Training Log Archive: murraystraining

Checking out the start with Joe, McPosh et al.

World Mountain Running Champs trial race/ UKA Mountain Running Champs: Glenridding -> Helvellyn Lower Man (with an extra loop at the bottom).
Started in control just off the leading group of four but on the first steep short climb I found myself moving to the front. Good signs for later on. On the next section, a traverse along a contouring path I let the leaders (Steve Vernon, McPosh and an Ethiopian) move away and then on the fast downhill back to Glenridding two more came past (Nick Swinburn and Chris Smith). That's fine: you run the first half to get to the second half, when the gradient ramps up again I'll move through again.

On the second time up the steep slope and along the traverse I moved back into fourth, holding the gap to McPosh and ETH: Steve V was starting to pull away at the front. Out of the loop and instead of the plunge back to Glenridding it was left and up the walkers path to Whiteside. Here was when things started to unravel. There was none of the freshness I'd felt at the start and I felt like I was crawling. The gaps in front weren't coming down and Joe Symonds was reeling me in from behind. I kept going but it was a bit of sa struggle. First Joe came past then Chris Smith and I couldn't do anything to hang onto either of them. Once the gradient eased I was pleased to find that I could still accelerate - unfortunately so could everyone else!

Over Whiteside I had given up trying to catch anyone in front but now I had Nick S back on my heels so I acclerated over the summit down to the col before the final climb. This opened the gap up a bit but he quickly reeled me in again and then surged past. I was a beaten man, and with a big gap behind me I just plodded up the final section in my own time.

So I finished 7th & 6th Brit. With Robbie missing (racing on the continent) I think I'll be unlikely to be picked for the Worlds. Ultimately if you want to guarantee selection for something like this you have to make the selectors job easy and I didn't give this race the respect it needed. The difference from Snowdon was night and day, in a bad way. The reasons are obvious - too much beer and cake in my week off and too many miles this week. I don't regret either though: I needed a break after WOC/Snowdon, and I needed to get the miles in for the Jungfraumarathon. If I am lucky enough to get picked I know that I'll be able to put in a far better performance at the worlds and if I miss out at least I know that even with a poor run I'm on the fringes of the team - and I think the Jungfrau will be a lot more fun anyway!

Back down the hill with Tessa, via the main summit and Striding Edge - fun!