Training Log Archive: ba-ba

Event: Lake District Mountain Trial
 

(not the) Lake District Mountain Trial 2017.

The weather was pretty filthy, but I was like a pig in shit. A great course planned, with plenty of RC around the meat of the 4 main Lakeland Classics - Start on Buttermere, onto Wasdale, Borrowdale, Ennerdale and back to Buttermere.
A few small errors, (getting a bit caught in terrain, going a bit off-line) and always slight worried I'd picked the wrong route-choice, but was moving well and feeling strong - so much so I took on a 600m climb straight up from Lingmell Beck, over the Corridor route to the Col between Great End and Ill Crag (well I'm bored of slogging up from Styhead to Esk Hause and this looked like a good idea). Then at CP5, just as we were to turn for home (into the wind, around Gable and up Kirk Fell...) was told the race was cancelled. Bugger.

At the barn (once they'd sorted out a rogue control) they put up the times to CP5 for the classic course. I had a 10minute lead over Duncan, who was a couple of minutes ahead of Tim Morgan (http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2017/LDMTA/sta...)
I'm not saying I'd have definitely won, but I was feeling good, picking good lines and if you look at my long race results over the last few years I nearly always pace well and pick up places. Of course it could have all gone wrong on the climbers' trod around Gable!

Oh well, my lowly name won't sully a trophy with greats like Naylor, Bland, Birkinshaw and Findlay-Robinson on it just yet (though given I could only really win in foul weather I fear the next time I am in this position the same outcome). I can see what we were brought in (mainly marshal safety, but Fell Runners/orienteers can be known to not possess/use SMJ and get into trouble), but it's the sodding Mountain Trial, not a picnic!

Calling a win under the Duckworth-Lewis method. Will just have to go and win the OMM now...

Stumble over and down Glaramara - what a hideous lump in the wet, there's a reason the race up it gets fewer than 20 people at it!
Had got a little chilly after a short wait at the CP, but not too bad. All drive had gone and the hip I whacked earlier in the day (slipped on grass, landed on rock) stiffened up without the adrenaline of racing.
Then a lift back over Honister.

C • Glaramara 2

Hutcliffe and Eccy

Neb and headstone, gentle terrain, nice and easy.
Definite dogging action on offer at Redmires. Had to get to the chippy before it closed though.

Hills down near Newport.

9min empo (2.3km, +43m,-30m. False flat, downhill) 3:56min/km
4x Steep hills (0.35km, 33m. Drag, steep, drag): 1:47, 44, 46, 44
3x Long hills (0.8km, 43m. Flat, steep, drag, flat): 3:40, 41, 46

Pretty consistent for me and felt pretty good. Moving well on the gradient changes on the 2nd set, good XC type session, felt pretty good.

This week I am staying in Saffron Walden. Around some fields and through some woods of varying scratiness.

South around fields. Pack on, trying to run along rough edges of fields where possible. For long flattish runs this area is pretty good.

HHS session, solo around Granta Park.
2,3,4,5,4,3,2 (75s), though I extended the 5 to take in a segment, and extended to recoveries either side of it. Lovely drizzle to finish in.
Died on the 2nd 4, but rest OK all things considered.
Managed to grab the mile CR, but somehow didn't register a time on the km loop. Imagine its mainly lunchtime joggers around here though.

paces: 3:23, 26, 28, 25, 40, 24, 35.

Ruff housin' on Blacka, mit pack. Very serene in the quiet, then my left ear regained hearing and I could hear all my hacking, jiggling and slapping.