Training Log Archive: KingTim

Fritham Plain. Brown course 10.5km (no black).

I had a last-minute offer of a lift from Charles last night, so who was I to say no?

Another very cold day, with much of the forest's standing water totally frozen over - fortunately I took my metal dobs because my Inov8s were soaking from last night.

A good course, on the same area as the Nov Classic 2009. On the whole not a bad run, just a small number of misses totalling 3 mins:
#4: 30 secs cos I stopped at an unmapped hide near the actual one;
#5: 30 secs wrong bend in track, wrong small clearing and wrong gulley;
#6: 20 sec poor compass work;
#9: 20 sec poor compass work;
#17: 1:20 poor compass work and found the wrong control in a marsh SW of the right one.

Got beaten by a very fast Jonny Crickmore and Dale Paget who was apparently looking over his shoulder for me for the whole race. Equalled Clive to third place and snuck in 35 sec safe from being Benned, so I'm pretty pleased with that.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/58863495

Fyfield Down, 1 hour score. Open hillside with fences, a bit of scattered rock and some patches of trees. Very dark and foggy, visibility about 20m, less when the wind blew your breath condensation in front of you.

Took it quite steady again with my ankle well taped up. Was aiming to get them all, which actually i think was a bit too ambitious. Spent a long time trying to find #26, a lone rock on a slope, which really scuppered my plan. Otherwise I was pretty pleased with my navigation. A very good lesson in being fixed on the map the whole time. Got all but three controls, but was 7 mins late.

The Friday breakfast ride.

On my own, a triangular run of three halves:

1: 6.14km in 26:39 (4:20/km) WoT, Shitehampton
2: 4.77km in 17:14 (3:36/km) along the Portway
3: 4.9km in 22:08 (4:30/km) up Bridge Valley Rd, Downs, Henleaze.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/58664077

Today I joined the BOK Army team and went with Coach Saunders to Long Valley to run in the snow.

A really nice area, especially with all the snow covering the paths making it all the more difficult.

Taped my wankle and took it steady, and all was fine in that department. A few silly mistakes but nothing major. #18 simply wasn't there and after several minutes wandering around to see if had been hung in the wrong place, gave it up and ran on to #19. The planner agreed to void that leg.

Not seen the results yet.

Today I had the option of two nice sociable runs: With Bendover in the snow in the Mendicks first thing this morning; or with Craney for another long afternoon run.

Laura needed the car this morning, so I chose the Craney option.

Ran up to Crane Towers but there was no one in, the lights weren't even on. Then it dawned on me that the email I sent confirming I'd run with him went to his work address. D'oh!

On me tod then: Blaise, Shitehampton, Avonmouth Bridge, Pill, towpath, Cumberland Basin, up Ambra Vale, Clitfun, Redland, Henleaze.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/58423712

C • DOH!!! 1

Went out for test run on the road to see how the wankle liked it.

Full loop of the Downs via Henleaze. Wankle liked it, as long as it wasn't twisted. Was effing cold (-1.5C) so I upped the pace to keep warm.

It only hurt when pushing off on uneven ground, like a dropped kerb slope, tree root bump etc. Think I'll keep on the roads for a while, but there's no reason to stop the running altogether.