Had a super week prior to Easter having taken the trip up to Port Mac to watch a number of BMMC and our sister city organisation from the low lands PIS taking part in this years Ironman. It amazes me that a day can be spent watching up to 16hrs of triathlon and at no point do I feel a need to do anything else. Even SWMBO making her debut in the ironman spectating world failed to touch her book she had bought, being way to entranced by the goings on around.
The week that followed enabled a number of participants to stretch out and relax on the sunny beaches of Port Mac and having logged in 4 days long service leave it was great to kick back with them. Unfortunately this may be at the detriment to North Face training. As I don't think and absents of running, vegetables and sleep were listed in the training plan.
Finally dragged myself back to the reality of needing to get my self into gear thanks to WES (who having done the tri had every right to lie around doing nothing) dragging me out for a short run whilst SWMBO took herself and Binary Baby (10.10.10) out for a surfing lesson. Over post run coffee it was decided training had to be resumed. Latter though as the coffee was very good that morning.
Got home late Friday and was some what rushed in preparations for the planned BMMC training run on Easter Saturday. No food in the house and all shops bar the local servo closed resulted in dinning through the golden arches. Which on top of a weeks post race (or race spectating as the case may be) diet was possibly not the intake most often recommended by 9 out of 10 doctors.
Saturdays run was working on the concepts that training is an addition thing not multiplication. As we know anything times 0 still equals squat. Arrived late (though not as late as some M*s*e* G) and found a small group of Vstar, B1 & B2 or B2 & B1, Dave and Julie very patiently waiting at Narrow Neck gate. Beautiful Mountains Easter weather accompanied us all day as we made our way along Narrow Neck to Tarros. Down the ladder through to Medlow Gap and on to Dunphy's camp ground.
A large group camping at Dunphy's looked a little surprised to see lycra clad runners taking the water from the tank and I could not help thinking if the number of groups talking about Mts runs all came through Dunphy's it could be quite an entertaining day for these campers.
Continued on through Megalong Valley Rd to 6ft track and cruised through to the base of Nellies Glen. I must say this section along the creek immediately after turning off the road is one of my favourite parts of this run. It is a shame it is bypassed in north face. As the track began to climb up towards the single track and stairs my legs began to feel uncomfortable for the first time on the run and by the time I was heading up the stairs my energy levels and legs were struggling. I think I have come up these stairs 5-6 times on runs now and the score stands clearly at Nellies 6 Scam 0. Definitely causing me some concern pre North Face as there are still some 35 odd kms to go from here on race day.
Spent too long sitting down at the top knowing I should have been walking around and struggled with tight muscles for the remainder of the run through Bonnie Doon onto Stuarts Rd, Narrow Neck Rd and Glen Raphael (spelling ?) Drive. Was amazed that Dave, Julie and Vstar cruised away at Stuarts Rd to continue onto Giant Staircase and round to Golden Staircase to make it a 'long' run.
For me all up 5hrs 56mins which is the real first training run post 6ft and the bludge I have been having since. Some mild cramps again so booked in an appointment at Dr Phils pharmacy to look into salt tablets as an option to begin exploring possible remedies for this problem. A great day out in the Mountains and thoroughly enjoyed the company on this run. The scenery as always was spectacular and though the video below was not our run. Digger the producer also ran round the Mid Upper Mts over Easter and captured these images:
This is the best place to live and train in the World.
The rest of the week has been unfolding as such:
Monday 5th April
AM run to finish the Easter long weekend from the National Park gates with Dr Phil at 6am. A crisp morning reminding me why the Easter period has to be one of my favourite times of the year to train. Up the Oaks to Ironbark picnic area down into Euroka up Bennetts Ridge fire trail and back down the Oaks to the causeway to finish. Dr Phil surprised me in his post Ironman state in his extending the run up to the gate etc. I dont think I would be walking yet let alone putting extensions on runs. Around 1hr 20mins with a 4minute stretch at the junction along Bennetts.
PM to the Woods for a swim with Sleep Train. Originally though SWMBO was coming to but long weekend fatigue kept her sleeping on the couch (and doing a wee bit in the garden to be fair). Knocked over about 1.8km and felt lazy so got out. Nice to be doing some swimming again.
Tuesday 6th April
AM standard loop from Sleep Trains round house on Railway. Joined by the Fat Kiwi and none others. This use to have my thinking good it should be a sensible (ie easier) pace today but no longer. The Fat Kiwi has learnt to fly and we clocked a sturdy 58mins 43secs including lengthy stretches on the course. Had the heart rate up considerably along Cripple Creek and at the finish. Felt good post run.
Wednesday 7th April
Slept in read the rest of my book and pretended to be busy in the garden as an excuse not to train.
Thursday 8th April
5yrs of marriage today, thank goodness a text came from SWMBO Snr to wish us well on this anniversary otherwise I would not have realised today was the 8th of April. Thought SWMBO was smiling a lot at me as she drove past on her way to work as I finished the morning run. Ran with Fat Kiwi, The Megaphone and Vstar (once the late comer caught us at the lookout). Easier pace than Tuesday but worked up the hill hard for a total time of 1hr 12mins 14secs. The Megaphone is getting better each week, should see him under 1hr 10mins soon for this run.
PM started a new run on the weekly calendar today with hill reps up the trails round Mitchells Pass. Parked at Lennox Bridge and ran down the currently closed Mitchells Pass. Just past the Garry Payne memorial turned right onto the trails and took the single track (slightly to the left of the downhill track) up to its junction with Marges (or Elizabeth which ever one is to the Gully side) Lookout Track, down to the lookout and along the walking track to the Bridge again. Just under 20mins a lap for 3 laps today working on muscular endurance as opposed to Anaerobic Threshold but could be easily adapted to incorporate laps up the road for higher heart rate work. Joined by Vstar, Shogun, WES and Wong for 53mins 43secs. Stumbled across Gottagofasta as he came Bear Grills style out of the bushes at the end of the run heading home, as always looking relaxed and strong.
Friday 9th April
Reproduced Wednesdays training
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