Training Log Archive: Leon

Easy run round Chevin with Pete, a little dark by the end.

Ran from hotel in Newcastle suburbs out to Blyth, along the old waggonway and bridlepath, then down Holywell Dene to Seaton Sluice and up the coast.

Ran most of Holywell Dene and coast on a Sun run after Blaydon '12 so knew where I was going once I got here, very pleasant as was the bit before that.

Indeed I was only about a mile from where I did the pre-Whitley Bay parkrun Riverside branch run, so add that on and you've got a superb 22-23 mile run.

Legs felt trashed before the run but once I got going were pretty good.
Could have made it virtually 100% off road run but gave up on running on the beach after 7 or 8 minutes, too soft and too windy.

Blyth wetherspoons is well worth a visit, superb cinema conversion.
As for the rest of Blyth, well there were four gentlemen stood round some kind of giant lizard on a patch of wasteland (I'm serious) and another guy getting into a taxi with one barefoot. It takes all sorts.

Event: YHOA Urban League (UKOL) / Superleague/YHOA Middle Distance Championships a
 

Darlington, one mile w/up & one mile w/dn

Darlington parkrun (#67) - 1st, 16:37

Very cold so hit it hard from the off and soon found myself away and clear.
Maintained a solid pace, laps were 5:27,5:31,5:29
Would prob have run a parkrun PB if it wasn't for the masses of people I had to lap and weave in and out of.
Deceptive course in that the laps went very quickly unlike some other 3 lappers I've done. All tarmac.

Thirsk - 1.9 before and 0.9 after

Thirsk Urban Race - 1st, 41:27

Very pleasing, had expected to be a bit rusty but apart from first 2 controls was always planning ahead and knew what I was doing with good map contact. Made some good decisions on route simplification which helped keep leg speed high.

Only very minor errors were
1. Turned in one too early from east, should have gone round top I think
2. Was stood still for a fair while working it out
8. Not the best route, possibly should have risked diagonal across market square
17. Went around building should have gone south of hedge boundary and round
20. Went south, splits suggest north was quicker

Route on route gadget for those interested in other choices
A good start to the urban year!

C • 17 1

C • 3 2

Had a parcel to pick up from the sorting office in Ilkley so ran to get it before train to work. Considered going off road via Ben Rhydding estate but yesterdays rain put me off that.
Nice downhill start, thought I was feeling OK but pace was slow.
Didn't see a car until I got to the A65!

Horsforth - Home via Rawdon Billing, with Matt
Majority off road
Grim evening, wind and rain, first day of spring eh?
But at least we had some daylight.
Easy pace, legs felt decent after 20 mins or so.
8 x 30s off 40s once I got to Guiseley, felt good and fast running at speed, amazing how long 30s feels when flat out!

West Park and Hob Moor, first mile slow, then OK
Should go this way more often, quite pleasant

Knaresborough to Starbeck

Starbeck Street O, 23/30 controls, 44:42
Nice to start in daylight.
First 4 miles easy pace then stepped it up when I felt like getting some more controls, and also I might get stuck the wrong side of Belmont Level Crossing at 19.09.
Far trickier than last time but planned well and took an optimum route.
Has to be said a few controls were ambiguous and a few paths missing, not sure that excuses people jumping through hedges as I saw two people do.
Good fun though, as usual

Did the first mile into the wind, the second wind behind then faffed around the hospital area for a bit. Legs felt good actually.

Track,
6 mins (2) 2 x 1k (90s) 4 x 400 (60s) 1k
1850m, 3:12, 3:08, 72,71,72,69, 3:08
Windy
Not my greatest session ever but I ground it out, solid enough in the circumstances
Felt sluggish throughout, perked up a bit at the end
Felt very out of it and shattered at end

C • Those are still good times ... 2