Training + Study

So I have decided that both of these 2 activities do not mix so well. Over the past week I have had some really good training sessions and also had a butt load of uni work to complete...

Saturday started with the usual training session of 8am drills, strides and the 'killer circuit' with Mike. Felt pretty tired from a busy week, but was such a sunny morning that it almost made me feel really good :)
The drills and running techniques are very important to me at the moment. As I am improving with my running speed, I want to ensure that I am training my muscles to run in the most efficient way. Although my running style is not the greatest, I believe that it is slowly improving with the help of these drills! After the technique training, we apply all of what we have practiced into strides. It is really hard to concentrate on everything we have to think about, but once you start running it feels pretty awesome!
The 'killer circuit' training is next. Duncan and I went together again this week. We had 2 minutes at each station...altogether it is a 40min workout. We found all of the cardio workouts were really tiring today, but was a good contrast with all the weights and core exercises. Later in the afternoon I had to pick up Amber from the Airport as she is back home (Hawkes Bay) for good now! :) We went for a nice cruisey hour run up Mt Eden and around the Domain a few times...was good to run with her again.

About 20min into the 90min rogaine

Sunday was the final of the NWOC Rogaine series. It was all the way out at Slater Road which is quite a steep map, so I knew it would be good training for Poland :) Results are shown here. I won the Open Women's grade and won the whole series overall and claimed the $100 prize! My route is shown on route gadget here. It was a tough rogaine as I had no idea what order to get the controls in...I think if my route was a bit better, I could have come very close to getting them all! Thoroughly enjoyed this series as it gave me the chance to get a decent run in each Sunday it was on whilst making me read my map at the same time too! Next Orienteering event is at Queens Birthday Weekend in 2 weeks! I am competing for the New Zealand Pinestars as we have a test match against the Australian elites.

Tired at the end of the Rogaine

Winners of the day

Sunday night consisted of staying up till 2am trying to finish an Environmental Science Project report. I was so tired I just had to get some sleep even though I hadn't finished.. I got up at 7am to finish it off to hand it in at Uni at about midday. I was extremely tired and was contemplating not even training as I didn't think it would be very beneficial at all, but I decided I will just try to do Hill Tempo. I managed to feel pretty good on the warm up, so wasn't too worried. I felt so strong on the tempo! It was kind of weird and crazy?!? So I just pushed! Towards the end I was really feeling quite tired, but it was good. I managed to do a PB on this hill loop! I did 26min, a whole 1min faster than I have ever done it before.

Hill Tempo on Mt Eden, I do 3 laps.

Tuesday was still an interval day in my mind, so I decided to get Jaime and Anna to join me for 6x1km around the road in the domain. I was really feeling the effects from no sleep! My first interval was 3.34min which is good for me, although towards the end some were getting up to 3.50min :S ...I wasn't so happy about this, but I knew why I just couldn't push. Jaime stopped at 4 because her back was a bit sore, then joined in on the last one. Anna did all 6 with me. Was a good session especially because we actually did the whole 1km as I was borrowing Duncan's Garmin watch, although I just wish I felt a bit better.
Cruisey day Wednesday and had Physio too.
Thursday was time for some more intervals!! My legs have been feeling rather sore and tired from all this speed recently, so I just tried to see how it will be. We did 10x400m. They were good, although my shins were getting really tight about half way through...managed to do them all, although I will definitely take it easy on Friday for sure!!
I have finally finished all of my assignments and Labs now! weaaayyy!! But I do have a test next week and 3 exams after that :S but that is all!
This weekend is a study weekend with some easyish trainings as I am planning on doing a 5km time trial on Tuesday evening. My goal is to go under 18.30min, but we shall see...have to get a lot more sleep if I want to achieve this goal! Will keep everyone updated!
I have been looking at the results from the World Schools Orienteering Championships in Italy as my Dad is over there coaching the NGHS and NBHS team. They have been doing awesome! Very proud of our NZers :)
Rassmus is currently on a training camp with the National Swedish team in France, and it looks amazing! The photos and maps look so awesome! I wish I could be training there right now...

Lovely Polish terrain!

I was looking over all the maps, results and photos from the Baltic Cup which was held in Poland over the weekend. It looks pretty fun and really fast! No room for mistakes as it will cost you a lot of unwanted time! The Swedish team were selected over these races, and it looks like a very strong team! Can't wait to race against them and kick some arse! ;) hehe


P.S. 26 days till I fly out!!! :D