Training Log Archive: Jon X

Not stiff at all after Carnethy which was good, however not too keen for another session slipping around in terrain and not sure I had the energy levels to work on my speed with some intervals.

In the end settled for a mainly road run - headed on trails down to the Doune road past Gargunnock House, planning to use a footbridge I had noticed on the OS map. A couple of girders were pretty much all that remained but it did the trick. From there found a way out onto the road okay, then a steady run out along the Carse most of the way towards Craigforth and then back the same way, not the most inspiring but at least the return had views of the snowy mountains. Back over the girders and an easy jog back for the last ten minutes.

Road section was 14.6km in 68mins, felt comfortable at that speed and pulse never particularly high. Okay for the day after a hill race but maybe should look to be doing my road runs slightly more quickly than this...

Event: Carnethy 5 Hill Race
 

Carnethy 5 Hill Race, an interesting day! Still plenty of snow about, according to Carnethy website the night before it was enough snow to cause everyone to take 15 mins longer than normal...

As it turns out this was more like 4-5 mins for most people, although for me I was nearly 8 mins longer than last year. Not sure I am too disappointed though, given various ailments/reduced fitness vs last year/sore throat then wasn't expecting too much - plus perhaps a bit less excited and motivated for the race than last year.

Found the ascents a plus point as I felt relatively strong, but also very frustrating - there were trodden footprints (by the time I got there!) which were much easier than the deeper snow to one side - however the trod was of course where the queue was, which made it very hard to get past people. Set off very steadily for once and maybe today was a day to set off quickly!

Conversely the descents were definitely not a plus point! Found them very slippery and was very tentative and protective of my achilles etc, lost places on every one and ridiculous numbers on the two long descents to The Howe and off Carnethy (including to Robin Orr right near the end, I was going so slowly he finished 45secs in front). Descent off Carnethy was very frustrating as I had run nearly all the way up from the gully once the terrain opened out, and taken quite a few places - lost all of those again and more on the way down!

Wasn't too speedy on the flat sections either, didn't feel particularly tired or out of breath, but no leg speed - have missed too many reps sessions in the past few months.

Finished 135th relative to 81st last year (499 finishers) - 81st this time was just over 66mins. Splits were
19:20 (Scald Law)
10:26 (over South Black Hill to East Kip)
4:21 (West Kip)
27:59 (Carnethy)
8:06 (to finish, over a minute slower on the descent than last year....)

Did a good warm up up the track and checking out the wall crossing etc. Jogged back up the course a bit as a warm down, thought about jogging back to the school as well but was pretty cold so happy to settle for a cup of tea from the marquee and the bus back!

C • Thank you... 2

Just the ten hours travelling as part of my careful programme of rest...

Not on for hill reps tonight - couldn't decide whether this was because I was doing Carnethy or because my achilles was sore and I wasn't doing it! No-one else was on for them either though so went for easy run with bradc and Lard, over Gowanhill, through Riverside to Cambuskenneth, then back via town centre and Back Walk. Enjoyed it.

Cruisy FVO headtorch run on a lovely clear evening, with Forest and Rosco and initially also with Elle and Alibongo. Headed through the woods and halfway up Dumyat, then back via reservoir, golf course, etc. All three of us in trainers which wasn't ideal on the snow/ice on the tracks!

Very gentle pace most of the time with some people bouncing along more happily than others, pace picked up a bit at the end. Achilles feeling a little bit sore by the end. No decision yet on whether to do Carnethy on Saturday....

Supposed to be moving onto strength phase, so off the track tonight and onto the paths behind the Uni for some hill reps, winding their way up to the top in three reps of reducing distance. This session was mobbed last year, but excuses still abound in FVO-land this winter, was joined only by O Mapper and jackb.

Both Lard and I thought that last year we had planned to do three sets and only did two - luckily I did not check until afterwards as it seems that actually we had planned to do five and only did three!

So doing two as planned tonight feels a bit feeble! However it felt quite enough at the time - to add to my various ailments then I feeling a bit under the weather too today, hopefully it is just that I need to catch up on my sleep!
(set one) 2:39, 1:46, 1:04
(set two) 2:44, 1:49, 1:04
by comparison the two sets I timed last time were
3:08, 1:42, 0:59 and 3:07, 1:41, 0:56

Last time the first slope was incredibly muddy which explains the big difference there. Not that surprised to be down on the other times compared to a year ago, plus also last time the recovery was longer as we gathered the group between each rep.

Run round the loch and checking out the reps route beforehand, a more gentle run back.

Day trip to London, needed a rest anyway but not sure it is quite as effective when combined with so little sleep!