just glanced the edge of a rubbish bin on the first rep - unfortunately right where my Ipod sits - I now have a pod shaped cut on my waist, stings like crap.

Easy jaunt in the dark around Montagu Bay. Cold. Wanted gloves. Ran into a tree. Knees were a bit sore afterwards walking round Eastlands (which is much nicer at night whilst boganless)
Found out the photo of my little tumble at Royal George has already become the most viewed on Clive Ropers website in the past 12 months. You bastards, taking pleasure in my pain.

C • correction 3

Had doing a long mountain run today, but Mike organised a group run with the juniors down on Pittwater - so I do that instead.
Was about 5 minutes late, but was surprised when I got down there and everyone had already left. Decided just to leg it cause they can't have left too long ago and won't be going that fast for a long run.
5 minutes.... 10 minutes.... I see footprints but no sign of runners. Then after 20 minutes, finally I see someone in the distance... coming towards me. Stu and Tom, then Karl a bit further back, then Callum a couple minutes later - what sort of long group run is this? I ask Callum when they started and he tell me 45 minutes ago. I do the math and realise they must have left way too early.
So I keep going, a bit crabby and a lot slower cause the 'chasing' motivation is gone. Consider going out to the point, but can't be arsed and head back after half an hour - made it a little tougher by going through the more detailed dunes so lots of ups and downs.
Get back to discover we were meant to meet 10:30, not 11 like I thought. Nice one dumbarse!

C • time 2

C • who went?? 2