Training Log Archive: AC

Nationale NE orienteering race, near Dole in the Bourgogne region. This was a much better race than yesterday, although I am still way out of shape to be able to race this properly. No errors except for a small time loss (20-30 secs at the second last control) and ran (or at least jogged) for a large part of the course. Nicer forest than yesterday with less brambles impeding running, but the course was not particularly imaginative or challenging. Satisfying result to be 12th out of some 60 runners in H55, around 10 mins down on the winner and only 5 mins off 3rd place. A glimmer of light there ...

C • good result 1

Middle distance race, near Dole. First race in over a year and it really felt like it. Quickly became obvious that I need to be in much better shape if I want to run and enjoy these races. Doing a middle distance race on a very technical and physical (steep and lots of ankle and shin-high brambles) area was probably not the smartest choice. A long climb to the first control meant that I was walking within minutes of starting. Then a series of controls in very technical undulating terrain, which I tried to take slowly and carefully but failed. Missed a couple of these and went in circles. Literally in circles at one stage when I went from 6 to 7 only to find myself lost and back at 6! Got it the second time okay though :-). Just didn't have the strength in the legs for the hills and vegetation and then my back started to play up after 30 mins or so. Walked a lot. But it is still nice to be back in the forest though there is a long way to go. Lots of stretching this evening and have a crack at the long distance race tomorrow in the same area but staying out of the more technical stuff.

C • nice 1

Took advantage of a quieter day at work to sneak out for a long lunch and head to a local forest for a terrain run. This forest used to have some very pleasant and runnable parts to it, plus some typical continental grungy green stuff However, they have had quite some forest operations in the couple of years since I have been there and it is now full of thinnings and brashings. There were still a couple of small pockets of nice runnable forest, but it was mostly crappy running. But I figured it was good for training purposes and so I just jogged around a random course that I made up on the run. Felt okay, although back started to ache towards the end. It will be a tough couple of races over the weekend!

Snuck out to enjoy the sun with a lunchtime ride around Hippodrome Longchamp. Nice and sunny, but quite a headwind going up the "hill". Was a bit overdressed as I didn't really trust the weather report - it wound up being around 17 deg, which made the winter cycling gloves a bit too hot. But worked out okay.

Sunny lunchtime run. Both knees sore and not particularly enjoyable.