Training Log Archive: candyman

Ran with Rob from Bamford up Win hill and then to Hope. Rob went on to Lose Hill but I turned around and headed back up Win hill and down to Bamford. Felt pretty good up the hill both ways which is a good sign. Also ankle feeling pretty good on the softer ground. Not great on the downhills but that is to be expected.

Poor work with the watch today, forgetting to start it and stop it at various points so the distance and time is a bit of an estimate.

Ran with Jessica down to the park run and then had some fun at the playground. Ankle felt a bit stiff and other calf a little sore but all in all a positive return to running.

This run very much in bits.

1. With running pram down to Weston Park where Louise and Andy were kind enough to offer to look after Jessica while I did the orienteering.

2. All but the last two controls of the medium course instead running to the playground where Jessica was having fun

3. After a bit of a play with Jessica went to the last two controls pushing the running pram and then to the finish at the Tett's.

Nice to get out for a bit of a trot without the pram, feeling okay.

Was really having a lovely run out rivelin, sportsman, redmires conduit, burbage mines and then went over on my ankle. Arse.

Hobbled down Porter Brook to Endcliffe Park so I could look after Jessica while Kelly did the Parkrun. Now sitting on the couch with my foot up.

Not as bad as the JK, but will be off my feet for a few days at least. Was really hoping to get two good longer runs in this weekend in preparation for Wasdale, now not sure if I will even be able to run.

C • ouch 4

Same run as yesterday but this time with the whole family, finished off at the shops to grab a couple of ingredients for a roast tonight.

Felt quite tough but on review it was as fast as any runs I have been doing recently plus I was pushing Jessica in the running pram... so no wonder it felt a bit tough!

Struggle today after a couple of days feeling good. Probably to be expected considering poor sleep, travel and recovery.

'Easy' 10km with BJ. Hot day in Helsinki so evening was definitely the best time to get out. Feeling remarkably good just 1 week after the race think I have lost about 2kg.

C • level 0? 2

Ducked out for a morning run and to do a couple of errands. Felt pretty good but still struggling a bit as soon as their is a bit of uphill. At least Helsinki is flat so I should get to do some running this weekend.

Steady run out through Crosspool to the golf course and back along the top of Rivelin to bole hill park and then the supermarket to grab a tin of coconut milk needed for dinner. Legs felt much better than yesterday R calf a little niggly but sadly that is normal.

A couple of loops around the Botanical Gardens, one a jigsaw course (map chopped up and then re-arranged in random order) and one map memory. Was a good way of making use of a pretty small and familiar area.

Thanks to Anwen for planning.

Have felt okay since the race on Saturday, nothing particularly sore but legs still pretty heavy which is to be expected.

Had lunch with John Cleese at the George and Dragon (well okay had lunch in the same dining room as John Cleese).

C • John Cleese 2

Forgive the self-indulgence but below is a very comprehensive review of my experiences at the Duddon Valley Fell Race. For those wishing to avoid the waffle the short summary is that I finished in a shade over 4 hours, it was tough but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was gutted to have to miss the Edale Skyline earlier in the year after getting ill and immediately entered Duddon Valley to have a new focus. The plan was to build on the fitness I had from preparing for Edale but it didn't quite work out like that after a shoulder injury at the British Middle Champs, an ankle injury at the JK and another bout of illness at the British Champs meant that I hardly strung a weeks solid training together.

Despite the setbacks I was determined not to miss yet another goal race, and especially not a Lakeland Classic, so with a certain amount of trepidation about my lack of preparation I headed up to the Lakes with Kelly and Jessica for the weekend.

Like many frustrated could-a-been athletes I often struggle to come to terms with the large gap between my current ability and the days when I used to train seriously. This self-delusion lead to thoughts before the race that if I took enough fuel with me there was no reason that i couldn't tough it out near the front of the race through will-power alone. Luckily I had a firm enough grasp of reality to realise that these thoughts were delusional but it was apparent that overcoming my racing mindset was going to be crucial if I was to have any hope of completing this challenge. The race comprises of seven summits, Harter Fell, Hardknott, Little Stand, Swirl How, Dow Crag, White Pike and Caw.

Harter Fell - 46'07

I started conservatively but still found myself struggling on the gentle slopes heading towards the first major climb. It was a glorious weekend but with the warm weather I felt like I was overheating and I had major doubts over whether there was any chance of even finishing. Whilst considering options for withdrawing I dropped my pace slightly and gave myself a good dousing at a stream crossing. As I got to the foot of the steep climb up to summit I actually started feeling a little better and managed to hold my position up to the top which helped my morale.

Hardknott - 25'41

As I descended from the summit of Harter Fell my body temperature seemed to cool down and that was the end of any overheating problems for the day. Due to my recent ankle injury I was hesitant on the downhill and got overtaken by several people on the descent. This was to become a regular occurrence for the rest of the race. After Harter Fell the climb up Hardknott was relatively short and once again I held my position which reassured me that I was on about the right pace.

Little Stand - 33'02

Dropped places on the descent and then started what was for me the toughest climb of the whole race, it was relentlessly steep. Although the views were stunning I retreated in to a world only a few metres ahead of my feet as I focussed on each step and making grindingly slow but steady progress. I was afraid to look behind me incase I had made less progress up the slope than i had imagined. I knew from the top it was a long steady descent to the 3 Shires Stone and that I would have much of the toughest climbing behind me. Although mentally and physically i found this climb the toughest of the whole race I again held my ground and no longer had any thoughts that I might not be able to finish.

Swirl How - 58'03

A long steady descent to 3 Shires Stone and then a relatively steady ascent up to Swirl How. Although I steadily lost ground on the descent, once I started the climb up to Swirl How i was not only holding my ground but started overtaking other runners. This was a real boost to my morale which had already been raised after reaching the summit of Little Stand. I started running with a lot more confidence.

Dow Crag - 25'38

The next couple of sections of the race were some of the most enjoyable, the toughest running was behind me and although deep fatigue was setting in I was making good progress. Although i continued to lose time on the descents to those around me I was getting relatively quicker on each uphill section. The toughest part of the route to Dow Crag was traversing the rocky slopes where my dodgy ankle and now wobblier legs slowed my progress.

White Pike - 17'40

This was the best section of the race for me, on the gentle climb up to White Pike I was moving well and overtaking runners, there was only one more climb to come and I felt completely in control.

Caw - 23'10

I was quickly brought back to reality, I dropped places on the descent and started feeling considerably jaded, I realised that I was at serious risk of bonking and reached in to my pack for some emergency rations. All I had left were some jelly babies but with no more water left it was a bit of a struggle to get them down. It seemed to help however as I was once again steadily overtaking people on the last climb of the race.

Descent to Finish - 14'14

I had struggled on every descent of the race and this was no exception, there was certainly no possibility of 'racing' as some of those I overtook on the last climb came bombing past me down to the finish. Eventually I got to the bottom and ran in to the finish chute where Kelly and Jessica were waiting to cheer me in. My Garmin had died about 2/3 of the way around and I was pleased to find out that I had finished in just a few minutes over 4 hours.

I have certainly never before been so satisfied after such an uncompetitive performance and to be honest it is a bit of a strange feeling. On the whole I certainly enjoyed the experience and it has given my motivation for running and training a boost. I'd certainly like to see how I could perform in these races with some decent training behind me but also been able to realise that performing well is not the only reason to take part.

C • Nice one Gareth 10