Training Log Archive: Leon

8.15 am start for the post wedding run, somewhat hungover again. Ran with the group round the golf course in the hotel grounds, but surprisingly only Matt came with me after the initial 2.5 miles for another loop down to the Macclesfield canal and back on the Middlewood way. Could have gone further, legs felt good, but an hour was enough to get back for breakfast, shook off the hangover well.

At a wedding today, so met up beforehand with my mate Patrick for a run round Macclesfield Forest, as never been here before. First 10 mins/over a mile all uphill, quite steep in places. Nice run though, made up the loop but spot on the intended 4 miles.

Out on Layerthorpe railway path, back on main road from uni.
Felt terrible first 3, just wanted to sit down or turn round, but picked up after that to something approaching normality

Through fields to Burley and back on A65, after first mile felt fine, moving alright, though no inclination to push on any faster at all.

Round Homestead park.
Have felt far better but ave pace fine

Through Guiseley, up to Chevin for a lap of the top bit, down to Menston via ridge end.
Gorgeous evening kept me going with the views down Wharfedale as my legs didn't want to go anywhere tonight.
Every stile was an effort to get going again, so cut short on the 10 miles I harboured thoughts of doing, but not a problem really

First club fartlek of the year, autumn training starts here.
Decent group, bodes well.
3 x 20 on/off
3 x 40 on/off
6 x 60 on/off
3 x 40 on/off
3 x 20 on/off
Hard but controlled, expect to be hard and less controlled week by week.
On golf course loop, one big up and down, with a long flattish straight.
Usual warm up& down, had massage after then back to station.

Considered having a rest day but not feeling too bad so time to get out and do something. Legs started to feel good so decided to turn it into something of an acceleration run - 7:30/6:30/6:10/5:40.
Better than cruising around I guess.
Highroyds estate, up to Grange offices and back on road.

Sheffield City Race, 1st. 58:13
Got in at 5am. Up at 8.30 when the others went on a run.
On the 9:30 train to Birmingham, then 11.05 to Sheffield. Taxi, pick up dibber and off we go.
Knew this was slightly longer than all bar Baildon and Manchester have been so set off a bit conseratively, but was prob 10-15s down on race pace when in tip top condition. Had a bad patch 19-21 and up to 27 but finished strongly. Still in one piece at the end.

Mistakes

1-Spotted tree but no flag so backtracked a bit thinking it was wrong tree - 30s
13 - Veered westwards following school fence through park and ended up at cross roads to west of school, then had to re-orientate and head SE - 1 min
21 - Misread as #22 CD so was baffled as to where tree was. Almost set off through nettles. Went into courtyard, back out, and back in - 1 minute
24 - Slightly hesitant through multi-level bit.

Other than that, think I got most of the route choices right, but there we a lot of decisions to be made between complex and slightly shorter routes and clean running. Nothing majorly tricky, but you were kept thinking. A good map/area from a pure map perspective, a shame I had probably the worst abuse every shouted at me. Also there were a few hazards to watch for, a LOT of broken glass, also usual dog muck and fly tipped rubbish at 2 control sites. But the canal/railway/stadium area was nice, think would be good for a sprint there too.

V.Short warm up and a longer warm down to see the Woodbourn track