Training Log Archive: ThrawsIn the 31 days ending May 31, 2014:
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Saturday May 31, 2014 #
11 AM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 8:00:00 [3] 26.0 km (18:28 / km) +1500m 14:20 / km
Early start for drive to Polzeath, park on the beach (!), then bus to Tregatta via Camelford. We had a coffee at Trebarwith Strand as the place geared up for a day's sun and surf worship. We then walked the roller-coaster to Port Isaac, which is an impossibly pretty place somewhat over run with TV tourists, and got a baked potato lunch. By now the sea mist had burned off and we had the best sunshine of the week for the glorious stroll through Port Quin and Pentire Point. Which leaves something just over 100 miles to go to Lands End.
Friday May 30, 2014 #
11 AM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 8:00:00 [3] 21.5 km (22:20 / km) +1300m 17:09 / km
Drive to Trewarmett, then anxious wait for bus back to Crackington. It arrived bang on time. The big climbs began immediately and the highest cliff in Cornwall at High Cliff (c.210 metres) came after about two miles. We were probably too much in awe of the scenery before a big lunch at the farm shop near Boscastle, and had to get a move on in the afternoon. The coves and cliffs and stacks and sea views are an incentive to dawdle, but it was getting late and warm and the water purchased at the Tintagel Castle shop just before it shut at 6 was needed to get us over the finish line. The only planning mistake of the week was made when we descended to Trebarwith Strand, which we had to climb back up from to the car, as we simply walked back down there again the next morning. Couldn't believe the colour of the Atlantic here, blue like the Med.
Thursday May 29, 2014 #
12 PM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 5:30:00 [3] 19.5 km (16:55 / km) +800m 14:03 / km
Bit of a rest day. Late bus to Bude, then easy-ish walk to Widecombe Bay where we had coffee and cake with the surfers. After that it was back to the big dingles at Millook and Scrade. Second ice cream of the week was eaten at the Cabin before the climb back to the cottage at Trewarden.
Wednesday May 28, 2014 #
10 AM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 7:00:00 [3] 24.0 km (17:30 / km) +900m 14:44 / km
Logistically the easiest day. Walk from the b&b back to Exmansworthy, then coast path to Sandhole Cliff. We were back at Hartland Point (where we'd seen the sun set the evening before) in time for coffee, then followed the most spectacular section past Hartland Quay. The rock formations here are breathtaking and a distraction from the ups and downs. Walked back through the sunny lanes round Elmscott and Stoke and had time to visit the enormous church here. Collected the car and drove to Higher Crackington.
Tuesday May 27, 2014 #
11 AM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 7:00:00 [3] 26.0 km (16:09 / km) +1000m 13:33 / km
Left the car in Bude, caught the bus to Bursdon Moor, then walked to the coast path at Sandhole Cliff and turned south. This is the toughest stretch of the entire SWCP, which is either up or down all the way back to Bude. It climbs on average to about 120 metres and often drops all the way back to sea level. The scenery is some compensation, and the breezes kept the heat of the sun at bay.
Monday May 26, 2014 #
10 AM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 7:00:00 [3] 25.0 km (16:48 / km) +900m 14:14 / km
Got a lift to Abbotsham then walked back to b&b via Bucks Mills, Clovelly and Exmansworthy. Undulating to begin, then a climb up through the trees on a very muddy path, ending with cliff-top walking. Late lunch in Clovelly, where we spent an hour taking photos. Figures for climbs are courtesy of the SWCP Association reckoner as it is impossible to say from the map how many contours you cross when you descend into or scramble out of the numerous dingles that make the coast path a complete roller-coaster of a journey. My guesswork turned out to be a pretty severe underestimate. Weather fine.
Sunday May 25, 2014 #
4 PM
Hillwalking (South West Coast Path) 1:30:00 [3] 6.0 km (15:00 / km)
Westward Ho! to Abbotsham Court after a good journey down left us with 2 hours to kill and the chance to shorten tomorrow's biggish day. Light rain.
Saturday May 24, 2014 #
11 AM
Orienteering race (Selhurst SOG) 53:27 [4] *** 6.1 km (8:46 / km) +220m 7:25 / km
spiked:10/13c
Back was feeling vulnerable, but thought I'd have a good run considering the number of events I've planned here. And started well, but was rushing out of 2 and began looking for 3 too early. Leg 4 was a good one, but flag wasn't on feature I thought it'd be, and I didn't know what to do. Wandered uphill a bit and there it was! Used earthbanks to find 7, then took on the brambles for 8 (bit right) and 9 (spot on). Kept right to 11, possibly too far, and walked quite a lot of the climb to 13, which felt a bit wimp-ish. Probably wasted about 4 mins, so poor result was mostly down to my just not running hard enough on an area which is very rough in parts but very runnable in others.
Friday May 23, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Tailwind on the way home for a very nice change.
Thursday May 22, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Wednesday May 21, 2014 #
8 PM
Trail race race (Trundle Hill Race) 45:32 [5] 10.0 km (4:33 / km) +180m 4:11 / km
Hadn't really prepared that much so looked on this as a hard (very hard) training run. The problem I have is pacing myself. As usual, got passed by quite a few on the steep bit of the hill, but hung on once the gradient eased. Felt better this time going round the hill fort (the other way), and knew about the long run back along the valley which had to be done without the help of gravity. Was about 15 secs quicker than last year, which is pleasing enough, but given the winter I've had I thought I might be sub-45.
Tuesday May 20, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Sunday May 18, 2014 #
5 AM
Orienteering race (Harvester Relay leg 5) 1:27:33 [4] *** 10.0 km (8:45 / km) +325m 7:32 / km
spiked:24/27c slept:4.0
Winterfold. First daylight leg in an awesome SO handicap team that was seeking to retain trophy won two years in a row. Didn't camp this year, so alarm went off at 2.45 and I was in the bizarre world of night-relay orienteering. Had surreal three-quarters hour drive through darkest Surrey and finally found the event centre with about 50 mins till my estimated call-up. Text from Alan said we were less then 10 mins down on schedule. Gulp! Neil came in bang on time and I was off, with just a cup of tea and a banana to fuel me. It wasn't easy to see the map, but it would improve as sun got higher. 1 was ok, and I played safe for 2. But I was running too fast, overshot, found ditches, but couldn't make them out on the map, bumbled around for three mins then decided control must in fact be 'over there'. Thank goodness it was. 3 and 5 were road crossings (easy) and I overshot 4 a little bit. Had company for the path run to 6, and he spiked it so I was spared the problems many had here. We were then racing together through 7 to 16, swapping lead, but we both binned another 2 mins at 9 where we overshot. After he disappeared I slowed a bit for the 'mountain section' to 19, but was spiking controls and pretty clean to 22 by 69 minutes, which I thought was '10 minute warning'. Saw SYO rival here and tried to outrun him, taking v hilly straight line option for 24 and 25. Mistake! White forest was awful! Neil went round on paths and had splits 20 secs and 1 min quicker. Was relieved to enter last easy block of woodland, but disappointed to be outside target time already. Didn't mispunch though, thank heavens. Handed over to Peter having lost a place to Tim Tett (no shame) and finished 3 mins down on handicap trophy rivals. Too much pressure to be enjoyable, but pleased with ok performance at testing event.
Saturday May 17, 2014 #
Event: Harvester Trophy
11 AM
Orienteering race (Worth Lodge) 48:11 [4] *** 5.9 km (8:10 / km) +175m 7:07 / km
spiked:17/19c
Harvester's tonight, so should have saved legs, but couldn't resist a run on SO's best area. And Jan had to collect the SI equipment for next week. And the weather was absolutely perfect too. Started comfortably and well and was OK through 1 to 4, then missed 5 by absolutely miles because I took my bearing from a point on the purple line rather than from where I actually was, i.e. attackpoint. Way left with a load of others, relocated first, so led them all in. Mostly path routes to 9, company for 10 but we found thickets OK, then found myself racing a much stronger Carlos through 11 to 14. As soon as he got in front he went wrong. Took a good route to 15 (longest leg) and got to head of race, where I stayed till the end. Which was nice. Good technical course on an outstanding orienteering area. But I'm probably biased.
Friday May 16, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Thursday May 15, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Wednesday May 14, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Tuesday May 13, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Sunday May 11, 2014 #
11 AM
Trail run race (Hedgehoppers Five) 36:20 [5] 8.0 km (4:33 / km)
WSFRL at Portslade. Bit disappointed to be both slower and further down the results than last year, but stronger field and windy conditions may account. Anyway, only got 9 points. Felt OK throughout and really enjoyed the hard run up to Devils Dyke and back.
Saturday May 10, 2014 #
3 PM
Orienteering (Charlton Forest) 3:00:00 [2] 9.0 km (20:00 / km)
Gentle stroll checking tape had been removed from all control sites, and the map in a number of areas where competitors had experienced problems. I did find a depression that could be move 20 metres or so - but it wasn't the one that had given the most trouble. That one was fine.
Friday May 9, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Wednesday May 7, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Monday May 5, 2014 #
12 PM
Trail run (SDW relay recce run) 54:10 [5] 10.5 km (5:10 / km) +420m 4:18 / km
Cocking to Harting Down. Long steady climb for over a mile, then a flatter bit on rough track, then downhill on nice path past Devils Jumps, then three brutal climbs which reduced me to walking, and one more which I managed to run. Enjoyed it! Haven't run hard at mhr for ages. In spite of bad back before, and lots of fatigue from two days in the forest, felt alright.
1 PM
Trail run (Harting to Cocking) 1:07:00 [4] 10.5 km (6:23 / km) +350m 5:28 / km
Thought we'd walk-jog back, but Jan had different ideas and we ran almost all of it. Wasn't ready for a half-marathon this morning and felt a bit undernourished, but managed to keep going. All good practice for the next WSFRL race on Sunday.
Sunday May 4, 2014 #
7 AM
Orienteering (Control hanging) 1:00:00 [2] 3.0 km (20:00 / km)
Charlton Forest. In the forest by 6.30 to put out the last 15 (easy) controls while Jan did the signs, tents, etc. Having checked a path route on the Orange for the first time yesterday and discovered it blocked by fallen trees, I also had to tape a route round the obstruction. In the circumstances this was barely noticed by any of the competitors I spoke to so must have been OK. Then wandered round enjoying myself watching orienteers either spiking the controls I'd just put out or missing them and standing around to scratch their heads. Some moans about a low-vis depression on the 'older' courses, but most people seem to have really enjoyed their runs and the area. Glad, as usual, it's over. Got my life back.
Saturday May 3, 2014 #
3 PM
Orienteering (Control hanging) 4:00:00 [2] 11.0 km (21:49 / km)
Hung the 21 northern controls from the forest road with Jan, taking a bit longer because of numbers and back-up pin punches. Then the 9 eastern ones as dusk deepened, slightly worried that some of the 'campsite' residents might enjoy vandalising them.
Friday May 2, 2014 #
7 AM
Cycling (Felpham and back) 1:05:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:57 / km)
Nice to be back.