Training Log Archive: Bomb

Qld long distance champs.
Cold morning with lots of frost, and a new hilly area near blackbutt.
Hammy still sore, but did a bit better getting ready for the race. Earlier and better application of the deep heat, and better back stretching meant that my hammy felt much better before the run. Only achey, rather than stabby pain.
Took it easy to let the leg warm up and actually got going quite well in the end. Some good route choice legs, and plenty of big vague hills where things could go quite badly if you weren't paying enough attention. Good clean run, main mistake was where I didn't see a control first up and went to look in the next little gully. fun section right at the end running down a big creek system.

took the win in the end - 5mins ahead of Rachel who struggled with the hills at end of the course - it was pretty much the worst course to have to run if you were feeling sick - just continuous hills. get better soon Rach!

Qld middle distance champs, near Blackbutt.
Wasn't too sure about whether I was going to be able to start this race, and then if I was going to be able to finish. Hammy was good for about the first 50m of my warmup, then went again - very painful. Hobbled back to my gear and slathered a handful of deep heat on my leg to try and warm the muscle up a bit, then attempted to jog to the start.
The first few controls were nice and simple, so could just focus on trying to run, but then lost about 90secs in the circle on 4 when I was having trouble thinking past the pain to actually read my map.
Focused on running more smoothly to keep the hammy under control and got through the next few controls ok and the leg gradually warmed up and became more of an ache rather than sharp pain. The rest of the course went quite well, but lost a minute on a stupid mistake on the last control where I over-ran to the next rock that I could see a flag on, then had to go back.
finished 90 secs behind Rachel, who'd also had a not great run as she's been really sick for ages.

Map was really good - small area of fun runnable granite. Also found out that the property was where my great grandparents had been working (as a stockman and cook) when they met.

hammy still very tight, but doing lots of stretching to try and get it right for tomorrow. still hoping I'll be able to run.

night nav at ashgrove. got off to a bad start by getting there just in time for the start (and got sledged for turning into jacquie rand).
grabbed the map and had about half a second (instead of a minute) to figure out the course. managed to see the start triangle on the map and ran towards a nearby control. tried to plan the course on the run, but it was quite tricky! then, when I was about half way through, and up the far end of the map my right hammy had a massive cramp and stayed that way. there was no way I was going to be able to stretch it out or run through it, so I was in for a slow walk home.

leg cramped up a bit more on the drive home, and was pretty sore. used the heat pack to try and release the cramp a bit and hit the anti inflams and Mg tablets. hopefully it will be ok for the weekend.

run home from work. another detour now as gregory tce is closed for the ekka already.