Old Friends

The missus will certainly have my neck if she reads this next bit. Nevertheless, after a solid two months of great (summer) weather, I’ve noticed a subtle change in the conditions the last few days. Nothing drastic, but as I ran to work yesterday morning the air was certainly cooler and the air smelled fresh, alive. Perhaps it’s the measured change in the sunrise, now rising at 5:55… which might also explain why Isla has been ‘not’ getting up at 5:30 the last few days.

On the weekend, an old friend moved back to town and it didn’t take me long before I coerced him out for a run. Truth be told, I believe he was chomping at the bit, anything to get him away from his newfound household chores. Regardless, I welcomed the idea of company and as I loped my way toward the Vic High Track earlier this evening, the thought of running partner was the only thing holding me true.

Brad was already at the track when I arrived and after drawing a literal line in the sand, we began the session. If memory serves correct, I led the first lap, or at least the first corner, before running smack into a relentless headwind on the backstretch. Not only did we have the benefit of the added challenge, but the far side of the track is also home to a small mound. I hate dirt tracks.

Earlier that morning, I’d mentioned running 6-8x800 and after the first interval I focused solely on ‘6’. But as each successive repeat finished, the effort seemed to lesson. Partly as I road shotgun while running into the wind, but also because the body seemed to relax into the workout. This changed after #5. This was also the point that Brad said, ‘last one’… to which I replied, ‘one more’. These words came back to haunt me only minutes later.

2:40, 2:40, 2:39, 2:40,

2:40, 2:41, 2:39, 2:40

The session over, I was really happy with the workout and thankful for the company. I always seem to forget the effort required to finish this sort of training… it always seem so much easier once you’re done.

Training:

Monday: day off (scheduled)

Tuesday: easy 50:48

Wednesday: 1:29:40 with 8x800 5kP (2’)

Heat Wave

The attached passage was taken from James Tabor’s, The Runner, and has to be one of my favourite quotes. The imagery that Tabor provides speaks volumes, but I also find myself envious of the runner and the experience that he had created for himself. Yesterday I fashioned my own experience, my own carnival of pain.

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"Out of the silver heat mirage he ran. The sky burned, and under him the paving was a black mirror reflecting sun-fire. Sweat sprayed his skin with each foot strike so that he ran in a hot mist of his own creation. With each slap on the softened asphalt, his soles absorbed heat that rose through his arches and ankles and the stems of his shins. It was a carnival of pain, but he loved each stride because running distilled him to his essence and the heat hastened this distillation."

Victoria has been under a blanket of unseasonably warm weather, but on Saturday, we started setting records. Yesterday was ridiculous, 33C by mid-afternoon (38C with humidex). This was made all the more amusing given the session that was scheduled.

My goal was to run 10k MP (3:47-3:48km/pace), but as I watched the mercury climb I knew the workout was going to be a challenge. I had begged a colleague for the use of his water bottle and after getting changed, stepped outside into the furnace and slowly made my way toward Vic High. My plan was to spend my first 4-5 km on the track and then run at effort.

After arriving at the battleground, I drained half the bottle, drew a line across the dirt track, laughed, and began. Scorching would be an understatement! I made sure to build the first lap and then concentrated on finding a comfortable (and I use that term loosely) relaxed pace, the first four kilometres passing in 3:49, 3:49, 3:47 & 3:47. At this point, I quickly stopped, guzzled what was left of the water bottle and took off toward Cedar Hill.

After reaching the golf course, I was parched and stopped at the fountain outside the clubhouse for a quick drink. As the water trickled down my parched throat, I looked to my left to see a flood of water coming from the underside of a planter that was hanging down from one of support beams. Not wanting to pass by a golden opportunity, I stood underneath the pot for a few additional seconds as the icy cold stream ran over my head. In those conditions I’m happy with the workout but rather than concentrate on pace, or reap the full benefits of the training, I feel too much energy was spent just trying to survive.

And then there was today, at 5:00 p.m. as I was running home… 35C, that’s just stupid.

Training:

Monday: day off (scheduled)

Tuesday: 1:05:43 with 10k at ME

Wednesday: undulating/ridiculously hot 50:43

Hurry Up and Wait

After not running on the weekend, I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather we’ve been experiencing and revelled in an early morning up-tempo run on the way into work. Unlike Bob Geldof left the Boomtown Rats, I do like Monday’s. It was one of those rare moments where you’re at one with your body. My stride felt effortless and smooth, and as the sweat dripped down my face, it was with disappointment that I stopped wishing the run could’ve continued.

Yesterday afternoon, under record setting temperatures (30C), I slowly made my way back to the Vic High Track for my second session of 200s. Once again, the oval was deserted and despite best efforts from Carter and Hicham, I was to run this workout alone.

I ran a similar session in mid-May and therefore wasn’t too surprised to see my splits slower than expected. With the variance set to rest, it afforded me the time and concentration to focus on the workout. Unlike May 12, I completed the full 12 repeats and was proud of myself as I slowly jogged home feeling completely dehydrated but content.

34.1, 34.0, 35.7, 35.6, 35.2, 35.9
36.9, 36.6, 36.4, 37.0, 37.4, 36.4

Unfortunately, it seems that I may have worked a little too hard yesterday. I knew I was in trouble last night as I lay in bed, my left achilles throbbing to the beat of an unheard tune. Any doubt was put to rest and with my bike at work, I coerced my lovely wife into dropping me off at the office… there was no way I was running today. And so, I wait.

Training:
Monday: steady 49:47
Tuesday: 1:17:47 with 12x200m (200m)
Wednesday: day off (unscheduled, left achilles)

Vengeance Is a Very Useful Tool

Now that my running doubles as a mode of transportation, my choice of venue has narrowed during the week. So it was, with naught but the glare of the late afternoon sun and a blustery wind as company, I stepped back into the arena where there is no escaping the cruel truth. It was my inaugural visit to the hard packed dirt oval at Victoria High, and my second time since March, 2008, that I stood on a track. I wish this realization had hit home prior to the session.

I was unable to find where the start/finish or 200m mark was, and so decided to place stones at the apex of each corner. After an easy loop to remove some fallen braches, I touched my ears to their respective shoulder, gently jumped up and down a few times and then toed the line I had drawn in the dirt.

The plan was for 12x200m at 3kP but after looking at the McMillan Calculator, a tool I’ve never used before, I decided to aim for between 32.5 & 35.8. I thought the back end was generous as there was once a time when I could hit 35s in my sleep, and fully expected to pass the opening stone between 28.X and 32.5. I was in for a surprise.

What was once my bread and butter, a disproportionately fast 200m, all but appear to have been run out of my system. The times tell the story, and after recording 4 successive 37s, I decided to pull the pin at 10.

34.9, 35.0, 35.2, 35.7, 36.4
36.2, 37.2, 37.2, 37.6, 37.1

What I find amusing, is how strangely comforting I find the result. Yes I was running on a dirt track, and it was windy, hell, there’s no telling I wasn’t covering more than 200m. All that aside, what this has drawn to my attention is that a) it has been over 14 months since I’ve run regularly on the track, and b) efficiency at speed, once my bread and butter, is missing. I plan to change both these facts.

Training:
Monday: day off (scheduled)
Tuesday: 1:06:31 with 10x200m (200m)