2023 The Waltons: Racing & Training Thread (Read 301 times)

Marky_Mark_17


    Also just this month, it was in the news that New Zealand was asked to explain their significant reduction in testing in the last few years ( they said it's due to COVID protocol)  https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/new-zealand-given-please-explain-letter-after-drop-drug-tests-2023-03-10/

     

     

    I actually think their excuse is valid. Our borders were almost completely shut from March 2020 until mid-2022 and most NZ elites train offshore in the US or Europe (or Kenya in Zane’s case lol). So they wouldn’t have had access to athletes outside NZ for the most part. I dunno how they couldn’t just get someone in the US to test them but maybe there’s specific process requirements.

    3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)  

    10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)

    * Net downhill course

    Last race: Maraetai HM, 10 Mar, DNF

    Up next: Waterfront HM, 7 Apr

    "CONSISTENCY IS KING"

      Mark I watched that podcast. He is suffering the consequences now and with  having a twin who is an elite runner too, he has unfortunately cast a shadow on him even if completely removed from this.

      I hate to see someone feeling suicidal though and hope he can get some support.

      55+ PBs 5k 18:36 June 3rd TT

      " If you don't use it you lose it,  but if you use it, it wears out.

      Somewhere in between is about right "      

       

      Marky_Mark_17


        Mark I watched that podcast. He is suffering the consequences now and with  having a twin who is an elite runner too, he has unfortunately cast a shadow on him even if completely removed from this.

        I hate to see someone feeling suicidal though and hope he can get some support.

         

        It is rough because it is pretty much a career ender for him, his marriage has broken up, and he's gonna cop it in public big-time. Like you I hope he's got family and friends looking out for him but yeah I can't imagine his twin brother is thrilled about it either.

         

        One of my clubmates just pointed out to me that Zane knew a couple weeks ago the news was coming out. So, he had time to tee up these podcasts etc and plan what he was going to run with.  It does smack a bit of a PR campaign.

        3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)  

        10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)

        * Net downhill course

        Last race: Maraetai HM, 10 Mar, DNF

        Up next: Waterfront HM, 7 Apr

        "CONSISTENCY IS KING"

        watsonc123


           

          I actually think their excuse is valid. Our borders were almost completely shut from March 2020 until mid-2022 and most NZ elites train offshore in the US or Europe (or Kenya in Zane’s case lol). So they wouldn’t have had access to athletes outside NZ for the most part. I dunno how they couldn’t just get someone in the US to test them but maybe there’s specific process requirements.

           

          They do get overseas testers involved.  Otherwise you could just  base yourself in a different country and never get caught.

           

          I'm wondering what he meant by:

          I was constantly getting injured in the race shoes I was trying to develop

           

          Was he saying that he was trying to get new race shoes developed, or is he just talking about his sponsors race shoes, which was ASICS.  He seemed to have been sponsored by them for a while, and most people highly rate the Metaspeed Sky (and Sky+) so I don't whether that statement has any validity.

          PRs: 5km 18:43 (Dec 2015), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:26:16 (Sep 2016), full 3:09:28 (Jun 2015)

           

          40+ PRs: 5km 19:31 (Oct 2020), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:29:39 (Jun 2018), full 3:13:55 (Sep 2022)

           

          2023 PRs (hope to beat in 2024): 5km 20:34, 10km 41:37, half 1:32:32, full 3:21:05

           

          2024 PRs: 5km 20:25

          Marky_Mark_17


            Yeah that one sounded a little whingey to me too Watson. I think he was involved in the development of that shoe so it has to be what he is referring to.  He probably just didn't want to refer to Asics if they were the sponsor that dumped him after Tokyo.

            3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)  

            10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)

            * Net downhill course

            Last race: Maraetai HM, 10 Mar, DNF

            Up next: Waterfront HM, 7 Apr

            "CONSISTENCY IS KING"

            need2tri


              Yeah I remember the COVID shut down you guys had. But like Watson said testing probably happens in collaboration with similar orgs in other countries. Anyways, the point I was trying to make was that, even very developed countries with much more resources for testing could still come short of what is expected of them for one reason or another.

               

              I actually think their excuse is valid. Our borders were almost completely shut from March 2020 until mid-2022 and most NZ elites train offshore in the US or Europe (or Kenya in Zane’s case lol). So they wouldn’t have had access to athletes outside NZ for the most part. I dunno how they couldn’t just get someone in the US to test them but maybe there’s specific process requirements.

                I haven’t heard of a single pro athlete in his/her prime who moved to Kenia for its ugali. But I also don’t know too many personally so I agree, I might be wrong  There is massive pressure on East African countries to increase testing and I assume this is actually starting to work. I take the zero hypothesis back!

                 

                On to another controversy: there is a 49 year old Italian Trans-lady who is crushing the 200m championships. She has won the Italian title 8 times in a row. The last one was really crushing for the second place female as she would have set a new Italian record. 

                Valentina fka Fabrizio will however be banned from competing in womens competitions as of end of this month on. Which is unfortunate in a way because I am not aware of any Transgendered competitions. Maybe the World Athletics can create regular competitions on an international level.

                HM: 1:47 (9/20) I FM: 3:53:11 (9/23)

                 

                2024 Goals: run a FM & HM + stay healthy!

                SteveChCh


                Hot Weather Complainer

                  I haven’t heard of a single pro athlete in his/her prime who moved to Kenia for its ugali. But I also don’t know too many personally so I agree, I might be wrong  There is massive pressure on East African countries to increase testing and I assume this is actually starting to work. I take the zero hypothesis back!

                   

                  On to another controversy: there is a 49 year old Italian Trans-lady who is crushing the 200m championships. She has won the Italian title 8 times in a row. The last one was really crushing for the second place female as she would have set a new Italian record. 

                  Valentina fka Fabrizio will however be banned from competing in womens competitions as of end of this month on. Which is unfortunate in a way because I am not aware of any Transgendered competitions. Maybe the World Athletics can create regular competitions on an international level.

                   

                  There is open mens though right?  Or masters.

                  5km: 18:34 11/23 │ 10km: 39:10 8/23 │ HM: 1:26:48 9/23 │ M: 3:34:49 6/23

                   

                  2024 Races:

                  Motorway Half Marathon February 25, 2024 1:29:55

                  Christchurch Half-Marathon April 21, 2024

                  Selwyn Marathon June 2, 2024

                  Dunedin Half Marathon September 15, 2024

                  watsonc123


                    I haven’t heard of a single pro athlete in his/her prime who moved to Kenia for its ugali. But I also don’t know too many personally so I agree, I might be wrong  There is massive pressure on East African countries to increase testing and I assume this is actually starting to work. I take the zero hypothesis back!

                     

                    On to another controversy: there is a 49 year old Italian Trans-lady who is crushing the 200m championships. She has won the Italian title 8 times in a row. The last one was really crushing for the second place female as she would have set a new Italian record. 

                    Valentina fka Fabrizio will however be banned from competing in womens competitions as of end of this month on. Which is unfortunate in a way because I am not aware of any Transgendered competitions. Maybe the World Athletics can create regular competitions on an international level.

                     

                    To be clear - that's an age group championship, not open.

                     

                    I am very glad World Athletics have made that decision to have the women's category to exclude trans-gender.

                     

                    There's someone locally who was a guy who was a moderately good runner (at best around my level) who transitioned.  She has picked up quite a few local Strava segments for the woman (with several other top 10's), I know quite a few woman who really like Stava segments and are pretty annoyed when they get bumped down a place because of that.

                    PRs: 5km 18:43 (Dec 2015), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:26:16 (Sep 2016), full 3:09:28 (Jun 2015)

                     

                    40+ PRs: 5km 19:31 (Oct 2020), 10km 39:59 (Sep 2020), half 1:29:39 (Jun 2018), full 3:13:55 (Sep 2022)

                     

                    2023 PRs (hope to beat in 2024): 5km 20:34, 10km 41:37, half 1:32:32, full 3:21:05

                     

                    2024 PRs: 5km 20:25

                    Marky_Mark_17


                      Yeah I remember the COVID shut down you guys had. But like Watson said testing probably happens in collaboration with similar orgs in other countries. Anyways, the point I was trying to make was that, even very developed countries with much more resources for testing could still come short of what is expected of them for one reason or another.

                       

                      You're dead right.  Although, I wouldn't describe NZ as particularly well resourced... we probably are relative to many countries but athletics has pretty limited resources and relatively limited government funding compared to some sports.  Rugby sucks the oxygen (and $$$) out of everything, followed by cycling, rowing, cricket, league, soccer, netball and probably athletics sits alongside the likes of field hockey somewhere on the third tier.  But still, no real excuses outside of Covid border closures (and probably fewer in-competition tests because there were a lot fewer competitions for a while) for us not testing enough, those numbers had better get back up.

                      3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)  

                      10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)

                      * Net downhill course

                      Last race: Maraetai HM, 10 Mar, DNF

                      Up next: Waterfront HM, 7 Apr

                      "CONSISTENCY IS KING"

                        Watson - that really sucks…and to be honest in major US cities I am sure that over time the crowns will mostly be in the hands of girls that were born as boys…

                         

                        my week started with another temperature shock up by 15 degrees celsius and got colder than during the week. It was a good reminder of what “heat” does to performance. I don’t cope well with higher temps.

                         

                        6 runs, 86k, and 8:30h time on feet. I might have to postpone my marathon debut by two weeks in view of something that came up - this would give me more time to work at this level and therefore hopefully make my debut less painful! Not that big of a deal for me. There is another marathon here in Switzerland just two weeks later in Geneva which is 3-4 hour drive from home.

                        Weekly for period: From: 20/03/2023 To 26/03/2023

                        <caption>Weekly Grid</caption>
                        Date Name mi km Duration Avg/mi Avg/km Elevation Gain
                        in m
                        20/03 Lunch Run 11.51 18.52 01:53:40 09:53 06:08 101
                        21/03 Lunch Run 7.13 11.47 01:06:44 09:22 05:49 43
                        22/03 Morning Run 8.19 13.17 01:15:57 09:16 05:46 68
                        23/03 Morning Run 17.49 28.14 02:56:01 10:04 06:15 177
                        24/03 Lunch Run 6.35 10.21 01:00:00 09:27 05:53 36
                        25/03 Morning Run 3.14 5.06 00:30:09 09:36 05:58 43

                        Total distance: 86.56km

                        HM: 1:47 (9/20) I FM: 3:53:11 (9/23)

                         

                        2024 Goals: run a FM & HM + stay healthy!

                        Marky_Mark_17


                          MJ - I hear you on not loving the warm temps!  Nice week though.

                           

                          Me - woke up feeling very average and a bit congested this morning, and half expected to pull the pin on my run after 10 minutes or so. Once I got going, I felt surprisingly good, so stuck at it for the planned 75 minutes.  IDK maybe it was just a bit of tiredness after a lot of workouts this week, hopefully it'll disappear in a day or two.  Waterfront HM coming up next Sunday so this'll make race week interesting, along with the question of whether or not my VF3's will arrive in time for race day, and whether we get crappy humid weather (current forecast) or nice cool autumn weather.

                           

                          Weekly for period: From: 20/03/2023 To 26/03/2023

                          <caption>Weekly Grid</caption>
                          Date Name mi km Duration Avg/mi Avg/km Elevation Gain
                          in m
                          20/03 That run where the lights were already on in the super yacht refit yard 5.73 9.22 00:41:20 07:13 04:29 19
                          21/03 That run where I would rather humidity and wind today, than on race day 8.08 13.01 00:52:45 06:32 04:03 38
                          22/03 That run where it was back to 'run like hell and hope for the best' 8.71 14.02 00:52:52 06:04 03:46 33
                          23/03 That run where “I asked the Kenyan hospital for a Covid vaccination and they gave me EPO instead” was a poor excuse 9.35 15.04 00:59:35 06:22 03:58 36
                          25/03 That run where a 4:30am wake-up was not quite what I had in mind to start the weekend 7.50 12.06 00:45:42 06:06 03:47 76
                          26/03 That run where I woke up feeling like crap and somehow 17k made it feel a lot better 10.72 17.25 01:15:41 07:04 04:23 187

                          Total distance: 80.59km (50.1 imperial brass walnuts)

                          3,000m: 9:07.7 (Nov-21) | 5,000m: 15:39 (Dec-19) | 10,000m: 32:34 (Mar-20)  

                          10km: 33:15 (Sep-19) | HM: 1:09:41 (May-21)* | FM: 2:41:41 (Oct-20)

                          * Net downhill course

                          Last race: Maraetai HM, 10 Mar, DNF

                          Up next: Waterfront HM, 7 Apr

                          "CONSISTENCY IS KING"

                          JamesD


                          JamesD

                            Last week's runs were boring, just building back after 10 days of pool running & swimming, and I didn’t have much to say, so I didn’t post.  This week was better.  On Monday, my pace was as good at the same effort as it has been all year, but about four miles in, my right calf started hurting again.  I foolishly decided that if it didn’t get worse, I would try to go another half-mile to finish the lap, all the while thinking that it would be back to the pool for the next week or two to rest the calf.  By the time I finished the lap, the pain had almost disappeared, and I guess it must have been a cramp.  Very unusual, but it didn't return for the rest of the run.  For the rest of the week, my other aches & pains were less severe than they’ve been recently, and I kept gradually improving my mileage, so that’s progress.

                             

                            Sun - 4.1 miles very slow on TM (49 minutes) + 0:40 walk breaks/6:00

                            Mon - 5.1 miles very slow on TM (61 minutes) + 0:40 walk breaks/6:00

                            Tues - 6.2 miles PM in park @ 8:41, right hamstring sore afterwards

                            Weds - 30 minutes swimming, 10 minutes pool running

                            Thurs -  7.3 miles AM in park @ 8:35, left hamstring sore late

                            Fri - 7.5 miles very slow on TM (90 minutes) + 0:40 walk breaks/6:00

                            Sat - 7.8 miles PM cold in park @ 8:42, right hamstring sore late

                             

                            Total - 37.9 miles

                             

                            Sun -  45 minutes swimming

                            Mon - 8.3 miles PM in park @ 8:27, R calf cramp(?) at 4 miles, went away

                            Tues - 7.5 miles very slow on TM (90 minutes) + 0:40 walk breaks/6:00

                            Weds - 8.8 miles PM in park warm @ 8:34

                            Thurs - 44 minutes swimming

                            Fri - 9.3 miles AM in park cold @ 8:57, felt ok despite being slow

                            Sat - 7.5 miles very slow on TM (90 minutes) + 0:40 walk breaks/6:00, HR good

                             

                            Total - 41.3 miles

                            YTD Average - 31.6 mpw



                            Post-1987 PRs:  Half 1:30:14 (2019); 10K 39:35 (2019); 5K 19:12 (2017); Mile 5:37.3 (2020)

                            '24 Goals: consistency, age-graded PRs, half < 1:32

                            darkwave


                            Mother of Cats

                              Mick - some good work there.    It seems like you are OK with the idea of postponing the marathon and might prefer that?

                               

                              Marky_mark - your title on 23/3 is gold.

                               

                              James - good to see you back after the missed week.  And I'm relieved that the cramp was just a cramp.

                               

                              ***

                               

                              My week:

                              53 miles running, 1000 yards swimming and 3 hours pool-running.

                              M: 90 minutes pool-running and upper body weights/core
                              T: 10 miles, including a track workout of 2x(1600, 800)+2x200 with splits of 7:00, 3:19, 6:46, 3:16, 48, and 48. 6 minute recoveries after the 1600s, 3:14 recovery after the first 800, and full recoveries for the 200s. Followed with leg strengthwork and 500 yards recovery swimming.
                              W: Streaming yoga and 10 miles very easy (9:24) plus drills and 4 hill sprints
                              Th: 90 minutes pool-running and upper body weights/core.
                              F: 10.5 miles, including a 6400m tempo in 27:57 (7:12/6:57/7:00/6:48). Followed with two hill sprints, leg strengthwork, and 500 yards recovery swimming.
                              Sa: 10 miles very easy (9:39) and streaming yoga.
                              Su: 12.5 miles, including 3.2 miles at marathon effort (23:58 - 7:30 pace), followed by injury prevention work.

                               

                              Things are continuing to improve and I'm getting more stable on my feet. We added another medication starting last Sunday that basically improves the effectiveness and duration of the stuff that I'm already on, and it seems to be helping.

                              It's not obvious from the training log, but my ability to handle running in complex situations (crowds, etc) improved dramatically this week. On Tuesday I was able to actually lead a group of runners for the second 1600 and 800 - previously my gait has just gone to hell when I've tried to do that. (yes, I know that sounds crazy, but that's how things have been.)

                              On Sunday, I ran a 5K (that ended up being 3.2 miles) at marathon effort to get a bit more practice running with crowds. This broke my rule about always racing when running a race, but the 5K was for a cause that's very important to a friend of mine (fighting colon cancer), and I didn't want to race this weekend for multiple reasons, including a late night out last night and my plans to race the Cherry Blossom 10 miler next Sunday. [how is that for a long sentence] So using the race as a chance to practice running at marathon pace in a crowded situation seemed like a way to show up and support her and also do something productive for myself.

                              [I don't like doing tempos during races because I worry that it builds bad habits - a tendency to conflate tempo effort with race effort. However, marathon effort is far enough from 5K effort that I wasn't worried in this case - especially if I don't make a habit of it.]

                              Once again, I handled the crowds and some uneven pavement very well - pretty much like a normal person. So that was really encouraging and makes me hopeful for Cherry Blossom next Sunday.

                               

                              Also, since this is both the Waltons thread and the weather-whining thread (and since Mick opened the door), I'll note that Tuesday's track workout was done in 28 degrees F (-2 C) and Friday's track workout was done in 61 degrees F (16 C).  So yep, that's a lot of change.

                              Everyone's gotta running blog; I'm the only one with a POOL-RUNNING blog.

                               

                              And...if you want a running Instagram where all the pictures are of cats, I've got you covered.

                              JamesD


                              JamesD

                                 

                                Also, since this is both the Waltons thread and the weather-whining thread (and since Mick opened the door), I'll note that Tuesday's track workout was done in 28 degrees F (-2 C) and Friday's track workout was done in 61 degrees F (16 C).  So yep, that's a lot of change.

                                 

                                Temperatures during my runs went from the 40s (~7 C) to the mid-80s (~29) in the last week.  The tornadoes passed north of us, luckily - they seem to be following I-85 heading northeast.

                                Post-1987 PRs:  Half 1:30:14 (2019); 10K 39:35 (2019); 5K 19:12 (2017); Mile 5:37.3 (2020)

                                '24 Goals: consistency, age-graded PRs, half < 1:32