Training Log Archive: AliC

Walk back to the start from Buttermere, along the road. Beautiful, beautiful lakeland views. Was a bit sad not to be able to be out there.

Counting the steep 20 minutes up to Honister Pass as training, not the rest of the walk.

Day 1 of OMM, A course

We finished the bad weather course. And it *was* bad weather. The wind was the worst bit- off the start you couldn't even hold your map, and that was in a valley... rain felt like hail because it was coming at you so fast. Only happy it wasn't a few degrees colder, could have been worse!

Elsie and I did well together (having only met briefly at the LAMM beforehand). Smooth to 1, then messy to 2 as we weren't paying attention to the map enough due to the wind. (Hard to have a discussion about navigation when you have to shout!) Some gnarly terrain to 3, but good navigation. We were silly on our route to go through 'Little Town' to 4, ending up in gross rocky stuff as we stayed too low. Probably my least happy bit. Then up to 4 was a slog, particularly with the heather at the top. Then we skipped 5-6-7-8 as instructed for the bad weather. Down from 4 was a low point, lots of wind, Elsie was cold, we both realized we hadn't been eating/drinking enough... But only 2 more controls, so drunk water, ate a few jelly babies and layered up. 9 and 10 were pretty easy, there were lots of A coursers around us and not too tricky. Then ran to 11 and finish (lower = less wind) to find out event was canceled!! May never get splits I guess, but at least we've now heard everyone is ok.

Following is for my future reference mostly...

Stuff I actually brought:
-Stephen's 25L OMMsac with inbuilt sleep mat
-2 space blankets (1 used which was used again, 1 new, which remained un opened)
-1 pair socks (fairly new smartwools)
-Brooks trail runners (not enough grip for how wet it was!)
-ankle brace (worked, only 1 crunch when I fell down a little cliff, no extra blisters)
-purple thermal tights (dry for camp), navy lycra tights, OMM waterproof bottoms
-light purple thermal top, heavy purple thermal top (raced in both), craft thermal (dry for camp), berghaus teal fleece (dry for camp), red paclite goretex waterproof
-US ski team hat (didn't race in, actually, hood was enough), little black gloves
-map, compass, SI card, headtorch
-first aid kit: 2 plasters, crepe bandage, contacts, emergency rations, pencil, notecard, bouillon cubes, little vaseline stick, (add safety pin, next time!), 16x ibuprofen
-tent (elsie carried pegs and had stove)
-sleeping bag (down, women's REI, rated to 0deg celsius, in stuff sack)
-400mL nalgene
-foot bags!
- Oringen buff (Elsie used, I didn't need)

Comments: I had completely sufficient gear for this, would have been fine sleeping in tent instead of the barn (but the field was flooded...). Things to think about for next time:
-bring safety pin for popping blisters (thanks JonX)
-wrap sleeping bag in bin liner inside stuff sack (I've learned this lesson before...)
-zip lock baggies with dry clothes in = good idea
-banana chips, cranberries are too hard to eat while out there, only for camp
-chocolate disolves in foil liner... oops.
-maybe fewer bars? I had like 23, ate maybe 8, and most were in the morning as we were too lazy to cook couscous...

C • Congrats! 2

Calories to weight ratio (kcal/100g) of OMM foods:

galaxy choc bar: 544
dried banana chips: 511
twix biscuit fingers: 490
nutri-grain soft oaties: 452
tesco raisin munch bar: 420
harvest chewee bar: 416
prezels: 376
couscous: 365
go ahead apple fruit bakes: 354
dried sweetened cranberries: 340
babybel cheese: 304
stock cubes: 249

For reference:
bagel: 263
cream cheese: 270

This is interesting, for a few reasons. I'm surprised by how far up the list the banana chips are, and how low the dried cranberries are. I'm also surprised that stock cubes actually have some caloric value, of course not bringing enough grams worth of them to matter though.... Pretzels were also higher up on the list than I thought, don't feel so bad about bringing them now. No pumpkin seeds at tescos this morning. =(

C • Good luck! 1

10 min warm up to south parks
few more minutes warm up around
recoveries back down between reps
warm down with Alina
10-ish minute warm down back home

OUOC hill reps- last time they can be in the evening I think... the dark is coming!

30-60-90-60-30 pyramid, with last 30 downhill- like dessert!

Did these, not expecting them to help for the OMM exactly at this point, but hey, it's only 7 minutes!

Run with Ruth before Uni Parks Freshers O-thing organized/planned by Anne!

Just to Marston and back, nice little run. Weather felt nice while out, then freezing when we stopped and taught people how to orienteer for an hour!! Hands had totally cut off circulation by the end of it, which freaked my office mates out when I came back in...

So scared for the OMM. Is the weather really going to be that awful?!?!

Warm up around Uni parks, staying on grass as much as possible.

Uni Parks Reps

2 x (2 min, 1 min off, 4 min, 1 min off, 3 min) 2.5 min off between

Blues women were supposed to do 3 sets, but between the cold and upcoming OMM, figured 2 would do it for today. Felt ok, not amazing, no wierd tweaks or pains at least!!

11 min cool-down, plus recovery between intervals, and the extended stride at the beginning

Circuitses. Ankle twinged once, maybe it's a bit irritated from yesterday, will have to continue to be good! And definitely wearing the brace for the OMM...