Training Log Archive: rcro

Jog down to my starting point - selected for being well away from buildings so GPS could get a quick fix (which it didn't secure quickly at home...) Didn't want to be there too early for my virtual handover.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3577670967

Virtual relay race for Team MoFo (Monross-Forest). 15 hours from 5am-8pm split it seems any way you like.

My leg was 1pm-2pm which gave me a lot of hours to not look forward to it. I've done no speedwork and had no rest for a while, and generally have been running more slowly recently. All the early runners did very well - covering in the range 13.7km to 16.0km in their hours so a lot to live up to!

As our team had agreed that the rule ("In the spirit of the challenge, significant elevation loss will be considered unsportsmanlike and should be discouraged") - meant we shouldn't aim for net downhill, started on Newport Bridge and stuck to roughly sea level apart from the SDR bridge. Unfortunately Torfaen didn't get the memo, possibly by choice, and all their runners have had 100m+ descent.

Out - east bank of river to SDR, cross the bridge then loop under dual carriageway to get to W side of the transporter bridge. U turn and retrace steps back to start and then down the west bank until around 8 mins to go and u-turn again to finish close to the start.

Actually got a quick start in - 5k in about 20:05. Was fighting against the wind a bit (although strava says it was behind me) and maybe used a bit too much energy. Not a good sign that you are counting down to the end after just 2 minutes. Return was less windy but pace was slower. Back to the start at around 42:30 (10.3km) so just 17 minutes of effort left. Really didn't want to do it, but did it for the team and surely got some training benefit as the longest sustained effort since Hereford HM over a year ago.

Used up a bit too much energy, and legs tired, so didn't humiliate myself trying to run home. A net downhill day - those are very rare...

https://www.strava.com/activities/3577671870

An hour of so "conversation" with my landlord (in Kenya) whilst lay in bed recovering. His charity is working with some guy called Eliud Kipchoge to distribute welfare packs in Eldoret. I've asked him to put in some good words for the Forest of Dean (as a road club more relevant, and has some very "passionate" road runners). Turns out my landlord used to work in Cinderford and is very fond of it...

Newport isn't really exciting to run around after 81 days of running around Newport. 10k target for today - which wasn't really inspiring.

Only took 4 hours to get out the door, and it was quite nice once going. Quite windy though. Decent pace for an easy run at least - good signs for tomorrow's relay leg

https://www.strava.com/activities/3573049282

Settled down a bit yesterday evening so slept which was nice. Still not great for working today but a few meetings filled up a lot of the time.

Running felt a lot easier today so no trouble doing a *slightly* extended loop.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3568166281

Finally signed up to Netflix to find new tv shows to put on - probably should have done that 2 months ago.

I've now learned that 79 days is the maximum I can cope with staying in the same place. Suppose it could be loosely described as homesickness? Last night wasn't pretty and my mind wanted to keep bringing back memories best left forgotten. I think a lot stems from thinking about my sister over last few days, and it's released a lot of thoughts I've been suppressing surprisingly well during lockdown.

Struggled to concentrate on work through the morning but walking out to the supermarket got me some fresh air. Better but still not totally right by the afternoon. At least have now arranged a meet up with mum in a couple of weeks seemingly within the Welsh rules so I've got something to look forward to. I don't think the Welsh Govt appreciate just how damaging their regulations are for people living on their own, well away from most of their friends and family!

Run itself nothing special, but moving better than yesterday and trapped wind not a problem until last k. (I have eaten cheese for the first time in 10 months so there's a possibility of things playing up over the next couple of days... at least I am still eating)

https://www.strava.com/activities/3563945443

Apparently my sleep was poor quality so watch wanted me to have a rest day and listen to music. Still went out as it's the first nice temperature day in a while - although not feeling great with trapped wind.

Took the footbridge from Golden Mile View and across Tredegar Park bowl to get into Duffryn. Was going to do a little more distance going via Morgan Way but not feeling good at decision point so took the shorter and glad of it.

Despite being cooler, wasn't going great (although HR was low), and legs heavy and rubbish when it came to the hill at the end.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3558887430

Socially distanced run with Mark and Alice up Twmbarlwm. Nice to get out somewhere different, and for an easier run - one of the slowest runs of the year and a big change on the relatively quick last few months. And good to spend some time talking to people face to face. Very hot in the open going to the top - but I suspect that won't be a problem tomorrow.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3553745185

Had a bit of a brainwave - referring to "The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020":

(1) During the emergency period, no person may, without reasonable excuse:
- leave the area local to the place where they are living or remain away from that area;

(2) A reasonable excuse includes the need to do the following (but see paragraph (3))

(k) visit a cemetery, burial ground or garden of remembrance to pay respects to a deceased person

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), it is not a reasonable excuse for a person to leave the area local to the place where the person is living to do something, or remain away from the area to do something, if it would be reasonably practicable for them to do that thing within the area.

So, given that my sister's grave isn't likely to move any time soon and it's nearly 6 months since I last paid my respects in person, I have authority from the Welsh Government to drive to Whitbourne, so long as I take a bunch of flowers? (and once in England, Welsh rules do not apply...). To be fair I do usually try to get out there 3-4 times per year - so it's not a case of stretching the rules without genuine cause.

Easy day, ended up working past 5 as getting a bit carried away trying to get something done.

Same route as most of last week - plus a little bit of flat at the far end. Hadn't tightened watch after work so it was loose to start and adjusted again as was giving bollocks. I wouldn't normally pay attention, but this screen has HR quite obvious.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3548271782

New relaxed rules on lockdown are that I can travel to meet people from a single household - within my local area (up to 5 miles, or further if my local centre, e.g. grocery shops and chemists, is outside that range). It is therefore implied that I can also start exercise from another location from home, within my local area (with or without members of another household), but it is explicitly clear that I should only ever leave my local area for exercise where that exercise starts and finishes at home. So - I can go up and around Twmbarlwm (just!), but Cwmcarn forest falls outside my 5 mile limit [but still just within my running distance from home range]. But, for example, driving to Cwmbran stadium (in range, but outside local area) to run around north Cwmbran (outside range, and outside local area) isn't allowed. At least I don't want to do *that*.

It's all a bit of a mess... but if I'm going to stick to these rules (well, it is the LAW, I don't make a habit of killing old grannies just because we're told not to), it really f***ing p***es me off so see others disregarding it. We're on Day 1 and already at least two Welsh based orienteers have Strava-ed their travel. [And add the countless English based people who have been driving into Wales for runs and rides - none today at least that I've seen].

I'm totally fed up of the situation. Today is the 21st day in a row I've run up to the top of the Ridgeway. I've probably walked there 15 times in those 3 weeks too - I want to go somewhere different. But I'm not allowed so just have to suck it up. Please can everyone else (in Wales) do the same?