Training Log Archive: rcro

Next set of square infilling, which also got extended into HM distance.

From Five Acres track - down to the river at Lydbrook, up to top of Coppet Hill, across to Symonds Yat viewpoint and back on the top. Took drink with me this time.

Really struggling to go early on but moving ok once started going downhill. Found a mine I never knew of before. Lane down to Lydbrook was more overgrown than Mark and Alice's.

Found the climb up from the river hard work, and the climb to the trig too. Very dry underfoot now at least. Didn't have the path off the hill on my map and wasn't signed so missed it first time.

The road up to Symonds Yat wasn't fun. Constant stream of traffic in both directions so never got more than 100 yards without stopping all the way up. The map had a parallel footpath on the left but when I found it, it started overgrown, and quite quickly stopped.

Knew there was still quite a bit of climb to go through Mailscot and when it came it was a struggle. Still got through to the end and was still going so no complaints. Lovely hot day and was able to stop and enjoy the views on the tops.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2690469126

Into Ross after to find suitable parking for my street-o in a few weeks time.

Direct jog from car to toilets. Know getting across here takes a lot longer than to Five Acres so left early - but car sensor was telling me I had a low tyre so had to queue 10 mins for air and then the valve trouble on two tyres meant they wouldn't inflate (but would deflate...) - sorted it out in Lydney afterwards.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2686609614

2 hrs parking at Mallards is £3 on a Saturday (£2 weekday).

Came to this expecting it to be quite a fast course, and an otherwise nothing special route. Surprised on both counts.

Started quite gently but was being held up so broke away at the front, continuing at what felt like a fairly steady pace with one person behind on each shoulder. After about 800 yards turned around at asked Cory "why am I leading this?" to which he responded "you're in form" - which is categorically not true. Cory eventually decided to wake up at about the k point and overtook.

First k is fairly flat but starts climbing after 0.7k and continues climbing, at various rates, until about 2.7k. None of it is steep - which I why I expected the course to be fast, but by the 2k post I was feeling it and not going very quick. Half way in around 10:30ish.

The down wasn't quite as fast as I expected either - for me at least. At the top Cory was still within conversation distance but ended up 40s ahead by the end. My pace was a steady fast - and didn't really feel like my legs would take me any faster. Lots of twists and turns and slightly uneven ground did at least mean the down was less tedious and less painful than the bridge - but less fast.

Small bit of uphill to finish, which I didn't exactly fly up. Nice to get announced in as I rounded the final corner. 2nd place in 19:25 which isn't bad for where I am pace wise at the moment. Should be able to get this one below 19 when race fit, but it's not faster than the main Forest course.

Currently 3rd on the all time list (and have my age band record). I'm unlikely to ever appear higher up anywhere than that!

https://www.strava.com/activities/2686610561

Second run of the day got extended a bit by re-planning and footpath issues (and ambition). Really should have taken food and drink with me.

Moved the car over to Soudley Ponds to do a bit more exploring of the periphery, and tick off some more squares I've not yet run in.

Started up to the view point at Blaize Bailey quite hard - it is quite a climb. View currently exists (trees chopped), and lots of people there so didn't stop. Then down the lane to Littledean which was fast. As the down felt easy added some distance to go towards Pope's Hill and then committed to making this a "long run". Beeped by someone leaving Littledean but no idea who it was.

Approaching Chestnuts Hill (which seems big), thought I'd detour in for an explore if I found a nice way. Didn't find a path but eventually got a gap in the edge undergrowth and the inside was very clean (and steep). Really quite nice in here and did managed to find the trig at the second attempt. Leaving, I wasn't quite sure where I ended up so carried on until worked out I was going wrong way then turned around. Unfortunately the "right" way had a nice new head high barbed wire fence and bit razor wired gates blocking it so ended up having to double back again anyway and miss out Welshbury.

The extra distance put paid to the road run into Mitcheldean so I changed to cut up to the top of Haywood. This was quite steep, but at least the tarmac was runnable. When the tarmac stopped the signage stopped too and the paths were quite overgrown and not obvious. Once up on the cleared forest stuck to the tracks for a bit then fortunately the N-S footpath to the masts was good.

Gloucester Way by Plump Hill hasn't had the pixie treatment so signs and veg cutting still needed. I was starting to tire by now and still heading in the wrong direction... Didn't appreciate Hillside Road went uphill rather than down so had a bonus climb, and then the pull up to Ruardean Hill became more and more of a struggle by the top - and would have been worse if I went to the bottom of Drybrook first! Starting to get a stitch descending down to the colliery and eventually had to stop for a minute or so in Linear Park and that helped it go away.

Opted to come through the middle of Cinderford although going right down to rugby club then up would have been shorter - thought it would make climb a bit more gradual and give more to look at as Linear Park gets a bit boring. Hoped to find the trig at St Whites but that section was between my two map extracts and didn't see it. Very glad to find a cut through the woods back towards the ponds (with extra up) - avoiding the felling, and also glad of drink at the end!

Yes, some dodgy paths and struggled a lot in the second part of the run - but have to say it was a really nice route with great views, and weather was just right for doing this. Been quite a good day out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2687282391

Wildlife count - 5 boar in Haywood, 2 deer in Soudley

Another one from home trying to get some elevation in. This time comfortably exceeded Tuesday for distance, elevation and off-road.

Down to Civic Centre, up to Ridgeway, down towards canal via woods and back up through fields. Finished with up-down-up on Gaer and some more ups and downs to get home. Trying to do more of the unlit bits to make the msot of the daylight whilst we still have it.

Pace wasn't anything special but climbing seemed a bit better than it has been. Some good hill splits on the road - a PB and several 2nd best times. Also ended up with a new KOM which is a bit of a surprise.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2682878249

Wanted an easy run, but yesterday's MDC didn't really hit the targets for distance or elevation so needed 10k with reasonable ascent. Invented a loop through town and around Barrack Hill and along the Ridgeway, returning up Bassaleg Road.

Moving a lot better than yesterday, maybe helped by wearing trainers not fell shoes. Steady pace up the hills, and steady down - not bad overall. Gauging interest for doing training runs with the other Newport based fell runners over the winter to see if that gives me more motivation; do need to keep with road at least once a week to maintain any speed.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2680092490

MDC run from the Aberglais as my usual FoDAC group weren't doing track this week. As per last week, a fairly untypical MDC run taking in the delights of the Gurnos.

Bit of a miserable evening weather wise so anything rocky was very slippery so pace down on what it should be (for me). No good excuse for being crap at the slight climb by Cyfarthfa Castle. Well outclassed by Joe - but it's nice to have him out running with us.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2677081487

Quite a nice surprise to see 25 or so people have been out running Longlevens maprun today. For a soft launch and limited external promotion, take up on the permanent courses has been fairly good.

First time in a while and struggled.

Home later than intended as have been given a new graduate and none of the basic it setup had been done... Part 2 continues in the morning.


Noted that Saturday's disappointingly slow struggle at Parkrun has improved my handicap to be the best it's ever been - nothing else has counted in my best since mid-May
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