Training Log Archive: Nathan

Easy shuffle around the short dunton loop. Felt pretty good considering the weekend, wasn't tired and knee didn't give me any jip.

Another pretty easy warm up, jogging and drills.

Course 4- 6km 170m

Much better pre race today, had a clear plan again and knew what i had to do. Started ok, but missed 1 as there was a huge gulley that wasn't marked, found Harriet and Dad's first before mine, but looks like everyone messed up so lost about a minute. Cruel leg up to 2, down and up a valley but found it cleanly. Gained time on everyone on the long up hill even though i felt knackered, found it well and was happy with my route. Fast around the 4 and 5 loop then slow and steady to 6, making sure i hit it, easy to 7 in the ditch then poor route to 8, too low on the moor so had to climb but wasn't too bad as was running well. Found 9 over the wall well then took the ride to 10 easy running then easy to 11, bit tired here. Found 12 then past assembly along the track to 13 which i found well without getting confused by the path network. 14 was easy to find just off the path. Ripped my map through 15 and 16 so was running blind in and around the circles but could tell from the contours where i needed to go so found them well which i was happy with as it showed that i really was concentrating. Over the moor to 17 found it ok, bit scrappy on top then back in the woods to 18, twisted my ankle a bit going through the ditch but raced to the last control then tripped on the finish punch as there was a tussock just before, flew over it and lost time on the run in of all places. Ran hard all the way, but was a slow area hence the pace, to catch up the time
1st but 1:40 or so and beat Michael but 4:30 or so, was pretty happy with my run, just felt knackered all the way so could have ran faster if i was a bit fresher but as is the same with all races. Won the overall by 4 minutes or so. Overall, the weekend was pretty successful, 2 1st's, a second and a third so couldn't complain, plus the win overall. Only things i need to work on at this stage is better map contact and a bit more will power after making mistakes.

Seriously easy jogging, was dead at the end.

Nowhere really to go at the top of the huge hill so made the best of the warm up that i could, jogging and stretching.

Course 4- 5km 385m

Complete opposite to yesterday's race. Head was scrappy after my start. Wrong map was in my box so started running course 2, nailed their first control but then had to sprint back to the start to get mine. Didn't even think to ask to start again just sprinted off to 1, which i did spike well. Off to 2, a bit off a slip going slightly too far so maybe 10-20 secs lost. Solid through to 5 after this the area for 5,6 and 7 was mapped badly in my opinion so lost 2 minutes or so on 6 as i couldn't make sense of the area. Found 7 and 8 fine. Long slug up the hill was torture to 9 but found it fine, good route to 10 but was slow and sluggish, round the path to 11 definitely the better route, up and down to 12 fine again, then steep contouring to 13. Messed up 14, ran past it, don't even know how but lost a minute. Long in to 15, boring along the track but maybe going low was faster. Round to 16, didn't fancy slugging up and down the valley and turned out it was about the same time. Found 17 and 18 fine then round the green to 19 and finish.
Finished 3:41 behind Michael so lost my lead and was behind by 31secs going in to monday. Disappointed with my run and needed a lot more concentration, running was also poor.

Jogging down the hill from the finish, back to the cars

Course 3- 2.6km 115m

Pretty poor race overall, i won't go in to detail. Went in to a dead end on 1, slipped down a hill to 5, slow up the hill to 8, went to 15 before 10, generally scrappy around the castle. Surprisingly fast area despite the climb, a very warm evening and a good bit of fun. Second behind Harrison, 1:45 or so down, shows my drop in form for this day, a scattering of fastest splits showing running speed was pretty good.

Ran without my knee support and it seemed to be ok, pleasant surprise.

C • That is a pretty mad distan... 4

Extended warm up before the urban/sprint as it was delayed starting.

Warm down after the sprint.

Event: HOC/WRE Springtime in Shropshire
 

Easy warm up before the first race of the weekend, light jogging and drills.

Course 4- 6.2km 180m

Was pretty up for this race, ha a good plan and stuck for it. Also felt pretty calm and collected before hand. Pretty easy area so navigation wasn't as much of a problem as [acing myself was. Didn't necessarily go out to kill it, but kept to a steady pace. Spiked and flowed through 4, slight slip on 2, bad entry and slightly poor route. Took time out of everyone on 5, good route cutting through trees and along the path, turned out better than going around the woodland so was happy with this. A bit hesitant in to 6 then mistake on 7 where i didn't go far enough and binned about a minute, steady through 8, 9 and 10, went straight through the green on 11 and slightly off my bearing so lost 30 secs here, steady again down to 12 the flew across the open to 13, hitting 2:40 k's down hill so this was fun. Slog along to 14 then heading down the hill to 15, hit 16 and 17 well then 18 and finish.
Won the day by 3:10 so a nice lead going in to the second day. Reasonably pleased with my run but unhappy with scrappiness and lack of map contact at some points.

Too much to do and racing the next 3 days so letting myself receive before this

Easy in to and from broughton for haircut.

Biked in to college for exam, very easy

Easy home after the exam

Nice long run, pleasant shower in the middle of it. Ullesthorpe run then short dunton. Kept it steady and don't want to go out and burn round just kept a consistent and comfortable pace throughout. Felt a bit tired towards the end after this week. Had English lit today, felt it went ok. Well up for this weekend's races(4 in 3 days) should be fun.

Am now finally, after 6/7 exams, on study leave so may be able to get a couple of double days in, also training should become more consistent

Dunton short run with intervals.
Intervals ranged between 200m-400m (6 lots varied), mainly along edges of fields and other distance markers. Enjoyed it, ran without my knee support again so this was good, not sure on times but was below 3 min k's on every one.

Easy jogging round the village pre intervals.

Same again after intervals.