Training Log Archive: Craney

Drove up to Burbage Bridge and went along Stanage for a bit, down to North Lees Pool, down a bit more, up to Carshead Rocks and back up to the trig. Then jogged along to meet Gracie and get my run up to an hour. It was wet and grey but not that cold and I found myself almost enjoying myself.

C • Wish you were here... 1

Played tennis against Gracie and lost 6-3, 6-2. A good workout. Need to work on my serve. And my backhand. And my forehand. And just generally hitting the ball over the net. And just generally hitting the ball.

C • your tennis predicament sou... 3

An interesting race with lots of drama, laughs and tears (Pete Hodges' air-kick of anger at the finish was particularly memorable). Race plan was to not get dragged into any head-to-head racing, sit back and try and enjoy it (based on my current fitness/training levels). Followed the lead pack, which I was a bit behind, the wrong way early on. I saw people behind me cutting back to the main track so I shouted the pack back and we all had to hot-foot it over the heather back to the track. Rejoined with Candyman and after a few metres was suddenly in the lead (because I didn't have as far to cut back to the route as the leaders). Then I fell in a quagmire and Oli and Si Patton passed me. Felt alright on the climb up to Higger and passed Si. Oli pulled away a bit, but then went the wrong way again for a bit so I caught him back. Lead him down to the bridge in Longshaw where I stacked it and he passed me. Then he put a spurt on but misjudged the length of the final uphill and suffered a bit and I snuck by and took the win. Although I'd lost time, the mistakes of the leaders definitely played into my hands. I don't know if you can do a post-race analysis of that race - some stuff happened and it was fun.

Warm up/down with GraceE, Candyman, MikeS and OJ. Happy days.

C • Piccy 2

Hat-trick! 3 runs in a row. With Gracie up Limb Valley, down to Endcliffe and back to Limb Valley. Highlight was seeing the alpacas.

Parked top of Mulehouse, down to Rivelin, along valley, up Coppice track, allotments. Lovely.

With Gracie, Neil and Petey for a few mins then just with Neil and Petey. From Heatherdene, up Win Hill, along, down and up to Hagg Farm, then back along the ridge. Felt wrecked on the uphills. Had to ask Neil whether I was just really unfit or whether Pete was really fit. Had a nice lie down at the top of the Hagg Farm climb. Neil then commented that my reputation exceeded my ability at the moment and I thought I'd show him that the magic was still there on the last descent. Subtley got a 10m lead, just enough to get through a gate and shut it behind me, then I was off. Whoosh! Ignored the shouts of "bastard" behind me as I hammered it down the hill. Magical stuff.