AM. Erg 8km/31:21 (1:57.6) r22, steady, HR155(167 )
Got up and did a steady erg before work. I had it in mind to do more, but I was working *way* too hard and had done enough by 8km.
PM. Run 11km/54 steady HR155(165)
Out for a steady plod in the drizzle. My lower legs felt hammered again, dunno what’s up with that. Maybe I should try running in my older running shoes again – the midsoles are more compressed and that might take the pressure off my feet. Heavily cushioned shoes always make my legs ache and this new pair do feel quite soft – softer than the women’s version of them I was running in last year.
73.6kg
Categorized in Erg and Run
Lunchtime. Erg 8km inc. 10×400m (2:30 rest)
2km w/u: 7:51.7 (1:57.9) r22
1. 1:19.5 (1:39.3) r34
2. 1:20.6 (1:40.7) r33
3. 1:20.9 (1:41.1) r32
4. 1:20.5 (1:40.6) r33
5. 1:20.4 (1:40.5) r33
6. 1:20.4 (1:40.5) r34
7. 1:20.3 (1:40.4) r34
8. 1:20.7 (1:40.8) r33
9. 1:20.6 (1:40.8) r34
10. 1:21.8 (1:42.3) r34 HRmax 167. Average. 1:20.6 (1:40.7)
2km w/d
We cycled to the pool this morning, but when we got there it was closed because the water level had dropped overnight (how does that happen?). We had a bit of a laugh about it and went back home. There wasn’t time to do anything other training so Jules did a bit of sewing and I attacked the Observer crossword over a cup of coffee.
I nipped home at lunchtime to do an erg instead. This month’s CTC challenge is a straight 400m sprint, so I worked it into an interval session of 10×400m. I guessed a recovery of 2:30 would be about right, and so it seemed apart from the very last rep. where I was still breathing hard when I picked up the handle for that last 400m. That rep. didn’t go so well – I was paddling in lactic acid from about 150m to go. I logged the first and fastest time as my entry for the CTC but might have another (single) go at it another day.
I also rowed a steady 2km warm up and logged the time for the C2 Challenge Series, although I will be doing an all-out time for that later. It’s going to be a very competitive month in that challenge as the distance is 2km and many people will be peaking for the British Indoor Rowing Championships at the end of the month – last year this was (relative to eveyone else) my worst month in the Challenge Series and I’d like to do better this year.
Lower legs and shins still feeling a bit hammered, so no running today. I’ll be able to get out for a decent run in at the weekend, I should think.
Johnny Helms
I heard that the cartoonist Johnny Helms died of a stroke yesterday. He was 85. I always enjoyed his cartoons in The Comic, although I’ve not been a subscriber to it for some years. This was one of my favourites from about 10 years ago, and it shows that people trying too hard on winter clubs is a recurring theme – there’s been a recent thread on the TT forum about it! It’s not a good scan – I’ll see if I can find a better one.

73.5kg
Categorized in Erg and Intervals
Tags: Johnny Helms
Lunchtime. Run 10km/49, steady, HR150(159)
Managed to dodge the showers and head out for a rubbish run, my legs felt like lead, barely 8 min/miling. I’ve noticed that I’ve picked up an annoying dry cough over the last day or so – a leftover symptom of last month’s cold.
PM. Erg 11km inc. 5×1500m (5min rec.)
2km w/u
1500m: 5:35.6 (1:51.9) r25 HR153(160)
1500m: 5:35.4 (1:51.8) r25 HR154(164)
1500m: 5:35.5 (1:51.8) r25 HR156(166)
1500m: 5:35.0 (1:51.7) r25 HR157(166)
1500m: 5:33.1 (1:51.0) r26 HR159(169). average 5:34.9 (1:51.6)
1.5km w/d
Steady enough erg – session nicked from the “Pete Plan” – each rep. started out fast and settled to 1:52 pace. I only pushed it on a bit in the last rep. Nowhere near my recent best for this session, which is somewhere around 1:49 average, but good enough for the moment. Still coughing nicely.
74.5kg
Categorized in Erg, Intervals and Run
PM. Cycle 28km/1:01:03 (27.5km/h) Steady turbo, HR144(154)
Lower legs a bit hammered from yesterday’s long run, but other than that I seem to have got away with it. Sat on the turbo trainer for an hour after work, just spinning the stiffness out.
74.5kg
Categorized in Cycle
Tags: turbo training