Running update

Well, it's been a huge couple of weeks, hence the lack of updates recently. I won't bore you with the details and I can't remember many sessions in much detail, so here is a general update...
Last week I did a couple of normal runs (around 20 min jogging with warm up and cool down added). I'm loving the Forerunner. I've also been trying out some of Lyle's running training ideas (that he kindly supplied to give me some ideas to mix up my cross training). One of these included some stair/hill running intervals. I went to the local beach and whilst mum watched the boys running around I did 3 lots of shuffling up the stairs and recovering on the way down, then repeated it but shuffling up the steep ramp and recovering on the way down. Gee it was hard. It took me about 90 seconds to get to the top each time and the legs were truly burning. But it was great to do something different. I'll definately try it again.

I also went down to the local footy field and let the boys play in the middle whilst I did intervals around the edge. Each lap was about 700m, and I did 1 lap easy, 1 hard, 1 easy, 1 hard, 1 easy...with all jogging. I found it hard and it makes me realise how unfit I still am. I was a bit dissapointed with that one.

This week, I did another 20 min jog on Monday and due to parent-teacher night, couldn't do anything on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I also had a procedure done at the specialists yesterday (won't go into details, but it's for "chick stuff"), and had a fair bit of pain from this yesterday. Pain killers weren't really helping too much and I was very thankful when Chris got home as I went to bed for the rest of the afternoon/night. This morning I woke up feeling much better and decided to ease into a run. I only did 10 minutes because I could feel that I was stirring it up, and the pain was returning.

I'm getting disappointed in my lack of progress running at the moment. I still feel slow and unfit, and I really need to increase the intensity and length of my runs now.

Kayak training session - intervals

Tonights session almost didn't happen, with Chris unexpectedly having to work back. I had been looking forward to the session and had it all planned. The aim was to get down to the river early and get a nice long warm up in before Anton got there, and then to do some interval training. Anyway, poor Chris called and said that he had to stay back until something was completed. He was not happy, and either was I. Anyway I had reluctantly resigned myself to missing the session, when he called to say he was on his way home and would I still like to go for my paddle. What a trooper. I was tempted just to give it a miss since I had already told Anton I wouldn't be there. But I thought to myself..."This is the difference between being successful or not. It is the people who train in bad weather or when they don't feel like it, that are the best." So I went...and what a great session!!! We were there later than normal but it was still hot, windy, choppy, and not very inviting, but again...these are the sessions that make you better. This is what we did...
3 km warm up (bridge and back)
700m 'fast' (pontoon to powerlines), 700m recovery *decided it was too windy and glary so changed the interval location
400m 'fast'(pontoon to blue boat), 400m recovery,
400m fast, 400m recovery,
400m fast, 400m recovery,
3km cool down (bridge and back)
So it worked out to be about a 10km session all up. I felt strong in the intervals. Anton had a hard time keeping up in his Mirage (especially in that wind and heat). He said that I seem to be "getting faster in that thing", which I think I am. I can go hard now without having to stop my rhythm to regain balance or brace. There's still a long way to go, but I'm starting to see the improvements in the K1. At the end of the session I felt a great sense of achievement. I completed a hard interval session and felt strong. A great way to get the endorphins going.