Yeah, but it'll be so awesome moving up to a better bike I had a 60 year old bike, now I have a 20 year old bike, it was an amazing difference. One day I'll have an up-to-date bike and I'll ride 10 kph faster than on the old bike
I only did the 100 today in a B-Graded Race. Ran a 12-flat in god awful conditions and with only a week of training since injury (1 and a hlaf months nontheless) under my belt (that includes Weight & Track Training)...
I am quite Happy! Especially since that time would have put me into 5th place in the Dublin Championship race,had I entered it. A frind of mine did though and he ran 12.03 and came 5th...
Seems like I am back! And in good weather, maybe I can keep this form up for the hundreds and finish the season with sub-12 results all the way through! Wouldnt be too bad considering that I missed a grand total of 2 and a half months of training this year and the start of the outdoor season (which started 4 days after my injury), lost quite a lot of strength from sitting around doing nothing and having no fitness whatsoever...
It also makes me sad though when I consider what I could be running now, had I not injured myself, cause I really was on form for smshing PB's this year!!!
I've been recovering from the Black Death (Spanish Flu, atleast!) for the last week, but my throat hasn't cleared up yet, it still a bit tough to breath.
I'm so annoyed because I was planning on doing a formtest today so see how I am compared to this period last summer when I was in the form of my life. I did intervalls yesterday and it was just horrible; I was sounding like an astma patient, could hardly breath and my legs were horrible.
And that was just after tying my shoes!
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
Rant of the day :
I took part in a race this afternoon, supposedly a 13,4 km road race with some paths. I used normal running shoes, I mean what other shoes would you think bringing for such an event ?
First 150 m were like cross-country, on grass, but the ground couldn't take any more water. Then mud. I decided to start quietly, as it was only climbing (from 4 then progressively up to 12 %) from 150 to 500 m.
Once I reached the flat part, I started pushing and overtook a dozen of runners. Three guys ahead, then various groups, then a gap of 60 m and me and another guy, in 18th and 19th position.
Comes a step descent, with narrow curves. A path on the left, and the descent continuing ahead. Can't see anyone ? No barrier, no arrow drawn on the floor, nobody to indicate a particular way... Let's keep running : straight ahead we go. Still, I felt some doubt. "Can you see any one ?" "Nope, but it's just narrow curves, can't see more than 30 m ahead" "all right, let's go on". That was until we reached the bottom of the descent and a dead end...
So we climbed the whole thing back, losing approximately 2:30 in the process (took me 6:15 to reach km 4 from km 3), motivation and everything else were gone. The rest of the race mostly consisted in making my way through the traffic... I wanted to abandon, but changed my mind.
As if it wasn't enough, from the moment we had reached the proper part of the circuit (3 loops circuit, is it really so hard to indicate the proper way ?), we got stuck in... 10 cm of mud in some places (barely any grip at all), slippery thin layers of mud in other parts, and some more grass full of water. I dreamt of using cross-country spikes...
I think I ended up somewhere around the 26th position, on 180 or so.
Two years ago, at the same race but on a different circuit I injured my foot on some tree branch that had fallen on the circuit, then I fell after jumping in a hole where I couldn't see shit and found myself running at 20 km/h in a curvy descent straight toward some sort of cliff (I'd have ended up 3 m below in a field, had I not thrown myself to the ground).
I've no idea what my 2014 season will be like, but it'll definitely not go through that place again.
So, I have infectious mononucleosis (Pfeiffer's disease) for 4 weeks now, meaning I am allowed to sport again. The third (regional) meeting of the national competition was Saturday, so I trained on Tuesday and Thursday to get in shape again.
I was the final (final, not fastest ) man on the 4x100m relay and I had to run the 800m. The relay went okay, considering our line up was by far not as strong as its used to be, and we were only 2 seconds slower.
And then, the 800 metres. Luckily for me, I was placed in the first and slowest heat, with the fastest guy there being me with 2'19 as PB, my biggest rival was supposed to be a guy with a PB of 2'21. A teammate of me with a PB of 2'34 was the third fastest guy on the startlist.
Of course I knew I was not going to run a time even close to my personal best, so I wanted to run under 2'30.
So then the race began, just after it stopped raining (the track was soaked). I started in lane 3, so I could keep an eye on the others (much better than starting in lane 8!). I felt good at the start, but I felt my legs were not very strong.
After 100m, when I went to lane 1, I was in second position. I couldn't keep up with the 2'21 guy, and soon lost contact to him. My teammate was right behind me, I don't know about the others.
Halfway, I noticed was not tired at all yet, I had no breathing issues, I felt great. But, I just couldn't set a higher pace because my legs were powerless. I believe my split time was 1'12.
I was still second with 200m to go, the guy up front had a big gap and was heading to the finish line, I noticed my team mate was having difficulties keeping up with me.
Final 100 metres. I tried to accelerate but my legs just wouldn't allow it. I crossed the line in 2'29.04. The winner's time was 2'19, my teammate ran a new personal best of 2'33.
The first thing I noticed when I crossed the line that I was not tired at all. I didn't have to catch my breath. I just stood there, straight up, thinking "Well, that sucked." My competitors were completely exhausted, and I just stood there. If you would have looked at me 30 seconds after I crossed the line you'd think I still had to start my race.
So, conclusion: infectious mononucleosis drains my muscle power. However, I'm in great shape, because I ran 2'29 without difficulties. With this shape I could seriously go for 2'15 in a few months. I'm hoping for a speedy recovery, luckily my vacation starts soon and I will have plenty of time to rest
EDIT: Woohoo, there was a photographer:
I'm the guy in lane 3
The guy in lane 1 is my teammate, the guy in lane 2 is a friend from another club. He's usually a lot slower than me (15-20 seconds) but we race each other quite often by coincidence.
I know it looks like I crossed the line on the second picture, but I watched out for that and didn't cross it by a few centimetres Edited by fcancellara on 24-06-2013 17:11
cactus-jack wrote:
What the hell is the name of the race? The Loony Toons Fun Time?
Something like that, yes. I'm still pissed.
I forgot to mention that the inscription fee was 1 € more than usual (7 instead of 6), and that instead of having a present like a tee shirt or something, I had... nothing (well, I got a ticket for lunch in the evening, like if any runner was going to stay picinic there).
Also I'm pissed because the race is normally event #5 of a 10 events challenge and the classification is done on the five smallest scores, your score being calculated by dividing your position by the total number of finishers. Ending ~15 on 182 would have been a good result, ending 26th probably isn't such a good operation.
@fcancellara : 800 m is mostly speed ability + coping with lactic acid + VO2 max. As you're tired because of mononucleosis, you can't use your full power, so even though you're still able to consume as much O2, you can't run as fast, so you produce much less lactic acid and don't feel as exhausted by the race.
Problem is just that you can't go any faster at the moment.
fcancellara wrote:
I was the final (final, not fastest ) man on the 4x100m relay and I had to run the 800m. The relay went okay, considering our line up was by far not as strong as its used to be, and we were only 2 seconds slower.
What kind of coach do you have??? The Anchor Leg is one of the most important position in a relay and should always be run by the fastest Runner!
Also, being 2 seconds slower is a massive difference!
fcancellara wrote:
I was the final (final, not fastest ) man on the 4x100m relay and I had to run the 800m. The relay went okay, considering our line up was by far not as strong as its used to be, and we were only 2 seconds slower.
What kind of coach do you have??? The Anchor Leg is one of the most important position in a relay and should always be run by the fastest Runner!
Also, being 2 seconds slower is a massive difference!
Miggi, our relay squad was by far not as strong as usual. For example, a guy who usually runs 12.50 was injured replaced by someone who runs 14.00. Same story for an injured guy who usually runs 12.60. I was final runner because we had only 2 of the original runners of our team; the starter (normally 3rd fastest) and me (normally 4th fastest). He has the best start of the four of us so that's why I was last runner.
If we compare the PB's of the original team with the PB's of the backup team, we see a gap of almost 3 full seconds! That's why we actually did quite a good job.
I can finally declare myself injury free (as I have done a billion times before) and did a form test to see how bad I was. I haven't been able to do any actuall training since october and it's only been half-assed since mid-may, but I still clocked in at 18:56 at the 5k.
It was absolutely pouring down and my shirt stuck to my chest so bad it felt like it was holding my chest back. Crap time, but not as bad as I thought due to my long period of no training.
My main problem is mostly motivation. What do you do to handle lack of motivation and spirit?
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
cactus-jack wrote:
I can finally declare myself injury free (as I have done a billion times before) and did a form test to see how bad I was. I haven't been able to do any actuall training since october and it's only been half-assed since mid-may, but I still clocked in at 18:56 at the 5k.
It was absolutely pouring down and my shirt stuck to my chest so bad it felt like it was holding my chest back. Crap time, but not as bad as I thought due to my long period of no training.
My main problem is mostly motivation. What do you do to handle lack of motivation and spirit?
With a big bag of potato chips and a good couch
That's a decent time for being injured so long, though
To clear something up; I was injured in october, an injury which had gone away after a good months time, but caused a lack of motivation which lasted far longer.
I've always struggled a bit with injuries (now I know what caused them, though, so yay!), but that last one hit me pretty hard. Constant injuries made just down right sick and tired of long distance running.
I've been running since I was about 14-15, but due to set-backs I've never gotten any long, long periods of training, so I suppose I started feeling the strain of doing the same thing for 7-8 years. I've also never had a "running environment" around me, I don't know anyone who gives a rats ass about running, let alone long distance, which has ment that I've always been alone when it came to it.
It sucks to have something that you love doing, but no one to share it with, neither in good times or bad. I could tell people that I had just ran a sub-12 minute 5k and they would simply say "well... that's good, I suppose". The same with injuries, I'm tired of being told to simply "take a break". Having to do something all on your own, having constant set-backs, be that injuries or difficult times, and doing something for several years has simply... drained me.
Rant of utter hopelessness over.
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
Defintetly understand that feeling, having nobody to talk about it to.
Maybe you could joi a club or something? Not necessarily for competition, but just to run together etc.
I've been thinking about it. I have two options; joining a local track and field club where I would be one of very few (if any) long distance runners or to join an somewhat unformal group of people who meet up and train together once a week. They consist of people from fit 20 year olds to overweight people in their late 60's.
I've looked through some of the reults from the competitions that the track and field club have participated in and they don't show any results above the 3000m.
The top 10 all-time high on the 5k goes from 15:20 (10. best) up to 13:53 (best) with the newest record being from 1992! Seems I'de be a lousy fish in a small pond. In fact, I'd have the entire pond to myself!
The unofficial group might be good for me since I'de easily be among the top 5 runners. I don't need competition, I need to be better than the rest (seriously, that's my only goal), competition or teammates, doesn't matter.
Edit: I forgot about one more which is somewhere between the two I mentioned. I check the club records and they only have four registrered times on the 5k, the all time record being 17:21. A good time, but a time I know I could smash if I stayed motivated and injury free (big if).
Sadly, the 5k is very unpopular, I've yet to see a single race here that features it and not just the 10k.
Edited by cactus-jack on 24-06-2013 21:31
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
Since you want to be the best, I suggest you join the fatty group just an informal group. Might be fun, you know Maybe you find someone who's a the same level who provides you a challenge to beat each other
Ian Butler wrote:
Since you want to be the best, I suggest you join the fatty group just an informal group. Might be fun, you know Maybe you find someone who's a the same level who provides you a challenge to beat each other
The problem with those groups is that if anyone in that group gets injured, the often person sits out till the injury healed by itself. So if it happens to the training partner who is about the same level, than youll be running on your own for quite some time! (It just tends to be the case with fun runners)
I had a 60 year old bike, now I have a 20 year old bike, it was an amazing difference. One day I'll have an up-to-date bike and I'll ride 10 kph faster than on the old bike 
)
