Training Log Archive: murraystraining

Lake District Mountain Trial. My first go at this iconic race. It was quite an experience! As I was running over the fells south of Honister en route to number 3 I was sure there would be a marshal waiting for us at the end to divert us onto the wet weather route, skipping 4 & 6. Seriously, it was foul. I got stopped in my tracks a couple of times and at other times was running out of control, the tail wind was so strong. The rain was relentless and generally torrential. The only saving grace was that it wasn't particularly cold, but when you're soaked to the skin that's not much consolation.

But no, no marshal, just a soggy flag and Jethro laughing at me for not seeing it then wading a river to look on the other side, so on we went for the full course.

After another faff in the circle at 5 I was all set to turn for home - routes picked and looking forward to mostly flatter path running all the way back. Then the marshal said the race had been stopped and we had to go over Glaramara to Seatoller where we'd be picked up and taken back to Buttermere. Gutted! But also slightly relieved!

I was actually doing a bit rubbish so it wasn't the worst thing that the results won't stand. Out of 5 controls I'd missed in the circle twice and taken two rubbish route choices, so not a great strike rate. Still, a pretty memorable day out!

Faff.

Devil's Beeftub Race. Final SHR Champs race of the year. Fin secured the overall win at Strathpeffer last month but I could take second if I finished higher than 4th and Andy Fallas didn't beat me. Given he's currently running across the Alps I was reasonably confident of the latter, less so the former.
Anyway, this race really doesn't suit me - brutally steep climb and descent, thankfully a nice undulating ridge run in between. I was fairly casual on the climb, taking my own wide line and popping out somewhere outside the top 10 at the top. This tactic paid off though as I moved through on the flatter bit until I was on Tom's heels and well clear of 3rd. Tom is seriously mince at descending so I started to feel a bit more confident when we started the plummet to the finish together. Sure enough, I took 45s out of him to take the win. Pretty happy with that, and also a bit surprised. 2 minutes (i.e. 10%) down on the record though which is a bit more like it.

Easy round Regents Park before a day at Lords.

Reset button well and truly pressed. Easy round Hyde Park.