Training Log Archive: bradc

Hmm, I DID bash my knee last night, it has a lovely lump on it and is rather stiff, matron. So, being strapped for time today, I just managed a brief stop-off in the uni gym to do a little non-impact exercise to keep it moving. Tried out the new machine they've got, which turns out to be a "climber", despite looking a lot like a cross-trainer. Lots of exaggerated movements so I felt like Neil Armstrong on a moon walk. Not a patch on the old stairmaster machines, they were really good!

Ben Sheann hill race.
Contrary to Rosco's comments, this is EXACTLY what I think a hill race is all about - steep climbs, rough terrain, and a stretch-out descent. Well, nearly. Having runnable climbs and not-so rough terrain in parts is good too! Still - it shows where we're coming from. He's a proper runner, whereas I'm just a speeded-up hill walker!
As expected, my climb was steady but unspectacular - well down on the likes of Dixie, for example, but I just haven't been training hard enough for that sort of performance. Nor have I been doing enough fast-leg work to have been able to really fly on the descent once it got a bit less rough. Still, I was OK at top, until I tripped and bashed my knee about 3m after the top, which didn't help on the next rough traverse/descent section, but I was pretty cr*p on that anyway. I did finally get into the descent after a bit, and started to open out - Don Reid long gone by this stage - but got held up by slowpoke Rosco who really wasn't enjoying the race, and the guy who'd just caught him up. I got past both of them after about 90s but by then it was too late to reel in Dixie; I finished about 8s down on him.
Happy enough, a great wee race. Probably about 20th, so less Bog & Burn points than hoped for - the field was good!

C • sorry brad 3

Trying to stay in front of the midgies!!!

A nostalgic FVO group soup run from Ali's in Linlithgow Bridge. In the absence of our hostess, and unfortunately for the others present, I was sort-of the guide. So we re-trod old haunts, along the river to the canal, over the viaduct, around Muiravonside CP, then back along the canal to the Sports Centre and back to Ali's. Out of interest we naughtily bypassed the fences and skipped along the section of path by the river that had a bit of landslip a couple of years ago and, rather than fix it up, has simply been cordoned off by the council. What a waste! It's still perfectly usable, and wouldn't have taken too much effort to fix up. As it is, it now makes the area much less usable as a WEE venue. Lazy lot.
Anyway - bar a couple of little uphills, particularly the enjoyable mini session up the steps under the viaduct - this was a very jolly easy-paced jaunt, followed by excellent tucker Chez McQuillen. Felt quite bouncy during the run, which means that no doubt my legs will be like lead in the race tomorrow!

OK, lazy day, tsk tsk.

C • This is allowed! 3