Blog has MOVED

I notice a few new people have followed this blog. Please don't!

Everything has moved to trainingadventures.wordpress.com
... and I would much rather you follow there... since there is nothing new to see here :)

If you like following via Google, you can still do it by entering the new address into your reading list: trainingadventures.wordpress.com

Due to the whole Google Plus thing, and me not wanting all my photos visible on there, I've deleted all my pictures from Google Plus. I haven't checked on here, but I guess they've probably gone. So.... go to new blog: trainingadventures.wordpress.com

NEW BLOG ADDRESS

trainingadventures.wordpress.com

Since I now do more than just run, I wanted to change the name of my blog. I use WordPress for my other sites so decided to make the switch for this one.

If you're following on Google, please make the switch to receive email notifications on my new blog. It will make me feel better about currently having zero subscribers on it!

If you manage links on other sites, such as your blogs or barefoot/minimalist related sites, please update them to the new address: trainingadventures.wordpress.com

I still promote barefoot and minimalist training - it's just not all about running - I even wore racing flats to my strongman and powerlifting comps! (Adizero PR and Adizero PRO) And I do 99% of my weight training barefoot.

Hope to see you commenting over there :)

What is it again? trainingadventures.wordpress.com

First Powerlifting Comp

I really need to rename my blog...

Yesterday I entered my first powerlifting comp. I have been training at Melbourne Uni for a couple of weeks and it just so happened that there was a novice comp I could enter. At the start of the year I started losing weight so I could compete in a lower weight class, but then when I started proper training they said there's a comp in 2 weeks so I realised I wasn't going to have enough time to do that. I decided just to enter this one to see what it was like and then I can lose weight slowly for whenever the next one is. Just as well I didn't make it to the weight class below anyway because I was the only girl in <84kg so I won it!

Weigh in was at 9. I was at the lower end of the weight class but I had no competition so it was no big deal. I was told the lower you are, the better your Wilks score is so that was good. I had to bring my opening card to the weigh in. I had no idea what to start with but I wanted to get PBs or equivalent on everything, so I decided to open so that everything was a warm up for my 2nd attempt would would be what I wanted, and 3rd attempt would be a bonus.

We had some coaches help up get our warm up right. Basically reps for each lift were 5, 3, 1, 1. My final warm up single for the squat was 75kg. This was so light, and I was opening with 85. I don't usually go up in 10kgs at that % of 1RM but they said it would be easy. So far in powerlifting I have left everything to the coaches and so far it's worked and they were right. I opened with 85 and it was easy. 1 red light for depth but I got it so I was happy. My 2nd attempt was 90. This is equal to my PB at home, but at home I was wearing lifting shoes, and they made me ditch them when I started training! So this was going to be tough. 3 white lights and it was in so I was happy I had got to where I wanted. My 3rd attempt was 92.5. It was heavy and I was too slow. I knew it was not low enough and 3 red lights confirmed. The squat is my favourite lift, but when it's heavy, it's definitely the toughest.

A. arrived during the equipped lifters squats so he could video the rest for me. This was actually really useful as I can see I need to arch my back a lot more on the bench. The good raw lifters were able to maintain a big arch, meaning they didn't have to move the bar much at all. The good thing about my benches is that I am really steady when the bar is lowered so I didn't have to wait long for the command to press. My first attempt was 45kg. I knew this would be easy, and it was. My 2nd attempt was 50kg. I knew I could get it, but it was a PB so I knew it might be tough. It felt heavy, but ok. My 3rd attempt was 52.5 and I failed that. Didn't bother me as I already got my PB.

I haven't done many heavy deadlifts in the past 12 months and I have been stuck on a max of 105kg for so long so I felt like I had a huge mental barrier to break through. Although I have pulled much more than that off blocks and again at the strongman comp last year (14 reps at 108kg) I just haven't been able to pull from the floor very easily. Last year I did most of my deadlifts sumo, but my coach told me to go with conventional for now so it's been hard for my weak core to get used to this after sumo. For these reasons I opened with 102.5kg. It was easy. 2nd attempt was 107.5. This was easy too! 3rd attempt was 112.5 and this was fairly easy too! I was really happy with my new PB although in hindsight I should have started at 105 and finished with 115.

I haven't given up running, but I'm walking without limping and I want to keep it that way! At the moment there's a fine line between being 'just ok' to breaking myself. So I'm sticking to the shorter stuff, just once or twice a week. I need to rename this blog and I want to transfer it to Wordpress, but can't think of a name I like that isn't already taken. Any suggestions?

Medal for being the only one in my weight class

This time 4 years ago I was on a walk/run routine strictly in Five Fingers. That summer I was able to get over a long term injury (1.5 years?) and build up my distance for the first time ever.

Today I am on a walk/run routine, strictly in Five Fingers, getting over a different long term injury (3+ Years).

Today was 100% pain free and I can't wait til I can run the whole way! I can't wait til I can do hill sprints again! My natural running pace has improved from not running. My cardio fitness is there and my strength is better than ever due to weight training. A couple more weeks to go and running the whole way is scheduled! But I'm going to be cautious and not do anything long for a while.

In the meantime I've come up with my race schedule for 2012. I'm going to get fitter and faster. I'm going to get close to my 5km PB which dates back to 2009. Then I'm going to get close to or beat my half marathon PB (not sure how though as none of the HMs on the calendar interest me). Then I'm going to BEAT my 50km trail PB and finish by SMASHING that goddamn Great Ocean Walk race.

:)

Werribee Gorge

I rarely head out west to hit the trails but today I decided to check out Werribee Gorge for the first time and did the 8km circuit track.

This really is the wild west! The terrain is the complete opposite of everything out east. The ground is rough, rocky and ragged. The trees are not dense and there is little shade. It was 30 degrees today but I seem to be doing better walking and running in the heat lately so the temperature didn't really affect me. I wore my racing flats and they were perfectly suitable.

I had to backtrack a few times in the first couple of km as there are lots of unmapped trails and at times the actual trail wasn't clear. At one point I was certain I was following a trail, but while trying to scramble up a dry creek bed and crawling on all fours up a grassy cliff that was probably home to many snakes, I decided I had to turn back. It was just as hard sliding down. Once I was back on the real trail it was much clearer the rest of the way.

The geology is really amazing here. There are lots of information signposts, that I don't usually read, but these were interesting. They describe how the rocks are shaped and some of the Aboriginal culture. 

Needles Beach looks like a great swimming area

There are some great lookouts along the way and you can even see the city skyline from one. The trail is quite runnable until you get to the river. From there you have to rock-hop along the river bed. What is not mentioned in my guidebook or the Parks Vic notes is that you do have to do some horizontal rock climbing. Some of it REALLY took me out of my comfort zone! That was a great surprise!

Hold onto the cable but who knows where your feet are supposed to go.

I didn't really run much of the way as I still have about a month to go til I am allowed to run properly. At times I settled into what has been my slow jog for much of this year, but it was so awkward I had to run with a proper running gait and could do this pain free! Now THAT'S good news! Still wasn't 100% for the run but of the bits I did run, it was feeling much more natural and proper.

There are some more areas to explore around here so I'll be back again soon.