Training Log Archive: JCallender

Still have the cold.

Had a bit of a temperature yesterday. Woke up at 4.30am sweating, nose-blocked and sneezing. Thought it would be best bail on the planned run and have a lie in instead. Feeling pretty rotten after getting up so will avoid training today.

Was sent home at 15.30 after my colleagues had had enough of my sweating and sneezing.

Morning cycle with Outi - lovely weather, nice and cool. Found a cool new lane at the back of Baldarnock that takes you to the Strathblane Road.

Legs felt surprisingly good on the cycle - but stretching afterwards my quads were noticeably hammered after last night's descending.

20ish miles/339M

Jog up the hill + hill sprints.

CORT-MA-LAW HILL RACE

My fourth counter in the Bog & Burn series and the longest one yet. It’s a steep start and I ran off Kenny Richmond’s shoulder, he’s faster than me so no point in getting ahead of him early on – Joe Symonds shot off at an outrageous pace. Once the first group had spread out I settled in to 6th place, and edged just on the other side of caution and pushed hard on the ascent.

Chris Grant-Pantry was running with me by the top of Cort-Ma-Law and we stayed with each other on the run across to Leckett, during which I managed to find every bog there was. I was just ahead at Leckett and, turning the corner, saw that Gwyn wasn’t far behind, no time to relax. On the slope from Leckett Chris tried to overtake me but each time I put in enough of a spurt to hold him off; proper racing! I went over a tussock and fell flat on my face just before the burn, allowing Chris to get ahead.

After crossing the burn there’s a steep climb back to the ridge line & the final descent; from previous experience I knew Chris could beat me on the down so I nipped past quickly and put some distance between us on the climb. This worked but he still caught me c400m from the end after taking a slightly faster line down one of the gullies. We had a sprint finish to the end but he managed to just pip me. Was done in crossing the line and collapsed in the grass.

Racing from start to finish, as opposed to just running, a brilliant evening. Was 5mins 8s faster than the one other time I did this course. I think I was 7th.

Warm-down jog up the hill with Gwyn.

Lunchtime laps of Glasgow Green. Did 6*hill-sprints on North Portland St.

Legs felt tired and creaky.

Run home + 6*stride-outs on the cricket groun.

Plane back from Bristol was delayed last night which meant I didn't get home till 01.30am. Was knackered all day at work but felt OK on the run home.

Post-wedding run on a warm day with very little sleep and a hangover. Not the best.