Training Log Archive: Jon X

Out into the Cairngorms with Pat for some OMM training.

Started near Achlean farm down past Lagganlia and headed up to the pass at Carn Ban Mor. From there across to the Devil's Point and lunch, then (in freezing wind and near snow) Cairn Toul and finally The Angel's Peak. Completed my set of Cairngorm Munros when we got to Cairn Toul, only 13 years after I first went up one. As Pat pointed out, the Rigby Round involves getting them all solo and unsupported within 24 hours!

Back from the Angel's Peak down the spur to the valley and then back via Carn Ban col again, all straight into the wind and rain, nice.

Probably actually ran between 4 and 4.5 hours of it, basically everything except the big ascents and the boulderfields.

Good fun - I think!

C • That's quite a long way... 4

Event: SOL 5
 

SOL 5 at Anagach.

Thought it would be a good idea to test out Lard's coaching advice from yesterday. So I ran some legs properly, and some without proper use of compass and/or without visualising the circle properly.

Initial results from the experiment showed that by #15 the controls that I didn't do properly had all cost some seconds, totalling 3 mins or so in total.

So then I decided to extend the experiment and run #16 without much of a plan at all, and #18 by disengaging brain when I got in the circle. Proved both of these were bad ideas by losing another 5 mins across these two controls.

Maybe Lard has a fair idea what he is talking about....

Decent warmup in meadow next to River Spey, very pleasant.
Good warmdown too with Dixie, Fraser, Donald P and Bob Daly. Left ankle was sore after race which is a bit of a concern, hope it holds up for next two days.

Control hanging and collection for FVO training at Achlean, first training with a rucksack for this year's OMM - mainly because I forgot to drop it at the start kite on the way past!

Compass exercise at Achlean, was consistently slightly left of intended line, something to think about.

Afternoon control hanging for FVO training at Uath Lochans. Had a bit of trouble early on, hard enough coping with the rubbish map but had the mini kites in the same hand as compass which wasn't helping either.
Or maybe it was just a bit tricky for me!

Went round part of the course with Doug, interesting to do again after my troubles hanging some of them in the first place. The map really is rubbish between #2 and #3, following what it tells you leaves you way left of #3.

Out and back from shadowing Doug, plus out and back from the forest sprint course.

Forest sprint to finish off the training, interesting to do as the controls were already in, think I got all the right features although some of the boulders were pretty small! Didn't realise the start/finish had been moved further along the boardwalk to shorten the course, would like to think that is why everyone beat me...

Had enough trouble getting on the road for training weekend without trying to run too...

Unplanned rest day, waited in all day for the electrician and he turned up at 7pm, ho hum.

Also got the splits from the JOK Champs on Saturday.....even after my 10 minute howler it seems I was still leading 3 controls from the end.....must have covered the last 1km very slowly to finish 4 mins down!!

Mega cruisy FVO run from VV's place in Braco, a reduced posse tonight as Lard, Rosco, Skyhigh and Abii all nursing various ailments, six of us there in total.

Enjoyed the variety of terrain and good to have an easier day anyway, felt pretty good running through the rougher heather etc in the open.

High quality food and coffee from Rog and Dawn afterwards, mmmm. Not forgetting the patented Hillside Farm muffins, mmmm again!

C • Happy Birthday Jon! 5

Round loch before and after plus drills on the grass. Put my foot in a hole during drills and thought briefly that I had trashed my dodgy left ankle, was able to run it off though and no problem with it afterwards.

FVO intervals, 18 x 30sec on/30sec off round the loch at the uni.

Felt surprisingly good and did these at about 90% effort, could have gone on and done a few more if necessary. Not disappointed that it wasn't though!

Everyone running pretty well and so we were able to keep the whole group together for the session. Jack and Abi were both running strongly, including Jack responding well to a bit of pressure from me and Dixie to push hard through the final few reps.

And congrats to Peggy who was not only at her second FVO session in two days but apparently also taking part in her first interval session ever!