Week 11
This has been one of the worst weeks so far. Probably one of the easiest weeks training for a while but mentally quite tuff. I am struggling with the HR training and being part of the old school I think I should be flogging my guts out to make any difference so walking and running slowly isn’t really in my DNA. I will keep doing it and hopefully, in a few months time I will be singing the virtues of this type of training but not yet.
12th December 2017
As the weather is still inclement I decided to do an easy steady 30 minute run on the treadmill in the shop after work. This always makes me smile as the people walking past do give you some really funny looks. Run went fine and managed to keep the HR average down to 133bpm
14th December 2017
Treadmill session with Gary Telfer in the Eastcote store today. This was more of a technical session than an out and out training session and I was getting very confused at some points. We started comparing Heart Rate Monitors as at one point I had 3 different readings, using Tomtom, Polar, and the Treadmill itself. Apparently, after 30 years of running, I still can’t do it properly. My movement pattern has evolved from years of Competition Canoeing, my Timing is uneven which in turn is making my foot contact with the ground uneven and my left leg is swinging from the hip. So doing a session on the treadmill picking my feet up, watching my heart rate and moving my arms properly caused me total chaos. At least I felt I did some running and I think I am making some progress!!
17th December 2017
Running 10 miles for the 4th week in a row. It was cold and just about to rain but as I had quite an easy week I wasn’t fo phased about the run. However, I should have guessed all was not right when I was struggling to get my Heart rate below 110 just putting my shoes on. Just 200 meters from the front door and I’m having to walk. This carried on for the next 2km and I was getting fed up and cold. I didn’t feel like I was working very hard and the KM split times bor this out. Another 2km of the same and I was threatening to shove the HRM where the sun doesn’t shine. Pissed off is an understatement and I did something that I couldn’t have done 30 years ago and phoned the coach (mainly because mobile phones were not available widely then ?). I was ready to jack it all in, go home and have a hot shower. Fortunately, Gary answered and talked me down. He said it could be 3 things, lack of fitness, poor technique or coming down with a virus. After a longish conversation he talked me down and we settled on walk-run strategy and not worring to much on the HR, just get around the Ten Miles. Weirdly this actually setteled me down a bit and my Heart rate seemed to behave slighty better. Eventually the run was completed and Mr Grumpy got home for a nice BIG FAT CUP OF TEA and the whole world then seemed alright again. After a shower and some Sunday dinner I reflected on this and I was quite willing to say shove this perhaps I am past doing this and why am I bothering, but then the stubbon streak also kicked in and thought “Just try and stop me”.
Hard week but let’s see what next week brings Christmas week. ?
The best one yet! Crying with laughter at you putting your shoes on!! Well done mate stick with it if only for the weekly updates!!