Training Log Archive: OJ

Long Mynd Valleys fell race, first English champs race of the year. Not sure what to expect today after feeling ropey all week, but I decided to start hard and see how long I could hold on to the front group. This is a great route, with a tough climb right out of the start, but then a long, fast section around the head of the valleys on good trails and even some road. This section was a struggle as the pace was fast at the business end, but I managed to hang on to the back of the group along with a relaxed looking Lloyd. The peleton had around 20 people in it by the far point of the course, with over 2/3 of the race distance covered. Then it gets tough with 3 big steep climbs and descents in quick succession, and the field started to split up. I managed to stay in touch with the front group until the top of the final climb to Yearlet, then Lloyd et al took it out on the final descent into Church Stretton, where I lost 2 places to finish 7th. I'm pleased with that, but a bit frustrated to have lost places at the end. Tough race, but very enjoyable!

C • Clasic route 7

Warm up and a very sore warm down.

Sprint training on Wincobank in the drizzle, really well planned session of direction change, long legs, line and downhill course. Shadowed MrA on the downhill course, and he was spot on.

Out to Wincobank with Rob, bailed out for a lift home with PJ and Duncan.

Easy jogging around Wharncliffe with Jen checking out some control sites and problem areas. Still tired, but enjoyed getting out in the forest.

IW, my stiff legs felt a little better once they had loosened up and stopped creaking.

HFW. Legs and body feeling battered all day, so couldn't decide what training to do. In the end I opted for a bit of everything: 10 mins easy, 15 mins drills and sprints (6x100m, 2 each of strides, accelerates, slow-fast-slow-fast), 10 mins easy, 6xhill bounds up Blake st, 4xfull reps up Blake street, 10 mins easy. Finished it off with a cold bath to help the legs on their way to recovery. Brrr.

Good session of drills.

Out to Wharnecliffe and Greno to have a look at the thinning situation. Not as bad as I had feared and it's probably improved runnability in places. Load of massive new rides to put on the map though.

C • hmmm 1

Jog out to Crimicar to meet Jen.

Short and sweet session at the Works, I was knackered.

IW, still not feeling as bouncy as I would like. Nice morning for it though.

Hallamshire, 8x800 off 200m jog. Ran them all around 2.29, with the last one a bit faster in 2.26. Decent session and felt reasonably comfortable, which was a pleasant surprise given how I felt at work in the afternoon. Too much coffee and baclava, never a good basis for training.

To track with Mr Baker and Pete too on the way home. Dizziness was kicking in by the time I made it to my street.

Warm up drills.

Steady IW.

Brisk HFW via Fulwood, Lodge Moor, Crosspool. Felt stiff legged and a bit unco, but covered the distance quickly enough so it can't have been all bad. Had a bunch of chavs for company for 100m-or-so, which they found hilarious; me, less so. There must be a better collective noun for chavs...perhaps an off-license of chavs, a hoodie of chavs, or an asbo of chavs? These thoughts kept me occupied for much of the run.

C • a chavalanche 5