Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try

Sunday 11th October: Meath Masters Cross Country (4k)

Surprised? yup, me too The club had a team entered for this but when it turned out someone had to drop out and we really had no one else who could compete I said I'd do it. There was never any question I could medal in this but it was about having a team v no team, and I guess that's what being part of a club is about. I had one one proper XC in the cow park last year so had an idea what was coming..

Off we set to Athboy and talk in the car was of strategy, keeping to the racing line and above all, holding your place & passing where possible. We got there in time to cheer on our juveniles who did brilliantly. Then we're up. In true XC style and in a move Dubgal would be proud of I took off the watch and left it in my bag.

Part of the strategy was to start in the top row and that’s what we did, my clubmates did brilliantly, one of them coming 3rd in her age category and both finishing in the top 10 as far as I know. R battling with her nemesis from last weeks race & winning, you were fantastic Meanwhile, back in the pack another race is going on. On my heels from some point in lap one was a Trim girl, in fact, she was so close to me at one point she tipped the back of my spikes, when she passed me on a corner in the second lap I though no way hose, you picked the wrong girl and I passed her back, she stayed on my shoulder the rest of the way around and tried to pass a couple more times but each time she came at me I pushed on, I thought I'd finally lost her coming into the final section. We turned into the finish straight where my clubmates, who had so generously come back to cheer me on, were there. I knew by the girls cheers someone was coming behind me, from the corner of my eye I saw my clubmate take off and run down the finish straight beside me (outside the rope!!) shouting and when her roar rose several octaves I knew the Trim girl was back on my tail, we battled the whole way neck & neck at one point, to the finish line and am happy to say, she lost . I've no idea of place or time but I ran as fast as I could so could do no more than that.

Cross country is a world apart from the road races we do and although its tough as hell I have to admit, in hindsight, even though I came nowhere and scored nothing, I thoroughly enjoyed that

A quick cool down jog and check over to make sure I hadn't done any damage (I haven't) and home (via the Run Hub for some new PB runners) to watch the rugby, really, does it get any better than this, France who? and top of pool D to boot.

stood on the scales this morning, finally, am 6lbs down & back to my post marathon weight from last year, 3 more lbs to reach my target.

Tuesday 14th Oct 2.5 miles easy on the track, hardly worth mentioning.
Did 45 mins yoga stretches last night which felt great. Need to find a way to include these and keep the S&C up too, not enough hours in the day for everything although I will probably increase my lunch runs to most days with the dark evenings so that'll give me more free time.

Wednesday 15th Oct 4 miles easy lunchtime run
More HR issues, not sure whether its because I took the inhaler before the run or whether it depends on which sports bra I'm wearing (the strap is being pushed down too far). Also, the strap which has always been at the shortest length possible, is now too big which isn't helping. HR was around 164 for first couple of miles despite the pace being ridiculously low, it did seem to level out as the run went on but never came anywhere remotely close to 135 unless I stopped.

Ososlo wrote: »

Are you wetting the sensor before the run? Spit on it?

I used to weave the HR strap through my bra strap at back as I also found it too big even at shortest length setting and this shortened it another bit along with ensuring it stayed snugly in place and didn't start to drop down at front.

yup, wet it with saliva in exactly the same way every time. will experiment! I have one sports bra that the HR monitor fits perfectly under but its my good one that I save for races if it is that (and not the inhaler) then I'll just have to go out & buy more

Ososlo wrote: »

in other words, just under yer boobs;)

Ososlo wrote: »

It could be static in your tee-shirt either causing the crazy readings or any number of things.
I used to find on some days that it just didn't want to work properly and you're better off ignoring it on days like that and just run to feel. You probably have a fairly good idea at this stage of the correct effort for your sub 135bpm run.

absolutely, I just ignored it and kept an eye on pace & effort.

Wild Garlic wrote: »

This is all I see in this post (sorry, couldn't resist I'll understand if you never talk to me again:D)

I was expecting TBL but seems he has back up in his absence:) men!

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Slow and easy Tang, slow and easy

TbL

And here he is, right on Q...