Week 12 variation

Week 12


This week included various forms of cross training. I had an interesting chestnut beer from l'Ardeche in front of the TV for the Top 14 French rugby final on Saturday after a day spent, mostly lounging in a bathrobe, at a spa. At the spa I discovered a few things I want to do when I finish the marathon. I might not go in for the aqua aerobics again but there was a massaging super Jacuzzi that relieved pain everywhere in my body, particularly the water jets on my feet. That was awesome. The rest of the day I was stuffing myself at the buffet or sun bathing. I did take a few dips in the pool but did not accomplish any real swimming.

On Sunday I participated in a breast cancer run 'MontpellieRienne'. It was a good laugh and a good cause but it did nothing for my training. I had to walk behind a lot of strollers and old people walking 5 abreast. At some points I was almost standing still. I made a few short dashes to get around people when I saw openings so that I could catch up with my girlfriend who, being smaller, had managed to worm far ahead amongst the throngs pushing through the narrow medieval streets of Montpellier.

On Monday I did my long run. Looks like Monday is the last day of the week for me now. I only did 14km this time. I decided not to push it after all the week’s activity and it was getting latish. I need to try to make that long run a morning run. I wonder if the time of day you run has a big impact. I know I don't like to run too late or it prevents me from sleeping well but is there an ideal physiological time to run or is it best to vary the times. In reality most people are just happy to be able to slot it in whenever they can but I wonder if the pros have a theory beyond the strictly practical not running on a full stomach or just before bed time?

Next week my goal is to try to do one proper fartlek for at least 25 minutes and do a long run of 18.5km.

The week in review:

6k run (30 min, inc 10 min fast)
5k run (25 min, inc 4 times 60m sprint)
4.5k rowing machine (20 min)
Aquagym (20 min)
4k run (23 min)
14k run (1h 20 min)

Drinks: 4 reds, 1 white, 1 beer.
Chestnut beer. It was good but I have had better.
Domaine lasvabre -Les Demoiselles -Pic St. Loup 2006 red. Very impressive this. It went down a treat with my lamb. I had this at a fancy restaurant and I was not disappointed though it does leave a significant amount of sediment, at least I didn't have to do the dishes.
Clos Fantine -Faugères 2006 red. Love this stuff. Unmistakably Languedoc wine with its heavy herbs and berries flavours. We had duck breast from one of three whole ducks that we purchased on the farm and carved up last October in Gers.
Club Des Sommeliers -organic white chardonnay. Functional.
Mas Des Brousses -red. This is one of my wine bar old reliables. It did not disappoint and went down well with all the sausage cuts and cheese tapas.
Jardin Suspendu -red. This one went down even better than the Mas Des Brousses. It was also my signal to leave because it went down so well I could have stayed and ordered a whole bottle for myself but this was a school night. I am dying to go back and have another; I just need to find a gullible friend that I can lure back to that wine bar.