Training Log Archive: Magic

Another very pleasant morning mapping at Llantrisant (4.5hours). Legs tired but not hurting, but happy to stay away from hills for the day as well! Got half way there to realise I was after forgetting my mapping board... Can you get dementia when you're not even at 40?

C • Dementia 6

Cwmdu Fell Race, 16.9km, 920m. First fell race I've done in many a year (at least 4 I think?). Need to get some hills in my legs (both up and down) so it seemed like a good idea, and on the whole it was.

Roasting day (needed suncream on my head; failed) and as the route had three steep climbs and descents I started relatively conservatively, tucking in behind the leading lady on the first climb (which was mistake as she had very yellow, very small and VERY tight shorts on), got past when it got a bit steeper and headed off up the hill with the Doctor right behind.

Perhaps pushed a little hard here (about my highest heart rate) but was keeping an eye on things and just trying to run my own race. A large gap developed in front (was in about 8th) and the Doctor slowed a little, so I was on my own for the first gallop along a ridge.

Got caught at the end of it but decided to leg the guy go, but soon discovered he wasn't a great descender and even though I was taking it easy (saving my legs for the later descents) and closed in behind him before the big climb of the day. Kept going until it got properly steep but was then reduced to a awkward walk as the the worn food holds were very inconveniently spaced. Looked behind a few times here to see the Doctor managing to maintain a jog the whole way up. Respect.

The guy ahead was about 50m or so up the trail from me now and he was in pursuit of another guy who had slowed significantly on the previous climb. Tried to focus on running smoothly along the top and held the gap, then closed it quickly as soon as the descent steepened and moved past the guy who had previously past me. Legs made it about half way down before turning to jelly so eased back a bit.

Caught the next guy at the start of the final climb and was determined to keep running on this one (nowhere near as steep) and had built myself a nice enough gap by the top so I could run the last ridge without worrying about anyone chasing me down.

Took the wrong trod for a while (but those behind followed me so didn't lose any time!) and tried to run quick enough to keep the boys behind so I didn't have to kill myself on the last descent. Took it handy enough and didn't hear anyone behind so was able to run the last 500m down the road comfortably.

Didn't have that much by the end though, the boys must have descended a lot quicker and they finished about 20 seconds behind me. Happy to stay ahead of this group without gutting myself and to have a decent enough run for my first race in so long, finished 7th, about 3 minutes behind 6th and 12 off the lead.

4.5 hours mapping in Llantrisant. Birds full of song and the sun shinning, pretty windy though and glad that I had opted not to go out on the road bike today. Frustrating start - couldn't get the right number of contours - but got into the rhythm after a while, things to check though. Found a tennis ball deep in the woods - must have been a very poor shot.

Intervals on the sandy hills with the Swansea boys again. 10 times up a 75 second hill (less sandy that the past few weeks, but killer steps at the end) and I was well spent. Thought we were done but Mark through it 8 times about 120m on the beach. Definitely spent. Hard work just making it back to the car!

Still sunny so a medium length run after work was easily enough to find motivation for. Intending to do 90 minutes but was having fun exploring, only running slow though and it felt really easy which was very nice. Also very nice were the fresh green leaves of the the beech trees and the carpets of bluebells underneath. Spotted a bird leaving a nest at eye level, had a peek in to see 4 turquoise eggs with black specs on, maybe 2cm in size. Anyone know what they could be from?

MDC run round Margam, got Abrams to join this week (he has some work to do on hills!). Steep start, but lovely trails and bluebells galore, also an amazing copper coloured lake before a climb through less inspiring, but nice running, plantation forestry. Legs a little tired but a great run and another lovely evening to be out.

IW. Body not liking this in the least this morning and was ready to walk by halfway. Manned up and kept going and was feeling just about alright for the last few minutes. Another nice morning.