Training Log Archive: rcro

4th go at this - and worst year yet for heat and humidity (and it's usually hot and humid...). Legs still pretty tired but put in a fair effort along the bottom and just tried to keep going the rest of the way.

Leapfrogging John Aggleton quite a lot - eventually finished ahead. Caught Mark Matthews up the main hill and stuck in behind - passing on the "flat" after main descent.

Very close behind Rhys at the end which was a surprise but had my eye on catching Ben - who had been ahead the whole way and knew he should burn out before I did. Unfortunately he was 50 yards ahead at the end and started his sprint at same time I did. Keeping an eye out for Cory as expected him to fly past me and beat me - and he did fly past towards the end along the top, and disappeared out of site at high speed downhill and never saw him again - but seems I ended up 2 mins ahead so clearly passed him back somewhere...

Good to see some NGOC faces come - shows the power of email.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1071001742

Event: Cardiff Park Series 5
 

Park race in Bute Park. Hot day again, still some effects from dehydration and legs very tired from last night. Went slowly and took a while to catch and pass Alice and David May.

Got to the right bush for 17 straight away - which is some achievement given the mapping - and control wasn't there. Given the mapping, and the history for very misplaced controls, only half heartedly search around for it - going out to main path and back in from the rootstock - to the same bush. More killing time going clearly the wrong way to wait for Alice and David to catch up, find the same bush, and say the control's not there. Eventually found it by seeing Mark P exit - on a tree about 100m SE of the correct place. 8 mins lost.

Given I wasn't going hard didn't mind - but at beginner focused events it is really important to get it right and leave a good impression!

Not expecting a good time tomorrow.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1069266403

MDC run - Neuadd skyline clockwise.

Hot weather (especially so given wet morning) and good group - with guest appearance from Ben Moon so reasonable pace.

Some efforts on the main hills - up from reservoir (but lots of walking later on as too steep), last half of bit up to Corn Du, to Pen y Fan, and up to Cribyn (did manage to run this) - and some good lines on the grass for descents from PyF and Cribyn meant wasn't *too* slow there too. Some pretty good segment placings - in top 1% on several.

Feeling tired from Sunday - but surprised how well the run went as its so rocky underfoot and doesn't play to my strengths.

Suffering with dehydration once nearly home so basically just got home, took in painkillers, salt and sugar then went straight to bed. Luckily my work PC is being slightly worse than normal today - taken 25 mins so far to update links in a simple spreadsheet - that can catch up with attackpoint whilst waiting :-)

Long slow run with Ben and Will from Talybont reservoir taking in half of Brecon Beacons route anti-clockwise, cutting across to Torpantau.

Pretty warm but fairly easy pace. All climbs are bastards and definitely good for trainers at the moment. New track from Tuesday goes only half way to the cairn.

Legs and feet really not liking all the sharp stones heading over to Tor y Foel.

Nice to get out and do some distance in mountains again

Event: NGOC League 7
 

Legs been suffering since Thursday night so this an attempt to loosen them. Pacing for 22:30 and did that reasonably well.

Not helped by the 22 and 23 min pacers. 22 min pacer stopped 200 yards from the finish to wait time and guess 23 did similar as was still on my tail with 500m to go. 2nd km pace off as 23 group had overtaken and then slowed down - and blocked path so I couldn't pass for a while.

Still not great after. Will see how tonight goes once at top of the hill.

Second go at this race - and legs probably feeling worse this year. Parkrun helped but still pretty stiff - so went into this not too seriously - and see how I felt at the top before "racing".

Very slow start from everyone - but most were still faster than I was. Settled into a reasonable pace chatting away with Gavin and seemed to get past a few without really noticing. Gavin began to fall away about 1/3 up the road hill so went on alone. Just about kept running but was a struggle.

Reasonably slow on the top as rough for ankle so lost place back to Gavin, and the other guy I overtook, and did another cycle of leapfrogging up and down the next hill. So, by the stream crossing I had the same people in front of me as I had at start of main climb.

Fairly quick through the fields and roads at the end - with a proper sprint at the end to gain 3 places. Nice to get a bit of speed and reasonably comfortable.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1062853966/overv...

Reluctant. But feeling pretty tired so no point breaking myself.