Training Log Archive: Mark3In the 31 days ending Jan 31, 2020:
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Friday Jan 31, 2020 #
8 PM
Note
Went to running club ceilidh. Wouldn't ordinarily be my thing, but it was actually quite fun! Shame there weren't more girls under 40 there, but can't have everything. Left just after 10 due to race tomorrow.
Thursday Jan 30, 2020 #
6 PM
Orienteering - Urban race (Withington & Disbury) 1:14:59 [5] 16.97 km (4:25 / km) +13m 4:24 / km
ahr:139 max:159 shoes: Nike Pegasus 35
Maprun. Perfectly paced (1s early). Unnecessary distance right at the start, turning one too early and adding an extra 500m (!) - after that bumbled around (briskly) with my usual score tactic of no advance planning whatsoever.
Actually seemed to work ok this week and I think I only missed one 70. Probably got too many 40s and not enough 50s, but meh. Ran a long way, which is the goal for me at the NSL.
Didn't eat at the pub since we went out for lunch with work, and would've felt too decadent.
Actually seemed to work ok this week and I think I only missed one 70. Probably got too many 40s and not enough 50s, but meh. Ran a long way, which is the goal for me at the NSL.
Didn't eat at the pub since we went out for lunch with work, and would've felt too decadent.
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Trail (Two trigs) 46:03 [3] 7.24 km (6:22 / km) +303m 5:16 / km
ahr:144 max:159 shoes: Hoka Mafete 2
Struggling for motivation tonight but fine once out of the door.
Up the nab, then down the trespassy way and then to Nancy. Went the least slippery ways up/down as the shoes aren't that great in mud...Not too bad though. Seem to be well-draining at least. Much better than other trail shoes on the road, too.
Up the nab, then down the trespassy way and then to Nancy. Went the least slippery ways up/down as the shoes aren't that great in mud...Not too bad though. Seem to be well-draining at least. Much better than other trail shoes on the road, too.
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (BollyH Road) 1:22:21 [1] 11.68 km (7:03 / km) +154m 6:37 / km
ahr:137 max:158 shoes: Nike Pegasus 35
Barely running with Bollington - they sure know how to take it easy!
Monday Jan 27, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (MaccH B Group) 57:22 [3] 11.48 km (5:00 / km) +138m 4:43 / km
ahr:144 max:161 shoes: Nike Pegasus 35
Standard loop. Feeling ok. Cold hands.
Sunday Jan 26, 2020 #
11 AM
Orienteering - Urban race (Wrockwardine Wood) 49:55 [5] 9.29 km (5:22 / km) +161m 4:57 / km
ahr:144 max:166 shoes: Inov-8 Roclite 290 (blue)
3rd: http://html.wrekinorienteers.co.uk/Wombridge%20and...
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For some reason, area renamed from Wombridge and The Cockshutt. Oh, maybe because that name was ridiculous.
Part urban, part forest. Went for trail shoes having no idea of the ratios; think reasonable choice as it was about half and half. Very muddy in the forest though and had to take sensible route choices whenever a slope was involved.
Good run 2:20 down on the lead when I left, in 2nd. Didn't do anything wrong, made safe choices which always paid off. Basically, exactly what orienteering should be, in control and knowing where I was the whole time. Couldn't ask for more really! Probably just meant it was a bit easy.
Felt to be running ok although a few R hs twinges.
Massive meal afterwards; battered black pudding with apple source, then black treacle-marinated steak served on volcanic rock, then slab of homemade lemon crush cheesecake. Splendid.
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For some reason, area renamed from Wombridge and The Cockshutt. Oh, maybe because that name was ridiculous.
Part urban, part forest. Went for trail shoes having no idea of the ratios; think reasonable choice as it was about half and half. Very muddy in the forest though and had to take sensible route choices whenever a slope was involved.
Good run 2:20 down on the lead when I left, in 2nd. Didn't do anything wrong, made safe choices which always paid off. Basically, exactly what orienteering should be, in control and knowing where I was the whole time. Couldn't ask for more really! Probably just meant it was a bit easy.
Felt to be running ok although a few R hs twinges.
Massive meal afterwards; battered black pudding with apple source, then black treacle-marinated steak served on volcanic rock, then slab of homemade lemon crush cheesecake. Splendid.
Saturday Jan 25, 2020 #
9 AM
Running - Trail (Run with Jeanette) 2:44:39 [3] 20.2 km (8:09 / km) +850m 6:44 / km
ahr:133 max:162 shoes: Hoka Mafete 2
My friend Jeanette is stayed last night, we had an awesome meal at Tapa and then decided to go for a run from here rather than driving to a race.
Had another pair of Runner's World shoes to test (trail this time!) too.
It was very muddy, so slid a couple of times, but given the height of them is so massive, they actually performed really well. Would work well for ultras I think. They also seem to be really well draining. Pleasantly surprised.
Jeanette isn't used to this amount of climb! But she did pretty well imho. She then bought me an awesome lunch at a local deli. She is welcome to stay as often as she wants!
Had another pair of Runner's World shoes to test (trail this time!) too.
It was very muddy, so slid a couple of times, but given the height of them is so massive, they actually performed really well. Would work well for ultras I think. They also seem to be really well draining. Pleasantly surprised.
Jeanette isn't used to this amount of climb! But she did pretty well imho. She then bought me an awesome lunch at a local deli. She is welcome to stay as often as she wants!
Thursday Jan 23, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (MaccH B Group) 1:06:42 [3] 14.04 km (4:45 / km) +162m 4:29 / km
ahr:142 max:159 shoes: Nike Pegasus 35
After a few days off, life and running, seem to be over the illness thankfully.
Brisk run tonight, few stops. Nice to have Leah join us :-)
Brisk run tonight, few stops. Nice to have Leah join us :-)
Sunday Jan 19, 2020 #
Note
(sick)
Marginally better. But it was a low bar. Still absolutely dreadful and another day in bed, missing the last event :(
Saturday Jan 18, 2020 #
Note
(sick)
Well can until injured at least as I can't feel my rib anymore...
But had to miss o today as the most ill I may have ever been with a fever that has me constantly sweating and shivering, often together. Spent the day in bed. They offered to take me to hospital, but I can't think of much things worse than being in hospital and not being able to understand the language.
Felt pretty ropey last couple of days, but was implementing my usual tactic of 'just ignore it'. Unfortunately this only gets you so far.
But had to miss o today as the most ill I may have ever been with a fever that has me constantly sweating and shivering, often together. Spent the day in bed. They offered to take me to hospital, but I can't think of much things worse than being in hospital and not being able to understand the language.
Felt pretty ropey last couple of days, but was implementing my usual tactic of 'just ignore it'. Unfortunately this only gets you so far.
Friday Jan 17, 2020 #
10 AM
Orienteering - Urban race (Sprint #4, Yanzhou Island) 24:19 [5] 4.28 km (5:41 / km) +3m 5:39 / km
ahr:139 max:158 (injured) shoes: Inov-8 Roclite 290 (blue)
Best sprint area I've run on, ever - incredible. Semi-abandoned village on an island, coupled with areas of banana plantation.
Two-handed map reading at its best. Deliberately really slow and careful, so not many mistakes. One alley too early for 5 (despite the care!) and one error in the bananas, caught by someone or caught them and pressure put me off my bearing. Otherwise didn't do a lot wrong - 9th. Such good fun! Basically worth coming to China for that one area.
Two-handed map reading at its best. Deliberately really slow and careful, so not many mistakes. One alley too early for 5 (despite the care!) and one error in the bananas, caught by someone or caught them and pressure put me off my bearing. Otherwise didn't do a lot wrong - 9th. Such good fun! Basically worth coming to China for that one area.
6 PM
Orienteering - Forest race (Sprint #5, China somewher) 16:02 [5] 3.57 km (4:29 / km)
ahr:149 max:167 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
Fun but laughably bad performance. After a very brisk 3k walk back from a cultural site I arrived back late and so was a bit stressed...but the start was pushed back to allow time for it to get just a bit dark (it had been brought forward due to a clash with some ballet or something). So waiting around in cold start pen for a while and hadn't done a warm up as we had no idea when start would be and so had to be ready...
Anyway; 30 min score. Expected that it wouldn't be possible to clear, but it was, trivially (winner about 14). Started with the pack but made the ridiculous mistake of going to the same first control as 200 other people; thought I'd punched but no idea really and so decided to come back later - but leaders were long gone now. Far better to always ignore controls near the start in events like this!
Anyway main problem was not remembering which controls I'd been too - 29 controls in a very small area.
Elected to do the top loop the opposite way around to lose the pack. Missed a control so decided to come back to it later. All pretty straightforward and was running well. Punched quite a few (4?) controls twice as I couldn't remember if I got them on the way out, so got them on the way back too. So obviously in no danger of winning anyway... But then bad compass meant I found a control that wasn't the one id aimed for and I didn't realise, and the next bearing turned out to lead directly to another control - confused because not where I expected, but happy to be at a control so continued.
Got into a bit of a sprint finish with a Chinese guy at the end which I maintained for three controls; awesome. But then it turned out I'd missed not one but two controls; one id just run straight past. The disadvantage of not staying with the pack! So 32nd, since everyone slower with more points beat me, it was so easy to clear. If I'd actually gone to all the controls (and I ran far enough to do so) I'd have been 4th :'(
Anyway; 30 min score. Expected that it wouldn't be possible to clear, but it was, trivially (winner about 14). Started with the pack but made the ridiculous mistake of going to the same first control as 200 other people; thought I'd punched but no idea really and so decided to come back later - but leaders were long gone now. Far better to always ignore controls near the start in events like this!
Anyway main problem was not remembering which controls I'd been too - 29 controls in a very small area.
Elected to do the top loop the opposite way around to lose the pack. Missed a control so decided to come back to it later. All pretty straightforward and was running well. Punched quite a few (4?) controls twice as I couldn't remember if I got them on the way out, so got them on the way back too. So obviously in no danger of winning anyway... But then bad compass meant I found a control that wasn't the one id aimed for and I didn't realise, and the next bearing turned out to lead directly to another control - confused because not where I expected, but happy to be at a control so continued.
Got into a bit of a sprint finish with a Chinese guy at the end which I maintained for three controls; awesome. But then it turned out I'd missed not one but two controls; one id just run straight past. The disadvantage of not staying with the pack! So 32nd, since everyone slower with more points beat me, it was so easy to clear. If I'd actually gone to all the controls (and I ran far enough to do so) I'd have been 4th :'(
Thursday Jan 16, 2020 #
10 AM
Orienteering - Forest race (Middle Distance, China) 48:29 [5] 8.47 km (5:43 / km) +189m 5:09 / km
ahr:147 max:163 (injured) shoes: Xtalon 212 (blk/red)
8th - somehow - despite losing 4 mins, three of these running off the map! Totally undeserved result. The Chinese are really good at urban (ie they run fast) but pretty poor at forest.
Tentative choices for first few controls but no mistakes, gradually building confidence. Then 4, going through trees with rope tying them to the group took longer than the running had been previously which skewed my distance judgement a bit, and so stopped too early. Wouldn't have been an issue, but very confused by the contours as it seemed like I was at the top of the hill but needed not to be. Faffed a bit and punched another control before relocating, lost maybe a minute. Annoying since if I'd have taken the path it was an easy AP.
Then 5 was the long leg - happy with route I planned (straight ish but going round uncrossables), implemented first half fine but then crossed ponds at the wrong crossing - not terrible in itself, but then made a series of parallel errors in sequence which fit the map beautifully... Gradually started to realise something was wrong when there were excess buildings which weren't on the map...eventually realised this was because I wasn't on the map either! Ran N to get back to it, then worked out where I was (not what I'd done for ages after, though) and from there control was fine. Arrhh so annoying. 3 mins lost at least - felt like more, but spilt comparison with Paul (who won) suggests not.
Chinese caught me at this point so I didn't make the route choice decision, just stayed with him for as long as I could. Except, tried to cut a 'cultivated land' corner which was fine to start and then got more and more boggy, so much so that I gave up and went back around.
Little mistake on 9 caused by pressure again (just ignore Chinese) but then fine all the way to 14 where I joined the Erik train (unpopular; only me on it) and managed to keep up mainly because he made a few small misses and I was able to capitalise) for the last 5 controls.
As per then, one massive mistake prevents a much more enjoyable memory! But c'est la vie; my overall position in the events will improve with the 8th...could've been 5th though if I had stayed on the map!!
One sprint, one night score, one middle and one long still to come! Enjoying my Chinese experience :)
Tentative choices for first few controls but no mistakes, gradually building confidence. Then 4, going through trees with rope tying them to the group took longer than the running had been previously which skewed my distance judgement a bit, and so stopped too early. Wouldn't have been an issue, but very confused by the contours as it seemed like I was at the top of the hill but needed not to be. Faffed a bit and punched another control before relocating, lost maybe a minute. Annoying since if I'd have taken the path it was an easy AP.
Then 5 was the long leg - happy with route I planned (straight ish but going round uncrossables), implemented first half fine but then crossed ponds at the wrong crossing - not terrible in itself, but then made a series of parallel errors in sequence which fit the map beautifully... Gradually started to realise something was wrong when there were excess buildings which weren't on the map...eventually realised this was because I wasn't on the map either! Ran N to get back to it, then worked out where I was (not what I'd done for ages after, though) and from there control was fine. Arrhh so annoying. 3 mins lost at least - felt like more, but spilt comparison with Paul (who won) suggests not.
Chinese caught me at this point so I didn't make the route choice decision, just stayed with him for as long as I could. Except, tried to cut a 'cultivated land' corner which was fine to start and then got more and more boggy, so much so that I gave up and went back around.
Little mistake on 9 caused by pressure again (just ignore Chinese) but then fine all the way to 14 where I joined the Erik train (unpopular; only me on it) and managed to keep up mainly because he made a few small misses and I was able to capitalise) for the last 5 controls.
As per then, one massive mistake prevents a much more enjoyable memory! But c'est la vie; my overall position in the events will improve with the 8th...could've been 5th though if I had stayed on the map!!
One sprint, one night score, one middle and one long still to come! Enjoying my Chinese experience :)
Wednesday Jan 15, 2020 #
9 AM
Orienteering - Urban race (China Sprint #3) 20:24 [5] 4.56 km (4:28 / km)
ahr:147 max:166 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
7th! Best run of the competition so far. Really enjoyed.
Overlap with day 1 area where I'd done terribly, but now used the terrain was keen to improve. Nice long leg to start, and took the easy route choice. Then clean and happy all the way to 10, even the bit that felt very much like running through someone's house.
First miss on 11, one alley too early and dead-ended. Frustrating since pretty perfect until then. But then good through the spectator and to 16. Then second mistake, over-simplified and ended up in cultivated land. Could actually have crossed this and climbed a couple of walls, but wasn't confident enough in position and instead retraced my steps. Should have planned route out of control better - still a complex area so needed more thought than the vague plan I had.
Safe route to 18 which was slower, but happy with choice. Then fine to the end.
Really pleased to have done this well vs the Chinese on terrain they're really good at! Only 2 mins down on them and Erik, and these are world class guys. So very happy with performance today. Think maybe 4th with no mistakes, so running pretty well too.
Overlap with day 1 area where I'd done terribly, but now used the terrain was keen to improve. Nice long leg to start, and took the easy route choice. Then clean and happy all the way to 10, even the bit that felt very much like running through someone's house.
First miss on 11, one alley too early and dead-ended. Frustrating since pretty perfect until then. But then good through the spectator and to 16. Then second mistake, over-simplified and ended up in cultivated land. Could actually have crossed this and climbed a couple of walls, but wasn't confident enough in position and instead retraced my steps. Should have planned route out of control better - still a complex area so needed more thought than the vague plan I had.
Safe route to 18 which was slower, but happy with choice. Then fine to the end.
Really pleased to have done this well vs the Chinese on terrain they're really good at! Only 2 mins down on them and Erik, and these are world class guys. So very happy with performance today. Think maybe 4th with no mistakes, so running pretty well too.
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (Run with Erik) 31:30 [3] 6.11 km (5:09 / km) +20m 5:04 / km
ahr:126 max:146 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
Run with Erik post 4.5 hour bus ride. Out by the lake and back; humid and warm, over 20 degrees. Lovely lights over the water. Very pleasant.
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020 #
10 AM
Orienteering - Forest race (China Long) 1:34:23 [5] 9.93 km (9:30 / km) +415m 7:52 / km
ahr:136 max:168 (injured) shoes: Mudclaw 275 (blk)
Lovely day, a little warm for running though, and awesome to be in a spectacular national park. Great views of the mountains all around, and some massive rocky mounds in the background. Was expecting rough forest and was not disappointed!
All the days so far have had a long #1 and this trend continued. Wanted to take as much of a track route as possible for as long as possible. Did this fine, but then when I'd planned to leave the track there was just a wall of vertical jungle. I tried, but decided it was a bad route and decided to find a better way. Wish I'd have stuck with it...went further round the hillside on a vague trod and found somewhere else which looked possible, but it turned out to be even worse and had to turn around. Contoured a bit more but was getting critical now, so had to find somewhere probably equally as bad as the first place. Eventually got up and relocated on #9. At the time I thought this was great! Only 150m from #1.
Unfortunately there was a massive, steep, jungle-filled reentrant in the way. I could now see the control, but not get to it. Tried to contour and lose height but it was crazily slow and dangerous. After a few false starts, eventually worked my way down and up the other side, but it was probably 10 mins since I'd first set eyes on the control! Crazy.
So not a great start. Next 3 controls all good. Then on 5, contoured around rather than over the hill, which is fine on the map, but again resulted in exactly the same situation where I could see the control but not get to it, and lost another few minutes watching people 20m above me have no trouble at all whilst I was stuck in jungle. Annoying.
Then good 6, and 7 learnt from experience and went over the top; no issues. 8 first mistake that I class as being 'my fault' (lol) , mistook path junction for path bend (photographer; grr) and looked in the wrong reentrant for a few mins. Then fine to 9, but to 10 had to slide down an uncrossable crag and lost a few more mins. Then overtook by China team #1 who ran up a hill I'd just decided was impossibly steep and green - so followed his lead. Followed him to 11 too but he made a mistake dammit, but he relocated fast. Then next few controls to 18 all went well and was feeling good (and glad it was nearly over). But 19 time for one last mistake, misread contours (hard to see on scattered trees...) and thought I had to be much lower, rather than on the ridgeline. So turned a very easy control into another 5 minute loss...sigh.
So - a terrible run. 18th - but only 42 finished and there were 20ish retirements, so at least others struggled too... Couldn't have done much about the map ones near the start but all the later ones were annoying; I know I can do better.
On the plus side, great time afterwards on vertiginous walkways in the mountains including one made of glass. Hated every minute at the time! But massive adrenaline rush.
All the days so far have had a long #1 and this trend continued. Wanted to take as much of a track route as possible for as long as possible. Did this fine, but then when I'd planned to leave the track there was just a wall of vertical jungle. I tried, but decided it was a bad route and decided to find a better way. Wish I'd have stuck with it...went further round the hillside on a vague trod and found somewhere else which looked possible, but it turned out to be even worse and had to turn around. Contoured a bit more but was getting critical now, so had to find somewhere probably equally as bad as the first place. Eventually got up and relocated on #9. At the time I thought this was great! Only 150m from #1.
Unfortunately there was a massive, steep, jungle-filled reentrant in the way. I could now see the control, but not get to it. Tried to contour and lose height but it was crazily slow and dangerous. After a few false starts, eventually worked my way down and up the other side, but it was probably 10 mins since I'd first set eyes on the control! Crazy.
So not a great start. Next 3 controls all good. Then on 5, contoured around rather than over the hill, which is fine on the map, but again resulted in exactly the same situation where I could see the control but not get to it, and lost another few minutes watching people 20m above me have no trouble at all whilst I was stuck in jungle. Annoying.
Then good 6, and 7 learnt from experience and went over the top; no issues. 8 first mistake that I class as being 'my fault' (lol) , mistook path junction for path bend (photographer; grr) and looked in the wrong reentrant for a few mins. Then fine to 9, but to 10 had to slide down an uncrossable crag and lost a few more mins. Then overtook by China team #1 who ran up a hill I'd just decided was impossibly steep and green - so followed his lead. Followed him to 11 too but he made a mistake dammit, but he relocated fast. Then next few controls to 18 all went well and was feeling good (and glad it was nearly over). But 19 time for one last mistake, misread contours (hard to see on scattered trees...) and thought I had to be much lower, rather than on the ridgeline. So turned a very easy control into another 5 minute loss...sigh.
So - a terrible run. 18th - but only 42 finished and there were 20ish retirements, so at least others struggled too... Couldn't have done much about the map ones near the start but all the later ones were annoying; I know I can do better.
On the plus side, great time afterwards on vertiginous walkways in the mountains including one made of glass. Hated every minute at the time! But massive adrenaline rush.
Monday Jan 13, 2020 #
9 AM
Orienteering - Forest race (Sprint #2, China somewher) 25:09 [5] 3.94 km (6:23 / km) +127m 5:30 / km
ahr:136 max:161 (injured) shoes: Inov-8 Roclite 290 (blue)
6th, much better :)
Very rural sprint. Cutting across forest and rice fields and more land that looked private but wasn't. Caught two guys at 5 and so was feeling good. Little miss on 8 not seeing black line and had to retrace. Need to preplan more. Same on 10, didn't take optimum line, but took easy choice.
11 lots of time lost trying to be too fast and got confused, ended up at 12. Should have stopped for 5s and thought a bit. After this though, really good. Happy. Ran round most of course afterwards again, good fun.
Very rural sprint. Cutting across forest and rice fields and more land that looked private but wasn't. Caught two guys at 5 and so was feeling good. Little miss on 8 not seeing black line and had to retrace. Need to preplan more. Same on 10, didn't take optimum line, but took easy choice.
11 lots of time lost trying to be too fast and got confused, ended up at 12. Should have stopped for 5s and thought a bit. After this though, really good. Happy. Ran round most of course afterwards again, good fun.
Sunday Jan 12, 2020 #
10 AM
Orienteering - Urban race (Sprint #1, China somewher) 22:21 [4] 4.51 km (4:57 / km)
ahr:136 max:161 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
Was very excited for this but no real expectations since so much new stuff; weird dibber, all competitors gps tracked jetlag, etc.
However set off really fast and the easy #1 helped confidence. But then 2...the cultivated land looked really private so decided not to cut and went around the 'roads' (which were mainly made of dirt, some were gravel, most were only vaguely complete) and ran straight past the control and ended at a lake, confused about which lake it was, took wrong path, tried to relocate on a patch of grass but did it incorrectly since the grass was actually a lake but with so much veg on it looked like grass, then ran around for a bit, basically went for ages without a clue, such a terrible start! Eventually found control more by luck than judgement.
Then some lovely intricate legs where everything looked private but was mapped as fine, through like Chinese gateway things with stuff painted on them, very asian-village-from-film-y. Some more small mistakes but nothing like #2. Jogged around the course afterwards with Nick Paul and Erik and got schooled in all the other things I did wrong. Nearly ran off the map to 12 after missing a tiny alley and took a bad route from not preplanning 15, but really good from there.
Finished disappointing 39th ish.
However set off really fast and the easy #1 helped confidence. But then 2...the cultivated land looked really private so decided not to cut and went around the 'roads' (which were mainly made of dirt, some were gravel, most were only vaguely complete) and ran straight past the control and ended at a lake, confused about which lake it was, took wrong path, tried to relocate on a patch of grass but did it incorrectly since the grass was actually a lake but with so much veg on it looked like grass, then ran around for a bit, basically went for ages without a clue, such a terrible start! Eventually found control more by luck than judgement.
Then some lovely intricate legs where everything looked private but was mapped as fine, through like Chinese gateway things with stuff painted on them, very asian-village-from-film-y. Some more small mistakes but nothing like #2. Jogged around the course afterwards with Nick Paul and Erik and got schooled in all the other things I did wrong. Nearly ran off the map to 12 after missing a tiny alley and took a bad route from not preplanning 15, but really good from there.
Finished disappointing 39th ish.
Saturday Jan 11, 2020 #
8 AM
Running - Road/Track (Run with Erik) 48:44 [3] 10.18 km (4:47 / km) +89m 4:35 / km
ahr:154 max:171 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
With Erik, post flight. Trying to keep up! He suggested some strides, which I struggled with.
Actually feeling better than expected given 12 hour flight, 1 hour flight, 4 hour bus.
Actually feeling better than expected given 12 hour flight, 1 hour flight, 4 hour bus.
Thursday Jan 9, 2020 #
Note
(injured) (rest day)
Packing
:)
:)
Wednesday Jan 8, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Trail (BollyH Trail) 1:35:16 [3] 11.92 km (8:00 / km) +427m 6:47 / km
ahr:136 max:155 (injured) shoes: X-talon 212 (blk/flro) - Nov17
Easy pace, nice evening. One hard effort up a hill everyone else was walking up, just to show off ;p
Feeling good. Ribs still hurting a bit, though.
Feeling good. Ribs still hurting a bit, though.
Tuesday Jan 7, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (BollyH Road) 1:51:29 [2] 16.52 km (6:45 / km) +157m 6:27 / km
ahr:134 max:158 (injured) shoes: Nike Pegasus 35
Easy on a warm night. Didn't expect to get this far!
Monday Jan 6, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (MaccH B Group) 1:10:41 [3] 12.7 km (5:34 / km) +121m 5:19 / km
ahr:147 max:162 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
Standard B Group. Feeling ok. Group sang happy birthday which was ridiculous.
Sunday Jan 5, 2020 #
8 AM
Running - Trail (Kinder Dozen) 8:12:32 [3] 36.64 km (13:27 / km) +3246m 9:19 / km
ahr:122 max:161 (injured) shoes: Mudclaw 275 (blk)
Because why not?
Been wanting to do this for a while, and there wasn't anything good on today, and not going to be doing anything long distance whilst on holiday, and forecast was okay, and I convinced Nathanael that he wanted to do it too...
Aimed to set off at 8am for sunrise 8:22 to maximise chance of completion by nightfall; the challenge is supposed to by 12 hours but we were hopeful of 8. Based on basically nothing. Actually started 8:30...
Weather a bit of drizzle, mist and wind - slightly worse than forecast but not too bad. No problems up and down Grindslow; took about 40 mins and so we decided we were on for 8 hours. Second climb up to Crowden much more physical (off path) and relentless, but nice descent to Jacob's Ladder. Then #3 easy, before down and up again to Kinder Low; corner cutting tough up the moor but nice once on the path.
Found a relatively nice way off the top through Cluther, down to the stream and then up again via Mermaid's Pool (again very rough terrain) and to the highest point (624m). Then very steep descent to Ashop and along the clough for a bit before crossing at the fb and taking the path up through the grouse butts to Fairbrook Naze. Dropped straight back off and on a great path with amazing views of the Snake valley, until it vanished and it was very rough again down to the ford. Then as per, right back up Gate Side to the plateau before heading down to The Wicken, and then up again to the 590m trig (awesome nav to hit this in the mist; well done me) then along to Madwoman's Stones (meh), then down to Upper Ashop (good path at top then rough lower), back up the grouse butts again to Crookstone Knoll, then back down again via Crookstone Hill to Jaggers Clough (it's making me tired just writing this). That was a really nice path on the E, with good views to Ladybower. Should spend more time on the E of Kinder, it's lovely and underused.
Back up and down to Nether Booth, starting to get a bit tired now, and the rain picked up so also wet. Also worrying a bit about the approaching dusk (although we had torches, didn't really want to admit failure...). Luckily there was a path (ish) up to Druid's stone - which I made harder for us by not marking in the right place (it's on the path, not on the highest point) - fail; gave us some more foggy moor to nav across. Steep down to Oller Brook trying not to fall off several cliffs on the way in the failing light. Came down the W of the Brook as the terrain looked more favourable. Faffed a bit putting a coat on in the strong wind; fail; bad timing.
Didn't cut Ringing Roger corner due to light, so went around the path, then final map fail where I'd marked this in the wrong place too (we ignored the obvious rock and went much higher; stopping when it was clear we weren't going to get to any other rocks. Rung Roger on the way back down though, so that was okay.
The final descent down The Nab was very sketchy in what would not unreasonably be called 'night' (40 mins after sunset). The steps and footbridge in the woods were particularly fun. But we reached the end without using torches :)
Great day out. Extremely physical terrain! Shame to miss Trigger next weekend, but today make it look straightforward.
Body felt generally good, no complains from any joints or anything. Ribs niggled with jumping or descending but generally much better now. Although I just breathed deeply, and still very much not right, so we'll see. Leaving injury box ticked for a bit longer.
Been wanting to do this for a while, and there wasn't anything good on today, and not going to be doing anything long distance whilst on holiday, and forecast was okay, and I convinced Nathanael that he wanted to do it too...
Aimed to set off at 8am for sunrise 8:22 to maximise chance of completion by nightfall; the challenge is supposed to by 12 hours but we were hopeful of 8. Based on basically nothing. Actually started 8:30...
Weather a bit of drizzle, mist and wind - slightly worse than forecast but not too bad. No problems up and down Grindslow; took about 40 mins and so we decided we were on for 8 hours. Second climb up to Crowden much more physical (off path) and relentless, but nice descent to Jacob's Ladder. Then #3 easy, before down and up again to Kinder Low; corner cutting tough up the moor but nice once on the path.
Found a relatively nice way off the top through Cluther, down to the stream and then up again via Mermaid's Pool (again very rough terrain) and to the highest point (624m). Then very steep descent to Ashop and along the clough for a bit before crossing at the fb and taking the path up through the grouse butts to Fairbrook Naze. Dropped straight back off and on a great path with amazing views of the Snake valley, until it vanished and it was very rough again down to the ford. Then as per, right back up Gate Side to the plateau before heading down to The Wicken, and then up again to the 590m trig (awesome nav to hit this in the mist; well done me) then along to Madwoman's Stones (meh), then down to Upper Ashop (good path at top then rough lower), back up the grouse butts again to Crookstone Knoll, then back down again via Crookstone Hill to Jaggers Clough (it's making me tired just writing this). That was a really nice path on the E, with good views to Ladybower. Should spend more time on the E of Kinder, it's lovely and underused.
Back up and down to Nether Booth, starting to get a bit tired now, and the rain picked up so also wet. Also worrying a bit about the approaching dusk (although we had torches, didn't really want to admit failure...). Luckily there was a path (ish) up to Druid's stone - which I made harder for us by not marking in the right place (it's on the path, not on the highest point) - fail; gave us some more foggy moor to nav across. Steep down to Oller Brook trying not to fall off several cliffs on the way in the failing light. Came down the W of the Brook as the terrain looked more favourable. Faffed a bit putting a coat on in the strong wind; fail; bad timing.
Didn't cut Ringing Roger corner due to light, so went around the path, then final map fail where I'd marked this in the wrong place too (we ignored the obvious rock and went much higher; stopping when it was clear we weren't going to get to any other rocks. Rung Roger on the way back down though, so that was okay.
The final descent down The Nab was very sketchy in what would not unreasonably be called 'night' (40 mins after sunset). The steps and footbridge in the woods were particularly fun. But we reached the end without using torches :)
Great day out. Extremely physical terrain! Shame to miss Trigger next weekend, but today make it look straightforward.
Body felt generally good, no complains from any joints or anything. Ribs niggled with jumping or descending but generally much better now. Although I just breathed deeply, and still very much not right, so we'll see. Leaving injury box ticked for a bit longer.
Saturday Jan 4, 2020 #
9 AM
Running - Trail race (Parkrun - Lyme Park) 20:06 [5] 4.94 km (4:04 / km) +143m 3:33 / km
ahr:146 max:163 (injured) shoes: Mudclaw G260
9th - 17s behind 4th...and was 4th until 1k from the end and then struggled up the hill into the wind.
Only 12s slower than my fastest time here, and segment times are all really similar apart from that hill where I lost 20s. To be fair the course is now very marginally longer as you don't cut a corner you used to cut. Actually looking at the map, is quite a bit longer. If it's 5k now, it must've been short before...
Really tired afterwards, pushed really hard. Ribs hurting more than expected unfortunately.
Only 12s slower than my fastest time here, and segment times are all really similar apart from that hill where I lost 20s. To be fair the course is now very marginally longer as you don't cut a corner you used to cut. Actually looking at the map, is quite a bit longer. If it's 5k now, it must've been short before...
Really tired afterwards, pushed really hard. Ribs hurting more than expected unfortunately.
11 AM
Orienteering - Forest race (Lyme Park) 1:17:30 [5] 10.89 km (7:07 / km) +495m 5:48 / km
ahr:143 max:172 (injured) shoes: Mudclaw G260
Tired and cold after parkrun, but fine once got into it. Always a good event.
Next time: take a pen, spend a minute at the start thinking about it, and cross off controls not intending to visit! This year it was three to miss, which is much harder than one. Made some bad choices. Some poor novice, a runner, just followed me the whole way around. I apologised at the end. He wasn't bothered; didn't know any better...
Happy with my route actually had there been no tussocks! But there were. Which I knew about. Damn. So the best controls to miss aren't the furthest ones, they're the most tussocky ones.
Too far south walking up a hill which is pretty inexcusable since should be able to keep to a bearing under those circumstances. Also stuck in brambles on one control, own fault, they're mapped...
2nd on the 'long miss 3' course, behind Oli Willams. I'll take it.
Next time: take a pen, spend a minute at the start thinking about it, and cross off controls not intending to visit! This year it was three to miss, which is much harder than one. Made some bad choices. Some poor novice, a runner, just followed me the whole way around. I apologised at the end. He wasn't bothered; didn't know any better...
Happy with my route actually had there been no tussocks! But there were. Which I knew about. Damn. So the best controls to miss aren't the furthest ones, they're the most tussocky ones.
Too far south walking up a hill which is pretty inexcusable since should be able to keep to a bearing under those circumstances. Also stuck in brambles on one control, own fault, they're mapped...
2nd on the 'long miss 3' course, behind Oli Willams. I'll take it.
Friday Jan 3, 2020 #
11 AM
Running - Trail long (Shining Tor loop) 2:00:47 [3] 19.72 km (6:08 / km) +803m 5:05 / km
ahr:148 max:169 (injured) shoes: Xtalon 212 (blk/red)
Just glorious. This route is now pretty much perfect.
When jumping off stiles and falling over, ribs hurt; otherwise could feel them but it's annoying rather than painful.
When jumping off stiles and falling over, ribs hurt; otherwise could feel them but it's annoying rather than painful.
Thursday Jan 2, 2020 #
6 PM
Running - Road/Track (MaccH B/C Group) 1:09:08 [3] 13.81 km (5:00 / km) +90m 4:51 / km
ahr:144 max:160 (injured) shoes: Nike Pegasus 35
Started with C since only two B there, but we got bored and went off on our own, so second half quite brisk.
Ribs have definitely improved a lot :-) shame that sleeping is still so hard.
Ribs have definitely improved a lot :-) shame that sleeping is still so hard.
Wednesday Jan 1, 2020 #
9 AM
Running - Road/Track tempo (Parkrun - Alvastom) 19:54 [4] 5.07 km (3:55 / km)
ahr:150 max:162 (injured) shoes: Pegasus 36 (Blue)
Still a bit of ribs pain, so a pb was never going to be on the cards, so took the opportunity to pace Leah to her first sub 20. Successfully achieved :-) which was awesome.
This pace felt pretty good to me. I feel like 10s a km for a half shouldn't be ridiculously unachievable; well worth a go anyway.
If it's good weather on Sat,might try a quick parkrun before the o.
This pace felt pretty good to me. I feel like 10s a km for a half shouldn't be ridiculously unachievable; well worth a go anyway.
If it's good weather on Sat,might try a quick parkrun before the o.
11 AM
Orienteering - Urban race (Wirksworth) 47:41 [5] 9.76 km (4:53 / km) +299m 4:14 / km
ahr:150 max:170 (injured) shoes: Inov-8 Roclite 290 (grey)
Always love the nyd mass start urban. Guessed where the first control was going to be (well the direction) and so leading for a few hundred metres until Rich and All caught up. Then didn't do any nav until #11 - so managed to stay with them for quite a while which i was happy with. In 3rd until the hill to 21, where Chris Millard overtook me; we'd been pretty much together for ages. No mistakes until 27 where I started going to 29, and he got enough of a gap so could no longer see him. Then took a bad route when actually needed to get to 29! Crossable fence harder to cross than map implies. Could've gone straighter on 31 but shoes are quite old and didn't inspire enough confidence!
4th. Really good map/race/event. Good food and chat afterwards, too.
4th. Really good map/race/event. Good food and chat afterwards, too.