Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Nice technical course at 5 Peaks Albion Hills. My legs felt good off the start, and we were doing just over 4 min kms for the first couple, but my HRM told me to back off. It took 7km for the HR to settle in nicely at a slower-than-expected 5 minute kms on the twisty trails, and I ended up pacing another fellow who was faster on the downs but slower on the flats. He got me on the downhill finish. I really need to improve my downhill speed if I want to do better on trail runs.

Unfortunately, after 14 km we ran straight into the back of the Sport and Enduro races, so we had to politely pass all the walkers, waddlers and speed walkers in the next bit of singletrack, and the slow- medium runners in the last bit of mostly singletrack. The faster 1/2 Marathon runners only had to deal with the first 2 waves of the other races, which were moving faster.

I was disappointed with the format, as they could have started the 1/2 marathon 30 minutes earlier and avoided all this issue. Maybe next time I'll run the subway platform and escalators in rush hour.

I was hoping to do a little better, but I think my legs pushed me too fast for the first couple of km and my cardio wasn't up to it. I ended up 45 seconds behind 3rd in the 35+ category, and 19 minutes behind the overall winner. I borrowed Bash's gps, and it'll be interesting to see the download.

Kudos to Phatty who was 3rd in his category in the short course, and to young-and-speedy Sergei L. who won the medium course overall.

C • Congrats! 5

Workout #2.

Note: dropped the 'bent off at Gandalf the bike wizard's place. He's going to do a re-do for me.

Easy ride with Bulletdog.

Workout #1

Fantastic run in today- perfect temp and sunshine. Felt good and pushed the pace a bit around all the remaining open trails in Palgrave.
Bulletdog had 3 swims!

Easy run home by headlamp and moonlight on a perfect still night.

With my big bike out of commission, I tried the big front wheel on the Omega. It handles bumps much better, but my foot hits the front wheel on sharp uphill turns, so it's a no-go for twisty singletrack.

Time to get back into the dreaded Hard Core workouts.

Nice AM run with Bash, Rocky, Goose, Vents, Scooby, The Archer and Rob the biker. I felt good and pushed a bit on some of the hills. At one point I was running ahead but thought I heard the guys right behind me so I picked up the pace as I kept hearing them. Turned out that I'd lost them all but was pacing a big deer! I'm sure Scooby gets mistaken for a prancing deer all the time.

Bash, Goose and I turned back at Castlederg with Rocky and Vents and I got to hear all about the very cool Trans-Rockies.

Link workout.