Training Log Archive: Ollie

North Downs Relay - running Leg 11 for SLOW, between Westerham Hill and the Caterham Bypass. Started well, matching the GO runner for the first 2-3km, but then tired on the long gradual climb to Botley Hill. Found the short, sharp climbs later on very tough - the second was a flight of steps and I ended up walking them. Finished around 4 minutes down on the winner - so I beat Mike G's time last year (59 minutes) and my own target of one hour, hence win the bet (a pint). Not sure how I could ever do Alan L's record time of 49:57 though. Conditions were pretty perfect - the route was a little overgrown in places and it was quite hot, but the ground was dry and there was little wind.

Didn't have a map, instead I trusted my GPS which had the route programmed in it. Still had to pause a couple of times to work out the way, and the GPS had problems with fixing a signal later on, on the steepest part of the section. Looking at the route line is probably more useful than looking at the arrow, which doesn't provide much of a warning.

Good fun, but I think GO have run away with the prize again this year!