Training Log Archive: duncanarcher

I had to take Pippa to Newcastle airport, so thought I'd make the most of it and carry on up to Northumberland for a long run. Started from Byrness and took the Pennine Way all the way to Cheviot and back. Started off as great fun, because I drove through a blizzard on the way there (in April?!) and there was 2 inches of snow on the ground, which stuck around until the turnaround when it melted pretty quickly. Got to Cheviot feeling fairly good. But I was well aware I didn't have enough food for this exploit, just two energy bars and two gels (to be honest I had been going to turn round at Windy Gyle which would only be a 40km round trip). I had taken one gel and an energy bar, and took the second energy bar at Cheviot. One gel left of the 28km return trip? Not enough. Got the 'marathon' under my belt having had the last gel, but then started to fall apart. Only managing to jog bits before being reduced to a walk for a bit. Decided to actually make it home rather than keel over in a marsh (one of many), so put some more clothes on and walked much of the last 8km, just jogging the downhills. Still quite pleasant in some evening sunshine with a bit of a tailwind. All in all a good day out, and one lesson learnt to take enough food.

C • wow 1

CLOK training at Skelder. Hanging (on GPS) and collecting (not).

Bike ride first thing in the morning, Hetton le Hole, Quarrington Hill

Core stability / strength exercises

Letting the hole in my heel recover so didn't want to run. Instead road bike round Hetton le Hole loop. Nice sunny spring day to be out.

Climbing at Sunderland with David.

JK relays, Graythwaite (the nice bit). Running first leg on M120+ with Brendan Anglim and Charles Mayes. Foot was painful again, but having survived 15km yesterday I could hardly say no to 5km today. But it was hurting seemingly more than yesterday, then I remembered maybe that was because I hadn't taken any painkillers. Fortunately the starts were delayed 45 mins, so I went back to the car and took some. That made things tolerable, and once in the race it didn't bother me too much apart from coming down hills or on rough stuff where the temptation is to strike your heel. It was fast and furious. Too fast or I was too unfit to keep the pace. Eventually settled into a pack and got round. Beautiful bit of woods in Grathwaite, shame I wasn't in better shape to appreciate it.