Hi there to everyone who's taken the time to visit my blog! I've decided to start this blog as a convenient means of keeping friends and family updated on my life while I spend a year abroad in California where I will study for my second year of a sports science degree at San Francisco State University on loan from Brunel university. I plan on making a weekly update from now on that will give an overview of how I am progressing in the course, adapting to life in the US of A, and getting on with training for triathlon (swim,bike, run).
I've realised that for my second year, which will be a lot more challenging academically, training will likely have to take more of a back seat in the priority list compared to my first year where I managed to average 14-17 hours a week and still come out with a 1st classification. The level of work will be much higher in the 2nd year and the American college systems' approach is of more frequent testing and assignments for each module as opposed to the 1 or 2 pieces of work per module we were given in the 1st year. Also, they are likely to boot me back to the UK if my grades fall so I can't risk the juggling act this year!
Right, that's my excuses made for any abysmal performances next year- I couldn't train as much! :)
Dartford Half Marathon
Sunday the 22nd of July I took part in the 36th Dartford Half-marathon, I haven't done a stand-alone running race since the winters' cross country seasons (Kent league and West London college league) and fancied trying my feet over the longer distance. I heard it was a tough course as well, which is something I usually try and avoid- being so utterly useless at running up hills of any grade- play to your strengths ;) This was to be my first half-marathon not preceded by a 56 mile bike and 1.2 mile swim so I thought that this would give me a decent time in comparison. Training suggested (wrongly) that I was in shape to hold a pace of around 6:45-6:50 minute/mile, I based this assumption on an 8 mile tempo run the Monday of race week. Ideally a sub-90 minute run would make me a happy man, however. What I didn't take into account was that going for a 70 mile bike ride & 3 mile brick run with two club mates who are stronger cyclists than myself the day before would have any impact on my performance- Wrong!
The route started off fairly flat and I settled into target pace early on, I felt pretty good on the flat sections until we turned off the Hawley road and into the lanes where the fun started. My approach to tackling the undulating route involved snailing it up the hills regardless of length or gradient, hammering it on the downhills to 'average out the pace' (literally just leaning forwards and striding as far as possible, a technique honed to reasonable competence by a fair few XC races) and getting into target pace on the flats. It would 'average out in the end' I told myself.
This strategy was apparently working well, I took a SiS caffeine gel at mile 9 'just in case' and was feeling good, on target and in control up until 10 miles which saw the wheels fall off completely. My earlier enthusiasm of lumbering downhill as fast as possible resulted in the eventual detonation of my quadriceps and painful cramps which reduced me to a walk for a fair chunk of the last 3 miles- these were meant to be the easiest part of the course being all downhill and all I could do was watch my Garmin pace-maker slink further and further ahead with what looked like an 'I told you so' smug expression on its tiny face. I finished in 1:32, and I am not as disappointed now as I initially was- it was a hot day, a tough course by most peoples' (who I asked at the end seeking reassurance) standards and I have been training for much shorter runs this year.
So I managed to avoid the usual post-goal failure routine of signing up for an easier, faster course (preferably the next week) as soon as I got home! If anyone is considering doing this race next year I can definitely recommend it- faultless organisation, challenging course with lovely countryside and closed roads for the majority make it a must-do.
This strategy was apparently working well, I took a SiS caffeine gel at mile 9 'just in case' and was feeling good, on target and in control up until 10 miles which saw the wheels fall off completely. My earlier enthusiasm of lumbering downhill as fast as possible resulted in the eventual detonation of my quadriceps and painful cramps which reduced me to a walk for a fair chunk of the last 3 miles- these were meant to be the easiest part of the course being all downhill and all I could do was watch my Garmin pace-maker slink further and further ahead with what looked like an 'I told you so' smug expression on its tiny face. I finished in 1:32, and I am not as disappointed now as I initially was- it was a hot day, a tough course by most peoples' (who I asked at the end seeking reassurance) standards and I have been training for much shorter runs this year.
So I managed to avoid the usual post-goal failure routine of signing up for an easier, faster course (preferably the next week) as soon as I got home! If anyone is considering doing this race next year I can definitely recommend it- faultless organisation, challenging course with lovely countryside and closed roads for the majority make it a must-do.
The best bit of the race was seeing our Club coach on the course at about the 6-7th mile to cheer us on- I was not expecting to see anyone til the finish and couldn't stop laughing with happy bewilderment for the next 1/2 mile and felt like I was flying (which were mainly uphill- just goes to show the mark of a good coach is doing the right thing at the right time).
The rest of the day was spent hobbling about, eating food and lying down- just another day in the life of a student on summer holidays :) Thanks for reading my first post if you stuck around, I hope that this time next year I am looking back on an amazing years' worth of experiences and feelings recorded while in the US.
I'm doing the Olympic distance Bedford Classic triathlon next Sunday and intend to rest properly this week and put in a decent show.
Til the next one, take care...
Yay :D xx
ReplyDelete