Training Log Archive: Rosco

Lovely run with the lads along Sauchie Crags and thru some sexy forest that must be mapped forthwith!

C • lads 2

Event: British Sprint Championships
 

British Sprint Champs Heat, Warwick University.

Woke up to pretty snow-covered English village scene.

Pretty straighforward, so ran hard. But not hard enough. Missed out on A final by 1 second. Quite hard to describe emotions without swearing. Had a little waver from 20-23 where I got a little behind myself and this proved decisive as I had just got myself into A position. Frustration.

British Sprint B Final at Warwick Uni.

Just sneaked into 3rd near the end. Bit trickier than the morning but far from Guildford levels. No real issues apart from wee things. Biggest was completely losing my place on way to 11, but even that was only about 10 seconds at most. Ian Nixon was obviously saving a bit for the "glory".

Event: British Elite Middle Distance
 

British Middle Champs at Hopwas Woods, Tamworth.

Nice wee area, although a few patches of brambles. Typically scrappy run including exactly the same schoolboy error at 11 that I made at the JK relays - crossing the wrong reentrant. Loads of other people did it but that is No Excuse. At least 6 minutes worth of mistakes. Difficult to put a finger on exactly what is going wrong. Also, although I thought I was going quite hard at the start, it was quite clear I was not. Need to get much nearer max running speed when orienteering. Although I will probably not try to do this until after Culbin....

went to the start a couple of times

A grand day, decided to go for a hill run straight from the caravan at Glendaruel.

Went straight up the wee path to Lochan Chuilceachan (nice easy to spell name) then ran along the ridge (a bit boggy in places, but also some lovely runnable bits) then back down to the valley floor at Kilbridemore and then back along the wee back road.

This run proved (conclusively, I think you'll agree) that roads are A Very Good Thing. It took me 70 minutes to go out the way along the ridge and only 25 back along the road. QED.

Decided to do Ben Cruachan and Stob Diamh for a wee adventure.

Visitor centre at the bottom did not sell maps so I was relying on Cameron McNeish for the gen. Cloud was very low and therefore vis was too. Resolved not to kill/maim myself as I'd never hear the end of it for going without a proper map.... Exciting spyfilm moment when the big reservoir dam loomed up out of the mist. Got up Stob Diamh fine (apart from "losing" the "path", a couple of false summits and thinking I was going north too much) although was a wee bit concerned with the increasing levels of snow and lack of footprints in said ice crystals. At the top, the fierce wind meant that the cloud lifted for brief periods, showing fabulous views to the north and east and a distinctly sketchy looking snow covered narrow col/steep rocky slope into the clouds of Cruachan. Once at the col, the snow/rock seemed rather more significant and with the weather allowing a symbolically enticing glimpse of the track home I bailed.

A very good undertaking of a hazardous nature.

Horrible intervals at uni football pitches. Wearing the wrong shoes (better than the wrong trousers eh gromit?) had no traction. Did not feel good. Hamstrings also limiting factor. Jamie was going well. Git.

wu run out from flat then exciting new warm-up strides including quick feet and heedtheba. Tried not to think how silly we looked.
wd jog.