[QUOTE=Llani Boy;676287]Sorry not to be out with you tonight, but family circumstances were against it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
Did manage a nice run this morning up from Lightwood and up to the trig point on Coombs Moss.
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[QUOTE=Llani Boy;676287]Sorry not to be out with you tonight, but family circumstances were against it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattPo
Did manage a nice run this morning up from Lightwood and up to the trig point on Coombs Moss.
A very steady 14 miles today across two sessions, brings the week to an end with a solid 73 miles.
Getting comfortable with this mileage now.
I've somehow managed to end up with 7 consecutive weekends of racing between yesterday and the weekend before xmas (i really should consult my race calendar before entering 10 mile road-races, guest XC races, etc on a bit of a whim...)
So being fresh for races is going to be a massive priority over getting in any quality sessions. I didn't feel 100% race-sharp yesterday and i'll just have to pick up race sharpness as the weeks tick by.
But once we enter the new year i'm going to have to really make an effort with using this increased mileage and endurance to really push on in my hard sessions... Hopefully leading to continued improvement throughout 2022.
73 miles, that's impressive Travs. I'd be surprised if you don't see the improvements.
Tonight's RATRun was from the Lathkil Hotel, Over Haddon. Six of us set off on a dry, mild evening across the fields to Two Tree Corner and then towards Haddon Hall before a right turn that took us around Shining Bank Quarry and down to Alport.
Up Lathkill Dale and before Conksbury we turned left up to Meadow Place Farm and then back down into Lathkill Dale which we followed to Raper Lodge and then up through the woods to Walkers Buildings and back through fields to the Lathkil Hotel.
Just over 7 miles, 733 feet in 1hr 4mins.
Once inside, cheesey chips were washed down with Moonshine 4.3% from Abbeydale Brewery, Hen Cloud 3.9% from Wincle and Hartington 4% from Whim.
Two steady runs today totaling 11.5 miles. 69 miles for the week.
Next week got Brampton - Carlisle 10, so this week i'm hoping to get a speed session in midweek, but reducing the mileage. Most important thing is being fresher on the start line next sunday.
Target next sunday sub-64mins. If i got under 63 i'd be absolutely ecstatic, but would be very surprised.
Didn't do the Roaches as planned today as it would have been too much with the ToP next Saturday.
As Remembrance Day is also when the Leg It Round The Lathkil race usually takes place I decided to have a run around the route to keep traditions alive.
Needless to say I came 1st overall in a rather leisurely time of 1hr 9 min. On race days I usually am able to just about break the hour mark.
I celebrated with a pint of Hartington 4% from Whim Brewery.
So despite all those category wins you only got prize?Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
The RO must be something of a puritan, or just mean.:(
Club night with Godiva...
12 x 400mtr road reps, 1 minute rests.
Haven't done any short-distance rep sessions for quite a while, so wondered how i'd get on... but happily kept them amazingly consistent at 80secs throughout. Considering the short rest period i was very pleased, and felt strong (although i must admit that after 5 reps i wondered whether i could keep it up for 10, let alone the full 12...!)
That's the hard work done now before the weekend, and it'll be easy miles all the way. Hopefully landing on the start line at Brampton relatively fresh.
12.5 miles yesterday. 9 monday.
As promised, i dropped the miles towards the end of the week in order to be fresh today at Brampton-Carlisle.
Ended up with 57 miles for the week. Funnily enough i didn't feel much benefit from the combined rest of an easy friday, and a full day off yesterday.
Next weekend is the Lee Mill Relays which are always a great event. Hoping to get out for a steady club run on the Howgills from Tebay tomorrow night, and possibly a flatter midweek session.
A wonderful lunchtime 6 mile wander under cloudless skies on Bleaklow today which doubled up as a Trigger recce. Spent a few moments at the Superfortress crash site below Higher Shelf Stones which felt a little more poignant with it being Thanksgiving Day.
Oh, if only they'd been flying 50 feet higher!
Calf felt ok after the lunchtime walk so I partook of this weeks RATRun from The Church Inn, Chelmorton. Only 4 of us set off on a cold, clear evening up to Pillwell Lane, over the A6 and down to the River Wye at Blackwell Mill Cottages. Up the other side and great running over fields to Wormhill. Back down to the Wye, over Green Bridge and up over more runnable fields to Blackwell Hall. Along to Priestcliffe Ditch, up back across the A6 onto Sough Lane before a right turn took us across more fields and down to the Church Inn.
Seven and a half miles, 1,427 feet in 1hr 18 min. Inside the "Church" and besides a roaring fire cheesy chips were washed down with excellent Waimea 4.3% from Stancill Brewery.
If only every day could be this good.
I took a longer way home from Llanidloes this morning via New Radnor. I had planned a 12 mile run taking in 5 TP's but was feeling a bit ropey so settled for a walk/jog around just 3 of them, Bache Hill, Black Mixen and Great Rhos.
Lovely unspoilt hills over 2,000 feet and didn't see a soul. Damp and misty, so good to get the compass out in anger. Generally firm underfoot but then there is no footfall to make it muddy!
Ten and a half miles, 1,700 feet in a very steady 2hrs 10min.
Just checked my Bridges Tables log and I was last here on a sunny 25th Oct 1982, nearly 40 years ago.
Doesn't time fly!
Tonight's RATRun was from The Bulls Head in Youlgreave. A cold, still evening saw five of us drop into Bradford Dale and up the other side and over fields to Hopping Farm before back into Bradford Dale and then up to Lomberdale Hall. Up again over fields to Meadow Place Farm and down into Lathkill Dale. Over Conksbury Bridge and up the other side towards Haddon Hall and then around Shining Bank quarry. More fields back into Bradford Dale and up to the Bull.
Lovely running conditions, mainly over fields that had dried out and were just frosting over, which gave fantastic grip. Seven and a half miles, 950 feet in 1hr 11 minutes.
Back at the Bull cheesy chips were washed down with Bombardier 4.1% and Marston's 61 Deep 3.8%. An added bonus was that the TV was showing Man Utd v Arsenal via Amazon Prime. A great match.
Nice one Llani....
I've got nothing to report running-wise... hoping to do League XC tomorrow but had a minor bug for several days and not quite at 100% this week.
However one big change i have made is my strength routine for upper body.... although i'll be keeping a close eye on how it affects my weight, which is currently safely under my target limit of 80kg.
After a very tough XC race yesterday, it was hard work to drag myself up for an easy run this morning, but managed 7.5 miles in the end.
Been a strange couple of weeks... the first of which, due to other circumstances, i did precisely zero miles. This week i eased back in, but late in the week illness hit, and ended up with 49.5 miles. Considering all that, i was extremely pleased with my race yesterday.
That's another 10 week mileage block finished, which saw me average 53.5 miles. Although in there were two non-consecutive weeks of not running at all. The weeks i did run averaged a healthy 67 miles.
Onwards and upwards, and looking forward to a fresh 10 week block of miles, and with everything outside of running quietening down, hopefully it will be consistent. The next ten weeks take me through yet more cross-country, and fell races at Callow, possibly Jubilee Plunge, all the way through to Long Mynd Valleys in early Feb.
Club night with Godiva last night and 5 x 1km with 90secs rest.
Was a different km circuit to usual, much hillier, so no way i was gong to be hitting under 3:25/km as i have been recently. Quite a battle in the wind as well.
Was a good runout but not particularly impressive... around 3:45 for the first three, then the weekend's efforts started to tell, and by the 5th and final rep i was around 3:55
With no racing this weekend i might do another similar session (if 100% recovered) on friday, maybe 8 x km with 1 minute rest.
8 miles last night, on top of 5 in the morning. Its been a solid start to the week.
Tonight's RATRun was from the Cock and Pullet in Sheldon. Our planned route was changed due to the Wye bursting its banks so we stayed away from the river and stayed high on farmland footpaths linking Sheldon, Flagg and Monyash. Mainly soft, but not muddy, underfoot in continuous drizzle.
A total of just over 7 miles, 690 feet in 1hr 5 mins. Back at the Cock and Pullet cheesy chips, mmmmmm Red Leicester, were washed down with Farmers Blonde 4% from the Bradfield Brewery.
16 miles across two runs today gives a solid weekly total of 72.5 miles.
Didn't manage to get in a 2nd rep session... although did inject some harder/tempo efforts into my steady runs during the latter part of the week.
Next week, hopefully club session on tuesday, and the mighty Callow race next sunday... hoping to run well, although not so hopeful of a pb given that the race is usually ran in mid-July... (although it not being close to 30deg will perhaps help things)
Looking forward to Callow too though with my current injury rehabilitation, I'm just looking to finish and not be any more broken than when I started!Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
It will be interesting to see how the change in season and weather alter the nature of the race which let's face it, is an absolute brute whatever time of year you do it.
Yes it will be interesting to see how times compare... what slows the times down more... the oppresive July heat of the last couple, or this year's winter underfoot conditions?
Club night for me last night and 2 x 2.6km reps. Kept them amazingly consistent for such a long rep, and not looking at my watch at all.... 9:35:0 and 9:35.4 (approx 18:20/5km pace)
Of course it helped having someone who is almost identical pace as me, as we were pretty much stride for stride during the whole session, neither of us backing down when it got tough on the 2nd rep... although he has been getting the better of me in the cross country this season.
15 miles yesterday, 13 on monday, another solid start to the week, although there will be no more hard running before Callow on sunday.
Tonight's RATRun was from The Manners Hotel in Bakewell. It was very foggy and cold beside the River Wye when we set off but once we had climbed up into Manners Woods the temperature rose markedly and we had lovely moonlit running over Calton Lees.
We then dropped into the Derwent Valley at Edensor back into the cold fog, which had hidden Chatsworth House from view, before the climb back up into the moonlight to Ball Cross and then back over to Calton Lees before the descent back into a cold and foggy Bakewell.
An enjoyable 8 miles, 1,210 feet in 1hr 14 mins. We were back to The Manners too late for chips so we had to make do with Pipers Crisps washed down with Dizzy Blonde 3.8% and Wizard 3.9% from Robinsons. Not my favourite brewer!
Another solid week. Decent club session midweek and relatively satisfactory race today, 69 miles.
Next week hopefully get another club session in midweek if i'm recovered (from both yesterday's jab and today's race), then preparing for Jubilee Plunge (fingers crossed) on the 27th...
Tonight's RATRun saw just 5 of us set off from The Bulls Head at Monyash under clear skies up Hutmoor Butts to the A515 and across fields to the High Peak Trail. Along the trail and back across the 515 at Pomeroy then a few fields before Blinder Lane and then more fields down to Flagg. Back to Monyash via the Limestone Way.
Back at the very busy Bull cheesy chips were washed down with Timothy Taylor Landlord 4.3%.
Just over 7 miles and a very gentle 600 feet in just under the hour. Mainly soft, but not saturated, fields made for lovely running.
Worth noting was that one of our group ticked off 250'000 feet of running ascent for 2021 and another gave us, courtesy of his wife, a bag each of 50 handmade chocolate liqueurs(wrong shape seconds) that where they are sold at Selfridges, Chatsworth, Harrods etc are £1.10 each!
Merry Christmas to all.
Was talking to a friend at Callow on sunday.... in fact he's a very occasional forumite, TrevorM of Dark Peak... he ticked over 500,000ft for the year on the first climb up Ashlet last sunday...Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Both figures show great consistency of training.
I've stopped measuring ascent, but i averaged 58.5 miles weekly for the year... which incidentally is exactly the same as 2020...! 70mpw consistently through 2022 is the target.
A steady week, 71 miles.
Not bad considering the other commitments over xmas week. No hard session, but had raced hard last sunday, and racing again tomorrow. Did plenty of strength work in the first half of the week though.
Next week... tomorrow's aforementioned race, and hopefully a parkrun next saturday, then following on from there will be straight back into the heart of the XC season.
Good luck on tomorrows "plunge" Travs
A steady 11.5 miles today brings the weekly total to a solid 68 miles.
No new years day Parkrun.... what i thought were severe DOMS from the downhill exertions at Jubilee Plunge, turned into a couple of minor strains and niggles, so bearing in mind the heavy XC schedule in January, i kept everything steady.
Next week, hopefully a club session on tuesday, but only if feeling 100% fresh, then county XC on saturday.
A midweek weigh-in showed me that i'd gained a kg over the xmas period... not overly worried, i expect to see that off over the next week or two.
It was supposed to be a run over Buck Hill and the Outwoods; only my third run since my hip flexor problem has been resolved. But the bright sunshine burnt away any semblance of common sense that I may have had, and as I reached the path junction on the descent from Buck Hill I turned right towards Beacon Hill rather than left to the Outwoods. So, my longest run for about 4 months, albeit very slow.
Back at the Cat and Cello*, cheesy pasta was washed down with Yorkshire Tea. [Sorry Llani, that's the sort of fare you can expect if you ever have the misfortune to appear at my place.]
*Not the Cat and Fiddle. We have a cat and my son's cello, but no fiddle.
After an afternoon of snow, which had left treacherous driving conditions, only 3 of us turned out on tonight's RATRun from The Cock and Pullet at Sheldon.
Cold and windy, but dry, we drooped into Great Shacklow Woods and turned left towards White Lodge where we crossed the A6. We then followed the very muddy path alongside the River Wye to the Monsal Viaduct from where we climbed up to the Monsal Head Hotel. Across a series of slippery fields and then down into Ashford in the Water. Back across the A6 and up to the mast near Arrock Plantation, down into Kirk Dale followed by a few fields back to Sheldon.
Very slow progress over a combination of ice, mud, slush and slippery limestone. Seven and a half miles, 1,240 feet in 1hr 18. Back at the Cock and Pullet delicious cheesy chips were washed down with Farmers Blonde 4% from Bradfield Brewery.
The unfortunate cancellation of our county XC race meant i headed down to the local parkrun instead this morning.
19:45 on a miserable, wet and windy morning. The trail sections were most unpleasant in road shoes, was rather fortunate to stay upright.... that said, it was a slow time for me, although i was making a conscious effort to try and keep a relaxed manner, and not "red line" it too much.
12 miles across two sessions today, brings the week to a close with a total of 77 miles.
Next week will definitely get the club session in on tuesday, then it's back to the League XC next weekend, on one of my favourite courses at Warley Woods in Smethwick.
Didn't do Trigger in the end. I was umming and aahhing about it due to lack of miles in the legs then I stubbed a toe, which lifted the nail and it bled like a pig.
Decision made for me.
Its infected so now on antibiotics.
However this evening I decided to do a run on the flat Monsal Trail so the chances of stubbing it were low. I was only intending to do 2 or 3 miles to see how it was but ended up doing 10 miles in 1hr 20 min.
I only saw a pair of runners and two mountain bikers with dazzlingly bright lights. They were side by side and at first I thought it was a motor vehicle coming towards me. Very courteous they were too as just before I had to take avoiding action they fell into single file and the front one turned his light off.
I said thank you, of course.
I think i'll have to get back to the Trigger next year Llani, even if it means ditching XC for a weekend.
Last night was club training, and 3 x 1 mile with 2mins rest.
Unfortunately my clubmate who is stride-for-stride with me in training (admittedly he's been murdering me in races), has been injured, so i was stuck at the front of the group on my own, which meant my only motivation was from the stopwatch.
Just wanted to go under 6 mins for all reps...
5:56
5:52
5:50
Pleased with that. 13 miles for the day. Will keep it steady now until XC on saturday.
Tonight's RATRun was from The Sycamore Inn in Parwich. Six of us set off under a moon and star lit sky over a series of fields up to Rivendale Holiday Park. Across the A515 and on to the Tissington Trail for a mile before back over the 515 and up to Uppermoor Farm. From here it was 2 miles of lovely running over frost covered fields back down to Parwich, until the last one which found us calf deep in mud and cowshit.
Just over 8 miles and 900 feet in 1hr 14 mins. After washing our shoes and legs in the village stream we warmed up around a roaring coal fire in The Sycamore where cheesy chips were washed down with Cumbria Way 4.1% from Robinsons. Not my favourite brewery but this was surprisingly good.
Any excuse is good enough for avoiding a reps session. It's too cold and foggy. I think I will go up Beacon Hill to see if I can get above the fog.
As I was ascending through the Outwoods, on the very same path where I had originally intended to do some hill reps, I emerged from the fog into the sunshine. At the top of Beacon Hill I could look down on the fog blanketing Loughborough (and the rest of the Soar and Trent valleys). I was expecting to see the Peak District hills above the fog, but all I could see in that direction was a dirty haze; so the only land visible was the high ground of Charnwood Forest.
Anyway, I felt good, and ran every step of the way up Beacon Hill. On the return home after Windmill Hill I added a little extra distance and climbing: I couldn't face the mud bath that is the direct footpath from Woodhouse Eaves back to Loughborough, so I went back to the bridleway.
Hopefully you might be fit enough for another shot at Four Fans this year....? Or Half-Peris....
Much too early to start planning yet, but I do hope to continue my recent tradition of having a long weekend in Wales, including a reasonably gnarly race, some time in Summer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
11 miles across two sessions today. Bringing the week to a close with a nice round 70 miles.
Next week, club session tuesday, and a rush of blood to the head earlier has seen me enter the Mercia Hill Trial next weekend.
Took my new Scott Supertrac Ultra RC's (second pair) out for a run today on the Tissington Trail. A glorious mid January day saw me clad in just shorts and T shirt. That doesn't happen very often at this time of year.
10 miles in 1hr 19 min. What did surprise me was that I only saw 2 cyclists, 10 walkers all with dogs and no runners.
An hours Pilates this evening before a couple of pints of Bass.
After missing last night's club session due to a combination of things, including having to actually go into work (who remembers offices?!?), i did the session this morning instead.
Session was 6 x half mile reps, with 90secs recovery. However i changed it a little to 5 x half mile hard, half mile steady.
8.5 miles in total. Might try and squeeze in a tough uphill session tomorrow morning, prior to sunday's race.
Watch those junk miles.