Donut disappointment

I'll try and get these more consistent but with not much on the watch at this point it's hard to fill the space.

Thursday was 12.2km untimed, rolling around nicely but very sore afterwards I still struggle backing up the next morning after a tough workout. 3 x 60m strides to finish. Friday was 16km on the bike but definitely rode pretty hard, wanted to sweat after a pub crawl the night before.

Saturday morning gave in to some nagging and did a parkrun with Dad. Ran to the park which was 6k before doing some strides and setting off. Unbelievably windy and not very sheltered at all. Only felt like it was behind me for a 400m stretch so pretty brutal. Ended up feel like a hard threshold in the end I wasn't collapsing over the line like a normal race. The second place was 2 and a half minutes behind so bit of a weird one. Ended up with 17:39, happy with that solo and in that insane wind. Ran home for 17km all up with Dad. 5 x 60m strides at the end.

Long run Sunday, gave Will and Jase a lift up. Pretty keen to get around for 1:40. Ran with Jase for most of the way finishing the last 6k solo. I can't keep up on the track, but I definitely have him in the longer stuff. 21k in 1:40, happy with that one. Plan was to cash in on some jam donuts they advertise on the way up to the forest but for the first time in 4 years they weren't open , trust. 80.4km for the week.

Back at it X 2

Rest day Sunday due to a late night Saturday. Glad I took it though felt a lot sturdier Monday at training. Taking the pressure off completely at the moment so no times for the reps unfortunately for readers.

Session was 3 sets of 800, 600, 400. Started each one slower, built my way into it and made sure I was strong throughout. Felt so strange but pretty good without the watch, a lot less stress and enjoyed the run more I'd say. 15.8km all up.

Tuesday was 60km on the bike with Sam, he got himself a new bike and has been riding a lot more than me recently so there's my excuse for being beaten fair and square. Great ride though, headwind was absolutely brutal for 30k.

Wednesday was track night and I was pretty keen to stay well away from it. So talked to Lesley and decided on 8 x 400m with 200 jog on the outside. Went really well in the end, strong once again and got the arms moving. Felt okay at the end so decided on a 2.4km threshold. Ran well here and did time this one so 2.4 in 8:14, definitely moving okay. 14.4km all up.

Back at it

Rode on Friday 50km, gotta try and fix my bike computer so still don't have a time on that one.

Hills Saturday morning went pretty bad, trying not to look at my watch anymore during the session to try and take the pressure off, but it didn't really matter this morning I felt so average. Heavy legs from the get-go just didn't have it in me at all. Just glad to get it done to be honest. Once the rhythm comes back I'll be fine I'm sure. On the bike again tomorrow before hopefully running 4 or 5 times next week.

Albert Park 10km

Yeah so everything went to plan in the morning. Real cold and pretty windy, but I was feeling pretty good and energetic so all good news. Stuck with Liam and Jasper for the first 6km, felt pretty strong although the pace slowed  bit coming back into the headwind, picked it up after 5k and went through 6 feeling strong, but then 7 came around and I just lost the plot. Made a decision to let the group go, save myself a bit then catch them at the end, but ended up running solo for the final 3k into a headwind, hurting badly the whole way. 35:37.

Frustrated, disappointed and absolutely over it is how I'm feeling. I forgot the last time I had a breakthrough run that's left me feeling excited. Not sure what to do now to be honest in regards to training, it seems like it's taking me nowhere and just getting in the way of work and life. Decided to take a week off now and went to the snow  with the university. On the slopes for a few days, but back now absolutely shattered whole body is sore.  

Had a bit of a think and decided that the best way to get the most out of running is to not stress about it at all. I'm going to try and keep at least 2 days purely on the bike, having that 6th run the past month or so has made me very sore in the shins and toe troubles coming through. Also going to try and keep it chill, I'll work hard while I'm there of course, but drop the mental load completely. I'm no longer going to worry about making sure session times improve week to week, just going to try and enjoy it and enjoy feeling fit and healthy. Also want to try and get more involved with friends. Definitely not going to let training hard influence nights out or holidays completely. I want to be able to run or ride while away because I enjoy feeling fit, but it'll be more about enjoying cardio rather than trying to thrash myself to improve. 

I reckon despite telling myself that I know this, I don't think it's quite hit me, but I'm never gonna be as good as I want to be, it's just not possible in this sport where you can always be better. For the meantime, goals are to not worry about getting fast, instead enjoy what running gives me and to make the most of more of a mix. 

I'll be keeping it up on here though, but hopefully more photos and more chill.

Update X 3

Wednesday night brought 10 laps of 100 on, 100m off with it. Got around well running in lane 3, went through 4km in about 14:00 so solid average pace for a session. 11.2km all up.

Everything sore and tired on Thursday night. Really wasn't feeling good with the whole body tight and sore. Just got around for 7km and 3 60m strides. Then decided on a couple of rest days leading into the 10k on Sunday, not gonna do any harm and I'd rather feel recovered than anything else at the moment. Lots of stretching and rolling.

Cycle

Felt strong this morning must've been an elite stage 9 in the tour. Can't believe Fabio Aru dogged the boys with that cheeky attack while Froome was out. Porte's crash got me worried though that was brutal. Hopefully I stay out of that. Got some core and rolling done in the evening though so I felt a bit better. Toe has settled right down so hopefully we're on track.

Switching it up

Sunday was pretty keen to keep the toe out of trouble so on the bike with Dad for 60km. Really fast in the end, did it in about 1 hour 50 including traffic lights we were going so quick on the way out to Mordy. Added a bit extra towards Port Phillip to get it to 60. Great ride.

Monday was the physio so got some deloading things in my shoe to take the weight off my toe. Had me run on the treadmill and when I'm barefoot, my ankle does slouch a bit, but it's way better when I'm in shoes. My shins are a bit sore as well so I'll keep the running to a minimum this week so hopefully I'm all good for the race.

Going snowboarding for a few days after the 10km so I won't run there and will take the rest of the week easy. Really keen to run well at the half, but I gotta make it to the start line so this easy week will do my body wonders I reckon.

Anyway did a timed Monas session with JB and Jasper Monday night. Great run, worked well on the longer reps but I was hurting in the short stuff, pretty happy, covered 5.5km so best one yet. 12.7 all up.

Update X 2

Got out in the morning on Wednesday for 10 x 100m on, 100m off. Warmed up for 4km and alternated the quick 1s between the grass and the track. 4km cool down and a nice run. Then in the arvo jumped on the bike with Katie for 40km. Ended up rolling along real quick in the end so great double workout for the day.

Thursday was just 10km with the boys plus 5 x 60m strides. Noticed middle toe had been pretty sore for the last couple of day so hit up the physio Friday morning who said it wasn't too bad and to just maybe cut down the load a bit. Then Friday night had a bit of a push on the top of the foot and it was real tender. Had already committed for Sandown relays so couldn't pull the pin on the team so decided to just race it then hop on the bike for a few days afterwards.

Got out for a ride on Friday, just 16km nothing amazing.

Just got home from the relays. Pretty windy. Ended up running really well, made sure I felt good at halfway and it worked well in the end. Ran third leg after Daniel Hamilton. Overtook people the whole way round which always helps the rhythm. Through 1 lap in 10:33, realised that was a touch slow then started to really put in. Back straight really got moving before hurting really bad on the final km, managed to keep it honest though and ran 21:00 for the 6.2km. 1 second would've helped the ego but we can blame the wind. I think 12 seconds faster than last year so I'm happy especially with the foot issue on the mind. 

Jogged a lap for cooldown to make it 11.8 for the day. So keen for this 10k next weekend, but I gotta be real careful here. I'll jump on the bike for a couple of days and see how we go. If I'm lucky I'll be doing a hard session on Wednesday just to make sure I'm GG before a couple of easy days and racing on the Sunday. 

Bike based

Just a 30km ride this morning, pretty nice day for it, although it was windy. Did the 1000 steps hike today as well which got the heart rate up. Ended the day watching the tour de france review show wishing Phil Ligget was still a commentator. Major stretch, roll and a bit of core snuck in there as well.

But can they do it on a cold rainy night in McKinnon

Yeah real chilly once again, chucked the tights on and wished I brought a second jumper. Trained with JB and Jase and ended up having another solid session.

2 x 800, 3 x 600, 2 x 400, 200. These different combos of 8s,6s, 4s and 2s on a Monday are getting fairly old, really keen for a 6 x 1km or something that's more of a test. On the outside, wind was pretty bitey.

2:32, 2:33

1:53, 1:54, 1:49

70, 66

Didn't time the 200. Copped the hill for every 600 and 800 which was rough, but travelling well nonetheless. Glad we weren't on the track would've been so slippy.  14.4km all up. Sandown relays this weekend, hopefully I'll pace it better than the disaster 2 weeks ago.

 

Back at Ferny

So cold again Sunday morning so chucked the skins on and drove up so thankful for heating. Ran the first half with Ockers and JB great chat not gonna lie it's so hard running with Ockers I'm laughing the whole way around and there nothing harder than trying to get up potato patch while giggling, takes it out of the quads I'm telling ya. 

Haven't done a long run for 3 weeks and haven't touched the planned 1 hour 40 in even longer so the plan was just to get around. Ended up going really well and loved every second of it. 21.4 in 1:41:09 bringing it to just over 79 for the week. Really keen for Nepal right now.