Training Log Archive: Frostbite

Given the weather we abandoned plans to do Scafell Pike and headed east instead. From Haweswater up Long Stile to High Street, then down via Mardale Ill Bell and Nan Bield. The weather was only really bad for about 20 minutes but that happened to coincide with us being on top of High Street. Driving rain and wind at that altitude was pretty unpleasant, we were both glad to get down out of it. The sun came out again as we passed Small Water.

MIddle race - Bigland. Nothing wrong with the heart but plenty wrong with the brain today. Started a bit ragged, probably trying to run a bit too fast. Lost a minute at 2 when I was in the right place running round in circles, then at 8 I confidently ran past the control and two contours down the hill, another minute lost. Then at 12 I confidently ran past the control and 4 contours down the hill - another minute and a half. I just kept thinking I knew what I was doing when I didn't. It didn't help that I had caught Keith Agmen 2 minutes and I thought I ought to be leaving him behind. I never saw him again after 12 and he beat me by 7 minutes in the end. Anyway the final straw was at 16 when I started reading the wrong leg on the map. I realised after only 100 metres or so and I was more or less on line to the control but I just flipped - I didn't have a clue where I was. In retrospect it was obvious but I just made completely the wrong decision and ended up descending loads before I worked out where I was and then struggling back up the hill. After that I had more or less given up, and of course spiked every control.

Very poor.

C • BIgland Big Chance 18

A steady run with some faster bits. I actually set off to do the same timed loop of the park that I have done previously but after the first minute I found the bridge over the goit gone. It is in the process of being replaced but there was no way to get across. That threw me. I turned the run into a fartlek session running faster bits as I felt like.

Adel Crag, very tired still. Lots of effort for not much speed.

I didn't see anything of any interest whatsoever.

Sent out on an errand at 9pm I thought I might as well turn it into a jog as I was feeling quite sprightly. The feeling lasted to about the end of our road, but I was ok considering. No heart issues (now that there is no pressure - it's all in the mind). Pleanty of leg issues, but they felt a bit better as I went on.

Via Susan's house, Brookfield, Tannery, Hustler's Row, Weetwood Mill Lane.