Training Log Archive: murraystraining

Harrison Park. 14 mile loop in the snow. Good company, good chat catching up on the action from yesterday. Stitch with 3 miles to go so cruised in rather than picking the pace up.

Shake-out trot - Dorset Place in Polwarth then a lap of the meadows.
Streets visited: 1 - Dorset Place.
AZ Stat: Projected completion date - 5/11/2017

Jogging, watching girls race (Tessa 17th) more jogging and strides.

Scottish National XC Champs - Calendar Park, Falkirk

A wasted opportunity. With the absence of new marathon wunderkind Derek Hawkins there was no one in this race to be scared of. With the exception of Scott McDonald (who returned from a break to make the Euro U23 GB team and who I haven't raced recently) I've beaten everyone in this race over the last year or so. However I've been in a bit of a training malaise since NZ, mileage down, big sessions down and forest time up. Compound that with the return of a cold on Thursday (I had it two weeks ago, thought I'd got rid of it to Tessa - she kindly gave it back!) and I knew I would have my work cut out to get to the top of the podium.
That said, the only days I've missed running since the East of Scotland Champs in December were the days travelling to/from NZ, and I have been keeping a bit of speedwork going - surely you don't lose fitness by running every day?!?
The start felt fine but after the first half a lap, on the descent after the biggest climb that feeling of "it shouldn't be this hard to run at this pace already" started to creep in. I was still in touch with the leaders (Wegame and Robbie S) after the first of three laps but on the second lap they drifted away and a clear gap opened between 3rd and 4th (Joe S just off the back of the leading pair). I was running ok on the climbs and flats but taking longer than usual to recover after each climb which negated any benefits I could get elsewhere. After spending most of the final lap in 6-7th I managed to close the gap and get into 4th with a mile to go. I made a few surges to try and break free of the small group but it wasn't enough and with 400m to go Scott M and Sean Fontana broke free for a long sprint for home. I gave it my all down the last straight to try adn reel them in and at least match my 5th from 2 years ago but it wasn't happening - all I achieved was holding off former champ Ali Hay to clinch 6th.

I always said XC wasn't the priority this winter but I wonder, if I'd known how this race would have gone, would I have made the same decisions for the last few weeks? I don't think it would have taken too many changes to my training to get my pre-xmas form back and maybe, just maybe, I could have achieved something special. Who knows, it's done now. WOC starts in 19 weeks!

C • Scots Nats 3

Warming down with HH, Stevie & Izzie, Ross & Al. Half a lap forwards then half a lap backwards. Also cheering on HBT's Nixon, officially the slowest man in Scotland.

Good wee trot down to Leith. I think I was chasing HH back up the Warriston Path but he turned off before I could catch him. Delibarately holding back on the climbs on the way home - feeling fresh.
Streets visited: 2 - Dock Place & Dock Street..

Listening to Kurt Fernley (sp?) interview on MT. "It's OK to suffer. If you've made the choice, if you've decided to dedicate your life to being the best, it's OK that sometimes that means hard work and your life is miserable. It's OK to suffer".
Steady out to Drumbrae, 2 miles tempo home from Corstorphine to Murrayfield just to keep the legs sharp.
Streets visited: 1 - Dochart Drive.

Easy leg stretch.
Streets visited: 2 - Dinmont Drive & Distillery Lane.

Three "Places" between home and work then another loop out to the Grange for a fourth.
Streets visited: 4 - Devon Place, Dewar Place, Dewar Place Lane & Dick Place.

C • Dick Place 5

Long session warm up to Leith Walk, a couple of streets and then down to the Great Junction St railway bridge.
Streets visited: 2 - Dicksonfield & Dickson Street.

Pyramid session on the N. Edinburgh Railway line - very gentle uphill all the way. 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 minute efforts. Felt fast and smooth at the start of each rep but struggled to hold the pace, particularly in the middle of the longer reps. 50% recoveries.FALSE

Back home.FALSE

Leg loosener. Easy week this week to sharpen up for the National, so not pushing the pace. Started shuffling but got into it.
Streets visited: 4 - Denham Green Avenue, Denham Green Place, Denham Green Terrace & Derby Street.