Training Log Archive: Mal

Event: British Fell Running Relay Championships (FRA Relays)
 

FRA Relays Leg3
After having been mega excited for this for the last 3weeks it finally arrived.
Tom brought us back in 7th on first leg right up there and not too far behind Little Rob, Jonny and Neil came back in about 9th/10th I think again still not far behind the Dark Peak first team. So me and Pete Hodges went out hard! Attacked the first hill catching Leeds, Helm Hill, Eryri and both Calder Valley by the end of the tapes. We must have been in about 3rd or 4th I think but I'd gone a little in to the red and just followed Pete without question down a hill costing about 4/5mins in total? Relocated and got back on line with Tedwards still in sight and now Ba-ba and Todds teams in front, we could also see GG's team a bit further away. Chipped back in to the lead across to 2.
Going up to no.3, caught Todd and Ba-ba back up andthen came the contouring leg which Pete and I took differing lines on. But we came out at the same point so worked fine. Caught back Eryri Harriers and Calder Valley here. Dropped down across the valled head then straight back up the other side a little ahead of Ba-ba and Todds team and got back to the front of the group here. We must have been in 4th again by this point but we didn't realise, I thought after the mistake to 2 we may have been further behind than we actually were.
Dropped down to 4 and could see GG and HBT mybe coming out (although we weren't sure) so ran hard and despite getting stuck in a bog to my knees crossing a path we were ok. Then came the path leg...we had dropped Eryri a bit by this point but Calder valley came with us, I put the hammer down as the heavens openned and Pete came with me, DP and Calder Valley got a good gap over the teams behind and we honing in on HBT quickly but then we completely overshot the control. We ended up looping in and after all our good work saw Todd and Ba-ba just leaving. Harried on to the back of the group and struggled to find a rhythm up the rising ridge yo-yoing up and down the group in little spurts whilst Pete was still looking incredibly strong. Ba-ba struck to the front after crossing the fence and Pete went with him, I had to stop momentarily to tie my shoe lace again and it was almost coming off with every step. Todd told me afterwards I looked awful here and he was keen to push on but his partner was 200m behind. Dropped down in to the valley slightly to cut off the corner and catch the group back up and it worked. Got past Calder as he stacked it, although his team mate was quite far behind at this point. We found the control quite cleanly then it was a case of trying to close Pennine down. Hit the last check point to Anwen telling us we were in 4th and I didn't understand it. Then descended well although had to hold back a little to encourage Pete who finally hit a bit of a bad patch as I came good. At the road and the support was amazing all the Shuoc and Dark peak boys were cheering us on and Pete held on and finished a really good 4th on the leg A solid run in this field and moved us up in to contention.

Then Will had a stormer as well to move us up in to 3rd place overall! Great day out with every(?) Dark Peak team on the podium including the A team taking the win by 11mins or so! And Ba-ba has a stormer too on the nav leg!

I really struggled with the map and going out so hard probably wasn't the best idea but it still worked and had a really enjoyable day out!

Its in the blood now

Before and after with Pete, on a massive high afterwards

Pre-FRA loop with Wright....legs felt ok hopefully a lot better tomorrow.

Taking it easy before the FRAs.....really excited

Standard Rivelin in the dark without headtorches....interesting! Pushed it on a little bit to try get around as much as possible in daylight

First Dark Peak Road run of the year
Started my Garmin late so missed the first 10min or so. Down to Hunters Bar and in to Netheredge then back via Hangingwater and Stumperlowe

Down to Intervals at Endcliffe with JackW fairly quickly...need to be more organised I think
Jog back with Willy and JackW again feeling ok hamstrings a little tight

ShUOC intervals
10(2), 5*1(1) then a jog around the park to not overdo it skipping the second 10min effort
Felt good on the 10min was running with Bertie(?) did 2.9km (3:19,3:31,3:29 pace)
Then tried to be consistent on the one minutes at threshold so left the main group, 310m, 290m, 320m, 300m, 310m

Down to Goodwin quickly!
Over to Weston Park
Back from Drills

Skipped some of the more plyo stuff

Really good drills session led by Rach
Had al the equipment there for the first time in a while which was good