The training week is in the bag. I will cross train (cycle) over the weekend, just to get some additional aerobic benefit but have decided against adding another running day / doubles, to prevent injuries. I am very prone to that. 12 more weeks, that means 11 weeks of serious training.

 

Mick - how did you become so wise and restrained? This is a seriously impressive decision.

With strides I agree that it just doesn't matter that much. We're just trying to practice running pretty fast with great form while a little tired. Get that done and call it good. I've been doing some uphill strides which are notably harder but they're replacing my usual short hill sprints for now (given that I want to race a few miles, hill sprints will return).

Shandy's absolutely exist here though sour beers (which are often fruity) have overtaken them in popularity.

So one thing I notice about running strides is that I feel more efficient the next day. However some recent runs with my pup have reminded me that 1-2 miles moderate effort do the same thing though I can't imagine they're as useful for long term stimulous.

I remember my Grandad would let me have a Shandy when I was a kid. The lemonade dominated so I liked it, as an adult I don’t see the point…I’ve also cut back alcohol significantly over the last few years but not to the extent of others here. When I do have a big night, the next day will remind me why I enjoy not drinking.

The situation in Auckland is extremely serious. Mick - piwi is on the North Island, albeit a few hours south. I expect Mark will still log a run somehow but parts of Auckland look impassable with people stranded in cars, although hopefully they’ve abandoned them overnight. I don’t know how people would have gotten off the motorway and home after leaving their cars though. The worst of the rain hit during rush hour, with totals I’ve never seen before. The traffic there is awful on a good day (population is only around a million but decades of ignoring the traffic issues makes for chaos).

Mark, glad that you've made out OK, hoping the rest of NZ dries out soon.

Alcohol/coffee...I probably drink what this group would consider excessive amounts of both but have no plans to cut back on either.  Whenever I've experimented with cutting them out in the past I haven't noticed any appreciable benefits and since I truly enjoy both I don't see a reason.

Strides...I should probably add more, I never do them unless I'm following a Garmin plan.

Shandy...ordered one accidentally in Germany once expecting a lemonade and it was disgusting.  But I do enjoy a good sour/gose.

I had the best LR today I've had in months.  Started out super easy (11:30 min/mi) and was able to cut down about 10 sec each mile ending in the 9:40s and it never felt forced.

Mick your geography is terrible 

Mark I've seen some videos of people in a supermarket in knee deep water and the same in a gym.

We were headed to Waihi today but gave up as traffic was gridlocked and weather atrocious. Good to catch up this week.

CC I too enjoy a drink most nights. Also a sugary hit after dinner. I never binge drink though.

About 3 coffees a day too. Meh I'm a pig 

Glad to hear none of our NZ friends are impacted.

Piwi: I used to make fun of North American tourists in summer asking Austrians for kangaroos & Koalas. I feel like I am no longer entitled to make fun of them. I thought this guy surfs so he must live in the South. But that concept only applies in the Northern Hemisphere. 

re Shandys: I feel about them the same way that Flavio described regarding his basil mozzarella bread. Cannot even describe it how a cold shandy in summer tastes. Shame on all who don’t feel the same way 😂

James - nice week.

Weather here was OK.  It's been quite dry here, so sprinkler ban has started.  So the Fri-Sun rain has been good (<=10% of what Auckland has had).

My week was light.  The previous week had too much intensity so I needed to back off this week.

Two strength sessions, on Wed & Fri, plus running:

Weekly for period: From: 23/01/2023 To 29/01/2023

Total distance: 36.15km

Mark - I see there is a lot more heavy rain still to come.  Hopefully you continue to avoid any damage and it's a bit more spread out than that 1-2 hours of carnage on Friday night.  Good luck with that humidity, at least it means everything feels easier come Autumn?

me - Another good week with 2 really good workouts.  Felt very strong on the long run, even pushing the marathon pace a bit.  I've got a down week with an extra rest day now, which in the past I may not have wanted but I'm doing (almost) everything the new coach tells me.  Then I've got 2 high volume weeks and the motorway half on slightly tired legs.

Weekly for period: From: 23/01/2023 To 29/01/2023

<caption>Weekly Grid</caption>

Total distance: 94.43km (58.69mi)

James - good luck with the buildback - gradual improvement is good.

Watson - interesting, I think those of us in the US sometimes forget that NZ is two separate BIG islands, and is big enough that the weather can vary greatly across the country.

Marky_Mark - running on flooded tracks can be an exercise in frustration, though I know it obviously pales in comparison to what is going on in your area.

Steve - I'm going to be very interested to see how the half-marathon goes.  Things are looking good.