Training Log Archive: iainw

Easy round the 7 Hills route with Megs from Calton to Braids, then back past KB. Windy as, man.

Event: Scottish National Cross Country Championships
 

Bit of a frantic warm-up with watching Megs, organising Jess, Carnethy numbers, and getting my chip on - very nearly forgot. Not feeling particularly motivated or smooth at this point, so decided to take the first lap easy, and see what happens.

Had planned to start gently, behind Andy (who I knew would come on strongly throughout the race), but the way the start panned out, I was in front, so just tucked in and felt my way into it. Felt fairly comfortable, so stuck around BC and trickled past people throughout the first lap. The steep hill was pretty brutal, and I think spikes would have suited it a bit better, and the mud around the top sapped my strength, but not as much as a few other runners, so I did a good job passing people on the back section. Invariably someone would come past me on the hill up to the antonine wall, but I could usually reel them in around the wall. Managed to take Tom halfway through the second lap, and thankfully didn't see him again.

Started reeling in Waldo, and got about 10secs, then left Andy to forge on because I wasn't sure how much I had left, probably the wrong decision, but fine. Andy got James just before the finish, and then 3 or 4 guys who'd tucked in behind me outsprinted me at the finish. Galling. Myles almost got me, but thankfully I held him off with a bit of a sneak cutting off manoeuvre.

Happy with the effort: time tbc, and not sure of position but far better than previous years. To improve: learn how to sprint finish!

Update: 41st.

Cooldown lap(roughly) with Andy, then to the train station with Megs.

Shake-out with Megan (8th today!!) round Duddy, Peffermill, Dalkeith, then to Tesco.

Easy round Holyrood with James. And, yes, still feeling sluggish, stiff, and sore.

Easy in the bog with Jess. Very, very windy.

Flatter wintervals tonight. 4x6mins figure of 8 loops (hard on big loop, easy on small) where the Ed endurance session are held. Lower turnout, presumably because of shit weather/post C5.

Intention was very much to take these easy and I did just that. Feeling very sluggish and tight, with still some pains around the hip flexors, though, which is really annoying. X-talons held up quite well in the muddy ground, so I think I'll stick with them for Sat.

Train station running

Easy round the seat with Jess in the dark. Taking the climbs super easy. Still sore.

Earning my dinner, barely. First two sets with racing club meadows: (6mins,1min)x4 with 90s recoveries between reps and sets. Feeling much better, but still hip flexor pain.

Watch is in the post back to Finland, so no idea of pacing till someone else puts it up.

Stretching and rolling when the roasted veg was in t'oven.

Nice and easy with James. Did not partake in the hill acceleration. Hip area wrecked.

To Pilates

Pilates; discovering my hip flexors are worst of a bad bunch.

Shuffle home, bumped in to Simon Lyons, which is a strange coincidence since I was thinking about him today! Another thesis nearly finished!