Hill Reps = Hell!

Month - 24k
YTD - 24k

Since my last post I have rested a little to get the stiffness and groin strain time to recover. I think it has worked pretty well, I haven't strided out and don't plan to for another week. The two sessions I did though felt good.

I have download the intermediate marathon program that Pat Carroll has written for the GCM. I have modified it slightly so that I can adapt it to the time frame for the Great Ocean Road marathon. I hope that when I commence my job that it will allow me to fit in the training.

What I have done, rather than having set days for training, I have entered the 4 sessions into a diary commencing Monday of the each week. I cannot and will not ever be able to (due to the nature of my work) stick to a fully rigid training program so this is the only way I can see it working. I know what I need to do for the week and will work out a plan on a week to week basis as to how I will tackle those sessions.

Anyway since I have started this week with a slight injury I have only done two sessions.

Yesterday I headed out for a 30 min comfortable pace run, I have been finding the running routes that I used to run which entail some hilly sections. A 15 minutes out and back route where I maintained a consistent pace and got back home with 10 secs to spare so I ran past my house just to make that up ;-)

Today I decided to give the hill repeats a crack. I have moved to a house that is on the base of a hill called Federation hill. There are a whole heap of walking tracks comprising of single trail and fire trail that are very steep. I have been walking the dogs and walking up the trails with my wife but never attempted running as yet. Today was the day......and well it was an experience to say the least.

On the cards was 8 x 300 m repeats. I chose a point along the track which was probably less than 300 m maybe 220 - 250m but the second half is very steep and loose under foot. The last 30 m kicks up again so it was a very difficult session.

The sets were done between 1.01 and 1.07 for the first 6, then on the 7th I absolutely died, I felt as though I was having a heart attack. I just couldn't get the air in and then the legs just ran out of steam. I was proud that I didn't stop running but that one rep was a 1.22. The last one I went as hard as I could and managed 1.05. I was absolutely shattered, everytime I finished the rep I had to walk back down a single trail which took about 2 - 3 mins. My legs were all jelly like and I felt really uncoordinated. It was only a few days ago that I was infact laughing at my wife for the same reason when we were coming back down from the top of the hill, I think this is a perfect example of Karma.

I must say this was one of the hardest sessions I have done for a very long time. I am not sure when the next week is that has hill repeats but hopefully it is not for a while. I do remember though writing in my diary a hill session that has 10 repeats.....Nooooooooo!


**EDIT**
Since this write up I completed a 5000m on a grass track. Very difficult conditions, very hot and windy up the back straight. I had nothing in my legs from the start due to the hill session the day before. During the run I also experience some shin pain, so I slowed and completed it in a time of 21.40. My shins have not faired too well, and due to this fact I am reassessing my goals.....already. I have been planning to do the GOR marathon but with 17 weeks to go I cannot afford to have anytime off and training would have to be smooth sailing. This is not the case so I think I will have a short break get the shins healthy again and do the half. With the fitness I have established a week or two off won't hurt too much. I don't think I have ever trained for a solid 3 months for any half I have completed so even if I have a month off I should be fit to run the half on the same day. If I can get a solid 3 months of training in specifically for this event I will try for a PB, that is if it not too hilly. Sub 1.27 and I will be happy.

In regards to a marathon maybe the Melbourne Marathon in Oct if I decide not to compete in the Shepparton Half IM in Nov.