Training Log Archive: rcro

Event: SBOC Local Event (Summer League 6)
 

SBOC local at Merthyr Mawr. 4.4km green course.

Navigation clean but very slow in the deep sand, and cautious in the undergrowth - which was tall in a couple of places I went.

Coughing worse - I think dust/sand in the air not helping.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1696075207

MDC run above Ogmore Vale. Not a great route with lots of undergrowth, bracken, bramble, nettles, barbed wire fences, electric fences, angry horses and not so much in the way of footpaths. Ground rock hard and very rough - so other than on the top, running wasn't really possible. Lost a lot of time in the first half of the loop so cut out some of the second. Not a route to repeat (first half at least) - out and back along the top would be more fun.

Pub did the best chips of anywhere I've been to - and there were lots of it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1693946300

Appears there was some form of communication error regarding meeting point tonight with website and facebook both saying different things (and neither being where we started - hadn't even checked assuming we were meeting at the pub)

Trains are back to being as they were immediately before the tunnel shut. So, 2 short formed, 2 broke down and one was neither short formed nor broken down but was 25 minutes late. Has taken out 90 minutes of potential surveying time.

If I’m out of patience I suspect many have given up by now - but where’s our public apology and news coverage? OK there was a film crew on the second train to break down...

Now know to leave work at 3.30 if I want to do anything in the evening

Again didn't sleep well with heat.

Stayed in most of the day mapping so didn't go out until started cooling. Fairly gentle pace but hilly route - bit overgrown in places.

OK on the run but feeling pretty tired now I'm back. At least it will cool down slightly from Tuesday.

Lots of coughs but no coughing fits.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1689853854

Fan y Big race - at the new start time of mid-day (to coincide with the mid-day sun).

Barely slept last night with heat keeping me awake - and it was very hot today. SPF50 sun cream was wearing off within an hour so meant I've burned quite a bit today.

Was struggling pretty quickly. Heat and illness combined - so ascent felt much worse than it should have, and with it being so dry should have been able to make better progress up.

Once at the top was clearly suffering from dehydration (only had 500ml with me and was trying to make it last) so slowed the pace down and took it more steadily over the rocky section - not that I would have been able to go much faster had I wanted. Person in front was pretty poor descending and I was catching on all the rougher bits.

Pace definitely picked up once clear of the rougher parts. Steep descent to the gate was hard - but wearing trainers meant at least I had fair cushioning. Just one step where trainers weren't so good - just after the gate we turn right off the wider track and when I tried to turn, foot went straight on, and I went flying for a bit and jarred back.

Road to the finish here always plays to my strengths as generally I hold so much back on the technical descent. Overtook Andrew Dickens on the DOWNHILL and left him for dust. Might have to remind me of that a few times :-)

Pretty wrecked to finish. I don't handle the heat well at the best of times, and at the moment it's extra hot and I've been ill. Can't expect too much - and think I should be pleased to get around relatively easily.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1686621860

Wanted to get out and do something today but legs weren't up to much. Fair bit of coughing this morning - worse than yesterday - but cleared up somewhat. Forced myself out to Lydney for an explore and was struggling with the heat.

Started with Primrose Hill - first time off the main road since I mapped it 4 years ago. Despite being quite a nice estate (appears named after characters from "I, Claudius"), NGOC has never wanted to come up the hill at all with its races to date.

Missed turning for Kidnalls I wanted - sign was some way down a driveway so bit of an extra loop. Took an interesting path down to main road - which ended up with lots of trees down and went to the back of someone's garden so had to find a way around.

First time out to the harbour - which was hot. Very glad there was a shorter way back than going back past the station.

Good to get out and do something with the day off, but suspect would have been better to take a rest day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1684283317