Training Log Archive: fluceluce

Open 5 Final - All I had to do today was stay ahead of Helen Jackson (beaten every time so far) and Karen (not so easy..) and get a relatively high percentage score and I would be in the top 3....

Well the day didn't start fantastically, I'd forgotten my dibber, then I forgot to pack my inhaler so started and, as you can tell from both of the forgotten things my head was all over the place.
5mins plan time:
I planned an ok start to the MTB and set off towards moor top, half way up Helen came past as to be expected on the bike, but my legs and lungs were screaming already and I was too tired (as can be seen from the HR - I was trying really hard!) to even try and keep up. All I could hope was my nav and running were going to be better...

My 3rd control was the first time I've ever failed to find an O5 control, 11 was nowhere to be seen as far as I was concerned! I spent 10mins riding up and down a 50m section of track trying to find it before somebody lead me into it! The next two were fine but slow as uphill, then the route choice, play safe and stay highish but get lower points per control or commit to the long loop with higher point controls. I decided to go for the longer loop clockwise so I could get a couple of the other loop that were close by if there were time. There wasn't time, I felt like I was going nowhere for a lot of the time and made it back to transition 15mins later than planned - although not bad as I thought I might take 4hrs to get round at one point! Not great but not a massive disaster just yet, as long as I could get a good run in....

Well...a good run...not going to happen, good route planned but failed to complete the loop as ran out of time. Walked a large amount of it, shuffled another amount of it and ran probably 10% of this. Legs completely gone which isn't entirely surprising. Was 'running' over 10min/mile downhill by the end....

3mins plan time

Turns out Helen had a great race today finishing ahead of Karen so I would have had to be properly on form to do well and make it into the top 3 overall. Finished 8th today (lowest ever position I think) and 5th in the series. I think it would have been possible if I had been at all rested - 30points behind Helen, so that was number 7 (worth 20) on the bike plus 34 (worth 15) on the run that I had planned but was moving too slowly for..... Can't do everything I suppose :-) and it's all good prep for APEX!

Note: don't forget inhaler, results in an hour of coughing post race

Lap going in and out of transition, official time 2:59 - getting better at this :-)

Ride from Hawkeshead YHA, around Esthwaite to the windermere ferry. Was a bit late setting off so put in a bit of effort up the hills, legs not feeling too bad! Got to the ferry just as one was leaving, doh! Still it was 6minutes earlier than stated on the rough timetable...

Kayak training with the APEX team on Windermere, from WC&K up towards Ambleside, back down to swap boat that was sinking, then further up towards Ambleside and back. (total time 3:15 but that included faffing setting up seats and swapping boats etc)

Found it difficult to get the economical stroke in the wide sit on tops - why can we not use proper kayaks in Switzerland, really! Was getting there by the end. Did about 20mins of drills followed by a bit of an effort (0.7miles) with a couple of getting out of the kayak to run round a tree or two and back in, then on to the next bit of beach and repeat. Shelf and JC had the upper hand on the paddling speed, but me and Al were slick in and out of the kayak so pulled ahead in the end.

Then were pushing it for time (had to be back and packed up by 5pm) so another 2 miles of effort back to WC&K. Think the HR for the first 6miles was less than 100 but was most deffinately well above 100 for the last 3.5miles. Was nackered by the end! Need to get out on the water more from now on!

Wu for bike test - very apparent this was not going to be my finest performance...

Set off as I had done in all the other tests - this week was meant to be 34 degrees but actually it was more like 29 degrees, and I wasn't wearing skins.

1st 5 mins av over 125rpm,
2nd 5mins av over 110rpm,
3,4,5th 5mins was dropping off badly, well below 100rpm sometimes in the 80s
last 5mins av about 105rpm.

My legs were soooooo tired to start with I wasn't sure I could actually pedal for 30mins, let alone keep the effort up. Was pleased to make 20km this week as really didn't expect to half way through! It was an effort to keep spinning at times

Interestingly I have lost about 1.5kg since the start of the study...Is it the biking...or the running loads of miles?

C • Lost 1.5kg? 6

Massage - think the legs have earnt it after the last 4 weekends...1st patient visit 2 today - strain gauge stayed 2/3 intact for all but the last test. Good start, I had a half hour worry that he might show up without a strain gauge in his leg this morning, but apparently only the first one they put in didn't work....long day

C • I still can't quite fathom 3

Booked flights to Ireland :-) Excited about some big hills :-)

Legs still a wreck - eased off a little after being on my feet all day :-)

Ow my legs

I was on driving duty for the trunce....so decided to try and get my legs to recover a bit with a very very gentle spin out to the river and back to take photos (would have taken hours for me to walk there today!). Used THE granny gear!! Resulted with me being very hungry - legs a wreck! (Time a complete guess as didn't have watch - Beasant beat me back and I set off before he reached the final river crossing!)