Training Log Archive: rickyp

49.4km +303m avg 26.7km/h

I've signed up to do a short aquathlon this lunchtime but since that will only take me 25 minutes, i joined 3 others in getting in a club ride beforehand. 2 of us had done the half marathon yesterday so it was just 2 hours steady; a slight extension to the anticlockwise lap of Bredon Hill.

1.7km +5m avg 18.2km/h To Tewkesbury School

Warm up and drills

TTC Aquathlon - 400m Swim 6:21

Realised pretty quickly that my body was feeling pretty tired so after setting off at 1:28/100m pace I had to back off a bit to 1:40 pace. Solid benchmark for next time though.

TTC Aquathlon Run 17:47

Legs were tired after yesterday. Average pace was slower as well which says it all

2.02km +4m avg 11.4km/h Freewheel home via Morrisons

WU and drills

Forest of Dean Spring 1/2 Marathon

Results

One the one hand I'm really happy with this, paced it well on a difficult course and got a new PB but is always annoying to come 4th.

Was expecting the competition to be tougher than at the Autumn Half given the time of year (and it also being the UK Trail Running Championships Short Distance event - whatever that is) and it was. The rain had just finished for the start, I only recognised Rhodri Buffett on the start line but there was a Cheltenham guy and a Gloucester guy who looked quick.

Everyone staying as a pack for the flat 1.5km road section. A nice 1.5km of downhill forest tracks followed and not wanting to get boxed in I hit the front and let my long legs fly down. They had finally caught up once it flattened out. Then came the grind 7.5km of gradual uphill totalling 130m elevation. A group of 4 of the three mentioned plus a Mercia Fell Runner formed and I didn't think I could maintain that pace so I gradually let them go. Mercia also got dropped so he was my target and I eventually caught him at the top of the hill at 11km.

Much to my surprise I could see that I was gaining (slightly) on Rhodri who was maybe 45s ahead and had got dropped. For the second weekend in a row I was now following him, with him catching me during the JK Long, but this time it was more even and this battle would last to the end of the race. It wasn't the case where I could attack the hills as I knew he would also be strong so I had to just keep working at it and close the gap. He was well aware I was gaining and unfortunately he was just too strong so I couldn't launch a sprint finish, ending up 12s down on him and 1:41 on the leader.

53.24km +408m avg 27.1km/h

Such a nice day so went out for another lap of Bredon Hill after work. Was working on keeping a high cadence but it was also very blustery so hard to keep in a rhythm.

TTC Swim 3340m

Firstly I forgot my watch so time is a guess, secondly coach didn't turn up. One of the others sacrificed his swim to think up a set.
500m WU
4 x 50m Drills - Catch up, chicken wing, finger drag, 3/4 catch up
200m Kick
2 x 100m Build
100m Easy
4 x 100m Build [10s]
400m - every 3rd length fast
2 x 200m - every 3rd length fast
4 x 100m - alternating easy / fast
5 x 40m fast [10s]
200m easy
80m part of Fun relay format
80m WD

Short WU and drills

NGOC MapRun Street O at Kingsway, Gloucester - 1 hour Score

Routegadget

First of our MapRun series. Very close at the top between me, rcro and Tom C. Same number of points as TC and only 10 more points than RC, only winning due to being back first. Clearly my route was sub-optimal as I ran 700m further than both of them. Maybe it is clearable, just.

C • 700m 2

The Spring Forest of Dean 1/2 Marathon got rescheduled for this Saturday and I decided to enter it as it looked more appealing than a BOK level D or the Sugar Loaf fell race. With the recent rain, i wanted to check out the state of the forest tracks in case trainers are a bad idea so jogged round most of the route at an easy pace for 90 mins and concluded they'll be fine. The course is much more of a drag than the Autumn one so my time may be slower. Also kept up my streak of seeing Wild Boar in Mallards pike - last 4 times - this time 3 adults and 2 babies.

Always was going to have an easy day today but didn't realise it was Tuesday rather than Monday so missed swimming by accident. A heavy rain shower after work meant I opted for around 45 mins on the turbo at about 90rpm building up to race gear.

Jogging about in the start box

JK Relay at Beaudesert - Mens Short 1st Leg 3.4km

Routegadget

Wet and cold, wearing a cagoule and a buff. Mainly on the last loop of the M21E course from yesterday but that didn't help me much as I was right on my limit and making stupid errors...

Good first 5, just hanging on to Ben M. On #6 though I didn't interpret the terrain right and ended up at his gaffle. Led the chasing pack through 7 - 10 but attacked 11 too late from the path and was too high. I still would have been able to salvage a decent position but i went ahead and binned yet more time on 13 and 15 finishing 7th, 90s down on 2nd. Oh well

Time losses (3:37):
#6 65s Ran straight past it expecting to see it as I ran up the stream
#11 24s Attacked from path too late and was too high
#13 73s Didn't take a bearing through the green and got pushed too far west.
#15 55s Getting confused in the thickets. Didn't help that I was just guessing really with it being near the finish as I had the map orientated upside down