Bath Half and Winter Weights

[andygates]

Two questions for the training massive:

1) What do you think of the Bath half-marathon?  I need an early-season half, and Bath has a reputation and a seething crowd.  Goal is to be 1:55 ish, so if it's groovy for plodders but grim for elites, I can handle that ;)

2) Are you doing any strength work in the offseason?  I'd be interested in comparing programmes, especially as a tri-useful core-and-upper-body approach is a tad different from my usual "mongo pick up! mongo drop! clank! mongo happy!" plan. 

Comments

[skean.livejournal.com]

Lats: How about that kind of chin up, where you pull up but tilt forward so that the bar goes to the back of your neck? I reckon that must work lats even if I could do maybe 1 of them.

Plank is resting on your forearms, elbows and toes holding the body straight without drooping or jack knifing in the middle. Good for core stuff. My gym trainer (before the wedding) used to make me do it until I was groaning, then lean on my back for another 30 seconds while calling me names.

[arabis.livejournal.com]

So, what are the lower back raises?

[skean.livejournal.com]

Uses a frame at the gym. Its set at 45 degress, and you "lie" on it face down - it has a cushion that is across your upper thighs and a brace bar that goes across your calves. You then bend down, and return to a straight position. The trick is apparently not to over straigthen. I still find it disproportionatly hard though!

[andygates.livejournal.com]

The problem is the single rep, but I'll give it a try :)

Planky goodness. Ouch :)