Training Log Archive: runnermdj

Short warm up

SoSOL - Brown Course at Penicuik Estate
Was determined to try and have an ok run given recent failures! By #2 things weren't great, plenty things around which looked like thickets. Contoured to #3 but got it from below which involved some tough manoeuvres which lost time. Then #4 was a disaster. Easy long run to the field where the building was then for some reason just couldn't see what shouldve been an obvious path from the building into the trees so got confused and followed a wrong path into a wrong bit of wood. Compass would've helped. Took a while to correct so nearly 3mins binned. #8 to #9 was a nightmare, whacked shin off a stump then got caught in thigh level brambles. #9 ended up right next to the path so shouldve gone a path route! Ok to #12 but map a bit weird going down to #13. Things went pear shaped at #16. Went longer route by field planning to contour in on flat but missed it and ended up in unmapped grot. Another 3mins binned. Then #17 was worse. Hunted the hillside for it passing through the same depression twice. High bracken didn't help. Eventually descended to the river to relocate, climbed back up but no control roughly where it should've been but kept going and eventually found it. Nearly 10mins binned. Ok to the finish but was running out of steam. A real mixed bag, some nice bits, some not so nice. Map a bit iffy in places. Glad to finish sums it up!

Result 3rd, well down on Michael Adams (69.48). Sub 80 shouldve been doable.

Note - found out the other day my dad had orienteered in Penicuik Estate during a scout camp in 1961!

Travelled down to Broughton to check out a route I've planned for the 2017 Inter Counties Champs. Started from the Broughton Place hill walkers car park and followed the JB way up the valley, before cutting down to the burn to pick up the climb up the SW ridge of Hammerhead. Running up the ridge was pretty good (only bit I'd not run before), they've weirdly burned a strip of heather about 5m to 10m wide all the way up the route which helps, and there's a small trod. From the top, followed the ridge south over Grey Yade then picked up the path descending back towards Broughton Place. Got the wrong one about 50 - 100m to the north of the one I used for IC 2011 which was a relief as it didn't seemed to smooth as I remembered. Crossed the valley at the bottom and went up 'the wall' to pick up the ridge to Clover Law. From Clover Law the descent north was better than expected due to another band of heather burning. From the col, descended south down the valley following the JB Way. There's a gradual climb back up to the small wood, then I recce'd a sting in the tail, a 45m fairly steep climb up the field above the wood to rejoin the first descent to finish near the start. Really pleased with the route which is good running over very nice hills and some challenging climbss. Just need to get permission, venue, etc. etc. sorted, fingers crossed!

Recce'd an alternative sting in the tail final climb. Will chew it over.

Run round Warriston loop to St Marks Park then 6 laps of stride the straights, jog the bye line.

2 sets of Oregon circuits (20sec on/off)

Run back to work

Run across to AS

Run from the boulder up the bog and Pipers to Nether, down the tourist descent then up the dasses, Pipers and crags to finish. Out with Kev. Kept the climbs controlled, felt fine. Only one brief stop on top of the crags. Pretty breezy & cool.

Run back to work

Lucky to be able to go a (small) hill walk up Calton Hill at lunch. Glorious day.

Warm up including Stockbridge loop.

Session round Warriston triangle - 5, 4, 3mins with 90sec recoveries. Stats...

5min - 5.38min/mile, ahr 146
4min - 5.40min/mile, ahr 151
3min - 5.34min/mile, ahr 149
5min - 5.38min/mile, ahr 154
4min - 5.34min/mile, ahr 153
3min - 5.29min/mile, ahr 152

Felt quite good. Ran the session with Kev, though Cat, Cameron and Murray also out. Lovely cool sunny weather.

Warm down

Run across to AS with Dessie & Stewart to meet up with the others for a clockwise lap, climbing via the wall path.