Training Log Archive: sjreeve

glad i chose to warm up in the new balance just to feel the trails. much more compact in places with some large, loose angular stones. so decided i needed a bit more cushioning for a race

Castle Ward Trail 1/2 Marathon "...from 15th to 3rd!"
happy to get a podium, ran well after Thursday night. A great "off road" course using the mtb trails around the estate.

Took car into work driving straight up from prize giving at Castle Ward

wet all morning & got soaked

just decided to spin the legs out after last night

running in the new light(er)weight racers!

and drills, started warm up in the light drizzle which just got heavier

Hill & Dale #1 (Trails) "...from 5th to 15th" Castlewellan Clockwise
of the two races this week, this was to be the priority but two basic errors cost a good run and this was possibly the slowest I've ever ran here.
the light drizzle and low cloud became heavier and darker and this would've been a very grim evening if we were on open mountain. in the warm up it was difficult to see who was there and who wasn't so the strategy was to go off just behind the leaders (Allan, Neil & the 2 Davids) and then see who was with me at the first climb a mile in. some familiar faces appeared but all were runners who i'd usually beat rather than compete with so tucked in planning to move ahead after the descent to the castle before the climb to Slievenaslat. then, at the fork before the steps to foxes green we carry on left before someone behinds us shouts - we're off course and in the confusion a good twenty or so runners have run on along the right track and up the steps. it's now very slow and congested, someone/something catches my left shoe, i'm focused on descending fast down to the castle to pass alot of folk but as i'm running i feel the laces loosen and then flap against my leg. i'm running but hoping i get to the bottom before my shoe flies off - thankfully it doesn't and i can stop to tie the lace but with the adrenaline and cold hands i'm panicking and in my mind it's all over as a competition. with too many runners ahead it's going to be slow and congested on the climb over Slievenaslat but i try to pass as many as possible on the forest track - rightly enough it's painfully slow over the "summit" but then Mark Alexander makes a break and i follow in the gap and we're away, chasing runners down (including PaulP who's pulled up) as we fly on the descent. I pass Mark as we turn into the Winter Gardens and chase down Colin Pascoe but I don't increase my advantage and he gets me before the line and unknowingly i lose out on the V35 spot. it hurts to look at the results as i had an "easy" sub 38 in me and with the absence of alot of big names i could've had a top ten even top five spot. my garmin gives a "non-moving" time of 20sec but really time was lost up the steps after running off course and then climbing Slievenaslat.

it's wet, i'm soaked & annoyed. priority is to get changed and warm and home!

ok, so almost shaken of the cold/flu so headed out straight from work for an easy run. maybe could've stayed out for another 30mins or so. felt fine but nowhere near 100%. the cold virus has definitely affected my digestion as well.

overtime!

Travel back up from Sligo and drove straight into work.

Travel down to Sligo