Training Log Archive: OJIn the 31 days ending Oct 31, 2014:
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| We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Friday Oct 31, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 20:00 [2] 4.0 km (5:00 / km) +60m 4:39 / km
slept:7.0
IW, feeling terrible, barely made it. Think I'm fighting off a bug that Jen and Alex have.
Thursday Oct 30, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 25:36 [3] 5.34 km (4:48 / km) +83m 4:27 / km
slept:8.0
5 PM
Running 21:35 [2] 4.11 km (5:15 / km) +64m 4:52 / km
Wednesday Oct 29, 2014 #
8 AM
Cycling 30:00 [1]
slept:8.0
To nursery and back twice, with Alex in tow once each way.
1 PM
Running 21:00 [2] 4.56 km (4:36 / km) +56m 4:20 / km
ahr:116 max:181
IW feeling OK.
5 PM
Running 20:04 [3] 4.13 km (4:52 / km) +56m 4:33 / km
HFW with a bit of bounce in my step. Surprising.
8 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Tuesday Oct 28, 2014 #
8 AM
Cycling 35:00 [1]
Work and back and to the bank and back. Good to get the legs moving.
Monday Oct 27, 2014 #
Note
slept:7.0 (rest day)
Top 5 OMM moments:
1. Endless bog over the top of the Cheviot, both of us cold, tired and staggering into the wind and rain.
2. Warm bag of wee in sleeping bag before being jettisoned out of the tent.
3. Neil bursting a gel inside his rucksack. Yum.
4. Mocca chocca surprise in the morning. Let me know if you want the recipe.
5. Steve and Adam pursuing us relentlessly, terminator-like along the Scottish border into a killer head-wind (again).
+1: Unlimited pie and chips at the finish, Neil having to go for a sleep in his car before prize-giving.
1. Endless bog over the top of the Cheviot, both of us cold, tired and staggering into the wind and rain.
2. Warm bag of wee in sleeping bag before being jettisoned out of the tent.
3. Neil bursting a gel inside his rucksack. Yum.
4. Mocca chocca surprise in the morning. Let me know if you want the recipe.
5. Steve and Adam pursuing us relentlessly, terminator-like along the Scottish border into a killer head-wind (again).
+1: Unlimited pie and chips at the finish, Neil having to go for a sleep in his car before prize-giving.
Sunday Oct 26, 2014 #
7 AM
Running 5:06:02 [4] 42.0 km (7:17 / km) +1500m 6:11 / km
slept:8.0
OMM day 2. 8 hours sleep, yes you read that right, 8 hours sleep! That was my best mountain marathon night ever with good (hot) food thanks to a pocket rocket instead of solid fuel and Hilary's ultralight thermarest (Neil was less comfortable on his x-frame thingy). They were our concessions to comfort and they seemed to do the job - I woke up feeling pretty decent, which was a nice surprise.
Bit of an embarrassing start to the day when we made a 180 out of the start - I'm blaming Neil squarely for that, although I should have spotted it sooner. Sorted ourselves out after that and ran well, choosing the routes that suited us - i.e. round the paths rather than over the boggy tops. Steve and Adam caught the 2 mins-odd on us, but we managed to get a gap and gradually expand it to about 3 mins by the finish. A few glimpses of the Estonians out in front but they always looked solid and we didn't seem to be gaining.
My good feeling lasted for the whole day, which probably added to Neil's suffering, but we kept up a good hard pace all the way and finished strongly. As it turned out with the dsqs and rtds behind us we could have walked it. Oh well, it was good to be in the race! Although a little frustrated to be only 9mins or so down over the two days, I'm pleased with the way we raced it and I think it would have been a tall order to beat Timo and Sander. Nice one Nails, next year!?
Bit of an embarrassing start to the day when we made a 180 out of the start - I'm blaming Neil squarely for that, although I should have spotted it sooner. Sorted ourselves out after that and ran well, choosing the routes that suited us - i.e. round the paths rather than over the boggy tops. Steve and Adam caught the 2 mins-odd on us, but we managed to get a gap and gradually expand it to about 3 mins by the finish. A few glimpses of the Estonians out in front but they always looked solid and we didn't seem to be gaining.
My good feeling lasted for the whole day, which probably added to Neil's suffering, but we kept up a good hard pace all the way and finished strongly. As it turned out with the dsqs and rtds behind us we could have walked it. Oh well, it was good to be in the race! Although a little frustrated to be only 9mins or so down over the two days, I'm pleased with the way we raced it and I think it would have been a tall order to beat Timo and Sander. Nice one Nails, next year!?
C • Maps 5
Saturday Oct 25, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 7:01:25 [4] 55.0 km (7:40 / km) +2500m 6:15 / km
slept:7.0
OMM day 1, Cheviots. Not a great start in a silly wave system, where we had to just pick a slot amongst all the top teams. We set off 1 min ahead of the Estonians and 2 mins ahead of Steve/Adam, not ideal. Inevitably we were all together before long (with Andy Fallas and Jon Ascroft too) and there was a good chunk of the course that was just a big follow-the-leader.
The big climb up the Cheviot spread everyone out and we lost a bit of time mincing through the tussocks at the top, getting cold in the driving rain and wind. Eventually stopped to sort ourselves out and restarted the race with clothes on and food in our bellies. That meant Steve/Adam got ahead of us and Timo/Sander were long gone, but needs must. Things got split again by a poorly mapped control in the woods (the map was shocking in general, but this was something else - we lost a chunk, Steve/Adam lost less, Andy/Jon lost more). By this point it felt like we were close to the end, but the last few legs were horrible with rough tussocks and heather, so it was a real struggle. Eventually got ahead of Steve/Adam and belted it down the hill to get a slender advantage on them, about 8 mins down on Sander/Timo by the finish.
Job done for day one and we were well matched, with Nails particularly strong on the hills!
The big climb up the Cheviot spread everyone out and we lost a bit of time mincing through the tussocks at the top, getting cold in the driving rain and wind. Eventually stopped to sort ourselves out and restarted the race with clothes on and food in our bellies. That meant Steve/Adam got ahead of us and Timo/Sander were long gone, but needs must. Things got split again by a poorly mapped control in the woods (the map was shocking in general, but this was something else - we lost a chunk, Steve/Adam lost less, Andy/Jon lost more). By this point it felt like we were close to the end, but the last few legs were horrible with rough tussocks and heather, so it was a real struggle. Eventually got ahead of Steve/Adam and belted it down the hill to get a slender advantage on them, about 8 mins down on Sander/Timo by the finish.
Job done for day one and we were well matched, with Nails particularly strong on the hills!
Thursday Oct 23, 2014 #
7 AM
Running 20:00 [2] 4.0 km (5:00 / km) +60m 4:39 / km
IW. Taking it easy.
5 PM
Running 20:00 [3] 4.0 km (5:00 / km) +100m 4:27 / km
slept:8.0
HFW. Feeling sluggish.
Wednesday Oct 22, 2014 #
Cycling 45:00 [1]
slept:8.0
Various biking about: to nursery, back from nursefy, on IW, HFW. Tiring day in spite of minimal training.
Tuesday Oct 21, 2014 #
7 AM
Running 1:03:00 13.5 km (4:40 / km) +250m 4:16 / km
slept:8.0
Met Paul for a morning run, just about light enough for Porter. Good to catch up and the body was feeling surprisingly good after a rest day yesterday, even the niggles were behaving themselves. Still planning a cautious week though ready for a last push this weekend.
5 PM
Running 20:00 [2] 4.0 km (5:00 / km) +100m 4:27 / km
HFW.
Monday Oct 20, 2014 #
Note
slept:8.0 (rest day)
Much needed.
Sunday Oct 19, 2014 #
10 AM
Running 1:13:40 [5] 14.06 km (5:14 / km) +734m 4:09 / km
slept:8.0
FRA relays, Middleton Fell. Leg 2 with Rhys going out in 2nd with Pudsey a minute or so out in front and a big chasing pack after a great run on leg 1 by B8ND. Not feeling the best, so settled into a pace that was as fast as I dared. Reeled Pudsey in quickly on a good low line, but Helm Hill, Calder, Borrowdale and Mercia closing fast. Rhys was looking dangerously bouncy, the git, and it became apparent that I was in for a day of pain. Hung on for dear life up the hill, the wind mercifully lending a helping hand. Luckily there was a rough and steep drop off the back to CP 4 and steep hands on knees job out, which saved me, although I caught a glimpse of the big chasing pack hot on our heels. Up towards the summit and the clag comes in - Rhys: let's go hard off the top and make a break! Great plan, except that all I am thinking about is surviving. Gave it all I had and hit the descent hard, expecting Si Bailey, Carl Gray or similar to pile past me at any moment. Hit the CP at the bottom of the hill and finally sneaked a look over my shoulder. Where is everyone? Not a sausage. Struck off on the traverse to the final CP with a big gap behind, Rhys gunning off again. Oh my, it felt like a long way back. Very unexpected to come in with a lead and even managed fastest leg time, although Rhys could clearly have gone faster. Nails and Tom did the business on nav, also fastest, then cap'n Little Rob finished the job. Amazed to defend our title, nice one lads!
11 AM
Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
Saturday Oct 18, 2014 #
3 PM
Running 1:20:00 [1] 10.0 km (8:00 / km) +600m 6:09 / km
slept:8.0
Very easy recce after the drive up. Felt dreadful, barely made it up the hill!
Friday Oct 17, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 24:03 4.99 km (4:49 / km) +91m 4:25 / km
ahr:154 max:185
5 PM
Running 24:57 5.2 km (4:48 / km) +91m 4:25 / km
ahr:144 max:174
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Thursday Oct 16, 2014 #
7 AM
Running 59:33 11.69 km (5:06 / km) +210m 4:40 / km
5 PM
Running 19:43 [2] 4.09 km (4:49 / km) +63m 4:29 / km
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Wednesday Oct 15, 2014 #
12 PM
Running 23:48 [2] 4.79 km (4:58 / km) +70m 4:38 / km
5 PM
Running 33:27 6.31 km (5:18 / km) +105m 4:54 / km
ahr:144 max:184
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Tuesday Oct 14, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 42:50 [2] 8.48 km (5:03 / km) +147m 4:39 / km
5 PM
Running 23:13 [2] 4.52 km (5:08 / km) +63m 4:48 / km
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Monday Oct 13, 2014 #
Note
First proper day in new house! Spent unpacking boxes and trying to calm an overexcited toddler. Nearly made it out for a run but got sidetracked by moving furniture. This is not going to become a habit.
Sunday Oct 12, 2014 #
7 AM
Running 27:56 [2] 4.98 km (5:36 / km) +49m 5:21 / km
slept:6.0
Slow jog along the waterfront to loosen off the legs and sweat out the alcohol. Beat up. Travel home.
Saturday Oct 11, 2014 #
1 PM
Running 2:32:30 [5] 24.6 km (6:12 / km) +2000m 4:24 / km
slept:10.0
Limone Skyrace. A bit unsure of myself going into this after a stressful and tiring week of moving house, but four consecutive nights of 10 hours+ sleep seemed to do the trick and the fitness was there from some good weeks in September. Still, I started conservatively on the 2km preamble through the town, hitting the foot of the climb in around 50th I guess.
And what a climb it was - the biggest I have ever run in a race. 1200m straight up in about 5km, mainly on zigzag rocky trails. I found a good rhythm after about 5 mins and started overtaking, hopping up the inside on the corners of the zigs. Eventually worked my way through to Tom Addison, Gary Priestly and John Albon, finally getting onto the coattails of Andy Fallas at the top. The next section was fast with a fair bit of downhill so a chance for a breather before another 300m climb up to the high point. It was hard to get going on this, but I felt as though I was still catching another group in front so tried to push on. As it was I didn't get much closer for the whole climb and I was running solo just catching the odd glimpse of them through the cloud. I was pretty spent by the top of this climb, but a technical downhill perked me up and I still had plenty of run in my legs on a brief flat forest road section.
This was followed by a series of short steep climbs along a muddy, rocky ridgeline, which pretty much finished me off. Fortunately everyone seemed to be having the same problem, so I managed to pass a few people here includin Eric Haugsnes, who I was surprised to see (he would usually be way out in front). I knew that I was on for a decent position by now so I hit the descent hard and hoped to hold it. This was nuts; 1400m straight down in about 4km, rocky and technical all the way. About half way down I caught Ionut Zinca (again, he would normally be way in front) and he ran with me for a bit before taking off at a speed that I couldn't match. Nearer the bottom I caught Florian but heard ominous noises from behind. There was a slight sting in the tail with some small climbs before a final descent through the town - survived these just barely and set off hard hoping to hold my position, but as I hit the lake front my legs went to pieces. The final flat 600m was awful in spite of encouragement from Ionut, who had slowed again - he tried to pace me, but it was all I could do to keep running. John Albon and another guy made it past putting me in 16th, a result I would have taken before the race. Bit frustrating to lose places right at the end, but apart from that I'm pleased to get a solid result in. Dip in the lake after was much needed.
And what a climb it was - the biggest I have ever run in a race. 1200m straight up in about 5km, mainly on zigzag rocky trails. I found a good rhythm after about 5 mins and started overtaking, hopping up the inside on the corners of the zigs. Eventually worked my way through to Tom Addison, Gary Priestly and John Albon, finally getting onto the coattails of Andy Fallas at the top. The next section was fast with a fair bit of downhill so a chance for a breather before another 300m climb up to the high point. It was hard to get going on this, but I felt as though I was still catching another group in front so tried to push on. As it was I didn't get much closer for the whole climb and I was running solo just catching the odd glimpse of them through the cloud. I was pretty spent by the top of this climb, but a technical downhill perked me up and I still had plenty of run in my legs on a brief flat forest road section.
This was followed by a series of short steep climbs along a muddy, rocky ridgeline, which pretty much finished me off. Fortunately everyone seemed to be having the same problem, so I managed to pass a few people here includin Eric Haugsnes, who I was surprised to see (he would usually be way out in front). I knew that I was on for a decent position by now so I hit the descent hard and hoped to hold it. This was nuts; 1400m straight down in about 4km, rocky and technical all the way. About half way down I caught Ionut Zinca (again, he would normally be way in front) and he ran with me for a bit before taking off at a speed that I couldn't match. Nearer the bottom I caught Florian but heard ominous noises from behind. There was a slight sting in the tail with some small climbs before a final descent through the town - survived these just barely and set off hard hoping to hold my position, but as I hit the lake front my legs went to pieces. The final flat 600m was awful in spite of encouragement from Ionut, who had slowed again - he tried to pace me, but it was all I could do to keep running. John Albon and another guy made it past putting me in 16th, a result I would have taken before the race. Bit frustrating to lose places right at the end, but apart from that I'm pleased to get a solid result in. Dip in the lake after was much needed.
Friday Oct 10, 2014 #
1 PM
Running 45:00 [2] 7.6 km (5:55 / km) +80m 5:38 / km
slept:10.0
Run with Tom out along the waterfront to the start of the climb. Good to recce that bit and suss out that a fast start is not necessary.
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Thursday Oct 9, 2014 #
10 AM
Running 22:02 [2] 2.75 km (8:01 / km) +7m 7:55 / km
slept:10.0
Run back down.
Running 1:00:00 [1] 2.5 km (24:00 / km) +300m 15:00 / km
Hike up the end of the race route with the Inov-8 crew.
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Wednesday Oct 8, 2014 #
4 PM
Running 1:26:28 [2] 11.2 km (7:43 / km) +1000m 5:20 / km
slept:10.0
Boat trip to Riva. Run up a big hill and back down the crazy race route. Saw 17 black and yellow salamanders! Feeling much better than I did when I woke up this morning.
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Tuesday Oct 7, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 37:05 [2] 6.42 km (5:46 / km) +154m 5:09 / km
slept:6.0
Jog from new place. Wet. Explored Nether Edge. Bit posh like. Travel to Italy.
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]
Monday Oct 6, 2014 #
Note
slept:6.0
Moving house. I know it's supposed to be a stressful day but Jesus, that was harrowing. Low point came when the valve for the washing machine feed broke spraying water all over the kitchen with half an hour to go before key handover time. Had to turn the mains off, call an emergency plumber and finish cleaning the house using baby wipes. Not moving again until Alex leaves home.
Sunday Oct 5, 2014 #
5 PM
Running 20:00 4.0 km (5:00 / km) +40m 4:46 / km
Run to pick up a curry which I had ordered from the wrong curry house. Oops. Chance for a last loop of Hillsborough Park. Ran fast on the way, laden with food on the way back. Another late one painting.
Saturday Oct 4, 2014 #
7 PM
Running 28:51 [2] 5.61 km (5:09 / km) +134m 4:36 / km
Got out late before decorating to explore the neighbourhood. Then a late one painting.
Friday Oct 3, 2014 #
8 AM
Running 24:42 [2] 4.92 km (5:01 / km) +128m 4:27 / km
IW.
5 PM
Running 15:00 [3] 3.0 km (5:00 / km) +60m 4:33 / km
HFW.
Wednesday Oct 1, 2014 #
5 PM
Running 26:00 [2] 5.0 km (5:12 / km) +60m 4:54 / km
slept:7.0
Crash! It had to come eventually. Struggled through the day today and crawled HFW to try to wake myself up. It didn't work.
C • REST 3
9 PM
Yoga 10:00 [1]