I remember enjoying hill reps. Maybe that's because I haven't done hill reps for even longer than speed work?
Even so I was a bit unsure. But KKB preempted the lame excuse I was thinking of using, "I'm new to this area, I don't know where any hills are..." by pointing me in the direction of the perfect hill for such training and off I set.
Maybe my memory of enjoying hill reps was accurate after all.
Double Hell
When looking over the downloaded program, I made a few notes and committed myself to double runs throughout my marathon program.
While many people doubt the theory of the double run, it's a godsend for athletes like the Athletic Powerhouse, who have trouble covering enough distance in programs where long runs are based on time. Rather than attempting to build long runs by too much time each week, I've opted to follow the prescribed weekly long run with a shorter run that afternoon.
Yes, it can seem like hell. But it's worked for me before...
This afternoon kind of hurt, but only for the first few hundred metres.
While many people doubt the theory of the double run, it's a godsend for athletes like the Athletic Powerhouse, who have trouble covering enough distance in programs where long runs are based on time. Rather than attempting to build long runs by too much time each week, I've opted to follow the prescribed weekly long run with a shorter run that afternoon.
Yes, it can seem like hell. But it's worked for me before...
This afternoon kind of hurt, but only for the first few hundred metres.
My mysterious double life
The athletic powerhouse has had a slow couple of weeks. Duty called and for a weekend I resumed my secret life as a technical official for Triathlon Queensland.
(Hey, it almost sounds glamorous when you put it like that, like Superman ducking into a phone booth to emerge as a lycra clad superhero...)
The Mooloolaba Triathlon particularly was challenging as always, with record numbers of athletes to cater to and a new extended transition layout... but wait, there's more - cyclonic seas meant the Plan B swim course which had to be measured and verified before the gun went off...
As a result I've missed my long run for the last two weeks. Not ideal of course but what else can you do when you've got a demanding double life to uphold?
This morning I took up where I left off with a long run into Teneriffe Ferry. It all went OK so no harm done, I guess...
(Hey, it almost sounds glamorous when you put it like that, like Superman ducking into a phone booth to emerge as a lycra clad superhero...)
The Mooloolaba Triathlon particularly was challenging as always, with record numbers of athletes to cater to and a new extended transition layout... but wait, there's more - cyclonic seas meant the Plan B swim course which had to be measured and verified before the gun went off...
As a result I've missed my long run for the last two weeks. Not ideal of course but what else can you do when you've got a demanding double life to uphold?
This morning I took up where I left off with a long run into Teneriffe Ferry. It all went OK so no harm done, I guess...
It's only 3ks...
I returned to my old Hood this morning for the first of several 3k Time Trials that Pat Carroll recommends you do when training for a marathon.
I'm a little unsure about that. Speed work is one thing, but when you're as (un)gifted as the Athletic Powerhouse, time trials can be downright depressing...
I won't embarrass myself with details, but I was fairly impressed with my effort this morning. Whether I continue to impress in future Time Trials, well, that remains to be seen.
I'm a little unsure about that. Speed work is one thing, but when you're as (un)gifted as the Athletic Powerhouse, time trials can be downright depressing...
I won't embarrass myself with details, but I was fairly impressed with my effort this morning. Whether I continue to impress in future Time Trials, well, that remains to be seen.
Exploring the new 'Hood
Since I got married I've moved. (KKB and I are renowned for living apart. When we got engaged one of my friends even asked whether, when we got married, it would mean we would actually move in together. Yes, Miri, it does mean we moved in together!)
So new digs means new running options.
While I've been a bit tentative about it, as I now live closer to the Kedron Brook bike path, which was well known for attacks on women last year. As far as I'm aware, they've never found the offender.
Even so, this morning's run ended up taking me along Racecourse Road and Kingsford Smith Drive. Nice scenery to explore, without a doubt.
So new digs means new running options.
While I've been a bit tentative about it, as I now live closer to the Kedron Brook bike path, which was well known for attacks on women last year. As far as I'm aware, they've never found the offender.
Even so, this morning's run ended up taking me along Racecourse Road and Kingsford Smith Drive. Nice scenery to explore, without a doubt.
What's speedwork?
OK so I downloaded the Pat Carroll program from the Gold Coast Marathon website. It's a serious running program with (gasp!) speed work.
I haven't done speed work for a while. Up until this morning I was quite doubtful that I would ever be able to motivate myself to do it, particularly as I'd opted to train solo rather than with a squad.
Surprise!
I'd forgotten the adrenaline rush that comes from running hard. And even though I was training alone, a cyclist gave me a bit encouragement as I stopped to catch my breath between efforts.
And of course, it's fairly easy to trick yourself into speed work when the set is 6 x 1.45 minute efforts. You can tell yourself it's only ten and a half minutes running...
I haven't done speed work for a while. Up until this morning I was quite doubtful that I would ever be able to motivate myself to do it, particularly as I'd opted to train solo rather than with a squad.
Surprise!
I'd forgotten the adrenaline rush that comes from running hard. And even though I was training alone, a cyclist gave me a bit encouragement as I stopped to catch my breath between efforts.
And of course, it's fairly easy to trick yourself into speed work when the set is 6 x 1.45 minute efforts. You can tell yourself it's only ten and a half minutes running...
I'm doing what???
I'm a bit unsure how I got myself into this situation. Actually, that's not quite true. I know exactly how I got myself into this mess.
What mess?
It seems that I'm running the Gold Coast Marathon this year.
How did this happen?
Well, I mentioned to KKB a couple of weeks ago that maybe my next goal after Jervis Bay should be attempting the Gold Coast Marathon. All of a sudden, he's asking me what I'm doing for coaching or training, and when I'm going to start.
Ummm...
What mess?
It seems that I'm running the Gold Coast Marathon this year.
How did this happen?
Well, I mentioned to KKB a couple of weeks ago that maybe my next goal after Jervis Bay should be attempting the Gold Coast Marathon. All of a sudden, he's asking me what I'm doing for coaching or training, and when I'm going to start.
Ummm...
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