Training Log Archive: Dangerman

4 x 4.5km with 2:45 rest. Round 2 of 4 of the lactate threshold intervals. Wow, I've almost completed the program I set myself. I've actually stuck with it!!!

7:58 @ 34.3kph
7:56 @ 34.4kph
7:58 @ 34.3kph
8:04 @ 34.1kph (fatigue really started to hurt me here!)

Warm up

Fun run at a pace I could follow the map. I really enjoyed being able to follow the map and was aware enough to not cross the impassable (but passable) out of bounds (but not coloured out of bounds) areas. Now, to attend to my stamp collection. I saw a stamp out of alignment with the others recently. Must fix that.

Paddled from Ocean Reef to Little Island and back. Murray did a Jesus impression by walking on the water near the island. Funny moment that.

Hot on the way back though without the slight headwind that was cooling us down on the way out. Hard work too trying to catch the meagre pickings the wind provided. Although when you did pick one up, it was much easier to maintain that. I see now why the elite guys are so quick. They have the power to maintain this effort level and shoot ahead.

Long - Splits

Cruisey Hillarys to Ocean Reef. Fun times out on the ocean watching the RAF or Army helicopter whizz past a few times. Luckily, they were training and not there to scare wildlife away.

I wanted the medium commute today but had to get back for the SBS documentary about space narrated by a professor with a quiant accent. I live an exciting life, let me tell you.

Doh! I woke up super early so that I had heaps of time to check my gear, eat and generally take it easy before the start. As usual, I didn't get to sleep till late so when I did wake up, I felt like Juffy's derailleur did later that day. I pressed snooze and woke at 7:00am. How did I manage to snooze (9 minute reprieve) from 4:30 to 7? I pressed the snooze+1 button - I turned the alarm off it seems. Anyhow, gave up on making it to the full event and almost gave up on the short course too.

At the start, I actually wrote down the race briefing tips (shock horror!) and took off outsmarting most people by following the instructions. After an initial nav wobble (I got to the ice-cream shop and noted it for later) I began my anti-clockwise loop. The lake and drain put a spanner in my plans but I continued on with the anti-clockwise direction. Got all the controls cleanly other than 12 (which I liked - read the control description and you will find it!). Running was hard though. I was running at a comfortable intensity which resulted in a slow pace. Oh well.


I got all the bonus controls too for a total bonus of 3 minutes (roughly); that's another first; bonus controls in running legs. Transition was smooth and I drank constantly. I even remembered my compulsory gear which I had sorted into Running, Bike, and Common piles to make it easy on the day.

Yay! On the bike! The bike had new gears, cassette, shifters etc etc and felt great. So smooth to pedal too. Control hunting here was pretty smooth other than some hesitation to the first one. My map was folded over so I couldn't see the school and that cost me some time. On the way to 30, it typical Danger style, I barrelled through the grass (off piste path) hitting something and feeling a very sharp jolt through my arms. Miraculously, the tyre didn't deflate (until after the race).

Wally caught me at 30 and we spent the remainder of the leg yo-yoing a bit. At the downhill to the river control, where I didn't notice the land stopped before the control, Wally stepped on my foot. My foot was already wet and muddy from the river so, rather annoyed, it sent a message to my arm to let Wally's belly know about it. Unfortunately, Wally didn't get it and my foot sent another message to hand to pinch Wally's posterior. Wally got that one. [chuckle]

Another smooth transition where I drank heaps. Took off for the run and instantly noticed two problems. I was stuffed. My left arch hurt badly. I ran to 1, walked to 2 and, while almost at 3, bailed. The pain was pretty bad and I was concerned about furthering the injury. I must get my inserts looked at. Last time this happened, I think it was a result of the inserts hitting my arch when I ran. Or, I should just get those flat shoes I've been hankering over for ages.

Anyhow, fun event and good performance from me. I kept the task at hand, at hand. My nav was very good compared to my usual standard (I maintain that the ice-cream shop diversion at the start was a result of my internal ice-cream compass interfering with my magnetic compass). Transitions were clean and I was organised (other than being late). There's hope for me yet!

C • Oh! your foot. 5