Training Log Archive: Whitesheep

Event: Harvester Relays / After Harvester Event
 

Harvester Relay, last leg
A really good race, both overall as the team performed well and my leg.
The race came in three parts. I started off reasonably steady and purposefully, but made bad decisions at #4 and #5. I should have stuck to the paths more, and then at #5 alarm bells should have gone off (even without knowing about the map correction). So I had already lost a bit of time and started to expect Ben Stevens, who duly appeared at #8.
I thought he must have started fast (even more so than I realised given he started 4-5 mins behind) and he had a bit more pace than me going through the next few. At this stage I thought finishing 4th would be a par result unless he had gone off too quick or I got an opportunity.
Then I made a good decision to #16. Didn't like the look of it at all from the first path junction - depression, steep slope, loads of undergrowth, no obvious track - so went to the next junction along and hoped to pick up the track of people leaving. It worked and I got ahead, and all of a sudden even though I faffed at #17 I could see Dane out in the open ground just ahead and no sign of Ben behind me. That gave me a boost as I was not expecting to see Dane at all, and I really pushed on for the rest of it. I was pretty close partway to #19 but didn't find a good way in or out and Dane put in a bit of an effort and got away for good.
The noise at the spectator control told me I would hold on to 3rd as long as I put in the effort and didn't do anything silly on the easy last loop. There was a last bit of excitement as I chased down a finisher on the B race which was fun if pointless. But I didn't know that at the time.
Out in 3rd, back in 3rd, mixing it up with guys all ranked in the top 50. Definitely a good day out.

C • Nice 4

spent most of the day working but managed to get out and stretch my legs at least and do a few drills.
legs feeling really tight generally and I need to either work less or restart the yoga

Event: London Parkrace
 

Victoria park race
Quite easy so another unrelentingly fast run. Maybe faded a bit this time.
Must have lost near enough a minute on #9. I read the control description as being inside the enclosure (I've done that before) and then the SE corner gate was closed so I stood still wondering what to do.

8x lady's walk
1:05 (slipped and a bit long), 02, 02, 01, 00, 00, 58, 57.