Week 2 Newsletter
It's On!
We are underway
It's great to have so many familiar faces back. Some of you are coming into it with a great running base and there are are those of you are just getting back into the swing of things with your running.
If you are coming into this RaceTeam with a good base our advice is that you go for big intensity right from the start.
If you haven't done any intensity running for a while, we recommend that you don't push the intensity too hard for the first couple of weeks. Intensity is hard on your body so we want to make sure you have some good conditioning first..take it easy for the first couple of weeks.
Below is the Vdot pace app for your Pace and Saturday sessions so you can now you have your 5km time you can work out your "race pace", 10km and 5km paces for your sessions.
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If you didn't do the 5km Time Trial with the team, make sure you do this on your own, it's an important start to the programme so you can see where you are at with your paces.
Week 2 Sessions
MORNING GROUP
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Monday 18 September, 6.00am
Meeting Point: Deans Ave side of Sth Hagley, opp. the hospital shuttle carpark
Pace Session
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Wednesday 20 September, 6.00am
Meeting Point: Netball Courts, hospital end of courts
Track Session
EVENING GROUP
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Tuesday 19 September, 5.40pm
Meeting Point: Netball Courts, hospital end of courts
Track Session
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Thursday 21 September, 5.40pm
Meeting Point: Deans Ave side of Sth Hagley, opp. the hospital shuttle carpark
Pace Session
BOTH GROUPS
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Saturday 23 September, 7.30am
Meeting Point: Hillsborough Park, Hillsborough - Opawa Road end​
Course Maps: Course 1 / Course 2
Session Description:
You have a "timed" (rather than distance), there are 2 courses for you to follow. Please know the turnaround times and the pace objectives for each set. There is no recovery between each set.
Session: 90min Run:
30mins Easy (turn 15mins) Course 1
40mins at Race Pace (turn 20mins) Course 2
10mins Easy (turn 5mins) Course 1
10mins at 10km pace (turn 5mins) Course 2
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Course 1 Description:
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Run through Hillsborough Park coming out onto Bishopsworth Street and turn right.
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Run up to Grange Street and turn left. At Aynsley Terrace, turn right.
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Our cones will lead you over a bridge and into Louisson Place. Turn left.
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Continue along the pathway that will lead you into Hansen Park.
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Follow the Hansen Park pathway onto Fifield Terrace.
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At 15mins, turnaround and head back to the start and then start straight into your next set on Course 2. No recovery between sets.
Course 2 Description:
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At the entrance to Hillsborough Park, turn right and run along Port Hills Road, turn right.
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Run along Port Hills Road and over “the bump” and onto Centaurus Rd.
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At Armstrong Ave, turn right and then left onto Riverlaw Tce. You are now beside the river.
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At Ensors Rd, follow our cones that will cross you onto the other side of the river and onto Fifield Tce.
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Continue along following the river until your turnaround time.
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Then move straight into Set 3 on Course 1.
Course 1: Click on image to enlarge
Course 2: Click on image to enlarge
This week's quick tip:
'Have a gear bag that stays in your car for those unexpected moments..vaseline, bandaids, warm clothes, a towel, emergency coffee money...be a good girl guide/boy scout and always be prepared!.' - Jennifer
Paces and Track Sessions
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Know your paces and tips for track sessions
VDot Calculator
Just a reminder to use the VDOT calculator to work out your minute/km paces for your Pace Sessions (refer to your programme). Remember that this isn't an exact science, if you have a GPS watch keep track of your min/km times and if you feel that these paces are too challenging or too easy use your breathing as a gauge.
Download the VDOT app:
Apple App
Android App
Enter in your 5km time and the app will calculate your paces for 10km, 5km, and race pace.
Swipe (right to left x 2) across to find your per min/km pace for each of these.
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If you don’t have a GPS watch, use “perceived exertion” with your paces - ie: how you feel:
Easy Running:
Easily hold a conversation, breathing easily - “gossip pace”.
Race Pace:
More difficult to hold a conversation but could still talk, slightly heavier breathing.
10km Pace:
Can’t hold conversation, concentrating and pushing self but not extremely hard.
5km Pace:
Can’t talk, heavy breathing, focused and really pushing yourself.
All Out:
Running as fast as you can.
Education
Technique Tips: Track Sessions
In the track sessions, there are a couple of things we need to think about and remember:
The intensity gauge: As you are building your pace each set...you want to look at your paces on your watch, stop your watch after each set and try to improve on your average pace each set.
Technique under intensity:
As we get tired, our form drops. So be mindful that when you start to get tired in these sessions think:
1. Posture (eyes up)
2. Chest lifted
3. Relaxed upper body
4. Cadence
Using mental cues can help us be more efficient when things start to get a little tough. Remember, if you are new to intensity running then just take it easy in the first couple of weeks to figure this stuff out.
Remember the magic number of 180 when we look at cadence?
Where are you sitting right now? Maybe it's time to do a test on yourself over 1 minute and count your footfalls - are you close to 180 footfalls per minute?
When runners hit 180 foot falls per minute they are naturally decreasing the up and down heights of their vertical displacement, this means they will be able to run faster with less energy.
What does 180 bpm sound like?
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Tip: It's pretty fast! Try downloading music with a slight increase in beats per minute (bpm) you are aiming for and put on your ipod and practice running in time to this.
Other News
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On Time Starts
You know we always start on time! Please make sure you are at the sessions a few minutes early so you can "check in" for roll call and hear the session briefing. We don't wait!
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A reminder about the Club10k and RaceTeam private Facebook group - it’s a great place to connect with your team: Click here to request access (we will respond within 24hrs).
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Consistency is key team..get to the sessions.
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Well done in getting through the first week. You are doing great!