mr b's latest comeback

[Graham Breeze]

Perhaps we just have different outlook, and different physiology.... but i'm completely the opposite... i can't see any way that running a hard 5km 24hrs before a target race can have anything but a negative effect.

This isn't a swipe at fellrunners by any means... but i don't know any other group of runners who would consider it remotely sensible... all our guys at the club will be running easy in the build up to a race of any discipline...

I have done it before, and i'm sure at some point i'll do it again (it was only xmas week that i ran two fell races in 24hrs), but in a year when i'm looking for pb's in every fell race, i just don't see the point in turning up on a start line potentially less than 100%.....

I'm not saying it would have a huge effect on me... but for example the Fairfield Horseshoe coming up... if i ran a hard 5km the day before i'd certainly not be enjoying that 45 minute fast descent.

I think in your case you are right Travs.

And it does all depend on what one's individual targets are. I think the notion of a PB in fell running is slightly unsound because conditions vary so much - relative to track or road running - but when I was in my pomp I always tried to remember that 95% of fell runners just want to race for fun, have modest targets, never expect to win anything and probably aren't overly bothered about PBs.

Currently in cycling Demi Vollering is winning road races against the best cyclists in the world every few days and nobody is telling her to take it easy. Wins are wins and may never come again. A cyclist's career can be ended in a heart beat.

But what do I know? I raced a lot - 86 races one year. I once raced 7 times in 12 days. I don't know if that produced any PBs but I know I won my category each time. I think I probably won some socks or a bottle of wine but fortunately no medals.

And I also know the last time I was injured it was during a parkrun which my physio explained was because as a fell runner my legs were not used to running downhill on tarmac at full stretch.

Dangerous things parkruns!