Training Log Archive: Mark3

Probably ill-advised after yesterday but when the race starts less than 50m from your house...

Actually this went okay. Road hill at the start was tough and passed by quite a few including first lady, and more up the steep grassy bit. But once on the fields at the top, running ok. On the next short climb took about 5 people including first lady, Allen and some other Macc guy. Clearly I have improved at the climbing! Did the downhill well, but once on the flat of the canal found it really tough and slow; seemed to go on for ages. Last hill was barely moving so lucky there was no-one close behind. Then found the last bit of road alright, probably as it was downhill.

Not an amazing route but it is (literally) on my doorstep so can't complain. First half is good.

I'm guessing I was about 10th.

23 minutes faster than last year :) despite weather which I think might've been warmer. Although no clag to speak of made the nav mostly trivial. 40th.
http://live.sportident.co.uk/home/multistage/stage...

Quite like the first two thirds of the race up to Gable, but the last third is just too rocky. Wasn't really running with anyone although kept seeing the same people, up till descent from Gable when I didn't really see anyone until halfway to Scafell. Overtaken by two on the descent but didn't care; survived :)

1. 43:44 vs 47:33 (4mins)

Helped slightly by the start being moved 100m or so up the track for no discernable reason. Otherwise, don't think my route differed at all. Tried to set off faster than I felt was really suitable as that seemed to work at Buttermere. Think I paid for this later.

2. 1:06:35 vs 1:10:20 (4mins)

Same route again, up the fields saying hi to Joss at the first road crossing then the long climb. Pleased that this was faster.

3. 52:06 vs 57:37 (5mins)

Think route was better here - the trod petered out as last year, but due to vis this year it was easy to find again. Plus just after Scoat, last year climbed an unnessahill in the clag whereas avoided it this year! So this 5 minutes is less impressive. Note descent into Wind Gap feels like it's going to go too low, but doesn't.

4. 55:20 vs 58:11 (3mins)

Took the good route off Pillar again (ie followed lower path rather than ridge) - but there's a steep bit just above Green Cove where I kept left (N) and there's clearly a much grassier way to the S as some people put a good 30s on me here and I was left most bemused. Otherwise, walked most of the path below Kirk Fell but found the climb up to Gable not too bad.

5. 39:47 vs 43:39 (4mins)

No idea how I made time here; still can't run the screen or the rocky path. Definitely my least favourite section - walked a lot of it.

6. 33:08 vs 34:12 (1min)

Ran out of water exactly same place as last year; unsurprising since had taken same amount. Filled up at Calf Cove again. Cut corner from Calf Cove which I'm pretty sure I didn't do last time, so maybe that's what gained the time here. Contoured round N of Ill Crag but I think I did that last year too. Mainly walking and hopping over the rocks. Lots of tourists to avoid.

7. 21:38 vs 23:12 (2mins)

Didn't fall over and bash my head like last year; still struggling on the rocky descent though. Plus took a perfect line under Goat Crags, I think lower than last year.

F. 5:59 vs 6:19

Someone held a gate open for me and I then felt obliged to not try and overtake them.

Quick jog to test new shoes. First impressions - RW might finally have given me a pair I like.

They're very light; feel like slippers; can barely tell you're wearing them.

Woop - 18secs faster than last year :)
Deliberately set off pretty much as fast as I could to avoid any queuing on the steps after 1km or so - this worked well. Allen disappeared into the distance. Put a lot of effort into the hills and took the downhills steady. Caught Allen up the steps on the 2nd lap which I was very pleased about as he destroyed me in the last race. Kept going ok until the end. Well ahead of my series rival from Buxton.

Last race of the series for me, so time to insert the new ones into my ranking:

Shutlingsloe - most like a fell race
Buxton - lots of variety, great downhill
Biddulph - some nice twisty bits through the woods
Ilam - bit depressing to be so near proper hills, but good variety
The Roaches - first half really nice fell, second half dull
Oakamoor - two big hills, lots of flat at the end
Tittesworth - just around a lake, but with many short ascents/descents
Rudyard Lake - very little climb, just around a lake

Feeling fine for most of the race (and the day) but then ill again afterwards :( getting like weird dizzy spells occasionally as well. Not sure what's up tbh

Feeling a lot better by this evening. Went for the slower group run to talk to the girl :)

More ill than before. Made it to the start line of the race before electing not to run - first time that's happened :(

Was fine all day at work. Suspect will be fine all day at work tomorrow as well!

28th
https://www.dpfr.org.uk/results/view/5328?page=2

Different route from last year unforts so hard to compare times, but the segments times which overlap are pretty similar.

Felt really lethargic and unmotivated during the drive and my jog warm up - but started racing and actually felt good. Set off pretty fast but still not fast enough to get caught in a queue moving slower than I wanted up the hill; overtook about ten as soon as we left the woods and then was constantly overtaking for the rest of the race - so basically, paced it badly as didn't start quickly enough.

The first half of the race is much better as well, so worth trying a bit harder on that bit, as the second half is mainly downhill on road and track. Felt pretty good up the minor inclines and was wishing for more hill (never thought I'd say that!).

Cold is improving finally, Achilles felt pretty bad before the start but much better during and post-warmup.