Training Log Archive: Leon

Recce of Tour de France 2013 with Simon, Matt, Andy, Patrick and Martin.
From mine down to Otley, then sensibly we decided not to follow the A65 and didn't join the actual stage route until after Embsay having taken the back road via Askwith, Bolton Abbey etc.
Straight away clear that Simon, Matt and Andy were a notch above what the rest of us were capable of, but much like Etape du Dales, settled into a solid pace. Worked well as a three from Embsay to Kettlewell, where the others waited. Strong westerly headwind by the way, more of that in a sec.
After Kettlewell Andy didn't fancy the pace and came a bit closer to me, and we worked well up Kidstones Bank together, I got into a nice rhythm up here.
Martin and Patrick rejoined as we sped down the other side.
Turned left for Hawes and into a really stiff headwind, really impacted on progress. 10 miles of cycling into a brick wall basically. Managed to cling onto Andy and take my share of the work but it was tough. Glad to reach Hawes where Simon and Matt had been for about 15 mins. Patrick soon rolled in but Martin was a while, which was worrying. Another 20 minutes elaped before he rolled in, not looking good at all. Game over for him, lunch and a trundle to Garsdale for a train back.
Onwards up Buttertubs, which seemed harder than in Etape, but guess I had cycled further. On this section Andy stuck with the front two, and from where I was, looked like they were having quite the battle. Down the other side at a rate that caused Simon's tyre to explode, so bit of a wait but this allowed Paddy to rejoin. Cruise down the valley with the wide behind us to a tea room in Gunnerside for lunch, don't go there, overpriced and poor service.
At this point, felt a bit tired but still some in the tank, knew we were looking at 125+ so had to pace accordingly. My main worry was the hill out of Hawes up to the firing ranges, which I had cycled down on my trip to Bishop Auckland the other month. I told the others it was a brute but none of them knew of it, and in the end I allowed myself to be convinced we were going up an alternative gentler route on the A roads. WRONG! After a lovely cruise to Reeth, up we went. Despite the break this was slow going but I kept plugging away but the several false summits were a bit of a mind game. Very long steady free wheel where we regrouped once more, now with the wind behind us the pace upped again through Middleham and onwards to Masham. Finding any sort of incline tough now, the burn in my legs had switched from tired to fatigued and I was now emptying the tank.
What turned out to be the final regroup in Masham and Andy helpfully gave myself and Patrick a bit of a tow out of there, by now my pace was suffering. Andy drew away and took a left into Ripon onto the bloody ring road, I tried to shout but to no avail, so ring road it was. Thoroughly unpleasant, and also into the wind. Felt very empty and worked with Paddy to the outskirts of Harrogate, at quite a slow pace, but it could have been any pace, it was going to hurt.
Two miles out and with the B6161 pointing at Otley there was only way were going, despite my reservations this was more hilly than the A road from Harrogate. Up and down we went, but amazingly now I seemed to be through the pain barrier and my legs started to work once more, not feeling fresh but rather numb as if all the pain there was had gone. Found myself working with Andy and increasing the pace. After a long drag, finally down to Pool, and safe in the knowledge this was the longest day I've had in the saddle, the final climb home posed no problem.
Quite a day!

Someone I follow on Strava accidentally alerted me to the presence of the path along the Foss north of York, so I set out to explore it. It was quite wet, but I didn't let that bother me, quite enjoyable. Had to turn off said path after a bit, so more to come that way. Legs felt decent today, big weekend of cycling coming up, they won't be by lunchtime tomorrow...

Roundtree Park and river run, out and back. Legs fine, held back from going faster. Head a little groggy, must be hayfever.

Ran to Matt's and then off road loop up to and around the Chevin, then dropped down back home. A bit drizzly. Pace a bit slower with Matt as he isn't very running fit but quite happy with this off road, and felt very comfortable switching up and down the gears before and after the middle 5miles, which is a good sign. Enjoyable run.

Cross Gates station to Roundhay Park run with bag, latter two thirds on the TN to RP cycle path which is quite pleasant given the areas it runs through (!) Just keeping pace feeling neutral but not too easy.

Roundhay Park Weds Evening Race - 6th

My annual summer shambles
Set off a minute behind Dave and a minute ahead of Ian to add some competition to things.
Slightly hesitant to number 1, and overshot number 4 a bit.
But the real star of the show was 6-7, where 7 was at the folly.
Thought to myself I know exactly where that is and set off in the general direction without a real look at the map. Hit first path, cross that, but ended up in all sorts of trouble in thick undergrowth, hands and knees job to get through, eventually hit next path (the right path) but in my mind I needed the next path (as the way I've approached the folly most of the time I guess) and so turned right (i.e. west, 180 deg wrong) and ran on paths all the way round and approached the folly from the south.
The CBA getting my feet wet to the next one and ran round the long way.
Rest of it was fine and I ran very hard but horse had bolted and was in the showers.
Got to laugh really, normally have one nightmare on a Weds in the summer, and here it was.

13 before race, 26 after with Tom, Mike and Walshy

Trafford 3000m, B Race, 5th, 09:18.17

Well, 8 seconds off last time out so can't complain and ran a sensible hard race, moving through the field. Gave it everything.
K Splits of 03:05,03:07,03:06.
Need to keep working and shave some more time off next time out.
Just have the nagging feeling looking at the times some other people are running that I should be a lot closer to 9 minutes.

Steady run down to Knavesmire and back, inc 8 x strides ahead of Trafford 3000m. Should be fresh, so no excuses

Had some entertaining to do