Training Log Archive: Jon X

Beccy and Brad's wedding event on a glorious sunny day, was feeling surprisingly okay. Set off with MC (who was feeling a bit less okay), she cut off at 6 while I ran round the middle section on Laighills, met up again at #14. This gave me the chance to overtake Ken and Alibongo while they looked for #9 in the wrong place - although to be fair the flag was flat on the ground.

Great map by Beccy and Jamie, I thought the uncrossable walls were particularly clear and obvious.....

C • ...the flag was flat on the ground 4

After a wee siesta managed to get out in the evening to revisit some of the sprint race controls, following up from discussions with Controller Ackland at the bar on Saturday night. I think I remembered everything we discussed!

Test running legs and route options for the sprint race, running hard.

The course looks great on a sunny day and is really varied, hoping we can put on a great event.

C • Looking forward to it...! 2

Came a glorious 37th in the World Schools Champs. And 3 mins behind Lard who almost caught me up.

Ran pretty hard but messy early on, then missed in the wood and again in the gorse bush bonanza at the end.

Kristian Jones 19mins 57secs to win - very very impressive!

A half-decent warm up although my time doesn't suggest it. jog back to car park and then a pleasant jaunt collecting in a few controls.

Before collecting controls I sent Liz and Ant and Freddie off from Barr Wood with my house keys and the outcome of my hasty supermarket sweep on the way to Barr Wood.

After collecting controls, despite the rain I decided I just about had time to stop off and check a few things out for the Scottish Sprint.

Ran round a few routes and checked a few sites, arrived home about thirty seconds before MC arrived after her drive from Sheffield, phew.

Really enjoyable run round Polmaise with Rosco and Trevor, started in the rain but finished in sunshine.

Felt okay during the day despite hill race yesterday, had been toying with the idea of suggesting a change of plan and heading off to the Kinross 10km. Two mins into the uphill start to the run I was glad we hadn't, as I decided that my legs were pretty tired after all - they soon loosened off though and I actually felt pretty frisky for most of it.

Managed to fit in an hour without (quite) running through the same bit twice - not quite sure how we did that in an area that size!

First FVO Wednesday evening event at Abbey Craig. Turned up for a cruise round before heading off to the Whangie Whizz, thought I knew the area quite well after planning night race there a few months ago so surprised to miss a couple - am trying to blame my dodgy skills of copying from a master map!

Only got as far as the map exchange before I decided it was time to head back - however as it turned out I had plenty of time to complete before Mr Barrable eventually managed to get round the course and join me for the dash to the Whangie.

The Whangie Whizz hill race

According to the website "The terrain has suffered from cattle-grazing in recent years, making it less whizzy and rougher underfoot". In places this was certainly true!

Got to the main public car park at 7.18pm for a 7.30 start to be greeted with a sign that said 'hill race car park 1km down road', luckily the marshal took pity on us and let us park there. (met Malcolm Paterson afterwards who wasn't so lucky and missed the race altogether).

Bradc, Lard and Skyhigh were in the other car park so arrived at the last minute too, at least it meant they were warmed up! All managed to get numbers and made the start in time.

Off the start I knew I didn't want to go off too fast but felt rubbish anyway so that wasn't a problem, my back was seizing up big time as no time to stretch it properly so that didn't really help. Not as steep as I expected but straight into the sun and quite rocky/technical underfoot. By the time it (and I) settled down overtaking was pretty tricky and I could see Brad and Jase a distance ahead.

Tried to chase them down but wasn't really getting anywhere before the turn point, gradually got closer to Jase on the climb back up to the trigpoint but got there 22secs behind Brad and 7 secs/3 places behind Jase.

Back on the rocky path it didn't look like I was catching at all and that Brad was pulling away, but gradually got past the people in between me and Jase, got a bit closer when he went over on his ankle. Caught him just when the path stopped being so tricky and descent got steeper and grassier, got a good line and some momentum and sneaked past just before the finish.

Nick B (29:08) won ahead of Jamie in second (29:41), Angela was inevitably first lady, Brad did 33:47 just behind Donald P (33:22) and I was 27th (of 112) in 34:22. Jase was one place behind me and one place ahead of Calum Coombs. Skyhigh was 8th lady in 40:04, 3 mins ahead of Julie B-J.

Enjoyed it after I warmed up, next time I would go up the first (not that steep) climb more quickly as it is hard to overtake on the next section of path. Looking forward to doing some more of these races - two weeks to the one on Dumyat!

Didn't manage a warm down either, just a dash back to Stirling for pizza. And pudding. And mocha. And wine. Nice.

C • Corrieri's 1

Spent several hours wandering around the Top of the Town, great views on a sunny afternoon and a great venue for a sprint race.....luckily I was there to plan one!

Tired afterwards but nipped out for a quick run, ankles really really sore for five mins and then the pain just went away completely, bizarre.

Not sure about doing the Whangie Whizz hill race tomorrow, will decide on the day. Anyone else doing it? Bradc or Lard maybe?

C • Whizz 4

Didn't feel too bad today, could easily have gone for a run.
Except that I was up at 4am to go to London and home just before 10pm, so it didn't really appeal.
Ideal post-weekend recuperation....