Training Log Archive: jed

Up until this morning I thought the race would be cancelled due to ice, still much deliberation about shoe choice as I wanted to be able to go for it. In all honesty my legs didn't feel good in the morning (left glut giving my ITB and knee niggles) and I couldn't understand why but eventually got them going. Race 1 total.

Scottish Sprint Champs, this was a target, I'm Scottish and I love sprint but I've never won this as a Senior (in 2009 I technically won but sprint wasn't really a big thing yet and in 2010 I won W18 but didn't have individual class prizes).

On paper I should win but I've targeted this a few times but thrown it away (2 years ago ran off the map and last year had a nightmare with a crag) so it's a different thing actually performing on the day. I always struggle with bit of pressure but I didn't want someone who wouldn't actually say they're Scottish walking away with the title so this was the first real race test of 2019 season. I knew I had to really get myself focused and a bit wound up (an article I read on the journey up helped with this), I know the feeling with a bit of aggression. 100% focus on map, I'm running well so no need to worry about that.

I had a rough idea where 1 was going to be and was correct so able to plan quickly and get off to a great flowing start, smashed the first 4, even had confidence to crash through the wood to 5 (although was very relieved when picked up the map that the course didn't go into the scubland!). I didn't take the best route to 6 as hadn't quite planned fully ahead and dropped a few seconds and slightly jumpy to 7, a bit wiggly in the car park and making sure I wasn't going to 17 which was nearby. A good start though and even leading the course here. Route choice to 8, didn't know which was best but made myself pick one before punching 7 and committed. Same story with 9. I was tiring but planned ahead on 10 so I could flow through the pick section but coming out of 12 started navigating back to 11, luckily alarm bells rang as knew my plan didn't involve a garage and I actually listened so minimised to c.5secs loss. Back on it ok, committed without faffing and planned ahead again next long leg, then forced myself to push on. Slightly poor route entering 17 but smashed the rest, totally ignoring the guy telling me to slow down to punch the finish (my thoughts were if I fall I'm taking the stake with me as I just need to punch). A decent course for what looked like a fairly not exciting area.

I knew it was pretty clean but I didn't know if I'd tired too much on some of the long legs. Turns out when it feels good it is, clear win in women's and decent result on the course too. I know it might not have to others but this one meant a lot to me and even happier that the performance deserved it and looks good for the season :).

Race 2 total.

Race two didn't count for champs just the urban league (which I can't do a lot of the races for this year as focusing on running) so just out to enjoy this one. I'd put a lot into the morning both physically and mentally and this close to my B12 injection I really didn't have two races in me (the tough races in the hills recently haven' helped this but I now accept I can't be at my best all the time).

Positives though, I started hard and well, leading course after 3 controls. I let my concentration slip when I started to catch John who'd started 1 min ahead and missed my route on 4, then changed my mind on 5. Good to 6 but again not decisive and ahead on 7 and 8 so two poor routes. Just didn't have the full concentration and focus I had this morning allowing me to be distracted and messy. My hair was pulled out in the wood at 8 so ended up pulling it out completely on way to 10 as was annoying me like the headtorch on 11. Ok through next few but didn't fancy a cut through the brambles to 12 but turns out there was a way through so dropped a fair bit of time. Simple next few but just missed the lights at road crossing so had a really long wait which was annoyed then slipped up at a control which obviously wasn't mine at 16, pure stupidity. Good through sprinty but just had nothing left at the end.

Messy and feeling flat, quite rightly off the pace but still won overall which was nice as sometimes the Scottish Sprint is two races so know I'd have won no matter what. I struggle eating between two races in one day so this coupled with low B12 means energy just isn't there so going to try some gel etc. next time in this situation.

Energy to burn (wasn't sure if definitely going to nights and feeling sprints may be cancelled due to ice so wanted a run.) Easy snowy Lanton loop down home before watching Mum run to a team medal at Masters XC.

I don't like night orienteering but it's really good training and I kind of fancied being out on the dunes at night so said if Dad entered I'd go too. Then he did but I was almost spared when he was ill all week and I'd planned to be down home so wouldn't be easy to get there. But I ended up there, fully charged torch, checked it was working in the house, got it all set up in the car ensuring connection wouldn't come loose, standard me checking again it was working. I wasn't acting particularly positive and I had no real aim other than to try and enjoy it a little. The time came and headed to the start, realised I needed to switch my torch on on leaving the car park and bam no light, fiddled around still nothing. Ran back to car, it started working then off again. Dad told me to take his spare as it was better than my spare but I couldn't get it to fit my head, cue much huffing and puffing. Eventually headed off to the start, arrived with less than two 2mins to call up, torch came off my head so I went through the boxes trying to make the stupid thing fit and ended up clipping it on with my kirby grips.

I was in a foul mood, I couldn't really move my head or run at any pace without the torch sliding and the torch wasn't bright enough to see very far ahead. I then didn't notice the path slightly kink at the end before junction and went into wrong block of forest (1:15) cue more bad mood. Really safe to 2 and 3 then really safe to 4 but thought the control was in the depression not ridge so overshot (55secs). Ok to 5, went in a little early to 6. Couldn't make sense of map at 7 when felt it should have been obvious (25secs), 8 was basically hidden and I overshot onto further path as struggled making sense out of 7 (2mins). I was reasonably good through the next few as recaught Ross who'd passed me early on and had a bit more of race, taking different route and made me forget about my head torch issues. No idea what was going on at 13 as thought I'd been careful and come out right at control but it was further right (40secs) and 14 was also a bit bingo (20secs). Alright again to the finish apart from 18 where I was pulled right and then thought I was further on than I was and got stuck in brambles (1min). Never really pushing as after all the issues decided it was wise to save the legs for tomorrow, surprised result wasn't worse. I'll probably end up going night orienteering again despite moaning so much!

Legs feeling a bit too tight for having had an easy week.

Spoke to Dad and decided against a test tonight for various reasons and know I'm running well enough. A little bit of both sprint and night practice around most of Ultra Vet course in Dean Village, a bit slippy so being cautious but still fun.

2x90secs (3mins), found an almost ice free road. Legs happy though.

To gym via Meadows, a little bit of snow to keep it exciting. Usual rushed return after. That's all for today. Leg splits up from weekend, 37th on leg which was pretty decent although if we'd have been 26secs quicker we'd have beaten HBT men's team, if only we'd got that last route!

Think I left my legs in Fife....

3x90secs (3mins), mostly on the grass as the park paths very slippy.

After cancelled appointment last night, Rory came over tonight and sorted me out with a massage. Top service. So so much pain (definitely needed) but good chat.

Disaster as planned massage cancelled, I'd specifically booked it for end of current block and was telling myself all through the run I'd soon feel better. Legs in dire need (niggles creeping in, right foot and hips really tight) so big stretching and rolling session after but hopefully sorted something for later in the week.

4x90secs (3mins), standard Monday feelings.