Training Log Archive: Tom Wood

Longest run and most climb to date. A route linking my usual weekly long run and a Moel Famau long run has been in the planning for a long while and today was the day I’d give it a go.

Perfect conditions - t shirt and shorts job from start to finish and no significant wind or rain. Had split the route into 4 legs based on car park crossings to help manage and practice getting into a good nutrition strategy. Moved through leg 1 with no problems and took on first solid food at the end - slice of Soreen with a sip of water. Made a conscious effort to only eat on the move every time.

Took first ever caffeine gel moving off the summit of MF for the first time and had no problems with it sitting right in the stomach. Good improvement to the Foel Fenlli side of the loop adding in a lot of extra climb and a good sheeptrack descent. Finished leg 2 feeling good and took a High 5 energy bar - too hard to eat on the move so will change that for next time.

Leg 3 was where things started to change - decided to polish off the rest of my water and refil at a Clwydian stream, probably not the best of ideas at any time. Took a gel I’m used to straight after, but following the ascent up stony gully at 20 miles I had a bad stitch, felt sick and my head started spinning on the flat. Stopped 3 times in 10 minutes but eventually made a full resurrection on the climb back to Llys-y-Coed.

Skipped the feed at the end of leg 3 and felt incredible running the steep up Moel Arthur and took my last Soreen for good luck at the start of the PyC climb. Ran all the following ascents even after 45km and had no problems at all.

Came across a few important things to change on the next mission. The first, using a trail vest rather than bumbag. Usually don’t rate vests too much because I find them restrictive, but the bumbag was too much faff with the amount of food I was taking. Second was taking another flask of water for the distance, or better electrolyte, as I ran out way too early. Third was really the areas I need to work on in terms of conditioning - as they were made pretty clear after 6 hours. Finally, being prepared to take complete rests at the ends of legs wouldn’t be such a bad idea. I was moving straight through today and elapsed time only came to 5:53:38, but stretch stops and feeds wouldn’t be a bad plan.

Long report for a long run. Incredible day out and a good opportunity to get some practice before something longer in the summer.

C • Write up. 3

C • bumbag 2

Lowest intensity to get the bad stuff out. Should’ve only done 20 but got carried away.