Long run after last night's intervals

I have come to the conclusion that it probably wasn't very smart doing some high intensity training last night because today's long run was so unbelievably slow and my achillies was screaming at me the whole time.

I ran the Yarra Trail and back along the streets. I really like the Yarra Bend Park bit where you can run some single trail. On some parts of the trail on the other side of the river you can see into people's back yards and be jealous of those who have their own jetties into the Yarra.

After some Yarra enjoyment I hit the streets to head back home. The outside of my right foot started to hurt and I noticed I had been supinating on that foot the whole time. I couldn't seem to get it to pronate normally. I was wearing the Frees and I don't think I get this problem in the Five Fingers.

After 25km I slowed down dramatically. It was unbelievable. Now looking at the stats I can see that is where the horrible uphill slog home starts. Not to mention I was hungry and my achillies was limiting the capabilities of my right leg. When I got home I felt really nauseous, stuffed my face with fruit, popped a saltstick cap, ate my normal breaky of oats with raspberries and coffee and now I am waiting for the last of the nausea to pass. I really feel knocked out though and I blame it on the high intesity workout last night.

Workout at the oval

Late this afternoon I was lying on the couch infront of the TV very sleepy after doing a 6am shift at the gym as part of my Cert III work experience hours. I hadn't done any official exercise today but did partake in some core work for the over 50s and after a few of their classes I instructed their core work and stretching. My abs certainly felt it after repeating the class 4 times!

I was amazed at these people who were aged 50 - 80+. I would not have been able to pick their ages, they all looked under 60 to me but obviously their lifestyle was doing their looks a lot of good. Some of them were absolutely ripped with bulging muscles, lifting heavy weights and running on the treadmill. It was great talking to them and I hope when I am retired I can hang out at the gym all day too - some of them were there for 4 hours - part working out, part socialising.

So I was thinking about my sleepiness and lack of exercise compared to the old folk so decided I should hit the track for a workout. I put on my Five Fingers and headed down to the local track. There were a couple of kids being coached as well as some high jumpers, and since I'm not a member of the athletics club I didn't want to step on anyone's toes there.

So I ran along the river trail to the nearest oval, but more kids were engaging in some kind of sporting activity.

So I ran further along the river trail to the nearest park, but more kids were taking up the whole space, bashing sticks against trees and stuff.

So I ran further along the river trail to the next oval. Of course, not paying attention to any sport at all I completely forgot it is footy season, so the oval was taken up with footy training. I guess the kids were playing football at the previous oval.

So I went to the next oval (yes, there are a lot of ovals around here!) which only had a few people kicking a footy around with their dogs and I did this workout:

1/2 a lap top speed
20 push ups
1 lap top speed
20 push ups
1 lap top speed
20 (supine) reverse rows
1 lap top speed
20 reverse rows
Run home.

I was going to throw in some squats but didn't want to trash my legs before tomorrow's scheduled long run. It was hard running in the five fingers because the dirt bits of the oval were quite slippery. Then of course as the light faded I couldn't really see where I was going so it was hard avoiding the slippery dirt and sticking to the grass. It was nice and soft though. And I felt fast at around 4min/k. I also felt much better getting a workout in, and it was great to see so many people active today!

Today's and last weekend's long runs were just over 30km and I'm feeling fitter now. I think I've worked out the secret to not crashing on the couch all day after a long run - be so busy you don't have time to crash!

I was out the door around 6:30 this morning, now I have a couple of hours to chill before doing work placement with the Yarra Leisure Centre gyms. I have nearly finished Cert III Fitness, and a course requirement is that you must do 20 hrs work placement. I tell you when you work full time, go to class 2 nights a week, run your side business 2 nights a week and train for ultras there is no time for chilling on the couch. Everything is to a strict schedule! Once I'm done with this course then it's straight into Cert IV and I'll be a qualified personal trainer! So that's my plan!

The run was good today. It was part Yarra Trail, part streets. My achillies really only hurt on the uphills because I am focusing on pulling my foot up under my hip so it is going ok. For a while I noticed my right foot slapping hard on the ground so then I would just hop onto one of the single trails along the Yarra for something easier and nicer:

So far my training for the You Yangs 50/50 is going well. It's in July but entry forms aren't up yet. I need to enter soon because I want to do the 50mile option and I need to enter early so I don't chicken out later and enter the 50km instead.

Sri Chinmoy 1/2 Marathon @ Williamstown

On Sunday I ran the Sri Chinmoy half at Williamstown. This is their main event of the year so we were not just treated to pancakes, but soup and apple crumble too.

Last weekend was the start of some real training to run an ultra in July. Saturday I did 22km of hills - which really killed my right achillies. Then Sunday I had already entered the half. I thought it would be a good training run and I wanted to really tire myself out. But then for some reason (even after the 22km on Sat) I thought it would be a good opportunity for a new half PB so decided to go for it.

When I woke up Sunday morning my right achillies still really hurt from Saturday. I went through Sarah's MTM warm up sequence which made the pain go away completely. I had already decided to do the race in my Five Fingers so I was glad there were no achillies problems.

I started at 5min/k pace but for some reason my achillies was giving me a hard time. I was trying so hard to concentrate on getting my bad leg to mimic my good leg but I am not very good at focusing on these things. At the 5km mark I struggled and slowed down. It was ok though because I thought as long as I didn't get slower than 5:30/k then once I got closer to the finish I would pick it up and still make a PB. I don't know what happened after that 5km but I just couldn't hold on.

I'm in the skirt looking like I'm crying at the 5km mark because I can't hold the pace:

At 12km I was reduced to a shuffle. I had no energy. It was strange. I did not feel any pain. My achillies no longer hurt. Infact, it felt good in the FFs. My legs were not sore. I was not out of breath. My body just would not move any faster. Maybe this is what it's like to hit The Wall? I have never met the Wall, and that is one thing that intrigues me about ultras. I want to hit the Wall and see what happens to me. It felt really strange running this race. I gave up completely at 12k and just took it as a training run. I was shuffling along in slow motion. It felt weird, like running in an ultra, except I wasn't sore.

This course is a terribly mean course. There are several turn around points and as you get closer you still can't see the turn around and you think you are nearly there but then you go around a corner and you still have to keep going to get to the turnaround. Then of course, you have to go past the finish where the smell of the pancakes tell you there's not far to go, but you still have to get to another turnaround before making your way to the finish for good.

(No 174) I even started running like a girl with my elbows bent like a chicken wing and flapping all over the place:

Towards the end I was plodding around at 7:00/k. I stumbled across the finish line at 2:02. When I stopped I felt really light headed and dizzy. And for the first time ever I craved a sports drink. Maybe I really had run out of glycogen.

After a few cups of Endura I went to get my soup and apple crumble and chatted to a few Cool Runners. As you can tell by the pics it was a chilly foggy morning and that soup hit the spot. As usual, the SC crowd was so unbelievably supportive and friendly. A couple of people asked me about the Five Fingers. Everyone thinks they look fantastic and comfortable. Now I know that they are available in Melbourne, I told people where they could find them. Actually I don't know the names of the shops but all the outdoorsy shops in the city are around Hardware Lane/Little Bourke St so I just told people to have a look around there.

Initially I was disappointed in my time (I was aiming for <1:55) but then I realised I achieved what I originally set out to do - exhaust myself with 2 back to back runs over 20km. Until Sunday I had not run further than 10km in the Five Fingers this year. Since the ultra in them last year I have just worn them once a week at a speed session at the track. Today my calves feel like they have rocks in them!! This is exactly what it feels like for people when they start to run this way! I am finding it very amusing in a strange sort of way. My achillies feels fine. I think this is telling me something. I should be running in the FFs more. Even though I have been running in the FFs weekly, my legs seem to have forgotten how to run properly! The Nike Frees have nothing on 'barefoot shoes' and they could be mucking up my lop sided gait more. I am not sure what to do with these thoughts. I want to do the You Yangs 50/50 in July and I will not be up to it in the FFs. It will be an interesting time between now and then while I mix up my footwear.