Training Log Archive: White Kenyan

Porter, Ringinglow, Limb Valley, Hunters Bar.

few squats, lunges etc

WU - testing a new more natural approch

Northern XC Relays - BRONZE

Didnt really have a expectation for this, expect from something to last years 12th. Upon arriving there had also been little chat about it either amongst the lads, until chatting to BIG Stu aka Pep Guardiola with Sheeno before the race.

Stu seemed to think a top 6 was achievable and possibly a outside shot at a medal if we averaged 10.40ish, too which me and Sheeno laughed at, although I was confident the team could average roughly 10.35. Pep had set the team up well starting with the younger lads on 1 and 2, myself for the graveyard shift then finishing up with Sheeno as he's in shape.

Cam started well as he always does on first leg and put us in the mixer at 11th, Josh then ran another solid leg to bring us up to 7th just behind Uni. Set off a few seconds behind Mycroft with a Rotherham guy just in front of me, sat on with him for a short period and then kicked on remembering what Sheeno had told me; "ping it down the hill, that's where you make the time". To my surprise had closed half of the gap on Mycroft and Sale by the bottom of the hill. Worked the two hills, where there was lots of support. Got on to the top field and felt a foamy mouth coming on (maybe too many jagers on Wednesday and Thursday), slowed slightly and cleared that, then pushed up the slope and down into the woods then pinged it into the finish in 6th.

By this point I still hadn't even thought about the teams overall performce until at the half way point at the top of the hill, where Sheeno came powering up and had reduced the gap by half. Bit of encouragement and we had to wait for him to come back out of the woods. I thought he was going to catch them and then it would be a sprint finish between us and Trafford. But Sheeno came flying down the hill with a good 30m lead to take 3rd!

A few teams had a few runners missing (Liverpool; Cliffey etc), but for such a small club it's such a great result and shows the had work which is going on at VR. Certainly looks good for a few years time for such as young team (two U20) and then a load more lads who are on the standard along with 3 lads in America. Chuffed.

Double Day

Long day of valuation

10 lengths of Goodwin - too many punters

Early bird catches the gourmet worms

Monitoring with Si. Reach, jumps etc.

The classic William Mycroft 5.20 pace 10 minute tempo; first mile 4.59.

Controlled 8x400; 4x30

173m; 174m; 175m; 173m.

12 hour day down in Oxford - just an evening run today.