Wednesday, February 11
I am so tired, I cannot see.
Anyway.
Morning training:
Isos
2x30m (4.59, 4.50)
Isos
Evening training:
Isos
2x30m (4.54, 4.54), with unavoidable head/side wind. It was really swirly…
so why train? 
Finally…
I competed again after 2 years of frustrations and injuries (in indoor greek nationals).
Nothing special at all performance wise. I suppose it could have been much better the first time out if there was not a false start, as I got out rather well in front (this is friends’ feedback from the stands).
Anyway 
When I got in the blocks the second time, I was told that after the gun went off, I sat there for like 15 minutes… :o
60s are hard to run when you are already 5 meters behind… That was my first ever 60. Next time I will be more prepared!
I loved the experience though and I am thirsty for more… I cannot wait until May!!
I have this event-dilemma though… But I will think it though just a bit more and keep you posted =)
I just want to train now.
This past weekend felt like overcoming a big barrier. It wasn’t a pleasant experience in terms of the outcome, but it was all positive energy, and pure enjoyment.
If I hadn’t entered the experience, I would still be filled with doubts, fear, contemplation and anxiety.
So I just came back from Athens today; travelling and adventuring is nice, leaving loved ones behind is challenging.
Constant change is difficult, but constant emotions, whatever those consist of, are proof of living and evolving. It’s better than feeling blunt.
Choppy writing… choppy thoughts…
This week is choppy too; I will be all over the place, with various different tasks, challenges and decisions to make.
Dreams remain the same.
I am reading an interesting book:
“The Earth Was Flat; insight into the ancient practice of sungazing”, by Mason Howe Dwinell.
And to mark a new era, I will finish this post with this quote:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who errs and comes short again and again … who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the least knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
Most recent painting.
Sunday, February 15th
OFF
Monday, February 16th
OFF
Tuesday, February 17th
OFF
It’s amazing how these 3 off days (NO ISOS) brought down my muscle density! I can tell the difference.
Isos work FAST both ways…
Wednesday, February 18th
This is a strange week to know what exactly I am doing, so I decided to let loose and:
- 22min run (good pace), on mud road around the track
- 8 x 100m fast strides on grass, 100m walk back.
FOr the first time in 2009… I cannot sleep…
This is a monumental night.
Aahhh…
Thursday, February 19th
Easy 30’ leisure run and some running A’s.
I am ‘deloading’… :rolleyes: (no comment).
I am going to Greece again tomorrow, for 10 days (Athens-Thessaloniki-Athens). I need itttttt.
I will resume proper training on Monday. I also want to start my iso’s again. I neglected them for one full week… shame shame. :eek:
Let’s see…
Friday, February 20th, Milan/Athens
OFF
I didn’t get the chance to train (class all morning, then straight to the airport, then flew to Athens, then you simply just don’t train… :o )
Saturday, February 21th, Athens
Noon training with Dejan :).
Continuous run:
I like these:
a) when you do them once in a blue moon (like me now)
b) when you run with someone else, of course!! (especially Dejan)
Although continuous running doesn’t give that sprint-freshness-sharpness feeling, it feels nice to know that it can still be done, at a good pace.
10laps total (???), at about 1:50-1:55 per lap? I am not too sure, I just follow…
Running A skips
And a couple of strides
Then went to watch the Balcan Championships.
Nothing special performance-wise… But the company there was great.
Thanou and Tzekos were there near us. Too bad noone around me had a pen and paper with them, because I was very ready to go ask for an autograph and then befriend them both… =(
And also, too bad I will miss Wednesday’s Indoor Athens Metting… 
Sunday, February 22nd , Athens/Thessaloniki
OFF
Went to watch the Cross-country Greek Nationals all morning. I enjoy watching others suffer… :o
Travel to Thessaloniki.
It’s good to be home. 
(even for a short while)
Today I start specific training again.
Monday, February 23rd.
Ohhhh goodness. I overate today. It was not as serious as it sounds, but it’s just that after two months of very basic eating in Milan, and perhaps slight ‘subnutrition’, my stomach must have had some kind of a shock today, faced with a kitchen of things I hadn’t eaten in a while. Not unhealthy things, but still.
I got to the (indoor) track with my Thessaloniki training partner, to do my programmed 80s, but I just felt drowsy, heavy, and not digested…
I will stop venting:
I did 5 x sub-max 40s/50s as a “warm up” for tomorrow’s new start.
And 15min iso’s at the start.
Tuesday, February 24th
Oh goodness gracious.
I think I said that yesterday as well… didn’t I…
My bunioned right metatarsal really hurts these days. I am fine sprinting. It just hurts to walk. And if someone dares to even try stepping on that foot, I know I will jump through the ceiling.
Ouch.
Anyway… This is not new.
Training was ok.
Isos
I am doing 5x80m with incomplete recoveries, I am trying to hit certain times, I will be doing these every day until I start consistently hitting those times, so training posting might sound boring to you. 
Each day is different though!
For example, today I couldn’t go at full effort… my legs wanted to move faster than my arms, and I still feel heavy since coming home Sunday night. I was almost one full second off for all of them, although my timing was very inaccurate due to a faded 80m mark (more likely that my times were actually faster because I hit the stop later each time).
[i]Aaaanyway…
Life’s challengesss…
> Executing this training plan. It’s the exciting part of every day life.
> Trying to force myself through this phd preliminary project.
I suppose life would not feel ‘right’ without some obligatory task with specific unwanted deadlines, that only get in the way of things we really want to deal with.
> Being in 3 cities at once… Making everybody happy. Making myself happy.
And still wondering what that exactly feels like, and how one goes about pursuing it; in a noble kind of way.
> Realizing that people will never be what you really expect them to be. Except for a very very selected few
So I come to conclude that the greatest challenge of all is holding posture and being as virtuous as possible, and hopefully a few lucky ones will get dragged along the way; positively currupted by some spread goodness, that only makes life more challenging… to us negligible minority.
I feel humble today.
> Subconsciously and consciously facing a loved one’s rough psychological circumstances that are not frequently discussed, but felt on a constant basis. It tears the heart, which will be momentarily fixed, then wounds again, breathes in forgetfullness; a repeating cycle. Hiding behind masks, playing strong, laughing out loud, inside crying. This doesn’t make life exciting, but rather hostile and strange.
It fixes with imaginary background music, a strong face, and dreamful visions of venturous fights.[/i]
Today’s background music:
http://rapidshare.com/files/202142200/03_-Ronald_Jenkees-_Canon_in_D_Remix.mp3
Wednesday, February 25th
I love training indoors during the winter.
I love training in general.
I hate the fact that I have tons of things to prepare for next Friday’s meeting in Milan.
I love the fact I am in Greece right now, with my family.
I love that I am going to Athens again on Saturday.
I love that I am adventuring in Milan, on a broader perspective.
I hate having shin splints.
I hate my bunion.
I love sprinting.
I love laughing to tears. Today I laughed to tears at Grandma’s surprize birthday party.
I hate being sleepy when wanting to do things.
I love my new drawing.
I hate how there is never enough time.
I love the challenges of life.
I hate disbelief, but I love the desire to prove things wrong. Not by words, but actions.
And I am in love.
The “love’s” beat the “hate’s”. That is a good thing.
Training:
Isos
8x50s
So and so.
double post
Thursday, February 26th
-
I am tired of timing myself. I just want to concentrate on sprinting. I need to solve this.
-
I can’t even time myself. I keep missing the stop, or forgetting to press it, or double-pressing it (I also need a new stop watch).
-
I need to lose a couple of kilos. I feel fast, but I feel like I am dragging some extra Stef volume. :o Coming home for the week did not help with my mission, which was going well !
-
I need to resolve sooner than later: a slightly painful shin, a very hurtful bunion, and a slightly pulling hamstring.
Isos
8x50m
Friday, February 27th., still Thessaloniki
Isos
7x40m, .
(supposed to be 10 reps, but I have a hamstring issue)
Felt nice speed-wise.
Coaches here think I am some kind of talent, and expect to see good things in competition. I am just mad something always comes up.
I know I can do well.
Now I need to untie this hamstring knot.
I’ve been trying to get rid of this hamstring knot, or hamstring contraction, whatever it was. Friday made it very stiff and somewhat hurtful, and I could not sprint or stride w/out feeling it would get worse.
Friday, February 27th, (Thessaloniki)
I did some more hamstring isos.
Saturday, February 28th (Thessaloniki > Athens)
Morning packing, etc, then travel, etc.
Sunday, March 1st (Athens)
> Hamstring isos
> 30min run with Dejan (on infield dirt). Manageable pace, but somewhat challenging :o
> a few running A’s and short strides
Hamstring slightly looser, but still stiff
[u]Monday, March 2nd /u
“Clean Monday”. In Greece, it’s the beginning of the 40 day lent period, called “Clean Monday” (I am not into lent, btw…), and it’s part of the tradition that we go and fly kites.
> 20min run with Dejan and his dad, on infield dirt (good pace for me) They were going fast… (for me :eek:)
> running A’s
> strides, but not many, because I am still hamstring-bothered
> Isometrics
> Dejan tried to break my knot with massage , it’s already better. Let us seee.
Tuesday, March 3rd, Athens
Oh goodness… another hamstring contraction today.
After a 10min easy run,
> few isos
> 5x40m and it happened on the last.
Then I jogged for it to loosen up, despite it pulling on me…
I am disappointed, in general.
And sprinting feels fabulous, and my endurance is good, relatively speaking.
I hope to soon get over problems.
I need a sister and mommy hug, as silly as that may sound.
Wednesday, March 4th. (Athens > Milan)
No training today. My hamstring is not too well, although slightly better than yesterday.
Massage last night.
Travelling to Milan in the late evening.
Generally, I am feeling blue.
My hamstring is swollen :eek:
so what were the hamstring iso’s? They appear to eb something new.
I just meant using the isos that involve hamstrings the most (like standing bent forward hold - hard to describe!)
It looks like I have a grade 1 strain… crap.
And just got back to Milan, btw.
I feel like I’ve been on the go for so long! 3 weeks actually :eek:
I am happy I am back with my oil paints and egg temperas.
Sad to be wounded.
I want it all.