Training Log Archive: OJ

'Zegama...it's Zegama!' They say that a lot in Zegama. I think someone called Killian said it once. He's got a way with words that one. To be fair it is quite unique-not so much because of the route, which is steep and gnarly with a handful of very technical rocky sections-but because of the atmosphere and support, which is like nothing I have experienced before. Crowds three deep lining both sides of the steepest climbs, all shouting 'vega vega, animo, animo!' at the tops of their voices. Cowbells, vuvuzelas, horns; the works. One of the main challenges was listening to yourself through all the clamour.

I managed that, more or less, and probably paced it about right, certainly finished strongly. If anything, I might have been a bit conservative through the middle section, but who knows what the consequences would have been of pushing the needle into the red with such a long way still to go. I thought I had a chance of running 4.15 but wanted to be inside 4.20, which I managed comfortably. Most years that would have given me a shot at top 10 but not this year; the field was stacked with virtually all the big names on the start line, possibly the strongest Skyrace field yet. Somewhere in the 20s wasn't really what I was after, but on reflection I'm quite happy with that. The time was good and I got the chance to mix it with some quality runners.

I ended up running pretty much the whole race with Chris Steel, which was entirely unplanned, but ended up being a big help. We pushed each other hard and talked quite a bit. I benefited from his superior descending and he benefitted from my climbing. We could tuck in during the low times and push on during the good times. Especially on the last descent it was useful to push one another along. We were racing until about 41.5km, but we were matching each other stride for stride. I've always thought that it's a bit soft to take the finishing together option, but today the decision sort of made itself. It gave us a chance to enjoy the last few hundred metres through the crowds and throw a few high 5s. I think it was right, I wouldn't have felt happy with stealing a few metres. And nor would I have been happy with the reverse. Or maybe I'm soft. 26=, but they gave Chris 26th and me 27th, doh.

Highlights for me: rollercoaster section through some karstic holes in dark beech forest with soft mulch underfoot; the summit of Aratz with views out over a cloud inversion; running through a rock arch and emerging on the other side of the mountain; slipping and sliding on the limestone ridge of Aizkorri.

Lowlights: struggling for rhythm on the steepest descents; a strange, dreamlike 5km through the mist around a flat karst meadow where I was struggling to keep my food down; cramp twinges at the start of the long final descent (luckily they came to nothing); dislodging a football-sized boulder, which bounced away into the abyss below into the path of the runners ahead. Luckily it missed them.

Hope to be back for more one day.

C • brings back memories. good ... 2

Minimal.

Easy and sociable along part of the route. Basking in the last of the sunshine for the weekend.

HFW with drills. Wet.

Easy jogging up to BHP for some all fresco circuits with a spectacular sunset over Back tor.

Totley Moor. First local race for a while and first short race in ages. Felt really good at the start and went to the front with the intention of pulling out a nice buffer. Sort of worked, although Pete did his best to keep the pressure on - I could hear the marshals shouts and they were never long after I had been through. That meant that I had to keep it honest all the way to hold him off. Nice route with plenty of pretty steep climbs, particularly the last drag back up to the edge of the Moor. Now to take it easy before the weekend.

C • No 007? 1

IW, feeling really good! Makes a nice change.

A proper rest day (toddler carrying and playing excluded). Felt good.