Blog 3 - Coach appears and then promptly disappears
03/07/12 11:21
So, the last couple of sessions I have done out here have been really good. Probably the best thing to come out of them though is the Houdini like approach my Coach (and boss!!) has taken to sessions. One session he is there, the next session he is in bed hungover having tried to set the world to rights the night before.
Last week I had to do 2x20minutes of climbing up a hill. This was up what is commonly known as "ze big ill". I did a similar session last time I was here, except there was a huge difference between my performance 8 months later, which was so good. Last time I had to climb for 15 minutes at a time, this year, I was reaching that same point in 13minutes, maybe a bit less. That is over 2minutes of improvement! I wouldn't be able to accurately compare all this, and Heart Rate levels, without the help of my Garmin (910XT and 610) and Garmin Connect! Now, this blog is starting to become and extended Garmin sales pitch, however, the product is so good that I can't get enough of it!
Coach did make it out for this session, well I saw him during the last few minutes of the second climb. He then decided to let me run back with him, which was a real treat!
This morning, Houdini set me this cheeky 5x .89mile loop, which has a wonderful steep climb in it, followed by a long drag, then a fast descent, and a bit of flat. It is a horrible little route, because on the long drag your legs just feel like lead after having done the steep climb, but you just have to keep the legs turning over! Anyway, last night, after a little bit of alcohol, coach said that he would come out and watch the last few reps, provide some motivation and a bit of focus. I scuttled off to bed around 10 (ah the life of an athlete!) and left him to continue his quest to drink all the colours of the rainbow. The morning came and I went off to do the session. Rep 1 came and went, and 2, and 3, and 4 and the last. Not a peep of another human being! It would be a lie to say I wasn't surprised that he didn't turn up. So, I trotted back home, tired but really happy (I was over 20seconds quicker than last year on each the reps, with a shorter recovery and I did 5 of them) and I returned to a rather quiet house. Recovery drink in hand I snuck upstairs to put the TV on. Houdini was still in bed over an hour later. It appears his head hurts.
Couple of pics to share with you
This is the view we had from last night at dinner
and here is me with the little chicken, that lives in the Hameau
Last week I had to do 2x20minutes of climbing up a hill. This was up what is commonly known as "ze big ill". I did a similar session last time I was here, except there was a huge difference between my performance 8 months later, which was so good. Last time I had to climb for 15 minutes at a time, this year, I was reaching that same point in 13minutes, maybe a bit less. That is over 2minutes of improvement! I wouldn't be able to accurately compare all this, and Heart Rate levels, without the help of my Garmin (910XT and 610) and Garmin Connect! Now, this blog is starting to become and extended Garmin sales pitch, however, the product is so good that I can't get enough of it!
Coach did make it out for this session, well I saw him during the last few minutes of the second climb. He then decided to let me run back with him, which was a real treat!
This morning, Houdini set me this cheeky 5x .89mile loop, which has a wonderful steep climb in it, followed by a long drag, then a fast descent, and a bit of flat. It is a horrible little route, because on the long drag your legs just feel like lead after having done the steep climb, but you just have to keep the legs turning over! Anyway, last night, after a little bit of alcohol, coach said that he would come out and watch the last few reps, provide some motivation and a bit of focus. I scuttled off to bed around 10 (ah the life of an athlete!) and left him to continue his quest to drink all the colours of the rainbow. The morning came and I went off to do the session. Rep 1 came and went, and 2, and 3, and 4 and the last. Not a peep of another human being! It would be a lie to say I wasn't surprised that he didn't turn up. So, I trotted back home, tired but really happy (I was over 20seconds quicker than last year on each the reps, with a shorter recovery and I did 5 of them) and I returned to a rather quiet house. Recovery drink in hand I snuck upstairs to put the TV on. Houdini was still in bed over an hour later. It appears his head hurts.
Couple of pics to share with you
This is the view we had from last night at dinner
and here is me with the little chicken, that lives in the Hameau