Training Log Archive: Jon X

Got back to Gargunnock when it was dark, just as it started to pour with rain....

Event: London: One City, Two Races - The City
 

Another fantastic city race in London, 7km straight line and 28 controls, even with a few longer legs then it all felt pretty intense especially south of the river.

Finished 6th of 146, satisfied with that as beforehand I thought top 10 would be good. Had a pretty clean run with just minor hesitations which were needed to stay under control so can't be too unhappy about them. Only in the top 6 places for 3 out of 29 splits so another reason to be satisfied with 6th overall!

Didn't get all the best routes though and that cost me in a few places:
- to #1 then maybe a bit far off red line, thought it was good to go past #2 and #3 en route but #3 was in a packed market so going that way was v slow
- to #4 then right is shorter than left
- to #12 chose Southwark Bridge not Millennium Bridge as I thought the latter would be v busy with pedestrians, sounds like a good choice...
- to #14 briefly confused by Borough Market and (especially) the road past it all being shown as olive green
- to #17 was my worst route, didn't see the way through back round to the north and south was 30s slower, Martin Ward caught me 3 mins here.
- dithered on the route to #21 and went north where Martin had gone south just ahead (had passed me going to #20). He ran away on the leg but that may have been running speed not route - couldn't really see him after that but only finished 38secs afterwards.

Martin won in 45:49, then Dale Paget in 47:04 and Rich Barrett in 47:17.

Garmin trying to tell me that I did 11.4km but it struggled for signal in a few places (including the underground section right through London Bridge station!), 10.5km-11km seems more likely.

Jog from assembly over Tower Bridge to the start, as much a practice for pushing through the crowds as anything else! Also did some stretching and drills pre-race. Plus jog/hobble back afterwards.

From hotel west along South Bank, north over Millennium Bridge, south over Westminster Bridge before getting as far as the "ceremonial event", turned back east, north again over Blackfriars Bridge, back over Southwark Bridge and to hotel. Lots of people dodging and a couple of busy road crossings, felt pretty good though.

Run from the uni before heading to Dave C's for some JEC stuff - wanted a gentle run of a reasonable distance but then halfway round decided to head up Dumyat from the east. It is very steep from that side! Just about managed to keep 'running' to the top although definitely walking would have been quicker. Then puntered down slowly, very dark descending through the woods so went even slower there..

FVO evening event on 1:3000 map of new area, Queen Victoria Schoool in Dunblane.

Sprint course with butterflies ably planned by Trevor, set off chasing Fi one minute with Ross a minute behind me. Lost half my lead over Ross by failing to find the right gap in the the right thicket at #1 and a bit hesitant on the route to #2 when I emerged at some houses I had not realised were on the campus! Pushed hard after that although I did run round the stream after the run across the playing fields rather than cross it! Went down the dead end steps at #17 (after the final visit to the central control) and lost about 10s.

By far my biggest time loss however was punching all the controls rather than simply touching them - should have asked Trevor before I started! With 20 controls and quite a number of them flat on the floor (tricky when inflexible like me) then I am claiming that cost me well over a minute.....

Short warm up jog, a bit of control collecting, then lap of the campus with Ross and Fi. Found an assault course so maybe a control at the top of the rope ladder next time.....

Not planned. Early start for first flight to London then delayed flight home got me back at 10.30pm....

Recovery run at lunchtime (culture at Book Festival straight after pilates tonight so can't run then).

Ankles were seized solid from about halfway round yesterday's course and not much improved this morning, pretty painful to start with but eased off a bit in the second half. Took it nice and easy but actually was feeling suprisingly okay by the end.

Pilates, bit of a poor turn out this week but hopefully numbers back up next week. Not helped by both Brad and I disappearing before circuits to see Christopher Brookmyre at the book festival...

C • Christopher Brookmyre 2