Training Log Archive: Frostbite

CAOM stage 4, Santo André. Billed as a middle distance but it was a bit on the long side. Mostly ok despite being very tired by now. I caught and passed Steve W but then he almost caught me again when I made a mistake. Much like the previous day, just lost track of where I had got to and kept going uphill a minute too long until there could be no doubt I had got it wrong.

16 minutes behind Richard H, 8 behind Ben

CAOM stage 2, middle distance, Relvas Verdes. Very long run out and an easy last control and long run in. It seemed like half the course was just track running. I tried to run a bit harder today. Our course had a few grotty controls before the nice bit. The Scots all lost a lot of time at one of the grotty controls. I did not, so it must have been in the right place really. Then I wasted 2 minutes in the nice bit, trying to second guess myself and sending myself wrong. I've lost the feeling of where I've got to, but even when I started to think I'd got it wrong I just kept going until there could be no doubt.
14 minutes behind Richard H. 5 minutes ahead of Ben, who is one of those claiming #3 was wrong.

CAOM stage 3, sprint, Santiago do Cacém. A bit hilly, mixture of old town steps and alleyways and new town blocks and passages. And a lot of dodgy road crossings. I don't think I picked any bad routes but I was last of the brits. 5 minutes behind Richard H, 3 behind Ben. On the limit of what my heart could manage on the hills.

CAOM stage 1 - Santo André e Santa Cruz. Took it steady, no mistakes but did get stuck in some gorse on one quite nasty control. 11th place, 19 minutes behind Richard Hejdenburg and 9 minutes behind Ben.

CAOM training, Vila Nova de Santo André. Very hot in the middle of the afternoon. Jogged around a bit, found a few controls.

Marvão to Castelo de Vide and back. About 21k, 5 hours including lunch. Lovely mostly downhill walk along old calcadas and woodland paths on the way there, then the same route back with a lot more uphill. We debated whether to go a different way back but following the waymarks was the easy option. Saw lots of potential houses to buy.

Marvão to Portagem and back, a nice stroll in the sunshine. About 9k, about 2.5 hours.

Outeiro windmills run. Sunny and warm. Took it very steady.

Wowser, two runs in two days. Still suffering from palpitations for the first 15 minutes or so, but nowhere near as bad as back in January. I was able to chug up to Parkside without grinding to a halt, and then improved after crossing the beck.

Same run again round Meanwood. 2 minutes ok, 15 minutes palpitations, 8 minutes ok.

Meanwood, same as yesterday. Much better. Didn't want to push too hard but enjoyed the novelty of actual running.

Meanwood. Not as comfortable as on Tuesday.

Beckett's, Glen Road

My heart has been feeling stable since I walked up Ragleth Hill on Saturday, so I thought I would risk a little jog. There were a few wobbles but mostly ok, and my legs weren't very comfortable either. It will be back before long, but at least I might get round some courses in Portugal.

Walk. Llangollen - Horseshoe Falls - Moel Morfydd - Moel y Gamelin - Moel y Fain - Ponderosa - World's End - Trevor Rocks - Castell Dinas Bran.
About 19 miles.
Absolutely cracking walk. The weather was a bit grim from when I left the valley to the top of Moel Morfydd, but it cleared when I got to the top and later on the sun came out. Best bit was at the end, climbing up through the rocks then traversing above the cliffs. When I set off up to the castle it had been pleasant and sunny for a couple of hours, and there were little old ladies and families setting off up the hill. Within two minutes of arriving at the castle a hundred mile an hour wind suddenly blew up, and then the driving rain started. It was that sort of day.

The only disappointment was Horseshoe Falls. I was picturing a mini Niagara, but it's just a weir about 2 foot high.

Walk. Pontesbury - Pontesford Hill - Stiperstones - Pole Bank - Little Stretton - Ragleth Hill - Church Stretton. A bit breezy but nowhere near as much rain as forecast. It was only really unpleasant on top of the Long Mynd with very strong winds and stinging rain. Didn't last long fortunately, and the sun was out again (just) on Ragleth Hill. 20 miles or so.
Heart not much of a problem today. I was able to push on a bit going up the last hill despite tired little legs.