Today I passed a milestone. I have never skated in my speedskates for anything longer than a marathon. On the first day of The Great EsSkate, I skated 41km, 20km, and 24km at three different group skates. Can you say craziness? My legs are a bit tired and I am getting hungry yet again.
I'll follow up with a more detail post later on. For the time being, here are the pictures from the unofficial Friday afternoon skate to Coconut Grove taken with my camera. Here are a few from the Friday night skate. You can also check out kiteboy's picture.
Défi this year, Candy?
Posted by: Jay | February 08, 2009 at 12:20
No ultra events for me in the forseeable future. It requires a different kind of training and if there's one thing you can say about me, I am focused. :P
Posted by: DessertByCandy | February 10, 2009 at 17:09
Yep, best not to train for ultra if you are focusing on shorter events. Too much long slow distance can ruin your speed.
Great photos! That first one reminds me of looking in a mirror in a mirror, or of an M.C. Escher artwork.
Submissions welcome for What I Hate Today! Write it up and email it to me. But why is your HRM strap wet and cold? Mine dries between workouts -- did you leave it in your gym bag?
Posted by: Lawrence Pelo | February 11, 2009 at 13:00
Thanks Lawrence! The HRM strap is cold because, well, it's Canada and I walk to my gym. :p It's wet because I don't bother waiting for the sweat to build up at the contact points before the signal begins transmission. I usually moisten the strap with a few squirts of water from my waterbottle. Brrrr
Posted by: DessertByCandy | February 11, 2009 at 17:58
Candy has agreed to do Joel's Burlington Hill Skate on the condition that Christine (or anyone else who volunteers) will Road Marshal for us in the car.
We even shook on it! 8p
Posted by: ed | February 13, 2009 at 09:33
Candy,
I did 85 km last Sunday between breakfast and lunch. It is a special thing to be able to knock out that kind of distance successfully. Bravo to you!
For me, ultra-distance is a matter of slowing down, and, being relaxed. Speed work is almost a polar opposite. Lawrence is right on about not focusing on that distance if you are working on a fast 42 km.
It's important that you know that you are tough enough to hang in there for the long distance, but, it's even more important that you hang on to that fast mens pack that you train with. Your coach is right. It doesn't get any more pro than that.
Posted by: Danny Dannels | February 22, 2009 at 02:09
Danny, thanks for the encouragement. One way or another, 2009 is shaping up to be a great season! BTW, I updated the link to your blog.
Posted by: DessertByCandy | February 23, 2009 at 00:48