Training Log Archive: Ollie

Event: Compass Sport Cup Final
 

CompassSport Cup Final at Longshaw, in the Peak District. Cloudy to start but the sun broke through in the latter part of my race. Running the top course (Brown). As usual with the CSC Final, SLOW has way too many Brown-course runners, and we are weak for the shorter courses (i.e. very old and very young.) This year we sadly didn't have any juniors at all. However, I did count for the team, which was encouraging on a personal level. I had a great run - just one mistake early on, in a technical section of strange straight ridges and small knolls.

My main problem was not speeding up after the half-way point, as we entered much easier and faster terrain. I had slowed right down after a couple of legs across exhausting heathery groudn. I was nervous after some leg problems a couple of weeks ago, and too cautious, crossing the finishing line with plenty of energy to spare (I also didn't realise how far through the course I was, near the end - my GPS ran out of batteries at the start which was annoying, I think its battery is faulty.)

Brown - Splits

First Nike Stratford Club Run, straight after a Q&A with Paula Radcliffe (although she didn't join us as she only had her stitches out today.) Ran with Pete H and Matt L. There were around 100 people, all running in "2:15:25" T-shirts. Pace was slow, mainly as the groups were random rather than ability-based. The course was also shorter than expected, as the marshals decided that the roadworks around Pudding Mill Lane meant getting up onto the Greenway was going to be too congested - fair enough. The route was a rather uninspiring out-and-back along Stratford High Street, I was suprised we didn't instead do a loop of Westfield Stratford City itself. Right at the end, a sting in the tail - a run up the steps beside Stratford station and over the huge footbridge to Westfield.

I will probably go back for future runs (especially as they are usefully on Thursdays) but I hope the route gets more interesting!

C • 2:15:25 t-shirts 2

SLOW Putney Street-O. Very gentle jog around the course, as stil worried about my legs. Was running in the Salvations for the first time in two years. They have no bounce left, so running on them after the Nike's is an interesting sensation. More worryingly, my left leg clicked (don't know where) with every other stride, after about 15 minutes until the end, although it didn't hurt.

As I thought i wouldn't be competitive, I decided to do a "scenic" loop, i.e. start by going across the river, then stick in the nice part of Putney by staying near the river. In the end, I did have enough time to go into the estate too.

Finished just behind Dan, Paul, Matthias et al, as usual. One more 20-pointer would have put me in fourth, out of a huge field of 85. I am suprised!

Putney Crossroads to home, via York Road. Totally put the hammer down. Excellent tail-wind.