Training Log Archive: Nathan

Edale Skyline Fell Race 36th - 1st U23.

With this being the first counter for the champs this year I was quite looking forward to it and have tried to make some of my sessions leading up to it something like it as a bit of prep. Felt like my week went well tapering and legs and body felt good.
Settled in nicely on the first climb as planned, sitting in around Pete, Jack et al. and got up Ringing Roger no problem. Then was really enjoying myself for 3 or 4k, didn't try and chase Pete when he broke away a little but just settled in to a nice jog along the ridge. For some reason as the slight climb up to the CP at Grindslow Knoll, my chest began tightening up, similar to what it did at the county cross earlier in the year. Alarm bells ringing a bit but just tried to keep settled and hope it passed. No problem breathing in at all but couldn't fill my lungs as I felt like my whole chest was being squeezed as soon as I did. Redcuded be to a plod, haemorrhaging places.
This continued until the bottom of Mam Tor, meaning I couldn't take advantage, as I'd planned to, of the flags across from Brown Knoll meaning those I wanted to be around (mentioned above) gapped significantly. Also lost the 2nd U23 spot here to Ali Thornton and was debating sacking it in at the road because there was no point carrying on like that.
However after some words of encouragement from the supporters and especially Eddy, I took the climb to the top of Man Tor dead easy, taking on a lot of food and water, as well as a gel in the hopes that things would settle down. Still didn't feel 100% along the ridge but after eating a bit more going up Back Tor my chest began settling a little and a bit of fire returned. Annoyingly I'd lost maybe 10k of racing during the struggle but began moving well up Loose Hill and really went for it on the descent, taking Ali and a good number of places and ready to attack the second half.
As expected the climb up to Win Hill was brutal, but took it easy on the ascent knowing the long downhill was coming. It was somewhat encouraging cresting the ridge to see Jack Wood haring past, and then as I ran up passing the guys I wanted to be with going the other way. Knew this meant that maybe I hadn't dropped quite as far as I thought and the real carrot was seeing Josh Jardine just coming back from the steep bit of the hill as I went up. From here it turned back in to a proper race, knowing that the u23 win was still up for grabs so again used the descent to my advantage and took him about halfway along it. Settled in to a slow rhytm climbing back up to Crookestone Moor, taking a number of places which added to my confidence.
From there it was all about just holding it together, the run back to Ringing Roger was tough and seemed never ending but still made sure to attack on the last steep descent, clawing back another 3 places.

As it's my first long race I obviously have nothing to compare it to but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed. On the one hand, the aim was placing well in the u23s and so to get the win, on paper would seem a success. Sub 3 was also a sort of half aim, condition dependent and I have no doubt that I would have managed this without the problems I have. In this respect though I'm more frustrated than disappointed. My legs felt really good and mentally I was still pushing it's just that physically I couldn't get moving because whenever I put any effort in my chest tightened again and brought me back down. It could potentially have been spores from the heather on Kinder as I had my inhaler before which would usually avert this sort of thing happening just from running. It also obviously wasn't starting too hard given how well the second half went. I'll take an antihistamine before the next race and see if this keeps things in order.

On the whole though I got the u23 points I wanted and to be fair I did enjoy the different sort of challenges this racing brings. It was very much a race of two halves with the second being very positive, so there are a lot of good things to take from it, but I need to learn from the earlier bits and make sure it doesn't happen again. Pleased to have carried on pushing even though it seemed a bit hopeless and glad the shape is there to have kept going until the end. Looking forward to the next races now.

Last day of indulgence.

Chilled one on Fulwood before circuits. Feeling pretty good and wanting to run more but being disciplined and not. Not doing anything now until Sunday, not sure whether I've done this week right, but we'll see I guess.

Basically stretching.

5 sprintverals around uni, hospital and parks. Just cruising but going well and nav good. Recoveries included. Has Pat shadowing me because I bumped in to him on my wu when he was locked out and he fancied a run.

Pre breakfast with Dane along Fulwood then up to forge dam and back. Quite warm, hope this weather sticks around!

Steady with Dane before gym. Foot felt better afterwards.

Grinding away

Had a slight tightness in my right arch so sacked in running today and hit the spinner instead. Sweaty session and got moved off by the class halfway through. Working well but can never get my HR even remotely high on the bike.
10wu, 10x3(1), 10wd.

We go again.

Keeping it chilled in rivelin before gym. Not really sure what to do this week, anyone got any tips before long fell races?

C • long 8

Easy, was a bit slack last week because it kept getting closed for snow.