Slippery Slope

Plan

• RPM Enduro @ 5pm
  

Actual

• Run - 4.5km
  
  • 32:21mins
    
• Personal Trainer Circuit
  
  • 5min Walk
    
  • 2km Run - 14:37mins
  • 3 x 10 Seated Overhead Shoulder Press
  • 3 x 10 Barbell Tricep Extension
  • 3 x 10 Adductor Squat w/Barbell
• RPM Enduro with Jaci
  
  • 60mins
    

After waking up reasonably early, I decided that I should check out the course for the race next week. Initially my plan was to run up the steep hill at the beginning of the course, and walk the rest of the route so that I could get an idea of what I was facing. I thought a good idea would be to take the camera along with me and take photos of the course for you all to see, but when I turned up, it was drizzling with rain and the photos would've been pretty average.

When I was describing the course to my Dad in the morning, he was very negative with his comments. He almost made me feel stupid for not doing hill training because of the hill at the beginning of the course. That was pretty nerve wracking, and I was seriously worried that all of my training would count for shit.

Because of this, I decided to do an Almost-Lap of the 5km course. I just Almost-Lap instead of a full lap so that I wouldn't get bent up with times during the actual race. What if I'd run the course in 35 minutes today and come race day, I was approaching 1km to go at 30 minutes? I'd be beating myself up, probably pushing myself in ways that isn't safe.

I'm glad I did this, because firstly, the hill isn't a problem. Yeah its steep, but it's at the beginning of the course and is out of the way quickly. It is easier to do than the long, slow inclines that I've dealt with at the end of my runs at work. When approaching those hills, I had very little energy left so they felt much tougher than this hill.

Second reason why it was a good idea is that a lot of the roads aren't signposted. I have some knowledge of the area with it being on the edge of West Auckland, but more than a couple of times, I was wondering if I was going in the right direction.

Third reason why it was a good idea? There are two hills. One steep going up at the beginning of the course, and one steep going down hill about three quarters of the way through, followed by another, short, steep hill. That downhill stretch was not very nice to run down. It was slippery, and strewn with twigs and branches and clumps of clay and mud. I really hope that it gets cleaned up before the race, though I need to make sure that it's safety first, not speed, when I do that downhill run.

You can see that I've got a few new songs on here - I need to decide what my playlist will be for the race (and I *will* be running to music. Its the only way I can run, and the only way I can truly shut out everyone else.)

I mentioned in my last weeks post about being infuriated about someone taking my bike in RPM. I turned up just over an hour early and claimed my bike. Five minute later, the girl who has been taking my bike the last couple of weeks, came in, and looked a bit irritated at being shafted. Hah! Yes, I'm mean, yes its awful, but I've had that bike for the last year and a bit. Its MINE. MY PRECIOUS. *hiss*

Given that I turned up so early, I went for a 2km run and did part of an interval circuit.

I admit I was a bit disappointed with the time, but then I realised, I was running with the treadmill on an incline. It's been a while since I've been on the treadmill, I've been doing most of my running outside in preparation for the race - I think it's good to do a combination of both (my reasons are articulated well in this article that cmae linked from her blog), and it was good to focus on speed. As a first short term goal, I'd like to match the 14:00 for 2km time with the 1% incline.

Oh, and the other factor. My legs weren't exactly 'fresh' going into the gym. I had done a 4.5km run around Western Springs in the morning, lets not forget that.

And then I followed it up with RPM Enduro. Was great to have my bike back, and I worked solidly for the whole class. Though during the class I thought, "Gawd... by this time next week, the race will be over."

Sweet jesus.