Training Log Archive: rcro

Wow - that as tough!

Quite obvious later on that it's the longest I've ever run by 5 miles and heat (20C, bright sunshine) didn't help tiredness - but pretty good time and survived.

Using Ben to compare against since know he's better than me - together up to Pole Bank, then he got away on descent. Stop at drinks station in Little Stretton. Walked up Ragleth Hill but gaining on everyone else - Ben about 2 mins ahead at the top. Lost maybe a minute not knowing where I was going back down into town, another stop at drinks station and feeling very dead for Caradoc.

Straight line through the fields saved some distance, but grass was long and no shade - little in it time wise. Ben 4 mins ahead at gate, 3 at the top so still walking faster than most.

Lawley was a killer - slow walk and lost another 2 mins to Ben by the point on way down where he passed me. Descent was reasonably quick for most, but then steepened and wasn't comfortable at all.

Long long stop at drinks station at bottom and was now running on empty and struggling to move at all - walked most of the fields, took all my mental strength to not retire at the A49, more walking, bit of jogging, and long long walk up the road to the top. Despite lots of free sweets, gels and drink from the various supporters going up, couldn't run for more than a few metres, but managed about 400m on the top. Descent wasn't quick but by now had a bit of energy to move. This energy burned out completely by Carding Mill visitor centre and had to resort to a walk for a bit past cattle grid, and along the ditch to the finish field. Despite all this time loss at the end still only 10 mins back on Ben, so shows everyone was going through similar.

Can't expect to last that long (record most time, most ascent, longest run...) without specific training up. Finished 22nd of 54 (overtaken by first lady after visitor centre where I was dead) - and 22nd at Ragleth Hill so lots of positives to take from this. Some preparation for the Transfan - it's only 4km longer and a mere 1,200m more ascent...!

Very well organised and supported - the numbers of people giving out gels, drinks, sweets did help to keep me going.

https://www.strava.com/activities/386438252/overvi...

C • |Good effort. 3

Plan was to take it slowly - aim for 22 again - as tomorrow will be hard enough. But started well and forgot how much easy running is in cushioned trainers vs. fell shoes. Purposely slowed down after the first straight and carried on for remainder of lap slow but pace crept up again lap 2 - although not 100% effort.

Had I been pushing, fairly sure to have set new course PB (19:40ish) - and that despite it actually being more muddy than last week and slightly less trainer suited.

Suspect I will regret taking the start too hard in the morning!

https://www.strava.com/activities/385328424/overvi...

GPSing some of the many new bike tracks in Sallowvallets. Covered a small, but arguably significant, area - such a lot more than I had expected to update. Might be a struggle to get everything done in time.

Jogged 10-11k of this and feeling ok and think that helped recover from parkrun - but stiffened up a bit now home.

Parkway swarming with orienteers this evening...

10x 60s around a nature reserve. Had been expecting 15x 60s but turns out that my sub-group had cut the number short because of lack of available distance - happy with that as done so little efforts recently, and after struggling last few days, good to keep it easy. Mostly sub 3:30/k which is pretty good for me.

https://www.strava.com/activities/383511878/laps

MDC run from Parc Cwm Darren. Slow pace which was good as tired from weekend. Not a nice start and leg got very brambled but was all right on the top.

https://www.strava.com/activities/382805515/overvi...

Not a good run from me today. Legs feeling very tired still - I think mostly from Friday's hills, made worse by the intervals at the maze, and then standing still for 5 hrs yesterday.

Good start up the (steep) road but slow on the gradual descent, and for being climb that was really of a runnable gradient ended up doing a lot of walking and calves not happy. Last climb to the top was the worst and caught up by pretty much everyone.

Then onto easier uphill gradient and was able to fly up the track to the trig. OK going down early on - it was muddy and was able to grip well. Main part of the descent was too fast and too dry underfoot for me to stand a chance - shoes weren't biting in to the ground and confidence knocked by a big sideways slide on a tree root (and on my bad ankle). Amazed there were still people behind me to be overtaking me once at the bottom on the rocky steps but as it turned into gentle uphill again was able to open up and make up some of the time had lost and drop Caroline Craig. Pretty nasty finish and wasn't prepared to risk knees by fully sprinting down the road.

Some rubbish result - but after a hard few days on the legs and not too much chance for recovery so shouldn't worry too much. Super fast descents aren't really my thing anyway. Good to meet some more Lliswerry people.

https://www.strava.com/activities/381843685/overvi...