Training Log Archive: Leon

Skipton parkrun (#54) - 1st, 18:56

I'd been warned this was a tricky course, and warned correctly.
The heavy rain left the uphill wooden section, maybe 500m long and run three times, as a mud bath and very slippery in even my trail shoes. Wasn't feeling great anyway but tucked in behind the leader after the first bit and ran fairly hard on the bits I could but through the woods we were both all over the places and it was an effort to stay upright. Coming out of the woods the downhill grassy slope was also treacherous. Couldn't really focus myself to hammer the rest of the lap knowing I was going to be brought to a standstill again and run a crap time, so just focussed on getting the win.

On the road section for the last time I pushed on and opened a little gap, but finally fell right near the end of the final bit of woods (just as I lapped my Dad!) and he closed right in, so had to push on hard on the last bit, thought I had opened up a gap again but as we turned to finish I hugged the line of the previous laps towards the finish funnel and he took the racing line so was coming up on my inside, so I had to manically sprint to just hold the guy off and take 1st place. And get my red t-shirt at last.

Sae a few people fall, inc. my Dad, I'd def wear spikes if I did this again and hope I could run to the side of the concrete bit. Having said that I can't see how the course can continue in it's current form, it is only going to get worse so they need a winter course perhaps just round the fields.

Course scenery - 7/10
Course difficulty - 9/10 when wet, 7/10 if dry

Ouse North, Leeman Rd, West Park

Had to hold myself back, felt quite good.

Time for a few hop flavoured waters...

Over the Chevin, down ridge end and home. Absolutely goosed. Was really struggling but not surprising must be my biggest 7 day mileage ever I guess.

River and Knavesmire - uneventful, and like Tuesday quicker than expected for the effort expended

Up Carlton Lane and over Chevin to Danefield, at a fair pace as I was late

AIRE Vampire O

Just a bit of fun and I was in no mood to take it seriously at all, unlike last year when I got all 25 controls and them vampired with a minute left!

But I decided to run to the furthest point away via 4 controls to get a decent bit of running in, which went well, then I got vampired but decided to go and find my next control anyway, was struggling to find it when Richard appeared, so I took his map knowing he would have got the ones I had. Set off again on my merry way on my preferred route, got to next control and had to give up my map again!

So decided (probably against the spirit of things) to just run round with the vampire map and try and find the controls anyway but not punch them. Which I sort of did, but couldn't be bothered with anything on a steep slope or miles from a path.

After 35 mins decided I better take someones map but there was no one nearby so eventually I had to (?) guiltily take a young kids map and had a burn up to get three more controls.

There was some night trail race also at Danefield starting at 8, which had a fair crowd gathering as we finished, they were willing to pay £8 for the privilege, having said that, Stockport was £10 which I though excessive, especially given they only had 3 EOD maps for course 1. Lots of money changing hands but mainly the same people paying it.

Ran from Headingley station to Skyrac to meet Oz and we had a pleasant sociable run up past Weetwood and down ring road, back through top of Meanwood and Chapel A and into town where I left him to get train home.
Didn't push the pace at all, though I was nearly dropped on a couple of climbs. Job done today, thats for sure

New Earswick loop, extended east to Huntingdon and then south to Heworth.
Legs ruled head here, ended up doing further and faster than I intended once the legs got going. A fair effort given the wind, but a bit silly really.

Ouse-Millenium Bridge, allotments and Fulford Road.
Absolute cruise, legs much improved, faster than it felt effort wise

MDOC Romiley Street O - 1st, 1010 pts (60 min score option)

Really like the format of these events and this one was easy enough to get to being opposite the station and getting there for free meant it wasn't a difficult decision to head over.
Chose 60 over 75 mins in order to get train back at 20:10, but this was enough really.
Very enjoyable, think I chose a decent enough route to rake in a good amount of points, could have started by raking a few more in nr the start but you don't get a feel for the map until 10+ mins in.
Indeed after 48 mins I was convinced I was going to be late, at 54 I was sure I had time for one more, which I did but only after a good solid 600m effort home!

Will try and do a few more of these.

Warm Up

Just the one run today, and it wasn't pretty. Felt very low, improved as it went on but had no inclination to go any faster than 7's. Luckily there were other people on the uni 7 at the same pace.

Stockport Station to assembly

Stockport Urban Race - Course 1, 1st, 46:45

Clean run, pleasing.

Slight error 7-8 by turning too early into dead end but quickly corrected.
Also slight error to 15 wrong side of market hall, compounded by woman shouting at me from bottom of steps for control number! I shouted '15' and ran off - I doubt it was 15 for her.

Otherwise just a case of keeping the legs moving as best as possible, just about managed this, though the several sets of steps were tricky.

Another good map and area, 1st leg was a brute! Most other legs required close map contact which was good, not much dead running at all.

Back to statio