Training Log Archive: murraystraining

Edale Skyline - English Champs #1.

Steady start, felt pretty tired on the climbs. Legs woke up after 8km and I put a bit of a surge on to get to front of the 2nd pack, then hit a dead end in some mushroom rocks and had to double back and join the back of the train. Moved through again and started pushing quite hard on the flagstones, pulling Jack Wood off the front of the train. I could see Carl Bell and Chris Holdsworth had dropped Si Bailey so wanted to try and get up to him. Despite some pretty speedy running the gap stayed pretty fixed.

At some point Jack popped but a couple of other guys (Pudsey + Calder Valley) caught up - think I was a bit slow on the uphills again. I was in 4th, but only just, at the road crossing above Hope.

I didn't have much to give on the steep climb up Win Hill from there, and predictably enough Coombs came past, along with CV and PB. Classic Coombs long race tactics. I took my first gel once we got on the plateau and sat back to watch Coimbra and the others cruise away - even on the downhill I didn't have much leg turnover.

Which was fine until we started the final long gradual climb. Up ahead Coombs had caught CV and was closing in on Si. I was still together with PB and realised all was not lost - Carl and Chris were long gone but the fight for 3rd was within sight. After all, 34k is a long way, and the last 5 is when things can get interesting! So, armed with a new positive attitude, I set out to work my way through. The PB guy stuck pretty tight to my heels but we eventually got through CV and up to Si, who Coombs had made easy work of a few minutes earlier.

From there to the finish it was a battle between cramp and pace. A slight hesitation from Coombs when he couldn't see the Marshall's standing on the next spur in the high viz jackets allowed us to close the gap and then some mincing down the hill let me past and fortunately when I fell and skidded down the finish field I didn't lose much speed and was able to hold on for 3rd.

Not a bad race but I have to say the Pentlands is still my preferred Skyline - a more natural and interesting route. Edale is pleasant though.

I wasn't sure what my in race nutrition strategy was - I'm on a low sugar diet atm and wasn't sure I needed to use gels as I thought I might be fat adapted. But I'm having to doubt that since I had my strongest patch about 20mins after taking my only gel! Something to think about before PPP.

Wife did good too.

C • sugar 6

Grantchester then gel hunting in town. A couple of tourists about.

Lap of Cambridge airport. Not the busiest airplane station in the world.

Out to the uni campus for 12x500m with Coombs. Back via the Free Press.

Gentle trot into work from the in laws.

Parli hill track session.
2*8 mins out and back on the heath
4*1000 off 200 jog (3:08,00,00,2:59)
4*50s hill reps.
Not sure how distance got so high, but that's what the watch says!

Hopefully a more normal week commuting-wise. I want to run all the way home from work, but it's fifty miles on the shortest route so probably can't manage it in a one'er. So this was stage 1, from the city to Tottenham Hale, then on to the big blue Swedish furniture shop.