Had the day off and didn’t ride over the weekend due to work and hay fever. I did run on Saturday night for 10kms but my right calf buckled in the cold conditions and I had to walk the last km home. (precautionary measure.).
I’ve had a few of these calf attacks since I’ve been warming up for the Tokyo Marathon and noticed they only occur when I don’t have any support on the calf. ie. Long rugby socks or tights.
I went to Sports Authority yesterday and got myself a pair of these.
Knee support as well as calf support. www.cw-x.com
The Stabilyx Tights offer targeted support to protect your lower back and core area so you can run strong with less fatigue. These running tights also integrate CW-X’s Conditioning Web, which helps muscles and ligaments band together to stabilize your knee joints. With Coolmax fabric, moisture stays away from your skin and heads to the outside of the tight. Flat seam construction keeps you chafe-free so you can get your training runs done in comfort.
Thought I’d try them out last night but my hay fever plus a rainy downpour brought me back inside before I got started. Had to go to Seo cycle today in Shin Matsudo so put them on under my SUBARU winter cycling pants. Can feel the tightness hugging the muscles in all the right places. Need to go for a run in them next. Maybe tonight if I don’t fall asleep from today’s effort. They feel good so far.
There was a strong Northerly blowing today and made use of it setting out heading south down the Edo river and after a brief warm up had no problems hitting 58kph in a little sprint before I got off the river. Didn’t want to burn myself out as I knew the wind was to be fought against on the way home.
After paying the Tsukuba 8 hour race fees and hankoing my name on the insurance and entry form (14000 yen all up). I decided to head to Tega swamp near Abiko. I went down some old roads I hadn’t used in years and behind my work where today they were having graduation ceremonies. Feeling guilty for about 3 seconds I kept on riding. If they want me to go to those things they need to put it in my contract, or pay me, or make me full time. I would actually like to go but have been to so many now at other jobs they all feel the same. Long and drawn out. I’d prefer 100kms in a head wind.
The wind was helping me a little along the back stretch of Tega Numa a bit and as soon as I hit the 45km mark at the end of the Tega river where it meets the Tone river ;the rest of the day was a battle against cross winds that were literally moving me off the cycle path in some spots and head winds that had me only going 9kph. At intersections I could stand in my pedals and the wind was holding me up.
Tonegawa to Kogaigawa where the wind was even stronger to Moriya where I stopped for a bite to eat. 78kms on a bit of water was good fat burning. No breakfast today and I had little water from the bottle. I could feel my metabolism all fired up and riding aerodynamically off the saddle for long stretches had my stomach muscles doing a bit of extra work too.
The last 20kms along the Tone canal and Edo river were hard. As I got weaker the winds got stronger, or so it seemed.
I love this loop and have done it 3 times now with some slight variations. Hope I can do it every Saturday morning.
Semas Tuesday night trainings start this week. Plus the regular Wedneday night group at the same place. Think I’m over doing the cycling and not enough running.