Training Log Archive: ba-ba

SL: 8.5km/320m. Only 4 on course, think I won easily.
Working on Orienteering processes went out the window pretty much as soon as I started - not with it after yesterday so just bimbled around. Direction a bit off to start with but improved later on. Poor on the slope section - this is something I need to work on as I never seem able to attack slopes on bitty, technical slopes with any confidence, either mentally or physically.

Main time-loss apart from general fannyness (and excepting ~2mins of gut-related issues to 12) were getting stuck in green to #5, being too low on #6 (30secs), wandering off my bearing/getting confused by new growth to #18 (1.5mins), and getting on the wrong path to #21 (30secs). Should have worn mudclaws.

I really rate this area, although the event should have been held this time last year as practise for Strensall as the moor is very similar. The NW/N slopes are very tough (need to get out here more often for hills), but the recent weather had flattened the bracken down so it was enjoyable as opposed to a trog down here. The wooded slope section was really nice (if steep, especially in worn-out Xtalons!)

I'd said I'd collect, but hadn't told Charles beforehand that I'd be knacked after yesterday, so was sent out to the wooded section the furthest away from the car-park. However, it gave me a good chance to look at #5 and #6 again. Messed up #12 from the other direction (too high), and was way off on #9 (went all around paths as was too steep direct with a load of kites, then mind didn't function in the circle).
Not great distance covered today, but ticks the 'time on feet' box

Event: English National Cross Country Championships
 

lap of the course with Greg, then cheered the first group of Ladies through the gate before sorting myself.

233rd/1085. Winner: Keith Gerrard 41:21 (120%)



The National. At a snowy but not overly chilly Herrington Park in Sunderland. Oh, and it was muddy as, I thought the North Easterns were bad, but the mud here had no structure to it so it was even harder going.
I just enjoyed myself for the first couple of laps got passed by a lot (despite not going off too quickly), acknowledged Harold and Carl Bell early on and Tedwards, had a chat with Danny Brewer as he came past half way through lap 2. It wasn't easy but I felt quite cruisey, running within myself a bit. Tom Bush got passed me at the top of the last hill, 2km or so out. He (and a few others) got away a bit, but I then actualy started racing and felt really good easing the pace up. I reeled a lot of people in over the last 800m or so and finished strongly - thought I may have gone a bit early but held Tom off.

Feeling strong, if not very fast. I suppose this bodes well for Edale/PPP?

For a local national it's a travesty that I was the only senior on show (another guy managed to get a number from Marske), but spent my time with the Midds&Cleve guys. Good to be 50secs ahead of Chris Rumsey as I'm normally close to him, and I'm happy to be within 90secs of Harold/Tom/Coombs at the moment

1 0:41:21 5286 Keith Gerrard Newham & Essex
82 0:45:43 4952 Carl Bell Keswick AAC
86 0:45:46 5199 Greg Jayasuriya Middlesbrough & C
102 0:46:12 6128 Ewan Brown York Knavesmire H
111 0:46:33 4800 Fred Slemeck Hercules Wimbled (P&b)
146 0:47:23 6123 Harold Wyber Woodford Green AC
155 0:47:36 5022 Tom Edwards Leeds City AC
190 0:48:41 4331 Duncan Coombs Cambridge & Cole
227 0:49:41 4215 Danny Brewer Blackheath & Brom
233 0:49:48 4169 Nicholas Barber Billingham Marsh H
238 0:49:53 6141 Tom Bush Altrincham & Distr
265 0:50:37 5204 Christopher Rumsey Middlesbrough & C
353 0:52:37 4760 Andrew Minister Hartlepool Burn Road

http://www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk/images/nation...

C • Congrats! 4

warm-down with Greg, telling me how he 'got a good start' as told, and was in 5th at the first corner!

little shake-out. Feeling pretty good today.

Felt tired all day (in early) but this perked me up. Round Barwick then back through my map - survived with just a mouthful of weed smoke and my knees intact - and the town centre for the first time.

Not feeling it today. Felt quite weak and tired and put in a lot of effort considering how fast I ran. I blame morning runs - I'll just have to cut them out from now on ;)

Whilst everyone had lovely sun there was a big grey cloud hanging over Teesside. How very fitting.

morning run. As ever on morning runs, legs were stiff and needed loosening off.

And so the clashes arrive in earnest: CSC Final is on the same day as the FRA Relays, and this morning it hit me that I'd managed to agree to planning an event on the same day as the intercounty fell championships, for which I've said I'll be available for selection (and on current form expect to be selected for). To further complicate matters I'm supporting a BG on the Friday night/Sat morning. Damn google calendar hiding items when in month-to-view, and damn me for being such a pleb for not clicking 'see all'. Decisions to be made on that one, but FRAs being one of my favourite events of the year wins over the CSC I'm afraid. (of course the DP/SYO guys neatly sidestepped this decision by not qualifying)

I've decided that, as much as I want to run on the Trossachs, the FVO weekend, being the weekend before Edale, is probably not the best idea, if anything because of the traveling involved.
A plan I had this year was to race the Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Races. However, with Snowden being the week between Wasdale and Blisco/6days, I'm going to drop it as the others are more important as part of the English Champs series.

GPS all over the place at the beginning of runs today!

Went out and did 10x reps of the path up East Tit. 190m/15m ascent, this is as hilly as it gets here! First in 44 and penultimate in 48, all rest in 46-47. I'd like to have done more (12/15) but this morning's run, a rubbish works buffet lunch with a customer (should have had the couscous in the fridge) and Saturday's impending National stopped me at 10 - the last 2 were a struggle and should probably have stopped at 8.