Training Review - Week 24 - June 8 to 14

Monday I wasn't able to go out and run in the morning after Saturday. Then I went to give blood in the afternoon and was advised not to train in the evening. I decided to heed that advice, hoping that it would give me a bit more recovery time before taking part in the Tuesday night time trial.

Tuesday I was feeling ok, but a little bit empty so I knew I wasn't going to be able to race at 100%. I decided to go to the race in the evening anyway so I spent the day trying to prepare as best I could. No great hopes for a time here after blood donation, but worth taking part to check out the course for next year and to move my handicap for future events. I did half a stretching session in the morning but decided to rest rather than do yoga as well.

Not going to do a full race report. Basically I got to about 6 miles going pretty well and then the lack of blood started to have an effect and where the course speeds up, I didn't. Slightly slower time that the Garlogie course last month, on what should be a faster course. And I look to have dropped a minute or so on the racers I was close to. Better than I expected but still a bit disappointing. Much more to come if I am fully healthy.  

Wednesday I did a lazy run round the block in the afternoon. Still feeling pretty empty. In the evening I went out to Knockburn and did 5 laps. The first one I was just babysitting a first timer to get him round a lap. Fortunately the water has warmed up a lot since last week. Then I pushed on to do 4 more laps at a proper pace. The first couple were ok but then I started to run out of gas on lap 4 and really struggled round lap 5. 


Thursday I knew I would miss the cycling in order to go to Jurassic World. I got up in the morning and tried to do a yoga session. Only managed about 15 minutes. Then I went out to run a few miles, just to get something into the day and to get far enough on towards my run target that I could finish it on the Friday so as not to complicate my already busy weekend. Still fairly empty, either from Saturday or Monday. Had to push really hard just to stay at the 8 min/mile pace. 

Friday started pretty poorly as I slobbed around in my PJs till lunchtime. I did eventually manage to drag myself out for a run around Kirkhill and being out and moving in the sun made all the difference. Once I was moving I felt much better and when I got home I went straight into my weights session and then did a long yoga session as well. 

Saturday we had plans in the afternoon but I went out to Knockburn for a short cycle and swim in the morning. Cycling was ok, a bit empty still but ticked along ok. Swimming was strange as the loch is now set up for racing the wrong way round and that was unusual enough to upset me this week. I managed three laps but all slower than the pace I was doing recently. The rest of the day more than made up for it though.

Sunday I was finally starting to feel normal again. Not sure if it was from Saturday or Monday but I felt a lot better going out on the bike in the morning. Did a rapid 12 miles with the whole Kintore group before we split off into a more sensibly paced group with just two of us cruising back over some hills for a 43 mile total. I also did a very short run off the bike but that also went quite well. In the evening I did a bit of stretching.

On the mile totals this actually looks like a decent week. The pace numbers give a more realistic view though. Whether it was mostly down to last week or giving blood I was struggling all week. By Wednesday I was at least managing to get out of the house, after a couple of hours of talking myself into it. And by Sunday I was back to going at a decent pace.


Target totals - Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 35.0 miles. Run 12.0 miles. 2 short core, 1 short light weights and 2 short stretching sessions. 60 mins of yoga.

Monday -  Rest Day. Give blood. 

Tuesday - Stretching session.
Deeside TT 10 miles at Drumoak in 27 mins.
Warm up/down 5.7 miles 25 mins.

Wednesday - Run 3.5 miles in 31 mins.
Knockburn 5 laps (3,750m) in 1 hour 24mins.

Thursday - Yoga 15 mins.
Run 4.2 miles in 34 mins.

Friday - Run at Kirkhill 6.0 miles in 56 mins.
Light weights session.
Yoga session 39 mins.

Saturday - Bike at Knockburn 11.2 miles in 44 mins.
Swim at Knockburn 3 laps (2,250m) in 44 mins.

Sunday - Kintore Sunday Lite (but Learney) 43.7 miles in 2 hours 43mins.
Short run 1.1 miles in 9 mins.
Stretching session.


Actuals - Swim 3.7 miles (6,000 m). Bike 70.6 miles. Run 14.8 miles.  short core, 1 short light weights and  short stretching sessions. 54 mins of yoga.

Cumulative (Cumulative target)
S 44.8 (37.2) , B 1266.5 (1034.3), R 388.3 (307.1).