Training Log Archive: Mark3

Flat ground is fine; stairs are a challenge. Struggled with getting any sleep last night due to muscle pain, similar to post BG.

Arrrggghh my body hurts
4th
242 entries total, including relay teams. 8th if you count the 4 relay teams that beat me!
https://results.opentracking.co.uk/event/20hm60
---

Just looking for races to enter really and this was the most attractive option; the HM55 route looked less inspiring (although I'd quite like to do it now I know that the 55 plus the 60 equals the entire Cleveland Way).

Airbnb in Scarborough so only 25 mins to the car park to get the 1.5hour bus to the start - so 4am alarm, then, for an 8:02 start. Lots of pointless Covid precautions and sanitising everything in sight and one-way systems (outside!) but seemed to be pretty smooth. Good to see Leah on a relay team starting 2 mins before me.

Good start and moving pretty well so CP1 after 2 miles; at the front of the other 5 8:02 starters and had passed 3 of the 8:00s. So I thought I was 4th ish although I didn't know how many ahead were relay teams and so could be ignored. By Skelton someone who'd I'd got away from on the first climb had caught up again, and they said they were aiming for 10-11 hours (and had done the race last year) so I assumed I was reasonably on schedule. Feeling good at this point. CW was relatively easy to follow although glad to have the GPX/map for the village sections. Straight through CP2 without stopping.

Now following the coast; 10 miles down, 52 to go. Some lovely views, steep steps down and up again although very short climbs. RAn straight through water-only stop at Cowbar, passed by eventual first-placed relay team going very quickly! Ran through the next CP (3) at Runswick as well, still had water left at this point (22 miles; started with 1L). Weather was pretty perfect; could have done with a bit of a breeze but mainly cloud with occasions of sun.

Next water-only at Sandsend, +500ml. Then it was a really dull run along the road for a mile before going to Whiby. Still feeling pretty good by Whitby and ran up the 199 steps which I think annoyed the tourists. At CP3 Hornblower, left knee started to hurt...32 miles in, so just the 30 to go. Start to worry a bit. I didn't know it at the time but I was comfortable 2nd at this point, about 13 mins down, and 14 ahead of third. Another +500ml here since it wasnt that far to RH bay CP4.

RH bay is very nice; probably why it's famous. Starting to feel pretty bad by now though. Analysis suggests that the leader starts to pull away and the rest of us are all suffering pretty equally, so I maintain position. +1L now at 37miles since it's 11 miles to the next CP.

And it really felt it, and I was now deteriorating faster than the others. Still in 2nd but now 38 mins down and my lead over third has reduced to 9 mins. I was feeling really miserable at this point and the Scarborough section didn't help; it was a significant amount of road. Lost another 10 mins on the lead over an hour interval (ie a lot!) despite going what felt like pretty briskly weaving through the tourists. Now just 5 mins up on third. +500ml for the last 9 miles...

Where I lost loads of time relatively and two places :( 5 mins and 9 mins ahead respectively. To be honest I'm quite impressed with myself that I kept [mostly] running the whole way, both knees and hips now pretty painful with every step. Very glad to get to the end, especially in the light (as it got much cooler after dark) and within my 11-hour estimate. Although at halfway, 10 hours was definitely looking achievable.

Total fluid 3.5L - seemed like enough. Water bottle plastic has given me a massive bruise on my rib which I need to do something about before any more long races. Alternated Mountain Fuel Ginger and Orange/Turmeric bars with Clif bars every 90 mins. I think this was enough food. Not a fan of the MF as they're slightly less sticky which means it's easy to breathe in bits of them if you're eating them whilst running. Great flavours, though.

Felt much worse than on the BG. I can put this down to three things, maybe;
- having to carry stuff
- it being running the whole way, rather than maybe 40% walking
- not taking poles

Can't do a lot about (1) and (2) for next time, but especially on races with no map reading required, maybe poles are the way to go. I decided that the climbs weren't long enough to justify them, but maybe they save the legs to the extent that that becomes the more important factor. Defo something to try next time.

Washed the car instead. Therapeutic. Also, it was dirty.

Keeping it short since had a load of work to do this evening.

Doing a 10 week data science course - back to studying again. Submitted my assignment at about 1130pm.
Yawn.

Being extra careful with my ankle.

Feeling better than last night.

I didn't have time to plan anything so we ended up going with Julian's choice and he has no sense of distance, so further than I was expecting or hoping for!
On the plus side, lovely evening and managed to protect my ankle.

On the downside - struggling to stay with the group again.