Training Log Archive: murraystraining

Got a bit excited during my London Marathon watching multimedia experience (mens race on TV, womens race streaming on big laptop, live results on netbook, twitter on phone and 5live in the kitchen - I was studying too, honest!) and entered the Snowdonia Marathon in October. Well it'll be a nice break from the 5km training of the next 3 months!
Celebrated this momentous occasion with a solar powered jaunt out on my 1/2 mara loop - canal to HW, up the hill to Balerno, down the water of Leith and back along the canal. Right glut very tight to start with but was ok once I got into my rhythm.

Jogging down to HP, up Salisbury Crags after the race cheering everyone else on and then back home afterwards.

Started hard and had a Carnethyscum junior on my heels at the start of the first climb. I missed the turn up Salisbury Crags (anyone who's followed me on a MASH knows I'm pretty good at missing that turn) and only realised about 100m later. Not wanting to turn round and give up the lead I've got on the rest I just turn straight up into the thick grass and head diagonally back to where the correct track is. Fortunately for me no one else takes the correct path and everyone follows my ad hoc route, and the ploughing through deep grass is an advantage to me! The CS junior falls back and I suddenly have quite a big gap to Al in second - about 200m when we pass through the finish at about 1/2way. The climb up Radical Road is always a tricky one to pace correctly but Al doesn't seem to close the gap much - but it doesn't get any bigger either. Back around to the Salisbury Crags climb again. I remember stepping over some flour at the turning I missed the first time so this time I keep my eyes peeled for it. D'oh, missed it again! Never saw the flour this time! Instead of cutting back I head up a narrower path but notice Al has taken the correct path and really closed the gap. I dig deep and work hard all the way up the climb and then really have to run fast on the down hill to keep a gap. At one point I look at my watch and see I'm doing 3:02/km and wonder if I can go faster - I try sprinting a bit and get down to 2:50 pace. Just as well as Al is still closing that gap! I manage to hang on to the finish and een do a bit of a showboating with a jump & grab across the stream 10m from the line.
1st, 6' ahead of Al A but a long way down on Phat Phils record, though I don't think missing the path a couple of times makes up all the 3 minute deficit...
Top Trotting!

No energy this morning, turned into a bit of a death march. I know why.

First run for over 100 hours. Ouch. Went to Trotter Training and trotted moderately hard around a Hermitage handicap. Fun, but I was definitely a bit rusty.

Doc says no getting the stitches wet. Taking her advice, today at least.

C • twatted 3