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Well done Mike, great commitment.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike T
I'm measuring by the week so will include tomorrow in 2022. Currently on 44 miles for the week, so need 21 miles this evening and tomorrow to hit my 69 mile average across the year.
Been a bit disjointed this week with two short races and then the associated recovery... had a bit of a cold this week as well, not sure if its just bad luck or as a result of pushing so hard earlier in the week.
I had a run today in my new Hoka Speedgoat 5 shoes which were a surprise Christmas gift from my wife.
I had run in a pair of Hoka Bondi road shoes on a try before you buy event in October but did not buy any as they were, although very comfortable, far too squidgy for me. So Hoka was off my radar. However, a friend of mine runs in Speedgoats and has been badgering me to get a pair especially as my calves have been a bit tender of late and he reckoned they cured his sore legs, but I have resisted. He has obviously conspired with my wife and Santa so Speedgoats it was this afternoon.
My run was on the Monsal trail which is, for those who don't know, an old railway line and I was pleasantly surprised with them. Much more "give" than what I am used to but nowhere near as squidgy as the Bondi's. They
were very comfortable but felt a bit too stacked, perhaps that is because I am new to them. The real test will be on this Thursday's RATRun when they will get some proper off road action.
An enjoyable but damp and breezy 6 miles in 46.49.
I had a pair of Speedgoats, in fact i liked them so much that i went out and bought a 2nd pair.
Perfect for trails, and as you say very comfortable. But i wore them on the mud and slush of the Haworth Hobble one year and was all over the place (even moreso than usual).
Great for anything less than 100% fell conditions in my opinion.
After experimenting over past months with some pairs of the new style of highly-cushioned road shoes, i've gone back in completely the opposite direction and am now doing my sessions in a pair of racing flats again.
After racing twice in 24hrs over xmas in poor weather, coupled with the various bugs and colds which seem to be floating around, it was perhaps inevitable that i would be the next to suffer, and spent the best part of a week with sore throat, runny nose and congestion.
Last night was my first attempt at a hard session since my races.
2 x 2 miles with a lap of the car park (approx 3 minutes) recovery.
First rep was 12:44 which although nothing impressive, is about par for the course for me on that loop (dark, slippery, uneven, hilly).
Despite feeling ok on the 2nd rep i dropped 20 seconds and was 13:04, obviously not quite back at 100%
The poor girl who ran stride-for-stride with me on the first rep is on the comeback after covid, and she dropped a full minute on the 2nd rep.
But it was promising and another solid day with 15 miles in total.
Thursdays session is 5 x 1km on one of my favourite loops, so with another 48hrs recovery it will be a good sign of where i'm at.
Headed off to the Lakes today for a change as I was getting 'cabin fever' in Teesdale.
Bowscale, to Bowscale tarn, to Tarn Crags, to Bowscales Fell to Bannercrags, to Souter Fell to Mungrisdale, then along the road back to Bowscale. 7.02 miles, 2247 feet, 2 hrs 13 mins. Chucked it down most of the way, but warm.
5 x 1km last night, 2 minute rests.
3:37
3:37
3:37
3:34
3:32
Not quite the times i'm looking to hit, but very pleased with the consistency. Feel like i'm getting over the niggles and minor illness over xmas, and feeling good about training. Looking forward to another session on saturday which will be a more tempo session.
A solid day, 14.5 miles, and with an easy 8-10 miles to come today, session tomorrow, and something a bit longer sunday, should start the year off with something approaching 80 miles.
Mild, windy but dry for yesterday evenings RATRun from The Lathkil Hotel, Over Haddon. A last minute change of route due to sections of Lathkill Dale being knee deep in water. So rather than go up the dale the 7 of us went down the dale to Alport where we turned right into Bradford Dale. Just after we passed Moatlow Knob we turned right and steeply up to Lomberdale Hall and on up to Moor Lane where we picked up the Leg It Round Lathkill route and followed it through Meadow Place Grange down into Lathkill Dale and back up to the pub.
A total of 7 miles, 804 feet in 1hr 3 min. Back in the pub delicious chips, these are too good to be smothered in cheese, were washed down with Dr Morton's Desert Sand 4.1% from Abbeydale Brewery.
I wore the new Speedgoats and was very impressed. Comfortable, more stable than they look and good grip throughout the run although no really steep technical terrain encountered.
Braved the wind and rain this morning for a session on the grass.
6 mins
8 x 200mtr hills
6 mins
8 x 200mtr hills
6 mins
The ground was cutting up visibly each rep, making times pretty irrelevant. Trying to find a decent line up the hill was near impossible. So with times out of the window and poor weather, it became more of a mental trial to complete the session.
But complete i did, and 12 miles under my belt.
After three hard sessions this week, i've been pushing up to my limit with regards to intense training.
So i kept it simple this morning. A very steady run, intending to go for up to two hours.
In the event i started to feel a little stiff after about 1hr35, so called it a day at 11 miles.
Brings the week to an end with a solid 81.5 miles, a good start to the new year.
Next week is the penultimate (but my final) fixture of the League XC. Before that i've got a couple of days of easy running before a big effort at tuesday's session, which will be my only hard effort leading up to saturday's race.
Attachment 8898
Even some of the sheep in Teesdale were sporting colours in support of Ukraine on today's run.
10.04 miles, 2hrs 5 mins, 1,972 ft ascent.