I'll take a look, I try to stay away from the place really. I don't really have any opportunity to prepare for it so I don't know how it's going to go...Originally Posted by Travs
I'll take a look, I try to stay away from the place really. I don't really have any opportunity to prepare for it so I don't know how it's going to go...
Tomorrow then....
I'll be reccying the final descent section at lunchtime.
Although had a rather alarming physio visit earlier this week.... have a fairly decent torn calf (not actually very painful), and (less serious but considerably more painful) a strained hip flexor.
I should be ok to race given i've taken it incredibly easy this week (the benefit of having a physio who is also a committed runner is she knows what advice i'll take on board, and what i'm likely to completely ignore), but will then need up to a fortnight off afterwards to let things repair.
So basically in the last fortnight, except for doing the inter-counties and (hopefully) Fairfield tomorrow i'll have done no training in anger.
Fingers crossed i'll be on the start line tomorrow.... i'll certainly be giving it my all and pushing for a pb ... i just don't expect to know if i can run hard until i get stuck into my warmup.
Sounds like you're outstripping the capacity of your biomechanics. Overcoming this begins with a long rest because the soft tissues have to heal and that's the only way they will. The process itself can be likened to filling a jug with water one drop per day while it drains from a hole in the base at a rate of one drop every two days, the conclusion is a mathematical certainty. You can't cheat your own biomechanics, I learnt that the hard way. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do was make peace with the facts of this process, and accept I will never be the runner I want to be.
Hopefully see you tomorrow.
Turned my ankle fairly badly with about 3.5m still to go, it was a stop running immediately injury. It takes a lot of time to walk off that ridge with an injury; I'm very badly sunburnt, but I had a nice woman hiker with a couple of dogs for company all the way.
I was just getting going when happened. The trod was congested so I was dropping on and off the rocky path to overtake, I switched across and my foot rolled off something I had not seen and my reflexes couldn't keep up.
I correctly predicted dehydration would be a factor today, I had my hydration strategy nailed, but of course I buggered my ankle. Probably won't be racing again this summer, I'll know in the coming week.
Sorry to hear that - it is a long ridge to descend with an injury. Good luck with your rehabilitation.
It was a relief to see you coming down the track MrB.... myself and Daz were slightly concerned as time ticked by and you hadn't came in.
Will post up a report tomorrow... But it was a scorching day and there were some people really suffering on the course and at the finish.
Interesting to read of the sun-baked Cumbrian fells, when here in Leicestershire I was regretting not wearing gloves for my cycle ride.
Anyway, I hope your ankle mends quickly, Mr B.
Talofibular doesn't seem to have taken a big hit, the metatarsal tendons and the joint capsule feel to have been mainly affected. I'll be starting my mobilisation and proprioception exercises tommorrow; for the nerve fibres to repair effectively they have to need to transmit signals, you need to get on the wobble cushion twice a day as soon as you can take the pain.
It was a good day for people like Darren, who can do a 95min sunbaked race off little more than a cup of tea.
It was a stunning morning yesterday on the Ullswater side of Kirkstone. Possibly one of the most beautiful mornings i've seen in 25 years. It was a little cloudier down by Rydal, but it was clear it was going to be a hot day (despite one of the marshals who assured me that there'd be a nice breeze on the tops which would shock a few people)
I'm not particularly a fan of the initial 20mins of this race, the valley track is uneven, and so is the first climb to Nab Scar, can't really get a good rhythm, and obviously the heat was making itself known early as well... still sneaked past MrB and Tindersticks up the valley track, and set about putting plenty of distance between myself and them, and a few others as well.
Once on the ridge proper i was at the back of a decent group containing the likes of John Hunt, DanGilbert, Mel Price, Sophie Likeman... however here i made my one route error of the race... followed two Helm Hill chaps on a very low line around Heron Pike, expecting this was local knowledge and a patented MikeT shortcut... however it proved to be pretty duff, no trod, just a trudge across tussocks then a climb back up... cost me about 60-90secs on the group i was with, and i expected i'd never get back to them.
Just worked as hard as possible in the conditions up to the summit, reaching Fairfield 2mins behind my pb schedule, on 59:30.... DanGilbert only 30secs in front... however heat really making itself known here and as soon as i tried to get into a fast pace for the descent i immediately felt pretty sick... nobody else was moving particularly well so i just kept the hammer down as much as possible.
Even so, it took me until High Pike cairn to reel DanGilbert in.... i was somewhat concerned about the likes of Virgil Barton, TIndersticks and MrB behind, who would surely be descending at a rate of knots faster than me.... so set my sights on Mel Price only about a minute in front.
With the fresh knowledge of friday's recce, i was just waiting for people to slip up so i could take advantage... however everyone around seemed to know the decent lines and i was unable to make headway... by the time i hit the rocky path bypassing the step, i was done, no chance of getting back to Mel, and it was just a case of making the finish.
The last 1.2km up the track were absolutely pitiful... at about 500mtrs to go i asked a walker if there was anyone behind me, and he told me there was nobody within 100 metres... i was still caught by 2 people on the line.
1hr48.... about 2mins shy of a pb.... so my 2mins lost on the climb did the damage and i couldn't pull it back on the way down.
That said, overall pretty pleased... given my injury issues i had no idea how it was going to pan out, and i finished about "par"... just behind Mel Price, just in front of Virgil Barton... sometimes i beat them both, sometimes they hammer me... so i can't have done too badly.
56th vet.... 40th vet was at about 1:43, so as predicted i'd have needed a decent pb to trouble the points... in fact i'd have needed even better than that if conditions had been kinder as i expect everybody would have been a bit faster.
Hello to DanGilbert, MrB, Tindersticks.... and i think i spotted ba-ba around.
Last edited by Travs; 14-05-2023 at 04:01 PM.
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