I've written about a lot of mundane things on this blog. For many followers of the Triathlete Chronicles, this will be another. For fellow runners, though, this might be one of that most strikes a chord.
I've got two words for you... NEW SOCKS!
The joy of the feeling of new running socks is truly something that unites runners the world over. You can feel it from the moment you pull them over your feet. As you slip your feet into your running shoes, adjust your laces, and take the first few steps towards your front door, it gets better and better.
There is nothing like running in new socks. It's truly heaven on the feet.
Success... of sorts?
Well this weekend's training was more successful than last, with a run on Saturday and an endurance WT on Sunday to replicate a long ride.
A long way to go before I can consider myself truly "back in training" but it's a start. Let's see what this week brings...
A long way to go before I can consider myself truly "back in training" but it's a start. Let's see what this week brings...
Mind over all
I picked up a free postcard last night. It's one in a series of five postcards - mind, heart hand, eyes, body - which represented the five themes of the creation of fashion.I thought how appropriate it was that I had received "mind", in terms of my approach to training and competing. In the creation of fashion, "mind" represents a source of knowledge and ideas. Not quite appropriate to the endurance athlete... so I got to wondering what the five themes of endurance sports might be. Maybe:
Mind - a the source of will and strength
Heart - the engine that drives the machine
Breath - an essential fuel, but sometimes, a meditation that comforts and endures
Legs - tools of the trade, propelling us forward
Body - the focus of our efforts, the sum of the parts.
Where's Athletic Powerhouse?
I'm back!
First ride this morning in a few months. And oh, what a success! I'm so out of practice of packing for a long ride that I left my helmet and bike shoes at home. Great. Thus my intended attempt at a River Loop was shortened to incorporate the Green Bridge from the uni, and only 20ks or so instead the best laid plans...
While I had to dust the cobwebs off trusty "Lance", I have been keeping myself busy with running. In fact, I completed my first off-road race just a couple of weeks ago at the Lamington Classic, a marathon over two days - 21.8ks each way on the Border Track between Binna Burra and O'Reilly's. Saturday, O'Reilly's to Binna Burra and Sunday, back to O'Reilly's.
My mate Megsy sent out an "anyone in?" email a few months back. I decided it would be a good way to keep me doing something post France, so we entered early in September. I kept up my running and starting building my distance back up.
A few weeks later I was online and saw the following announcement on the site:
Update: Entries closed Friday 26 Sept as we reached our 50 limit, but…
A limit of 50? What kind of race was this? Probably not one for less talented athletes such as us! I had images of all the athletes finishing in a couple of hours or less, then a couple of hours later, Megsy and I would stagger from the forest... As it turned out it wasn't far off that, and although we didn't stagger we had enjoyed the company of the Tail-End Sweep for most of the day.
I had been worried that my longest runs of only 16ks or so wouldn't be enough endurance - this fear was unfounded; my unfamiliarity with running on what to me was rugged terrain meant I couldn't really run all that much anyway. The middle section of the track particularly was quite wild - large mud holes, fallen trees to climb over, and some quite thin areas of track. A couple of creek crossings for good measure providing some nice slippery rocks to scramble over.
The fastest runners had an overall time for both days that was less than our Saturday time. Our Sunday time did not officially get recorded at all, as we set out earlier to get much needed head-start. Although I am disappointed that we were not be recorded as both way finishers, Megsy had fulfilled a lifetime dream to traverse the Border Track both ways, and I'd had my first taste of offroad racing.
All in all the Lamington Classic was a fantastic experience. An inexpensive weekend away, with two nights' accommodation provided for a small fee on top of event entry, making the cost of the entire weekend racing, accommodation and meals for just $110. What a bargain!
On top of that, the chance to challenge yourself physically, and to meet some fantastic people. The great thing about trail running is that the kind of people it attracts are all similar. They care for the environment and are mindful and respectful of other runners. It was great to share the weekend with them, particularly Saturday night when we found out some more of the history of what the organisers believe is the oldest trail run in Australia.
Thanks to Bruce and the organising committee for a fantastic weekend.
And what of the Athletic Powerhouse? Well, I declared at the beginning of the post that I'm back... so time to recommit not only to a full training schedule, but also to the much-neglected-lately Triathlete Chronicles.
First ride this morning in a few months. And oh, what a success! I'm so out of practice of packing for a long ride that I left my helmet and bike shoes at home. Great. Thus my intended attempt at a River Loop was shortened to incorporate the Green Bridge from the uni, and only 20ks or so instead the best laid plans...
While I had to dust the cobwebs off trusty "Lance", I have been keeping myself busy with running. In fact, I completed my first off-road race just a couple of weeks ago at the Lamington Classic, a marathon over two days - 21.8ks each way on the Border Track between Binna Burra and O'Reilly's. Saturday, O'Reilly's to Binna Burra and Sunday, back to O'Reilly's.
My mate Megsy sent out an "anyone in?" email a few months back. I decided it would be a good way to keep me doing something post France, so we entered early in September. I kept up my running and starting building my distance back up.
A few weeks later I was online and saw the following announcement on the site:
Update: Entries closed Friday 26 Sept as we reached our 50 limit, but…
A limit of 50? What kind of race was this? Probably not one for less talented athletes such as us! I had images of all the athletes finishing in a couple of hours or less, then a couple of hours later, Megsy and I would stagger from the forest... As it turned out it wasn't far off that, and although we didn't stagger we had enjoyed the company of the Tail-End Sweep for most of the day.
I had been worried that my longest runs of only 16ks or so wouldn't be enough endurance - this fear was unfounded; my unfamiliarity with running on what to me was rugged terrain meant I couldn't really run all that much anyway. The middle section of the track particularly was quite wild - large mud holes, fallen trees to climb over, and some quite thin areas of track. A couple of creek crossings for good measure providing some nice slippery rocks to scramble over.
The fastest runners had an overall time for both days that was less than our Saturday time. Our Sunday time did not officially get recorded at all, as we set out earlier to get much needed head-start. Although I am disappointed that we were not be recorded as both way finishers, Megsy had fulfilled a lifetime dream to traverse the Border Track both ways, and I'd had my first taste of offroad racing.
All in all the Lamington Classic was a fantastic experience. An inexpensive weekend away, with two nights' accommodation provided for a small fee on top of event entry, making the cost of the entire weekend racing, accommodation and meals for just $110. What a bargain!
On top of that, the chance to challenge yourself physically, and to meet some fantastic people. The great thing about trail running is that the kind of people it attracts are all similar. They care for the environment and are mindful and respectful of other runners. It was great to share the weekend with them, particularly Saturday night when we found out some more of the history of what the organisers believe is the oldest trail run in Australia.
Thanks to Bruce and the organising committee for a fantastic weekend.
And what of the Athletic Powerhouse? Well, I declared at the beginning of the post that I'm back... so time to recommit not only to a full training schedule, but also to the much-neglected-lately Triathlete Chronicles.
Le Legende awaits
With Le Tour we picked up our hire car to return to the Alpes for the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon. Driving through Paris proved a challenge to say the least! A full length Triathlete Chronicle is in progress to tell this story...
France Day 8 - the Champs Elysees
Today was celebration day for Carlos Sastre and Team CSC. As much as us Cadel fans were reluctant to admit it, Team CSC truly deserved their win this year. They had truly dominated the peleton, throwing everyone off the scent by setting up Frank Schleck in the yellow jersey early on in the race before letting Sastre loose on Alpe d'Huez.The tour was over, and we took our positions in the grandstand at the Champs Elysees and waited for the riders to come through.
It turned into a long afternoon in the sun, and with few options for refreshments close by, the natives were restless. We had a big screen on which to watch the action... though 'action' is quite a loose term when applied to the last day of the Tour de France. It is more like a procession than a race, and the yellow jersey holder sips champagne as they cruise through the Paris countryside.
Gert Steegmans took the sprint stage victory for Team Quick Step. The presentations were made to the jersey holders:
- Carlos Sastre - Yellow Jersey
- Oscar Freire - Green Sprinters Jersey
- Bernard Kohl - Polka Dot King of the Mountain Jersey
- Andy Schleck - White Young Rider Jersey
- CSC - Team
We waited for all of these presentations to be made to await the parade of teams. We gave all the riders cheers, especially the Aussies. It was awesome to see Stuart O'Grady enjoying his team's success.
Finally, Silence-Lotto entered the Champs Elysees. Few other spectators remained as the Silence team passed the Aussie bay of the grandstand to an enormous cheer.
I didn't care who else was there. It was important to me to wait and give Cadel a huge cheer for his efforts. As a nation we Australians are fickle, and quick to dismiss our countrymen that fail to live up to the lofty expectations we burden them with. Cadel in particular seems to be his own toughest critic, and although I would have loved to be seeing him in yellow at that moment, as far as I am concerned he still did himself and his country proud.
France Day 7 - Part 2 - The Race of Truth
After arriving in St Amand-Montrond for the TT finish, I packed up my bike for its transfer to Paris. I scoped a spot opposite a big screen just a few hundred metres shy of the finish line and soaked up the sun and atmosphere.In cycling the time trial is known of "The Race of Truth" because, well, there isn't anywhere to hide. Each cyclist is let off individually, and they race against the clock in their race against one another.
Today, like never before, would be truth time for Cadel Evans. He was in 4th place overall; 1:34 down on the yellow jersey of Carlos Sastre. Frank Schleck and Bernard Kohl were only seconds ahead of him on the standings. Sastre was the one he had to reel in.
All of us in the tour group were hopeful, some even confident, that Cadel could do it. Sastre had never been known as a strong time triallist...
One by one, the cyclists started, and came through the finish. Finally, after what seemed like hours, we saw on the big screen that Cadel was being counted down and waved off by the starting official. He put in a solid ride, unfortunately today needed to be more than "solid". It needed to be the time trial of his life.
Even more unfortunately, the man who was having the time trial of his life was Carlos Sastre. Phil Liggett was once again being proven right in his theory that the yellow jersey somehow allows men to ride themselves into some confidence. Or ride like two men. Or like men with three legs.
Yes, Phil Liggett sure has a unique way with words...
Before we knew it, though, Sastre and his yellow jersey had ridden himself to a Tour de France victory. Cadel Evans had ridden himself out of the one thing that had haunted him since this time last year.
It was a sombre group that returned to the bus for transit to our hotel. At least when we got there, we enjoyed one of the best meals of the trip.
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