Training Log Archive: Mark3

Bailed on Trigger because I'm wimp. Forecast for Bleakflow was 30-40mph winds and heavy snow, and I didn't fancy that.
Still wanted a long run though and so went out with the marathon training guys.

Much hillier that I was expecting!

Good route and chat. Was feeling pretty tired by the end, didn't really get the Bloks timing right. Legs felt ok though. Weather was suspiciously ok - I hope it was grim for Trigger otherwise I'll be a bit sad I made the wrong call.

Varied course in atrocious conditions - 3rd.
Four out and backs, so 4 180 degree corners? And 3 of them were only about 100m long; the first was further.
Not an easy course to overtake on in places so good job the field was small.

The bit you do twice has a steepish downhill and a steepish uphill. Theyre both technically tarmac but the former is covered in rotting leaves and stuff which made it pretty dangerous; glad I wore traily shoes. Road would be fine in summer. There were some sections of mud/grass which were dicey. Today there was a lot of splashing, and there were sections of slushy ice left over from the sleet yesterday. Tbh I am very pleased with my time.

The rain had stopped since parkrun and so just wore ls and o top, no coat. Error.
Rain/sleet started 5 mins before the start and continued throughout. You know when you just into a cold lake or whatever and it makes you gasp - creasting the hill into the wind/hail after 10mins or so was like that. Very nearly went back to the car, but then conditions improved slightly so carried on.

Other than having wet gloves and so freezing/painful fingers (stupid Raynaud's) actually ok for most of it. Made good choices for the first half ish and then one bad one - elected to miss a control in the middle and avoid the tussucks, but didn't realise the awkward route it meant I had to implement later on.

So 2nd, a minute behind Chris E, despite being 5 mins ahead at halfway (damn). He made excellent choices and probably ran significantly less distance than me.

Very glad to finish, drive home immediately and spend an age in the shower warming up.

Couldn't push as hard as usual since felt pretty grim, bad stomach, and mainly just been feeling under the weather for what feels like ages now. Trying not to let it affect me too much but it's getting tedious.

Also there was a horrendous rainstorm on the way, so I wore a coat as there was more forecast. It actually turned out to be a nice evening and I was too hot, but it was right to be cautious.

Not really in the zone though. Seemed to do a lot of running but not get that many controls - may be saved by massive under attendance due to weather. Couple of times, bad exit direction (ie unplanned), otherwise ok. Took very similar route to Em which could be a good thing or a bad thing, results will determine...

C • under the weather 1

Nice evening leading the fell group, cold but still, and lots of the grim muddy bits iced over. No cloud and great stars.

2021 Summary

4,056km; 2,520 miles. Significantly short of the c.2,940 miles last year - the couple of months pretty much off at the start of year put paid to any ambition there. Still 48.46 mpw - but that is 8 fewer than last year.

Maybe 3,000 miles is a more realistic target for 2022; 4,800km.

The big surprise was 178,407m ascent, which beats last year's 165,958m. 489m per day! Mental.

Highlights were:
- 5 Trigs in the 4th FKT (I think)
- Supporting 2 BGs, legs 3&4 on both (more to come in 2022 hopefully)
- 15th in Lakeland Classics series and winner of 'most improved'. Amazing results in Ennerdale and Wasdale particularly
- 2nd at the Settle Saunter despite it being the day after Ennerdale!
- 3rd in the Thirlmere Trot
- The Joss Naylor Challenge, solo self-supported, in 11:25. This is the thing I think I'm proudest of
- 12th in Lakeland 50 (of 1,134!)
- Attempted a solo Ramsay Round (failed, but still)
- 13th in the British Sprint O Champs - best ever result in my last year as an M21
- Won GL3D Elite (I'd forgotten about this!)
- Won NY Moors EnduranceLife Ultra
- Fell race podium; 3rd at Turner Landscape
- 17th at LiaD, 90 mins faster than last time

Actually a surprisingly good year, considering there was very little travel. Hoping that this year might finally be getting back to something closer to normal - although not going to hold my breath!

Felt a bit run down and didn't sleep that well, so am sensible.

With Joe. Supposed to be a run in the Lakes with all the ladz, but the forecast wasn't playing ball, and then most dropped out due to illness/injury. So Joe got his inauguration with just me! Lucky him.

Loop from Hayfield up William Clough and then PW to nearly Snake. Trigger practice bearing to 624m trig very successful; up Upper Red Brook which is the most obvious re-entrant and then a bit of a trod most of the way to the trig; requires compass to stay on line, but the fence just behind the trig is there to catch, so pretty easy. Along the bearing it was a bit up/down in places but probably best to just go for it rather than trying to avoid. Better than Within I think.

From Kinder Downfall, staying either on the bank of, or actually in, the stream looks like the best bet for the first half. There is then an obvious junction where the main stream goes S and the "path" goes E then SSE; at that point it's the time to rely on the compass again. On a clear day it's not long before you can see Crowden Tower and then you can cut the corner to the edge path.

I think contouring Grindslow is the better choice even though over is only an extra contour, since the downhill afterwards is then less steep.

Successful recce; feeling pretty tired by the end although 30 mins faster for the loop than I'd expected.