So for those who don't know me that well, I tend to over evaluate things and make rash decisions, especially related to my equipment. Today I ran the setup that is tried-tested and true and saw some fantastic results. I ran a personal best in the flying 400m with a smoking fast time of 45.95 seconds and my 200m was an equally awsome at 23.5. My coach said two things when I finished
1- That was the fastest he's ever clocked anyone in his 20+ years of coaching in both distances
2 - that those times translate into a top 5 performance if I can repeat it in China.
I think hovering on that fantastic peak although fun cost me as I tend to be a little absent-minded during my peaks. I showed up for my first workout this morning that was actually for tomorrow. Who knows how fast I would have gone in the afternoon if I had slept in a little... I did however get a chance to take in a nice lunch at Lac Magog and watched some wonderfull beer based beach volleyball.
Two things were concluded at the end of practice today; I still have weights tomorrow, and I earned a nice easy jog in the afternoon.
I'm very excited that dad may soon come for a visit and my coach is sad that he won't be able to swing a club while he's here.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
A wasted fantastic day
Well,
The idea of a intense workout ideally should fall on the day where I'm feeling the best. Not withstanding the wind I faced in Montreal this past weekend, my coach and I figure that I would have done a low 48 second 400m if the wind and the track had been better rather than the 50 seconds I actually achieved. I didn't feel all that sharp but I was able to carry my top speed for the whole way and didn't die after 300m which is a normal and expected outcome related to a 400m.
Today I had a jog but from the moment I woke up I was feeling 101% and was sadend to see that it wasn't the day to go balls out.
I have two workouts tomorrow, both requiring full intensity and not a ton of recovery inbetween. I hope my body's up for the challenge. I lift very heavy in the morning and have a sprint workout in the afternoon consisting of 3x30m, 2x200m and 1 x 400m for a whopping total of 890 meters of training.
It's funny that these are the two shortest workouts I'll ever have but I will likely be the most sore the following day. Last time I did these two workouts together, I could barely get out of bed the following day.
The idea of a intense workout ideally should fall on the day where I'm feeling the best. Not withstanding the wind I faced in Montreal this past weekend, my coach and I figure that I would have done a low 48 second 400m if the wind and the track had been better rather than the 50 seconds I actually achieved. I didn't feel all that sharp but I was able to carry my top speed for the whole way and didn't die after 300m which is a normal and expected outcome related to a 400m.
Today I had a jog but from the moment I woke up I was feeling 101% and was sadend to see that it wasn't the day to go balls out.
I have two workouts tomorrow, both requiring full intensity and not a ton of recovery inbetween. I hope my body's up for the challenge. I lift very heavy in the morning and have a sprint workout in the afternoon consisting of 3x30m, 2x200m and 1 x 400m for a whopping total of 890 meters of training.
It's funny that these are the two shortest workouts I'll ever have but I will likely be the most sore the following day. Last time I did these two workouts together, I could barely get out of bed the following day.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
No Steering, No Brake - Not a good idea
There is a time and a place to test such ideas, that place is not a competition.
I used my regular chair for the 400m and clocked a time of 50.24 which is pretty remarkable becuase I was told this track was extremly slow.
I missed my 200m because with 30 minutes to go, they said they were running 20 minutes late which by my calculation meant my race would be in 50 minutes. Some how, they ran the race 8 minutes before the time it was supposed to based on the schedule. I almost made it but when I jumped into my chairm my wheels got loose and the time it to repair it was the exact amount of time to run a 200m (about 28 seconds).
Around the same time of the 200m,, it also started to rain heavy and didn't let up for the rest of the day. I decided to bail in the 100m and get home a little earlier and slightly dryer. Running my new setup in the rain would have been a terrible idea as I don't have control in the dry and can only assume it would be worse on a wet track.
After some playing around with my Eagle racing chair last night, I dialed in the wheels and weight distribution perfect. I will not revisit the idea of a sprinting chair until after China.
I used my regular chair for the 400m and clocked a time of 50.24 which is pretty remarkable becuase I was told this track was extremly slow.
I missed my 200m because with 30 minutes to go, they said they were running 20 minutes late which by my calculation meant my race would be in 50 minutes. Some how, they ran the race 8 minutes before the time it was supposed to based on the schedule. I almost made it but when I jumped into my chairm my wheels got loose and the time it to repair it was the exact amount of time to run a 200m (about 28 seconds).
Around the same time of the 200m,, it also started to rain heavy and didn't let up for the rest of the day. I decided to bail in the 100m and get home a little earlier and slightly dryer. Running my new setup in the rain would have been a terrible idea as I don't have control in the dry and can only assume it would be worse on a wet track.
After some playing around with my Eagle racing chair last night, I dialed in the wheels and weight distribution perfect. I will not revisit the idea of a sprinting chair until after China.
Friday, July 25, 2008
A great new idea, in a time of need
Although I’m excited for my upcoming departure to China, it appears that even within Canada my 100m time is no long sufficient. Since I have an abundance of down time before and after practice, I have decided to fabricate a ultra-light 100m chair.
I started a basic frame that is under-engineered and although flexible is much lighter than normal. This bare frame weighs less than 5 pounds, and I have decided t eliminate all those unnecessary items such as steering and the brake, I’ve even lightened my wheels at the risk of longevity and durability. If everything goes right, my chair will weigh in at 10-12 pounds compared to 16-18 of my Eagle.
Just to be clear, my Eagle is superior and I will continue to use it for the 200m, 400m & 800m as it's got me this far.
As the acceleration is the key for the 100m, I think that a possible difference in weight could really make a difference. Other than crashing, my only fear is that I won’t have the same top-end speed at the end.
Now that I’m splitting hairs for 1/10th of a second, I need to be shaving grams off my chair anywhere possible.
In consultation with my coach, I will test this new beast at a race in Montreal this weekend.
We will see.......
I started a basic frame that is under-engineered and although flexible is much lighter than normal. This bare frame weighs less than 5 pounds, and I have decided t eliminate all those unnecessary items such as steering and the brake, I’ve even lightened my wheels at the risk of longevity and durability. If everything goes right, my chair will weigh in at 10-12 pounds compared to 16-18 of my Eagle.
Just to be clear, my Eagle is superior and I will continue to use it for the 200m, 400m & 800m as it's got me this far.
As the acceleration is the key for the 100m, I think that a possible difference in weight could really make a difference. Other than crashing, my only fear is that I won’t have the same top-end speed at the end.
Now that I’m splitting hairs for 1/10th of a second, I need to be shaving grams off my chair anywhere possible.
In consultation with my coach, I will test this new beast at a race in Montreal this weekend.
We will see.......
Monday, July 21, 2008
Back to 97% - Thank god
So.... Today was my first day back to training and I couldn't have been more happy to have a Two-A-Day to kick off my new found health (weights in the morning & the track in the evening).
I realized that at times it's very good to have a mature coach as my agenda was to make up for lost time, his was still to follow the plan that has worked flawlessly for the past 8 months.
At this time if I were training alone, I'd have added 50% more weight to each exercise and paid for it later. Under his supervision, I was only allowed to increase the weight by 10%, after I showed that I was able to handle it. I'll thank him later today when I have my second session on the track and haven't died yet.
The combination of felling better, high gas prices and in the commitment of acting healthy is a real downer at times. The house is empty and I've watched all my DVD"s at least twice in the last week. I've read all my books and even repaired my speakers in my car just to fill time. Next week is the new exhaust system if time permits.
Prior to Buck-Fifty gas, I would have had a nice Starbucks and taken a long and fast drive and enjoyed the day. Now I drink my regular brew, while sitting at home making engine noises sitting in my car in the garage.
We'll, that's it for today....
C
I realized that at times it's very good to have a mature coach as my agenda was to make up for lost time, his was still to follow the plan that has worked flawlessly for the past 8 months.
At this time if I were training alone, I'd have added 50% more weight to each exercise and paid for it later. Under his supervision, I was only allowed to increase the weight by 10%, after I showed that I was able to handle it. I'll thank him later today when I have my second session on the track and haven't died yet.
The combination of felling better, high gas prices and in the commitment of acting healthy is a real downer at times. The house is empty and I've watched all my DVD"s at least twice in the last week. I've read all my books and even repaired my speakers in my car just to fill time. Next week is the new exhaust system if time permits.
Prior to Buck-Fifty gas, I would have had a nice Starbucks and taken a long and fast drive and enjoyed the day. Now I drink my regular brew, while sitting at home making engine noises sitting in my car in the garage.
We'll, that's it for today....
C
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