Training Log Archive: Mal

Down the road and back with Ben before, then a little loop solo.
Up with Ben and Paul T then along the road with Melk, Cricklemore and JackW feeling rather shattered

FRA's Leg 2 with Big Ben Ab
Was feeling a bit nervous about running with Ben as I thought I was going to be in for a day of pain. Then to see Joe come in and Paul and Tom run out I got way too hyped. Ran out the start and took Calder, Shettleston another team and Edinburgh Uni Women (BethH had a corker!). Then reeled in a Mercia team before the first mile was up. As the first mile ended the road switched to uphill and Ben swooped through and took the pace up for which I was rather unhappy but glanced up and saw Paul and Tom as well as Jebby and Josh Jardine. Caught another up about this point and made the pass on Tom and Paul at the cottage. After this the flat road seciton was rather uncomfortable as we couldn't slacken off as Ambleside 'B' were right on our tails. Caught another two teams and punched the first control.
Heading up the hill Wharfedale and another team came and went quickly and we set our sights on Dark Peak 'B' with Saville and Josh Williams but noticed it was Josh Jardine and Jebby (mainly Josh) who were coming back to us! Overtook them on a slightly different line and tried to catch Saville. Pushed on down to the col and the next hill didn't feel too bad but tired a bit by the top.
Dropping down and could see the next pack appearing, overtook Bowland before catching and dropping another team just after the next checkpoint. After this the course didn't really suit me too well and Ben was trying to cajole me up the hill but just couldn't quite tap it out quick enough despite a quickly tiring (equally tiring?) Joe Baxter for P&B punched the last and just lined in quite comfortably behind Ben before finally getting past near the bottom and making a push to catch DP before Northrop got too far ahead.

Great weekend, great day and really pleased with the team, the club and my own performance.

Felt ok for the first hour but gotta step it up again next year to get closer to the big boys. Legs died a bit after an hour or so on the gradual climb but Ben and I seemed like a decent pairing with him ahead on the ups and me pushing ahead on the downs. Shattered now though!

Out to have a look at the run out and run in for Leg 2 with Matt and JackW

7hours on the train back and general exhaustion...think I'm going to just about make it through this weekend then will see how it goes next week. Wanted one more big consistent week but think my body will complain in the aftermath, just about holding off a cold I think.

And so my trip down here has been a complete and utter waste of time, stood around on site watching someone drill through concrete....to find another layer of concrete just below, great!

Crossed Lake Lowthing and headed north then followed a cycling route for a bit and turned around. Despite it being flat an awful lot of this felt uphill.

Loop around Pakefield along some more bike paths along the A12, pretty nice actually. Bit of a headwind for the majority. Ate too much lunch and felt fat, slow and tired.

Aigburth, South Parkway, Penny Lane and back through Sefton. Legs feeling a bit tired today...yesterday was probably a bit fast.

6 Hours on the train last and I've arrived. Lowestoft explore until the path I was following had been eaten by erosion.

Lap of Sefton.
My legs felt great my body took a while to wake up and get going

Back on Moseley Hill. Had to make an impromptu diversion back home briefly at halfway then back out on to the second half. Left shoulder was complaining and have a big knott there. Lots of travelling again this week.