Training Log Archive: Leon

Very, very hungover in Riga
Got a bit lost
Couldn't run very fast
But felt far better by the end than in the beginning

Easy week - Knavesmire loop. Nice weather

Harrogate West Street O - 28/30 lamposts (1 wrong)

Could have easily cleared if going hard but took it easy
Wet by the end
Thought I had got more than 1 wrong actually
Good fun

Easy week - 6miles down to Shipley station before a rare Tues night at the football

Easy week - Rothwell group run, didn't feel too bad at all so in the end had to ease off to avoid going quicker than intended

Race the Castles Stirling – 3rd, 58.21
Now we are talking – this was a fanastic event, simply brilliant. Anyone who wasn’t there missed out.
Made some mistakes but in a race like this there were going to be some at one point or another.
Running round the castle was ace – made the obvious mistake to #3 many others did, and was baulked on the wall itself so slow to correct. Completely baffled when #7 didn’t appear where I thought it would be. Stood and stared at the map for a good 30s to work it out, at least didn’t run off in a mad direction like some other occasions recently. So lost about 1m50 by this point.

Didn’t fancy climbing and dropping 10-11 so went east, also wanted to simplify to plan ahead, but splits show this cost me about 20s

Wanted to stop and take in the view at both 12 and 13

Lost time to 14 as had route planned in advance and was planning other controls, missed steps after rail bridge and then almost went one road too many to the east when hit road junction but thankfully realised just in time.

Then good up to 22, went back towards station for long leg to 21 as east looked simply too far out of the way – be interesting to see times of anyone who went that way

Lost time to 23, planned to go past fountain and in from north but traffic and road junction confusion and fences in way meant I should have just gone through canopy to south, couldn’t really see why one road and one set of fences were OOB but those running roughly N-S weren’t, possibly should have been a manned crossing here?

Either I was slow, or there was a better route to 25 than my route straight down the main road, we shall see. Was going to go east from 26 to 27 but had a last minute change of plan and went to N corner of field and up paths that way – this seems to have been a great choice, my only issue then was approaching 27 I couldn’t tell where the uncrossable crag finished and the crossable one started so went further than I think was necessary to E of control.

Almost got drawn SE out of 28 but corrected to higher road, legs feeling good at this point.

Started to go NW out of 29 direct to 30 but soon realised uncrossable wall at end and thankfully minimised loss. #31 was a bit odd and confusing with high fences at either end of path. Had to stop and check at both ends.

Pleased with last few tight legs, ran well and no issues, ended the weekend on a high note.

It’s races like this that really show how good urban can be, huge thanks to all who put the race on. Can’t wait to go back to Stirling…

Doing the yellow with Charlotte and a bit more, see above note