Today's Training

[Llani Boy]

[QUOTE=Travs;687310]

I used my new GPS watch tonight for the first time (after leaving my previous GPS watch on the roof of the car getting changed after the Cardingmill Canter and then driving off and losing it somewhere on the A49 or M54!)

A couple of years ago at Holme Moss Fell Race we were sat recovering on the cricket field and my pal couldn't find his new phone. Assuming he had lost it during the race he was not looking forward to the bollocking from his missus when he got home.

However when we walked back to the car, which was parked on a public road in a long line of others, there was his phone on the roof of the car. It had been there for close on 6 hours!

Lucky lad.

[Travs]

Club night and a track session.

9 x 400mtrs. Rest period starts a 2mins, then decreases by 15secs each rep (so between reps 8 & 9 you get a mere 15 seconds)

Everyone knows this session is horrendous, you just have to turn up and get stuck in to it. The fact it was chucking it down and windy just made it a bit more ominous than usual.

75, 75, 74, 75, 75, 76, 77, 79, 78

First three reps were fairly routine, it started to get uncomfortable on the 4th rep (which was worryingly early in this session). The final three reps were absolute hell but i tried to just relax.

The wheels really came off with 150mtrs to go on the final rep and i was just about managing to corner the bend without going off the track.... i have no idea how i pulled a second back on that last one.

Very satisfied with the session... yes i couldn't quite hold the pace but that is no embarrassment on that session.

10 miles, plus 4 easy miles AM. Might get close to 80 miles this week with a fair wind.

[mr brightside]

Club night and a track session.

9 x 400mtrs. Rest period starts a 2mins, then decreases by 15secs each rep (so between reps 8 & 9 you get a mere 15 seconds)

Everyone knows this session is horrendous, you just have to turn up and get stuck in to it. The fact it was chucking it down and windy just made it a bit more ominous than usual.

75, 75, 74, 75, 75, 76, 77, 79, 78

First three reps were fairly routine, it started to get uncomfortable on the 4th rep (which was worryingly early in this session). The final three reps were absolute hell but i tried to just relax.

The wheels really came off with 150mtrs to go on the final rep and i was just about managing to corner the bend without going off the track.... i have no idea how i pulled a second back on that last one.

Very satisfied with the session... yes i couldn't quite hold the pace but that is no embarrassment on that session.

10 miles, plus 4 easy miles AM. Might get close to 80 miles this week with a fair wind.

Those are good times. I can do 74s flat out, but only once.

[Travs]

Those are good times. I can do 74s flat out, but only once.

I can (just) do a full session of 12 at 74/75/76 with a minute consistent rest each time. But the decreasing rest last night was just a killer.

Although it was wet and windy last night, so there's a second (maybe 2) to come off those times.

[Travs]

After not quite managing the full 40 minute continuous hill run last weekend, it was attempt no. 2 this morning.

Went at it with renewed determination and it went as well as could be expected. Thats not to say i sailed through it... i never felt it was in the bag until the last 5 minutes, but i kept the rhythm and just paced away, it felt more like a job that had to be done. I did require a complete change of clothes before i resumed the rest of the gym session, such was the effort and sweat produced.

A big week, 81.5 miles.

Next weekend is the Midland 12-Stage Road Relays and i'm pleased to have been informed this evening that i'm in the first team. There's one or two in the b-team who may arguably be quicker than me on paper, but i guess i've shown in previous years, and this winter, that i can be relied upon when the race-day comes round.

That said, aside from the fact i'm in it, it is looking like a strong team by our standards. I'm very much looking like the weakest runner. Thankfully i'm scheduled for the 9th leg (approx 3hrs in) so it should be quite spread out even if we are towards the sharp end.

I can just concentrate on running the best possible time and seeing if its enough to secure a place in the team for the National a fortnight later. If i was to make the National team it would be the 3rd year in succession, something that i'd value very highly.

Looking slightly further forward, after a conference this afternoon with the inter-counties team manager, i'm in as reserve for the I/C Fell in late April. So full focus will be on the GB uphill trial (which is less than 48hrs before the inter counties race!)

[Mossdog]

Another trip to lovely Weasdale.

Weasdale to Green Bell to Randygill Top, to Leathgill bridge, up to Hooksey and back (although I had to retrace my steps from Green Bell back towards Randygill top to search for my cap, dislodged from the bumbag - Arrrgh!).

8.76 miles 2363 ascent 1 hr 47 mins.

Not a soul in sight across all the visible range, which was fortuitous given my expletives on discovering the AWOL cap!

Very wet underfoot on the approach, but once a bit of altitude was gained, these fells generally drain well. Steady, but not chilling, westerly wind. Plenty of sunshine.

[Travs]

Club night.

5 x 1km with 3mins rests.

I was set a target of 3:18...... i only ever recall running 1 rep at 3:18, and that was one single rep on a 3 x 1km track session... tonight was a mixture of road and a twisty gravel path.

So whilst i was expecting a target in the region of 3:20, i was only expecting to be able to average around 3:25 if i had a good session.

In the event, i was pleasantly surprised...

3:21
3:18
3:19
3:21
3:21

Certainly the best ever fist i recall making of a 1km session. The final two reps, the guy i was running with, and the two guys with a 5secs head start in the handicap, all dropped out, leaving me effectively running solo, so it was very pleasing to maintain a decent pace on those two reps.

10 miles for the session, on top of 5 miles easy this morning.

Tomorrow is likely to be disrupted by a visit to the office and extensive meetings. Thursday will be another club night but only a steady run because of the impending road relays on saturday.

[Mossdog]

Got another pass to leave Teesdale. Twice in one week!

10.78 miles 1555 ft ascent (difficult to find much decent ascent here), 2 hrs 4 mins. From Orton out along fellrace route until the Monument, then detoured off, North-East, following the intake wall to Linglow Hill, back across Gaythorn Plain, meandering through and following various green trods and bridleways (this is brilliant hacking country for equestrians) back to the Monument to rejoin the race route. Stiff breeze keep the temperature in the pleasant range for running. Dry underfoot in this mainly limestone terrain. Serenaded by skylarks.

[Llani Boy]

Yesterdays RATRun was from the Bull i' th' Thorn situate the A515 between Pomeroy and Parsley Hay.
A cool but dry evening for the five of us running mainly over farmland to Hurdlow Town and then High Needham. A short stretch of tarmac to the bends above Crowdicote before the lovely runable climb to the TP on High Wheeldon. Down to Alderly Cliff and on to Earl Sterndale, where the Quiet Woman, closed for 3 years, has scaffolding up amid rumours that it is going to reopen .
Up through more fields to the edge of Dowlow Quarry and along the quarry rim to the High Peak Trail. A mile of HPT and then more fields back to the Bull i' th' Thorn.

Once inside horror of horrors, no real ale! I had to make do with Guinness Extra Cold, my default in such an emergency! It was most enjoyable for a change and washed down the chips nicely.

A steady 7 miles, 985 feet in 1hr 9min.

[Travs]

A decent 10 miles this morning, considering yesterday's efforts. And 3 very easy miles this evening.

A solid 74 miles this week.

Next week should be a "standard" week of training, with two club sessions and a weekend hill session (which might be a trip to the fells with it being easter weekend).

Waiting on news as to whether i'll feature in the National 12-Stage in a fortnight. Once that is done (or alternatively i find out i'm not in the team), i'll make the switch to one club session per week and two hill sessions.