Monday 28 January 2008

Another week, another Race

Since getting back, things have been going reasonably well on the training front. I have been trying to mix the training up, some walking, some running. I even managed to run up North Barrule (local fells) last weekend from the Verranda and back. I was delighted to get up and down in 1 hour 20.

I went for a longer run in the dark along the Leeds/Liverpool canal on Wednesday night. I trod on a round stone and rolled my ankle over and ended up hopping along cursing at myself for such stupidity. After limping back to my flat in Leeds I was forced to rest until yesterdays race.

I got down to Ronaldsway happy that my ankle was feeling fine and feeling fresh from a three day break. I managed 69:12 at St Johns before Christmas so I was determined to set a SB (seasons best is probably the best way for me to describe things from now on) . The course was 10 1k laps. I went well on on the first two laps but somehow got myself into a dip in the middle of the race. I was apprehensive of going too fast and ruining my chances of finishing. I am still struggling to find my pace properly. I got into a good battle with some folk I caught up with but then my food went numb and I had to stop and readjust my shoes losing valuable seconds.

The stop probably helped me as I got anger with myself for not having got this detail right at the start and chased off at a much stronger pace. With three laps to go, Marie Gilbertson caught me up. Marie is faster than me on paper so I decided that I was going to catch a tow and stay with her until I collapsed. Luckily I didn't and this propelled me a further 6 places up the field and I finished in 5th place in 67:46 beating my previous time by 1 minute 26.

Given the fact that I am STILL 87 kilos and I had a rubbish month with little training I am content with the time. I know that the weight is a significant factor in my performance at the moment. The next race is the 10th of Feb. I want to go under 65 mins. my research into these things tells me that 2 kilos should be enough to secure that without getting any fitter.

My current plan is to try and train 5 times a week for the next fortnight and concentrate on the weight thing as a priority. I am off for a weekend snowboarding in the alps next weekend so, logically, my other aim is to stay in one piece!

I wanted to say a quick thank you to Michael for showing me some very useful ITB strengthening exercises. They are harder than they look!

Monday 14 January 2008

Feels good to be back

I am back in training at last. 77.2 Kilos. Today I did my first session since the 21st of December. Winter virus's really truly are the scourge. The one at Christmas left me with a nasty chesty cough which prevented me from exercising.

I was also disappointed to miss the winter league race on the 6th of January, especially because it was my local race in Andreas. Even more the shame as looking at the times I would have had a good handicap tussle with Chris Cale I think. But never mind that, I will just have to beat him at Ronaldsway instead :-)

I felt good today, went very steady. Cardio wise I was strong. I felt it pulling at my hip abductors. Before Christmas my knees were starting to feel quite sore, a repetitive impact injury. The break did them good and I didn't feel any problems in them at all today.

Hopefully its all systems go again now.