Training Log Archive: SarahD

Damage assessment - right calf solidly knotted, both quads trashed, few foot niggles but otherwise ok. Didn’t use poles for this one and think I have more muscle soreness as a result.

Pinnacle Ridge Extreme
Tough old day. Easily the most consistently technical race I’ve ever done, but then it is billed as such to be fair.
Damp, muggy dreich start to the day and clear from the get go that it was going to be even more techy (if not to say dodgy) with greasy rock for the scramble sections. First test of that comes after a straight forward 14km - just enough to make sure your legs are already feeling it! Brown Cove Crag (grade II scramble) was very greasy as anticipated, though thankfully the safety team had put in some fixed ropes. Despite that I was feeling less than comfortable by the top, not least in the knowledge that I could expect Pinnacle ridge to be harder. That was praying on my mind all the way from there. Kept going steadily down Swirral edge and up Striding, but all the time going really carefully on the wet rock. By the time I was dropping off Eagles crag it had brightened up and the rock had dried up a lot, giving some relief, though by this stage threatening cramp was causing issues instead. Left foot had also been complaining for some time. The climb up towards Pinnacle Ridge is a brutal crawl on all fours for much of it, but I actually made quite good time on this compared with others around me. Then it was onto the scramble itself. I knew I was unlikely to get up it without some cramp issues, so moving really carefully to try and manage it. It was the quad that went first, but I managed to get onto a nice ledge to stretch it off. Then just below the crux, my calf majorly locked up - there was much accompanying screaming and swearing as I tried to deal with this, but did at least get myself into a safe position. The crux itself has the safety team with a fixed rope, but having just witnessed my cramping screams I was also given the option to rope up, which I gladly accepted without hesitation! In practice I got up without more cramping but was glad of the support. After that there’s the piece de resistance over the pinnacles themselves - not tricky but very exposed, so I was still quite on edge. Breathed a big sigh of relief once I was off the top and the run back down to the finish was almost enjoyable!
Really pleased to have done the race. It certainly took me to the edge of my comfort zone if not beyond. In dry conditions and without cramp I would have been able to enjoy it much more.
1st FV45 of 1. 6th of 7 F starters but just over an hour behind the winner so I’ll take that!

C • Fab!! 3

Easy touristing trot round Brimham rocks and adjacent moorland with J.

Wee leg loosener from Ripon - out along the river towards Studley Roger. Hot and humid but feeling ok.

Couple of laps of Chutney Nudger to get to know the bike a bit better…. starting to feel more confident already :-)

Lap of the woods in the rain

Easy week… can I cope?

C • Easy ... 1