This week, the first phase of cross country races has gone well. A gym session on Monday and a WSSC swim session on Tuesday morning left me feeling ok but not as sharp as I would like for the EACCL race at Whittlingham on Wednesday. Thanks to Chris for the lift and leaving later than he would have liked and from a different location to accomodate my working schedule!
We weren't entirely sure where the course was when we jogged round a warm up semi-lap, but hey ho there are usually a fair few people in front to follow. I had a good start and put my foot down from the onset, multiple steep stairs in the first mile were tough and I couldn't stay with Julian after the first mile. We took the wrong route so added a little bit to the proposed distance but to be honest I think everybody did! I'm just thankful that I didn't follow Chris's route and add an extra half mile on at the far end of the lake!
I finished first lady so was pleased with that. Eloise and Cathy both ran well 17th and 24th respectively, not sure where we finished as a team but hopefully we can claw our way back towards the lead over the next few races. I wore my innov8 x-talon 190's, a good choice with the mix of trail grass and hardcore track.
A tough swim session on Thursday morning with WSSC, a gym session on Friday morning and then a steady 10 mile run on Friday evening left me relieved to take a rest day on Saturday.
The Eastern Counties cross country was held on Sunday at Royal Hospital School, Holbrook. I felt that a steadier start would be beneficial today as we were racing with the under 17s and under 20s. I managed to be late to the start line, start at the back and collide with a hedge early on, but extracted myself from the hedge fairly quickly and made my way up the field. I got to the front runners 3/4 of the way round the first lap but they got away from me later on in the lap. I started to pull them back halfway through the second lap and decided to pass at the start of the hill and put my foot to the floor all the way to the finish rather than strategically sitting behind untill the top of the hill. Fortunately it worked out and I finished first, so really pleased. Innov8 x-talons again today.
The icing on the cake for this week has to be Jenson Buttons third place at the Brazillian Grand Prix and second place in the drivers championship, wicked!
A few days of hard training are on the cards this week before the cross country at Woodbridge at the weekend......................
Sunday 27 November 2011
Sunday 20 November 2011
A fortnight of quality training and a win for McLaren
Having completed a fortight of hard quality training I'm pleased to say I'm feeling sharper and fitter than I was earlier in the month. If I have a couple of weeks in between races I like to increase the intensity and volume of my training to move up a level fitness wise before the next race.
I've been to the track on a Monday and a Wednesday both weeks, and feel that I've improved over the course of the sessions, which is nice! I've also added in a hill session a week, increasing the number of intervals each week. We are very fortunate to live within a mile jog of Ickworth Park so its easy for me to jog over to the steep hill on the left hand side of the deer park, run some intervals and jog home. There are a couple of decent hills on the way home so I usually work hard on these to complete the session.
I treated myself to some new kit from Vince's shop Runability prior to commencing the intense training, it certainly made a difference as I felt more comfortable and a lot less scruffy than when I train in my work t-shirts :-) Vince recommended some gortex innovate 275 shoes as my long runs are mostly off road with short sections of road included. These have been great; warm dry feet with plenty of grip on muddy tracks and adequate cushioning for the road.
I've stuck to the three swim sessions a week whilst increasing my running and seem to be improving a little. The warm weather has also enabled me to continue cycling on a Sunday ( as a fair weather cyclist I usually pack my bike away for the winter at the end of October!)
I'm now tapering down for the first of a series of races. This is the RAF Wednesday League race at UEA next week, followed by the Eastern Counties XC champs on Sunday.
On the work front the Sports Injury Clinic at the Bury Natural Health Centre is now open every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. I'm also working at the Osteopathic Centre for Family and Children in Cambridge from 9am -12pm the first Thursday of every month.
It was great to see the two McLaren boys on the podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Had Jenson not had the KERS issue I guess he would have finished second rather than third, but here's hoping he can keep his second place in the championship. I'm looking forward to the final race of the season in Brazil next weekend, going to have to jump in the car straight after the race at Eastern Counties and head home so I don't miss the start!
I've been to the track on a Monday and a Wednesday both weeks, and feel that I've improved over the course of the sessions, which is nice! I've also added in a hill session a week, increasing the number of intervals each week. We are very fortunate to live within a mile jog of Ickworth Park so its easy for me to jog over to the steep hill on the left hand side of the deer park, run some intervals and jog home. There are a couple of decent hills on the way home so I usually work hard on these to complete the session.
I treated myself to some new kit from Vince's shop Runability prior to commencing the intense training, it certainly made a difference as I felt more comfortable and a lot less scruffy than when I train in my work t-shirts :-) Vince recommended some gortex innovate 275 shoes as my long runs are mostly off road with short sections of road included. These have been great; warm dry feet with plenty of grip on muddy tracks and adequate cushioning for the road.
I've stuck to the three swim sessions a week whilst increasing my running and seem to be improving a little. The warm weather has also enabled me to continue cycling on a Sunday ( as a fair weather cyclist I usually pack my bike away for the winter at the end of October!)
I'm now tapering down for the first of a series of races. This is the RAF Wednesday League race at UEA next week, followed by the Eastern Counties XC champs on Sunday.
On the work front the Sports Injury Clinic at the Bury Natural Health Centre is now open every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. I'm also working at the Osteopathic Centre for Family and Children in Cambridge from 9am -12pm the first Thursday of every month.
It was great to see the two McLaren boys on the podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Had Jenson not had the KERS issue I guess he would have finished second rather than third, but here's hoping he can keep his second place in the championship. I'm looking forward to the final race of the season in Brazil next weekend, going to have to jump in the car straight after the race at Eastern Counties and head home so I don't miss the start!
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