Training Log Archive: Anwen

Spa day and hot stone massage with emily and vanessa :) perfect rest day :D

Event: 3 Peaks Race
 

Yorkshire 3 peaks!!!

Wet, cold, windy on the tops, hailing on Ingleborough.. lovely day for a long race no?

Had a bit of a game plan, aimed for 4hr 15 and wrote down the 4h and 4.30hr splits for reference. Took it super steady up Pen y Ghent, got a little carried away on the descent then back to being a bit more conservative on the way to Ribblehead.

Still feeling strong at Ribblehead, 18km in, and thought I could start trying to push a bit up Whernside.

That was tough. Super boggy, lost my legs a few times and with the mist right down and having never been up that way there was no way I knew how much further or higher was to go. Put my head down and pushed up, past a few of the ladies in front which was a huge confidence boost and although my legs were burning I was still feeling quite good. Reached a sudden sharp increase in steepness and a marshal shouting that the 'top' as a blind summit but the next was the top, fab :) scrambled up, everything soaking by now so no use trying to keep gloves dry and came onto the ridge with the hugest smile on my face!!

Loved the descent :) my idea of fell running heaven :) rocky, muddy and steep! Great technical descent and picking up more places nicely, feeling good, feeling super keen and thinking just one hill left.. watching the clock thinking that maybe just maybe I would get 4hrs.. about 4mins off at Whernside..

Feeling good still in Chapel-le-Dale and took it steady through the fields to Ingleborough :) and met some friendly faces (incl. rfr :)) which was a massive boost! As we started going up started to get a bit stuck behind a few trains of runners, I wanted to go a bit faster but a) narrow on the slabs and extra effort to run through the bog instead and b) part of me worried if I tried too hard here I'd never get back (waiting for my legs to give up, usually around the 3hr mark!!).

Made a few runs to get past but once on the really steep rocky bit just sat behind the guy in front and stayed steady, legs definitely starting to tire.. and weather getting wetter, windier and colder! Hailing at the top of Ingleborough and hands and legs numb but so pleased to be finally on the home straight.

Although quite a long home straight..!! At the top 3hr 25 and knew to get 4hrs would have to really hammer it down the final 8ish km. 'Threw' myself down, and going well until it flattened up and the limestone pavement part turned up. Completely lost my rhythm, legs suddenly decided they'd had enough and really struggled through the mud. Struggled along the muddy, rocky path before finally coming over the last edge and could see the finish field. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

Running with a guy I'd been with since before Ingleborough and glad he was there, kept me going to the end and we even tried a sprint finish! Crossed the line then wobbled over to the finish box and into the tent. Shattered.

Loved it :) paced it as well as I think I could have done :) just have to go back now to break 4hrs!! 14th lady and 1st FU25 I think which I was pretty happy with :) buzzing all day and all today (sunday) :D

The support out on the course was incredible, from those I did know and those who had just gone out to support and hand out jelly babies, especially given the conditions. Absolutely awesome race to do and fantastic atmosphere :)

C • well done. 4

Really easy round the park.. super excited :D

Home from work with a rucksack via the knavesmire, brain frazzled but legs feeling pretty much back to pre-holiday state :) just in time! :D

Pre-exam really easy run!

To/from the knavesmire with cassie really easy pace

Harriers mile loop x2, going better than last week :) only two though!