Training Log Archive: ba-ba

SL: 8.6km/200m. Got monstered by Jethro through the deep heather! (59:07, 102%)

Had initially planned to camp in the lakes and recce Blisco, but the dodgy forecast and the lack of company after Tom pulled out with illness saw me heading home after. Headed up to Northumberland as area looked OK and I could get a lift from Durham, saving excess driving time.

Cleanest I've ever been, but so I should be on an open area travelling slowly after yesterday (and partly due to thick heather) Slight hesitation going into the rocks at 2, and a slight wobble mid-leg to 12 but otherwise everything working spot on, taking bearings well and picking features up well. Good for confidence, although would need to be much more careful were it forested. Sluggish to start with but got going once in the more technical bits from 6 onwards but never more than a cruise. Kites probably should have been hung lower and more effort made in not having boxes poking up so high to make it much more of a test. A couple more controls in the small wooded sections would have been nice but generally good, and got in just before the rain started!

Event: English Fell Champs - Fairfield Horseshoe (Medium)
 

50th. Winner Rob Hope 1:19:18 (114%)
A solid if unspectacular descent made up for a ponderous (albeit expected) ascent.Will guess at 30-40 places taken on the down.
Feeling tired before this, been pretty rubbish at getting enough sleep the last few weeks, my own fault.
Fatigued on the climb but didn't let this get me down as much as it may have in the past. Kept on working and was in touch of those I wanted to be around. Took a while reeling them in over Hart and Dove crags mind, but once I got going I blitzed through the pack (including Steve, Noel, AndyB and Sarah McCormack and Olivia W-B) on the slippery bits around High Pike. Took me quite a while to get through each of Will Boothman, Jack and Dave Wilby so I knew I was tired as normally dispense of people quicker downhill. Pulled out enough of a gap on the latter before hitting the track to hold on on the interminable track slog at the end and pick up my first champs point outside of a long race.

Rest needed before the next time I turn up to a race that matters, I know I can step up a level, even if it is just small. A 114%age is the best I've got in a big race (although I still got chicked!).

C • Descent 1

Round the barrage. Baps out, so had to run a bit quicker to look more athletic. Bumped into Andy Chad at whitewater so had a little chat. Christ knows ehy the trace started in Greatham, never even been there before!

HFW. Still feeling a bit leggy through the afternoon and at the start of this, but got into my groove after 20mins or so. Mercifully, given I was wearing a white shirt, the promised heavy rain kept away.

Now appear to be editing the CLOK magazine.

Feeling tired yesterday (didn't eat much on Mon night) and may still have a bit of 3 peaks in my legs, compounded by Saturday.
Quite pleased with how I'm running at the moment, comparisson times are better than last year but I know I can get more out myself with a bit more dedication (lost my way a bit training wise with resting up for Edale and PPP).
After Fairfield the plan is to get back into some fairly heavy training again. There's lots of races I want to do well in, but nothing I'm targetting as much as I did the PPP until Ben Nevis in early September. As such I'm planning on training through races (apart from an easy week into/out of Wasdale, which is the closest to an 'A' race over the summer).
I think I'm a bit heavier than I was at Christmas (by a couple of kilos - weigh myself pretty infrequently) and have a bit extra on me than when I was putting in a heavier hours a few months ago. More than worry about any 'extra weight' and carrying it in races, I just constantly feel a bit stodgy and full when I run. I've been pretty sedentary at work the past couple of months also. I know I need to be more strong-willed with treat 'binging' (mum bought me a biscuit barrel for christmas which has rarely been empty. I need to move it out of my room into the kitchen!).

Jukola is happening, which is very exciting. It means I'll miss the first Eng Champs short race at Buckden, so I'm putting all my short-race eggs into the Blisco Dash basket 2 weeks after Wasdale and the day before the 6Days starts.

HFW. Felt a bit leggy and this was a bit harder than it should have been.
Teesside in a nutshell moments:
1.) Small kid playing on road with a hammer.
2.) Cocks chalked on the pavement
3.) Dining room furniture out front of the house

Did see some goslings though.

C • Not Cock 1

Took some photos at tees Barrage 10k in the morning (glad it wasn't EOD as I'd probably have gone for it, could do with an easy week ahead of Fairfield)
Andy Minster invited me out for a trot down the Esk Valley. Got the train out to Danby (been spoilt all my life with the Hope Valley line,but this is almost as picturesque, and with no tunnels!) the trotted down to Egmont for a cheeky pint or 5 (and some excellent chips - can still taste the dripping on my fingers!) before getting the train back. Heard this would be rammed with Bank Holiday revelers from Whitby, but was fairly empty.

Felt tired on the climbs but otherwise matched Andy. Tried out my new Salomon watery pack as may need it at Jura. Other than a daft clip on the front it's very comfy.

GENTS: was informed about a 'Gallon run' - there's eight pubs situated over 8 miles along the valley. Train to the far end and train back after. Do the maths. (potential for a risky night in 'boro after...)