Training Log Archive: SarahD

Well that was some experience. A real emotional roller coaster but a fantastic feeling to have completed. The whole event was the best organised I think I’ve ever experienced. Every detail had been thought through and the huge team of volunteers was just amazing. Very tempted by their shorter 3 day Costa Brava race....

C • Costa Brava 3

PSR stage 7 Esterri to Salardú. Made it :-))
Finally managed to sleep last night and woke feeling rather more with it. Steady climb and enjoyed the second half of it once we got into the big bouldery ‘black’ section . Died on the last steep climb to the high point of the day and then discovered on the steep descent that I now had monster blisters under my big toes as well as on my heels. Hobbled down using my poles to take the weight, feeling very sorry for myself and dreading the 18km or so that was still to come. R was very patient and we moved very slowly for the next 4km down to the next feed station. Thankfully the path improved a bit after that before eventually turning into a dirt road with 10km to go. For the first time this week I was delighted with the surface and managed to shuffle back at 7’km pace.
Job done.

C • Great effort all of you! 1

PSR stage 6 Tavascan to Esterri d’Aneu. Determined I was going to enjoy today without putting myself through it too much, so set off at a really easy pace up the big 1500m climb. It was mostly fine, although my breathing seemed to go to pot, feeling quite asthmaticy and short of breath. Probably a combo of extreme tiredness ( lack of sleep has really caught up with me now), altitude and maybe taking ibuprofen too ( can trigger asthma attacks). Anyway, once up to the high point it was less of an issue and there was a lovely technical black descent off the other side. The scenery here was totally stunning with beautiful lakes nestling between ridges. We managed to catch back a good bit of time and the kms ticked by relatively quickly. Soon enough we hit bigger tracks again which were less enjoyable and rather more painful on the feet. Managed to hold it together today though and finished with a smile. More time to recover this afternoon to try and feel a bit better heading into the final stage. The finish is in sight now.

C • Nearly done :-) 1

PSR stage 5 Arinsal to Tavascan. Another long day with 2 big climbs. Took it steadier up the first one, then enjoyed a short section of ‘black’ technical descent leading in to a longer section of red down towards the valley. Then we hit bigger tracks / road again and the joy faded for me! After 25km there was another VK to be tackled before the start of a long descent. I just about got my head round this and kept up a steady plod to the col. By the time we were heading off the other side my legs had forgotten how to descend and blistered heels were pretty painful, so progress was slow but made the final feed station with 5km left still in quite good spirits. From here it was a traverse round a balcony path before a final steep descent into the finish. It started quite runnable but gradually got rockier and rougher and some time around here I realised I was totally out of energy and about to bonk. I shoved some sweets down but it was too late and turned into a slow and painful final 2.5km. Finished feeling pretty emotional again and disappointed at how much I’d held R back. Tried to pick myself up by remembering that I had enjoyed a lot of the day through some stunning mountain scenery, but it gets hard to stay positive the more tired you get.

PSR stage 4 Encamp to Arinsal. So this was meant to be the easy recovery stage, but with 1900m of climb it was never going to be a walk in the park. Decided to run as a foursome today, which of course just put a bit more pressure on me being the weakest link. First climb was just about ok, but the descent wasn’t enjoyable as my feet are starting to rub a lot. Then at the start of the second climb I had a real energy bonk. Took some blocks and felt a bit better, but still managed to burst into tears when I finally caught the others at the top of the col. K was great playing ACDC on her phone all the way down which was a good distraction. Nice to finish all together, but certainly didn’t feel like an easy day for me.

C • Hang in there! 1

PSR day 3 Puigcerdà to Encamp. Longest stage today, but from what others said it would be more enjoyable than yesterday. 5km out on the roads from the start. R pxxxxd off ahead with S again and I ended up having to have a strop so that she realised it was doing my head in. After that the day went really well. Scenery was beautiful and the route lovely which kept spirits up despite being a long way. The final traverse on nice technical single track went on just a bit too long, and together with the heat made for a tough finish. Pleased I managed to find the love again today though. Body just about holding up but feeling pretty exhausted and drained.

PSR stage 2 Queralbs to Puigcerdà.
Another tough day for me. Not as interesting as yesterday with a lot of big forest roads etc. Was a bit dischuffed with R when she ran off at the start with S, even though I knew I was going ok and K was just in front of me. Calf was also twinging early on which got me quite negative and put me in the wrong place mentally for a while. Picked up with some coke and food at the second feeding station, but was finding it hard to move at any speed on the forest roads. The final feeding station was at the top of a col before a long descent on more interesting grassy paths down through the forest. Thankfully more coke picked me up again and I was actually able to enjoy this section. Finished with a few km on the road and up to the town which wasn’t great but got my head round it ok. Still 2nd F to K and S and calf held up without cramping - fingers crossed.