Training Log Archive: RichT

Cycled out to Bardsea to check on Will and his knee. Had arranged to meet at 7pm at 5.30pm - hour and a half later he comes to the door saying bike has a puncture and hasn't been fixed yet! Not good prep. 40mins later we finally manage to get going as the daylight fades and it gets colder.

Small loop together with his knee seemingly ok, and then head for home.

Out through Swarthmoor, down to Yrswick, Gleaston, Leece, out to coast road and back to Ulverston. Still trying to protect groin.

Climbed onto the bike for an easy ride around standard loop - Birkrigg, Scales, Gleaston, Dendron, Urswick.

Massage session with Liz Leech - worked on trigger points in groin.

JK2014 Relays - Pwyll Du. Groin very sore after 3 days racing so took the shorter middle leg in a team with Nick Howlett and Dick Towler. Quickly overtaken by Mike Smithard and followed him on long first leg via path and ditches through heather, South of the line. Turned out cutting North and following alternate path was a minute quicker! Pretty clean navigation, able to read the map and visualise well. Passed by Andy Hemstead and Axel Blomquist as I trundled around the course - happy to only drop a few places.

Very sore legs and groin after and not helped by 6 hour drive back.

JK2014 - Mynd Llangatyr. Big storm came through middle of the day and it all went dark with low cloud, thunder, lightening and rain! Not feeling very positive but managed control pick in quarry, then out onto the moor to go pit hunting. Off line on long leg and difficult to relocate, then back ok and stumbling along with a W50L. Both stopped short on way to #6 and wasted 6 or 7 minutes on a parallel error. Clean through next few before caught out by some poor mapping of the marshes on the slope off the moor. Very tired through the last control pick beside the track.

JK2014 - Mythr Common. Set off cautiously and managed to hold it together through the first 5, then tried being clever on the way to #6 and made a small mistake. Checeked with HT where I was, and he knew! Going through next couple of controls realised I was on same line as Jackie Hallet (M55S same course as W55L) so used her to check. Different routes on lng leg where she was more hesitant and I got ahead. Managed to lead her into most of the controls and clean through majority - small 10/15sec hesitations.

JK2014 Sprint - Swansea University. Lovely Spring day.

JK2014 Sprint - reasonably in control though park - couple of faffs coming back into the Uni. As good as can be expected.

JK2014 Training - drive down to Brecon Beacons. Out with Milo Williamson on Mynnd Llangattyd training area.

Stickle Pike East - Tech race. Short Blue loop. First off and going happily reading the map well (1:7500) and spiking the controls until I came around hill, dropped into re-entrant, descend between crags run to knoll and no flag. Heather Burrows caught me here, descended a little more and across to SW and finds kite on another knoll.
I was pretty convinced it was hung on a knoll on edge of circle but Heather not so sure. I was going to move it but Heather convinced me to leave it. A good couple of minutes faffing. Up hill to #7 ok and then down to #8, set off down slope but put off by steep descent through crags so retraced my steps and set off at 90 degrees. Made a mess of #9 in the circle and was still chuntering about the map on the way to #10 which I was convinced was hung at the base of the NW knoll rather than the SW knoll as specified on the descriptions. More chuntering, getting peed off with the course.
Up to #14 (missed 3 on bottom loop) ok and along to #15 and again not sure where kite might be hung - turned out to be high on the spur (just in the circle). Jogged on to the last two controls, beginning to feel groin again.
Not happy . . .

Loop of Kirkby Moor. Felt groin after 10 mins or so but decided to keep going.
Slight detour towards end coming off Shooting House Hill as farmer burning heather in very strong wind. Felt very slow and shuffling thoughout.

Negative - didn't feel very strong, know I have put on weight since suffering groin injury 6-8 weeks ago.

Positive - surprised to complete loop in time, maybe haven't lost as much fitness as I thought.

Loop to test out groin. Out via Ford Park, up Hoad, along to Flan Fell & back via Gill Banks. Blustery day - wrapped up warm.

Usual loop out through Croftlands, Birkrigg, Scales, Gleaston & Dendron & back.
One small stop 3/4 mins to adjust back brakes. Didn't feel groin too much.

Hawkshead Primary Festival at Wray Castle.
Putting out the kites from 7.20am to 8.40am.

KS1 loop with Dylan, Luke, Finn & Archie.

KS2 with Harry & James Bowen, William & William & Freddie.
After 20mins Hannah took William & Freddie and I was left in a sprint interval session with Harry & James & blonde William! Hard!

Collecting controls.

Tech Race #1 - Torver High Common.
Tired before I set off - groin sore after chasing the Bowen twins. Hesitant into #1 and then caught by Katie W & Helen O and raced with them in sight for a few controls. Also reeled in Lois and only overtook her 2 controls from home. Enjoyable run even though felt I was wading through treacle, especially in the wet marshes.

Graham & the UVHS crew - chip night!

Lakeland training on Blawith Common. Miserable wet morning spent talking to people. Then a jog around collecting in kites.

Wandering around Stockbird Head putting out controls. One proved to be in the wrong place. None of the 35 kids complained but made a talking point for the evening race. Good to see Angus & Adam out.

Hollie selected for WOC - good news!

Last particpant in activity returned at 7.45pm so rushing around first hill collecting kites in the gloom for 20mins, and then 40mins with a head-torch as the rain set in collecting northern set. Back home for 9pm.

C • blimey, bit of a long eveni... 1

Decided to go out with Graham and the UVHS crew. Only Jack, Alex & Fiona turned up so we went onto Birkrigg. Lovely spring evening in tshirt and shorts.