Training Log Archive: OJ

Event: LOC Regional & Northen Championships
 

Long course on Graythwaite with some great long legs that required constant contact and some tough terrain running - this area seems to have got so much slower over the years...or perhaps I've just got softer? Made a heap of mid-leg mistakes in the first half, then missed a slope control by about 3 mins. That gave me the kick up the backside I needed and I ran the second half really well without any significant time loss, just managed to beat Marcus, who also made some big mistakes.

Big debate around this event over map scale after we were given the choice of 10 or 15. I went for 15 because it's good to have some practice at that scale on a technical area, but it was printed badly and the couse was drawn with too-small symbols, which didn't help. In principle I think the scale should be dependent on the terrain, rather than the level of the event - I'm sure that a 10,000 map is much more suitable for this area. None of the runners complained at the world cup in '98 after all. Still, I'll take whatever scale I'm given in the end, this was a big fuss over nothing if you ask me.

C • That bottom paragraph... 1

Long way to the start and then some half hearted running around in the sun afterwards. This race felt like a real classic, even though it was relatively short.

Event: Tiomila 2009
 

Headed over to the Lakes and stopped off at Farleton Knot to run some short courses planned by Bilbo. 15 mins, 25 mins and 20 mins, all really tricky, head to head with Jenny on shorter loops. What a great area, the limestone pavement is so extreme and exposed that you can run over it pretty fast, so long as you don't lose concentration. This was basically as fast as I could have run, but no way to get the intensity higher without breaking an ankle or getting lost.

Warm up and down and between the starts, taking in the fantastic views over the Lakes and North Yorkshire.

Back to S10 after a few weeks away. The usual stuff.

And the usual weights, managing to lift more than I was before going away, good to see some progress.

Into S10 and back.

And some drills and sprint around Crookes Valley after the session.

Nice evening run from the club house with Rob, Jason and Dickie Wren, who I haven't been running with for about 5 years or so. Started raining when I left the house but enjoyed it anyway, through Beeley to Wharnecliffe and back down the ramp.

Lunchtime run up Loxley valley. It feels so good to be out in just a t-shirt and shorts. Legs still a bit on the sore side in places.

C • Congrats for JK... 2

Climbing at the works with Jen and Pete. Pretty soft session really, there are a load of new routes, but they're all quite easy, so did a few other bits and pieces too.

Slow and steady around Walkley and Upperthorpe.

JK relay at Dipton, last leg for SYO with Nick, Nails and Craney. The team ran a great race and led from the start, pushing the pace and trying to open up a gap to EUOC, who were clinging on for dear life. Craney set me off with about 25 seconds or so, but the tables were turned pretty quickly, as Scott came prancing past me within metres of starting. I clung on for a bit, but we split on different gaffles and I struggled to maintain the pace, made a small mistake and dropped behind. Kept pushing in the hope that the young lad would go astray, but he ran a great race to beat us by a comfortable margin. I don't think that there was anything we could have done to win today...other than resting our legs yesterday, although I'm not sure even that would have been enough...Great to get 2 SYO teams on the podium, and great that the women won!

Very tired legs warming up but felt alright once I got moving. Rob dragged me for a couple of laps of the field after.