Training Log Archive: rcro

Event: Forest Fawr local event with coaching
 

SWOC local at Castell Coch. 6.6km straight line distance.

Never really got going today and very slow in terrain. Time loss in 2 as Clare was there to distract. Further loss on 5 as map suggests it was lower than 4, but was actually quite a bit higher. As with everything today, control on the right feature but map showed it in the wrong place.

Right around top on the long leg. Found lot of brambles 8-9 and not doing well finding paths at 10. Definite "Harlequins" style mapping of undergrowth around 16-18.

Shoes are getting a bit past it. Lacking grip.

https://www.strava.com/activities/799403165

Think my theory on the watch times in Strava is correct.

Jog down to cafe waiting for courses to close.

https://www.strava.com/activities/799463971

Collecting controls and then searching for dropped SI box.

Wasn't planning on going hard today as still not feeling great, and still got Thursday in my legs. Lasted until first corner and then I went as hard as ever.

Cinder path (600m or so per lap?) very slippery and struggled for any traction in trainers - was surprised, but pleased, that we're still on the summer course as far more fun, especially when wet.

Had a woman sat on my shoulder all the way from that first corner until 3.5k mark when she didn't want to be splashed when I went straight through the puddles rather than around - had done enough extra distance and grass overtaking slower people already.

Looks to have been fairly consistent run, and happy with time given the conditions.

https://www.strava.com/activities/798283701

Up and down parking track a few times to get some warmth stored up in my cag.

WNL at Blakeney Hill. Some typical Creberisms with control in middle of white wood (description "tree") and lots of references to bears in the details. Was expecting (or hoping?) to find a stuffed toy giant panda or something at one control but alas was disappointed.

Very, very wet. Ran in cag and to be honest might have preferred better waterproof.

S-42-59-43-44-52-57-60-46-47-48-50-49-34-45-31-58-33-32-35-36-53-56-F. 700 points, less 61 penalty.

Lacking motivation tonight (was it raining?). Decided route based wholly on where the most interesting control was - and that (57 - described above) was NW. Got 42 without looking at map at all as had detailed commentary from Andy for the previous person going to it. My route crossed the stream where it was quite a drop down the bank, and water deep - not great.

Hesitant on 43. Direct 44-52 not good as thinning work. Path to E would have been best - could only know with hindsight. Found some extraction diggers going my way though :-)

Saw the lights on tree long before getting to 57. Impressive. Rachel Potter clearly not expecting it as wasn't looking in the right place. Speed on rest of Staple Edge pretty slow. Either I'm just bad in "terrain" or gravity is stronger here as I always feel like I'm treading water on this side of the bank.

Started going straight 34-45 but backed out and returned to track. 31-58 seemed hard going. Hesitant into 33 but hit 32 well.

Plan was to head back from here, but with weak penalty in relation to points available, best option would be to continue and clear map and take the time hit. From safety perspective, didn't want to be last out so decided on detour 35/36/53 that would give me an extra 9 mins versus via 51. Good in theory, but 1.5-2 min loss on 35 (bank is very weak, if it exists), lucky guess on 36, and then fighting crap and taking wrong turn into 53 (1.5 min) took away a lot of the benefit.

Always nice to get out to night-o in good forest.

https://www.strava.com/activities/798923100

Note that Strava seems to have added some minutes onto my total time. First run since updating the watch firmware earlier today so guess that it's now time-stamping when I save down the activity into the GPX rather than taking the time of final "pause". OK on Polar site. Sure somebody will complain if so and "emergency fix" may follow in next week...

Had to do something after missing out on yesterday and hills today. Only decided to do actual efforts about 3 mins into run, having intended easy undulating - as went east did 8x Dewsland Park Road (400m, 40m climb). Jog recovery.

Pace quite inconsistent which is no surprise as was eating a pasty in Manchester less than 3.5 hours earlier.
2:06, 2:01, 2:11, 2:04, 2:08, 2:05, 2:09, 2:10.
Effort was quite high, and lots of pedestrians about.

Jog warm down via Bridge Street (it was just "Street" up until end of last week...) but had a good run up to the hill so pushed hard and ended up with a new KOM I'd never had before.

Quite a hard session - especially doing it on my own. Lliswerry never seem to do more than 7 reps on Dewsland Park.

https://www.strava.com/activities/797231003/overvi...

Weight still creeping back to what it was - but this is after eating a huge amount yesterday and for breakfast this morning.

York with work. Clearly i need to get used to drinking more as alcohol thr only way to make the evening pass quickly

MDC run up Garth from Taffs Well. Struggling with the steady group. Slow except for one segment where I tried to improve my PB - ended up 1s down on the KOM.

Definitely not recovered yet from weekend. Was getting a bit cold on top so had to put jacket on. Went very funny when back at HQ and wasn't really with it at all for 20 mins or so. Hope will be better in next few days.

https://www.strava.com/activities/795393341