Training Log Archive: RobB

Thought I might take it easy for the next couple of days! Was feeling fine until about 7pm and then totally crashed.

Will write a few more reflections on the race during the week and say a little about my strategies for tackling the race and eating etc. Had an amazing adventure and have been pleased how my body had "held up."

Can't praise the marshals enough; nothing was too much trouble and they were literally working round the clock.

Here is a little piece on my reflections and mumbles at the finish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xsudP8ee8s&feature...

C • awesome 19

Day 5 - Slaying the dragon

Highs
- choc ices at the resupply point
- the last few legs in the Black Mountains; knowing I will finish and enjoying the terrain (like the best of Kinder)
- the finish into the castle; knowing it was all over!
- the banquet; sharing stories and beer.

Lows
- long uninspiring trails and roads to the resupply point
- having a bit of a "wobble" off Bannau Sir Gaer; trying to get the "doubts and demons" out of my mind.

Day 4 - Make or break

Highs
- starting by myself, feeling strong and knowing that Steve was suffering
- working my way through the field up to check point 4 picking nice routes and getting good lines
- finishing; it was a long and tough day

Lows
- nearly getting run over by the camera crew
- the long (10k) road descent, so much pain - the only way I got through it was making up and shouting swear words (I got quite inventive)
- getting backed by the sun around the reservoir
- two (small but costly) nav wobbles on the way to 6; really struggled to keep my concentration levels up
- finishing 1 hour down on Steve - game over for any race.

Day 3 - Consolidation

Highs
- stopping to buy a coke and a sandwich in Machynlleth (time stopped still whilst waiting at the till)
- ridge running along Cadair Idris
- fantastic views off Terrenhendre
- seeing Clare's Dad (Charlie) at the resupply point - he really gave me a boost
- making a move away from Steve on way out to Mynydd Eithaf

Lows
- getting stuck in the forest trying to find a path that did not exist on way up to Terrendendre
- having made a gap on Steve (albeit about 1 minute) losing it almost straight away due to another path on the map not being there
- a deep (deep) tiredness at the finish; not knowing what tomorrow would bring

Day 2 - the route choice

Highs
- finding out that my legs still worked in the morning - I was seriously worried that I might not be able to walk
- pushing out of the mist up to Cnicht to spectacular views to Molewyn Mawr
- parting ways with Steve B on a 14k (straight line) route to the half way point. - I took a long road route and Steve went straightish and we finished 1 minute down on Steve
- finding a 4th wind off Diffwys and running strongly into the finish

Lows
- lost concentration and path on way up Rhinog Fawr just after the resupply point (frustrating and wasted time and energy finding a route through the heather
- getting crag bound off RF and painfully having to pick my route off the hill
- losing another 20 odd minutes to Steve (mainly needlessly)

Dragon's Back day 1 - the hilly one.

Highs (notwithstanding all thirteen 3,000 ft peaks)
- nervous intrepidation as I packed my bag - genuinely not knowing whether I could finish
- start with the male voice choirs and a mist cloaked Conwy castle
- having a giggle at the fact that 3 of us popped out at 2 having gone our separate ways (Steve B and Mark Palmer)
- the traverse around Yr Elen (steep and technical but with amazing view - we dropped Jim at this point)
ice cold water off Pen yr Ole Wen - the first proper drink for 5 hours
- picking my way off Crib Goch; it was crazy (but the good kind)
- getting to the finish having done the toughing run of my life, feeling in reasonably good shape

Lows
- getting a bad route on to and off Tryfan (not paying attention to advice I had the night before about routes)
- the long, long descent off Snowdon. Legs (and quads in particular) were completely trashed and I was slow picking my way off the rocks
- spending too much time at the transition point and not paying attention to Steve's line up Tryfan (he got the best route)