Training Log Archive: @Paddy

First big spin of the winter. 3x5' 1', 3x3' 1', 3x2' 1'. 2' between sets. Got very sweaty, felt like fainting at one point :/

Standard Monday with Adam and Matt

Rhys set me off in quite a nice position but I knew I had to work hard on the first few controls as there was no one behind me. Pushed hard to catch Jamie Stevenson on the way to 1 only to see him punch a control way before me, so I had to navigate myself. Actually turned out my 1 was his 2 which confused me a bit. Took a different route choice to him to 2 where I caught Barrable, started to follow him on the way to 3 through some brambles but decided to take the path instead which was definitely the right descision, went past 2 Irish guys at this point. Got in a train with Jamie and Barrable on the way to 4 and stuck behind them mostly taking Barrables lines all the way to 14, Jamie was trying hard to get away the whole time and finally got a gap at 14. Was quite surprised to see Harrison at 16, followed his route to 18. Pushed hard to catch back up with Jamie and Barrable through 19, 20 but then I had an awful gaffle in some brambles while everyone else had theirs in nice dunes. Saw Coombs at 22 which was another surprise but he was running fast so couldn't keep with him, ran the rest by myself. Bit annoyed that I couldn't keep with Jamie and Barrable in the end but still happy to get 3rd fastest on 2nd leg. Probably one of my best runs ever, lots of fun.

Event: Senior Home Internationals & Welsh League Event 2016
 

Was really looking forward to this as I love sand dunes areas and long races but didn't put too much pressure on myself. Started off well just keeping the running steady and navigating well. Then on the way to 5 I got very confused as to which path I was on, so just headed north and realised where I was. Thought my race was over at this point but then I saw Duncan Coombs and Barrable looking for a control. Found the control before them and thankfully it was 5, I was a bit worried I was too far north and at 6. Managed to stick with them quite easily until 14, made a couple of micro route choices round brambles to save energy. At 15 the control wasn't working and I had a bit of a mind blank wondering what to do. By which point Coombs and Barrable got away. Did ok by myself through to 22, picked a good route for the long leg to 23 but didn't execute it very well by hitting the green twice instead of white. Got caught by Rich Robinson at 25 so stuck behind him to 27, then Murray came storming through so I blindly followed him to 28 but he messed up on this and I lost them both. On the way to 29 I started bonking hard, just about held it together to the finish. Very fun race, enjoyed running with some quick guys.

With 2 freshers from Tri club showing them endcliffe park

Another very good session with Matt and Nathan, quite a bit muddier this week though.
10min tempo 3:23 pace, felt comfortable endurance is good
6x2mins 3:09-3:18 pace, need some more speed
4 strides