Training Log Archive: rcro

FoDAC elevation challenge. Nominally to the combined heights of the three peaks - and it doesn't take make of a brain to work out that's really not very much per person if there's c.100 people taking part...

Not really up for it but planned out a route that pulls in nearly as much climb as is possible without huge amounts of doubling back. Pace was slow, but it felt hard enough - not making up the time on the downs as drops to canal, railway and two in Gaer were all pretty steep and rough.

Prefer this to the faster flat run along the sea a few weeks back - could have done an extra 3.5k and more hills (just about). First run I've done with more than 400m ascent this year and it shows.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3502471307

As per last Saturday, really struggling to get going today. Motivation seems a lot easier when you've done a day's work thinking whilst knowing it will end with a run. Non-working days don't really work for me in lockdown.

Did eventually get out and made a route that was pretty close to the target 12km. Wind fairly strong and hard to Chartists Drive and on the Ridgeway.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3498365555

Rather annoyingly had a meeting until 5 for which I had items to raise so delayed getting out by an hour. Wind strong so wasn't particularly enthused but had to get 10k to stick on target.

Struggling to find new routes so lined up the golf course by 14 Locks and checked the way in advance - which was good as not signed at all, almost as if they want people running all across the greens trying to find the way out...

After quite a struggle through High Cross, it was quite nice dropping down to the reservoirs as completely new to me. Had something stuck in my throat after the golf course that took a while to cough up.

Slow up from canal so needed to loop around the flat before continuing to the top, and the wind was really strong against. Once back on Risca Road had it pushing me so was easy from there. Not as tough a run as I was expecting.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3494396575

Went for yesterday's segment and got it. Did get held up by loads of cars when I wanted to cross the road (nothing in sight when I started 10s earlier :-( ) - but at least was nothing coming down on the top half. Came close to breaking my ankle having to dive onto rutted long grass verge between road and pavement.

From that took a while to really get going again - but it was all uphill until top of the Ridgeway (note this is 10th consecutive day I've run here, and 12th in 15 days), but mostly downhill from there.

Still not at my best in Gaer, and I never am, but got up ok thanks in part to wind I suspect. Various detours made it up to a respectable 10k.

Hot, but cooler than yesterday and a lot more bearable. Had clouded over by the end so the walk after, if anything, felt a little cool.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3488939469

Spotted a segment that looked a bit weak (3:17 for 0.75km, 40m ascent) so wanted to give that a go at some point. Hadn't fully appreciated just how hot it was until I started (and still a wind) - but thought worth a try and I should at least better my 3:27 and get into top 3).

Early jog seemed like a lot of effort for 4:54/ks and the main effort itself was blowing a bit, but did it and even broke 3 minutes. Helped by no traffic and limited pedestrians.

Straight into jog recovery and wasn't ever really going well from there home. Not a huge distance today - but it's a lot of effort when not used to it being quite this hot.

Post run analysis shows I've got 3rd on another segment that I took reasonably, but not super hard - not on any of my usual routes. May give this one a go next.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3483661031

Post drink and snack long walk back to Ridgeway and around Gaer as the views were so clear. Starting to believe 50 miles line of sight is possible from Newport as you can see a lot of Exmoor beyond Cardiff. Less distance northward, other than Skirrid. Still not sure if it's the Blorenge or Mynydd y Garn behind Pontypool as both look similar. Can't see any masts as the Cwm Lickey tower and hill gets in the way.
Also got to watch a ship getting tugged into the Usk from the estuary.

Plan was same loop as yesterday but slower. Wind similar to yesterday but quite a bit warmer.

Started out as a bit of a struggle and slow first 500m but things must have started to go wrong from there as the rest seems to have been a reasonable effort. - and definitely working hard towards the end. About a minute faster despite having some long detours onto the outside for social distancing.

Would like to think my short distance race pace should be pretty good now with a couple of days rest if I'm able to knock out sub 4:10 pace on an undulating route without really thinking about it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3477956338

Was to be the 5.5k loop at steady pace but upgraded to the 7k from the start. Pace not totally steady but being against the wind for the first 3k meant it felt hard for the pace. Am hoping to fit in some recovery this week so may be low mileage.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3472391246

A little bit annoyed that I now have to pay (after 60 days) £48/yr to continue with the Strava analysis tools that I already pay £8/yr for. Good job my season ticket refund is supposedly less than 27 days away from my bank account.