Training Log Archive: rcroIn the 7 days ending Oct 29, 2018:
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Monday Oct 29, 2018 #
7 PM
Running 28:26 [3] 6.29 km (4:31 / km) +95m 4:12 / km
slept:7.0 shoes: Mizuno Wave Rider 22 Yellow
Short easy run from home. Seemed to be going quite well given the weekend so steadily picked the pace up. Still going well uphill so put in more effort up the steep part of Glasllwch and then onto the top of the Ridgeway. Probably one of my best Newport street run performances. Only concern being the unlit path off the ridgeway having two sets of steps and having to feel for them and progress gingerly.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1934532049
Photos from the weekend are now up - and they are quite good. However, they are charging £7.95 each... I might have paid £30 for the full set, but if I buy any now my budget is likely to be fixed at £15.90. Given their costs don't change whether I buy or not - all they've done with their greedy pricing is throw away an extra £14 profit...
https://www.strava.com/activities/1934532049
Photos from the weekend are now up - and they are quite good. However, they are charging £7.95 each... I might have paid £30 for the full set, but if I buy any now my budget is likely to be fixed at £15.90. Given their costs don't change whether I buy or not - all they've done with their greedy pricing is throw away an extra £14 profit...
Sunday Oct 28, 2018 #
7 AM
Running - off road race (OMM Day 2) 3:35:31 [5] 24.66 km (8:44 / km) +950m 7:20 / km
slept:0.5 weight:73.2kg shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Blk/Gn2
As per conditions - terrible night's sleep. On the plus side, breakfast was filling, and we timed packing up the tent and visiting the toilets (thanks to everyone who let us queue jump!) just in time to get to the start with a minute to spare. Very pleased to be in the chasing start at the beginning rather than having to sit around an extra 2 hours for our allocated start!
CP1 was the top of Lord Hereford's Knob so just put the map away and ran there around the paths. Ben a bit more keen to run than me so found the pace hard work - it's a lot of climb! Caught Matthew and James at the Gospel Path (3 mins of the 10 we needed to overtake), but at the same time was caught by 4th place (having closed half of the 6 mins they needed - and going strong).
After Gospel Pass was the first of the brackeny/gorsey sections with no clear path, and would have tracked up well for later runners. We went with Matthew/James along a lower line and the other team made a bit of a mess of going high - we got to the checkpoint the other side all together, seeing Paul's team (6 mins ahead of us starting) going up the hill in front - us all having caught time on them.
Climb out from 2 was really hard for me. About 4 miles in and had done a lot of running, but no eating, so energy must have run down. Difficult slog and once up the top was in tussock so a struggle for ankle. The other teams got away a bit, but we reclosed by the checkpoint to be <30s behind.
Then first disaster of the day as the main zip on Ben's rucksack broke so became unable to do up. This wasn't repearable in the field so we had to tie bits of elastic together (with definite success) to hold it together so we could continue but the time loss was massive - 11 minutes! Two more teams passed through in this time; one conveniently being consecutively numbered to ours [262 v 261], and caught 6 mins on us, other was first female. The stoppage also gave me time to drink and eat a lot and regain some strength.
Once going again (it was rough!), quickly overhauled the ladies and stopped in the right place to find 4. Not an easy site to find from the map so can imagine a lot of time losses here. Our splits include the hold up so are placed 125th - but suspect we were top 3 in practice.
Came up too early on 5 - tussocky and unpleasant so probably a good thing. Not nice from path to checkpoint. Then back on the path down to trig and in for 6, team 262 following and catching. 6 being a really evil control site - about 200m from the ridge path, about 200m change in height... tough descending. Matthew/James coming out as we were half way down, and the team that overtook us at 2 a minute of so ahead - so somehow we'd gained back 6 mins or so. Game on... Fortunately, we climbed quite well (as did 262) and able to get a move on to 7, overlooking Llanthony Priory and by then right on Matthew's tail again.
Next disaster came quickly, with some "after market" elastic on my bag snapping in the wind and stuff going flying. 3.5 mins spent catching, repacking, and re-tieing before we could go again. 3rd place unreachable now. Still, on a mission to at least catch Matthew again and did so at CP8 (just before Longtown turning), and all together going up to Hatterall cairn, 262 now following 200 yards behind). Alas - the one navigation mistake of the weekend! Ben stopped in the right place but it didn't "feel" right and we all carried on 250 yards before changing our minds, letting 262 catch up as we went back. Cairn much smaller than we expected!
Lastly the fun section down the really steep slope in unspoiled head deep bracken - all 3 teams going in procession at the same pace, forging a way through. Must have been a lovely motorway the end as none of the quick times came from the leaders! Little bit of confusion as to where path went and if the field was in or out of bounds, so we took the path around (with Matthew/James behind) and lost a bit of time on 262. All bunched together at 11 as none of us were really looking at the map closely and expected it to turn up much sooner! Then nice downhill run into the finish :-)
5th today, 4th overall. Take out the 14 mins of stoppage for kit problems and it would have been 2nd and 2nd! But you never know... if the teams we were with at 3 messed up 4, they'd have found it more quickly with us, if I didn't take advantage of the long stop for fuelling I could have been slower, if we and Matthew/James (and 262) weren't encouraging each other to keep pushing we may have all slowed a lot in the final phase. 4th isn't bad for a first time MM?
Big thanks to Ben for sorting out all of the logistics, and camping, and keeping me going for the two days - definitely glad to have done it and enjoyed most of the running parts. Overall, very well organised and most impressed with the amount of toilets and how they were being continually cleaned and re-stocked. Lots of other races should take note!
Only disappointment was the lack of real navigation required (yes, some people managed to get lost, and we know the area very well). Can't say I would ever want to do a longer class though!
Route https://www.strava.com/activities/1931933162
Splits http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2018/OMM/stage...
Really nice to have a clear run down the lane and be home by 12.20. But, sitting here now keep thinking it must be 10.30-11 by now - yet it's only 6.30... (bit like last night actually!) - may be glad of the day off work tomorrow!!
CP1 was the top of Lord Hereford's Knob so just put the map away and ran there around the paths. Ben a bit more keen to run than me so found the pace hard work - it's a lot of climb! Caught Matthew and James at the Gospel Path (3 mins of the 10 we needed to overtake), but at the same time was caught by 4th place (having closed half of the 6 mins they needed - and going strong).
After Gospel Pass was the first of the brackeny/gorsey sections with no clear path, and would have tracked up well for later runners. We went with Matthew/James along a lower line and the other team made a bit of a mess of going high - we got to the checkpoint the other side all together, seeing Paul's team (6 mins ahead of us starting) going up the hill in front - us all having caught time on them.
Climb out from 2 was really hard for me. About 4 miles in and had done a lot of running, but no eating, so energy must have run down. Difficult slog and once up the top was in tussock so a struggle for ankle. The other teams got away a bit, but we reclosed by the checkpoint to be <30s behind.
Then first disaster of the day as the main zip on Ben's rucksack broke so became unable to do up. This wasn't repearable in the field so we had to tie bits of elastic together (with definite success) to hold it together so we could continue but the time loss was massive - 11 minutes! Two more teams passed through in this time; one conveniently being consecutively numbered to ours [262 v 261], and caught 6 mins on us, other was first female. The stoppage also gave me time to drink and eat a lot and regain some strength.
Once going again (it was rough!), quickly overhauled the ladies and stopped in the right place to find 4. Not an easy site to find from the map so can imagine a lot of time losses here. Our splits include the hold up so are placed 125th - but suspect we were top 3 in practice.
Came up too early on 5 - tussocky and unpleasant so probably a good thing. Not nice from path to checkpoint. Then back on the path down to trig and in for 6, team 262 following and catching. 6 being a really evil control site - about 200m from the ridge path, about 200m change in height... tough descending. Matthew/James coming out as we were half way down, and the team that overtook us at 2 a minute of so ahead - so somehow we'd gained back 6 mins or so. Game on... Fortunately, we climbed quite well (as did 262) and able to get a move on to 7, overlooking Llanthony Priory and by then right on Matthew's tail again.
Next disaster came quickly, with some "after market" elastic on my bag snapping in the wind and stuff going flying. 3.5 mins spent catching, repacking, and re-tieing before we could go again. 3rd place unreachable now. Still, on a mission to at least catch Matthew again and did so at CP8 (just before Longtown turning), and all together going up to Hatterall cairn, 262 now following 200 yards behind). Alas - the one navigation mistake of the weekend! Ben stopped in the right place but it didn't "feel" right and we all carried on 250 yards before changing our minds, letting 262 catch up as we went back. Cairn much smaller than we expected!
Lastly the fun section down the really steep slope in unspoiled head deep bracken - all 3 teams going in procession at the same pace, forging a way through. Must have been a lovely motorway the end as none of the quick times came from the leaders! Little bit of confusion as to where path went and if the field was in or out of bounds, so we took the path around (with Matthew/James behind) and lost a bit of time on 262. All bunched together at 11 as none of us were really looking at the map closely and expected it to turn up much sooner! Then nice downhill run into the finish :-)
5th today, 4th overall. Take out the 14 mins of stoppage for kit problems and it would have been 2nd and 2nd! But you never know... if the teams we were with at 3 messed up 4, they'd have found it more quickly with us, if I didn't take advantage of the long stop for fuelling I could have been slower, if we and Matthew/James (and 262) weren't encouraging each other to keep pushing we may have all slowed a lot in the final phase. 4th isn't bad for a first time MM?
Big thanks to Ben for sorting out all of the logistics, and camping, and keeping me going for the two days - definitely glad to have done it and enjoyed most of the running parts. Overall, very well organised and most impressed with the amount of toilets and how they were being continually cleaned and re-stocked. Lots of other races should take note!
Only disappointment was the lack of real navigation required (yes, some people managed to get lost, and we know the area very well). Can't say I would ever want to do a longer class though!
Route https://www.strava.com/activities/1931933162
Splits http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2018/OMM/stage...
Really nice to have a clear run down the lane and be home by 12.20. But, sitting here now keep thinking it must be 10.30-11 by now - yet it's only 6.30... (bit like last night actually!) - may be glad of the day off work tomorrow!!
Saturday Oct 27, 2018 #
Event: The OMM
9 AM
Running - off road race (OMM Day 1) 4:27:40 [5] 26.58 km (10:04 / km) +1560m 7:47 / km
slept:3.5 weight:73.2kg shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Blk/Gn2
OMM Course B with Ben - first mountain marathon for either of us. Pretty cold - wearing 4 layers (including waterproof) from start to end. Hat and mittens on for most of the time too.
Once knew the route to start, knew campsite would be further up the same valley so the route wasn't a huge surprise. Had been expecting a few longer legs to require some route choice or navigation but it was all straight forward.
Easy start, overtaking, and got a load more up the hill to Bal Mawr - probably going a bit too fast. Navigating to 3 was trivial as it was just where 10,000 people were standing. Then we opted to head down and take the path around to 4 rather than through the bracken - and splits suggest we were quite slow (it did involve stopping for shoe laces).
5 was next to the top of PYGF so just took the reverse of the race route. Steep descent to the bottom was not fun - seems people were going faster on the other side of the fence. But as we knew the way up, crossed the stream in a different place and overtook a load. Most people then followed the forest edge to the top - which was pretty steep, we were faster going up the trod and around. Descent the other side was steep and uncomfortable - but again so many people milling around it was easy to find.
Going was good around Twyn Du forest - but was overtaken by Paul Horsfall - the only team we saw of the day going faster than us. Climb out from the stream up towards the Col was a lot lot longer than I expected - but managed some jogging along the track. It's about here that the snow started, and by the Col was a complete white out blizzard. Feel for the marshal here - he had a clipboard but didn't see any tent.
Went straight 7-8 rather than contour around, which wasn't hugely fun but was the fastest route for us. Had to stop for Ben to add layers. Descent was really horrid with no grip in the snow, lots of rocks, and incredibly steep. The way out the other side wasn't much fun either! (165m in very short distance).
9 was another not very fun control - down another ridiculously steep re-entrant to just turn around and head back up again. Very hard work getting out and ankle didn't like contouring or going in. 10 pretty much straight forward, as was 11 - where we went straight, found an overtook Emma, and got 2nd fastest time on the leg!
Just routine to get to campsite from here - went around but still ended up wrong side of a steep stream. Managed a reasonably strong finish.
It wasn't an outstanding run by any stretch - so both amazed to be 3rd on the results. But the shine was rubbed off a bit when we saw the other team to beat us also had NGOC representation (as well as MDC) too.
Route https://www.strava.com/activities/1931921275
Splits http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2018/OMM/stage...
Camp site was quite nice - but very cold and windy. Added an extra two layers to what I ran in (one being a down jacket). Despite this and in the sleeping bag, wind went right through me and was pretty cold - most of the warmth coming from Ben. Had to get an emergency mars bar out in the night for energy (this in addition to my actual "emergency" food). It was a very long and unpleasant night.
Once knew the route to start, knew campsite would be further up the same valley so the route wasn't a huge surprise. Had been expecting a few longer legs to require some route choice or navigation but it was all straight forward.
Easy start, overtaking, and got a load more up the hill to Bal Mawr - probably going a bit too fast. Navigating to 3 was trivial as it was just where 10,000 people were standing. Then we opted to head down and take the path around to 4 rather than through the bracken - and splits suggest we were quite slow (it did involve stopping for shoe laces).
5 was next to the top of PYGF so just took the reverse of the race route. Steep descent to the bottom was not fun - seems people were going faster on the other side of the fence. But as we knew the way up, crossed the stream in a different place and overtook a load. Most people then followed the forest edge to the top - which was pretty steep, we were faster going up the trod and around. Descent the other side was steep and uncomfortable - but again so many people milling around it was easy to find.
Going was good around Twyn Du forest - but was overtaken by Paul Horsfall - the only team we saw of the day going faster than us. Climb out from the stream up towards the Col was a lot lot longer than I expected - but managed some jogging along the track. It's about here that the snow started, and by the Col was a complete white out blizzard. Feel for the marshal here - he had a clipboard but didn't see any tent.
Went straight 7-8 rather than contour around, which wasn't hugely fun but was the fastest route for us. Had to stop for Ben to add layers. Descent was really horrid with no grip in the snow, lots of rocks, and incredibly steep. The way out the other side wasn't much fun either! (165m in very short distance).
9 was another not very fun control - down another ridiculously steep re-entrant to just turn around and head back up again. Very hard work getting out and ankle didn't like contouring or going in. 10 pretty much straight forward, as was 11 - where we went straight, found an overtook Emma, and got 2nd fastest time on the leg!
Just routine to get to campsite from here - went around but still ended up wrong side of a steep stream. Managed a reasonably strong finish.
It wasn't an outstanding run by any stretch - so both amazed to be 3rd on the results. But the shine was rubbed off a bit when we saw the other team to beat us also had NGOC representation (as well as MDC) too.
Route https://www.strava.com/activities/1931921275
Splits http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2018/OMM/stage...
Camp site was quite nice - but very cold and windy. Added an extra two layers to what I ran in (one being a down jacket). Despite this and in the sleeping bag, wind went right through me and was pretty cold - most of the warmth coming from Ben. Had to get an emergency mars bar out in the night for energy (this in addition to my actual "emergency" food). It was a very long and unpleasant night.
Thursday Oct 25, 2018 #
Note
(rest day)
11 hrs at work... Probably only about 1 hr's work done and 10 hrs of waiting for macros.
After about an hour's trying have managed to pack bag such that it's all soft things against my back. Surprisingly how sharp food packets are.
Now just to keep legs stretched so that I'm ok to run.
After about an hour's trying have managed to pack bag such that it's all soft things against my back. Surprisingly how sharp food packets are.
Now just to keep legs stretched so that I'm ok to run.
Wednesday Oct 24, 2018 #
6 PM
Running 32:10 [3] 5.02 km (6:24 / km) +105m 5:48 / km
slept:5.0 shoes: Mizuno Wave Rider 22 Yellow
Had a few too many mental "wobbles" again this week so this afternoon and evening has seen me jumping between miserable, and worse than miserable :-( - and that's despite having a big weekend to plan and look forward to.
But after a couple of hours lay in bed did manage to force myself to do stretching and rolling, and after that legs felt like they might actually be able to run without pain, so easy run with the rucksack.
It's not very comfortable, possibly a bit too wide for my body, but it does at least fit my kit in. Next to no padding on the back so was quickly apparent that the stove would dig in, but a lot of the time wasn't noticing it so much. Will still have to find a better way to pack it.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1925161800
Note that watch didn't record GPS co-ordinates (but did elevation, pace, temperature etc.) for a couple of minutes near the start. Was quite suspicious something was up as it took 3 minutes to locate itself instead of usual 10s, and I then waited a further 30s before starting in expectation it would have found a good fix by then.
But after a couple of hours lay in bed did manage to force myself to do stretching and rolling, and after that legs felt like they might actually be able to run without pain, so easy run with the rucksack.
It's not very comfortable, possibly a bit too wide for my body, but it does at least fit my kit in. Next to no padding on the back so was quickly apparent that the stove would dig in, but a lot of the time wasn't noticing it so much. Will still have to find a better way to pack it.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1925161800
Note that watch didn't record GPS co-ordinates (but did elevation, pace, temperature etc.) for a couple of minutes near the start. Was quite suspicious something was up as it took 3 minutes to locate itself instead of usual 10s, and I then waited a further 30s before starting in expectation it would have found a good fix by then.
Tuesday Oct 23, 2018 #
Note
(rest day)
Back late and uncomfortable trip home on the little train with not enough leg room to put my feet flat on the ground :-( Will do a little core work and stretching but dropping the planned full session.
Packed the new bag with most of the kit (just some more food for on the run to go in) - and confirm it will definitely fit, but much tighter than I expected. Will repack again in a couple of days just to make sure I have got everything.
Packed the new bag with most of the kit (just some more food for on the run to go in) - and confirm it will definitely fit, but much tighter than I expected. Will repack again in a couple of days just to make sure I have got everything.