Thursday, November 4, 2010

How Quickly We Forget



Actually that should be how quickly our legs forget to run up hills. I've had 5 weeks off our hills session and had my first run back yesterday. I had to have those weeks off - tapering for Melbourne then recovery - but ouch, that first week back involves some significant pain.

I was feeling really good after Tuesday's speed session. Coach Chris had us doing a 3200m handicap race. It's a strange idea over an odd distance but he had good reason. Tuesday was Melbourne Cup day when all of Australia stops to watch a horse race. It's got the biggest prize purse and the most prestige of any horse race in Australia and it's over 3200m. I was given a three and a half minute handicap which, while flattering, was a little over-estimating of my actual ability. Last year he totally over-estimated my speed and I finished dead last (if I was a race horse I would have been sold to the glue factory). But this year I was only passed by three runners and DID NOT FINISH LAST! My pace averaged 4:39 per k which I was quite pleased with. Then we finished the session with some 200m and I managed to run faster than any other 200 sessions this year (Yay!)

So off the back of that session I was feeling pretty good about my recovery from Melbourne and then I did hills ... There's still a bit of strength that I have to get back. I know this because there was some walking involved yesterday and there's lots of pain today. (just DOMS - nothing serious)

I wanted to wish anyone running New York this weekend all the best of luck. My friend Karen is doing it.



She's the shorter one - memorise her face and say hi to her if you see her (amongst a crowd of thousands)

7 comments:

  1. Good luck to your friend doing NY - how exciting!! Have fun running those hills - they do make you stronger though :).

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  2. Yes, the legs forget really fast - after so much time off of running, I think it'll take me a while to get back up to speed.

    A friend of mine has just flown out to NY to, for her first marathon! Good luck to them all!

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  3. Yay for not being last!
    Good luck to your friend - I hope she has a great time in NYC. How exciting to be able to do such a big race!

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  4. I think your recovery is going well. I would love to run NYC one day. Have a great weekend!

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  5. Awesome that you are getting back to your workouts!

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  6. Thanks for The Good Wife recommendation. So many people recommended it I think I will buy it! Good luck with those hills! And I am so happy right now - here with my daughter. She is at work and I am waiting for her to get out!

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  7. YAY for Karen!!

    Ease into the speedy/hilly workouts. You'll find those legs back and when you do I bet you they'll be even faster!

    Happy Friday!

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