Training Log Archive: Old Daniel

Wet and windy early on. A very leisurely day and ran late in the afternoon 6x daffodil hill. Took ages to get there into the wind , I guess this may not explain why it took so long to come back

Jan 29off 29.01.51 132.62 miles 13.08 mins/ mile (213.34km 8.09 mins/km)
Feb 29off 21.24.09 78.94 miles 16.16 mins/ mile (127.04km 10.07 mins/km)
Mar 32off 37.50.44 192.2 miles 11.49 mins/ mile (309.13km 7.20min/km)
Apr 32off 35.26.48 198.57 miles 10.43 mins/ mile (319.56km 6.39min/km)
May 31off 40.13.05 224.01 miles 10.46 mins/ mile (360.51km 6.42min/km)
Jun 28 off 39.09.36 208.82 miles 11.14 mins/ mile (336.06km 6.59mins/km)
Jly 17off 23.07.02 120.06 miles 11.34 mins/ mile (193.21km 7.11mins/km)
Aug 32off 41.12.44 220.75 miles 11.12 mins/ mile (335.27km 6.58mins/km)
Sept 24off 33.42.44 171.6 miles 11.47 mins/ mile (276.17km 7.19 mins/km)
Oct 34off 40.04.53 207.81 miles 11.34 mins/ mile (334.43km 7.11mins/km)

YTD 286off 341.14.36 1755.44 miles 11.40 mins/mile (2825.11km 7.15 mins/km)
2013 249off 242.16.03 1186.43 miles 12.15 mins/mile (1907.93lm 7.37 mins/km)
2014 270off 272.47.30 1272.33 miles 12.40 mins/mile (2079.81km 7.52 mins/km)
2015 309off 279.58.26 1345.20 miles 12.29 mins/mile (2164.89km 7.46 mins/km)
2016 332off 293.21.36 1329.22 miles 13.15 mins/mile (2139.17km 8.14 mins/km)
2017 342off 332.35.24 1468.91 miles 13.35 mins/mile (2363.98km 8.26 mins/km)
2018 351off 362.34.21 1626.97 miles 13.22 mins/mile (2618.35km 8.19 mins/km)
2019 350off 343.26.03 1457.77 miles 14.08 mins/ mile (23456.06km 8.47 mins/km)

Tinsel Trot, its pretty rare for me to essential do the same run on consecutive days. Still very wet so actually did not cross the Somme but rather ran the other sides of the triangle, which was wet enough. Also messed up the timings for the second day, Ran well for the first part but tiring by the end. Quite a tough week and very weary by the time I got home.
Have run the target for the month, which for a variety of reasons, not least the time of year has been a challenge. Not competing ironically helps and I have certainly been really enjoying countryside running. October was also the month where I eclipsed recent yearly totals.

From Burrington Combe, a social run with Pete, Jo, Chris and Helen a sort of Tinsel Trot. Quite a lot of stopping mixed with occasional efforts trying to keep Chris in sight (and failing) so a worthwhile session. A wet day but much better than forecast. I had forgotten how nice it is to get out and feel the seasons in the Mendips. Did enjoy the outing. Unfortunately the group attempts to wish Alice happy birthday failed, I suspect mostly due to lack of signal

Cold Ashton run, the path up the first valley is being improved by the farmer and the cow meadows near St Catherine's Vale hace returned to typical winter's mud. But the running gods were favouring me today, just one short very sharp shower (stopped and put cagole on for 5 mins) and ran a very quick first half, pushed up the hill and did a really good time. Quite chuffed

Standard Blaise route from the car park, in the rain, Had a spring in my step that has been missing for a couple of days. The anti-inflammatories have probably done their stuff. Accidentally stopped watch and lost the time for a section. Interpolated so probably not to bad an estimate and so indeed was running a bit quicker, which is pleasing.

Checking out a few things in Blaise

Purdown and Frome Gorge. Not really in the mood but got out, feet are a problem at the moment and knees achy from the start. Last time I did this run I was 10 mins faster enough said

Just an easy run late in the day to turn the legs over. Purdown heaving with people in the afternoon

Same efforts 6 x daffodil hill, just shy of 2mins each and a bit over a minute return. Ran fine on route to and from but takes a while as is quite along way!
A bit tired afterwards

Ran up, the hill to put the control out

A very wet evening. It was a bit of a disaster, was cold when returned from putting out last control, so ran early. Found it almost impossible to read the map I could see the numbers but not the circles so just very, very frustrating and pretty grumpy afterwards,

Ran from south end of Lake Grounds, up past Windmill to High Down school, along passed Big wood and quarry down to Weston and then along to the end of the ridge to the Walton Road across and back along coast path. A few uncertainties and hesitation on the way out. So made the coast path in about an hour. So actually return was quite quick (and I was trying).
A showers day in many way the views were better as very variable and some stunning lighting effects. Great contrast between light and dark or....good and evil

CW north from the Dog. Again seemed to be going a bit slower that I would like on the way out. Trying quite hard on way out but 42mins so had to try hard on the way back as well to get under 80 mins. Ran quite late in the day and was starting to feel ambit dark and gloomy

Ran from Combe Dingle, quite a wet day did the standard car park route but from the different start point, so that I could stop near the golf course (56 mins) and look at possible controls sites near the Rhodies and also look at which leaming tracks to take off the map. Almost inevitably after 40 years unchanged, the park volunteers have decide to cut them down......so no doubt they will be in an intermediate and indeterminant state on the day of the event ....one day I will be involved in an event where the landowners don't use a request for permission as an excuse to trigger civil engineering or forestry work but not this time.......Overall 65 would have been a bit slow but not terrible

Took the car into the garage for its MOT/Service and ran back at a leisurely pace with a bag. Took the opportunity to run through some old haunts in Henleaze and slipped back into a different era, with different priorities and challenges. Perhaps its true of all looking back but Happy Times! Feeling good about the future too (but not necessarily the garage bill!)

Nice day but quite windy, ran around Ashton Court. Standard route but put in an extra hill

Ran quite well to the hill but changed shoes and found that the ball of my foot was very sore, so stayed on the grass. Ran Daffodil Hill x 6 (its not that long <2 mins but quite challenging enough, Ran straight back but took an age. Lots and lots of people out.

Same run as last Saturday from Swineford, a grey but not unpleasant day and so many, many walkers out particularly on the CW. A cyclist caught me on the hill going up from North Stoke. He opened the gate (and I think gave me a start as he stopped to chat with another cyclist who was mending a pincture) its the type of hill where I thought a runner might be competitive but so I gave it a go (he did not look much like Geraint Thomas) but evidently not as he breezed past. At the top CW turn I was clapped by some walkers, which it itself is quite rare....but I also was clapped at the top of the second hill (Langridge to the Battlefield) by which time I would have been looking pretty ragged and weary. Quite strong efforts in the last couple of days and the body in particular the knees are creaking

Ran from South end of Lake Grounds (Prom is shut to traffic) to Layde Bay and back. (52mins at turn) A grey, still and quite chilly day but the views and aspect of the Coast Path are always good. Seems like good training as well. Lots of people and dogs particularly near Portishead end. Enjoyed the run

The short Purdown run, but does have the three hills as a bit pushed for time.
Went early and for the first time a bit cold, the start of a nice sunny day though
Quite ok with this run.

Went for a walk from the Dog with post Op, post procedure, post procedure Ash, who was in great form and seemingly good on the steep bits -which has got to be a good sign. Great day to be out in the countryside

More time in Blaise

Went for a walk with Holly and really enjoyed it

Portbury run, ran hard from the start, paths much clearer than the summer and most gates open, so quite good running conditions and really enjoyed it.

Blaise Castle, mostly repeat checking, sometimes you have to move back to move forward

Ran from Wotton to Dursley golf course and back, Very heavy legged and running hard work. Not helped by messing around at start leaving Wotton on wrong road. So return trip was much faster! Did not do as much as planned but hills felt like good training

Ran from Swineford up to North Stoke and round race course and down the hill past Landridge Church and up round the Battlefield. From here cut across the wood/ golf course to give a grassy descent through North Stoke rather than the standard Upton Cheyney. This was because running in O dobs which seem to be best cushioning for heel. So no time comparison. I suspect a bit shorter and a bit slower but still more than adequate training session on not a bad day at all, so thoroughly enjoyed the outing. A bit stop start early on to adjust shoes, remove thorn etc, but mission accomplished by changed route- heel seemed ok

Ran from Cleeve rather than car park so a few minutes on the time started well, but slowed on a narrow section, overgrown and muddy. The first (and steep descent not good on heel despite change of shoes, which compromised later down hill sections. Quite good on hills but reappearance of heel problem a disappointment and put a damper on proceedings.

Run with Pete and Jo from Chew Magna

Ran from Hawkesbury Upton. Nice sunny day, in the right mood and in the groove from the start. Ran well

Purdown, Frome Valley and just into Oldbury Court. I thought I was going well, but more to the point was enjoying it. Ran is suspect shoes but heel began to hurt when hit rough track - a bit disappointed with that

When I got out I was quite weary, so it became more ticking the legs over. Did do 3 hills though

It was raining when I left and raining when I set out into the forest in the half light. The on the morning checks are really to wake the controls up and that all is well but this time I had a wobble with a control on a crag. (I have knee issues so the slope is a challenge and its now greasy) so I re-did the work of last Saturday - the first time I had a map I had confidence in, and attacked from a number of directions with the same conclusion, a bit high but ok.....but then I decided to go back and check another crag....its ok but more going on with the contours. This haemorrhages time and now I have to really run. All the rest goes like clockwork. Jamie is a good planner and very efficient.

All the time it pours with rain.

When I get back , I get very cold quickly, shiver and my hands don't work but need to sort maps and descriptions into bags. With the aid of the car heater, this was done and the starts were not delayed, another change of clothes and coffee and cake supplied by Jo and moral was restored.

It poured with rain

Some competitors actually come and wade through the standing water, to get to the start. Blue must have felt like Brown and Green well for the oldies at least. a Slippery Blue. It poured with rain. Some survived and completed others at least got round a few.

When collecting in a crossing point I met a girl who had spent 30 mins looking for a control. I showed her how to attack it, (I know these crags well) but I cocked up, we missed and had to come out relocate, find a proper AP. This time she found it I ran with her to the next one which she nailed. She then went on to complete her course and was not last back. This was more difficult than Ashton Court she said.

It rained when we collected controls but seemed to have eased off when I left ......

BBC reported that in Winscombe more rain fell than the average rain fall for October (not the driest of months ) ........but we may not be able to apply for the Scrappy Do wet event club

C • Thanks 1

Pretty wet overnight but just raining when I ran around Purdown in the early morning, not too cold but wore a couple of layers and quite enjoyed running in the rain and then off to Sandford and Lyncombe to make some preparations.

By then it was pouring with rain, and cold when not running. Although Jamie and I were completely soaked by the end of the afternoon, there is always a bit of a thought that at least the competitors were not getting it.

It rained on the journey back the motorway restricted to 40 mph because of standing water.

It rained in the evening and it was raining, when I went to bed

(I have not particularly enjoyed controlling here, I have really struggled with the map, mostly on the north slope seeing strong features that are not marked (when weker ones were ) but also a general lack of green vegetation screen. I have run here before, although not for some years and not noticed, this race was at a bad e of year but much of the veg looks pretty permanent. Perhaps its a simplification that works at speed, if it was I was not in sympathy with it. It had been used successfully both for day and night events earlier in the year. Jamie did many map changes, but I suspect a re-survey of the north slope with use of Lidar would be interesting )

Standard run from Blaise car park, in the rain and quite cold. I thought I was going better than the time suggests. Probably where I am just now. Don't think I will improve till I get my head back into it. Roll on Tuesday

A bit of a rubbish day today. Only got out very late and only ran for half an hour in the woods and that was really just to get out of the house. Oh well