Training Log Archive: rcro

Another pretty bad evening/night/morning but did at least manage a bit of sleep and forced some food down. Didn't feel too bad before starting.

Quick start to not got held up at end of road, but then remembered lack of food/sleep and really was struggling up the hill. OKish down, but very tentative on the stiles after slipping off so many on Thursday.

Second hill was bit of a disaster - probably slowest I've done it as really dead and walking a challenge. Walked a lot of the fields at the top too.

To avoid a personal worst (which, tbh was expecting given how I've been) knew I had to do last 3k in 12 mins - which sounded pretty hard. Steady down first field but faster through second, ok on track and then pretty quick once it got muddy. Would have thought it'd be my best descent time

Last year was the muddiest it'd ever been. This year was 10x worse so doubt I could break 40 even if in good condition. Might have been able to keep Amy behind me if so but wouldn't be able to fight Ben's time (which is close to, probably ahead of, my time last year).

Good to catch up with Pete Barnes again, and that he's running well - as hadn't seen him in 6 months.

Mark Burley was "more of a miserable old git than me" as he didn't stay for prize giving/food. However, Rod Jones (organiser) was far more of a miserable arse by awarding prizes to males and female in all age categories except senior - so the first lady overall didn't even get an acknowledgement. We challenged him, and his response was to take us outside and start shouting "what races do you organise?" for us daring to disagree with him. I feel very uncomfortable in supporting any future race he may be involved in and minded to raise this with Welsh Athletics (assuming it was actually registered...) to see if they have any views on the discrimination of the ladies today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/461463173

Event: New Years Day Score
 

Had an awful night - not slept or eaten since yesterday's run. Knew this would be a disaster, and with unseasonably cold weather, mud the worst I've seen it and second run later thought wise to take at 80-90% effort. Still knackered me and way I felt after, knew it was a mistake trying to run at all today...

https://www.strava.com/activities/460600637

NYD Score at Crickley Hill. Planned as odd and even maps, but could go to them in any order, trick controls a couple of metres apart (with penalties attached), and one control which did not exist on the ground.

Started shivering uncontrollably on arrival - but this run had already been written off too.

S-46-45-47-32-43-52-50-34-36-56-55-44-51-49-54-48-37-41-33-40-38-39-42-53-31-F. Finished with 23 mins to spare.

Glad it was (very) short. No pace at all on ups and just walking was exhausting me - so the train was getting away.

Worked out that 35 was the non existent control, then took a good route around the tussocky open. Less good route through woods at the end - forgot I had already been to 52 (should have gone straight from 43-50 earlier on).

Think I finished 5th, and happy that all the people ahead were better than me. Surprised at result as speed wasn't there - must have been better route choice.

https://www.strava.com/activities/460600729

Heating on full for drive home. Stopped shivering at Raglan

Last long run with Ben before work/uni restarts.

Loop from Tintern starting SW getting properly caught up in footpaths where farmer has put up big fences and signs saying "Private" so ended up with big road loop. Better near Barbadoes in the woods but still had to guess the way down - reasonable descent though. East side of river ok as most on Tintern Trot course (paths that weren't were better described as rivers!)

Just under 5min/k back on the railway path but detoured into the tunnel to have a brief look. Finished before the rain came.

https://www.strava.com/activities/460000692

Big month of training now finished. Have made good use of the time off from work but not going to hide the fact that I've been feeling particularly "down" again for the last couple of weeks/months. Not sure its best frame of mind going into the busy season at work but surely would be even worse if spent Christmas sat around moping all day every day.

Seems I timed my trip out to the shops perfectly between two big rain showers :-) Really grotty day, hope it improves for the evening

Didn't see much point driving to Lliswerry to get wet at intervals - and even then take it easy as tomorrow's run is apparently going to be very physical.

Instead easy loop from home that gets me my distance and climb records with a day in hand.

https://www.strava.com/activities/459500617

Such a nice day that would be silly to sit inside and wait until dark for Lliswerry/MDC...

Not wanting to drive too far did a bit of "gap filling" behind Cwmbran (am trying to join up all of my GPS plots - hence Parkend and Nine Wells last week) - today sees Spytty and Hartridge linked up with Cwm Lickey and Cwmcarn :-) [didn't bother with tagging on to Abercarn]. Considering Llanbedr to Blaenavon as one (very) big gap just 3 left to get to Hay Bluff!

Not very quick. New shoes seem to have typical adidas non-grip on wet surfaces and did very well to remain upright, but had to slow down a lot at times.

Out was against the wind and back did a lot in the heather and tussocks rather than on paths. No map or compass so a little concerned that I didn't see any pylons for so long!

Just another 72m ascent to go before I hit 50km on Strava this year, and just 220m distance for this month to be the most distance I've run in a month. At the moment it's looking hopeful for both!

https://www.strava.com/activities/458673554/overvi...

Note, I must be one of the few people that appears to have lost weight over Christmas.

C • Climb 1

Not feeling 100% well again today but just about managed to motivate myself out.

Mostly flat or down but came back relatively straight up - found "Ruskin Rise" on the way.

https://www.strava.com/activities/457855825

Looking at the paperwork required to change running clubs - it Westbury's renewal fee really £50 this year?!?! Think MDC+WA affiliation, Lliswerry and transfer fee combined will still be cheaper if so!

Event: Xmas Score
 

SWOC Christmas Score at Tredegar Park and Gaer Fort.

Awake a lot of the night feeling unwell but fine this morning. Started with the park as hadn't been to it before.

Route S-29-28-23-27-22-26-24-2-25-8-21-4-3-20-19-18-17-30-9-10-13-1-12-11-16-15-7-14-6-5-F.

Park was easy but wet. Kept changing my mind about how to do the fort so took not the best route - should have gone straight for 3 and got 4 on the way back. No real trouble but slow as fast flat start had tired me, and early on was quite tussocky. Apart from that, route was fairly reasonable and tried to minimise height gain.

Local knowledge didn't help anywhere near as much as all the mowing of the bracken did, so was able to keep fairly straight. Pleased I didn't miss any.

https://www.strava.com/activities/457224512

Note - strava aerial photo is quite confusing in the park as the embankment in the photo isn't anything like in the same place as on the ground! (Google much better)

Good to see Tim Longley again. Nice soup courtesy of Mark and Alice after - many thanks!