Training Log Archive: ba-ba

updated my fantasy TdF team on phone on Fri evening, only it didn't work so I've had a load of sprinters in for the first 2 mountains. Lead lost, time to try and get it back (before the same happens when I'm back in Wasdale next weekend!)

After SLMM2010, when Ash and I overhauled 15mins on Lewis and Jonny, I was aware that there was a chance of us catching them, albeit slim. 3rd were 36mins back so we just had to plod around as in day 1 for a top 2.
1-3 we hit pretty much dead on, a bit of hunting on the feature for 2. It was quite hot but thankfully cooled nicely for the long valley-hopping leg to 4. Towards the end of this leg we saw a pair we thought were L&J (they weren't) so decided to up the pace a bit and have a little race. 5 went quite quickly then we were onto the last control. Picked a pretty rough route down but approached #6 just as L&J left it. Hooned it off after them and saw Lewis was carrying both bags. I caught them both up, but before Wil could we were back on flat and downhill and they took off. Punched 27secs behind. Won the day by 12 mins.

Really enjoyable weekend and 2 long days, which is what I was really after from this. Need to improve through terrain a bit. Bearings generally good, but vis was good anyway. Let Wil do most of the decision making and we got a few things wrong but not too fussed. Looking forward(?!) to racing OMM though!

Distances and climbs are guesses as no GPS recievers (even those without screens) allowed - not that Jonny and Lewis paid attention to that rule!

http://www.slmm.org.uk/2012/Results/Overall/bowfel...

Event: Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon
 

Saunders Bowfell with The Spaniard.

The day's entertainment included a couple having sex at an isolated tarn, racing a pig and Whiskey and a dog in the tent at overnight.

Starting in Mosedale we sauntered up the (waaarm) valley to Black Sail Pass. I started off at a bit of a jog but soon realised more sedate was the best option.
We then went south of Gable along the climbers path to #2, above Styhead pass. Windy Gap was probably the better option (Lewis and Jonny beat us by 4mins this way, I reckon it cost us 10ish mins)
#3 was Lingmell Way. Out of #2 we took a line so aggressive it has its own Asbo, over The Band before traversing into the corridor route nicely. 4 was no problem and we were on our own.
5 was long and interminable. Started and finished through bracken, only at the end we had Gorse as well, and it was uphill - we tried contouring round Whin Rigg but got caught in the crap and pushed downhill a bit. Should have got onto the ridge earlier - lost nearly 15mins to L&J
6 was only 3.5km but took over an hour - hot in the valley bottom and ascending Buckbarrow was really tough in the heat - only part of the day I really struggled. Also had circle slightly in wrong place so lost 5mins there maybe.
Then easy and flat into finish - not that it stopped Wil decking it!

First finishers. Both of us never really felt like we raced at any point, just enjoyed the day out. Ended up26mins behind L&J. Not too fussed, but thought we maybe should have tried a little harder.

new heckle: 'Giz us a kiss!' from a 2/10 Minkie.

Work. Lab and Office now both hotter than Alicante. Shame, looks like a lovely evening.

Turned into a 10km easy progress/tempo working down to 4:10ish average, then a jog back. Cruising. Saw a bus called Mark Schwarzer

spending my time with a large browsing mammal, similar in shape to a pig, with a short prehensile snout. That's right, I'm Tapiering!

I would have gone out for a run but it's like, raining, and there's cycling to watch. Bought a lot of wine-gums and supernoodles.