February 2005 - Week 2

[Sweder]

Time of day: 19:30 Hrs
Location: Withdean Stadium running track
Conditions: Dry, cool, FOG CITY!

Circuit: (tonights' times in brackets)
Warm up (1 x 400 metres, gentle jog untimed)
1 x 300 metres (01:11)
1 x 800 metres (03:31)
1 x 300 metres (01:05)
1 x 800 metres (03:35)
2 x 300 metres (01.08, 01:08)
1 x 800 metres (03:41)
2 x 300 metres (01:11, 01:08)
1 x mile (07:27)
Cool down gentle lope 400 mters untimed

Tough old slog tonight. I was pretty tired having driven to London for a Microsoft gig at Chelsea FC. I tried to slip something nasty into the water supply but got ejected before completion (NB: for legal purposes I would like to clarify this is a (weak) gag). Nett result I got home having escaped West London at 4pm, enjoyed a gentle drive through Putney, a pleasant detour through Richmond Park, coffee with me dear old Mum in Kingston and a Whacky Races session on the M23.

My calves were whinging shamelessly tonight. It might have been the Lewes loops last night in the new boots; it could have been the last couple of miles on Sunday. I was taking no chances and, armed with an impressive array of excuses, donned an old pair of runners (FLM 2004 vintage) determined to hit the track and finish the circuits.

The stats don't tell the story of tonight's session. Times were generally a second or two better than last week, and the mile was 7 seconds quicker. But this hurt. Plausible reasons to bail out half way through the evening emerged, as they often do during track work, from the dusty shadows of my tortured mind. These bad thoughts are like Gremlins, if fed after dark the results can be apocalyptic, so they must never reach the outside world. Tonight they were banging on the door demanding release, and it took serious teeth-grinding effort to keep them incarcerated.

One of the Sunday regulars (Fit Large Man, aka Laurence) is convinced the track sessions cause him damage. Withdean is apparently notoriously 'bouncy', and has been known to hammer hamstrings and calves. Laurence voted with his (sore) feet and was a no-show tonight. I'll have to review the aftermath on my day of rest tomorrow and take a view. There's no doubt the disciplined speed sessions help, but they can be replicated elsewhere.

Thought for the day:
You know you're getting old when the wife says
'Let’s go upstairs and make love'
and you think to yourself
'I can't do both'