Training Log Archive: SarahD

Scottish relays Inverawe. This is usually my only chance for a competitive relay team and I was up for it today, running with JD and J. Sent out on 2nd leg in the mix and had a lot of head to head with CE, EH and FP. Felt pretty good physically and managed to hold technique together under pressure. Only real error was coming back down to the fields near the end when I couldn't find my control tucked between the thickets. Really frustrating as I saw everyone else racing to an obvious control nearby. Lost ~30s here but still sent J out in a strong enough position to come back first on the 11+ handicap. Best relay fun in ages :-)

Not enough

Scottish Champs individual Ardnaskie. Head not there - too much buzzing around it - but feeling pretty good physically. Messed up no 2 ~2', but otherwise held it together somehow. Had some problems with the map, and realised afterwards that this was down to the green bracken screen which obscured other information, and made parts look different when they weren't in practice with the bracken still down. 4' behind VK-S which isn't a disgrace, and pipped by HD on the day, but took the 45 title. That was all that mattered really.

Head feeling much less stuffy this morning, confirming theory of hay fever rather than lurgy. Good.
Collecting controls at Dess having failed to get the scouts to collect them in last night. Certainly wasn't moving at E's 39' pace, even allowing for collection faff time. Legs fresh though.

Then a wee spin out on the bike round the Boddomend - Lumphanan xrds loop. Windy again. Find the road bike really tricky to control in this.
Feeling good again :-)

Head really stuffed up this morning so decided it was time to back off training.

Control hanging for schools festival at Dess - walked round as feeling a bit wappit and sore throat. Then lots of running backwards and forwards all day herding 250 children. Hard work, but seemed to go well.

Key HX training. From Dinnet ranger's cottage across to the NW of the muir, over the spur to Cambus, quarries and lochan down to Tullich, DW into Ballater, past the sad remains of the station :-(, across the river and back towards Inchmarnoch, Cambus bridge, DW back towards Dinnet, then across the road at the farm and back to the start.
Managed to keep a good steady pace throughout, just stiffening up in the last couple of km.
Chilly but bright at the start, then a really nasty hail squall as I headed into the wind to Ballater and through the town. Got pretty cold and took a good while to warm up even once the sun came out again.

Then onto the bike. Half way through the run I wouldn't have done this, and if I'd started 10' later I probably wouldn't either, as more freezing rain and hail came through. Intended this to be a bit longer, but glad it wasn't. Loop round from Ordie to Tarland and Logie Coldstone then back to start. Slow grind, but the wind didn't help.

Last schools session at Tarland and then got some controls out in DAP for adventure running. Shadowed the wee kids round - they didn't have much clue but seemed to enjoy it :-)