Training Log Archive: Lard

FVO intervals.
For the first time this year we headed up to the Uni football pitches for some Speed!
15 x 30 on, 60 off. Boy it was fast!
My body was complaining and I twinged an achilles in the 3rd from last so cruised from there.
A beautiful setting, glorious evening, good banter.

On the Sunday we travelled all the way back to Gothenberg and stayed in a flat arranged by the legend that is Didsco. Top flat, smart and cosy and we were able to sleep through till 11am.
We couldn't spend a day in Gothenerg without a trip to one of the JWOC areas so we all jogged out to the middle area and ran the H20 Final course of the middle. i must say that I really enjoyed the area - it was good visibility at this time of year (no leaves) and there had been plenty of elephant tracks around the area. I ran clean until a wobble at the 2nd to last but really enjoyed it. Sore shin from putting my foot down a hole, but OK.

Run out to the area and back.
Then flight home.

Spring Cup Relay Day.
Due to losing Tom Ryan at Prestick airport (turned away because his passport had expired!) we were one down in the H18 second team. I agreed to go third with Duncan B on 1st, Jamie Jnr on 2nd.
We were against Hodgo,Cherry and Jones and we were well up for it!
Duncan had a solid run to come back a few mins down on Hodgo who had led the field from the start, Jamie went out and had promptly caught up Cherry by the Spectator control running the ungaffled leg. Thankfully, for me, Cherry go ahead at the end and sent Jonesy out with a significant lead. Jamie came in about 90 secs down with the Pole on his tail and GMOK not far behind. I was away. Got into my stride quickly and dashed along with the Pole who had quickly caught me. Out into the open bit the Pole pulled away from me by about 80m but I knew all had to do was make a mistake. then I was slightly thrown by being overtaken by a red-faced Jonesy! he'd pbviously screwed up the early part and was blitzing to get back into the race. Back into the forest I'd lost Jones but could see the Pole ahead and the GMOK guy had caught me, at the spectatator the junior corowd were roaring at me because I was so close to Kris, i don't think they believed I was able to run this fast before today!
Two controls later and I was in the lead!!!!!!!!!!
The Pole caught me and we were kneck and kneck through green looking for a path end - bingo control or what! I came out the other side and saw the Pole heading right - classic mistake - jase follow's Pole for 50m before realising he'd already found the control. I took a while to hunt back for it and by then I knew I was out of the running (and absolutely knackered!), a bit scrappy in the end and returned 4th behind the Pole, GMOK, GBR1 teams. Thank God Kris got back in front of me or he would have never lived it down!

Great fun race and brill to see loads of excellent relay performances in the juniors and the seniors - Scotia's anchor to 3rd with all the big men around was truly excellent.

Spring Cup Classic Race - Tisvilde
After a decent night's sleep (all things considered - school floor) we woke to a nice Sprint sunny day, got to the event without too much hitching woes and was inspired by Hodgo's excellent run from 1st start (3rd overall in H18E). The main contenders in my race were Janis Porzych (Pol) and Libor Zridkavesli (Cze) both ex internationals now coaching their respective National Teams. Libor was starting 2 mins after me so I knew I had to go clean around the first section if I had any chance. It turns out the first part of the course was the trickiest - requiring excellent compass to point features in light green and I managed OK but not without some seconds lost.
Got well into my stride half way round and felt pretty strong, kept it clean all the way round pretty much and stayed safe towards the end. It felt like a good run and I was pleased.

Discovered that I'd blitzed my rivals and my mins/km would have put me about 5th on 18E and 15th on 20E - t**s blazing! as Speakey would say!

Excellent junior and senior results too to make a really excellent day.

C • nice one! 4

Event: Spring Cup 2009
 

Run from the Youth Hostel into Store Dryhave.
Great to get into the Danish forests at last and still as beautiful and runnable as I remember. Tired from travelling but enjoying the run.

Spring Cup Night Race
In a miserable mood - tired from travelling, had to get an early lift to the event which meant hanging around for 4 hours until I had a 10 o'clock (nearly last!) start. despite this the race kicked off well and I got into my stride only to come unstuck at no.7. Map just not fitting at all and wandering around attacking from the same point each time with no luck. After 5 mins I decided to call it a day and head back - to try scrounge the last lift back and get to bed by midnight!

Travelled from 7:40am to 6:30pm - Ayr, Gothenberg, Helsingborg, Heslingor and finally Hillerod Youth Hostel after a long trudge in sleet.

Run around the back woods from home before travelling to Cherry's and onto Scandinavia.

Resting after a hard week and weekend.

Took it to the max tonight!

GB Squad Training - hanging and collecting.
Loch Vaa

Very tired from the weekend and last week's activities.
Chose to have a rest night and eat curry rather than go to intervals.

Event: Moray Mix Weekend
 

Culbin Race.
Fabby area, a bit too visible for my liking, but still technically and physically demanding.
Had a good race and just manage to hold off all the GB senior ladies.
Phew!

GB Squad Training

GB Squad training in Darnaway x 2 then hanging/collecting at FVO's last night race at South Achray (and then the long drive back!)

GB Squad Training, Dallaschyle

GB Squad training - Glen Affric.
Beautiful morning, horrific afternoon!

FVO Training Speyside - Moor of Alvie Fun!

FVO training Speyside
Fabby!

FVO Hills
Up Back-O castle on a gentle incline that levelled off.
12 x 30 secs flat out with jog back recovery.
Knackered at the start, knackered at the end!

Slumdog Millionaire with comfy sofas later on - excellent.

A steady run from uni with the FVO gang.
We let the big boys go on ahead.....
Westerton came up trumps on food and company again.

FVO Intervals down on the track for the next three weeks - trying to get some speed!
8 x 2 mins on / 1 min off.

It's been a while since I've pushed this hard!
A good session with plenty of people working hard.
Usual warm up and down with an extra lap.

C • Stonking 2

Some new plyometrics and some cranked up music got me going!

Was meant to go to the Birnam races but not sure how the hip would hold up. As it happened I think I chose right not to go. I did an excellent small paths run in a circuitous loop round Anagach in snow and bright sunshine - most beautiful!

Stuck for 3 hours on Drumochter on the way home due to a multiple pile up and subsequent drifting snow.

I can't beleive that Scottish TV chose not to show the European Indoors at all - I was gutted on Sunday to find no coverage north of England - no wonder most Scots are fat, unenthusisatic, lazy bar stewards! They got Songs of Praise and the Scottish Labour Party Conference instead!

C • Euro Indoors 1

With Janine in Abernethy. We did an excellent loop from Nethy Bridge that took us deep into the forest and through and excellent col. Some tough single track at the top end. A great day out with my lovely wife!

Still sore hip. Have inflamed the burser I think. OK apart from sitting in the car and running, or lying on my right side.

Sore hip from yesterday's fall - was gonna rest today anyway.

FVO Headlamp Race - Touch.
A decent turnout and an axcellently planned course by Steve B in the oak woodland. Really physically with quite a bit of climb but the short loops and sitchbacks took your mind off most of it.
In the lead at about half way due to a lucky route choice but didn't have the pace to keep it up, and I bruised my hip quite badly before a long hill climb. Never mind the retying of shoelaces - twice!
Just managed to get in front of Rog on the last control due to a better route choice.
Great meal at Thornhill afterwards.

The last of 4 weeks of FVO hills.
I wanted to do this but new I'd be tired from the weekend.
Took it steady until the last rep where I saved nothing!
A great session and good company.

C • The last rep 2

FVO Pilates & Strength & Conditioning.
It's been 4 weeks since I was last here and I'd forgotten how to lead a session and how to do most of the exercises!
Many thanks to Brian for the last 2 sessions as caretaker.
And thanks to Dixie and the map workouts - Crathes Castle this week.

BOC Relays.
Got fired up because it was FVO 2nd team against the First team!
And how close it was! Jamie had a great run to come back about a minute down on Ross, I went off hard and was soon caught by a pack but we could all make use of Roger in the distance (thanks Man!). When we hit the tricky two at the far end everybody else disappeared (funny that!) and I was on my own again until Duncan came flying past me and then I was with Ed Catmur for the last few - stayed safe rather than tried to get in front of him to secure the place for Jon.
Pleased with my run and how strong i felt out there - just need some speed work to get me right for the properly timed events in April and May now!