Training Log Archive: Duncan

Fed up of being told to think about injuries so went and was going to decide whether to race or not on my warm up. Taped the ankle multiple times to be safe and went to test our the first couple of fields on the climb. Running uphill was fine and descending as I normally do was too so was up for giving it a good go.

With the ankle I've not run for a fortnight and hadn't done much before that so knew I was a bit low on fitness but thought I might be okay if it was steep enough to slow people down so that muscles were the limiting factor not lungs.

I made sure I was on the front this time and we set off. My tactic was the same as Arncliffe - to dig in and stick right behind whoever was at the front - except this time Hector showed up and went out fast from the start. He got a little gap just on the road but on the steep muddy rise into the first field I got on his heels. I went across the track in 2nd with Jack Wood behind me and up the next long field it was an orienteering 1-2-3 at the front which was cool.

Everywhere was really wet and we crossed into the next field and were climbing a sodden quad bike track which was pretty tough. By this point I was definitely feeling the pace and saw a Ted Mason train coming up a parallel track to the left so dug in a bit more. After the tracks came together though Hector was slipping away and I was definitely holding people up. In the few meters before and after the fell gate I snapped and dropped from 2nd to 9th.

Onto the open fell part of the climb I was a few meters behind Jack and could hear a guy behind me slowly gaining on me. Near the top he passed me then Jack but we all wern't too far apart at the summit cairn.

They went on the 'Ted Mason rough heather route' to the right but I stuck to the traditional mega rocky straight down route I did last year where I could see where I was putting my dodgy foot. The Halifax guy who's been at the other BOFRA races this year was about 30m in front but I didn't gain much on him by the foot of the rocky section and in the fast less steep field he got way ahead. Came into the lowest field as Jack was entering a little lower down after his route choice. Thought I might just be able to get him but it was too far. Finished 10th +2.03, the guy who over took me near the top was 7th.

Glad I did it. Was fun trying to stay with Hector and was surprised I did for so long but the hill was twice as high as at Arncliffe and I knew my fitness would struggle to handle it. Maybe could have pushed harder on the fell part of the climb. Just don't seem to be able to do this descent fast, not so good on steps so maybe that's why the first rocky bit is slow and the lower field isn't technical enough.Perhaps some course practice would help.

Went out with baggy shorts and a fleece thinking I was going to take it easy but that didn't last long. The ankle wasn't complaining and it probably ended up being the hardest I've ever pushed on a bike. Maybe rests are underrated.

Went to see a physio; told me to MTFU and start using it properly. Was really stiff so did some simple flexibility work. Went for a jog, started off scared but was happy to push it in a straight line by the end. Left hamstring super tight, right hip-flexor super tight. Will be walking normally from now on and might try a bike tomorrow.