Two Oceans Training Run
The route profile
March 2010
I ran the Two Oceans half-marathon route on Friday afternoon as a long slow run, and boy was I glad that I did it. I had seriously under-estimated how difficult the route is. After all the 21.1km races I've done in the last year -- 3 already in 2010 -- I figured, "how hard can it be?" Well, the answer is, "pretty damn hard!". There is a lot of climbing nearly all the way. Everyone talks about Southern Cross Drive and what a monster of a hill it is - and it sure is. But no-one ever tells you that the 8km it takes to run there is also about 70% uphill. Or that once you get to the top of Southern Cross, there is even MORE climbing to the end of the race.
Granted, it probably felt tougher than it should have because I went almost immediately after a 30 minute swimming lesson. And I hadn't eaten for 4 hours. I had a wrap with avo, carrots, feta and chicken and 350ml mango juice at 12.30pm and by the time I set out at 4.30pm I wasn't hungry yet. Of course 45 minutes later I sucked down my first GU, and took the 2nd one at the top of Southern Cross. I've discovered the jet blackberry flavour. It's delicious! My boys came to Southern Cross to provide encouragement and a few sips of coke, and I was tempted to hop in the car at that point, but just ran home instead since it was downhill most of the way from there. Total distance 19km. Soaked my weary legs in a bath with Epsom salts after and was pretty knackered on Saturday so didn't do anything except laze around! Not bad though after a straight 6 days of training.
5 days to race day!
I ran the Two Oceans half-marathon route on Friday afternoon as a long slow run, and boy was I glad that I did it. I had seriously under-estimated how difficult the route is. After all the 21.1km races I've done in the last year -- 3 already in 2010 -- I figured, "how hard can it be?" Well, the answer is, "pretty damn hard!". There is a lot of climbing nearly all the way. Everyone talks about Southern Cross Drive and what a monster of a hill it is - and it sure is. But no-one ever tells you that the 8km it takes to run there is also about 70% uphill. Or that once you get to the top of Southern Cross, there is even MORE climbing to the end of the race.
Granted, it probably felt tougher than it should have because I went almost immediately after a 30 minute swimming lesson. And I hadn't eaten for 4 hours. I had a wrap with avo, carrots, feta and chicken and 350ml mango juice at 12.30pm and by the time I set out at 4.30pm I wasn't hungry yet. Of course 45 minutes later I sucked down my first GU, and took the 2nd one at the top of Southern Cross. I've discovered the jet blackberry flavour. It's delicious! My boys came to Southern Cross to provide encouragement and a few sips of coke, and I was tempted to hop in the car at that point, but just ran home instead since it was downhill most of the way from there. Total distance 19km. Soaked my weary legs in a bath with Epsom salts after and was pretty knackered on Saturday so didn't do anything except laze around! Not bad though after a straight 6 days of training.
5 days to race day!
