Training Log Archive: TimM

Ali and I had been planning on going down to the coast to run weymouth - studland, but the trains were all a mess so on friday we decided the south downs way would be an alright alternative. There's a conveniently placed train station at Amberley, and another at the very end at Eastbourne so we agreed that seemed a convenient route which we hadn't done before, so why not. And then we measured it and realised it would be at least 80k, but that didn't cause much more reaction than 'cool, I'm keen' so that was that - although to be fair, there are a few bail out options so it's wasn't a complete commitment.
Can't really remember much about the start, was enjoying the change of scenery and of course the top notch company. Before long we bumped into Jack and Kenny, and that was a lovely experience that was over far too quick. We trundled onto Devil's Dyke feeling all well and good; Ali pointed out some of the classic conundrums presented by this impressively dykey dyke, and we laughed off the distance left. Hitting the marathon would be trivial, obviously, and the chances are the next 20k would fly by and we'd be feeling good at 60k, at which point it would be a matter of cruising in the last section. How naive we are.
We went through a tricky period earlier than expected and it dented morale somewhat. 40-60k was quite the grind, both of feeling significantly sore and getting a little fed up of the landscape: we had been in sight of Brighton for hours and it just wouldn't piss off, a windmill on the horizon remained on the damn horizon for eternity, and the dull, grassy ridges with a token cluster of trees were testing our tolerance of tedium.
We'd discussed options in a way which strongly suggested we'd bail - maybe hit the 60k and then call it a day. A long descent on concrete was really not appreciated by my quads and I'd have happily thrown it in.
But of course we carried on and took our time at the taps so it was all very chill. The saving grace was probably the questionable chat that we delved into - the kind where pocket-dial anxiety becomes very real. And the darkness was also a great benefit; as soon as couldn't see the bleak bumps we still had left it was far easier to just 'remain in the present' as hippies would say.
We spent a few minutes at the last bail out option (a rather tranquil, picturesque English village) with the map out and consulting various methods of escape. Of course, being a Sunday the methods of escape were highly limited so that, combined with the relatively short and easy section that we had left, meant we had no option but to continue. Once that decision had been made everything felt far easier for some reason. My mood definitely improved, and somehow the legs eased off a little.
A minor navigational deviation aside, the section was probably the most enjoyable I think, and we trundled into Eastbourne in not too bad a shape at all, but very much eager for some fish and chips. Of course the chipppy was shut, so we settled for a kebab served by the most potato kebab shop owner in the land, job done.

Current feels (Monday) are that legs are a little achey, and feeling quite tired but no dramas. The only confusing ailment is a really quite sore left arm, can't quite understand that one.

C • Totals 3

cba / saving it for a big job tomorrow...although really it's 100% cba

Rather lovely day and plenty of people out enjoying the sun.

Current routine is fast becoming going to bed the previous evening with the intent of doing an hour pre brekkie and then an hour in the afternoon. Upon waking this instantly changes to shifting the first run to ~11, because podge > running. But then 11 comes along and I'd rather have a coffee and a mince pie, so I do, and the run moves to 12/1. Of course when the new run time comes up I'd prefer to have some lunch, and so I tuck into some more delightful scran. This then leaves a dilemma, because doing an hour at 2/3 and then another at 5/6 doesn't really work, but the prospect of doing 2 hours ish in one hit is becoming ever less appealing.
So the end result becomes something in between, which is fine because once out the door it's thoroughly enjoyable to spend some time in the Forest, as it was today.

Chilling on Buskett's and Matley. First long sleeve outing since coming home :o

Plodding about highland water and bolderwood. A right grind for the first half hour or so, but then settled in and had a nice time. Was asked by a strange bunch of people for some directions, and think I sent them in completely the wrong direction, whoops.

Loop to the south from home. Pretty uneventful really: just stuck some tunes in and went running.
Only happening of not was on the way home when I came across an old lady on a mobility scooter struggling up a hill, whilst her dog was going crazy. Thought there were three possible outcomes to me passing her: the first, that the dog would break free of owner / scooter and proceed to savage me to death; second, that the dog would thrust with such power as to cause scooter to capsize; and thirdly, that the scooter would splutter to a halt, placing all burden on the dog to carry the old lady to the top.
Thankfully none of these three options occurred, and everything was good in the world.