Techno-wingeing

Compared to practising a triple axel with double toe loop and back flip to finish while holding a woman wearing lethal ice skate blades above my head, I'd have to say that the technical challenges of running are minimal.

But that won't stop me having a good winge.

After weeks of making sure I am running UNDER 70% of my beart rate reserve, for today's run coach Bobby McGee demands 55 minutes at 75%. Man, this is difficult (winge, winge). We find ourselves between blizzards here in Boulder so for once I know I can pick a route that is on non-icy ground. Which means I am running faster, more easily. (I know, I never stop complaining, do I?)

But seriously... that means I am really having to push it to get my heart rate up. And of course, as soon as I do that, my heart rate starts drifting upwatds. So then I have to jog, or walk, or just stand there and pant for a bit (I prefer that option, really), until the heart rate starts falling again. Look, I really don't want to grumble, but it's not all that easy keeping an eye on the monitor while putting one foot in front of the other and scanning for icebergs, frozen dog turds and "innocent" walkers who happen to be in MY damn way!!

A while ago I trained with Dr Nicholas Romanov in the Pose Method of running, and I still use elements of it. Together with Bobby's tweaks to my form (did I say 'tweaks'? -- I should really say 'total rebuild'), I've found it has really helped me go faster with less effort. But when you are first learning to Pose, you have to work a bit harder. For one thing, you emphasise lifting your feet off the ground quickly, which puts quite a strain on the hamstrings. So today, whenever I was cruising along but my heart rate was not quite high enough, I simply focused on picking up my feet a la Pose and it raised my heart rate a smidgeon.

As soon as I got into a groove today, with my heart rate where I wanted it to be despite hills, occasional rough going and the other less natural obstacles we face on the roads and trails, it was time to stop. (That's my final winge.)

Tomorrow we hike. Although I also have a morning session on the rack with Richard "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition" Rossiter. He calls it Pilates; I have my own names for it. I promise I'll be in a better mood.

* Pose Method website is here.