Training Log Archive: Bashman

LSD
Started with a bigger pack and then split off with Andy and Stanwix. Hit the wall VERY HARD at about 80 and then really struggled to get home. Grim. Probably because hungover, sleep deprived, and having had breakfast 6hrs before.
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Ante
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FRA Relays - 1st Leg
Big question mark over this as to whether the legs were fixed from last week. Didn't feel great warming up, and didn't feel as light as Wednesday on the initial climbs but energy to get up the hill was there. Started a little reserved before sticking into 2nd leaving the fields. Chris Arthur (Keswick) came past, didn't know the face to the name but he was clearly on a mission, and a little bit too fast for me so floated off the front. Eventually overtook 2nd just as things were getting quite steep. Did well in scrambly and powerwalking sections so perhaps gained a bit before the top, but 40s off Chris at this point.
Descent started well but the clag was so thick I was looking for flags rather than my feet. Felt like I could have committed more (especially if I had my VJs on) but equally was quite a comfortable pace, plus knowing there was some climb/flat still to come. Really enjoying things by now, and eventually popped out the fog still on path. Saw Spongey and asked him what the gap was, as he counted "18, 19, 20". Couldn't believe this at first but soon occurred to me I was only seeing about 10s in to the future. Popped through the wall and Chris was just ahead, noticeably a little bit slower than me.
Closed a bit more before the final climb and then really dug into the reserves up a bit of a wall. Felt good going back along the traverse and was hoping I could catch him on the last steep descent. Think he committed a bit more though and a bit of premature sprinting was required to catch him. Fun sprint finish, form felt like it was out the window and probably didn't look too attractive but finished as an apparent dead heat. Although Chris punched before me, they edited the results to make it a tie which I'm quite chuffed about. Glad to get through in one piece and very proud of the team to bash out another very good result, 4th this year in arguably a tougher field than last year. Felt like a bit of a punter asking commentator Sellwyn what Chris's name was, but it was nice being a bit of a dark horse and he asked me the same thing back anyway ;-)
Results - http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2018/BritishFe...
Finish Video - https://www.instagram.com/p/BpKuQHbHR9WhtcJshzFsu_...
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C • race 3

Easy
Nice braids lap with a good group.
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Ante
With Trim up the seat on a very nice morning. Lovely.
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Easy
Putting out FWTN controls.
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Collecting
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Hills
Pentlands from Flotterstone. Up Bell's Hill a rough way to get the legs in gear for next week, before sacking that and hitting paths for the rest. Black Hill, grim direct descent into Hare and onto the Kips. At this point decided to start going steady on the climbs, before pushing the final sections and cruising the downs relatively easily. This felt quite good and I was adequately tired by the end. Made my lecture 15mins late, perfect.
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Easy
Effort to save the legs before waking up tomorrow morning. Easy meadows lap with Lucy(!) before some extra on the links and then to pasta night.
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Ante
With Oleg along flat RL and then back through Foggieton. Feeling decent.
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Easy
Up Binghill and then down through Murtle Den. Shite land owner has put a high fence up with CCTV so gave them all a good wave. Also 'Shooting in Progress' signs which are hilarious given the proximity to houses. I don't really understand how you can be so backward as to own such a nice piece of forest and not allow people to go and enjoy it. I for one shall be returning as much as possible when I'm home and hope to meet this idiot sometime in the future.
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Easy Hilly
Nice with Oleg and Dad/Alfie for the first bit on a new side of Hills of Fare. A bit grim starting off but felt better as it went on. Nice weather soon arrived and began to get quite enjoyable just as I decked it and opened my knee. Classic, but luckily not deep this time. At least there was enough of the run to keep it moving so actually heeled quite well.
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