Training Log Archive: ba-ba

It would have been rude not to go up Lantern Pike on such a lovely day. Nips out most of the way.

Had ideas of running the MDOC Old Glossop sprints in the afternoon but tired (another possible reason for yesterday - poor sleep).

Stopped off for a walk up Roseberry Topping on the way back.


This is one of the possible ascent-descent routes on the roseberry race. It is this steep - and there's a barbed-wire fence at the bottom.
Can't wait (until the end of August)

Event: Lad's Leap
 

The day didn't start well when I realised I'd packed my old X-talons with no grip

First Champs race of the year. 92nd place 10mins down, beaten by people who haven't beaten me (over short races) in a while) a huge disappointment. Was pretty angry after I'd finished, but a day to mull it over and I'm a bit more sanguine. One thing killed me and I knew what it would be before I'd even started - fell fitness. Going into a race hoping you 'might surprise yourself' shows that I've got my priorities all wrong in winter training.

I stuck in on the first climb - not great but an OK platform from which I would normally kick on onto the flat. Only problem was, I didn't, but didn't lose many places onto the boggy pipeline. At this point I was with Supersaint. Gained a tonne of places and time on the back descent, and didn't even feel like I was pushing it too much. Felt good for the first 30seconds of the fire-track, and then the wheels came off. It took a while for people to catch me back up due to my descent, but then I haemorrhaged places. Ian went past and kept going, and the same was true with Steve, Julian and Dave not long after.
Once back onto the flat it took me forever to get going again. The next group ahead were out of site, but some standard banzai descending gained me about 60seconds and 5(?) places on the final descent.

Stinker of a run, time worse than the first 2 ladies. However, pipping Rob Jebb by 1second at the finish shows that it wasn't as much as a stinker as some had, and it's still early season. Put it down to experience and move on - it's getting to the time when I can get out on the hills a lot after work and work on the ups - there's little point in descending like a rolling boulder if you ascend like one as well.

heading south

Just made the top 100 on the BOF rankings. Wow.

minimal neurofen. Felt OK.

Round Stockton Riverside. Got some planning ahead and flow going. A couple of small hesitations (mainly to check walls in the dusk), although I did manage to go 23-25. Not next Saturday please!

the part of me taking the longest to get used to running again is my guts. 2nd time in 2 days I've dived into Team Durham bogs, and was cutting it fine on the way home after only 13 minutes!

Entered Sheffield half. Hope some money's raised, it's fun (and I break 80).

Trot around the riverside, taking in Maze Park beyond the Barrage for the first time - the 3 tarted up spoil heaps may be the key to some gradient from the door (not that the garmin noticed them so I've taken the climb off the sprint maps - 2 at 10m, one at 7.5m) - only noticed them since starting to commute over the flyover.

Knee was felt to start with but generally got better throughout. Right leg still heavy from Saturday's over-compensation. Still need to be cautious but thinks looking better.

Perked up a bit today.
Saturday is going to be pretty brutal.
Weekend QRs:

Tired, Achey.