Training Log Archive: Mark3

Weather forecast had been horrendous and started in the rain and full waterproofs as expected, not really expecting to make it the whole way around the planned route.

Steep rocky ascent up to Harrison's Stickle and then across to Pike. Looked like the best way up Pike was to stay on the path to the big rock and then go up the grassyish climb to the due E of the summit (and same way down).

To Rosset, staying on the lower path rather than the ridge and going up at the last possible minute, staying on the trod for as long as possible, seemed the best line.

The line I took us on to Bowfell was a disaster; first too high then too low. We actually came out in a great place, but it was very sketchy at times and involved rather too much actual climbing climbing for my liking. The past 4 times I've done this perfectly so not sure what happened - tried to contour too much I think. GPS looks like we were one shelf too low.

Off Bowfell need to remember to stay on the tourist path from the top and not cut left too soon.

Off Broad Crag can just aim straight at Scafell.

Fine up LR and WWT - LR seemed easier in the wet as the tiny bits of the scree seemed to stick together. WWT was a bit more dicey as there are some big steps near the stop - fine with it though.

Then onto the Great Lakes recce - should probably have looked at some people's routes before attempting this really but hey ho. From looking at Josh Jardine's line afterwards, looks like staying on the ridge from Scafell to Slight Side is a good bet; we dropped down too early and ended up in a load of rocks. Then from SS down he came down the W'most scree slope whereas we were much further W trying to go around the rocks, but they extended for ages. I think trying this in the race would be a bif iffy without having done it before though!

He stayed S of the river to the big bend and goes up just the S of Swinsty to Adam-a-cove before joining the path sooner. We went up Stonesty which is shorter and less climb but it's really rocky to get there; I can see why it's not the optimum race route.

E and then N off Pike o'Blisco before turning NE and then joining the line we ended up on, rather than taking the Three Shires line like I did and then turning left lower down.

Looking at some other people near the top of that 2019 english champs race though, it looks like the variety of route choices is massive so there obviously isn't much consensus. Needs more geeking/recces before the day.

An actual mass start race!! Expected rain, got sunshine. Very glad I had brought vest and shorts just in case.

Masks at the start and then removed from the word go - just like a proper race from back in the olden days.

42nd/166 - which doesn't sounds great, but it was a high-class field. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.
https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/Kong/2021/Spr...

Beaten by 7 women, many of whom looked like teenagers but looking at the results they've all over 23. This makes me feel very old.

Happy with route choice upto Clough Head but getting to the Coach road sooner rather than later looked optimal. Lost a race position with my unconventional route choice down off Great Dodd; splits looks like this is about a 40s loss which is quite a lot (basically my way down was too rough and so was slow). Maybe 3-4 places higher if I had followed everyone else (I did manage to take someone with me though; that will teach him for following!).

Nice Strava flybys of different routes taken;
https://www.strava.com/activities/5302932963/overv...

Coach Road a bit dull but nice final descent into the quarry at the end.

C • Scout Adkin 4

Up Hall's Fell after the race. Almost eerily quiet despite it being a nice day.

Stayed right of the ridge (ie, left coming down) and you can do quite a lot of the horrible rocky bit on steep grass rather than rocks - would defintiely do that in future.

Down the Parachute in 21:30 (vs 17:00 on Doddick and N/J's 20:30 on Hall's). Didn't get a great line at all and actually amazed that it was as fast as it was. Coming down the spur of Middle Fell is fine but then once you get into the steep heather it's really slow. I think that maybe staying on the E side of middle fell most of the way down and only crossing to the W near the stream junction might avoid the worst of the heather, but tbc...
Once down to the stream junction it's relatively fast.

Feeling good about the Doddick choice and more confident for LiaD about the E side of the top of Hall's.

Race tomorrow!

Plus busy at work.

Muddy, which these shoes can't cope with. Half road though, where they're good. Can't win from the leisure centre really.

Finding it tough at the start, probably since not eaten since lunch at 10:30. Got into it, though.

Fairly sedate this eve as the groups were merged - also running in a group of 7(!!) is naturally slower.

Felt lethargic and slow at first but perked up a bit later on.

Easy loop, few hills. Not really liking these shoes, preferred the 295s.

Feeling ok on the flat and down, feeling the climbs a bit after halfway.