Huntin’ hills and bookin’ flights (aka Week 2)
7 May 2023
40km this week. Bugger all climbing (which is hard to achieve in Sydney).
Couldn’t do my weekend long run on account of solo-parenting commitments, and missed one session at the start of the week because life got too hectic. I think it’s unusual to drop this many sessions over two weeks - slightly self conscious of it - but it’s going to happen from time to time. The two ‘20%’ sessions for this week were another fast finish run - this time with ten minutes in zone 3 - and a hills session with 30 second hill sprints.
I have to say, there’s a sick, sick part of me that loves a hill session. There's definitely something wrong with me because I love riding hills too. The satisfaction of tearing up those slopes combined with the relatively short periods of pain just do it for me. On the bike, it’s also the only place us skinnier folk get any advantage. I’ve got no hope when bombing down hills or keeping pace on the flat.
I really want to get as much as possible out of the hill sessions in this training. I know that the climbing in CCC is going to be one of the most challenging aspects of it, and whilst Sydney is notoriously lumpy it’s still difficult to get that hill training in. In addition to the hill sessions, my hope is to take as many opportunities as I can to get out of the city and find some hilly runs - already eying off at least one trip up to the Blue Mountains to do that.
This week’s ‘20%’ sessions were around the Bay Run and Callan Park. Callan Park is a massive, untapped (for me anyway) web of roads and trails that I need to explore more. I bet there are some great circuits you can stitch together. I can’t help but get the heebie jeebies whenever I go anywhere near all the old, abandoned buildings in the park though. Another benefit of running, I guess, you’re never near them for too long (unless you’ve foolishly decided to do your hill sprints right next to one).
Achieved a milestone for the event - I booked my flights this week. Gosh darn it is expensive to fly at the moment. Over AU$3000 to get to Europe and back in cattle class. I’ll be flying into old London town and spending a few days there before trekking over to the race, and then have a week to explore after the race. Suspect I won’t be booking too many walking tours. I’m also keeping an eye on accommodation for the race. I was unusually organised and booked a place immediately after I found out I got into the run, however I expected I’d be traveling with the family and that is no longer the case because gosh darn it is expensive to travel with tiny humans and we need to get over there next year. Ideally I’ll be able to downsize, but there isn’t much (unsurprisingly) going in or around Chamonix. Could get something in one of the nearby towns, and it sounds like it’s easy enough to get between them, but I’m super keen to get amongst those race village vibes.
More of the same for the upcoming training this week. Touch wood, I’m a chance to do all the sessions!
Thanks for listening. See you next week.