Training Log Archive: ba-ba

Event: The Don Morrison Memorial Edale Skyline
 

To the start with Muir, then a bit of prattling around before the start

[Garmin is currently refusing to upload so I can't have a propper good geek at what I got up to today]
Fantastic day for it, so wanted to make the most of conditions and set myself a good time. I think I managed to do myself justice, especially considering the poor feb/march I've had training wise - at least I managed to get a couple of long run in in that time.

Started off slowly and felt good going up to Ringing Roger - I even had a little sing. Managed to miss the trod along to Jagger's clough, but was probably as quick along the edge (everyone else went here anyway). The pace of the group I was with was, I thought, a little steep, but someone told me not to drop off so I didn't, and was steadily reeling people in on the way up to Win Tit. Dropped like a stone off the summit and took more people heading towards drinks - where I caught Muir and was just behind Dave Ward. This, along with seeing my pace around the 4min/km mark on the track to the Tit made me fear I had indeed gone off too quick.

Got rid of my baselayer and hrm strap (which didn't like my crashing descent) on the way up to Lose Hill, and feasted on Jelly-Based treats. Was counted through Lose hill in 30th, just at the back of a fair-sized pack. Was maintaining a fairly descent pace from here to Mam Tor, but didn't feel too great and was worried about blowing up on Rushup/Brown Knoll. Steve got ahead of me on the Seat and although I managed to close a bit of ground on a straight route choice, he and the bloke he was with were away. I felt like I was running backwards along Brown Knoll, but only got passed once, stayed in contact with those ahead and pulled away from those behind. I was very glad for Rhys's water at the trig.

Then something weird happened. I was expecting to have to struggle to keep up with everyone, but they all started mincing around after Jacob's Ladder. Took the lower line to Pym Chair, which worked OK, taking about 5 places in the process - even with me feeling pretty crap! Gambled on the route round the Woolpacks and even though I cocked up the descent to the path (I went rock-hopping through the river whilst Ralph and Tom watched) I lost no time to the 2 ahead of me. Overtook one fairly easily, spurred on by Ralph and Toms' encouragement, saying I was looking strong, and weasled the second picking a better line to Grindslow Knoll. There were still about 5 people within 200m of me at this point, but 40m after the summit Tedwards informed me that I was clear - what were all the others playing at? Was there a tea-stop on the summit? With the help of some water from Matt I sped up a little towards the top of Grindbrook, had a little look back and couldn't see anyone within 300+m, what the hell were they playing at?

Took the direct route across the trod to the edge path. Once there I was on my own - no-one within about 300m on either side. I was glad of the cussion on those behind as I had to stop for a few seconds with cramp on the edge, but after a minute of hobbling it eased and I could continue the stagger back to Ringing Roger. On the descent bumped into Carl Edghill ascending from the opposite side. Having not seen him all race, the down-and-up must have spectacularly backfired for him!

Even with no-one to race I sped up for the final descent because a) it was rude not to, b) It's what I do in all races, so to not do it in a long race just wouldn't be fun, and c) I was within sight of making it back quicker than the Women's record. Flew down the last field to finish in 03.09.24 - 20secs inside the women's record, 24th place, 33mins or so down on Lloyd. 3rd Pennine behind Dave and Steve, and not too far down on the fast old men - Mick, Julien etc.

Pretty Chuffed, especially for my first proper long race.
Whether I earned the positioning due to having good stamina, or gained it by those infront of me on Brown Knoll misjudging it and blowing up I don't know.

Now time to get some speed in the legs before the short fell races start. Next up -Varsity Athletics (3k,1.5k,0.8k) and the Kinder Downfall on the 10th April (cba with the sprint and middles)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/75693294

Schlepped up to MOtherwell to pick up Loz's car.
Motherwell is lovely, you should all go there for a romantic trip...

On the plus side I got to see the M74's Cock Forest ("it looks more like a T" "Yeah, a T with rounded ends... a cock") again, and stopped for Tebay PIES :D

Tomorrow's game plan.

Start Steady.
Enjoy Myself.
If I'm still enjoying myself, push on from Lord's Seat.
Finish.
Drink Beer.

C • Goodluck Barbie 2

Down to Hallam. not really trusting the Hr...

getting used to the treadmill, as never been on one before.

Started at 11kph, finished the 20kph set and called it a day. Didn't think I could manage a min at 21kph, but maybe I should have given it a shot?
VO2max reached 59.1.

~10 mins rec after V02max. 5km Time Trial, with only distance known to me (hr, speed and time covered up)
As such I found it really hard to pace myself, which is one reason for the piss-poor time, as is still feeling the VO2max. My legs felt heavy and I was just not sure how much I could push myself. I've never been great at pacing myself, so tend to use people around me in races. I've never done a time-trial before, and seldom use them in my training.
But not to break under 4min/km is ridiculous! That said, ahead of the skyline I'm not too disappointed.

Vdot for this pace is ~47, so 12 less than the score I had just set!
It shows that the only art of my body aching after this was my jaw from biting down on the mouthpiece.

Down to Hallam form some running study. After Roar-ing last night I was a bit tardy so had to go a bit quicker than I would have liked. However, I appear to be back to 1st-year levels of drink/sleep/early-morning!

4(5x20m) sprints. 20secs between sprints and 3mins between sets, in which time a small amount of blood was persuaded from my finger for a lactate test - although the machine didn't appear to be working.
Was fairly consistent with times, and it was interesting to watch my hr jump 20bpm after the first 2 reps.

My blood pressure was taken today - and it's bloody high! 161/113 high! OK, this may be down to last night's alcohol intake but I should get it checked out (I remember it being a little elevated when I went to the meningitis study), especially as Dad had some issues with high cholesterol.

If I have to start eating toast and spuds with spread on instead of butter I won't be happy :(

Slog back up the hill. Well, to the bottom of Spring Hill at least.

Easy day today

So maybe I should have had a proper day off, but after spending 8 hours inside typing (up to ~3700/8000), and as I didn't want to discourage Dan, headed out through the parks, up to Sandygate and back via a very damp Crosspool and Lydgate.
Maybe a little bit too much effort but wanted to keep going.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/74689874

C • damp? 3

Round BH then to POnderosa

30,30,90,90 x2 with 45secs rec on the grass next to the Ponderosa 500m loop. Sesh was 3x but cut the last one as mindful of tiredness atm.
Tried to stride out on the downhills and keep it going on the ups.
Lacking 4th and 5th gear atm, feel like I'm stuck in 3rd all the time.

the 90sec reps: 440m (with added trees), 450m, 430m, 430m.

C • 3rd gear 2

drills, and a slow drag up Roebuck after the sesh.

Dropped the car off at Mum's work in Hathersage and ran back with Hobbs, follwed the Gala route on to Burbage, then headed across the Moor to LadyC's - even managed to find the path about half-way across! Then back through Porter, Crimicar, top of Rivelin and Crookes. Pretty tired from the weekend so took it as practise for the last half of Sunday, but was feeling pretty good from Burbage Bridge onwards.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/74349559