Training Log Archive: rcro

Trying to delay my outdoors exercise to middle of day so I don't ended up feeling trapped inside.

Second explore of St Julians Woods - out and back via Christchurch Road. Wind was pretty strong so it made the up very hard work and not fun. That said, pace wasn't disastrous.

Slow downhill as the path was a bit loose and rough, and had lots of trees down to get under/over. Back up was much easier terrain, just a lot of climbing. I'm still struggling with ascending, regardless of what the watch says I did. Woods a bit brambly, but I've seen a lot worse.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3227505006

C • Woods 2

Taking it easy today

Supposed to be an easier run as the legs are tired from yesterday. Still quite windy and noticeable when heading NE.

Not hugely quick up the Ridgeway, and views at the top not as good as yesterday as hazy. Not hugely quick down either, and then plodded away against the wind back up Bassaleg Road - with it feeling like I was working for most of it.

Overall, much quicker pace than I was expecting from it. Need to learn to go a bit slower as need to make the most of my allowed time outside over the weekend, and recover from yesterday's hard run.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3224332576

Sat in the garden for a bit but much colder with the wind blowing. Also drove to Sainsburys (which was nice a quiet) - via the Ridgeway. Views pretty good today. Newport's not all bad.

A bit annoyed yesterday that the pace was slow, and was having to make a conscious effort to slow down on the roads. Punishment was a harder long run today - aiming for tempoish, 4:20-4:30/kms but running off feel rather than watch.

Moment I started knew it was going to be a tougher run as was a fairly strong adverse wind from NE which I was going to be against for all of the first half. OK, it wasn't what people would call "wind" but it was strong enough to really make the running harder, and properly hard work where it was being funnelled.

Despite the wind, was maintaining a good pace out from BVP (I wanted to cut through but all the double gates are locked), but it started feeling like I was working on the climb up to the motorway, and the last section to Caerleon bridge with no shelter also wasn't pleasant. Had to slow down a bit for a jog-recovery past the amphitheatre and was re-assessing how hard I'd want to run back.

Decided to not run back hard, but the pace says otherwise so if the legs were doing it, stick with it. There's a big bump in the cycle path just before the motorway that broke flow, and from the motorway onwards was willing it to be over. Had to keep going as there's a segment I wanted to build, and set a good time on (currently fastest of 107, by 5 minutes, with it having gone back to start of 2017).

Jog back home from the bottom was a struggle and very close to "doing a Cory" and stopping some way before the top. Decent session, and shows I've got some good pace in me. Shoes are probably not good enough for this sort of thing now - both feet burning although the rest of me is fine.

Can get a lot of variety in running around here. Suspect I'll be pretty bored of it soon!

https://www.strava.com/activities/3220867046/overv...

Easier day today because, meh.

Also cleaned the kitchen and then sat in the garden for my lunch break. Tomorrow may skip the cleaning part altogether.

A "hands free" run today requiring some balance on stiles and using feet for kissing gates. A couple of new footpaths for me over to Lodge Hill (Caerleon), and then cut through St Julians Wood to come back down in Beechwood. Was going to finish through BVP but watch said "low battery" crossing the railway and wasn't sure how long it would last. So put my foot down from start of George St bridge to get back quickly.

Lovely day to be outside - and sat in the garden over lunch when it was warm. Good views of Newport too. Able to keep minimum 2m distance from anyone else, but there was lots out today (and lots of cars compared to yesterday) - including another runner who appeared to be doing a very similar route to me.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3217303445

Thinking of a flat road run tomorrow as done quite a lot of hills since Saturday.

C • Garden Lunch 3

As not allowed outside, hid some walking and exercise into cleaning the communal staircase over lunch.

Legs feeling rubbish so dropped any plans for flattish road and went over to Gaer instead. A bit wet in places but as they've cleared the fire breaks in time for all the bored school kids running wasn't too bad. That said, first path I took I had to abandon because of brambles at head height.

Fairly aimless apart from getting enough distance to be 10km total. As expected, legs weren't doing much uphill. They never do here. Quite a lot of people out compared to BVP yesterday but everyone maintaining a distance if they had eyes/ears open.

Picked up the pace towards the end to try and get overall pace back under 5:00/km.

All but 1 way into Gaer has a kissing gate, and was aware of contamination risk when using to get in and out. Never thought about going in/out the gateless way until just now...

https://www.strava.com/activities/3213733806

Not the most productive day working. At lunchtime they finally decided that all UK workers should not be in the office (as I haven't) - but as not customer facing, still not allowed to access the VPN between 8am and 6pm... has meant all of us haven't been able to do much rather than just me.

Short jog today, after the last conference call that I couldn't really hear. Had planned a loop around Docks Way and Maesglas but opted to just stay in the park in case Newport shuts them all as per everywhere else in the UK. Really need to work on steep hills as this was a bit of a struggle.

Lovely sunny day though.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3210421961

Have just been given a semi-public bollocking by NGOC for posting on facebook that the govt instructions not to go outdoors means you can't drive across the country to do a MapRun, and instead need to exercise from home.

I don't do much orienteering now, but may be in the market for a new club - price/kit sensitive.

Thought it's probably a good idea to stay local today - but after leaving was tempted to go up Twmbarlwm whilst it's sunny. Backed out as I hadn't got kit in the car and thought it may be a bit cold in the wind going with just a vest and shorts.

More streets in Rogerstone - and most now done. Last week was flowers, this week lakes - Llyn Celyn sounded familiar but I couldn't remember where.

Very sluggish on the ups, and it was actually quite warm. Covered a lot more distance than I expected and as I was tired skipped out returning to the new estate by the river to sweep up the bits I missed before. Also means I've still got part of the Tiny Rebel road left as well.

Overall, not a dreadful pace as wasn't going hard, and accepting quite a lot of elevation and flow being interrupted by turning around at the end of dead ends!

https://www.strava.com/activities/3207013243

Hopefully have some more good weather, and still be allowed outside to enjoy it.

Walking around the park to make the most of the sun. Surprisingly quiet. Apart from the kids, social distancing being applied quite well. Saw a black car with a "Cofiwch Dryweryn" sticker on the rear bumper - seem to see that a lot now.