Training Log Archive: Mark3

Because why not?

Been wanting to do this for a while, and there wasn't anything good on today, and not going to be doing anything long distance whilst on holiday, and forecast was okay, and I convinced Nathanael that he wanted to do it too...

Aimed to set off at 8am for sunrise 8:22 to maximise chance of completion by nightfall; the challenge is supposed to by 12 hours but we were hopeful of 8. Based on basically nothing. Actually started 8:30...

Weather a bit of drizzle, mist and wind - slightly worse than forecast but not too bad. No problems up and down Grindslow; took about 40 mins and so we decided we were on for 8 hours. Second climb up to Crowden much more physical (off path) and relentless, but nice descent to Jacob's Ladder. Then #3 easy, before down and up again to Kinder Low; corner cutting tough up the moor but nice once on the path.

Found a relatively nice way off the top through Cluther, down to the stream and then up again via Mermaid's Pool (again very rough terrain) and to the highest point (624m). Then very steep descent to Ashop and along the clough for a bit before crossing at the fb and taking the path up through the grouse butts to Fairbrook Naze. Dropped straight back off and on a great path with amazing views of the Snake valley, until it vanished and it was very rough again down to the ford. Then as per, right back up Gate Side to the plateau before heading down to The Wicken, and then up again to the 590m trig (awesome nav to hit this in the mist; well done me) then along to Madwoman's Stones (meh), then down to Upper Ashop (good path at top then rough lower), back up the grouse butts again to Crookstone Knoll, then back down again via Crookstone Hill to Jaggers Clough (it's making me tired just writing this). That was a really nice path on the E, with good views to Ladybower. Should spend more time on the E of Kinder, it's lovely and underused.

Back up and down to Nether Booth, starting to get a bit tired now, and the rain picked up so also wet. Also worrying a bit about the approaching dusk (although we had torches, didn't really want to admit failure...). Luckily there was a path (ish) up to Druid's stone - which I made harder for us by not marking in the right place (it's on the path, not on the highest point) - fail; gave us some more foggy moor to nav across. Steep down to Oller Brook trying not to fall off several cliffs on the way in the failing light. Came down the W of the Brook as the terrain looked more favourable. Faffed a bit putting a coat on in the strong wind; fail; bad timing.

Didn't cut Ringing Roger corner due to light, so went around the path, then final map fail where I'd marked this in the wrong place too (we ignored the obvious rock and went much higher; stopping when it was clear we weren't going to get to any other rocks. Rung Roger on the way back down though, so that was okay.

The final descent down The Nab was very sketchy in what would not unreasonably be called 'night' (40 mins after sunset). The steps and footbridge in the woods were particularly fun. But we reached the end without using torches :)

Great day out. Extremely physical terrain! Shame to miss Trigger next weekend, but today make it look straightforward.
Body felt generally good, no complains from any joints or anything. Ribs niggled with jumping or descending but generally much better now. Although I just breathed deeply, and still very much not right, so we'll see. Leaving injury box ticked for a bit longer.

9th - 17s behind 4th...and was 4th until 1k from the end and then struggled up the hill into the wind.

Only 12s slower than my fastest time here, and segment times are all really similar apart from that hill where I lost 20s. To be fair the course is now very marginally longer as you don't cut a corner you used to cut. Actually looking at the map, is quite a bit longer. If it's 5k now, it must've been short before...

Really tired afterwards, pushed really hard. Ribs hurting more than expected unfortunately.

Tired and cold after parkrun, but fine once got into it. Always a good event.

Next time: take a pen, spend a minute at the start thinking about it, and cross off controls not intending to visit! This year it was three to miss, which is much harder than one. Made some bad choices. Some poor novice, a runner, just followed me the whole way around. I apologised at the end. He wasn't bothered; didn't know any better...

Happy with my route actually had there been no tussocks! But there were. Which I knew about. Damn. So the best controls to miss aren't the furthest ones, they're the most tussocky ones.

Too far south walking up a hill which is pretty inexcusable since should be able to keep to a bearing under those circumstances. Also stuck in brambles on one control, own fault, they're mapped...

2nd on the 'long miss 3' course, behind Oli Willams. I'll take it.

Just glorious. This route is now pretty much perfect.

When jumping off stiles and falling over, ribs hurt; otherwise could feel them but it's annoying rather than painful.

Started with C since only two B there, but we got bored and went off on our own, so second half quite brisk.
Ribs have definitely improved a lot :-) shame that sleeping is still so hard.

Still a bit of ribs pain, so a pb was never going to be on the cards, so took the opportunity to pace Leah to her first sub 20. Successfully achieved :-) which was awesome.

This pace felt pretty good to me. I feel like 10s a km for a half shouldn't be ridiculously unachievable; well worth a go anyway.

If it's good weather on Sat,might try a quick parkrun before the o.

Always love the nyd mass start urban. Guessed where the first control was going to be (well the direction) and so leading for a few hundred metres until Rich and All caught up. Then didn't do any nav until #11 - so managed to stay with them for quite a while which i was happy with. In 3rd until the hill to 21, where Chris Millard overtook me; we'd been pretty much together for ages. No mistakes until 27 where I started going to 29, and he got enough of a gap so could no longer see him. Then took a bad route when actually needed to get to 29! Crossable fence harder to cross than map implies. Could've gone straighter on 31 but shoes are quite old and didn't inspire enough confidence!

4th. Really good map/race/event. Good food and chat afterwards, too.

Fun race as last time; similar conditions but course slightly different - longer, but on (vague) path rather than directly across bog.
Straight into the sun going up, as last time. Note to self - take a visor next time! Would be much more pleasant.
A few seconds faster than last time on the uphill, but basically equal. Struggled with the boggy path at the top, but think everyone did. Then 30s slower on the descent, it was painful whenever I tensed stomach muscles and that just happens so much on an off-road descent! So overtaken by a group of about 7 which definitely wouldn't have happened normally.
Took one place back on the last small uphill before the final grassy descent, then managed to hold it for the danger-finish (steep hill down to main(ish) road; finishes where they meet...)

Other than breathing, felt ok. Breathing still hurts right at the final bit of a deep breath, but fine for shallow.

2019 Summary

5k goal 17:30 - failed
10k goal 37:00 - smashed (35:44)
HM goal 1:20 - not attempted
M goal 3:00 - not attempted
Mileage goal 50 pw - failed, but only just (49.71). Actually I'm taking this one (2,592 miles; 4,171km)
Elevation goal - well there wasn't really one, but 379m pd is pretty good imho (138,217m)

Otherwise;
- Won a fell race (Hoofstones; Feb; everyone else got lost in the mist)
- Won two ultras (Peak District S to N and Gritstone Grind) and two more podiums (2nd in Guernsey, 3rd at Pen LLyn Winter)
- Completed another 50 mile race reducing time from 13:00 to 10:30
- Qualified for CCC @ UTMB (and TDS actually, but am not mental)
- Came back from the foot spike incident and did the Tour of Pendle again despite being terrified
- Appear to be basically indestructible after fracturing a rib and still managing to run 50 miles the week after
- No more major injuries accumulated

Overall - it's been a good year running-wise.

Would really like to get HM and 5k sorted next year! But the more easier goal is likely to be the marathon.

Here's to an injury free, successful and fun 2020.

Nice run through Wollaton and the University park. Will definitely plan a nice route around here next time in Notts.

Mum has a bit of a hamstring injury unforts, which slowed her down a bit. Still, nice recovery jog for me, and nice day for it.

Worked out I need 45km more today and tomorrow in order to meet 50miles/week goal for 2019. This is going to be a challenge.

Easy with the joined groups - only 8 of us so made sense. Brisk jogging pace; felt pretty good, only slightly feeling the ribs at that speed.

Down to 32k tomorrow in order to meet target...race is 7ish so that would mean another 25. Definitely doable.