Training Log: RHF

Jog down to the gym with a couple of field laps
First run in the new parkclaws. Definitely have the left inner calf pain again. Probably should see a physio.

Rest week gym session
Warm up: 2-3 sets of 8 10kg goblet square, 1 min row and 5ES downward dog to greatest stretch
Strength: 3 sets of 8 25kg squats + 60s low plank (60s)
Accessory: 3 sets of 10 10kg DB single leg RDL + 10 level 1 press ups (60s)
3 sets of 2mins XX Heavy band monster walk + 10 70 pull downs
2 mins ES band ankle exercises

Marathon debut and longest ever run
BGR 1 and 2 link up from Bassenthwaite to Grasmere. Started with the other OS Runners up Skiddaw and down Bakestall, then got onto the line and just kept going. Great to fall into company with other runners heading up boggy Mungrisedale Common and steep Clough Head. A key run ticked off for the training.

Very stop starty to start with, lots of time to regroup. Some good chat with Jamie at the front and felt stronger than the others. Had discussed with John and Nicole my 4 options to continue, but hoped to go all the way and to maybe do a marathon distance on London Marathon day.

Said goodbye to the others then onto Little and Great Calva. Saw a runner reach the summit just ahead and get away on the down. Hoped I'd catch him and I did at the stream crossing. Filled up my bottles then chatted all the way to the summit of Blencathra. Felt far easier with company than walking up solo last month. He decided to descend the parachute and I went down Halls. Maybe should've put the poles away as found myself a bit tentative. Was unsure of the water source at the bottom of the ridge so ran over to the cafe. Bought a bottle of coke, kit kat and filled up. The kit-kat was great.

Jog over to the Clough Head climb and another runner caught me up at the great. Chatted all the way to Great Dodd before he continued on. Once again really happy to have the company and a nice chat. Ticked off the others okay. Ascending Helvellyn Dean came back and checked on me. He generously shared some water and a couple of biscuits. These positives boosts really helped and felt like it was going my way. After Helvellyn saw very few people and felt like I had the hills to myself. Didn't enjoy the steep down off Dollywagon Pike, felt very steep. A little indecisive towards and on Fairfield, felt okay but worried about missing the last bus. Decided I had time to do Seat Sandal and descend direct to Grasmere. Legs a bit sore but okay to run down the road.

The thing I most wanted to do next in my training was a really long run. I was very conscious I had never run a marathon and my longest run was 7.5 hours at the mountain trial. Really pleased I was able to do it this weekend (and on the back of two 4 hour runs). Feeling more confident and it's feeling more real. Legs tired but never too bad and okay enough after.

Lessons:
Applied a small amount of Trench in the morning, but feet were a bit macerated. Not painful and no blisters. Need to try some more
Could have done with a little more food. Was running quite low at Helvellyn
Research water sources. Stream on the side of Seat Sandal was handy
Halls fell needs more of a recce. Didn't feel super confident descending but actually not too slow.
Legs 1 and 2 and 5 pretty happy with well I know them now

Food (carbs):
Ate 12-18 jelly babies (60-90g), 100g marzipan (70g), 1-2 flapjacks (50g), half a pizza (50g), 2 mountain fuel flapjacks (60g), 1 bag of hula hoops (20g), 2 bourbon biscuits (20g), 1 Nature Valley bar (25g), 1 SIS gel (20g), 1 kitkat (30g), 8+ electrolyte tabs, 1.5L tailwind (90g), 1-1.5L water and 500ml coke (50g).
600g total = 66g carb ph

North Western fells Wainwright bagging - 12 for the run! Assisting Matt Lovesey with doing them. Running with Matt, Matt and Niel - a good group and everyone similarly strong. I was actually off the pace a bit nearer the beginning but my endurance was kicking in by the end.

Up Grizedale Pike, then the long out and back to Whiteside, back round to Grasmoor. Filled up with water on the stream. I was letting the others go a bit to start with, in particular they were faster downhill. Saw a couple of the marshalls for the race then saw the top 20 runners go through in the distance on the climb to Crag Hill. I felt bad for making Matt K doing all the out and backs and extra climbs but we did get Matt L a lot of new Wainwrights. And we stayed running high for a long time. Along the ridge towards Causey Pike then down via the two smaller ones and a rapid descent off Barrow to end. Really fun pushing the downhill and working the quads quite hard.

Ate: 3 slices of pizza, some flapjack, marzipan, 12+ jelly babies and 12+ haribo, 1 gel, 500ml Tailwind, 1L of water and 4 electrolyte tablets

Newlands Horseshoe with an extra descent and ascent to Honister to take in all of the fell section of leg 5
Introducing the OS Runners to some Lake District fell running. Our fourth annual trip away and our first trip to the Lakes, Had planned a route that I thought would be super flexible, super scenic but also give me a bit of benefit too. A group of 12 and we started together and only separated into a faster group after High Spy to do the descent to Honister. The usual start with people finding their rhythm and a few people pushing it! I just settled into it. Slightly downhill then the climb up Cat Bells overtaking a load of walkers. Across to High Spy in completely different conditions to March! No shin deep snow this time but still good views.

A few of the guys were up for a bit extra so cut across and down to Honister. Following some race flags made it easier. Then it is a fun downhill to the mine! Turned around and straight back up wondering how long it would take to catch the others. At summit of Dale Head, could see them nearing Hindscath and a gradual chase down began. Much easier going than early March and got the better line to Robinson this time (though actually times were identical). Brief stop on Robinson and then caught the others very quickly on the downhill. A number of stops to let everyone regroup. First 'scramble' is very doable and second is avoidable to right. Think it would be okay for Nicole and Matt. Steep grassy down then trotting along the path and road. A good first day and everyone managed to do the whole route!

Fuelled on: pizza, tangastics, 500ml Tailwind, 500ml water, couple of flapjacks, 100g of marzipan, a couple of electrolyte tabs