Sunday Sep 9 |
 | Running race 2:10:00 [5]27 km (4:49 / km) +1500m 3:46 / km | |
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| The 'exterminator' fell race at Totley. I woke up feeling very sore this morning - my back, arms and shoulders were completely screwed. Just about convinced myself to head out with Mike and once I was there it was easier to get a bit up for it. Actually felt fine once the race got going.
I should say first that I really enjoyed the race, it's a great route and it was a tough battle all the way. But much to Craney's amusement I got in a Stuart Bond-influenced boo. First of all, he followed me from start to finish, running sometimes 1m behind, sometimes 2m behind and once actually trod on my shoe and made it fall off. It's a navigational race, you have to carry a map - he didn't and he didn't have any idea where to go, despite the fact that he must know some of the route better than I do. Occasionally I slowed right down for him to pass, once even to a walk. He just walked along behind me.
I had a crack at sprinting away from him at the end and got a good 20m before the finish field. But I'm rubbish at sprinting and he came back at me across the field, I dipped for the line and he ran ahead up the finish corridor. Now I reckon that we crossed the line together, maybe with a photo finish you could have split us but this was a fell race. The 'line judges' were stood a good few metres away having a chat. They told me that Bond (a member of the organising club) got it because 'the brim of his cap crossed the line ahead'. Did Bond acknowledge that it was too close to call? No, because he's a cock.
On the way home we passed his car - a silver sports car with a number plate S B8ND. Says it all. |
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| C • Good race Oli, awesome effort ... 9 |
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| C • The name's bond, cock bond 5 |
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| C • computing genius 2 |
Saturday Sep 8 |
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| Event: Great Kinder Beer Barrel Race
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| Running race 45:00 [4]8 km (5:38 / km) +300m 4:44 / km | |
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| I was unconvinced by our preparations for this race, especially when, with about half an our to go all the other teams had constructed their beer carrying apparatuses (ladders, stretchers, scaffolding poles, gates) and we still had just a beer barrel and half a team. I needn't have worried, Nails was on the case and rocked up with an aluminium ladder (borrowed from Rob D) and a load of climbing ropes and slings.
Set off fast and for about 10 mins (flat) it seemed easy. Don't know if someone else was carrying all the weight (ben?) but it certainly wasn't me. Then we set off up the steep climb and gravity kicked in. Amazingly, our team proved quite efficient and we were swapping sides and positions all the way up and leaving other teams in our wake. Over the 3 minute crossing in about 7mins and then plummeted off the other side. We started off trying to maintain some control over the ladder but it quickly became apparent that the ladder was perfectly able to get to the bottom of the hill very fast on its own, harder was trying to keep up with it and make sure no one died. Team was Pete, James, Rob B, Rob L, Ben, Nails, Middle and me. James was the driving force, Nails got angry, Middle threw up and Craney offered some great support.
Anyway, we beat the long-time winners, the over confident team Gladioli, and got a new record in the process. Then sat in the sun and drank our winnings before heading off to a great party at the Candy's. What could be a better way to spend the day? |
| Running 35:00 [2]5 km (7:00 / km) | |
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| Recce-ing at the start then running around looking for the car at the end. |
Friday Sep 7 |
| Note | |
| (rest day) |
| Tapering for tomorrow's big race. |
Thursday Sep 6 |
| Running 1:20:00 [3]15 km (5:20 / km) | |
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| Headed out to Higger for a run in the Peaks with Mike. A bit more of the exterminator route, dropped down to Mitchell Farm, through Lawrence Field, Grindleford Station, Longshaw, then hunted around for trods off Houndkirk rd. It's going to be long and painful on Sunday, that's for sure. |
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| C • Painful 1 |
Wednesday Sep 5 |
| Running 30:00 [2] | |
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| Out to Myers Grove and back. |
| Running Drills (Jubby's secret drills) 30:00 [4]3 km (10:00 / km) | |
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| At Myers Grove with Mike and Rob. Rob taught us some new silly walks and we did the sprints on grass for about 100m. Felt a lot better afterwards this week and I can still walk this morning. Grass felt like a nicer surface for it but probably not as effective. |
Tuesday Sep 4 |
| Running 50:00 [2]9 km (5:33 / km) | |
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| Easy (apart from the hill) with Rob up the ski slope and exploring a bit. |
Monday Sep 3 |
| Note | |
| (rest day) |
| Don't even feel guilty. |