Training Log Archive: Leon

LCAC Grass Session, Roundhay

10 mins, (2) 2 x 5 mins (90s), 10 mins

Pretty decent. First 10 was actually the worst part, thought there was no way I could go any faster for a 5 min rep, nor do another 20 mins total.

To be fair, wasn't massively quicker on the 5's but felt strong on the last 10 and found something extra in the last 2 mins to hold off Susan.

Some very soft parts and a strong wind buffeting us.

Trying to get warm

Northern Night Champs, DQ, m4

An interesting outing.
Long first leg certainly a surprise, 2 and 3 I felt were pretty valueless as an extension to the map, especially in those conditions, it was basically unrunnable with one way in and out.
Then I went straight to 5. No idea why, only when I downloaded did this become obvious, but yeah, that's what I did.
More bizarrely I spent ages looking for 5 and peering at the map, at no point did I think I haven't gone to 4.
A double whammy really as going to 4 would have made 5 easier that I made it.
I can only assume in the back of my mind I felt given the length of time I had been running for on a 6.5k course, 15-17 minutes, that I should be on control 5!
Then had a nice smooth spell 6-10, going OK.
Struggled with the mapping of the holly at 12 and 17 and was generally slow through this middle section. OK 18 inwards but going through the motions.
Found it very hard to run anywhere near fast in those conditions, dark, wet, hidden stones and fallen trees everywhere, one of which hit me square in the chest. Not really keen on risking an injury with my weak ankles.

Very amused by the guy who thought the sprint section at the end was 'POINTLESS' - I can understand his view, personally I thought it was OK, nice to open up the legs but was a bit odd and tougher to adjust scales at night I think.

Stroll round Guiseley.

Was watching Great British Railway journeys and they went to Gordon park in Gravesend with some nice aerial shots.
Became a bit distracted as all I could think was that it looked a great sprint area.
Sadly, doesn't appear to have been mapped.

C • Starting to get a bit worri... 5

Fulford Allotments. Felt a lot better than I was expecting

From work, round Bishopthorpe and Acomb back to station for train home.
Fine, except for dodgy 10 minutes halfway through when felt very light headed and had to back off a bit. Legs OK which was good. Cold.

North along the Ouse. A bit of wading involved.

Delightful run with Richard onto and round Ilkley/Burley Moor lots of snow and ice, but sunny and cool.

To Burley - late. Luckily it's downhill

Burley-in-Wharfedale Street O - 1st, 250/300pts, 44:13 (45min score)

Nice new A3 ISSOM map of Burley in Wharfedale.
Had Map B first, which it turns out was a lot easier than Map A, so a definite advantage. Swept round all but one control in 23 minutes with a good route, only one slight hesitancy.
Map A missed 4 controls, they were more spread out, but annoying missed a simple one because it was on the fold of my map, only realised this at the end. So could have got one more.
Could I have got another one? Possibly, if I hadn't had to have a toilet stop with 20 mins to go. Wasn't going to make it to the end.

But 27 is probably the maximum, would have got less with Map A first as I think I would have over extended myself

7 miles is a decent distance, essentially done back to back tempo runs last 2 nights.

Idle is going to hurt next week!

Sort of crawled up the hill home

First lunchtime run of the year.

York is a bloody mess right now, the rivers flooded, there are paths closed everywhere and scaffolding blocking various pavements.

Attempted to go river, barracks, uni but the path through the barracks was closed. Sloshed through the allotments instead.

Steady Yeadon road loop, or it should have been.
Tried to run on feel but what started out as steady felt a bit harder but I stuck at it and then felt good again, last two miles tough but turns out I sped up for them, trying not to look at watch.
Hopefully will be able to judge a bit better next time, didn't need to go so fast really.

Easy off road headtorch run with Pete Dave and Rod up to Burley woodhead round the farm and through fields after village.
Lovely cool evening, sloppy underfoot, just what I needed overall.

Newmiller Dam event, Brown course, 3rd, 57:56

This went well. Nice area. Have run here before but saw some new bits today.
Only a couple of minor mistakes, number 20 being the main one, running past the pit to the east.
Legs were pretty tired, and so it seems my tactic of using the disused railway bridge to avoid going down and back up cost me some time on each of the three (!) times I did this.
Route is on routegadget.
Felt like it was going well which helped me push near the end as thought it would be close with Dave.
Seem to be getting better in forests now, moorland still a problem.

That's the kiss of death for the Northern nights now!