Training Log Archive: jed

Couldn't do nothing....got really into Commonwealth Games netball which was on.

Really pleased to be selected for European Champs, this was a major goal for the season :). Allowed myself to recover from JK stresses but now 3 quality hard weeks planned before a taper. I'm in much better shape in all ways than when I raced 2 years ago so looking to take another step forward.

C • Woooo 1

WoL loop with...

...what was meant to be 1km @10km pace but went too fast as usual, will try again.

Horrible weather.

Worth getting up.

Just an easy one after work in the rain.

Just taking this week as it comes before 10km at weekend and staring next block on Monday. Easy run with Mum from the house. Don’t know if I’m more sore from racing or go karting!

Crawling after.

JK Long, Beaudesert, 9th.
I was quite nervous about this as wanted to do better than yesterday! Another bad start (I need to somehow translate my sprint start strategy into the forest). I got quite stressed/annoyed as didn't want to be caught up straight away and it was a "sprint type" control but just couldn't make anything fit. Interestingly quite a few people had trouble here. Good start, almost 1min lost. Luckily the next one was a path run so used some range to run fast through the mud but forced myself to slow down into the control. Fine through the next few, if a little cautious, apart from poor direction out of 6 as eager to get to path. Pushed hard up the path to 9 but the last path on my route was churned mud so forced off into brashings (it seemed a bit of lottery with ground terrain actually matching map at times). Caught Chloe here so knew wasn't doing too badly. Should have taken then path to 11, this allowed Sarah to catch, focused hard here as didn't want a repeat of SHI when we were together! Worked hard on the next few but found the terrain tough going. Missed the good path route on 17, my route wasn't bad but over-ran one junction taking a gel and faffed at the end (the better route also had a better lead into control, Chloe who had got away from at 14 re caught here with better route). Caught Abi so in a pack, I felt grim up the hill but could tell others were suffering which stopped me getting frustrated, my splits through this section are good. Path route to 22 was good especially when tired. Hurting a lot up hill and slight miss on 24 but realised quicker than rest of pack. Took lead but caught behind a slow person out the green who wouldn't let me past, eventually managed but lost confidence right at end of leg. Fought hard again to lead into last control and legs completely went on run in. Then I missed the punch so had to go back and punch (run in split not showing the effort I put in, luckily didn't cost me any places!)

This is probably about as good a result as I can expect with my current terrain fitness. When I was around others it was really evident as I'd get left behind in the terrain, especially when climbing over brashings but was stronger on paths. 80+ mins is a long time when training is geared towards less than 20. I trusted myself slightly more today and was much stricter with plans even if that meant going slower. Long suits me slightly better though as I feel less rushed, worry less about mistakes and can get running. I'm in two minds about targeting one of the forest races slightly more next year when it's not a sprint year....?

JK Middle, Brereton Spurs, 15th.
Started poorly, only half a plan and rushing (30secs). Wrong route on 4 (20secs). Kept worrying about being caught. Ok through next few but then lack of plan on 8 meant I was distracted by a similar looking feature with control (which was covered by number on map, which isn't really good enough at an event of this level...) so dragged too far down the hill (1min). Wrong route on 11 so Aislinn got me in sight. 12 was a joke of a feature but good through the next few as I usually am when being chased...
Worked hard through the next few but I didn't do my own thing enough as lacked confidence, went to thicket before pit on 17 and wrong side of bush at 19. Rushed off down the hill as thought 21 was easy but ended up at fence not path. Again wrong side of bush at 23 not sticking to my own plan. Did my own thing on last few pushed hard to get back ahead slightly.

While I'm not targeting this at all, I was a little down with this performance as I know I can do better even with my current terrain fitness/forest experience. I get too frustrated not being able to run fast that I make mistakes so end up even slower! It's not a sprint so I need to slow down the process and have solid plans/attack points as controls will not jump out.