Training Log Archive: graeme

Scottish relays, INT Handicap team with Chris Galloway, me, Ben Hartman.

B-course Creag Connich

Chris ran well with the elite pack, sending me off in about 30th, probably (again they failed to have results by leg for the handicap). Passed a group of runners, then had a wide B-loop and worked hard to recatch them. Rich Robinson went past quickly. Twice. Big climb after 10 mins or so pulling through a group then it all went quiet, B-loop? off the front? a couple more legs and Toni Lou showed up, and we ran together (different gaffles) until next to last leg, where I took the direct route down the rubbish. Illegal. Back up the rubbish to the crossing point. Crossed the fence to find another fence with thick green beyond. No idea wat was going on. Looked up and down for a way through, pushed through rubbish to a control on a boulder, phew, punch, run off, oops, wrong code Much faffing in full view of finish. Eventually find the last boulder but 2.5min lost dropping from 2nd to 10th on the leg. Annoying, but good fun race. Still at the sharp end, and Ben ran solidly to bring us in fourth.

For some bizarre reason they tried to give us the trophy, which we gave back. I knew fourth place didn't win, but I couldn't remember of English teams were eligible for it - turns out not. How hard is it for organisers to have a copy of the rules available?

Scottish Champs, M50. Glen Fearder

Target: to be Scottish Champion. 4th on the course, behind M45s Charlie Adams and Simon Patton, and SROC Quentin Harding was good enough.
Just ahead of Robin Orr, Rob Lee, Steve Barrett.

Nice runnable area, with BigJon mapping, Ran hard and clean, top-4 split everywhere except 2 (short leg -15sec) the very rocky 4-5 (25 sec). And obviously the run in. Couldn't have hoped for more: very pleased to be pushing after being off colour for so long.

C • Good map 2

Control collecting on the slope

Steady run round Craigmillar. Heavy.

KB dash without really pushing it. Nice. Reebok dodgy racers, quicker than usual boats.

Warm up/down

Craigmillar, steady. Jane brought a nice cold back from work, I wonder if its for me.

Meadows, long. 4:35 40 36 41 40
First time in ages not feeling coldy. Insect bitten eye quite swollen, so in glasses. Quite uneven, too fast again on the first after Bex went past like I was standing still, faded and required hauling back. Then mainly with/trailing Edel.
+ jog down, lap and home.

Test run the long course at Colinton, with a few non-optimal routes just to check.

To/from work and Colinton, back on canal. Easy, but nice as warm down.

Checking jog.