Training Log Archive: AlistairH

STAG Glasgow Parks Challenge 3 race event...

First up: Bellahouston Park. Bit of a X-country running course. Only real error about 5s going 5 to 6 - I'd been planning to go round to the right but was distracted by another runner who went into the walled area which left me standing still for a few seconds while I checked what I was doing.

Tollcross Park - quite clean. Surprised to find I had the same first 3 controls as the Vets course and ran first few legs just behind JonX. 3-4 went a bit left of line to avoid some grot but it looks like going further left still and sticking to the paths was quicker. I'll be interested to see from Routegadget if anyone went straight.

Chasing Start at Drumpellier. Lots of fast people at the front then a gap to 4 consecutive ESOC runners... AndrewD had 90s or so and disappeared into the distance. AndrewL and CraigN were 14s and just over 14s behind so I figured I needed to stay accurate to keep ahead. Kept the gap level-ish for the first 3 controls which I got spot on but then went astray on 4 - strayed left of bearing. Should have taken the safer option of attacking from the path bend rather than trying to go the whole way straight. Ended up behind but caught Andrew and Craig up over the next couple of controls and ran with them to 10. At 10 I figured I was going to get outrun at the finish and detoured left to see if the road route was quicker... but when I got to the road it was raised and sounded busy so I assumed I couldn't run on it and basically ended up throwing 20s away. Should either have done the obvious and gone straight or followed through my plan and gone up to the road.

Pretty happy with that - my speed is definitely picking up. Achilles doesn't feel too bad.

5' @ 11.5 kph, 20' @ 12.5 kph

ESOC Circuits + misc. Program changed a bit. Took it easy (e.g. skipped shuttle runs) as still tired enough from yesterday I could hurt something fairly easily.

Back to Meadows intervals for the first time in a very, very long time. Almost no achilles pain - a little bit at the beginning of the 5th interval - delighted - getting back to a condition where I can do this has been a long term goal. Didn't push it flat out... I'll build up to that.

Just over 4' for the first four, just under for the last one. Way slower than I used to be but don't really care. If I can do this regularly I'll speed up quickly.

Easy again.