New Training Plan
With the development and some constant
fiddling about with my new training plan for the next few months I have finally
settled into some more serious bike and run training. Since last entry I am pleased to say that all is going well and I
am very happy with how things are progressing. It will be strange this year as
it looks like I will not be doing any triathlons at all any distance, but the
strange thing is that I feel that these last few weeks I am feeling as fit and
strong as I ever had been.
Compromises
Traditionally if you are training for either a biking event
or a running event you would leave the long sessions for the weekend, however
I'm having to compromise on both. Essentially the plan looks now like a long runs
during the week and back to back bike sessions at the weekend for the next few
weeks until tapering for Belfast Marathon and then both the Long way home and
the following week Mourne Way Marathon (U).
Trail Running
Up until the last week I have been trying to ticking off
some outstanding stuff re trying out some trail running.
Iv been wanting to do some training as mentioned before on
trail routes to help prepare me for Mourne marathon. I knew of three different
places I wanted to do - Barnett's demesne, Stormont , Cavehill and hopefully a
bonus route if I had the chance of somewhere in the Mournes. I knew Stormont
and Barnett 's should be pretty straightforward but I
had to read up about Cavehill a bit as I wasn’t too familiar with the route up
there. Anyhow's, I finally got round one weekend to doing Cavehill (15 miles,
3.20 time/13MM) .
Cavehill isn't really that long in circumference and if you
wanted to make up significant mileage you either had to do a number of laps or
do what I did recently which was to do two or three routes mixed in with basically purposely
getting lost in what only can be described as a spiders web of minor trail
routes within the main exterior route until you clock up your required mileage.
Mournes
As for running - or should I say walk / running in the Mournes
I plotted a route which was a mixture of hill climb up to Donard / Commadagh
saddle wall, then across to Hare's Gap then onto to Tollymore Forest before
leading back to Newcastle.
I managed to do 12
miles in just over 4 hrs; (21MM) taking into account a good few stops to check
map and take video etc.
The other short steep run I came across near where I live in
a park/trail route called 'Cregagh Glen' ( http://www.walkni.com/walks/82/cregagh-glen/
) the steep 1.5 mile river trail basically goes up a hill in the middle on a forest
leading to an opening on top of the Castlereagh hills which have an outstanding
view right around Belfast. I ran up and down this to make up a short 5 mile
hill rep run which was enjoyable. It is being developed by the National Trust and I think I will be back for some hill reps some time.
Top of Cregagh Glen opens up to fantastic views -
Swimathon 2014
The Swimathon this year went well. Despite the fact that as
usual I haven't done any significant training the longest I was in the pool
leading up to it was a single half hour slot.
I haven't got the results yet but
the volunteers helping on the day reckon it was about 2.15 - about 5/10 minutes slower than last year.
Thankfully we managed to raise £75 for Marie Care
As well as getting into back to back long bike rides I'm
also trying back to back long runs. Doing back to back training is one way of
getting used to training on tired legs with the body in a fatigued state. This
week for example was a particularly heavy week which I managed to 'running on
tired' state for both running and cycling.
On Wednesday I ran 24 mile followed
on Thursday with a 10 miler. On Saturday and Sunday I did on both days 50 miles
on the bike. This week my legs are starting to feel a new type of pain -
instead of just the muscle pain which you get from exertion , I'm also starting
to get a slight pain which almost feels like its coming from the core of the
muscles - as if it’s the bone aching a bit. Nothing too discomforting, but just
a new type of ache which I haven't really felt too much before. Hopefully my
muscle memory will start to adjust and the nature of running on tired legs will
start to become more the 'norm' to help me prepare for upcoming events.
Consistency
Two very long runs - 40 seconds difference. These last
couple weeks I have done two 24 mile runs and managed 40 second only difference
between the two. On neither run was I checking my pace etc on the monitor to
see if I was on track with last run. I just collect data on my Garmin and
merely check it when I get back to the house.
Also, with regard to long bike rides, today and yesterday
did back to back 50 milers and the difference between the two was only 28
seconds between the two - so close! The bonus part too about the biking is that I finally
managed to hold a 15 mph average on both rides. Since getting back on the bike
this last couple of months I have been really giving it my all on each run with
first have usually a 80% effort level on the first half with the later part a
100 % perceived effort hoping to do well overall.
Even so, I have worked hard to average a 14mph but this
weekends results really pleased me. I suppose also the fact that on Friday I
got a bike fit done and also the weather was pleasant enough this weekend
helped, but even so, to go out on the second day (which I wasn’t expecting to
maintain the average) I'm really pleased with myself and now continue my plan
with confidence going into this years cycle sportive charity event, the Long
Way Home.
New Kit - Ultimate Direction Anton Krupicka Race Vest
Yesterday I received arrival of my new Ultimate Direction Anton Krupicka Race
Vest 2.0.
I hope to use this primarily in the Mourne Marathon but might use it
later on the Titanic run too. The hand held camelbak bottles are very good ( I
now have 2 - the 2nd one I use / collect in car after say 12 miles into my long
run) . Although they are very good I think it would be good to have my hands
free and with the camelbaks I notice I tend to prefer only using the right
hand. Unfortunately my fingers tend over longer runs to get slightly painful
with the elastic wrap that goes round your hand eventually causing slight
discomfort.
To be honest you can alleviate it a bit by switching hands for 5
minutes or so, but I think if I can avoid this problem altogether I would
prefer to go down that route. Also this year on the odd trail run I have got
into I have really enjoyed it so I might make more use of these type of
hydration packs in the future. I have used both belts around waist which tend
to aggravate any tummy problems that I may have.
The typical type hydration packs with
reservoirs and tubing are not great for me as with them you cannot
really visualise (like you could see from a bottle) exactly how much you have
drunk as you go along (which is important to be mindful of when out for a long time). The normal hydration
packs are better suited for trail walking / hiking etc. Hopefully in next blog
I have a review of the Ultimate Direction Race Vest. Bearing in mind it was
pretty dear and that Anton himself
helped in the design input, it should be pretty good.
Other stuff
One thing I haven't got round to talking about trying to
balance work, home life and fitting in a workout is pretty difficult. Because
now more of my sessions are longer I realise that this effects how much I'm
pottering about in the house with the missus and the little rascal and heading
out with them if they are going to the local coffee shop / park or shopping
centre for a wee outing for a couple of hours. Bearing this in mind I try my
utmost to make the most of my rest days and even after my sessions I make the
most of the rest of the day and have some quality time at home with the family.
Sometimes I wish there was more time in the day to do more of everything, but bearing in mind that wont ever happen I have to say now that thankfully I have a very understanding wife that puts up with me and we try to manage our time together as best we can. Hopefully when the little one gets a bit older she will be out with her Daddy running /cycling or else daddy might be taxiing her to her sports class at the weekend :-) We will just have to wait and see...
Couple of wee funnies to end off this blog post
No comments:
Post a Comment