Training Log Archive: simonw

Hardmoors 160.

http://live.opentracking.co.uk/hardmoors16/

S'pose I best write a little bit about this one as it was a great experience and I learnt a few things along the journey.
Entered this because I missed out in the UTMB lottery again.(automatic place next year). Then was going to enter Ronda Dels Cims but that sold out the day I was going to enter. I wanted something I'd not done before and knew Mark had already entered so tapped up Jon Steele to see if I could have a go unsupported. Jon said I could only enter if I used Marks support team and stick with Mark the whole run. I'd usually say no to this but I've ran that much with Mark I knew we'd probably be able to stay together without any diva moments and there wouldn't be much racing involved as for Mark all roads lead to Andorra.

Route starts at Sutton Bank - White horse loop - Helmsley - Tabular Hills to Scalby Mills - Cleveland way back to Helmsley.

Pissing down and cold at start in Sutton Bank visitors centre. Race briefing was in a bus shelter. Mad American girl at start didn't even have a map had to buy one at visitors centre. She had route description and a jar of pickled gherkins, not much else. Jon said to keep an eye out for her!.

Started out with 2 layers, +hydroloft +waterproof. By White horse I'd warmed up enough to get most of that off and the rain stopped.
First 20 miles all new to me as not recced but after that kind of remembered all the way to Scalby Mills.
Very wet underfoot, shoes were slipping quite bad and on occasion filling with water. Had a sensation that they weren't draining very quickly as well. Stupidly just using vaseline on the feet as I'd forgotten sportslick. Thought I'd be OK as it wasn't that technical and would be drying out along the coast path.
Half way down Tab Hills the feet were a bit sore but nothing to worry about yet. I had 4 pairs of socks to go at.
Early miles, up to about 40 odd, I was feeling quite a sore throat and ended up taking lemsip at a couple of stops and not eating much. Garry Scott was invaluable as road support as he would just turn up at the most needed moments and he could see I'd been shy with the eating. Made me eat a whole pork pie at Levisham. Seemed to help greatly.
Coming into Scalby and the end of the Tab hills is a bit of a landmark, about 1/3rd in. We were rewarded with a good breakfast of some adventure race type hydrated meal things Mark had left over from Spine race and a good sit down.
The coastal Path was superb and didn't seem much of a chore to get on with. Nicely broken up into seaside villages and coves.
Garry would get us going at each stop with a promise of fish & chips in Whitby. We never rushed this part. Sun was out, food never touched the sides. Wasn't much running involved, just a purposeful walk with the odd few hundred metres of run thrown in, just enough to keep on schedule.
Sun was just setting as we reached Saltburn and the last of the coastal section. On the last part of this decent the feet went very sore and I'd developed a blister on each foot just behind the toes. These were popped but caused discomfort the rest of the run.
Back inland now, Mark had a bad patch with a bit of foot trouble, shoes too tight I think but I think he was right by Roseberry topping. We had to make a bit of time up from here to Kildale to be inside cutoff. Garry's dad had took over for a while but we didn't spend long at Captain cooks monument where he met us for the first time. We'd misjudged it slightly and got a good lick on to Kildale but was there with over an hour in the bank. Not the greatest place to be, Kildale. Everyone looked fooked so we didn't stop long.
Bloworth crossing was a highlight;-/ Mark mentioned he'd like to write a guide on shittest walks in North York Moors. This would top that list.
Seemed like hours going up and up with wind in your face and nowt to look at. The hallucinations were a good distraction. On the way back down to Clay Bank there was Garry who'd come up to meet us and said we'd overtaken loads of people during the night. We weren't really fussed but felt alright anyway.
Wainstones, Kirby Bank, Carlton Bank all nice interesting climbs and decents. I had to be on it to keep up with Mark but still moving well. The new day brings about new enthusiasm as always.
Osmotherley seemed like a drag to get to. Official checkpoint was at Square corner 2 miles up the road but we had another breakfast in the bus shelter for a good 30 minutes and arrived at SC with 30 minutes to spare.
Second shit walk - to High Paradise farm next, same deal all uphill on stony path, went on for what felt like hours. I was sleep walking this bit despite rain in the face all the way. even donn'ed waterproof trousers. First time ever. Garry met us again at High Paradise. We were on the home stretch now and thought fuck it we'll spend some time here in the cafe. Had some proper coffee and was completely rejuvinated.
It was a pleasant enough yomp all the way back to Helmsley. Rain had stopped but because of our couldn't give a shit attitude a fair few 160 runners had caught us back up not least crazy american girl who passed us by Riveleux, pulled her pants down and pissed right on the trail.
We stupidly did a sprint finish to hold one guy off and ended up legging it the last mile.

One of them domination things. Screwed up number 1 by dropping too early. Would've gone path way but thought 'off the map' was OOB.
The rest were pretty good but flapping around the circle again. Shoes are shit in wet.

Suggestions of a Lake district walk ended with groans of displeasure and much arguing ensued. Settled on a compromise of Ingleton waterfalls walk.
Hot dog stall at mile 1, Ice cream van at mile 2, cafe before mile 3. Big push to the finish.

Easy towpath with Fly

Impromptu out on bike while no ones looking

Friday ride with hotline stops

Weights at the gym.
Left it too long. Not been for a couple of weeks so back to deadlifts and a bit of bench. Little bit of leg stuff on the machines just to work adductor/abductor.

Wrekin Streak. High sports 2016 summer series #1
Got wind that this was on from Cath. Henry said he'd be up for it so couldn't say no really.
Not much you can say tactics wise. Just went as fast as I could all the way to the summit. Henry overtook me on the steeper section before it opens out but only a second or so behind him at the summit. Expected him to open up a gap on the descent but it was me who pulled away. Leg strength I suppose.
Despite not feeling a will or need to run fast at all in recent times I enjoyed this greatly so will probably do the other Weds night Shropshire summer series as well..
30th in 22:19
Henry in 37th 22:59







http://www.highsports.co.uk/blog/wrekin-streak-201...
results

C • Blimey! 3

O training over the road from Beaudesert.
Good area but map all to shit because of Monkey trail not mapped. Did ok after first 2 controls again. Kind of leapfrogging Tom for most of it until we both stopped to look at baby Badgers.

MTB with Henry. Nice ride out. Found the Coventry lads trails near Beaudesert so sessioned those a bit. OK but a bit busy.

Fellsman #7
No intentions of racing it. Idea was to have a long day out and feel fresh as a daisy at the end.
Went round with Mark again. Walked every climb and stopped to chat to folk along the way. Kev Easly at Stonehouse and Paul Nelson up near Redshaw.
Adnan at various stops doing the same as us.
Weather was nice early doors if a bit cold. Very clear skies and snow on Ingle and Whernside. Boggiest year for a long time by all accounts.
Got a bit of a rush on to not get grouped at Fleet Moss so left there just before 7. Slightly better line to Hell Gap this year by handrailing the East fence but turned around and there's about 10 people following us.
Grouped at Cray with God knows who except one guy got pulled out before we even left. He had shorts on and was staggering about. temp got measured at 34degs. The others didn't say much apart from they couldn't be arsed to run and didn't know the way at all. Good job I did. Well below freezing at night. Cold feet was the only problem but moving faster would have cured that.
Obligatory run test from bridge to the school was successful so no energy issues at all. Bit tired by the end though due to it being about 4 in the morning.
84th out of about 300 for a walk ain't bad I s'pose
results


Just for my own ref..
wore
1, helly
1, merino helly
berghaus vapourlight hydroloft(after grouping)
Montane minimus
tracksters
drymax trail

Easy out with dog

O training on Badgerslade. A bit stiff from the weekend but nav'd it ok after getting my eye in after first 2 controls.

A bit of O training. Clean run throughout. Only lost about 30 minutes total and aimed off at funny angles on most controls.
So it's a power line. It was a fence in my head. The irony..

Calderdale Hike.
Second running of the 3 that will be on this route.
Unsure whether to bother doing it as still a bit chesty and lethargic.
Took a good couple of hours to feel like I was moving properly.
Passed Karen Nash early on but shed recced the route a bit and caught me again when I took a stupid line off the moors to the first reservoir. Ended up following her the whole way around on mostly the routes I was going to take anyway.
16 minutes quicker than last year but cruising all the way so quite happy with that.
Feeding strategy worked well. 3 eggs at 6am before driving up.
banana before start.
during run 1.5 trek bars and mouthful of a banana at the odd checkpoint.
Way more water than usual.

http://www.calderdalehike.org.uk/results/2016.html

Easy ride out with Henry turned out to be quite eventful.
Saw a muntjac and 2 buzzards by shooting butts .
Headed over to lower cliff and came across a kid who'd come off and was sitting in a pool of blood while holding his inner thigh. Handlebars had gashed his leg open very close to main artery. He wouldn't move so got him to hold it. Called ambulance and rode down to Morse Gorse to guide them up. All sorted in about 40 minutes so carried on.
Saw John P who let me have a go on his Trek 29er superfly. Goes like stink but is it fun to ride?

With Fly searching for a trail Henry found earlier. Found it, should be good when it stops being so wet.
Run felt like a blow out. Wheezy early on but abstaining from ventolin. Loosened up after 30 minutes and felt great running through the flat bracken.
Try and stay virus free for a few weeks now.

First proper bike commute since last September now weathers picking up. As a result got pissed on..

Second jaunt around 5 trigs route over Roaches. Last time June 2013.
For reference it's..
1. Shutlingsloe.
2. Roaches.
3. Axe Edge Moor
4. Burbage Edge
5. Shining Tor
With Roger, Kathryn, Rich Chadwick, Karl Gordon...and Darwin the collie
Started very slowly as Kathryn was struggling with the terrain and rolling ankles. Coming off Shutlingsloe reduced her to tears so she headed back with Roger. That left me to navigate from memory... and a gpx trace on the ambit;-/ Lucky it's a simple route.
Keep meaning to have a proper go one day.
Weather was great but felt like shit. Tight chest and breathing rough.