Training Log Archive: Nathan

Hated every minute of this. Wet, cold, windy, muddy and slippy meant it was just a grind.
On another note though winter training is moving along nicely in to the new year. I'm feeling strong and on results I'm the fastest I've ever been which is nice given that I haven't really done the speed stuff yet. All looking positive so I'll keep this up in to the next few months.

Huncote Hash 2016 - 1st.

Never really care about xc but wanted to do well at this one because it's my clubs one and I've been shifting ok recently. No idea who was turning up so plan was to sit on whoever went out on the front and then work off from there. Quite sticky and slidy out so was going to be a tough one. Ended up taking it out reasonably hard and leading but feeling comfortable. Took a wrong turn because of confusing marshalling at around 500m then flowed nicely through the woods and let the Hermitage guy take the lead through the crappy stuff past the quarries. Once we hit the fields I took over again and floated up the first hill before sitting behind him to the bridge. Didn't know who was behind us but felt really controlled here and was content to just sit. A guy in a white top came storming past us taking us by surprise so I decided to shut his attack down quickly and sat in front of him but quite enjoyed the increase in pace so once we hit the road crossing and went under the hill I began turning the screw, a bit earlier than expected around 4k~. Moved well to the duckboards then up the first climb taking the steps which was bloody hard work and felt like I took longer to recover on the escarpment than I'd have liked but chatting to some of the guys at the end I began gapping them so that's positive. Hit the bottom of Croft Hill and settled in taking it quite easy at the start but was again blowing more than I thought on it and didn't feel as strong as I'd have liked. From then I decided that I'd turn it up and took the descent well and began opening my legs back to the M69, with good encouragement from the marshalls on the way. Through the stream no bother and then up back past the quarry to the last field and the woods (about 500m to go), risked a chech behind and I was clear but carried on pushing all the way to the finish for the win.
Very pleased with this, even if I didn't feel grand on the hills, controlled the race very well and felt strong throughout. First harrier to win it since the 80s and only the 2nd to have ever won it so very pleased to have gotten the result. Looking good for the new year.

Easy shake out.

Steady state hilly tempo on the broughton meadow, keeping it nice and easy, moving well.

Easy around the Hash route, looking good if it stays firm for the weekend.

1 before, 3 after because we were a bit tight on time.

York University race. Wanted to get to this on the way home from Granny's because of it's relevance for warwick and glad I did. Started a bit rushed by getting there late so planning and execution was sloppy on the first 5-6 then settled in nicely and was flowing well but still hesitated on some planning which was annoying. Pretty clean though, legs naturally tired but kept focused pretty well which is encouraging as I've been working on it. Good session and a lot of positives.

East Hull10k - 2nd.

Didn't know about this until Christmas eve bur thought it'd be a good test over a longer distance as well as the parkrun. Didn't know how good the field was or even what the course really was but just decided to give it a go, wind was blowing a lot so was going too be tough. Took it out reasonably hard but I felt pretty comfortable leading the first 5k and moving through in 16:40. Group of 2/3 sat on my shoulders and I knew they were essentially slip streaming butility left too hem to it and focused on my race. On the turn on the railway the wind was full on for 3k and it was a real grind to keep it going, bit managed to bin one guy so it was just me and another up top. He sat on my shoulder until we turned to have a tailwind for the last 2k where we ran together but he kicked with 1k to go and having done the work for 9k I just didn't have the kick in my legs to go with him. Pleased with how I controlled the race and felt pretty good throughout but I was slowed by the wind big time. Nice pb and positive signs.

C • Mr Calculas? 2