Training Log Archive: TimMIn the 7 days ending Aug 13, 2017:
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Sunday Aug 13, 2017 #
Running 2:33:37 [3] 23.7 km (6:29 / km) +1662m 4:48 / km
Argentrail - 7th
Swimming in a sea of Salomon
So first and potentially only race of the summer, a new one organised by the local sports club featuring a couple of climbs and a village passage. Felt surprisingly nervous - a combination of wanting to see an improvement in my hill running, a rather exited gite crew and some competitiveness I've been craving.
Start at eight meant breakfast at six so an early start. Made my way up to the start where some pre tunes were being unashamedly blasted to wake up the village and provided a cool atmosphere. A fair few people clearly decked out in their various sponsors kit but lined up at the front nevertheless.
Settled into a nice pace to begin with, comfortable for sure but reasonably brisk. Ended up a little on my own though which was kinda annoying, started to work into the group in front which featured the guys who would challenge for the win but by the time we reached Le Lavancher the twisty trails meant I couldn't see them. Wanted to start the climb in a group to see what was set but to begin with it was just me. So far everything was fine but was conscious of stomach being annoying and feeling a tad sick from eating. Couple of strong runners came past both with poles and making it look easy. To be honest I was feeling slow on the first section of the climb and was convinced I'd run faster on easy runs up there. Tried to settle into a rhythm but sometimes I felt I wasn't working hard enough so upped it a little. Came out to the alpages looking beaut in the early morning and was still a fresh temperature. Bigger gap behind me than in front which was nice and started to work a little more on the last bit of this climb before opening out on the flatter bit to Lognan.
Then hit the first descent. Was quite nervous about this, every time I've done these switchbacks I've come out the other end with sore legs no matter what pace. So I had hoped to run with a pack for this bit to let them set the tempo and go with that. In the end I just relaxed and went with it. Passed a Scott guy and made ground on a salomon one so that I was just behind coming back through the village. Knew I'd be stronger on the faster sections so took him nicely before heading out to the second half of the course.
Caught sight of a couple of runners in front at Le Planet and again not much to see behind. This perhaps meant I relaxed a little and could have pushed on. But then the last climb hit me harder than I thought it would. Having been the only person to run every step so far I suddenly caved and ended up power walking a fair bit. Even though it's just as fast and perhaps more efficient I resist it as much as possible because it screws with my rhythm. The guy behind seemed to be struggling more so felt pretty safe until I saw another couple creeping up. Struggled on the top relieved to be on the way down but also thinking there should be more photographers seeing how sweet the views were.
Pre race I was very prepared to let fly on the final descent and accept potentially screwed legs for a few days. Started off like this and then nicely decked it on one of the switchbacks which disrupted me a fair bit. Got back into it but never really the same until I looked up and saw a different salomon guy closing a little. Upped it substantially and held him off with a strong finish through the village. Think I must have had the loudest support there with my family being out and the belvedere crew loving it.
So came 7th, was hoping to be higher but equally it was a strong field and hardly a disaster as my first race out here. More music all afternoon and a top quality spread of food that replaces the Penicuik 10km as the best I've come across. Slightly miffed with the distribution of prizes though - there was a relay where you did half each and top three male female and mixed teams got prizes as well as top three solo male and female. But only one relay team was ahead of me so not like they had a stacked field.
Swimming in a sea of Salomon
So first and potentially only race of the summer, a new one organised by the local sports club featuring a couple of climbs and a village passage. Felt surprisingly nervous - a combination of wanting to see an improvement in my hill running, a rather exited gite crew and some competitiveness I've been craving.
Start at eight meant breakfast at six so an early start. Made my way up to the start where some pre tunes were being unashamedly blasted to wake up the village and provided a cool atmosphere. A fair few people clearly decked out in their various sponsors kit but lined up at the front nevertheless.
Settled into a nice pace to begin with, comfortable for sure but reasonably brisk. Ended up a little on my own though which was kinda annoying, started to work into the group in front which featured the guys who would challenge for the win but by the time we reached Le Lavancher the twisty trails meant I couldn't see them. Wanted to start the climb in a group to see what was set but to begin with it was just me. So far everything was fine but was conscious of stomach being annoying and feeling a tad sick from eating. Couple of strong runners came past both with poles and making it look easy. To be honest I was feeling slow on the first section of the climb and was convinced I'd run faster on easy runs up there. Tried to settle into a rhythm but sometimes I felt I wasn't working hard enough so upped it a little. Came out to the alpages looking beaut in the early morning and was still a fresh temperature. Bigger gap behind me than in front which was nice and started to work a little more on the last bit of this climb before opening out on the flatter bit to Lognan.
Then hit the first descent. Was quite nervous about this, every time I've done these switchbacks I've come out the other end with sore legs no matter what pace. So I had hoped to run with a pack for this bit to let them set the tempo and go with that. In the end I just relaxed and went with it. Passed a Scott guy and made ground on a salomon one so that I was just behind coming back through the village. Knew I'd be stronger on the faster sections so took him nicely before heading out to the second half of the course.
Caught sight of a couple of runners in front at Le Planet and again not much to see behind. This perhaps meant I relaxed a little and could have pushed on. But then the last climb hit me harder than I thought it would. Having been the only person to run every step so far I suddenly caved and ended up power walking a fair bit. Even though it's just as fast and perhaps more efficient I resist it as much as possible because it screws with my rhythm. The guy behind seemed to be struggling more so felt pretty safe until I saw another couple creeping up. Struggled on the top relieved to be on the way down but also thinking there should be more photographers seeing how sweet the views were.
Pre race I was very prepared to let fly on the final descent and accept potentially screwed legs for a few days. Started off like this and then nicely decked it on one of the switchbacks which disrupted me a fair bit. Got back into it but never really the same until I looked up and saw a different salomon guy closing a little. Upped it substantially and held him off with a strong finish through the village. Think I must have had the loudest support there with my family being out and the belvedere crew loving it.
So came 7th, was hoping to be higher but equally it was a strong field and hardly a disaster as my first race out here. More music all afternoon and a top quality spread of food that replaces the Penicuik 10km as the best I've come across. Slightly miffed with the distribution of prizes though - there was a relay where you did half each and top three male female and mixed teams got prizes as well as top three solo male and female. But only one relay team was ahead of me so not like they had a stacked field.