Training Log Archive: ba-ba

Good fell weekend - much better than my initially planned Counties XC and Delamere O (as good as I'm sure they were). Last year I hit March very undercooked for the rigours of fell ascents, so need to make sure I'm more fell fit come April. Calendar is filling up with races. I was initially aiming to perform over the shorter stuff this year, but an invitation to run up some mountains inbetween getting ill on a boat is too tempting! Short races are good but long races are an event, but of course I'll be doing my best to be in good condition for all 6 English champs races.
Three good weeks of hilly mileage and a 21-day streak (big for me!) in the bank, time for an easier week and to freshen the legs before next weekend's XC.

C • O Plans 4

Feeling fresher than anticipated after a beer or 7 with Will, Luce, Dan, Jane, Ad and his housemate last night. Out from Grasmere with Ad, Wil, Rhys and the inimitable AlfDog. Up Helm Crag, nice easy pace but felt very good up the climb. Got a bit chilly as we scrambled up to the actual summit (the only summit Wainwright himself didn't manage to visit) so warmed up again with a lovely ridge-run over Gibson Knott for a bonus unexpected (i.e. only just realised now) peak. Stopped just short of Calf Crag for a steep drop into Easdale and a nice canter back to the road.
Rounded off with a big breakfast and chocolate brownie at Bilbo's

Out with Pez and Alf. Powerwalking hills, something I do very little until a race, so got some practise in on the Howgills' finest. Once past the fell gate we saw no-one, wandering around Knott and up the last proper descent of OMM2012 (A descent I enjoyed very much and vaguely remember saying how I was glad I wasn't going up it...), along the top of Cautley Crag, up over the Calf path and onto Grains, into Langdale before having a look at the Sedbergh Hills race line around Hazellgill Knott. Think the line over the shoulder was OK, but we then contoured around far too high (got carried away being able to run again after all the up!) and ended up way S of the checkpoint, but still high so a nice descent. Then one last yomp up Yarlside before descending down to the Cross keys to pick up Adam's car. Nice to see some of the bits we couldn't last night and recover some OMM ground. There are lots of reasons Adam's much fitter than I am, but these on his doorstep and Alf are two of them. However he currently has a bad chest so I lead most of the climbs - first (and last) time for everything I suppose.


Looking N down Langdale from Grains.

C • What 2

Hit Sedberger at 6:30 and Perry drove us out the the Cross Keys. Headed around Cautley Spout and into the col between The Calf and Calders. Here we were hit with heavy gusts and hail from the west so had to do some cowering from the nailgun-acupuncture. Eventually dropped into the lee of Crook which was much nicer!

I'm tempted to get an early-season Foreign training camp in. Looking at my 'diary' (aka list of lots of races I might do some of) the Lipicia open is looking the best bet - 8-12 March on the Slovenia/Italy border. So if anyone fancies 5 days (4 of Karst) for 50e entry? Accom looks fairly cheap (14e/night hostel, or 5e/night floor if that way inclined), just need to work out how to get out there and whether any wheels would need to be hired (will drop the organisers an email shortly).
If it's good enough for the Nog and Czech teams it's good enough for you!

http://www.lipicaopen.com/Default.aspx

C • flights: 7

First session of the new year: 10x300(1min) With Myles from Moorlands. All on/under 50 and feeling pretty good. Tailwind in the first 100m of each = headwind for the last

Better than nowt.

Running - Trail + Terrain
2012 150h/1220km. 2013: 151:17:34 (100%) 1429.1km (117%)
Running - Road and Trail
2012 123h/1628km. 2013:l: 161:43:11 (131%) 2135.6km (131%)
Orienteering
2012 51h/410km. 2013: 50:33:16 (99%) 444.2km (108%)
Total
2012: 347h/3400km. 2013: 374:48:56 (108%) 4010.4km (117%)

Had a good spring over the longer stuff. Wasdale was a wash-out (didn't let myself recover after Jura?). Fit but not fresh during the summer. Then something clicked end of August and I had a good Sept/Oct. Since then been setting a good base, still racing OK despite tiredness.

Summary:
233rd at National XC mudbath in the arse end of nowhere (Sunderland)
New Downhill record at Black Combe
Three Peaks 3:25
Jura 3:53
Edale Skyline 3:04.
Burnsall 8th
Run of the year: FRA Relays nav leg: only beaten by OJ+Lloyd; GG+Tim Davies. Boom. Team 5th.
IHMR: Team 4th.
3 wins: Inclined to Madness, Padfield Plum fair, Roseberry topping.
English Champs: 45th.

10mile: 58:55 (replacing cancelled Edale)
5km: 16:30 (finally! although not PO10 official)
3km: 9:41 (pedestrian)

JK: 41st (must do better)
BOC: 15th (thanks Tio!)
BOC relay: don't ask.

2014 Targets:
New Downhill record at Black Combe
Involve the number 30 quite a bit (OK, 300 for national/50 for remaining Bham leagues).
arrive at the JK with a bit more focus and fresher than previous years. Open moorland = good. Negative features = potential nightmare.
Better race prep. Too many times turned up tired.

C • Happy new year banana man! 1

Ran an errand (where does dropping off a 'congrats on your MBE' card rank on the middle class scale), then over Lantern Pike and down to the SVT for 6x3[1] with a bit of Mutley dodging. Had an extended recovery after the 1st (opted for a safety dump).

Felt slow and hard work. min/km paces: 3:34, 3:16, 3:26, 3:22, 3:40, 3:25. erratic.

Over to Strines station, up to Mellor X, roads to Little Mill, Lantern Pike. Normally like most of this loop as it gives a chance to get the pace moving on, but doing that is currently much more of a struggle than normal