Training Log Archive: rcro

Plan to get the harder legs done whilst I'm younger and fitter. Alas, not today.

After a longish period of relative stability, head was not in right place last night so could never get settled and switch off. Result was starting this leg - billed as being the hardest - on about 14 hours sleep this week. Legs very tight and finding Thursday's evening run a struggle - thought this would be a tough couple of hours. Had a full pack of shotbloks to give me some energy to work with.

Reasonable start and was relatively strong on the hills (but not as strong as I usually am) and was in roughly 30th place from Leckhampton Hill onwards.

Ambulance with sirens and flashing lights came up behind us on the narrow lane by Star College - *most* pulled into the side but a Chepstow guy wearing a cap refused - and held ambulance up for about 300m, with us behind all shouting at the driver to run him over.

Burned out on Crickley and started losing places from the hill fort, but got some back on climb by the Air Balloon (no wait to cross - but we appeared to have caused a massive tailback) before losing them again on the drop from car park at Birdlip.

After crossing the old main road was completely on my own with nobody in site until turning to go up Cooper's Hill to find 6 or so in front. Made no attempt to run this, or most of the hill behind it - as just trying to maintain pace to the bottom had taken everything. Did get 5 past 5 of the 6 people though, and passed at least one other who got lost somewhere after Cooper's Hill. Held it on until the end - but it wasn't fun.

Glad of wall to sit on, and water to drink, at the end. The worst I've felt after a race for some time (Fellsman excluded). Also didn't appreciate that the total climb here is about 150m more than stated (seems all strava-elevationed runs showing around 550m (and my watch's barometer got 540m) - so it's actually about same as leg 2 (itself overstated) for elevation but 1km longer. Happy that course is 300m shorter than it's supposed to be.

Will be my worst placing yet in any of the legs - and corresponds to how I felt - but the standard was very high. Guess the easier legs get the worse runners.

Reasonable team performance on the early legs - Tom 17th on 1, rickyp 4th on 2, both me (4) and Ben (5) around the high 20s/30 I think, then Matt top 10 (maybe?) on leg 6. Only an ad-hoc team but shouldn't be a bad result in the end.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1051535150

Overtook a Marcus on the drive up, and overtaken by a silver Mercedes registered P1XAR on way home.

C • good outing. 1

With Marcus and Will up the Garth and to Garth quarry. Pace nice and slow but felt harder than it should have for the speed. Hopefully will sleep better next couple of nights and be able to stretch out the legs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1049367679

Event: Cardiff Park Series 4
 

Maybe the last day of summer... Garage called up at 3.10 so had to run to catch the 3.45 train back... whose air conditioning wasn't working... then walk 2 miles in blistering heat to Spytty to hand over a lot of money. At least the traffic was pretty clear today.

Not much energy to run and, to be honest, wasn't enjoying it much because of heat and tiredness. The fun stopped once turning to head back into the park and remainder was just trying to hold on. Lost a bit of time looking for 11 - then saw it but couldn't get to it through green. Pleased to reach the finish!

Fingers crossed there'll be some cold and rain to moan about tomorrow :-)

https://www.strava.com/activities/1047729606

MDC run around the Pontneddfechan waterfalls. Very very hot and quite a lot of water stops to submerge and cool off.

Running the route better than last time - whilst being very careful with the constant trip hazards on all the paths. Unfortunately shoes not doing wet rock at all and jarred neck trying to avoid drowning when sliding at last stream crossing, and slimy rocks gave way beneath me when standing still going into water the last time and think have sprained a thumb and pulled something in shoulder - both now hurting quite a lot.

At least wasn't too far out from the finish, and the slow pace and swimming stops made the run fun and heat bearable.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1046233587

Helping Ben recce most of his leg of CWR and delivering Anders' race number in Ebley.

Didn't do actual route as would take too much time moving cars and as running in trainers could just take the road up to Edge and follow the route from there.

Incredibly hot - didn't feel hotter than yesterday (but it was!) but complete lack of any breeze made it quite unbearable at times. Hopefully it will cool down next week (but suppose it would be quite fun if the heat stays on Snowdonia ;-) )

Legs pretty tired from pounding hard surfaces but nice to get out and enjoy the views at a sociable pace.