Training Log Archive: tinytoes

S-1 9:09
1-2 7:42 (16:51)
2-T 3:45 (20:36)
T-3 4:10 (24:47)
3-4 8:13 (33:00)
4-5 7:08 (40:09)
Perhaps I should go with a negative attitude every week. Wow (for me) a 1 min improvement from last week hence best since return. Every km and sector was faster. That elusive 39:59 is ever so close. Frightfully cold, and a little breezy at home. I tried to gauge which way the wind was blowing as if it is coming along the lake it's going to be mighty cold. Almost decided to run in sloppy jo too, having discounted going to Blackbutt (it is their 400th event so not comfortable in that large a crowd).
Shocked myself by running a bit in the first 300m with no ill effects, despite the icy air entering the lungs.

Long chat afterwards with Matty B and Jess about forthcoming Band camp. Driving on the way home I realised it is almost a year since Newcastle lockdown began.

3D map of Lambton HS. Nice to see the school getting a lot of weekend usage for all different sorts of groups. Legs feeling it after my earlier parkrun effort but tried as best I could. However no amount of trying would have helped at #4 - the first of the upper level controls, but the number ,while being in blue, didn't read as such in the gloom of the passageway. Lost about 1 minute there before sunlight showed a blue number and then the task to find the access stairway. Disappointingly all the blue numbered controls were purely an up and down visit similar to "top of stairs" without the 3D. Still a most enjoyable run and the course made great use of a relatively small space.

Checked out Boomerang Park for school event. Terrible condition due to rain, lack of maintenance and a homeless person having taken up residence where the Assembly area would be. Now he may move on, but he may not. Not sure the local Grammar School would be ready for that.
Plan B was to then check out another Park about 10 min from the school; I'd previously discounted it as it has a through road. But I can set a line course which channels them (hopefully); is in better condition and has facilities adjacent to Assembly area. Hopefully that will be suitable to the powers that be.
Lovely afternoon for walking; little breeze and pleasant temp if one wore 2 layers + beanie.

Usual Step warm up, but Bec is slowly moving towards some interesting choreography.
Double rounds of 40 sec on, 20 off then 30 sec recovery.
16 rounds - cardio first 8, upper body 4 rounds, endurance 4 rounds
Enjoyed this a lot! though it was pretty tough.
Abs
Stretch

Biceps felt good - perhaps time to be very brave?

Dialed it back in line with discussions about managing early shin splints. Still happy to go and enjoy the class.

Dialled it back a bit. Just the slightest hint of shin splints which isn't surprising given the increase in cardio/running based classes and now SoS. Talked to Bec and I think I'll delete Wed evening Body Attack for a few weeks and by that stage SoS will have finished. The obvious alternative is to do all the non-impact variations while still attending classes OR I can substitute Bike at home for a while which might also just be a wimpy way of avoiding cold Wednesday nights.

I am still amazed that I don't feel this class drags. Bands and bars tonight.

Class taken by Tina.

Warm up

Circuit style - 45 sec with 15 for changeover.
own bar - various
Step
Various core
Stretch

O shoes still hadn't dried out from last week as I found when I went to put them on - that cold leather feeling was actually wet. But 6 steps into the event and they would have been wet again so little difference. What was different today was no leeches, no rain, and a reasonable course with some challenges but some achievable goals.
S-1 Not a good start! I saw which way competitor before me LH went and while I deliberately held back to give her 6 mins start I still went the same way despite an alternate hollering to me - come this way! Tentative and slow and it took me all of 50m to regret my indecision and then decision but couldn't go back through the start so persevered. Took track and tried to make my way over to the railway line, which I did eventually but should have right from the start. About 200m from my attackpoint I saw LH emerging which startled me. She couldn't have got #1 and be back out and besides her direction was now not towards #2. She'd picked same track but bailed and went further. Took main track and in on w/c. splits time loss=0:51
1-2 Bearing and slog through green
2-3 Bearing to track, then picked up powerpole clearing, track after pole, followed carefully; helped Mark W on way, found very interesting feature and in - though flag wasn't quite where I'd interpreted it should be. Greigor wasn't navigating very well to this point as he'd barge off then come back.Splits time loss=1:39
3-4 Track, then pick up car wreck and stumble in and around looking for shallow gully. Ended up too low and near w/c so up hill. LH foraging too. Splits time loss = 3:27 which i think is fairly generous.
4-5 Bearing out to track, and took decision to use tracks most of the way, but go through green stripe if it look reasonable - it wasn't worth the bother. Helped 2 women on this section. Got to circle well and picked path in. Missed by about 5m, but grass was long.
5-6 Exited poorly, bumbled around a bit but only for about 10m, returned to flag and got to some large bare rock which I interpreted as cliff and around there on the map, cliff/track lines are virtually indistinguishable. Kept seeing a number of people cutting across on what "must" have been a track... or a rock face. Elected to go further W on a real track not one I manufactured myself . Fortunately saw Mark W and Zoe a little further over and at same time I saw the grey on the map so put a few pieces of the puzzle together and found flag. Splits time loss =5:48 - yep!
6-7 Main track but failed to pick up the minor track I sought, though i suspect LR was coming out on it. Got a little too far along, turned back to distinct vegetation change and took bearing and went in. It did help that 2 others were heading for same control but we were all coming from different directions. Splits time loss =2:28 possibly a little harsh, by maybe 30 seconds
7-8 Track to slushy w/c crossing, followed w/c, noted car wreck and in. LH at same time.
8-9 Followed running w/c upwards to track then bearing and just kept going and would have kept going except Bert said "Hi". I saw I was crossing a track, but thought it was the one before the one I needed, but LH cut across behind me to a flag which looked far too early for me - but looked perfect to her.... and a little later to me.
9-10 Out to track, along to minor, then onto even more minor but cleared. Picked green blobs and went in.
10-F Bearing and slog up slushy hill.
Well done Stuart - you have restored several people's faith in their modest abilities.