Training Log Archive: Duncan

Lovely relaxed run with Mark, Ben and Adam. Along the Cotswolds Way ridge from Old Sodbury to (almost) Hawkesbury via Horton. Pushed it a little every now and then. Some great paths, nice views and good chat.

BOK Blast Bristol City Race. Great scenes seeing loads of people getting confused round town. Brutal courses both technically and physically. Lots of good comments about everything.

Event: BOK Blast: Day 1. SW Sprint Championships / 2. Inaugral City of Bristol Rac
 

Such a sick race to take in on the way home. http://www.carnethy.com/ri_beeftub.htm

Left the car and Abi at the top and the boys (Alex, Chris, Jamie and me) ran down to register. Quite a bit of chat before the start about lines both up and down and the rough terrain and proper gradients make it a great orienteers' race.

Lots of indecision on the startline but the BUOT boys stayed left out of the bracken. Jamie P caned it out the start and I just tried to follow. We were leading our line and he was a little to the right and kept an eye on the other group. Jamie got a decent gap ahead of me but I managed to run the last little bit to touch the monument in second to the leader, but no distance ahead of JP or the grumpy Edinburgh Uni guy.

Seriously tough running through the reeds by the road and the dude in front was too strong for us. I lost time over the fence and we were slow up the runnable ridge so he was way ahead.

Made the most of the first descent, pulling away from Jamie and Edinburgh (who I did sort of push, maybe that's why he was grumpy, but it is racing). Was close-ish to Phil Davies (Borrowdale) in front but wasn't man enough and Jamie gained ground on the next short climb.

The real descent was awesome. Got into a slide which I started to recover from but thought it was faster and safe enough to keep going. Jamie definitely was getting even closer but I could see the leader ahead being just slow enough to be worth chasing. Nice and safe though the middle section but should have risked it more in the final stretch as I finished just a second behind at the end with Jamie 12s back. Alex McCann came 12th.

Won some beer and some corned beef which I'm well excited to try out. Cheers to Cherry for the heads up and Owens for his supporting role. [2nd / 22.25 / +0.01 / 2.46 outside the record].

Jog down and back and up.

Great little race planned by Willy. Started into the left-hand side of the track. Followed through to three with Willy and Jonny but lead round to 8. Slow through to 15 telling myself multiple times to orienteer properly. Got back on it to 16 then was behind Jonny trying to get back onto Willy. Felt really weird through the last few to the finish and was shaking in the car back.

Back through the lush first bit to 12.

Massive turn out for a 1200m, 600, 400, 400, 600, 1200 session with Keith's group and Steve M. Did a little over that distance each time starting behind the middle group. A bit mixed really, slow to start but okay in the middle. Felt really weak before the last one but managed to stick in kept the chasing group behind.

Good. Definitely the fastest time back in a long time.