Training Log Archive: GraceE

Event: HOC National Event, Brown Clee
 

Long Distance (WOC trials), Brown Clee.
The first 8 controls were in some detailed terrain and the second part of the course was quite physical. I got the first 2 controls pretty well, and caught Mhairi at c2 (3mins). I then lost a minute on c3 - nothing seemed to fit map to ground (caught Helen B 6mins here). Lost a minute on a short leg to c4... got there fine but then spent ages trying to find the flag in the circle! When I found it it wasn't in the centre of the circle and didn't match the control description. Got c5 - c7 well, then ran hard for the rest of the course trying to make up for the early time losses. Mhairi was around me for most of it - similar speed and same route choices, we couldn't lose each other. I lost a minute on c13 (bit uncertain and so the pace dropped) and 40secs at c18 near the end when I was tired. So it was by no means a clean run, but there were many casualties early on in the course and I was really happy with how strongly I was running. 2nd place (40secs behind Pip).

A run to the start. My o-shoes really hurt my feet in the final couple of kms of the race, and I got a big blister :( So I didn't cool down.

Sprint (British WOC selections), Shrewsbury.
Around the town, quite fun. Happy with my run, only a long hesitation at c4 (10secs) but I was in the right place and the control was right by me! 6th place.

Middle (GB WOC trial), Weston Heath.
Lost 2mins on c12. The rest was ok. Well all my splits are rubbish actually... the bracken ruined the map and I was fighting my way around and didn't have any fun. Could never have done Rach's time.... when it's me against the vegetation the vegetation always wins :( 6th place.

Event: GBR WOC Selection Races (Middle and Sprint)
 

Travel to Stafford after work.

A nice warm evening for a run - Walkley, Rivelin, Crookes. Couldn't believe how quickly the bracken had grown up in one section of the run.... uh oh...
Saw a squirrel (still a novelty).

Wanted a run but was late home from work.

C • congrats! 2

Today my alarm woke me up at 7am and I was ready for work by 7.30 but then Matt told me that all the clocks in the house said it was 5.30am. Oops I'd left my phone on Latvian time. It was kind of funny but I was also in a boo as I thought I'd just had my first 8hr sleep in a loooong time :(
There were positives though; I didn't have to iron a shirt the second time that I got up and Matt had two breakfasts.

I went for a little run after work, a bit harder than normal. Tram-lines, big hill, South Rd, same old same old.

Arrived home after a lot of travelling at 4am (6am Latvian time) and was at work at 8am. I don't like work.