Training Log Archive: RobB

Easy run / hobble with Clare up to a nearby waterfall. Legs and head (I blame Ben) were both sore.

C • sore head! 1

Feeling better this morning (it must have been the garlic chilli chicken!) and HRV was much higher 85.5 which was a relief. Went for an easy leg loosener and stretch.

Wet, windy and generally drizzly on the warm up. Legs felt ok and I checked out the first part of the route (on the road). Excited but not too nervous. Nice to be in England kit though!

Finished 5th overall, 2nd England counter and 3rd Brit. Really chuffed.

As I could not remember the hill much from the last time I ran the race 2005 (in blazing sunshine where I finished 13th in 1:12:16) I decided that I would sit in the pack for the start of the race and then see how I felt on the hill. From the gun the Kenyan Wilson Chemweno took the lead and a few others also went off. A pack of about 6 of us formed on the steep road section and I felt quite comfortable but didn't want to force the pace. After about 10 minutes of so, felt confident enough to push it on a bit. On the hill you couldn't see much in the mist and was alone for most of it and had no idea of where the other runners were.

Despite the wind and rain it was also not actually that cold (which was a relief!) and there was great support on the hillside - was surprised but pleased to get a cheer from Julie and Shaun from HH. Clare gave me a big cheer and a great lift. Got to the top in 5th (although had no idea about who was in front) and was pleased to be first from the England team (of 4). Very quickly I got passed by a couple of guys on the descent. It was really wet and I had to fight with myself to push down on the wet rocks when my head was telling me to slow down. Actually only slipped a couple of times but there was no way I could keep up with the likes of Holmes who just went passed me like I was standing still.

I managed to pip a couple of guys on the descent and this was in part because I was fighting with Danny Hope from England. I was just ahead at the start of the road section and I just pushed as hard as I could to stay in front (kept thinking of Ian shouting at me to lean forwards). Managed to stay ahead of Danny into the finish. Really pleased. Amazing run from the young Scot Robbie Simpson who is only 18 (made me feel really old!). Great running from Pete H too - 23rd and he got a few international scalps.

Some pics here:Up and Down

C • Nice Run 7

Warm down with Danny. Very slow. Bumped into Bendover in the finish field - which was a nice surprise.

Took another day off today to rest up for tomorrow. Good to catch up with the Sheffield gang (with special guest appearance from Andrew) in the evening.

Thought I would write a quick note about HRV. Like Mike I have been playing with the ithlete app on my iphone. You need to take a reading each day (I do it in the morning first thing) and it records your HRV and HR. Been monitoring for the last 3 months or so and not really taken much notice of it - ie do the training I would do anyway and making a note of the HRV. Generally it has been variable on a day to day level but never shown any consistent patterns.

However, it has been noticeably and consistently higher (ie better) when I was away on holiday (despite the races) and consistently really bad all this week since coming back from holiday; jet lag, fatigue from all the races and a bad week at work. So in summary it still is too early to use the reading precisely but it does show patterns in certain circumstances (it is just that to date I have not done anything that has led to any specific patterns).

C • hrv 3

Run home from another long day at the office. Decided to try to wake the body and legs up by throwing in 6 x 1:10 efforts. Ran home, dumped bag and then out to Beeley and back. Felt ok running but calves still tight.

HRV score even worse today! 54.5 (for me a good score is over 80 and an average is about 70 during hard training). Really easy run to work.

Run home from work the hilly route, over Crookes and then over to bottom of Coppice track and home.

Woke up this morning feeling rubbish. Sleeping ok but just feeling really lethargic. Also recorded my personal worst HR Variability score today (60.2). Nuff said - no running for me (and really busy day at work).

Run to work - calves tight.

Long day at work (and I still have not read all my emails yet). But enjoyable run home.

C • Serves you right... 2