Training Log Archive: rcro

Catching up with Pete and Alex running from Coleford. 9am and down the cycle track not really my thing but was because Marcus was supposedly going to ride alongside, but didn't. Thought I had to come out to see people as it doesn't much more of a hit on statistics in Newport for this to end up my last chance to get out this year - so I'm living preparing for the worst but hoping for the best!

To be honest the down felt hard enough and wasn't looking forward to turning around and heading back. Avoiding that problem by making into a loop and showing Pete a proper trail up from the bike centre - since he said he'll probably do more trail/off road races in future to avoid chasing the shoes. Was a fairly decent climb and I did it well - better than them at least! All about getting the pace and cadence right at the start.

Target distance was 8 miles so *slightly* over by the end, but got a few nice off road bits in, and moving ok later on despite being into the wind.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4052558249

Went into the new Lidl afterwards to practive shopping with a mask. Either they don't work or I was using it wrong as someone starting talking to me and called me "Rich". Think I prefer Aldi.

More squares, and making the most of what could be this last weekend of freedom.

From Llangattock, into Crickhowell, Llangenny, Llanbedr and direct back. Felt a very tough run from the start - legs had nothing in them. But kept going and got back ok, although into the wind was hard and the last 200 yards to the car uphill really hard.

Cambrian Way is signed up the road to Table Mountain and not Beacons Way.

Went looking for Elmo afterwards, but didn't find him. Missed being introduced to my new neighbour Mr Hawk.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4048769659

Bottom part of Crickhowell still a long way from repairing flood damage. Tide marks neck deep on the pub.

Generally been having watch problems throughout today. Unfortunately it always tries to sync when I charge it - and if there's any slight server issue it can go wrong, and corrupt a lot of the settings until resynced. It timed out last night so I was being careful to get the GPS located by making it do it several times. This took much longer than anticipated as the first time I gave up after 5 minutes and initiated a new phone sync (another 5 mins) to redownload cache, then wait around for another 5 mins to locate, to wait another 5 mins again to relocate the last time, as, having fixed it's location 5s previously, didn't know where to look for itself.

On the run was generally ok apart from the usual unbelievable HR, but also unbelievable pace as well today. Pause and restart fixed that. Generally the track was poor with a couple of major wobbles and offsets - albeit not so obvious if you don't know where I went. Lots of twists and turns at speed will confuse it though, and tbh with the delays in locating I was expecting the run to be offset by literally miles.

End of the run was a bit of a nightmare as trying to upload the run would tell me "sync failed" without even properly trying, then the bluetooth turned off, and basically there was nothing that I could do to turn it back on short of waiting for it to do it itself, which it did after 20 minutes.

As of 9.30, I can sync with phone problem free - but desktop sync isn't as apparently there are "some temporary server issues" or "maintenance" (depending on how many times you click - their web status page says everything is fine and working). A bit annoying as I think it needs the desktop sync to fix all the things that have gone wrong from last night.

These are the sorts of bugs I 'd come to be used to with Finnish watches (I've never been impressed with the Garmins, but generally their platforms were robust). I do hope they sort whatever's wrong at their end, and fix the firmware a bit quicker than the long duration issues back in 2016/2017.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4045100121

(One thing I will credit Polar with is that they keep a public log of server issues. I suspect yesterday's issue hasn't actually been resolved...)

Road run with Mark P from St Mellons to get some more non-Caerphilly squares run. Social pace - but a bit quicker than I was expecting. Worked out well for both of us as it got me running slower than I would on my own, and Mark faster, and ankle-safe terrain.

Good to catch up and hear what Clare and Clive (and Fern) are getting up to. Might not got much chance to see people face to face if lockdown spreads (which still looks likely) - a little pessimistic that I'll be able to go to either of the orienteering I entered for end September, but it's not the end of the world.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4040845239

Completing the canal. From Talybont west until just after the acquaduct, and back through Llanfrynach. Pace went up after Llanfrynach but I wasn't feeling too keen so didn't want to run all the way back to the car at the pace I was doing in these shoes so stopped 2k short and had leisurely walk back.

Another not so good day for the watch GPS, but HR looks ok.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4034874180

Rather suspicious that most of South Wales will be back on lockdown before the end of next week.

Over to the flat bit of Newport for a change ticking off a few streets. Despite thick cloud was very sweaty.

A reasonable effort up by the hospital but otherwise fairly easy.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4031133854

Was expecting Caerphilly to get locked down soon so getting squares done whilst I have a chance. I can't really complain about the decisions but it does mean my planned runs for the next few weeks/months have to be shifted back if transit through isn't a valid reason to cross the boundary.

From Hafodyrynys over the top and down to the cycle track at Pontnewynydd. Fair bit of climb both ways and think I did ok despite it not feeling so good. Should have gone back from cycle path the same way as I went in as the way I took had a load of steep steps then fields where I didn't want to go where the obvious footpath went.

Against the wind all the way back so was a decent run.

https://www.strava.com/activities/4026326753/overv...