After Morzine I headed off to Hamburg to indulge my other life as a triathlon technical official.
I knew there wouldn't be a lot of time to train but I managed to get in a 10k run around the Alster Lake.
I had intended to run more through the city and take in the architecture but as I headed out from my hotel I followed the other runners to what seems to be the city's primary running track.
There's even a self-timed running route around the lake - just purchase your chip from the official website of Alster running and you're away!
It was a bit of a gloomy morning but I still took the time to take in the views including this small harbour at the end of the Lake.
And, I still got my architecture in - stopping by St Georg's Kirchen on the way back to the hotel.
Even though 10ks isn't really a lot of mileage for where I'm at with my training I found out later in the day that none of my technical official friends went out in the rain that morning. I felt good at having done *something*
Check out the Strava file for this run.
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
European training #1: Morzine
I was looking forward to Morzine. We'd visited on our previous trip to France and it was a beautiful town with lots of great cycling nearby.
We'd been struck by how many mountain bikers had been in town. So I knew there would be trails there and I was relishing the thought. I found there was a trail up to the top of Avoriaz, a nearby ski station that I'd cycled up on our previous visit so that was my choice.
I wasn't so excited at the weather forecast - 14 degrees and rain.
I decided I had to go out for a run anyway - particularly after being all gloves off about my training in my previous blog post.
With a map from the Morzine tourist office I head up the mountain confidently.
That didn't last long - I found a trail marker outside a row of houses - but couldn't find the trail. Consulting my map, I saw that the there was another trail junction a few switchbacks up, so continued up the road in search of it.
However, I failed in this quest. The cold and dreary weather got to me and not even the sight of the cable car gondolas through the mist helped.
Reluctantly, I turned back down the mountain, and came across a mountain bike trail back to Morzine. I headed down that instead of the road, and by the time I got back to Morzine the rain had stopped. I made up some ks by running along the river to the outskirts and town, then back to our accommodation.
Check out this run on Strava.
We'd been struck by how many mountain bikers had been in town. So I knew there would be trails there and I was relishing the thought. I found there was a trail up to the top of Avoriaz, a nearby ski station that I'd cycled up on our previous visit so that was my choice.
I wasn't so excited at the weather forecast - 14 degrees and rain.
I decided I had to go out for a run anyway - particularly after being all gloves off about my training in my previous blog post.
With a map from the Morzine tourist office I head up the mountain confidently.
That didn't last long - I found a trail marker outside a row of houses - but couldn't find the trail. Consulting my map, I saw that the there was another trail junction a few switchbacks up, so continued up the road in search of it.
However, I failed in this quest. The cold and dreary weather got to me and not even the sight of the cable car gondolas through the mist helped.
Reluctantly, I turned back down the mountain, and came across a mountain bike trail back to Morzine. I headed down that instead of the road, and by the time I got back to Morzine the rain had stopped. I made up some ks by running along the river to the outskirts and town, then back to our accommodation.
Check out this run on Strava.
I'm back and I'm here!
I'm writing this on the flight to Geneva, with just over six weeks to go before the CCC at the UTMB.
I should be excited, but right now, trying to get my thoughts together - I'm not quite there yet.
When I found out in February I'd been drawn in the lottery for this event, I wanted to do it justice. I decided I wanted to have a similar preparation as if had for the GNW100 last year. I wanted to be as fit as I'd ever been. I wanted to be ready.
I wanted to be many things, but now I'm looking back wishing.
I wish I hadn't sprained my ankle in February. I wish I had have lost a couple more kilograms. I wis I had have gotten up in the cold a few more times. I wish I hadn't gotten sick a few weeks ago.
But that's all done now and I'm on the plane and I'm telling myself I still have time for some good solid training. And that's true.
I can also feel satisfied that I made my last weekend in Brisbane count.
On Saturday I ran one of the city's most popular cycling routes, the river loop. It was a solid 36 Ka on the road. I felt strong and I felt fit. It's a run I have up my sleeve for when I need the confidence boost that comes from knowing I was running what must others ride.
On Sunday I covered 22ks out at Bunyaville. It wasn't really enough - I should really have gone for 25 - 30ks. But it was the first time I'd really attacked a trail run since my injury. I didn't make excuses, I just ran the way I want to in my upcoming event - consistent on the flat, confident in the downhills, and steady and strong up hills.
In retrospect, I think what I was trying to do last weekend was rule a line under all this doubt so I can start fresh for my last training push, unencumbered by work and by winter.
The forecast for our first stop, Morzine, doesn't guarantee the latter, but I've promised myself some adventure and some space to reconfigure my thoughts and energy.
Running winter errands
Each year I find myself with a short lived bout of winter sadness.
Last year I beat it through a combination of public transport and obligation.
This last weekend I ran an errand.
Last year I beat it through a combination of public transport and obligation.
This last weekend I ran an errand.
It's global running day and I didn't run
I know right.
I'M A RUNNER. THIS IS MY DAY
Though I feel like it's *really* a day for northern hemisphere runners, where it's the first day of summer. Here it's the first day of winter and it felt like it.
That's not why I didn't run today though. I promise!
I'M A RUNNER. THIS IS MY DAY
Though I feel like it's *really* a day for northern hemisphere runners, where it's the first day of summer. Here it's the first day of winter and it felt like it.
That's not why I didn't run today though. I promise!
What I didn't need
OK, so this happened.
Yes, that's ice on my ankle, a couple of weeks ago now.
I put ice on my ankle because I had a nasty fall when out running. I haven't run since.
Yes, that's ice on my ankle, a couple of weeks ago now.
I put ice on my ankle because I had a nasty fall when out running. I haven't run since.
Ashgrove parkrun - Accidental Historian
Today I ran Ashgrove parkrun. It was my first 5k run for months and it felt good to run all the way, and finish just a few seconds behind the 35 minute pacer from the Ashgrove Rangers.
The parkrun is based at the Ashgrove Sports Grounds and utilises the Enoggera Creek Bikepath. I haven't run along this bikeway very much - but I've run around Enoggera Reservoir a few times... so there was a nice synergy for a comeback run.
I noticed plaques along the bikeway during the run so when I walked back to my car I took a closer look.
The parkrun is based at the Ashgrove Sports Grounds and utilises the Enoggera Creek Bikepath. I haven't run along this bikeway very much - but I've run around Enoggera Reservoir a few times... so there was a nice synergy for a comeback run.
I noticed plaques along the bikeway during the run so when I walked back to my car I took a closer look.
"Normal people are in bed"
I completed 87ks in training last weekend - just two runs, 37ks Saturday and 50ks on Sunday.
I only have one weekend of hard training left before the Great North Walk 100 - today I'll run 24ks home, tomorrow I'll run 40ks (via the new Chermside parkrun), then on Sunday I'll run 50ks on trails.
I am trying to remind myself that this has become a new normal for me... but I keep thinking about the dude that passed me on the trail early on Saturday morning, and grinned back at me over his shoulder, and said, "normal people are in bed you know."
I only have one weekend of hard training left before the Great North Walk 100 - today I'll run 24ks home, tomorrow I'll run 40ks (via the new Chermside parkrun), then on Sunday I'll run 50ks on trails.
I am trying to remind myself that this has become a new normal for me... but I keep thinking about the dude that passed me on the trail early on Saturday morning, and grinned back at me over his shoulder, and said, "normal people are in bed you know."
Why am I still running?
So I haven't blogged much since TNF100, but I have been posting photos on Facebook and Instagram. I've been busy. I've been running like crazy, all over the place.
Last week on Instagram I got this response from a friend.
I feel like I need to explain that what's driving me to keep running isn't determination. Largely, it's fear.
Last week on Instagram I got this response from a friend.
Farewell, winter solstice
I haven't had to deal with winter training for a couple of years... well, not in the deep depths of winter, otherwise known as the winter solstice. Even as I sit here on Monday morning, writing this, it's only just getting light and it's nearly 7am.
It only lasts for a couple of days but every year around the solstice I feel like the world is darker, less shinier. And it's definitely colder. I don't know why, but it affects my mood. All I want to do is hibernate until it's over.
I didn't have a great weekend of training over the weekend, but yesterday I trumped winter solstice.
Coral Sea Commemorations: Newstead Park
Yesterday on my run I came across a bunch of Navy officers in Newstead Park.
I couldn't help myself, I had to ask what the gathering was for.
I couldn't help myself, I had to ask what the gathering was for.
Loop after loop after loop
Last weekend was the biggest running weekend I've ever compeleted - 82ks in two runs.
On Saturday I met up with a friend who dragged me halfway around the river loop before I headed for home a little slower.
On Sunday I started in the dark, and took in this view on a loop around Enoggera Reservoir at the Gap.
On Saturday I met up with a friend who dragged me halfway around the river loop before I headed for home a little slower.
On Sunday I started in the dark, and took in this view on a loop around Enoggera Reservoir at the Gap.
My doctor is awesome
The fact that I had to visit my doctor this week is not awesome and neither is the abundance of vitamins I've been taking for the last week.
I went to the doctor yesterday as a precaution. I've had a cold in the last week and with The North Face 100 only four weeks away, I wanted to be sure that it is just a cold, and there's no hidden infection, or worse, lurking about.
 |
| My self prescribed cocktail of vitamin C, echinacea, garlic, horseradish, zinc. |
I went to the doctor yesterday as a precaution. I've had a cold in the last week and with The North Face 100 only four weeks away, I wanted to be sure that it is just a cold, and there's no hidden infection, or worse, lurking about.
My doctor though, is awesome. I went in feeling like I was being high maintenance for presenting with barely a sore throat. I walked out feeling like an elite athlete.
Wild Horse Criterium - a good hard training session
In my last blog post I hinted at what the next few weeks of training looked like for me. Right there, at the very end, after all my feeling sorry for myself, it's there.
I wrote that I still need a few good hard training sessions before The North Face 100.
I can now say that I've got one of these under my belt. Over the weekend I completed the 55k event at the Wild Horse Criterium.
I wrote that I still need a few good hard training sessions before The North Face 100.
I can now say that I've got one of these under my belt. Over the weekend I completed the 55k event at the Wild Horse Criterium.
Six months to six weeks. I still need help.
Late last year I enlisted the services of a personal trainer.
This was a confronting thing for me to do. I have the core strength of a dead fish and the coordination of a fence post. This was not going to be easy.
But this is why I hired a trainer. When was the last time you heard about a dead fish, or a fence post, or with someone of the attributes of these things, finishing mountainous 100 mile ultramarathons? The comparison is perhaps ridiculous, but the point is, I needed help.
This was a confronting thing for me to do. I have the core strength of a dead fish and the coordination of a fence post. This was not going to be easy.
But this is why I hired a trainer. When was the last time you heard about a dead fish, or a fence post, or with someone of the attributes of these things, finishing mountainous 100 mile ultramarathons? The comparison is perhaps ridiculous, but the point is, I needed help.
Runner's high / runner's low
What, never heard of a runner's low?
I've had one for about the last month. And I had even a few acute attacks on this morning run.
Nobody ever talks about the runner's low but I'm pretty sure it's a thing.
I've had one for about the last month. And I had even a few acute attacks on this morning run.
Nobody ever talks about the runner's low but I'm pretty sure it's a thing.
Committed, with a sprinkling of crazy
This is how tribron described my efforts on the weekend before last. The hangover marathon was... something. Even I'm not sure exactly what it was.
This weekend just gone was something else entirely. With four weeks til the Glasshouse 100, it was slated to be my last big weekend of training.
So what did I do, and how would I describe it?
This weekend just gone was something else entirely. With four weeks til the Glasshouse 100, it was slated to be my last big weekend of training.
So what did I do, and how would I describe it?
"I'm basically going to run a lot."
This was the answer I gave a work colleague last Friday when she asked what I was doing on the weekend. "I'm basically going to run a lot."
As I heard the words come out of my mouth, I wondered whether I should be admired for being so committed to my goals, or whether my plans to basically devote my whole weekend to running 67ks made me the most boring person in the world.
I'm still not sure. Maybe it's a bit of both.
As I heard the words come out of my mouth, I wondered whether I should be admired for being so committed to my goals, or whether my plans to basically devote my whole weekend to running 67ks made me the most boring person in the world.
I'm still not sure. Maybe it's a bit of both.
Optimistic / Pessimistic
It sounds a bit pessimistic, but in preparing for my first trail ultramarathon I've focused a lot on my frailties, my limitations, and the unknown.
I've never attempted to cover 100kms on foot before. Preparation has been drilled into me by all the coaches, so I've tried to visualise all the things that the event might throw at me, and incorporate a bit of all of these things into my training.
It's my experience that preparation brings optimism - and that's my natural outlook.
I've never attempted to cover 100kms on foot before. Preparation has been drilled into me by all the coaches, so I've tried to visualise all the things that the event might throw at me, and incorporate a bit of all of these things into my training.
It's my experience that preparation brings optimism - and that's my natural outlook.
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