Training Log Archive: olsoran

Had wanted to do this one for a good while. Was a bit worried about it as knew I clearly hadn't done enough for such a long tough race but what the heck.

Snow on the tops, what looked like quite a bit of it. Mudclaws or Race Ultras? Opted for the former. Probably a good choice.

Field of 800; hang back at the start for obvious reasons and don't want to go too hard up Penyghent. Great shouts from Chloe and Bex on the uphill track out of Horton. Settle in.

Into the snow and great to see Jack, D, Murray and Doug all in the top 15 as they pass, already on their way down. Shout at them. Then Penyghent is sorted without too many problems. Dark clouds masking Whernside and the next climb, looking such a long way away.

The long run across to High Birkwith and then Ribblehead pass pretty uneventfully though and then more good encouragement from H & C as the uphill begins again. Cross a stream and queue for a stile for a couple of minutes. Down a gel. 18k and halfway and all good so far. Single file up the steep climb in a lot of snow. Get the jacket on early as strong hail comes on. Top out right at the cairn. That's nice.

Dont enjoy the long run down the ridge in and out of the sponsored walkers and then carefully pick a way down the stony but muddy steps on the steeper section down to Bruntscar. Push on to Hill Inn and accept the offer of some jelly babies. Still feeling ok. Pleased so far.

Strong on the Ingleborough climb but held up by others struggling up the narrow stony path. A short run up the ridge to the cairn and then turn for Horton. Latch onto a lady in the Newcastle United colours of Trawden going at a fair lick and try and keep pace. It's still a long way back and after a couple of k she gets away. Stumble a few times on the rocky path. Others had said this bit is long...it was..and suddenly struggling but at least no cramp. Finally though a short climb, through a gate, then someone's garden, under the road and there's the field. Bex and Chloe shouting again. Done.

That'll do. Great to finally run this one. 468th.
Nice to see Jack, Murray, Duncan and Doug in 6th, 7th, 8th and 11th and a great effort and result for HBT taking the team prize in such an iconic race. Nice one guys. (Sorry to miss your prize giving but yes, the hot tub, 20 mins up the road, was waiting).

Penyghent 45.46
High Birkwith 1.23.49 (38.03)
Ribblehead 1.54.41 (30.52)
Whernside 2.43.49 (49.08)
Hill Inn 3.13.40 (29.51)
Ingleborough 3.58.49 (45.09)
Horton 4.44.50 (46.01)

C • Hope you enjoyed the hot tub! 2

Gentle loops around Torqu, Craigmore and Marywell. Feeling more rested although the shovelling of many stones didnt go unnoticed.

Balnagowan loop with BP and the academy folk. 11 out today. Brisk it was too with the 9 who did the longer loop. A bit more bounce in the legs today.

Jiggered today big time.

Lots of brashings at Faskally these days. Hence pretty physical. Ok run but surprised to be 3rd less than 1 min down behind JamesC and KeithT.

Less physical than the Prologue..thankfully as on my last legs after last night.
Virtually caught both JC and KT at 3, also with SamG. Lost the latter before 4 and was up with JC only from then on. Just couldn't keep pace with him over the last couple in the forest and then the caravan park. Nice little sprint finish with MurrayS :-). Happy enough with 2nd behind JamesC.

Before Prologue and Chase

Dipping out of tomorrow..tough week and tough couple of days but a lot of fun. Glad concept of Dark Thistle seemed to work. Tough though.

Craig a'Barns
Great head to head fun. Tough terrain but we knew that...really tough in the thick low visibility bits, nicer in some of the open stuff.
Gaffles soon split people up periodically saw RL, CA and a few others. Made a mess of 19 and so so slow through some of the hands and knees thicker stuff..poor route choices!

Putting out controls for Dark Thistle Long course. Lovely bit of wood.

Restful day. Sort of.

Weather so good. Couldn't not.
Carnferg loop from Birse back road. Via Newmill up the track, up to the top then back on the southern track with an extra bit of terrain in Balfour at the end. Fairly ploddy but lovely out.
Weary. Rest day tomorrow.

More stone raking

Raking stones. Very many.

Deeside Runners
Nearly dipped out of this being knackered but too nice a night and I was today's Ballogie bus driver so...it hurt as usual.

6 x 2/1
8 x 1/1..may even have been 9
Reverse of the normal long route to start with but round back of Baudy Meg. Held it together just.

..but Glen Tanar and views there from were gorgeous tonight and a fantastic turnout..maybe the best I've ever seen.

...Glen Tanar.

Lovely spring sunshine. Loop round the back of Bogieshiel and Ballogie House then through the fields, over the road, a few more fields, and back on the standard tracks through the wood.
With k. Really nice afternoon. Legs still heavy from Saturday.

Local late leg loosener round the bounds.

Many moons since I've done this and then on the old course
Well puggled. A real mudbath.
Stuck on Ks heels until the Mount Shade stile and was probably 30s behind at the top but got blown away on the downhill. Picked up a bit on the Clachnaben climb but she had long gone by the time I was through the snow at the top. Mud and more mud on the way back through the heather.
Twinges of hamstring cramp over the undulations through the forest at the end.
Happy enough with it.
Nice to have lots of locals obviously running but great to have the visitors adding ng the interest to what was a Scottish Champs race this year.
2nd and last of Ballogie runners...6 mins down
3rd and last of family...about 29 mins down...what?!

C • Wow 29 mins down - Kirsty m... 2

Warm up with K and Anwen
Warm down/hobble also with K and Anwen

Many steps to and from Pontone. Ran some of the steep uphill ones.
Lazier day. Another pizza. Red wine.

Many many steps, especially downhill. To Positano. Path of the Gods.
More ice cream and coffee.

Out and back on the 'Path of the Gods'.

To Amalfi. Steps lots...especially down. Hot. Lizards many.

Napoli Garibaldi and buskers on the Italian railway.
Climbing bits (not big bits) of a volcano and doing some other activities one does when in Italy.

Alleyways of Napoli.
Weary.
Pizza and Piazzas. Scooters and Fiats.
Coffee

Sun
Oranges and lemons
Ice cream
Capri

Exploration of some fields but completely shot after last night.
Started off as a dawdle and got slower.

Deeside Runners
5*4/2 at Glen Tanar and then a final 2 up the hill. All round the long loop.
With Ballogie runners (MT, SW and DW) and JM and JamieR, with me trundling along at the back. Very hard.

To the start of intervals and also on the way back from high point of the long loop.

The sort of day you really don't want to go out.
Dreich and dreary trip up Craigmore and back via Torqu. Felt weary and didnt really put a whole heap of effort in either!

Torqu; Potties wood; down to the Green; short stretch of Deeside Way then down to the Dee. Chinwag with KarlR fishing down there, then continued to and through Slewdrum then a small loop in Shooting Greens before crossing the road and heading up to Toms Cairn. Bit muddy and rough on the first bit but not bad after. Down to Corsedardar memorial, across the road and then tracks back to the road. Short stretch beside the road to finish.

Dead steady all the way and a very pleasant morning it was too.