Training Log Archive: Bashman

Steady
Good stuff. HR was probably still pretty high but definitely fit enough for the time being and there's still 6 days to get there anyway. Only feeling the chest a tiny bit and still able to push the pace well.
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WU
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Potarch Local - Green - 4.1km
Alright. Headed off a bit too hard and lungs burnt out quite quickly. But kept a good head and navigated round well. Easy TD4 stuff but still good going.
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WD
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WU for a little bit.
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Some very top secret O.
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WD for a bit longer.
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Long walk during lunch on bennachie in the hot sun, totally drained!

Easy
Along the coast whilst a friend did the PR. Feeling alright, HR still not behaving though. Hot weather!
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Steady
Getting there. Chest still wheezing but feeling fit!
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Easy
Not too sure what's going on. Woke up feeling fine, HR was nice and low, legs felt good, and was feeling really fresh! But then as soon as the running started I started wheezing, my chest collapsed with phlegm and the coughing started again - even though I still felt fit and fast.. Will take today easy again and see the doctor tomorrow to see if they have anything to clear my chest.
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Nearly there. Legs felt insanely quick and good but chest and head still not right.

Jukola written up - http://www.attackpoint.org/viewlog.jsp/user_5443/p...

Planned to go for a run but realised there really wasn't any point because I'm still not feeling 100% well.

Rough night travelling home and still not feeling too great so waiting it out.

Feeling pretty dodge all day so keeping things easy

WU
Quite a long one, starting at a ridiculous hour, but I felt like it was necessary. Saw Alex running in and Tam running off, and went to get changed. Ran to the tents with Alex to make sure he was alright and grab a map, and then out to the model area. All alone out there, so was able to really focus on my O. Everything was going well, ticked off a few controls and then headed back to assembly. Tam had quite a good run, so I wasn't in changeover for long. Ate almost a whole Kendal mint cake and was soon on my way down the run out.
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JUKOLA - Team Scottish Junior Squad - Leg 3 (Long Night) - 15.7km - 400m climb - 68th/1680 on Leg (+19mins)

A really positive experience.

Map - http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/2015jviesti3//map

After the slightly long warm up, I was let loose by high fiving Tam, the gain train (323 places made!), in 556th position. I felt awesome, absolutely no niggles and absolutely buzzing with porridge/sugar/fuel stores. Not lightning fast out the run in, but still a sub4 km, aware of what was still to come. I opened up my OS map (A2 map size!), shouted abuse at the EUOC girls who were napping on the run out, and got my head in the game.

3km first leg, no surprise, obviously straight, so set my compass and went for it. Overtaking dozens of people at a time, knowing there was a lot to make up. Picked off a lovely route through the crap and things were going great, but soon I banged my knee and things weren't so great. Lost maybe 20s recovering but at least I did in the end, nearly expected a drop out as it was such a hard knock. Got stuck in again and joined the power line. Got a nice attackpoint and headed in. Distracted by another control and fumbled for 30s but soon hit it, not a bad start.

Caught up a lad about my age to 2 and we both hit it well. He was running pretty hard for my liking and it was obviously due to our feud alone. I put in a little bit of gas and passed him going to 3. Left him for dead on the hill to 4. I was definitely running too hard though and knew there was still a loooonnngg was to go. So chilled out and took what seemed to be the unpopular route to 5. It seemed 50/50 though and I stuck high. Had to navigate completely solo and there seemed to be absolutely no one in the forest at this point. Probably the trickiest control on my course, but picked off features and hit it smack on the head.

Caught up a new train of people going to 6 but then they all headed off way too far left going into 7. I spotted this and spiked it again, Overtaking 20 people in the process, on a 270m leg, booom! 8 looked dodgy as hell, so I climbed to the top of the slope and followed that. Definitely the slower route but I needed to be safe. I was feeling it now leaving 8 so joined a train on the way to 9 and let them navigate as I took my first gel. Only 35mins in but I knew that I'd be needing it in sooner rather than later.

Finished the gel, well most of it, some of it was in my eye (pesky things), and stuffed it down my trousers. Kicked and overtook the group after relocating and hit 9 well, now in the top 400 teams. Another group almost instantly appeared to 10 and I led them along the hill and in before dropping them down the hill. Drinks point here before 11, nicely timed, and led them all into the control. 12 caused lots of people difficulty. Knew this after watching the TV during leg 1. So took it carefully going into the green with a good bearing and smacked the control bang on. 13 was equally as good and I got to 14 in the first 350. Good stuff.

Quite lonely going to 15, think I was on a bit of a low too as my split wasn't great despite good nav. Basically straightlined it and only caught a few people towards the end of the leg. It was becoming noticeably tougher to take anyone at this point, as I climbed places and tired at the same time. Safe route into 16 with a train following and then a burst of speed again heading down the hill into 17. Have no recollection of how I found the control. Then a pretty bad bearing going to 18 and suddenly I was all alone with absolutely no idea of where I was. Must have stood there for a good 90s before accepting defeat and heading back. Lost 3 minutes in total and wasn't actually too far off the control but it was clear that I had bonked so I joined a train when I finally found the control and took my second and final gel.

This train was fast. Had a good scuffle into 19 and 20 before I managed to lose and good number of them. Didn't manage to drop a Slovak called Zdenek though and we battled right to the end. Fought through the green to 21 and then a speed injection along the paths into 22. I paused too early and Z warned me it was further on up a hill. I swore out loud and he concurred. We were both totally dead. We raced with another tank into 23 and 24, but then I had my own plan. Picked up an outside path going to 25. It was a much longer route but took the same time and it gave my brain the necessary rest before hitting the final section of the course.

Through 26 and a branch ripped out my backup card. I only noticed a few seconds later and I froze. How sure was I with my codes? Sure enough. Carried on chasing Z through the last few and then onto the run in. Final burst of energy and handed the baton over to Jenny.

Don't think I've ever been so tired in my life. Mentally I was completely drained, could hardly physically stand by the end and needed sleep more than anything. What an awesome run though, nice bit of proof that I'm in good shape. Overtook 245 places and was overtaken by none. Managed to beat Lindigo's first team (even if he had a mare), and four of the top guys in my ageclass; one of which was on the JEC podium last year, one the best in Norway for his age and another WSOC gold only a few months back. Only 7-8 mins down on GG and Doug but a whopping 19mins of Gustaf who was on another level today. I'll definitely take that.

Team didn't get off to a great start with Alex living his own nightmare but we did well to finish in 281, despite another mare involving a 20minute changeover. Our team of EUOC youngsters didn't beat EUOC 1 as we had expected but there's always next year, can't wait.

Splits - http://results.jukola.com/tulokset/en/j2015_ju/kil...
Team - http://results.jukola.com/tulokset/en/j2015_ju/kil...
Map - http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/2015jviesti3//map
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C • time 2

Event: Jukola 2015
 

Trying to sleep, couldn't. So into the race with 20 awake hours....

Training was done, update later

Off to Sweden tomorrow and then Finland on Friday for Jukola on Saturday night. Running in the first ever Scottish Junior team:

Team 226 Scottish Junior Squad 1 GBR
1 Alex Carcas
2 Thomas Wilson
3 Alexander Chepelin
4 Jennifer Ricketts
5 Matthew Galloway
6 Callum White
7 Andrew Barr

Follow us on http://www.jukola.com/2015/en/live/ . I'll hopefully be out by 2:30am.
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C • good luck 2

Long-ish Steady
Plan was to head out to Hazlehead, do the orienteering, and then run home, at a relatively hard pace. Turns out the car park was further away than I expected, and the course was longer, so cut out the final run home. Feeling awesome today, and niggles all behaved.
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Hazlehead SS - Long Tech
Probably the fastest non-sprint O that I've done, although it wasn't far off being a sprint. Absolutely tanked round, until near the end where my stomach cramped up awfully! Jukola ready for sure. Stunning day.
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WD
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Steady 35
Still not wanting to push things too much. Feeling good though, and went down from Cults, a lap round the reservoir + forest and back along the river. Basically terrain running as all the paths were overgrown with shrubs and often nettles; legs will be tingling for a few days now... So good pace given the winding, tough-going path, although the weather was awesome.
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Recovery 35
With dad round Kingshill, feeling great, very strong on the hills today. Only a few small niggles, knee barely noticeable anymore, but went over my ankle yesterday and have been constantly doing so since. Understandable as its like biting your tongue, but needing some strengthening I think.
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Good session
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Not a great week but perhaps a rest is what I needed before diving into some great terrain for Jukola in Finland and JWOC Prep in Sweden. Knee is pretty much fine now, but a few more steady days before heading abroad on Thursday.

WU
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ScotJOS Training - South Achray

Relay simulation, butterflies. Running well, 1 small miss.
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Relay Simulation 2 - managed to win this one after some mental overspeed racing with Alex.
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Relay Sim 3 - Set off quite far down on everyone, nearly clawed in Andrew though.
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C • Relay 1

Control Collecting

Easy
Winton 10km loop with Dad. Knee held up but feeling weak.
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Easy
Quite good, knee holding up well, but still feeling fragile... Feeling great physically.
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Think I'll have a go at an easy run tomorrow. Cycling didn't feel too great so will keep resting it as I don't want the injury spilling into next week.

Knee still not great, just did some core. Certainly getting there though, hopefully running by the weekend. Coached at GRAMP training this evening too so feel like I still did something.

Managed to twist my knee or something on yesterday's run and feeling it this morning so no session today

Ante Prandium Recovery
With Oleg round two loops of Vogrie, and then back on my own. Lovely morning, legs feeling great, must have forgotten the damage from yesterday.
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