Training Log Archive: olsoran

Plenty S&C this week. Much work making Consumption wall additions.

To and from Potties for coffee with T and K. Down by road and back through the wood.
Rode C's Ridley.

With K up and over Corybeg, down into Forest of Birse; back along the road then up Finzean House south drive; past the stables and over and down into Ballogie.
Lovely ride.

Some reflections on Jura now that the dust has settled.

Jura for me was the toughest single day hill race I’ve ever done – some 5hrs 30mins worth on a hot day. In this game you never stop learning so thought it worth sharing a few lessons:

• Any experienced long distance runner knows the importance of fuelling and hydration during the race but in a race as long and as tough as Jura, and on a hot day like this year, its very difficult to drink or eat enough. In fact during therace you probably have no idea whether you are or not. It’s not just important to get it right though in order to perform at your best or even just to finish the race. Remember the game isn’t even over at the finish line.
• Dehydration can really mess you up after the race. It can be both dangerous and really scary, if not necessarily for you, then your nearest and dearest and for the race organiser and the support services.
• You may think that you are just “normally knackered” after a race and it may take someone else to notice that you’ve gone a funny colour and need assistance. Don’t take yourself off by yourself assuming easy recovery over time. Stay around folk.
• Dehydration can really mess up your bodies temperature regulation. Probably even more so the older you get simply because you are likely to be generally stressing your body relatively more during the race than younger folk. You probably won’t expect to feel cold on a hot day and indeed you may not feel it but you may actually be so. Stick a jacket on anyway to help avoid some of the issues. which can potentially even be life threatening. My core body temperature was very low but I had absolutely no idea.
• If you are an organiser of a long race on a hot day don’t underestimate the potential issues. The 3 x MRTs and visiting and local medical staff on Jura were numerous, well prepared, very professional, extremely friendly and ultimately quite brilliant.

Birkenhill loop antoclockwise with K. Bit sluggish after last nights session but warmed to it later on. Nice cooling rain. Shoes worn in and comfortable.

Deeside Runners Glen Tanar session. First time for a good while.
Usual warmup then:
2x4 mins/2, 2x3/1, 2x2/1, 4x1/1 round the Baudy Meg loop and with a brutal start straight up the steep hill.
Really struggling on anything remotely steep but feeling ok on the rest of it.
Tough old session and close to bringing up the rear throughout.
Enjoyable in a funny sort of way for all that...type 2 fun anyway.

Academy Run Club
Humid
19 out. Tarland Way to the Burn bridge. A few hills back.up...put in some effort on 4 of them. Generally took things pretty leisurely. Feeling light and pretty good.

RTH Guiding - Loch Kinord & Burn o'Vat
Lots of yesterday in the legs but all ok apart from that. Nice leisurely paced chatty run round the loch and up to the Vat.