Training Log Archive: martin(uk)

Waikawau Bay (Coromandel) loop run from campsite, with Charlie, Bill, Al and Ted. Got left behind on the steep climbs, but was leading the steep descents. Great views of the bay from the ridge at the top.

Day 2 of the Pre-Oceania event - Woodhill Forest. Course 1.

Some of the best sand dune terrain I've ever run in (possibly the best). A huge area full of really intricately contoured dunes, and mostly very good runnability and visibility. Should have been 6mins/km, but my very "relaxed" approach to navigation meant I had a couple of huge mistakes and quite a few small ones. Also took me a while to leave the start triangle, while my (northern hemisphere) compass was doing weird things. I couldn't convince myself that I should turn about 170 degrees at the end of the tapes to the start triangle.

During the course I tried to convince myself that maybe I should aim 10 or 20 degrees to the left of where my compass was pointing, but that didn't seem to improve things. I think maybe it was just swinging around more than normal, but still pointing north correctly.

Despite the shade of the forest, it was hot. About 26 degrees as we drove away. I was struggling to keep running well after 75 minutes, and struggled round in 100. I expect the top elite guys will take about half that.

Sprint Race, Mount Roskill School. Great little area for a sprint, full concentration required. Unfortunately we'd been wine-tasting in the morning - not the best preparation. Enjoyed it anyway (especially when the guy at the finish asked "are you Murray?")

Pre-breakfast run with Lesley, Russell. Took a camera and stopped several times.

Run/walk (and two ferries) with Lesley around Russell, Bay of Islands.

Quite humid, rain showers, but at least it was much warmer than the UK. Earnt our Christmas dinners!

C • Humidity 1

Headlight run, Burbage, Padley Gorge, Longshaw.

Short run with Lesley just outside Windermere. Felt like I had a stomache ache, which 12 hours later turned out to be the winter vomiting virus (norovirus).

Norovirus. Went to bed feeling a bit crap, and then woke up at 1am, 3am and 4:30am by the effects of the winter vomiting virus. Its effects went as quickly as they came, so by mid the next day I was up, drinking Lucozade, and just about well enough to go into work.

Bigland short circuit before a long lunch.

Grindleford station onto Longshaw, with Lesley.