Training this week has seen a bit more structure return as my general fitness picks up. I guess most of us have followed a training plan cadged from the internet, magazine or over enthusiastic running evangelist at work.
However I identified a massive error on my training plan for Saturday 13th July. The week had been progressing well. I’d started cross training again at my outdoor boot camp and even dug out the Garmin and Heart Rate Monitor. However on that fateful Saturday, the training plan said rest or 35 min run or 45 mins cross training. In reality the “training session” that followed took the form of:
However I identified a massive error on my training plan for Saturday 13th July. The week had been progressing well. I’d started cross training again at my outdoor boot camp and even dug out the Garmin and Heart Rate Monitor. However on that fateful Saturday, the training plan said rest or 35 min run or 45 mins cross training. In reality the “training session” that followed took the form of:
Attend wife’s 40th birthday, Begin 540 min long drinking binge inc intervals in the form of sambuca and tequila shots. Dance badly. Slump appallingly. Watch sun come up on Marsden Beach followed by taxi home. Lose two days training due to shaking and severity of hangover.
I’m sure I can’t be the only one who uses sports nutrition as a hangover cure. Hi-5 Gels and Zero Hydration tabs not only got me round the Marathon of the North they also got me through having all my in-laws round whilst I had a hangover that was a 10 on my personal Richter scale.
Also, in my defence I did talk about sport in general and running the GNR in particular to a couple of people that night. Quite what they thought of someone who was blatantly unable to walk never mind run espousing the joy of training for the big event I’ve yet to find out.
Having lost the days I needed to get myself moving again and there was a glaring omission on the training plan. As I’d been easing myself back in I’d deliberately avoided interval speed work till I felt that the legs could cope.
Looking back at the missed sessions I picked the hardest of those I’d missed and gave myself a good talking to. 30 mins later after charging the damn Garmin then having to remember how the hell to program it I headed out the door. This was a 40 min session in 4 x 5 mins at threshold with 2 mins recovery jog in between.
Good news is I didn’t die. I’m not as fast or as fit as I was but nor have I lost as much as I first thought. I also found out it is possible to sweat tequila.
The rest of the week has seen a steady ticking off of sessions on the plan. An added bonus has been that my son aged 9 aka “The Boy” has signed up for the Junior Great North Run. Like his dad he talks a good run without actually being to back it up so now we are out training together a couple of times a week.
He’s already got most of the lingo: PB, GPS and Fartlek (which makes him giggle). I’ve had to draw the line at Lime, Salt and Tequila as those are the preserve of us older athletes.
I’m sure I can’t be the only one who uses sports nutrition as a hangover cure. Hi-5 Gels and Zero Hydration tabs not only got me round the Marathon of the North they also got me through having all my in-laws round whilst I had a hangover that was a 10 on my personal Richter scale.
Also, in my defence I did talk about sport in general and running the GNR in particular to a couple of people that night. Quite what they thought of someone who was blatantly unable to walk never mind run espousing the joy of training for the big event I’ve yet to find out.
Having lost the days I needed to get myself moving again and there was a glaring omission on the training plan. As I’d been easing myself back in I’d deliberately avoided interval speed work till I felt that the legs could cope.
Looking back at the missed sessions I picked the hardest of those I’d missed and gave myself a good talking to. 30 mins later after charging the damn Garmin then having to remember how the hell to program it I headed out the door. This was a 40 min session in 4 x 5 mins at threshold with 2 mins recovery jog in between.
Good news is I didn’t die. I’m not as fast or as fit as I was but nor have I lost as much as I first thought. I also found out it is possible to sweat tequila.
The rest of the week has seen a steady ticking off of sessions on the plan. An added bonus has been that my son aged 9 aka “The Boy” has signed up for the Junior Great North Run. Like his dad he talks a good run without actually being to back it up so now we are out training together a couple of times a week.
He’s already got most of the lingo: PB, GPS and Fartlek (which makes him giggle). I’ve had to draw the line at Lime, Salt and Tequila as those are the preserve of us older athletes.