Training Log Archive: Merc

Forest Hill loop, moving better, going downhill still tough though! Was a bit hungry and so found run over the top of Shotover a bit of a struggle

Holiday soon!

Steady run with race round OXSRAD. Legs still sore but moving much better so things are headed in the right direction at least!

Mountain biking in High Wycombe - there are some great trails in the woods near (ish) to the hospital including some exciting jumps and stuff (not that I was doing much jumping..) Had sussed out some good routes when I was running the other week so was good to check them out on a bike. Legs worse than yesterday (hopefully the 7 floors of High Wycombe hospital have helped though!) so cycling was the best option for today.

Man running was hard today - Rach left me for dead. Upped the pace for a stride towards the end of the run as my legs actually felt better running fast. Got a funny comment from a passing cyclist.... (American accent) "you guys are just making everyone look bad!".... she should have seen me 10 mins earlier!!

Lake District Mountain Trial

Felt really rough last night, barely slept and had numerous trips to the toilet with a dodgy tummy. Wasn't feeling much better when I got up and couldn't stomach any breakfast. Not sure what was going on, I'd eaten pretty much the same food as Matt all weekend. Planned to start the trial and if I didn't feel up to it just go up and spectate.

Felt better once we got to the event and had a banana. Once I got running things were OK, and I caught Rhys 2 mins on the way to the first control. I was feeling relaxed, tummy was fine and legs ok. We took different routes to the second control (I went over, he went round), I think mine was better, I walked up the hill though it wasn't too steep, eating an energy bar and could see Rhys a little way behind climbing up to the control as I descended to the tarn.

Number 3 was another good one, felt relaxed and that I was moving well over high street and kept passing runners on the way down to the control. Turning around to retrace my steps I still felt good and could tell I was up on Rhys by maybe 3 mins and that I was probably a bit up on Hector too. However, things started to go downhill at this point... I chose a route that took me back over high street and the long way round to approach the 4th control down the ridge rather than take on the massive climb up to the control if taking the straight route. This was a mistake. My route was actually no less climb really and significantly longer. I thought I was running well on the flat and that I should play to my strengths but instead I just wore myself out and managed to lose an energy bar. In fact, I didn't lose too much time on this leg but I think the damage was done, Rhys was not far ahead but I couldn't make up the ground. At this point I realised I needed to concentrate on finishing the distance, especially as I potentially could find myself low on food.

Number 6 was another route choice error. I climbed straight out of 5 and then instead of going round I went straight down into the valley and straight up the other side. I think having done that first climb I should have gone round rather than waste all that height - if I was going to go straight(ish) then running around the first hill was the obvious thing to do.

All in all I'm a bit disappointed to have lost ~20-25min in the second half of the course. Perhaps I started too hard but I think it was more route choice errors that cost me, not just physically but mentally as I felt like I'd blown it and definitely somewhat gave up psychologically. Lessons to be learnt for sure.

Thanks to the organisers for putting on a cracking event - I'm sure I'll be back!

Few laps of the lake with Matt - we'd brought our bikes up to the Lakes just in case and the weather was so good it would have been rude to miss out taking them for a spin.
Legs were feeling pretty light and calf much better

Jolly up Loughrigg with Rhys and Matt. Great to be out running the Lakes - Rhys is a lucky boy! Not so lucky when he faceplanted into a bog but I think he saw the funny side..
Calf still a bit sore but I think wearing the support all day yesterday (or maybe just not doing any training) probably helped.
Wandered round and Ambleside buying stuff for tomorrow and had a pint of tea at Bilbo's

Easy run from SMH, bit too much on roads which was an error - calf still quite sore.

Cycled back from Aylesbury the interesting way - up an over some of the foothills of the Chilterns and over Brill. Feeling quite good and moving well. Forgot cycling top so was without pockets, had the map down one leg of the bib shorts and mobile down the other. Reckoned I could live without my wallet for one night, laptop was a definite no no.

Hilly ride out from SMH - calf really tight so trying to give running a bit of a rest

Cycled into Stoke Madeville Hospital in Aylesbury - maybe a bit of a reckless decision as the bag with laptop/clothes/textbooks/shoes in made my back pretty sore! Also don't have any casual clothes for the week now...nevermind! Nice misty morning and a good route out through the villages of Buckinghamshire. Legs a bit tired towards the end but then I was getting hungry

Steady run from SMH - ran out over some fields in the general direction I did yesterday, got a bit lost and confused though - too many hedges, stiles and frisky cows... legs so sore from the 10k today, was a real effort just to keep running. Was feeling pretty tired by the end too and had a cheeky walk back through an Aylesbury suburb before I worked out the round to the hospital by checking the maps at bus stops. Classy.

Time to start using Attack point again...

C • Good 1

Easy run from Stoke Mandeville

Shotover - Green route. Met Osler men's football team out on some pre-season training in the rain - dedication!

Headington 10k - 5th
Worminghall disused airfield. Legs a bit tired and sore from last night's 3000m but I was keen to do this race so tried not to think about that. Didn't feel too bad on the warm up. Set off steady letting a guy from Woodstock nail it off the front ("he's wearing baggy shorts! he must come back to us"...false) and tucked in feeling really easy for the first few km. Felt like I was hardly breathing but about 4km in on a downhill stretch started to get some aches in my legs, it got harder and harder to keep the pace up and, although I pushed on well on the inclines, the speed was no longer there. Legs really cramped in the last few km and I unfortunately lost a couple of places. Disappointed the time wasn't a bit quicker but when you race the night before I don't think you can expect much!

Oz took 4th and Matt H about 7th I think.

Easy Spin with Nick round Shotover on the mountain bike. Was going well until Nick snapped the rear mech hanger on his cross bike - long walk home

Jo Smith Cup - 3000m 8.52.94 9th

Not feeling on top form tonight which was annoying because I'd done some easy running the last couple of days and had felt awesome. Tried to stick in but the group set off fast (32 first 200m) then really slowed (38 second 200m) then the guys I was with did a 75 second lap. After that a lad from Enfield took it on and we started running ~70s, I felt pretty comfortable but really lacked the pace to pick things up at the end, last year I could put in a strong kick at the end (last lap of PB race was a 65) but that speed just isn't there this year.

Not too disappointed though, I'm not in bad shape and these races at the end of the year are more just for fun. Planning a "training to train" phase over the next few weeks when I plan just to do miles and a bit of fartlek/tempo running. Time to get back into the habit of strength and conditioning training too.