Training Log Archive: Magic

L2B fell race. Wasn't sure whether to do this as legs have been off all week, but with so many MDC going and a glorious forecast it sort of had to be done. Was regretting my decision on the first climb where I really suffered, losing lots of places after getting myself a good starting position. More than a minute slower to the top of Cruig Mawr (but there was a head wind) than last year.

Descent went well, picked a good straight line and passed a bunch of people (most of whom had passed me earlier). The runaway leader was at the bottom of the hill with a sore hamstring so gained another position there. Found myself with three other guys but they slowed as soon as the Sugar Loaf climb started. About 90 seconds down on last year here I think.

Climbed well (but not as well as last year) and hoped I had enough on the boys (who were moving faster when it wasn't steep). The long run down into Abergavenny went much better than last year and got to the feed station at the bottom of the Blorenge before getting caught.

Blorenge climb was as steep and tough as expected, but went straight passed the guy who just caught me and then caught and passed the runner ahead (who had a major bonk). No one else in sight until the open, but they were well up the hill. As usual the shortening effect of the hill made it look like the whole field was catching. 2 minutes quicker than last year up this climb.

Reckoned I had about 90 seconds on the guy behind on the top and hoped that would be enough across the flat to the finish. Thankfully never saw him and finished with the gap about the same. Second and another bottle of wine! Much more appreciative of all the beige food and showers.

C • L2B 1

Run to Spot, thought that I'd found a nice grassy path along the river to run on but ended up on the wrong side of a locked gate. Actually a reasonable amount of grass verges to run on but it still felt like 10k away.

Not doing so well this week, did tick off one that I failed on last week but in general was just being a bit useless.

Home from climbing. Was so slow that AP automatically labeled this as a 'walk'....
Note: The GPS track from this is miles away from where I actually was!

IW. Lovely tail wind to start with, then it was all over the place. Not much energy in my legs this morning.

HFW. Lovely sunny evening and saw a record 72 cyclists. Also still quite windy and rarely of much help.

Playing in Gwaelod woods with rcro, MarkP, Ben and Will. Just sort of randomly ran about in the woods taking it in turns to lead. Some faster bits (mostly when Richard was leading and going up hills) and lots of lovely twisty bits through the woods. Legs really feeling the road from last night.

IW. Cold and dry but wet. Wet because it must have rained all night. Forgot add that I saw a funky duck the other morning, had a white neck on it, must look up what it was (unless anyone has some idea?).

C • Duck 3

HFW. Lovely evening, blue skies even, also lots of people in the way.

Something to get a bit of blood moving.

SWOC Street O, very well planned by Mark P with all the high pointers scattered around the edge of a very large area, so no hope of getting everything. Also very harsh time penalties for being late back so very happy with my timing!

Headed for the closest high pointers and then got drawn in a loop to the north, didn't have the option to skip many of the low pointers (too close to skip) but as a result didn't have time to get to the high pointers at the far end. Don't know if there was an optimum route (good planning!). Lots of low scoring controls meant the the overall scores were quite close.

Good fun, will hopefully get to a few more of these next winter that the three that I managed this winter (especially if there is an Easter egg up for grads again!).

IW. What a lovely morning, very happy just bumbling along.

HFW. Perfectly time to hit a heavy hail and rain shower. Had to work a bit harder to keep warm. Once passed it was a lovely evening and cycle.

Wet and muddy MDC run from Penderyn, but also really enjoyable. The waterfall was looking great and the mines were much more fun to explore with a proper light. Quite a lot of lengthy stops meant that I never got all that warm, so grateful to have overdressed at it was pretty cold at times. Good run.

Easy IW. Damp in TW, grand of the TT but minging once in town. Tyre still hard from last week - is it just a coincidence that Lucy was away for the weekend???

HFW. Lovely evening, nearly nice enough to dry up all the puddles. Also took it lovely and slow and just enjoyed pottering along.

Really interesting explore from Treorchy with Nicky and Richard. Definitely going to plan an MDC run talking in some of these trails. Hopefully whenever that is the weather is nicer as today was wet and windy, though thankfully not all that cold.

Nicky feeling slightly tender after a late night to start and both Richard and I feeling yesterday's race in our legs. Once out of town and into the woods Nicky started running well and it was a struggled for my tender legs to keep up, especially up the last climb and I didn't even try on the final descent.