Training Log Archive: Mark3

Recce of the Old County Tops / OCT Scafell Pike descent, which as a loop from Langdale turns out to be quite a lot of the Great Lakes route.

I wasn't planning on the descent today as I thought it might be a bit iffy on my own in winter conditions, but #smj works both ways and it was pretty glorious.

Applied mircrospikes at the top of Bowfell and they were actually really good - Bowfell -> Esk -> Scafell Pike pretty much all in the snow/ice and I had a quite a lot of confidence.

I tried to contour around to the S of Broad Crag a bit, as I've seen others do, but either this isn't viable in the snow or it isn't faster at all - either way, if you go too far S you just end up in massive boulders. Maybe the key is just don't go too far N towards Broad Crag, but stay in the middle somewhere.

From Scafell I tried to go SE but strava tells me I went due S, so no wonder I went to the wrong side of the first outcrop - note; first outcrop you can see from the plateau, go left of it.

That drops down a narrow gully which immediately widens; there's a (slight) trod at the leftmost side. You can then just go down straight, not turning off. Because I'd plotted a route in a rush I'd misremembered that the line was the gully W of Rough Crag. This gully is actually a massive boulderfield. Need to stay on the SW bearing until after Rough Crag before turning S; ie, go to the left of another big outcrop. The descent is then largely grassy to the right of the stream - very steep in places though. I kept the spikes on until it levelled out as the grip on these shoes has had it.

I'd forgotten that the line until Lingcove Beck is the same as the OCT race line; which is basically cross the marsh and then follow the edge of the hillside. After crossing the river I took the Great Lakes line up Stonesty and to Pike of Blisco, and then enjoyed one of my favourite descents down to the road crossing before Side Pike. Got the right re-entrant this time, which is one with a stream in it. Took the path through the fields back to the race finish may well be slower than the road but it's certainly nicer.

Amazing day, very glad I stuck with the plan. Would like to do the route one more time to get it right before race day, though!

15th/413, +9:30
Very happy with this race.

River crossing 21:24 (19th)
The Nick 22:18 (17th=) ->18th
Peeping Hill 12:15 (14th=) ->16th
Finish 13:45 (13th) ->15th

Set off too fast really along the road, trying not to go mental but basically failing. Started to pass people once the boggy parts started and feeling good until we turned NE along the beck; at that point though it became a bit monotonous. Didn't lose places but wasn't really gaining either. At the bouldery section at the start of the climb, these shoes were dire on the wet rock and despite the section only being a couple of minutes, loads of people caught me. However once it became just a steep uphill I held my own again and got a bit of a gap again. Great views at the top.

Flat(ish) section at the top had some rocky sections and again, I couldn't push hard on those as it was too dangerous. Stefan caught and passed me here, but after Hannah's Well the terrain before grassy and I was able to get back past. It was a pretty glorious descent until it joined the stony track, and then it was a tedious descent where the gradient continued to dictate the pace. Last bit through the fields was back to grass again and much nicer.

Could see Barney Plummer just ahead of me the whole way and we were never more than a few seconds apart, but I couldn't catch.

https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/Dufton/2024/H...

These shoes are terrible in mud, but yesterday's were wet...fell over a bit. Still very muddy. Taking it easy, and did a shorter loop, since race tomorrow :)

Too muddy for trail shoes - the nice thing about running in big heavy cushioned shoes normally is lightweight shoes feel awesome.

DOMS all gone; feeling good again now :)

Just three of us all a similar pace so it was a brisk run tonight - very muddy but made the best of the conditions going out and back along the ridge. Very technical - enjoyed it.

Still very DOMSy, taking it easy.

Amended my loop a bit to go via a downhill segment that I learned about on saturday. Smashed it. Would be faster in the dry, too.

Quads very DOMSy; otherwise feeling pretty good.

Easy paced with the road group. T-shirt and gloves weather. Feeling good other than quads DOMS.