Training Log Archive: Thraws

Paid the price for yesterday's little indulgence. So logged as intensity 5 as I was on the edge even though not racing. Started early and pretty tired and with little motivation and found this MUCH harder than I'd anticipated. The mud along Mouse Lane was dispiriting so I was almost glad to reach the first climb. Never felt great though - rather flat - and that was yesterday's fatigue and the prospect of 2 more hours. After Washington the long climb to Sullington Barn went steadily and I turned inside the hour. Picked up the averages back down to North Farm, then dug in for the loooong slog up to Chanctonbury. I kept running, but that's all I can claim. Legs were just too tired to take advantage of the downhill 4 miles and I desperately wanted something sweet. I'm going to need jelly babies on the day I think. I ate almost all my apricots straightaway when I got back to the car. On the bright side, none of my niggles, left calf especially, gave me any trouble, and the recovery from this should set me up very nicely for the second 20 miler on Sunday, which needs to go well.

Easy dog walk with Jan along the Arun from Bury to Amberley and back to stop the legs seizing up.

Lord's Piece. Probably shouldn't have done this, but it won't hurt having a bit of fatigue in my legs for tomorrow's 13-odd miles. Couldn't resist it anyway: one of our best areas back in play, new map, Mike's course, and the clincher was the warm sunshine. But when I got over the Downs everywhere was thick fog. Had a pretty good run too. Lost a minute-plus near 5 through rushing and losing contact, and about the same near 15. Had someone behind me but fought to focus on my own o-ing. Only fell over once when tripped by unmapped fence on the way to 12. Really enjoyed the fast running through the short heather on the common.

Collected the 7 furthest controls. Sun finally came out.

Race weight. And Spring!

Really glad to have that one in the bank. Worried about running hard with those long long runs in my legs and warmed up very carefully. Felt pretty light and springy on the start, though, which must have been a good sign. Just went with the crowd on lap 1 and was through in slightly under 4.15 but well in control. Lap 2 was alright too and split was the same. Then deliberately eased up for 3 without coming off the pace, and reckon that was about 4.25. Picked it up again for finale and was around 4.15-20. Best bit was that I never even noticed left calf, ankle or hip, and right hip was barely there. No problems whatever afterwards, either. In the circumstances (marathon training) this couldn't really have gone better. In the slippy wet too.