Training Log Archive: rcro

Nobody seemed to want to run today so left on my own to start doing some Transfan training - it didn't go very well.

Fairly standard clockwise Neuadd skyline route with the option of adding Fan y Big if the climb up Cribyn felt too easy (not taken up). Pretty hot day didn't help.

Tried fairly hard up the first climb and that took everything out of my legs and nothing "in the tank" along the ridge. Cut the corner a bit to avoid the rocks but found the terrain more energy sapping. Was at least able to keep moving on the path.

Reasonably good time up the last bit to Corn Du (9s off PB) despite some hold ups on the steep bit, and 3s off PB Corn Du to Pen y Fan (and that PB is actually very good). Slow on all the downs made worse by tiredness.

Last 1/2 of Cribyn was walk - was able to run most last time. Fairly gentle pace back down the Roman Road as worried about tripping as tired. Seems a bit rougher than last time I was here as thought there were quite long stretches where you could run mostly rock free on the sides.

Pete Ryder and Sam Gregory were coming the other way off Pen y Fan.

Good morning to be out - but warmed up quickly as I was driving there, glad to carry drink with me.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1614320603/overv...

36 bites from yesterday

Due to annual leave being cancelled and nobody around wanting to do anything managed to sneak in an extra parkrun so that I'm back on course for my 50th Forest parkrun on my birthday.

Pretty hot and sweaty again. Ground was mostly dry except the wet bits, but a lot by the sawmills was unexpectedly slippery and came close to going over completely a few times on the first lap (was more careful second time around!)

Everyone seemed to start really quickly as I didn't feel particularly slow. Had to put in a lot of effort in the first k to get into a reasonable position (14th?) to avoid getting held up on the rooty bits. Kept putting the effort in and was passing people the rest of the way to finish in my usual 7th place.

For feeling like it's a slow time, still comes in at 6th fastest in last 2 years, and 3 of those better times were in better conditions. Just need to teach the legs to go faster again.

Lots and lots of mosquitoes today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1611407581

Nothing to do so went for a token snake hunt to fill out time and not expecting to find much due to time of year and undergrowth being up. 5 adders and two grass snakes - which is quite a good haul. No lizards, but two of the adders looked quite fat.

A little jog trying to stick to off-road as I hadn't brought my trainers. Pace slow anyway but much slower because quite a lot of forestry work been going on and the contractors have seen no need to keep the footpath clear. A bit more stopping around the end to check on the snakes.

Hot day to be out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1611720839

Back to hot and sunny so a very easy jog from home once I did decide to get out. Wore yesterday's still damp kit so smelt a bit like Will - in the washing machine now.

Need to find something to do for the weekend as nothing on and weather looks good.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1610444163

Event: Summer Street Challenge
 

Seems Newent was unlucky enough to get two direct hits this afternoon. Meant there was lots of standing water (up to shorts deep in a few places) and very few people came out to run. A shame as the courses were good, and the weather improved to be pleasant rain/drizzle when I was out.

What wasn't so good was the watch. I am losing patience now as the first part of the run was complete bollocks - well offset by more than 50m, and my heart stopped quite a lot of times. I think I was mis-sold by all the positive reviews of Suunto GPS accuracy as over the last year it's been no better than my old Garmin 110 (less than 1/3 price, and I may still have it somewhere...). Counting down until the new Garmin I like comes down in price or work throws gift vouchers at me...

https://www.strava.com/activities/1608619174

Woken by rain so not slept well then a long day at work left me tired. Agreed to defer another 3 days holiday to July so means I'm now in the office right up to when the trains stop. Will be glad of a break as it's been a hard month.

MDC run around the top of Ogmore Vale.

Battled pretty awful traffic both in Newport and right along the motorway. It's half term right? Weather forecast was grim - so these combined meant very few turned up.

Quite a nice run, weather held out but pretty sweaty again. Not going great on the hills but seemed to be moving when I tried. Ground was pretty dry tonight which made it a lot easier.

Ran to the end of the road to finish to get the time to read 12345.

Both chip shop and pub very cheap so one to come back to.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1604423605

Jog to start. Pretty hot so didn't do much more.

5.2km middle race at Braunton.

Early starter so meant was able to complete my run *before* the temperature rose/sun came up... Pretty sweaty again.

Either this was much easier, the map was much better, or I just know what to expect now as all the controls were where I expected them to be. Not necessarily taking the best route of hitting them straight on, but was able to work out where I was and where I needed to be.

Only "issues" of note - went high on 9 and it was a very big drop down (>10m) - would have been far quicker to stay on the path and come in from "below"; and undergrowth around 10/11/12/13/14 much much more extensive than mapped, which scuppered some of my undergrowth avoiding routes.

Given amount of orienteering I'm doing at the moment, not going to complain at only 2 mins of losses (excluding undergrowth diversions) on sand dunes.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1601238618