Training Log Archive: Arnold

In Iceland for a short trip, and it seemed like a fun idea to climb Kirkufjell - officially the ‘most beautiful mountain in Iceland’ as featured in Game of Thrones.

It’s basically one giant hulk of 450m striated rock, which looks nigh-on impossible from the bottom. The Internet said there was a decent path however including 3 short scrambling elements (rock steps) with ‘sketchy ropes available for support.’

So I plucked up the courage and off I went and made it up and down in one piece. The ropes were less sketchy than advertised but in any case the steps were all climbable without - but it was nice to know they were there for backup.

Incredible views from the top in all directions and a very cool thing to do. I had also forgotten quite how incredible Iceland is if you like nature (and driving!!) In one day on the Snaefellsnes peninsula I swam in a hot pool, visited a cave, drove halfway up a mountain, had coffee and fish soup on the beach next to nesting terns, drove on gravel roads, visited a church, saw waterfalls, a gorge and lots and lots of lava, and of course climbed Kirkufjell.

Highly recommended.

Work to Clapham Junction, through a LOT of people especially at the beginning (Covent Garden, Leicester Square, St James’s Park).

Still v humid despite “only” 23c hence hard work, but at least I didn’t have a rucksack to carry.

Pleased about this.

Searching for shade in 28c heat.
Felt like an utterly pointless run as it was neither fast nor long, but I guess “at least I got out”.

Stupidly humid and 20c at 8am, hence crazy hard work.

“Long terrain” loop through Richmond Park, 50% small paths and 50% straight terrain.

It’s been 27C+ every day for the past month so I tried to time this run with the long-awaited arrival of some rain, but got it slightly wrong in that the first half was dry and super muggy.

Plus, 50% was across calf to knee high grasses so it felt like running with ankle weights and I couldn’t see the uneven ground very well, making for very wobbly running.

One short stop at 50 minutes but otherwise continuous.

All of which meant the slowest time by a long way, but it really isn’t comparable and it felt like progress of sorts.

Work to Battersea Park, where Tobi was playing 8 a side football.

A good idea in principle and a nice run, but it was 27C and I’d snookered myself by WFH tomorrow so schlepping computer, charger cable, shoes and trousers on my back. So it was VERY hard work.

Planner of the South East Sprint Champs on Ham Estate.

The format is 2 individual races with the second one starting 90 minutes after the first one, which makes a compact event for competitors but a very tight one for the organising team. It also means that despite best efforts 53 controls was the lowest number I could muster.

So spent the best part of 5 hours putting out and then collecting back in controls, sharing the work with Abi and a few collectors at the end. The area was small but the need to use gripples made it all quite faffy, plus it’s mostly a housing estate so there are always irate locals to deal with - one of them actually moved a control but we caught it early enough so it barely made any difference.

A lot of work, and it was very hot, but 170 happy competitors and it is always fun to see people run your courses so overall a successful day.

In Barcelona for work, so had to do a loop of Montjuic hill where the 1992 Olympics were based. It all looks very quaint (and slightly run down) by modern standards - although I did notice Beyonce was in town for a couple of nights at the Olympic stadium.

Only arrived late last night so the early start was tricky, but paid back multiple times over by the views from the top and the run generally. I really must come for the Barcelona City Race one day.

And also very pleased that I can do this sort of run from memory, having spent 10 minutes looking at a map the night before. Although it almost fell apart at the end as I couldn't remember which crossroads of Gran Via my hotel was on.

[Disclaimer: Part of the GPS track was on a funicular railway]

2 brief intervals but otherwise continuous. Mildly depressing that this pace and distance is a struggle, but at least I’m doing it.

Been feeling on/off tired for a while, perhaps a good idea to start taking iron tablets again (I meant to but ran out.)

Feeling better than I should be, so pushed the pace a tad