Training Log Archive: DonP

Warm up before ESOC Sprint O.

ESOC Sprint O Prologue, Broxburn.
Really tired and legs shot after yesterday to add to the usual unhappy urban orienteering experience - lots of hesitations and faffing about.
Seem to have lost 30 seconds to Reiver over the first 2 controls - game over! Reasonably okay after that but legs not working at all. Finished 45 seconds behind Reiver.

Easy jog after to try and stop my legs from seizing up.

Warm up before the Chase.

ESOC Chasing Sprint Chase. Again a slow start to No 1 then disaster struck! Came out of No 1 and was too busy looking at the next few controls and ran down the wrong road. Lost 1min 30 secs! Got back towards No 1 to see Gaz coming out of it and heading towards No 2 (he started 43 seconds behind me). Got the legs working and eventually caught him at No 5 and passed him.
Okay until No 9 - got to the fence and no control. A couple of laps round it, then up to the nearby roundabout to check I was right, back to the fence. Definitely the right site and no control - then Gaz appeared again.
Worked hard round the rest of the course in spite of the legs complaining and got to the finish okay.
2nd again to Reiver who held it together.

Warm up lap of the Scottish Masters XC Champs course.

Scottish Masters XC Champs at Dean Castle Country Park.
Tough, muddy, hilly course with a short lap which missed out the monster hill, then two long laps which included the hill.
Wasn't feeling great but had to give it my best shot as it was one of my target races.
Once we'd sorted ourselves out after the first 1/2 mile, Eddie and Paul from Cambuslang were away to their expected M60 gold and silver medals. I was in a group of 3 battling it out for the bronze medal with Charlie from Dundee and Ian from PH Racing Club but I was painfully aware that I was the one at the back hanging on. At the end of the first (short lap) I was just behind them, but they pulled away on the 2nd lap and at the end of that I was 30m behind them. They pulled another 20m or so away round the last lap to the foot of the big hill and I started to struggle and they pulled further away up the hill. Near the top of the hill, Alex from Garscube went past me and shot after Charlie and Ian, eventually catching Ian and passing him just before the finish.
I finished 6th M60 which was good in that I'm not at my best at the moment but ran as well as I could, but I know I can run faster if I was healthier. Disappointed that I faded so badly over the last 1/3 mile.
Absolutely gubbed after the race. Tomorrow's race will be 'interesting'!
Getting in the Scottish M60 team for the British & Irish Masters XC will be difficult this year!

Off work today so went for a run round the Oilfields and Craigends. Lovely day - first run in the sunshine for a few weeks! Nearly fell on some ice that was still there even though the temperature was up at 7C.
Was going to click the 'Ill' button as throat quite sore. Not happy 'cos tomorrow's race was one of my target races.

Warm up before track session.

Track session with the athletic club at Linwood track on a cold evening with a bitterly cold wind.
Session was 10 x 300m (1min easy jog recovery).
Felt terrible and was way off the pace. Throat a bit sore again.
Hopefully I'll feel better on Saturday!

Cool down run round some neighbouring streets in Linwood.

Ouch!! Note to self - don't do this after an interval session!

Was in East Kilbride at a meeting in a factory across the road from Calderglen Country Park. Took my running kit with me, drove over to the park and went for a run after the meeting.
Conditions were fairly grim - a blizzard with a thick layer of slush and wet snow underfoot. Ran most of the Calderglen 10k Trail Race course. Amazing how much the trail has deteriorated since the race in June last year - lots of it washed out and large pools of water everywhere.
Felt fairly lethargic.

Run from work to the Lomondgate SUDs pond, a couple of laps and back.

Gently back in to some strength and conditioning. Amazing how weak my right leg is.

Looks like I might be in MAROC land on Sunday 18th February. Does anyone know if the event on that day at the Shooting Greens is pre-entry or entry on the day? It doesn't say on the club web site. Thanks.

C • Shooting Greens 3

Warm up before interval session.

Interval session with the athletic club on the trim trail on Linwood Moss. Only did half the session as it' my easy week. 3 x 5mins (2mins easy jog recovery). Didn't feel very great but was running okay.

Cool down run round a lap of the Linwood Parkrun course.