Training Log Archive: rcro

Event: CompassSport Cup Heat & 2017 Welsh League Event
 

Jog up to the start. It didn't take close to 20 mins.

CompassSport Cup qualifying round at Cwm Lickey. 7.9km/375m Brown. (suspect ascent may be much higher if measured correctly!)

Quite a challenging first control - I thought relatively easy to find (although many others lost huge amount here) - just really hard to thrash through and stay in right direction. In hindsight, running back through the start, and the finish and in from above would have been at least 1 min quicker.

Little hesitant going to 3 as went straight through the gorse then didn't appreciate there was a second dip - so control was hidden by ridge in front of it. Based on Ben's time, 2.5 mins lost on 6 - didn't see a reasonable way through to it due to thick bracken and grot so in the end did 3 sides of square. Overtaken by Scott here and rickyp just behind - but Scott not ascending well meant we stayed together until 12.

Despite my advice to Scott, and everyone else beforehand, that going around was much quicker than down and up, seems I was the only one who took the advice. Despite some dithering and indecision, still got 1 min back of rickyp and got well ahead of Scott by 13. Map could do with update to 14 as followed a kind of gully right around - then unsure on bracken descent to 15 - slightly off as hit the other little trench to north first.

Tired from here on - quite a physical course! Very slow but clean on 16-19, and Marcus caught up at 20. This turned out to be very useful as made 21 incredibly easy but at the time it really didn't feel like it was in the right place and too far west. Avoided lengthy time loss that everyone else had - having caught rickyp back here. Bog to the end, remembering to punch the control before the finish :-)

Team did reasonably well - only 100 points behind Bristol and that's whilst missing some of our key scoring runners. Might not be last in the final...

https://www.strava.com/activities/897493412

Collecting from area around finish. Had a good look at 136 - fine from the north (just no boulder!), but getting from there to 132 proved tricky - had to give up and go in from the big lump instead - so do think there must be something a little funny going on here.

Have finally done it - and got an activity time that is consecutive numbers in order :-) https://flow.polar.com/training/analysis/118830419...

With Ben - from Blaencwm up through the woods to Mynydd Bwllfa, around to the top of the Rhigos pass and back down the main valley.

Early parts were hindered somewhat by the OS map being hopeless - blank sheet of paper plus some guesswork would have been more helpful. Few signposts either - but did eventually find the dam.

Once on the other side, as part of the windfarm development there were several million barbed wire fences, all with signs saying "Private Land, No Public Access, 24 Hour Security Patrols" etc - which seems rather unnecessary. Of course, as respectful runners we didn't do any trespassing, nor did we go inside any turbines either as the owner/operator didn't leave the door wide open...

Ok along the pylons and past the trig but the last mile or so across to the road was pretty tough with waist deep grass hiding fairly vicious tussocks. Not a route to repeat... At least Ben was pretty happy and didn't moan about it at all ;-) In hindsight, may have been better to go back through the felled woods instead.

Fairly steady back down, tallying up burnt out cars (3 along the valley, 1 by the dam). Apart from feeling it on the last parts of the bastard climb at the start, leg was ok - but stiffened up on the drive back. These shoes haven't lasted so well - will need to replace soon as uppers now going in several places.

https://www.strava.com/activities/896022189

Got another one ticked off. But right leg still not great

MDC hills session but not enough enthusiasm for doing reps so just a run.

Became quite clear quite quickly that Tuesday's run did more harm than good - both ankles still very weak from their tussles, and right hamstring and calf tight and made steep ascending quite uncomfortable. Should stretch it more.

https://www.strava.com/activities/893825613

Heart rate giving very dodgy readings at start (spikes of 190+ whilst jogging!) so took it off until on the cycle path.

Easy paced run from home. Similar route to a few weeks ago, but turning around after 5k and coming back same way to get to a reasonable distance. Feeling quite comfortable - so built up the pace on the last hill.

https://www.strava.com/activities/892462953

Arrived early so went for unexpected half hour walk from visitor centre in the daylight and not-rain. Work "shoes" are now full of sand - should have thought about it first :-(

MDC run around north half of Kenfig. As we started late, needed to be in pub for 8, and had a long wait for "Sexy Dave" to first remove all of his clothes and then again for him to catch up with them and re-dress, was not a long run.

Very switchback and going straight up and down the sides of the dunes - sometimes near vertical - found it hard going and was regularly dropping back as detouring over all of the peaks. Shoes really lacking grip on wet grass and went over completely twice - ankle survived quite a beating though.

https://www.strava.com/activities/891373724