Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Taking my own advice - not!
Finished yesterday's post with the notion that I might skip my track workout and have a nice swim instead. And yet, 4pm yesterday afternoon and I'm at Narabeen warming up on the track. I should have known things weren't right as I hobbled through 5 laps of warm-up, my hamstrings aching and my form totally shot. However, the sheer bloody-mindedness that kept me on my program for the previous two days prevailed, and after 4 run-throughs, I set off to do 5x600m in 1:50 with 1 minute recovery.
The first one felt OK, and came out in 1:52, the second a pleasing 1:50. However, I was already struggling, and dropped back to 1:54 for the third, before limping home in 1:55 for the fourth and deciding to call it quits. Pushing myself through runs the last two days had left me a bit tired, but the main problem was that the tight hamstrings were altering my form, making my running less efficient, and therefore pushing the pace into lactic territory. Compared to previous sessions, this wasn't a total disaster, but on tartan I should have been running 1:48s, and much more comfortably than I was.
So today became the rest day that I should have taken on Sunday. Took advantage of this to take Louis into the city (lest anyone should wonder whether I actually do anything besides running and parental duties, I was working 'til 11:00 last night, and was back at my desk at 5:00 this morning).
Didn't actually have anything to do in the city, but Louis is fascinated by trains, and loves the ride into the city (and it kills a few hours). Went into the ABC Shop to check out the BoohBah dolls (9:00am ABC if you are keen - think TellyTubbies on (more) LSD) - a minor incident when they were returned to the shelf. Then off to DJs food hall to almost buy some Roquefort cheese ($90/kilo - there are much cheaper ways to get botulism) - instead got some coffee as an Xmas present for the brother-in-law who has everything (to go with his goat). Then off to Hyde Park for lunch. Sat in the ampitheatre (my favourite part of the park - although a bit warmer than last time I was there) where Louis was kind enough to feed me some grapes (including a few pre-chewed ones), in-between attempting to pat the pigeons.
A more challenging trip home as approaching nap-time and the need to explore the entire carriage kept me busy kid-wrangling - but he was still an angel in the scheme of things.
Hopefully I will be able to do my speed session tomorrow, but will see how the legs are doing in the morning. Planning to race on Saturday night, although which events is still a bit uncertain, which I will prattle on about tomorrow.
The first one felt OK, and came out in 1:52, the second a pleasing 1:50. However, I was already struggling, and dropped back to 1:54 for the third, before limping home in 1:55 for the fourth and deciding to call it quits. Pushing myself through runs the last two days had left me a bit tired, but the main problem was that the tight hamstrings were altering my form, making my running less efficient, and therefore pushing the pace into lactic territory. Compared to previous sessions, this wasn't a total disaster, but on tartan I should have been running 1:48s, and much more comfortably than I was.
So today became the rest day that I should have taken on Sunday. Took advantage of this to take Louis into the city (lest anyone should wonder whether I actually do anything besides running and parental duties, I was working 'til 11:00 last night, and was back at my desk at 5:00 this morning).
Didn't actually have anything to do in the city, but Louis is fascinated by trains, and loves the ride into the city (and it kills a few hours). Went into the ABC Shop to check out the BoohBah dolls (9:00am ABC if you are keen - think TellyTubbies on (more) LSD) - a minor incident when they were returned to the shelf. Then off to DJs food hall to almost buy some Roquefort cheese ($90/kilo - there are much cheaper ways to get botulism) - instead got some coffee as an Xmas present for the brother-in-law who has everything (to go with his goat). Then off to Hyde Park for lunch. Sat in the ampitheatre (my favourite part of the park - although a bit warmer than last time I was there) where Louis was kind enough to feed me some grapes (including a few pre-chewed ones), in-between attempting to pat the pigeons.
A more challenging trip home as approaching nap-time and the need to explore the entire carriage kept me busy kid-wrangling - but he was still an angel in the scheme of things.
Hopefully I will be able to do my speed session tomorrow, but will see how the legs are doing in the morning. Planning to race on Saturday night, although which events is still a bit uncertain, which I will prattle on about tomorrow.
