Training Log Archive: jonny crickmore

The Scottish University Participation Championships.

Just fancied a 5k track race but wasn't sure how I would feel post JK. I had been struggling all week and still wasn't particularly fresh.

It was an eventful day. Got up at 5:00 to cycle down to Alison's to get a lift into uni to leave for Aberdeen. We arrived and it is a really nice track and indoor warm up area. First event was 400mH. There was only 2 guys and my PB (from my 1 attempt at varsity last year) would have won the race. Why didn't I enter this!!

I wasn't racing till 2 so just sat back enjoyed the sun and watched the athletics (some was of very good quality to be fair).

Session 1- Warm up. Went to the beach and ran along it. Was very nice.
Session 2 -Load of drills. This was for both races.

Session 3- 5k. The main aim. I wasn't sure what I could do but was just hoping for sub 16. 5 guys in the race. One guy set off with a 72 and I sat behind and was like ooh this is nice. Then he slowed and we did the first k in 3:12 so I went past and ran solo for the rest. It was a bit of a slog fest after that and just held roughly on to 16min pace. Through 4k in 12:50 and suffered through to just break 16. Fairly happy. Ended up lapping everyone in the field.

Session 4/5 Warm downs and ups

Session 6. 3k steeplechase Lawler was here so he ran off and I just settled in for a slog. I struggled on the water jump each time. Was also overhurdling as didn't want to fall. I think I tied my PB so have to wait and see.

Then did some jogging as a WD.

Get to the minivan to go home and it won't start as it requires a refill of AdBlue (I had no idea what this was. Turns out it is 30% Urea and 70% fancy water. So piss pretty much.)

Went to a near garage but it didn't have any and they didn't know about. Called Arnorld Clark and some AA guy said you can get it at petrol station. So me and Alison ran to one about 1.2k away. Bought 20litres of expensive piss. I thought 20kg wasn't that much so carried both to balance so could run. About 200m later my arms were about to fall off.
Get back fill up the car with it and the AA man arrives as he was nearby anyway. Tells us it can be pretty corrosive stuff (after it is all over my hands). Doesn't say this on the packet. Hands are tingling a bit but nothing too bad. Head to Mcdonalds in an ASDA and Aberdeen. Wash my hands thoroughly and have some food. Then this 12 year old kid starts kicking off against the security guard and gets kicked out and him and a load of is mates are throwing eggs around at the entrance. Mostly at the girls in their group. Maybe some Aberdeenian courting ritual I am unaware off. Head back to our car and there is a Police car and he goes up to the kids and one of them legs it across the field. But another Police officer drove round and tackled him down. It was an entertaining trip.
Got home about 11 in the end.

C • 5k 1

Just stepped out the door to go for a run. Started hailing while getting satellites. I think I'll delay my run this time

2nd time lucky. Nice and sunny. Legs still feeling like lead

Another two hour walk. Up Gordale scar and over to Malham Cove. Cool stuff. Then travelled home.

Went for a 2 hour walk. Tired

JK Relay

Got very little sleep last night and was feeling rather rough. Just like a BUCS relay really. I was grateful to be on the short leg and was hoping to just push and give whatever was left.

Unfortunately Dan didn't have a great one but I do love a good chase. Missed 1 by 10seconds and Jamie had caught me. Damn I'm supposed to be overtaking people not the other way. Then just took it easy through the sprint not really flowing nicely but I know this wasn't the important bit of the race.
Felt good coming out as my legs had warmed up a bit Jamie was gone due to a longer gaffle. Flew through Joe at this stage and kept pushing on.
Then I glimpsed Nixon and Olly climbing up to 10. I got a nicer line and was now with Olly. I stuck behind as I was feeling tired now just trying to keep Nixon in sight. Put the boot down through spectator to try and drop Olly and get to Nixon. Just flew round the last loop but never quite got to Nixon but got us in contention.

A very exciting last leg where Sasha did a serious shift to catch the pack ahead but was spent from that and we came back at the back of the pack. Another great JK relay. Good to see some high quality competitions between British clubs like this.

JK Long

Wasn't even going to run this earlier in the week but decided it looked quite fun if I set off steady. I am very glad I raced.

Decided on a longsleeve thermal and gloves at the start with full OMM hooded jacket in bumbag. The first loop was great fun and quite technical. Took a poorish route on the long leg to 6 along with struggling into the headwind up the hill but caught Jegor at 7 and Toby at 8 (had my first gel here) so just settled in. misread the crossing points to 9 so climbed then had to run down the track. Struggling on the climbs but felt strong on the rest and flew round the top flat section.

Then came the interesting bit the hail. You can read other peoples logs for analogies of what it was like (cheese grating your face, machine bb guns) all I'm gonna say is it hurt. A lot. But I thought hail normally lasts 5min so I persevered for a couple of controls 16-18. Then over to 19 I was incapable of running straight or reading a map. I thought I was somewhere near 19 but had no idea. So I looked for shelter jumped in a pit and got my cag on properly and stopped to work out where I was. Turns out I was about 5m from the control conveniently. Then once I got over the hill it either eased a bit or just having it behind and no skin meant I felt okay.

Now I just had to deal with navigating with everything being white. Made a couple of slip but okay into spectator where I had my second gel. Heard I was in the lead. This was nice but not a huge surprise as I was running well and didn't do great yesterday.

Yet now I started to tire and mentally I had to double and triple check everything as no information was staying in my head. This is the first point when I felt really navigationally challenged. Due to the exhaustion and cold.

Saw Tim at 32 then promptly messed it up as just couldn't work out the contours. Then it was just about getting back without throwing away too much time. Got back to find out a large proportion of people had retired so actually ended up with a very good result.

Annoyingly 3 seconds behind Cherry today and 4 seconds off overall podium. Yet both are a lot more than I felt I deserved.