Training Log Archive: Mark3

Literally nothing. Didn't even get dressed.

22nd
http://c-f-r.org.uk/races/darren_holloway_memorial...

Warm day; not ludicrously so but enough. Took the run out fairly steady but put a bit more effort than Ennerdale on the first climb up Whiteside and as a result was gaining rather than losing place. Hopegill, Grasmoor and Whiteless all quite nice and runnable, no chance for nav mistakes today given crystal clear vis.

Descent off Whiteless very steep (so much so that I had to double check compass to make sure it was definitely that way) but mainly grassy. Knees took a bit of a battering as it's pretty much 1:1 gradient; 600m descent 600m. Overtaken by an oldish woman who said I should try harder. Well-defined trod to Newlands.

Path up steep bit, then cut Buttermere Moss corner just S of stream, which was more than others cut. But they were taking the contouring route whereas I decided to climb - this as a good choice and I gained loads of time going above Hackney Holes rather than below. Then just following the ridge trying not to trip over 10in10 walkers to Dale Head, which was very busy as had three different sets of marshals.

Straightforward and quick down to Honister where they had water; had a couple of cups. Overtook 4 here who'd stopped to fill up things. I still had enough of my 1L left so didn't bother. Running fairly well up the tramway and overtook a few more who were walking. No problem finding the tarn or the Haystacks route as Ennerdale in reverse.

Climbing well up Seat and High Crag - where I took the grassy way which is further but avoids a lot of the scree - could see I was closing on the next trio. Caught them coming into Lingcomb where they stayed on the path and I optimistically cut through the bracken - shorter, harder; maybe a min faster. Then wanted to be on the other side of the stream but couldn't see a trod and so stayed on the E to halfway down. Suddenly caught sight of something and so dived off the path to cross, leaving the trio confused but none came with me. Didn't find the contouring trod (although Google maps says I ran right past it...) and so came out at the bridge at a similar time to the trio (my path definitely faster although still slow), they had to go down and up but I was already on the right side. But then the pressure got to me and since the only trod I could see looked like it went too high to the left, lost a load of height through the gate before realising that was silly and cutting off to cross the stream. Luckily they all followed me; twits. So I had a steeper than necessary climb up Mellbreak at the start, but picked up the trod at the fence. Tougher last climb than I was expecting.

Then the second and final mistake; cut left/down too much from the summit and so was too low for the diagonal trod; had to come down the steep way and along the bottom. Lost two places to the trio here which was a bit annoying - neither of them found it either they just coped with the downhill better. Unbeknownst to me, only about 15s ahead of a woman who had done both the previous two legs successfully and had gained nearly 10 mins on me since High Stile. Phew.

So 5:10 possible with a bit of a recce of that last bit, maybe. Would've put me 20th so not that much different position-wise; tbh I'm very pleased with 22nd. Nutrition strategy worked (Clif @ Grasmoor, after Newlands, Seat; +2 packs shot bloks). 1L water cutting it a bit fine, admittedly - I did have a filter bottle for emergencies, though.

One classic left; Borrowdale in August. Looking forward to having the set! Liked this one quite a bit as mostly grassy.

New race for this year. Bit disappointing to go to Ilam and not go up Thorpe Cloud or any of the Ilam fell race hills tbh; they just looked on imposingly whilst we ran around some grassy fields.

For grassy fields they were quite nice though, some short climbs and interspersed with sections of track and lane. Some nice fast downhill sections too. Beaten by a guy who I beat last week so maybe not a great run from me; didn't feel worse than usual though. Pace isn't bad given the stiles and corners, etc.

Rain before the start despite none forecast so thought it would be grim, but actually stopped after 5 mins and was quite nice.

Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow!

2 hour score on 1:25k map organised by my running club.

Despite messing up #1 and losing about 5 mins, managed to maintain my trophy. Only 14/15 controls this year though - two people got 13 but I think both were late and got penalties; no-one cleared.

Without the #1 mistake (caused mainly because we were told at the start 'they're mainly on paths' and I heard 'they're all on paths' and didn't realise there were control descriptions as I'd folded them off the edge, and also forgot OS paths are often only vaguely right), I'd also need to have avoided my other mistake, of navigating by memory of the Shining Tor race rather than using the map and so took a ridiculously long way around that lost a few more minutes, in order to have stood a chance of getting them all. As it was, timed it just right. Included a contouring leg across rough moorland I suspect no-one else will have attempted!

Nice to finally have an evening when it isn't raining. Bit hot in full leg cover, which no-one else had, and with hindsight could probably have guessed wasn't required. Otherwise ok. Felt ok fitness-wise but Achilles is still painful.

Nice evening when I set off so the plan was to go to Lyme and try some of the Boar's Head race lines. About half way there it started raining a bit and I had the chance to cut it short, but it looked like just a shower, so I carried on.

It wasn't. Gradually got heavier and heavier until torrential level. Tried one route (the steep climby way) and decided it's probably slower than going around despite what happened in the race. It isn't really a scramble, which is how some described it, just a steep ascent. In the dry it might be ok; definitely not today.

Was planning on a couple more as well but it got too miserable, so came back the easy way along canal.

Feeling sluggish.

Easy off-road. Torrential rain half an hour before the run, but during was just the occasional shower. New waterproof shorts worked well.

Feeling ok thanks to short weekend.