Training Log Archive: Thraws

Actually had more layers on at work than I had on the bike.

Warmest I got all day.

Slept till midnight, then dozed, but during the long night I became aware of a throbbing pain in my big right toe that I hadn't noticed while we were running. In the morning it was really swollen and I wondered about a) getting my shoe on, and b) running or even walking on it. I was able to manage a sort of hobble, and just blanked out the discomfort till we got to the finish. By the time I'd driven home though I could put no weight on it at all.
I handicapped us both for day 2 as a result. Sunday was brighter and sunny, but with the cold wind still. Lucy made some excellent choices for the score section (4 from 7) and we got though that fine. If it hadn't been for my feet we could have got a real shift on for the runnable second half of the course, but a jogging shuffle was all I could manage. The last 350 metres of steep descent were torture, but finishing successfully was a great feeling. We were early too so had our free veggie meal in comfort in the marquee as the finishers flooded in. It was just after noon.
We were some way down the results but sort of gave up on trying to race once we left any paths. If we'd entered the B class we'd have been much higher up the results with our time, as I think the score component of the C course puts off less experienced (and strong) runners. In other words, the Combined class is tougher. Hence the much lower numbers. We had no problems anywhere and just about managed to save the last bit of food in case our kit was checked at the end. I forgot the porridge pots in the Saturday morning dark and cold, and with that hot breakfast I'm sure we wouldn't have had to endure the same degree of hunger on the second day.
You don't really appreciate just how much your sacs are holding you up as you battle with the navigation, the climbs and the terrain, but I'm pretty convinced now that reducing the amount of weight carried (especially sleeping bags, cooking eqpt, and rucksack itself) is key to going quicker. And taking on the tussocks.

Event: The OMM
 

Friday night was so cold I don't think either of us slept much at all. It came up from the ground through the sleep mat and the rug. I've never been so chilled in a tent, even though it wasn't actually freezing and we had good sleeping bags. We had very early starts and trying to pack bags in the dark and the wind was horrible. Started well though. Lucy was leading and navigating and she got the first three controls spot on. Four involved a steep climb through bracken and heather and she got demoralised by the going. For her sake we would make route choices that maximised path running.
The score section (5 controls from 7) was much harder than last time. Ours weren't the most popular controls, although they were the ones visited by the team who came second on the day. Where we did go wrong I think was going for CC rather than DQ first as a result of deviating near it on the paths over Waun Fach. There was a huge amount of steep descent and then, of course, re-ascent which we could have avoided if we'd come at CC from below. This was a feature of all route selection decisions, knowing how high up a control on a stream was when the slopes were almost precipitous.
The snow started as we were leaving 7 and became a real blizzard. The worst of it was that all our stuff got soaked and the ground got wet too so that soon our feet were soaking. We rejoined the linear route after 9 and the last three looked easy as they were fairly flat, but of course this meant battling the dreaded tussocks. Just horrendous. Undershot 9 and overshot 10 mostly as we were concentrating on just getting through the terrain.
We were quite early at the mid camp so had a good spot. Got everything up ok and the stove on and had hot drinks and food, but every time you opened the door the wind sucked away all the warmth. We just lay top to toe in our bags and tried to sleep. Got up a couple of times for toilet or water and then couldn't find our tent in amongst all the other lasers so was wandering around in the biting wind. Remind me why I'm doing this.

Bit more lower back stretching bike therapy. Need to make the most of this weather as well. Added a West Stoke and West Ashling loop to the usual Goodwood, Selhurst, Singleton one.

Warblington lap w/ Chidham and Bosham extensions, plus a ride to the cardinal points of Hayling Island to have a look at the Harbour. Return via the Puffing Billy 'cycle' track, which wasn't a good idea. Bike therapy for back mostly, which has been bad since Monday morning, and it seems to have helped. Time includes long lunch stop in Mengham.

Event: Compass sport cup final
 

Not sure which was the bigger battle, the one with my body or the one with the bracken. Left small toe was sore warming up and lower back was dodgy (ibuprofen taken as a precaution). Was walking at the top of the first hill to 1, but had no decent AP and couldn't see the flag in the bracken even though I was on the spur. This was to be the story of the day. Straight for 2 was the wrong idea so bailed out to the right. Shallow reentrants at 5 and 7 were dodgy control sites too, and 11 (spur) wasn't really on anything and about 15 m higher than I was expecting. I'd say all bar maybe two controls were on features which were so vague that too much luck was involved on spotting the flag. I was pleased just to finish without any huge misses and quite surprised to be among the scorers. A 5th place finish for SO was good though. Very very long day.

Still carrying the vestiges of cold. Slightly lowered threshold left me flirting with lactic acid. Used the sub 21 regulars as a guide but had to be careful not to overdo it. Rough splits 6.50, 7.00, 7.00. Pleased with those and with 75% age-graded result.

Nice new brakes on a beautiful blue day.

Punctured at school. Also, brake pads worn right out.

Conditions very overcast throughout, and gusty wind from the north, with very heavy rain for about an hour after 25 miles, and rain for half an hour at 50 miles. Some flooding causing reroute round Cocking. Worried about brakes on the big descents in the wet, but apart from being noisy they were fine. Despite all that, absolutely loved this. Enjoyed the big climbs and loved the scenery (again). Bit surprised to find total carnage ascending Butser, but I'd been rejoined by the Short course riders and they were mostly walking. Self timed at 6 mins exactly. May have started a bit quick as I was unwittingly with the Epic 100 riders, but could have managed another 30 miles I reckon. In fact, only regret is that I didn't go for it. Bike was brilliant throughout. Deffo doing this again.

Parkrun first. Ideal conditions too. So disappointed. Still not over cold. Chest tightened at start of second lap and four passed me on the hill. Probably paying the price for doing Windlesham too.

Ready to Wiggle.

Blown home in the damp.

Tailwind home. And warm sun. Lush.

I'll be number 28664 lining up at London next April. Aged 58 years 3 months and 1 week. Hopefully on the green start again.

C • You're in! 4

Thought I ought to move the car.

Decided to swap mileage for scenery and recce another part of the Wiggle route whilst checking out some hills. Ride of three parts. 1) To Iping Common via Singleton, Cocking and Bepton (15 miles, 280m climb). 2) Woolbeding Common, Milland, Borden, Rogate, Dumpford, Iping (with Jan, 18 miles, 390m). 3) Midhurst for lunch, Bepton, Elsted, Turkey Island, Hill Lane, Chilgrove, Lavant, home (22 miles, 400m.). The final climb was touch and go, but otherwise this was a total delight throughout.

Was running on the edge, but was also handicapped by lingering cold. I knew nothing much was on as soon as I stepped outside, but really enjoyed myself anyway. Right behind IB after lap 1 seemed right, then he put two between us on 2, and two more on third. Try again next week.

Week of the rising sun.

Still a bit wheezy.