Training Log Archive: Duncan

Down to the Park, a few short drills and then 10*30s sprints on the grass into the headwind to try and open the lungs up a bit to return to intervals. That worked fine but I think my dodgy left shin is back :-( :-( :-(

Short gentle run around the Clent Hills.

With Abi, Tom, Alice, Jack, Matt. Nice anti-clockwise loop from Sadgill over Shipman Knotts, Kentmere Pike, Harter Fell and down Gatesgarth Pass into the valley (a terrible track to run (walk) down in parts). Mostly fairly easy but manage to sustain a push with Matt for a mile between Kentmere Pike and Harter Fell which I was pretty pleased with.

Tried not to have too many expectations at the start. Got a little excited for it on the line however and decided to go with it a little on the track-run. Pete came past as we turned left uphill and cruised away. Took it steady on the climb to the tarn gently losing places. Got into it on the second pull up to Thunacar Knott and took a couple back. Pushed on on the marshy decent but took a slightly too far left line just before the drop down to the stream which lost a little time. Eat some wine gums at the start of the traverse (and saw Rhys behind) and then cracked on again gaining places until Angle Tarn where people were running quite strongly. Put some effort in on the traverse from Esk Hause passing a couple more with one tagging along and getting closer to John Helme. I followed him but we went too low up Bowfell and I saw Rhys passing above. Somewhere here I also slowed to eat more wine gums. What I should have done is gone hard after Rhys.

The group in front clearly also messed up so I could see Malley getting to the top about a minute in front. Ended up descending off Bowfell by myself and just about glimpsed the person in front every now and then enough to take a line (but not the best line) under Crinkle Crags. Could see the group again up the steep hill in front, tried to put some effort in to close the gap a but that would have been a big ask. Got to the top (torches) along with a small group from behind who took a better line. Didn't have a map out so started off in what felt like the right direction (it was) but then I spotted the group behind go 90-degrees different so backtracked and followed them instead. We seemed to avoid the bad-step but after following John H too low earlier I stopped to get my map out as I didn't want to screw up again. At which point Tom passed me.

Tried to chase down to Red Tarn and up Pike O'Blisco but even though I was running every time Tom looked around I didn't make any progress. Progress slowed even more off the top in my slippery Icebugs and I lost almost 5 minutes to Tom from the top to the Finish. A bad workman blames his tools and I am going to blame my shoes for a lot of lost time on the descent off Bowfell and Blisco. They don't have much grip on dirt in the dry, let alone rock in the wet.

Overall pretty pleased with my performance knocking 6 minutes off my time from last year in not as nice weather. Was good until my Bowfell navigation error (trust no-one) and then the rocky/slippy descents. I did so much falling over that it's actually my arms which hurt more after than my legs.

6 * Park Hills
1.09, 1.10, 1.12, 1.12, 1.09, 1.11
Training starts here

Cycle there with Yash. Some good orienteering, some bad, no speed at the end.