Training Log Archive: OJ

SPOOK relays in Bingham/Student Village/Endcliffe running with Nails. What a race. It was neck and neck all the way with the crack student team of Camel and Danger, although they held a small lead most of the time.

Leg 2: Slipping and sliding around Bingham, I had to run hard to make up the deficit on Camel and Al after a big mistake at the far end. A tough, physical course.

Leg 4: Tricky route choice around the student village, running the whole way 50-100m behind John. He was out of sight most of the time and I just couldn't seem to make up the deficit. I managed to punch one control ahead of him (the last one) but then he punished me on the long finish run in.

Leg 6: Mmmm. Not my finest hour. This was a crazy 1:1000 map of Endcliffe with every tree and bush painstakingly mapped by Marcus. Camel and I set out together and switched the lead quite a bit, and had a different gaffle for the middle section. I got hopelessly confused for a while and almost mispunched on dummy controls a few times, all in full view of an abusive heckling crowd. I somehow managed to get a control ahead near the end, and from there on it was just a case of making sure I (pin)punched first to stay ahead...I feel a bit guilty really, we should have agreed to touch punch for a fairer race.

So we got in first, but might have mispunched somewhere along the way...we get the glory, but Camel and Danger get the moral victory.

Warm up and inbetweeny bits, plus an extended warmdown collecting controls with our bitter rivals. Best SPOOK relay ever?

C • What's with you winning the... 11

Event: ShUOC Sheffield City Chase
 

Sheffield City Chase prologue. Great course around a housing estate and neighbouring streets with plenty of tricks to keep you on your toes. I managed to stay in control and didn't really miss anything, although I came close. The best bit was running behind Craney on a later leg as he blew no. 1 on the way out of the start. I managed to scrape a narrow but significant victory over GG.

ShUOC city chase final. I wasn't confident that my 2 second buffer over GG would hold for long, and sure enough he passed me pretty much before I had found no. 1 on the map. I tucked in behind him for much of the way until the students (Kris and Ralph) caught us. Then it got a bit crazy in the multilevel Odeon/Hallam Uni section, where I managed to lead GG astray on a duff choice and let Kris get a decent gap. After that GG pulled away as the course got a bit more physical. I was annoyed to have thrown away the chance of a win, but I consoled myself that at least I had sabotaged GG as well. Unfortunately Kris had gone and missed out a control so it was all in vain.

C • I think most of us would go... 1

Warm up and down for both races. All very exciting.

HFSD.

C • not HFP? 11

Core, circuits and jumping stuff.

Weights session with a big crowd of TASS types. Tried some fully laden half squats and some lighter full squats, plus a few other bits and pieces. Coping with 100kgs for half and 70kgs for full.

Sport Hallam and back, part of the way with Camel.

IW, got caught arriving late by Mr Baker. I had been working at home, you know.

C • why was mr baker about to s... 6

HFW via Blake St for some reps. 10xshort sprints followed by 5xfull hill in 50, 49, 49, 50, 50. First interval type session for a while and it felt surprisingly alright. Bumped into Mike after.

Lunchtime run up a soggy Loxley Valley.

Bit of an aimless session down at the Works with Hilary and Timo, who is a pretty hard core climber these days. Nailed a couple more blacks, only 2 left now...

Into work with a heavy bag and a fuzzy head.

Evening run from Strines Road up to Back tor and back with a big crowd, staying in the terrain most of the time. Kris ran with a light that could have come out of an xmas cracker, but luckily GG had the sun strapped to his head. Good to get in some terrain, it's been a while and my butterfly technique needs some work.

C • Cool! 2

Must...stay...awake....