Training Log Archive: rcro

Punishment for yesterday was to be my one 20km+ run of the year - couldn't stomach the idea of driving for two hours and past worcester to get to HOC race, and then back.

Pretty much Royal William to Air Balloon and back, so the last half of leg 4 of relay race. Incredibly tough - really struggling right from the first climb after crossing A46, next to no flat or contouring just up the hill, then back down to same level as you were to start, then back up, and so on.

Managed to keep running all the way out, apart from on the steps up to the old road at Birdlip, and got to 10k at 59:18 - so wasn't much slower on the way back.

Really tailed off towards the end - wasn't any point even trying to run up Cooper's Hill (don't think it's possible), and then the big climb after. The gentle climb back up from A46 to car was a real struggle.

Shows that leg 4 is bloody hard - although the first 10k must be much easier than what I did for my first 10k. Not that keen to put my name forward for this!

Would have liked to have beaten 2 hours for 20k, but suppose there's no shame on just missing it today given climb. Given my last 20k run was 14 months ago, Filton-Penpole and back, mostly tarmac and dry ground, 1hr 54 with only 1/3 of today's climb - shouldn't be disappointed.

http://www.strava.com/activities/209189556/overvie...

Given my facebook comment appeared to be censored, will repeat here: why is the Blaise Castle ASO £8 BOF member/£10 non-BOF - a hell of a lot of money to pay for a Level D race in a fairly simple area?

Event: League 2
 

NGOC league at Parkend. 6km blue course.

Not moving very quickly again today but was going steadily. Very slow on some of the more slippery descents and getting fed up in brashings. Managed to punch the control 50m away from 6 by mistake (55 for 58) which is a bit annoying - never managed to get the map here since it stopped being broken ground - went in and found a control in what felt to be about the right place and didn't think much more to it.

Good to go into the bit of woods right up behind Bream - some nice crags and the only bit of clear runnable woodland. Still to be convinced about the zig-zagging up and down the hill towards the end - could see Pete Ward wasn't really into it either!

Height given in control descriptions was underestimated by about 80m - only 50% out I suppose, but there was a lot more hill than expected.

http://www.strava.com/activities/208705865

Westbury Harriers intervals.

7x Falcondale Road loop - each with enough hill (~20m) to have to work up, but still flat enough that it seemed easily possible.

Was a young guy there who was slightly quicker up the hill than I was so made sure to stick with him to give me incentive - think we were the quickest two by some way towards the end.

Times:
1 - 1:09
2 - 1:13
3 - 1:15
4 - 1:14
5 - 1:15
6 - 1:13
7 - 1:13

Working harder as it went on so pleased it was reflected in pace.

http://www.strava.com/activities/208097527/laps

C • quickest one was chacing me though... 1

NGOC supported MLS at Cranham. 7.1km brown course.

Given very wet underfoot and feeling cold, took it quite steady and cautious on the slopes. Brashings were tough all the way along line 1-2 and in block where 2 was. Nearly missed path junction for 3, then woods to it were ok.

Leaving 4 missed path I wanted and carried on down. Realised mistake fairly quickly and corrected. Still lost a bit of time towards end as looking too early for control and found No. 44 instead. Poor line leaving 7 (as happened last time) lost me a little bit.

Maybe lost 30s on 9 as was higher up than I thought - but it was very visible. Then on road route to 10 found I got myself too high for the path I wanted so had to go over to common (another 30s?). The block of woods around 10 was really nice, the rough open into 13 a little less so.

Took paths to north on long leg to 14, still managed to miss a big one, but then so did Mark S. Maybe not the best route on 15-16 but it was fairly easy paths and avoided some barbed wire and marsh. Happy with route to 17 and managed to keep feet pretty dry! No pace for hill up to 18 and walked too much of it.

Final bit of course was in the area where I can't ever follow the right bearings. Expected to go wrong on 22 and did - knew I was too far south but was still further than I thought, and there was also a bit more undergrowth than expected. Lost a bit over a minute.

8 mins down on Mark S, and think he won. Didn't break 10 min/k but I think it's a pretty good result for me at Cranham. Nice course too - probably one of the best MLS brown's I've done. Certainly get on with Greg's map better than the old one, and it was nice to get to see the new Cooper's Hill extension on the maps in the start lanes - should make for a good Galoppen in January.

http://www.strava.com/activities/207643193/overvie...

Gave up on going to Clevedon as hadn't allowed enough time for the 30 minutes it took to get across Cribbs Causeway, then the half hour from there to Avonmouth. As already 7.20 by the time reached Avonmouth slip road no point continuing.

Parked on Roman Way and did a loop of Stoke Bishop, the Downs, and back down Falcondale Road and Canford Lane. Steady pace but got in to it as time went on. Nice evening for running but a bit misty on the Downs.

Tonight was last chance for Tuesday runs south of river - by my reckoning 6 of last 10 I've attempted have taken over an hour to drive so I won't try in future. Given I'm faster when I'm running alone and it avoids stress and wasting fuel, probably better for my training too.

http://www.strava.com/activities/207361472/overvie...

C • in front of me. 4

NGOC AGM