The last week or so has seen me nip out for a crafty 10-11k on a few occasions, squeezing my runs in around other commitments. I’ve tried to up the frequency a little as I have been feeling fairly sluggish and uninspired and this in turn has meant I run less which means I feel sluggish and unispired…
So, the weather getting milder and the impending Marlow Duathlon in a few weeks time have both given me a well needed kick up the behind.
Another thing that got me moving again was a response to one of my posts about my forthcoming Duathlon attempt. I got a good tip from the 5k runner who suggested I try “bricks”.
Bricks, for the uninitiated (such as I). is concentrating on 2 disciplines in the same workout in quick successiion. As I am training for a run/bike/run Duathlon, I decided to attempt a training session of run/bike/run/bike/run covering the same overall distance as my intended Duathlon (39kms) but in smaller chunks giving my body a chance to practice changing from one discipline to the other.
So, in my customary “Bull In A China Shop” style, I formulated a loose plan in my head on Saturday evening and then set off on Sunday morning to attempt my Brick Session.
First leg was a run of 5kms, a pleasant little run that felt easy. A quick change of footwear and onto the bike for 13.5kms. I’d drunk some water at the transition and during the ride guzzled some Lucozade sweets donated to me by the lovely Fit Artist. They seemed to do the trick as I felt rejuvenated for the bike ride with only the hill back home really making me work. Off the bike and back into the Vibrams for a 6k run. And this where I really started feeling it. The transition to the run after a cycle is a tough one – thighs that have been moving up and down for 13kms now have to learn to move back and forth again and this takes a little while for the body to understand. The first kilometre felt odd and then for a brief period everything was ok before a sudden onset of weariness. With a bike ride and another run to go, I was beginning to wonder why I had attempted this. Still, onwards and upwards we go so I returned home, jumped back on the bike, wolfed down some more energy sweets and I felt ok again. The bike ride was again quite enjoyable as I find it relatively easy but at the back of my mind, I began to dread the last run.
I arrived back, dropped the bike, swapped shoes and set off for my last 2k run. It was really hard. The transition was tough and I didn’t shake off the feeling of weariness. It was only a relatively short leg but I felt disorientated as I ran it, unsure of how long I’d been running and a bit detached from my self. I have had this feeling before towards the end of some of my more challenging runs… it’s not fun and is physicaly and mentally uncomfortable.
I was so relieved when I got back home. Glad that it was over but also glad that I had done what I intended. My time (2h 32mins) was about what I expected to complete the race in but this training session had 2 additional transitions and they involved unlocking the front door, carefully manouvering my bike through the hallway etc. which I obviously won’t have to concern myself with during the actual race.
As a footnote, I retrospectively researched “Bricks” and found that I’d gone about it completely the wrong way – advice on Beginner Triathlete.com says “If you have never done a brick before, you should get used to them before attempting these kind of workouts”. And also that the individual legs should be over shorter distances, ideally “5-6 miles bike + 1mile run”. I really need to learn that instructions and advice are what you seek before attempting something and not afterwards to check if you’ve done it right.
Soundtrack to this post: Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Starfighter
Posts Tagged ‘Heavy Legs
bricked up
ashtead 10k race report
“Congratulations! First man over the line in bright yellow trainers” was hollered at me as I finished. An endearingly eccentric thing to shout as someone completes a race but that kind of summed up the whole event. Endearingly Eccentric.
Which, in itself doesn’t sound like high praise… but it is. In this age of corporate sponsorship and timing chips, it’s nice to come across a local race that is impeccably organised, friendly but doesn’t take itself too seriously. Reviews on Runners World are consistently positive so I was looking forward to this…
Numbers are not sent by post, instead have to be collected up on the day but this is a relatively simple process, tell the staff at the scout hut your name – they give you your number. Pins are provided if you have forgotten and then it’s a short walk to the start. We congregate at the start and are shouted at by a man whose loudhailer has broken. He tells us the first and last kilometre is uneven so to be careful, that the kilometre markers this year are actually accurate and then, intriguingly, proceeds to lead us into a rendition of God Save The Queen before the race itself starts. That was a first for me.
A quick countdown and then we are all off. The first kilometre is, as promised, “uneven” but once leaving the grassy area of Ashtead Common, we head off onto tracks and bridle paths which undulate through the Surrey countryside giving occasional glimpses across rolling fields and farm land. It is an out and back course and at 5km there is a stake in the ground with the sign “5km – turn round here” and then it’s back along the same route you have just run. Back past the same enthusiastic marshalls who are just as supportive and vocal on your way back as they were on the way out. The downhill at 2-3 kilometres is now a short sharp uphill between 7 and 8 kilometres but once that is negotiated, it is a long, gentle slope downwards to the finish. Support at the finish is great with children at the line itself waiting to high five you and hand you a commemorative coaster. I finished in 54 and a bit minutes which is about what I expected after a long absence and little training. Once through the finish, and here comes my only criticism, I find that they have run out of water but grab a handful of complimentary jelly babies and a jaffa cake and then collect my finishers technical race top which, another nice touch, has the names of all the registered competitors printed on the back.
You can also see photos from the race here and a video here.
So, a good race. A small, local race attempting to be a great small, local race with character. And succeeding.
Soundtrack to this post: Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood
disobedient legs
I’ve now run 4 times since returning from holiday and am finding it difficult. Over 2 months of non-running has allowed my legs to become lazy and disobedient. When asked to perform, they reluctantly go through the motions like a moody teenager and then, as soon as I’m not looking, begin to slack off. And they feel TIGHT. The calves, the quads and hamstrings seem to have siezed up. During Juneathon, the running came comparitively easy, the movement fluid… At the moment I’m sure that if I removed my headphones whilst running I’d hear the joints in my hips and knees creaking like rusty hinges. None of this is helped by running 5kms virtually daily whilst on holiday and then, once home and with the Ashtead 10k on the horizon, I have halved the frequency of my runs but doubled the distance because in my little brain, I’m not actually working any harder (3 x 10km are the same as 6 x 5km, right. Right?), although my legs beg to differ. And I know deep down that 3 x 10kms are obviously not the same as 6 x 5kms but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating when, after 5km, I’m grabbing my ankles and stretching at the side of the path when I should still be running.
So, the Ashtead 10k this Sunday should be, ahem, interesting. I’m looking forward to it very much as it is Hauling My Carcass’s hometown race and I have heard and read lots of good things about it. I am hoping that the sense of occasion and anticipation allow me to run it easily and enjoyably. And apparently there are no hornets to avoid this year.
Soundtrack to this post – Nucleus Roots – Sunrise
