Was it round Draycote Water Travs? A nice road circuit if I remember correctly. What's the 3000? I'm trying to find one for my Louise.
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Was it round Draycote Water Travs? A nice road circuit if I remember correctly. What's the 3000? I'm trying to find one for my Louise.
Hi Gaz...Quote:
Originally Posted by gazb
Yes, Draycote.... a lovely run, surprisingly undulating for the perimeter of a reservoir!
It's the Midland Masters at Pingles Stadium, Nuneaton. Sunday 6th September... although i believe the weekend before there is an Open competition at the same venue.
https://uk.entry4sports.com
Ah cheers mate. There's nothing further than 1500 in that and it's full anyway!
Worth checking the other meets on that site... Kettering, Loughborough, etc... Seems to be new meets on there on an almost daily basis at the moment.
Why you shouldn't wear earphones while walking (or running) in the countryside:-
As I was running along a narrow section of the path towards Buck Hill, there was a woman wearing the said devices ahead of me. She hadn't noticed the sound of my footsteps or breathing, so when I was about three metres behind her I called out "Behind you" (not very loudly, I didn't have that much breath). No reaction. She went through a gate and was closing it behind her; I got hold of the gate and, by chance, a twig snapped loudly as I stepped on it at the same moment. She "jumped out of her skin" (as the saying goes). Due to the earphones, I didn't have much sympathy.
Poor going of late.
Out today for a 1 miler in 10 minutes to drop the parcels off at the Post office and then a 2.75 mile potter back with some grass loops on a small common in 23:30
The only positive is that the 23:30 felt more like 26+
very similar again today.
1 miler in 10 minutes parcel run again and 2.75 miles on same terrain as yesterday in 24:41
I had to use my phone for Strava yesterday so I suspect I was more like 2.5-2.6 yesterday as I took a slightly shorter line, but the phone doesn't record as accurately.
Tonight's RATRun was a 7 and a half miles and just over 1,000 feet from the New Inn at Flash, the Highest village in Britain. On a glorious evening 8 of us firstly went out to Cheeks Hill before joining the Dane Valley Way and following it on a lovely contour around to Danebower Colliery and its magnificent ventilation chimney which is rightly a Scheduled Monument. We then continued on the DVW down to Three Shires Head and then went up left to Hawks Nest.
From there it was all uphill through fields, one of which contained Emu's that chased and pecked us, back to Flash. A comical and scary experience!
The comedy continued in the New Inn where the landlady arrived at the bar with a large fry-up for her tea. She advised me that if we wanted beer I would have to serve myself, which I duly did, pulling five of the best pints of Bosley Cloud from Storm Brewing that you ever did see. They also tasted good.
A great evening in an area I have not run in before and other than us not another person in sight. Also my first visit to a great little pub, the likes of which are sadly, nowadays, few and far between.
A few years ago I walked up by Danebower, and I was wondering what the chimney was. Now I know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Presumably you have complained to Rod Hull about not keeping his charges under control?
Any cheesy chips Llani?
Afraid not.
The only food to be seen was the landlady's fry up. It was so large the most portly lorry driver would have struggled to devour it!
In the Lakes for a few days with the family so mainly walking. Weather was pretty foul today but managed to grab a couple of hours out in Newlands. Barrow, Outerside, Sail, Scar Crags and Causey Pike. Bailed out of Eel Crag as the wind was so bad I was having trouble standing up. 14km/1250m.
Beacon Hill, via Buck Hill; felt quite good, but it was still a bit slow. The new trods around the two fallen trees on one of the steeper parts of the permissive path up Beacon Hill are now sufficiently well trodden that I can keep running up them.
Back in the Outwoods, I encountered a newly fallen tree, a big birch lying across a path. Last Winter they cleared an area of conifers to replant with native trees; the Westerly gales in February felled several trees on the east side of the clearing, and now last Friday's southerly gale did for this birch on the north side. Trees that have grown surrounded by other trees don't have the strength to resist when suddenly exposed to wind.
Out the back door (Teesdale) - 7.27 miles, 1197 feet, 1 hr 16 mins. Sunny up here all day, but the midges at the trig were the worse this summer so far.
Back home, 10K indoor row. 43 mins.
That's decent going on the rower!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mossdog
Thanks. Even in my dotage I try and give it a go! But it doesn't even put me into the top 300 for my age group on the Concept 2 international league.I clearly need to try harder :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Travs
The actual figures yesterday were 10K in 43.21 mins, 840 cals/hr, average 23 spm, average 2:10.6/500m split, 607 cals burned in total.
No running today, nothing to do with the downpours, honest! This morning's row (in the dry garage!) was a more modest 650 cal row-down, which clocked up 109997 meters with an average 2:17 min/500 split at 761 cals/hr, averaging 24 spm.
I really enjoy the rower and find it complements my (modest) running well.
10mins warm up, 30mins hill reps, 3km hilly run, 1km cool down. Storm Francis made it a bit tougher than expected.
For some reason I cannot post on here from any device other than my home laptop.
So Sundays training was a lovely loop of 10 miles and 1,300ft in 1hr 26 from the Rhyd-y-Benwch car park in the Hafren Forest up to the source of the River Severn. Warm and sunny but breezy on the top.
A wonderful part of the world and very uncrowded other than one weekend a year when the RAC/WalesRallyGB is in town. Worth a watch too.
In the last few years, thousands of tons of timber has been felled which in turn has opened up some wonderful views only spoiled by distant wind turbines.
To loosen the legs this evening, after the drive home, a 3 miles and 250 feet run around local fields whilst being battered by Francis.
A welcome return to club training last night, despite the at times heavy rain and wind.
8 x 500m on the road... 4 of them into the weather and the other 4 (unsurprisingly) with the wind behind us.
First rep into the wind was at 6min/mile pace, and gradually turned on the pace, getting them down to around 5:40/mile pace.
The reps with the wind behind were much quicker, starting at 5:45/mile, and getting down to around 5:15/mile pace.
Despite some stiffness from sunday's efforts at Llangollen, i felt very strong tonight, and i was told it was noticeable that i've been working hard... which is nice to hear... i was certainly a few places further forward in our group compared to before the lockdown.
Need to keep it up now though!
Home to Carr Crags - 8.7 miles 1829 ft, 1 hr 46 mins. Very boggy after yesterday deluge. Lovely short-ear owl perched on the first trig as I arrived.
5K indoor row. 22 mins, 290 cals.
Mossdog i recall discussing indoor-rowing with you elsewhere on the forum...
If remember rightly you were on about 46 or 47 mins for 10km and looking to knock some time off... very impressive to get down to 43mins.
Cheers Travs. But looking at your training regime (and Mike T's weekly tally) makes me feel breathless as my efforts are very modest in comparison. You did indeed provide me with some extremely helpful advice when I first bought the erg a couple of years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
I now clock up on average about 40k a week. I think improvements stem from mastering the technique (there are some handy Youtube vids from Dark Horse Rowing and Training Tall to mention a couple) and consistent good form, as well as improved core-strength. Whenever I've not been able to row for a couple of weeks, such as when on holiday, on return I always feel the upper abs tighten.
I've dallied with some shorter distance sprints (2K) but have had some scary moments cardiac-wise ( :D ) and so now judiciously stick to the longer distances where I seem better suited. My max distance in one session was 20K, but I found the gnawing pain of the teeth grinding tedium just too much!
Yes the 2km is a beast of a distance, and i can see why it's the Olympic standard distance!
Technique is paramount... i found by dropping my stroke rate and concentrating on pulling harder, i was able to make some big improvements. Think i was hitting about 33spm when i set my best times... but then you see the Olympic level rowers are able to manage such a strong pull at much closer to 40spm, it's mind-blowing!
Weighed myself again this morning, and pleased to still be 79.5kg... so my fear of putting weight back on due to the gyms re-opening seems to be unfounded. Of course i need to stay disciplined with mileage and diet.
Dufton village, along the race route to High Cup Nick, then a right turn (east) at the top to return down the 'wrong' side, to Harbour Flats Farm and then along the seemingly never-ending lane back to Dufton. 12.3 miles, 1670 feet, at a pedestrian 2 hrs 37 mins (I'm blaming it on all the ruddy bracken).
'Today's wildlife encounter' included a group of 8 soaring buzzards and, at the stile midway up High Cup Nick Gill a (I think) gossander - a duck with saw-like teeth?. The fell was also patterned with blue scabious, grass of parnasus, and limitless tormentil.
An addition to the 'things found whilst on a run' thread, was a near pristine sandwich box, sadly empty of any cake or sarnies.
Running back through the village to the car, clutching a sandwich box, surely meant I lost any lingering iota of fell runner's panache I might have had :( . Still just got to the car before the heavens opened, so that's a well timed plus.
Tonight's RATRun was from The Barrel Inn, Bretton. On arrival it was surprisingly busy for a horribly wet evening and two motorcyclist were being filmed going up and down the road outside the pub.It turned out that The Hairy Bikers were filming in the area and by the time we set off they were drying off in the pub.
Seven of us set off down into Bretton Clough on the 8 mile and 1,300feet route which was a loop taking in Abney and Shatton moors. Very wet and muddy in places and it was good to be in the Mudclaws again.
Back at the Barrel it was nice and quiet as the Hairy Bikers and entourage had moved on but someone did mention that they could have stayed and cooked us some cheesy chips!
As it turned out the cheesy chips were delicious and were washed down with a very quaffable Marston's Pedigree.
Relieved to hear that the Barrel is still open and super pleased to see you had cheesy chips after last week’s disappointment
Track session this morning. 4 x 1km reps, 200 metres recovery in between.
3:41, 3:38, 3:37, 3:38...... slightly disappointed with those times, and in my upcoming 3000m race it would appear that i'm going to have to work hard to get under 11mins, which would be a bit of a disappointment having ran 10:48 last year.
On the other hand, i had a bruising 17 mile race last sunday, and squeezed in a fairly hard club session on tuesday night (on legs that were far from fresh), so it was perhaps a bit much to ask to hit the splits i was after.
Hopefully fresh legs and the occasion of a race will spur me on to a pb!
Langdon Beck, Saur Hill Bridge, down the Pennine Way to Cronkley Bridge, then swing west along the Tees to Merrygill. Join the Cronkley Fell race route, over Cronkley (slight detour to the trig), swing left (NE) off the race route to rejoin the PW at Bracken Rigg, and then head north, over Cronkley Bridge again and back along Marwood Beck. 9 miles, 977 feet, 1 hr 38 mins.
Cool persistent NW wind. Temp: 9.5 degrees at Langdon Beck. Autumn is here! Lots of Wheatears along the Tees.
Weekly total, 63 miles and 10,400ft.
Fairly pleasing numbers, given that was off the back of a long race last sunday, and included two tough midweek sessions.
Next week will be a non-starter in terms of any productive training... an AS tomorrow, and 3000m track race next sunday, i'm just going to have to keep it very easy in between.
WOW! That's a massive achievement Travs. Really well done. I'd say you deserve a rest this forthcoming week, but I imagine your idea of a rest and mine are somewhat different! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Travs
This morning a 10 miles and 1,400 feet walk/jog in 2.20 around the gloriously quiet Staffordshire Moorlands to recce this weeks RATRun. Glad I did recce as the route goes through so many farms and farmland where the footpaths are not marked and, due to even less footfall in current times, are not obvious on the ground.
On one stile prior to entering a property a sign informed me that the path was closed due to a Covid patient being in the house through whose garden the path went. Looked official and put up jointly by the Peak Park and Health Authority.
Apart from 4 women having a picnic in the middle of a moorland path that I had to avoid I saw no one. Plenty of wildlife including hare, heron, buzzard, kestrel.
Sprint hill reps session. Total 500m ascent book-ended by a hilly 1.5km warm up/cool down
Did the club's session this morning. But being conscious that i need to be absolutely fresh on sunday for the track, i declined to run it with the group this week, instead doing it alone and on the treadmill... feeling that this would allow me to keep some control and not turn it into a brutal session.
4 x 1 mile reps at tempo pace, with 2 minutes easy in between. As alluded to above, kept it well under control. But a decent morning's work, 10 miles and 1200ft including warm up and a very extended warm down.
I wish I could find out why my legs feel like putty when I'm trying to run one week, and then the next week I feel quite strong and energetic, without any change in diet or routines. Last week was one of the bad ones: Saturday's attempt to run up Beacon Hill ended up with me walking part of the bridleway back from the Outwoods, which is slightly downhill! But my two runs this week have both felt really good, even though my times are still much slower than I was doing on the same routes last year.
Grabbed a few hours in the Brecon Beacons on the way home from taking daughter 2 back to uni in Cardiff.
Torpantau, up to the waterfall and then crossed the gnarly peat hags to meet the path to Fan Y Big. Then managed to trip and fall on the way to Cribyn. A few grazes and a big bruise on the thigh hampered the rest of the run but made it almost to the top of Pen Y Fan before turning and taking a direct line (big mistake!) back to Torpantau. An ocean of bog and tussocky grass becoming harder as my leg started to cease up.
My intended run was to include Corn Du and Craig Fan Ddu but the hordes, and I mean it was absolutely rammed, on the top of Pen Y Fan were more than off putting in these socially distant times.
Still managed 16km and 950m ascent although at a hobble for most of it.
South Wales was obviously the place to be today!
I know of another occasional forumite who was over there today, on the other side of Storey Arms... he met another fellrunner on the lonely hills on that side (who claimed to know me?!?).... and the Fan Brycheiniog race was also on today, slightly further west again...
Steady/easy week for me, with two days of complete rest. Currently on about 37 miles and 7000ft for the week, with track race to come tomorrow.
I need to explore South Wales more. I've ridden here quite a lot but running the hills is all relatively new to me. Having regular trips to Cardiff for the next couple of years, I have an excellent opportunity to discover some more so hopefully days like today will be a thing of the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
My friend had a similar experience to your direct line back to Torpantau, on his first visit... tussock-bound in the upper valley of the Talybont Reservoir!
Pen Y Fan does indeed get busy... the contrast between there and the west side of Storey Arms is amazing, barely anybody on that side.
It is a great area. The races are good too... Black Mountains is a tough AL and in less than perfect conditions is probably a match for Borrowdale. Brecon Beacons is a superior version of the Edale Skyline. Four Fans my fave medium race, and similar in nature (but wilder and more enjoyable) to the Long Mynd Valleys.
Skirrid/Pen Cerrig Calch/Fan Fawr, all beautifully simple up and downs. The area even now has it's own Mountain Trial.
Did some runs out of Talybont on Usk a while back- it's easy to come unstuck as soon as the path deteriorates!Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Just been looking at Four Fans race - looks like there's plenty of route choice. I think I'll give that area a go next time I'm down that way.
Raced on the track today, 3000m on a warm and sunny afternoon.
Ran a very pleasing 10:32 which is an improvement of 16secs on last year, and much better than my recent track splits would suggest i was capable of. I guess race conditions do make a large difference.
As usual i made a quick start and led a tight group of 4 for the first km, but the next couple of laps saw the eventual first two stretch away, and i dropped to 4th.... started to wind it up with about 3 laps to go and pulled my way back to 3rd, where i was to finish... thought sub 10:30 was in with a chance, and if there's any disappointment, it's that i couldn't manage that, despite putting in a big effort to do so...
Overall very pleased, possibly another track race in a fortnight and i'm tempted to go for the same distance again. Although on today's showing i might have a chance at a 5km pb under race conditions, so maybe if that option is available i'll go for that...