Training Log Archive: Thraws

Too good an area and event to sacrifice for marathon mileage. Plus, I ran up two courses (the Brown, value for money) and I was carrying some fatigue from a hard 5k yesterday. The important thing, as ever, was to get through this in good shape. Steady and clean-ish for first two and got close to 3 then tried to use veg boundaries to find flag. Instead was diverted by the voices of two people in the Christmas trees that my better self knew were bound to be lost bumblers but my worst self hoped might lead me to the flag. Guess what happened! Lost over four minutes here, but looking at the map now still can’t see how it represented the ground at all. Also lost quite a bit of motivation. I was caught by my 5-minute-man, and decided my mission was to overtake him and open a 5 minute gap. We were together till 12 (I was faster but clueless in the circle) but I got away after 13 then spiked a few and started to feel more confident. I dropped a minute at 19 and missed the obvious way round to the right to 22, and when I looked back here his SN top was visible again. The forest around 23 to 25 was glorious and I pushed on, but I got two parallel spurs confused on the way to 28, amongst other small errors, and ended up with a very ordinary result. Without the eight minutes of mistakes I’d have been respectable, but my orienteering head is definitely missing at the moment. I’m not doing enough and when I do it I don’t do it properly. Pleasantly knackered afterwards though, and for today that was the main thing.

By way of an experiment. Orienteering tomorrow so no long run this weekend. Did this instead to see how all the long slow plodding has impacted on speed. Back dodgy so took an ibuprofen and warmed up gingerly. Oaklands was a saturated nudbath and the route was altered after three cancellations because of building works. So glad they went ahead though. Loved it! Felt great from the start, fit and strong. Soon ran into comfortable second position and kept in touch with the leader, but didn't risk blowing up by going after him. Just felt good where I was. Time was slow but that was the mud throughout and the half dozen or more u-turns in the gloop. Like a proper January cross-country course.

To and from Oaklands.

Ignored forecast again. Punctured in the a.m., by the leisure centre - phew. Good to get 11 cycles in, in a grim January.

Ignored the forecast as I really wanted to do something today. In the event, Hurricane Tim, or whatever it was, was partly behind. Enjoyed it iin a mad way.

Wanted a long run with tired legs, so persuaded Jan to join me for this. Along the canal to Hunston and the marina, then back via Dell Quay road, Apuldram and city centre. Legs complained to begin with but took it nice and easy, waiting every now and then for Jan to catch up. Marina lock bridge was closed for repair so we added a mile circling all the way back round, then found the Salters Way path flooded. Harbour was full of boats and looked great, but minor road through Apuldram was way too busy. Nice and knackered at the end.

Last time I was here, nearly five years ago, I was pleased to complete the 9km brown course in under 70 minutes. Well, many birthdays later, and in marathon training, I did it again. Bit quicker actually. Travelled alone so was well focused at the start but still managed to forget the garmin. By 3 I knew the visibility was good and the flags were hung high so it was a case of getting the legs moving through the very runnable terrain. I got the wrong rootstock for 6 and dithered a bit near 7, then was waaaay too low for 8. CH caught me finding 12 and moved ahead running to 13. I hung on till 16 but couldn't match him for speed in the terrain or decision making. I have been neglecting my orienteering chops for quite a while now. So I was alone till 18, when I got caught by RB, who I just about managed to hang on to till 22. Glanced at watch and saw a sub-70 was on so kept pushing but binned a few secs at 24 as I couldn't see the trees on the map. Pleased with the result and the way my bod and especially back coped with the challenge. Area, course and map were all first class. Orienteering at its brilliant best.

Colder still?

Coldest day.

Gradually upping the distance by way of London training. Paid for my entry yesterday so no going back now. Did this with Jan who ran a slightly shorter version and finished 20 mins before me. Dusting of snow at the start but the hoped for harder surface never materialised; in fact, the slush just made the ubiquitous mud even worse. OK up Cissbury and enjoyed the first lap of the fort. Tried to up 'average pace' through Canada Bottom, and catch Jan, but never saw her again. Horribly muddy along SDW to Chanctonbury, then track down to Pest House was hard (on the joints). Ran all the remaining hills without problems, including a second lap of the 'Ring', then slithered down to the car park. That was quite enough for today, but all the climb and the horrible underfoot conditions made this a pretty tough day out. Missed some cushioning in my trail shoes.

Even fiercer and colder north-westerly. Bah! Home before sundown though.

Ferocious headwind home. V cold too.

Whoa, that was fun! Nearly didn't happen either, on account of waterlogged parking field. In the event the area was relatively mud-free and we even had a brief sunny weather window! Brilliant. First time out as M55 so entered the Blue following yesterday's effort, and started four minutes after Lu. Had a slight miss (1 min) at 4, but ran longer leg 10 really hard and caught Lu on the way to 11. Then she had a better route than me to 12 and I realised I was behind again about halfway to control. We both messed up in the circle, but had a good race through the best bit of the course (13 to 15). I started navigating from 14 to 12 (!), so she got away, but it was mostly paths after that and I was a smidge faster. Saw her again on way to 18 and overtook when she got two paths confused, but she got past me on the run in. Really enjoyed it and hugely relieved back was up to it, if a long way off 100 per cent. Weight's going on again though?

Second VLM distance runout, with the prospect of orienteering tomorrow to see how the back holds up. From Pyecombe up SDW to Ditchling Beacon and beyond, then back via Streathill Fm, High Park Fm, Lower Standean and the golf course. Felt great on the hills and with the tailwind coming off the Beacon. Running was muddy if good to Standean, when the mud finally won out. On the whole route was pretty delightful though. Back was frail but no impediment to running; it's more likely to be a problem between runs. Definitely had too much sugar this week - leftover christmas sweets, grrr. Huge energy dropouts early on.

Hellish dark in the am, but ok home.

Too muddy everywhere else.

First SOG since April, and the wind and rain were discouraging, but I was in the mood for this after Xmas. Lucy was starting a minute behind, so focus and effort were 100 per cent for first few controls. Relaxed a bit after 4, but was apprehensive entering the quarry area, where I had minor misses. Fluffed nav out the car park to 17 and had to retrace and do it all over again (minute lost), then went round to the north for 18 rather than take on the little paths. Was pretty pleased with the way things were going, but then on second (of three!) visits to control 86 (number 21) couldn't see which line out led to 22. Headed off in wrong direction and lost another minute, at least, correcting. Resumed overtaking mode after that. Main thing was, though, my back, hips and legs all felt strong and I had no problem pushing it in the open and on the paths. Didn't have to think about running at all, so was able to enjoy orienteering. Really encouraging effort.