Training Log Archive: Magic

Event: Parc Cwm Darren
 

Did this as I have been lead to believe that a short east run after a hard race is good for the legs. It didn't feel like that. Uphill was hard work (what little there was) and downhill just hurt. Felt worse later in the day was well.

C • spin on the bike 2

Llanbedr to Blaenafon Fell Race, 15 miles (26km)- 4,500 ft (1372mtrs).
Question: If you do a long race at a hard effort do you get any fitness benefit out of it or is it offset by running your body down?

Today was one of those races. Had a plan to keep it steady for the first two hills and then push on a bit. Sort of did that the steady was a but faster than I had planned. Partly due to be getting caught up with racing those around me (including the leading women) and partly due to feeling reasonable, especially on the Sugarloaf climb.

Just got chicked on the first summit (Crug Mawr) but got moving on the nice descent (just rough enough to slow the runners but not anyone else). Behind Matt until the bottom where he slower after taking a wrong turn, didn't see him again.

Really good climb all the way up Sugarloaf and was ever-so-slowly catching the second and third place guys (Mark Palmer was a few minutes ahead). Lost a bit of the time taking the rocky route to the summit (didn't know where the checkpoint was) but the three of us were together for a second.

One of the guys went backwards very quickly and the other guy went forwards very quickly, I was left in the middle on my own. The run through Abergavenny was really painful (4km of tarmac) and the guy ahead pulled out about two minutes on me (he ran 77 for the half marathon last weekend).

Really looking forward to the Blorenge, more to get off the road than the climb. Only had to walk about a 100m near the top, but that was really hard work and I could see the leading lady below (the steepness really gave the illusion that everyone was much closer together).

Pushed as hard as I could so not to get caught but legs, especially my calfs (from the tarmac) were really sore. Pleased enough with the run, it was certainly something that I had wanted to do and am glad that I now have. Not so sure that I'd be that excited about doing it again (it's that bloody road section). Worth doing but maybe not traveling the length of the country to do. It was also lovely and sunny.

C • It depends what your training for. 5

IW. Is it good or bad luck if you nearly run over a black cat?

HFW. Bit of a struggle to get going but moving nicely enough. Over last weekend.

IW. Today was cold. Very cold but also very dry. Today I saw 3 ducks. They are the first ducks I have seen on the cycle. Where were they yesterday?

HFW. Irritating headwind made for frustrating slow progress, but it was a lovely evening otherwise.
Today I got an email from BOF informing me that my JK ranking points are my 19th and 20th best scores in the past year. I can't believe that I have done many more than 20 ranking races, so surprisingly that these poor scores are in races that I have run well in... Or maybe the ranking list is so ineffective it's useless...

C • Points inflate over time. B... 3

IW. A grand morning for ducks, ones that like the cold at least. Heavy cold rain, not so nice for humans.

HFW. Lovely evening, just a shame it was dark by the time I got out. Scary in Haley Park with the amount of bats swooping about - kept my head as low as I could.

IW. Had the computer with me again so bag was heavy, though spent most of the time hoping it would stay dry in the rain and hail rather than worrying about its weight.

HFW. Saw a roadie wipe out on a chicane past a barrier, think he took it too quickly and caught the front wheel on the kerb. He made a good noise going down. Turned around but another guy was already there. Just his pride damaged I think. Some nasty hail later up the road.

Easy warm up, right calf very tight.

JK Relay 120+, 3rd leg with Forestgrump and JonX.

Great runs from the first two meant that all I had to do was go out run around. Tried as hard as I could but the area was too fast for my legs and not very challenging. Did enjoy it but would love to do a relay where the emphasis was on navigation rather than thinking that simple navigation makes for more exciting races (does no one remember the women's relay at WOC in France?).

Only really lost time on one control when an un-mapped bike path pulled me offline (15 seconds) - didn't realise the circles were jumps - maybe I should have read the info... Great day for FVO with wins in both the Open relays and both the 120+ and a bonus 3rd in the M120+ plus as well.

Warm down with a very happy JonX.