Training Log Archive: ba-ba

Hen Comb and Melbreak with TP, tedwards, Neil and Craig, and Hannah, Rach, Jane and katrina at times.

Got married.

C • Woo hoo! 1

Bridekirk loop. Wet. I was taking it easy honest but maybe needed a bit of impetus to stay warm.

Whinlatter fells with Hannah and Andrew. Mist was atmosperic before it cleared and we got some views. Kept it easy with plenty of walking on hills.

Hrv 45. Got it a bit wrong yesterday - run OK; one beer OK; late night OK. All 3 together not the best idea. Need to be more careful.

Easy round town with Hannah. Legs felt fine in general. Ankles and knees felt a little loose, it's almost like I've done barely anything to work the muscles and tendons for 2 weeks. Sleeping a lot at the moment still, rhr still a few beats high but Hrv is creeping up. Will do some more easy runs (mainly to mitigate the excesses of the coming week) but pent of rest still.

Pinched Dad's hybrid (only 2 chain rings so it's ok ;) and pootled from New Mills to Whaley Bridge along the canal. Decent dog walk in the morning as well.

Obviously I'm very pleased to have finished the DB - that was the over-riding aim - but after fading so badly on the last 2 days I definitely finished with a whimper. I'm not entirely sure what went wrong. I was obviously very tired, but also suffered with heavy sinuses on the last few days. Whether these were my body's response to the immense stress I was putting it through, or a cold I had picked up (Hannah had a cold earlier in the week so this is a possibility) I'm unsure.

I didn't feel quite right from the start, but put this down to the heat. However I was very nervous beforehand and didn't sleep very well in the days leading up, which can't help. This was compounded by my sleeping mat failing after day 1 - sleep during wasn't great either. We've also been very busy in the last few months and I wonder if external stresses - including starting a new job where I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing yet - tired me further. I'm pretty sure I was eating OK - I packed for >300cal/hour, though I may have not managed to consume all this. I didn't get too dehydrated but salt balance may have been an issue - on the last couple of days, taking a swig of water would result in me pissing like a racehorse within minutes, suggesting some reverse osmosis may have been going on in my kidneys. I had 1.5L of water carrying capacity, keeping this as full as possible, so consumed at last 4.5 L/day, and likely more with stream dipping and drinking before topping up.

I was happy with my camp admin and did well to get plenty of food in, sort myself and kit, and relax and chat to people - I only had to suffer 2 old twats moaning once and got up from the table sharpish. MOst time was sepnt with the tent mates (Phil, Rob and Andy Barnes, Mark from DP) and also Simon and Matt (1st and 3rd overall). My only visit to the medical tent was when my sinuses led to a few mega nose-bleeds.

Musculo-skeletally I felt fine. I had a slight twinge in my L post tib, and a little hip flexor agro on Day 5, but these both held up fine. The chasis is evidently good. My feet held up well, I did preventative tape fairly heavily from day 3 onwards. They swelled up pretty good afterwards though!

Physically and mentally I'm pretty wiped. I'm not planning on doing much at all for a while. In prep I looked to see what Rob Baker did in 2012 - as he raced on about a month's notice this wasn't much use, but what he did after (a lot), and knowing what happened next (a heart procedure), I'll be doing a lot of race marshalling until Christmas. The exception is a yomp around OMM B course with the (soon to be) wife, and maybe the tour de helvellyn in December.. I'm already looking forward to training and improving myself for next year and getting back into racing after 3 years of it being minimal. As for the Dragon, there's a slight itch remaining to not tail off in the last third, but it doesn't really require scratching.

As for the event itself, it's a logistical feat but I already knew this after volunteering. The route is what I'm there for. A lot of the other bits I don't care for, but for the event to run it has to make some money, and for this to happen Shane and GG need to attach bells and whistles (and GPS traces) that I'd prefer weren't there but can accept. Shane says that he's not in the business to make money, he's in it to deliver excellent exciting outdoors events, and he doesn't half deliver. I'm not entirely sure how he gets away with the no vetting of entrants without more issues - there are a fair amount of people who enter this having absolutely no clue (I overhead one person saying he started running in January; Hannah's dad strava stalked some of the early drop-outs and noted one bloke never got above 20km a week, but had at least been on a poles course). There are people who can't look after themselves in camp and really impinge upon others' enjoyment of the event. Thankfully we arranged most of our tent to avoid this (and snoring!)

Basically I should have run the 2012 or 2015 events!

C • Take it easy 2

C • Thanks for the write-up 3

A jeans-and-trainer ease to the bakery is hardly worth logging but it's the most I'll be up to for next few weeks!

Dragon's back: a summary in finishing positions:
Day 1: 4th
Day 2: 4th
Day 3: 4th (just)
Day 4: 5th
Day 5: 20+
Day 6: 50+

C • Done! 2

One day more!
Felt much better after yesterday's walk and a good trough. Felt pretty good on the first climb and the run to and into Merthyr. Still moving well on the ascent of Merthyr common, but started to slow a bit into the support point. Stopped for a while to feed up, then also stopped at Nelson coop for a meal deal. Managed a few shuffling runs but then it was a long walk into the water point and on into Cardiff. Had some good talks with other people walking, but once onto the Taff trail I felt like I collapse was never too far away, so just kept eating and putting one foot in front of the other. Eventually made it in and immediately went for a lie down and a warm up.

Struggled from the off. Orran Smith (1h behind overall, having taken ~30mins out of me yesterday) came past and went by number 1. Kept moving on the roads, Katie came past in the wrong direction as she'd missed CP2. Pasty in Llandovery was consumed as I power-walked up the next road climb, before shuffling on to the Usk Reservoir in about 3h.

On to the fell finally, but I struggled up Fan Brycheiniog as Katie came past and Matt caught me at the summit. Thankfully it was cool and misty. Worked well with Al Hubbard on the descent, over the bump and up the steep climb to Fan Gyhirych, though he dropped me at the top. It was now a struggle over the rougher western Fans and there was plenty of walking going on. Stopped for a bacon butty at Storey arms, which seemed to work a bit as I caught ROb on the climb to Pen y Fan. But on the descent from Cribyn I was dropped and I waled every step from there to the finish. I even had to stop to put my synthetic layer on at one point as the evening drew in and the wind got up and my reserves dwindled. Just about managed to stagger my way in without requiring my headtorch.

Climbed the first hill well but then went a bit off-line early on so had to chew some tussocks. Also managed to slightly overshoot a junction of a not very distinct path. And drop my dibber (thankfully found later by Phil). I had a real issue at one point deciding which path to take, nearly turning on my GPS before getting a grip of myself. The decent trail through the windmills was a case of keep moving fast but not too fast, but I was also having GI issues for a lot of the day.

Russ (2nd) came flying past as we hit the road, I settled into an OK pace on the climbs and enjoyed cruising through the terrain and passing people on decent trods. Took a nice alternative line to CP 3, but then started feeling a bit off just before the support point - I even tried to run down the wrong path at one point but Katie shouted me back. Simon came through on a a mission.

Took time to sort myself at the support point and was soon moving well, passing Katie and Rob, seeing Mark, Alice and Rich C, and enjoying the climb to Drygarn Fawr. The first bit of road to Abergwesyn went well - maybe too well, as the small col after was interminable (maybe due to it being muddy, boggy, rough and hot!). The final bit of road wasn't great but I got going OK, cut some corners and had some pats with a lovely little collie. Chased in by the medical team (out on a jog) to keep me honest.

Pork roll and half a pint in the Towy Bridge Arms.

Felt very low pre start but a cooling breeze on Cader and a fun ridge to run helped matters, maybe enjoyed it a bit too much as struggled a bit towards the end. Coop meal deal in Mach went down a treat, though i did get the world's slowest checkouts. Was asked if I was doing the cycle race (tour of Britain)

Cader was great, including my sneaky line to miss climb after the pony path. The Tarrens were mercifully cooler than I anticipated. I'm not particularly sure about the direct line - getting to the forest track is rough, the track itself has quite a bit of false flat (going in later may be better), and the 300m climb at the end is a bollocks - but Matt had just gone past and I fancied giving it a whirl. Moved OK into Mach before a shopping spree.

The initial traily section after Mach was OK as I chatted to Katie, the leading lady. I pressed on but never got too far ahead. At one point I got out-descended by a Belgian, but was still moving OK. Followed the wrong path on the initial climb to Llyn Lygad so had to do a bit of rough-housing before the final climb to Pumlummon which went OK. The descent went on for ever though. The download tent was full of people retiring/going home, taking up lots of time, and I nearly had a diva fit, but decided to just sit down instead.

Really warm. Started feeling really good in the shade and cool but once up top all energy was sapped. Kept plugging away and played about with some rhinog lines. One worked, one executed less well. Windier tomorrow will hopefully help.

Started a bit earlier than suggested time to avoid heat. Good bit of running to ease the legs, then climbed Cnicht wellpassing most of the tent-mates. Descended well, passing Phil earlier than anticipated. Set to work climbing the Moelwyns, climbing well but the earlier perky feeling had gone, especially when leader Simon came charging through. Descending to the valley I started feeling weary and the roads to the water point were very slow (Phil catching me back up). But we were now into rougher ground and I set to work keeping moving. 3rd place (Matt) caught me and was moving well but nothing spcetacular - basically how I felt I should have been moving. Outlined him a bit but he got away into the support point a bit and I had a more chilled transition.

New line up Rhinog Fawr worked a dream and I popped out infront of Matt. New line off was taken to try and rough him up a bit. Execution wasn't the best but good fun, and nice to be alone on the climb of Fach. Dropped to Llyn Hywel for necessary water and splash before the last 2 climbs - Matt came back through. Struggled a bit, having to walk bits of the gentle grassy descent from Y Llethr, had a bit of a rest at the topof Diffwys but got down the road and into camp OK.

Warm. Didn't feel myself but one foot in front of the other is the name of the game.

Popped to the toilet before starting to purposefully start a bit further back, chill my beans and hopefully be continuously catching people. A bit of queuing at gates but nothing too bad. Shortly after CP2 Rob Barnes (3rd in 2019) popped out from a duff route choice, and I was surprised that he didn't shoot of or at least run with me. Reeled in a few people as we headed up to the Carneddau, it always took a (purposefully) long time to catch people, but then they were suddenly nowhere to be seen despite me maintaining pace. Passed Marcus Scotney on the phone dropping out at Carnedd Daffyd. Caught Steve B dropping off Pen yr Ole Wen, he was already dehydrated. Hit Ogwen CP with Phil W, who I know from helping in 2019. Quick stop and some chat.

The Tryfan climb was much harder than expected, mercifully shaded, but took the 45min Phil said he'd expect to do when fresh. I followed a Fin on the climb to the Glyders, losing a bit of time but having fun though feeling very tired. I opted to take 5 mins in the shade at the top of Glyder Fawr and this seemed to work.

Bit mincy on Crib Goch, yoyoed with Steve B who was still suffering in the heat and appeared to only have 500mL water carrying capacity. I felt naff coming off Yr Wyddfa and over Lliwedd, but managed to pick up and pass a group, finishing with Phil (actually being 5 minutes ahead on time) in a surprising 4th place. I was just ahead of Steve when he stopped so missed all the drama there.

First taste of tent life - sharing with Phil, Rob Barnes and his brother, someone who's just started working for OMM and only eats meat (Sam), Marcus Scotney (so never saw him) and a wildcard of Mark from Dark Peak.

Easy shakeout.

https://live.opentracking.co.uk/dragonsbackrace202... #418. Public messages can be sent.

I'm really looking forward to next week but also very nervous. Not been this nervous since before my first Elite OMM in 2015, and maybe the HPM in 2017. They were more about not letting down team mates. This is more about getting through the week! I've not slept very well the last couple of nights, think I need some big mountain days to tire me out properly! But what's the point in doing something you know you can do? That's part of the excitement!

The overriding aim is to get to Cardiff, enjoy the journey and execute it in a way I'm happy with. If everything goes well then a good result may follow but that is tertiary. I don't care who else is doing what, just how I'm feeling.

I'm not sure how my training has gone - my legs feel good but other bits feel less fresh than I'd like. Overall time on feet has been higher than before the BG and specific blocks were good, but maybe I've lacked the week to week consistency I got in the run up to the BG. I think this may be a function of a September event - training through the summer is not my forte, even with the lack of racing this year.

Full kit wanker down the trail and a loop in Hayfield. A few strides.
At some point yesterday a door that must remain closed was in fact open (I think I was busy worrying about new job tasks when I should have been closing the door) and the dog got at my race vest, ripping most of the useful pockets beyond use. So a last minute scramble to let's run for a replacement vest - same model as old one but a size smaller which fits better - though I have found that the only downside to being an average athletic male is that I fall between Silva's vest sizes of XS/S and M/L.

Thankfully she didn't get in my dry bags as they were holding 25000 calories including quite a lot of chocolate.

Fairly easy around town

hrv 74