Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

British Relays, w40 leg 3.

On first leg SYO, INT,Southern Navigators and Moravian were all in the leading pack, after leg two this had been whittled down to SYO with INT hot on their heels, with a large chasing pack 5 mins down. Last leg was the pressure leg and the team most likely to buckle was Interlopers. But a cool head and some calm (rare) map reading meant only Moravian passed interlopers and Interlopers took bronze. Brilliant brilliant result for Laurence, Ben and Lucy! So excited I was quite exhausted afterwards.

Afterthat exhausting excitement my race was a bit more ho hum. Running along the river to number 1 I was feeling quite good, but as soon as I hit the forest I realised I was tired out. My nav was lacklustre too and I duffed 6 and 10 (badly!). Luckily I was sent out with an even bigger lead than Lucy - Lorna and Ann Haley had excellent runs - and didn’t manage to drop too much time so maintained 1st place. I also didn’t stop for a pee or stop to chat to a friend like she did, which must have helped!

The kids made me stay for the prizegiving, which makes a change.

I am a bit tired out, so must actually taper better for this weekend. Also try to get rid of some of my work stress. And get to bed earlier.

Back to the carpark as a warm up. Forgot something.

British long

I decided against the British long a month or so ago when I started getting pains in my ankle / achilles. The physio diagnosed something or other, advising no fast reps and try to stick to roads mainly. So happily took up the offer to help with the adventure show. Cameron McNeish’s knowledge of orienteering was somewhat sketchy - could you be with him at the start and tell him a bit about the runners and answer his questions, talk about the course etc? Ok but can I pre-run, as then I know more about what the athletes are facing? Ok.

So we met up in the pub last night and talked tactics. I made sure I got the map last night to avoid faffage at 8 am in the assembly field, and they wanted to ask me where best to put a cameraman on the way to number one, so I had taken a slight look at it. I didn't want to spoil the experience so didn’t look at the rest of the course.

We met at 8 this morning, and they strapped a GoPro onto my chest, and a hand camera to take pics but mainly for audio. The GoPro was fine, the hand camera was relatively heavy, but if it picked up any of my talking that might be useful. I was a bit worried about my ankle as it suddenly got very sore yesterday and was worried I might have to drop out. My legs were totally exhausted too, especially the long, hot track sections, but I hadn’t easeddown as I might have otherwise. Embarrassing misses at 2, 4, 9, 10, 16 and 19. 19 was just after I had come down the hill commenting to the camera that you have to focus at then end as that’s when planners like to throw tricky controls in. Laurence had the same control, and approached from the path where it was easy apparently.

Then back, ice cream and up to the start. I took the cameraman to the top of the first hill. He was a bit grumbly that not all of the elites were coming straight at him. They’ll get a bit more accurate later on, I told him. Back to the start to talk Cameron through the starters. Exhausting. Felt a bit like a job interview. He was lovely though, and I have a lot more respect for him than I thought I would. Then back to assembly to lie in an exhausted heap, and find that none of my predictions were correct!

Dropped kids at school then headed down queens drive via the field, down the innocent railway, back through the industrial estate to Dalkeith Road where I was going to do another loop but my sore foot started being agony all of a sudden so walked the (thankfully short) distance home. Tired tired tired, and a bit sick of the foot pain.

Lunch jog over the meadows to Arthur’s Seat. Over the crags, then gunned it up and over radical road trying to improve my lane strava effort here. I was rapid, especially the descent as some bloke was jogging along until I passed him and he decided he didn’t want to be overtaken by a girl so started sprinting. Such a joy to hear his fading footsteps. Hoped to get out in the evening but had to do lots of work instead. :-( Strava didn’t pick up the segment too :-(

So since the start of the year I have proven to myself that my body can handle regular training (5 miles a day). I wonder if my body can handle morning runs. The jury is out. I feel like I am going ok but the pace is always dire. Hobbling speed. Preistfield Avenue, Industrial estate, Innocent railway, Pollock and home.

North Berwick does excellent sprint orienteering. Graeme does excellent planning. ELO does excellent events (results up less than an hour after I saw the Strain-mobile heading towards Tranent. Last Saturday's Ben Lomond results STILL not up!). The chip shop does excellent chips. I beat Ray at urban for the first time in ages. All good.

Trying to find the orienteering. North Berwick is bigger than I thought.

Long meadows reps. 2 x martins (long) and 2 x whole laps (cutting between the loos and the play park).

Dropped the van at Loanhead then jogged back in. I haven’t run this early for a long time, but it was nice to be out in the fresh air, if a little creaky!

The kids had to cycle to school and I didn’t want to take my bike to work so I ran alongside them (carrying Lucy’s violin) and dropped them off and shuffled over them meadows to work.

I am trying to run 10 miles quite a lot of days as I accidentally entered the Laraig Ghru and need to get some panic distance training in. Also Fran bought me a jumper that says “Run Miles Eat Cake” for my birthday. I think 10 miles is enough to warrant eating cake. It’s an incentive!

Down the Royal Mile and Home over the crags. Legs weary.