Training Log Archive: murraystraining

Pentland Skyline.
Set off quite boldly, leading up Caerketton and off Allermuir, in a fastmoving triple with Jonny C and iainw. Held back a bit on the descent off Castlelaw as I think this was the key to setting the record three years ago but Jonny and Iain forged on and opened up a bit of a gap. I felt quite weak on Turnhouse, the same lack of power I felt at the 2Breweries and dropped two minutes off record pace on this climb alone. I made steady progress along the ridge but lacking oomph on the climbs and confidence on the descents. By the kips the gap infront was over 2:30, about the same as the gap behind me to the chasing pack including Al A and Stewart Whitlie.

Iain and Jonny were out of sight on the Drove Road so I chilled out and set about keeping up a tempo that would hold 3rd - I was feeling not too fresh by now and had given up hope of the win - even if Jonny died Iain was looking pretty strong and knows these hills well.

Second gel drop at GC was very welcome and when I got up the trod on BH I was surprised to see the boys again. Still a good way ahead but not as far as they might have been. It turns out they took the wrong trod and had to do some heather bashing to get across. Glad I recce'd it on Friday! There might be something in this after all. I didn't see them ahead again until I was almost off Black and they were on the steep climb up Bells - and I was very pleased to see them walking. I managed to run all the way up the reentrant which is a sign that things are going well - had to walk in 2010 when I crashed at the end but ran all the way in 2013 when the record went.

Moving well on the fast traverse to Harbour and getting close enough that Iain looked round when the gate crashed - he did start running though at that point. Jonny was a bit further ahead by now though and looking stronger so I thought second was up for grabs. The gap came down a bit on Capelaw and Allermuir but both times the top came too soon. By the wedding stile though, the gap from Jonny to Iain was the same as Iain to me - all to play for!

The climb up Caerketton proved decisive. Jonny went steeply up the fence line but looked to be making a meal of it; Iain went round the path and was moving well. I chased Jonny up the gravel but was in full racing mode and managed to get him, just as Iain appeared from the side. The momentum was with me though on the second half of the climb I pulled away. There was almost a sting in the tail when I took the wrong path down the side of the ski slope and ended up on the wrong side of some fences but fortunately Iain followed me and Jonny followed him so we all came into the finish from the wrong side, looking a bit daft.

So all in all I was happy to get the win, not so happy with how it felt. It;s funny that I only led at two summits out of the 16 - the first and last! I was 6 minutes off record pace for the first half (1:19 at the Drove Road / 109%) and 4:30 off for the second half (107%) so reasonably well paced. Gels worked well as usual along with a couple of cups of water at Flotterstone and the DR. Conditions were pretty good, both atmospherically and underfoot.

C • Nice one! 6

Potter about Blackford and Braids after the SEDS planning meeting.

Flotterstone-Green Cleuch-Black Hill dropping gels off/recceing the lines over BH.

Hills w/Coombs and Jonny. 3:30 up Castro/Radical Road then 60s of fast technical descending through the quarries. 2:30 easy jog back down Castro. x5.

Flattish run around Holyrood. I was dressed for summer, conditions very autumnal. Also forgot normal shoes so had to go in the only ones I had kicking about the office - my oldest F-lites with a 2-inch hole across the toes.

C • Don't you earn money? 3

Railway progression with Doug, Jonny & Coombs. No one feeling too frisky so slower start than last week and a bit inconsistent on the way back - decent amount of tempo running though. ~31:15/27:25
4:28/06/3:57/52/48/35/30/33/39/34/22/28/22/25/20/18.

C • Savage 1

Conference at work meant no lunsjogg but also meant an early finish. Innocent 10.