It's a week until Christmas and there is snow on the ground. For those of us living in the northern hemisphere atypical of this time of year. It looks great until you try to get out and train in it as I found to my cost yesterday. There was sheet ice everywhere and impossible to run on, I knew I should have ordered my Yaktrax earlier. I slid down my road and very quickly decided I'd end up on the deck if I ventured further. Good job my kitchen had doubled up as a gym for my turbo session earlier, a lot warmer and certainly safer!
Today the ice was still present so off I ran (very carefully) until I was by the canal and somewhat safer running conditions. It was an amazing day with cloudless blue skies and mini 'icebergs' jutting out of the canal. Don't you just love winter days like this. So thankful to be able to run again.
Vic x
World Masters Individual Pursuit Championships
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Warm weather training
To get away from the cold and the damp of the UK I decided to return to Lanzarote for some warm winter training. As the plane soared above the damp, grey clouds of Cheshire, I was already looking forward to the coming week. For a change my trusty steed had been left at home and instead my run shoes and wetsuit accompanied me.
Arriving in Lanzarote I was greeted by a gentle 'breeze'! but at least the sun was shining. This time I was staying in Costa Teguise at the Sands Beach resort which was located on the beach front - very handy for the sea. Checking in I saw there was going to be a race on the Sunday (what better excuse for some harder training :) ). I entered the 10.55k (or quarter distance), deciding my running skills were not quite up to a marathon!
A great few days leading up to the 'training' race with a swim and a run every day. Then Saturday dawned and I awoke to the sound of rain beating against my window and the force of the wind driving it through - great! All day it rained intermittently but the wind increased and continued into the evening. Speaking to some of the other athletes who were there, the wind would certainly make for an 'interesting' day on Sunday with an undulating course. Sunday dawned, the wind had abated (slightly) to an average 23mph and it was a lovely running temperature. As the gun went, I quickly made my way to the front with a couple of the Spanish girls and managed to stay with them for the first 4k but at the turnaround point, I began to lose them and the gap increased. Continuing to push on, my lack of race fitness began to show and I lost a couple of places, possibly due to the strength of the wind along the beachfront and some strength lacking. Finishing hard I came 5th lady overall, which given how hard I had gone out, I was pleased with and a good training session. My recovery run later felt hard though, couldn't wait to get home for my massage session.
Back home Tuesday and it's snowing - maybe swop the trainers for ski's?
Vic :)
Arriving in Lanzarote I was greeted by a gentle 'breeze'! but at least the sun was shining. This time I was staying in Costa Teguise at the Sands Beach resort which was located on the beach front - very handy for the sea. Checking in I saw there was going to be a race on the Sunday (what better excuse for some harder training :) ). I entered the 10.55k (or quarter distance), deciding my running skills were not quite up to a marathon!
A great few days leading up to the 'training' race with a swim and a run every day. Then Saturday dawned and I awoke to the sound of rain beating against my window and the force of the wind driving it through - great! All day it rained intermittently but the wind increased and continued into the evening. Speaking to some of the other athletes who were there, the wind would certainly make for an 'interesting' day on Sunday with an undulating course. Sunday dawned, the wind had abated (slightly) to an average 23mph and it was a lovely running temperature. As the gun went, I quickly made my way to the front with a couple of the Spanish girls and managed to stay with them for the first 4k but at the turnaround point, I began to lose them and the gap increased. Continuing to push on, my lack of race fitness began to show and I lost a couple of places, possibly due to the strength of the wind along the beachfront and some strength lacking. Finishing hard I came 5th lady overall, which given how hard I had gone out, I was pleased with and a good training session. My recovery run later felt hard though, couldn't wait to get home for my massage session.
Back home Tuesday and it's snowing - maybe swop the trainers for ski's?
Vic :)
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Revolution 34
Joined my team mate Nicola on the Maxgear stand, me on my rollers and her on the turbo. Had the opportunity to wear the amazing new WASP speedsuit. Had a great viewpoint of the night's racing and managed not to get knocked off my rollers by the passing crowds. Can't wait for the next round in January '12.
Compared to the warmth of the velodrome, my Sunday ride out was really cold. Welcome to winter training.
Vic x
Compared to the warmth of the velodrome, my Sunday ride out was really cold. Welcome to winter training.
Vic x
Getting back into the swing of it
After the World Masters, I decided it was time for a couple of weeks R + R. After plenty of eating, drinking and just a little partying, it was time to start winter training. Time to set goals and target races for 2012. I also started to race the Regional Manchester Track League, not had so much fun in a long time. Really scary to start with and being a complete novice to racing on the track. Within a couple of weeks I had managed to get some points on the scoreboard, yippee!!!
Next goal now that the injury to my leg and feet has healed was to head back to the hills for my run strength. Might even dabble in some cross country races. Back in the pool my lats and triceps had completely disappeared, this will definitely be a work in progress.
Vic x
Next goal now that the injury to my leg and feet has healed was to head back to the hills for my run strength. Might even dabble in some cross country races. Back in the pool my lats and triceps had completely disappeared, this will definitely be a work in progress.
Vic x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)