mr b's latest comeback

[Mike T]

Different session tonight as I felt I needed a steadier run out, so it was my first ever track 10k at a steady zone 2/3 pace. Went through 5k at 23.30 and crossed the line in 46.40, so a good level paced run. My calves are killing.

The old sage coach guy was there with his runner and asked how many slow sessions I do, I told him none at all at the moment and I prefer to race a lot when fit anyway. He was quick to point out I won't get any better this way and should be doing only 15 percent of my training at a fast pace. People keep leading the old horse to water like this, but alas it refuses to drink!

He is of course right - if our slow twitch fibres are under-developed, they call on our fast twitch fibres to help them out at too low a work rate, resulting in lactic acid leaking into our system which limits performance - we can only cope with so much lactic acid for so long. It is not just about "slow runs being too fast making us tired so fast runs are too slow".
But - but - if other issues significantly limit our mileage, then the rules need to be bent a bit, if not broken.

[mr brightside]

50m ride up to the craven arms and back today, the legs were a bit weak but the fire was lit. I nearly got taken off the bike on the way back at the Devonshire arms roundabout. Some guy came flying down from kex gill and only checked for cars before entering the roundabout, luckily I saw it coming and didn't go over his bonnet as he screeched to a halt, but turned gracefully away in a full circle and round the back of him. So, always ride on the hoods around traffic, and expect the worst.

[mr brightside]

7m/2215' from the Queens Arms in Litton today, tried to keep the pace under control, but may have failed there. The weather was very damp, but strangely very warm, i had to de-robe at the sheepfolds after the first descent into the wharfe valley due to excess sweating. I sought refreshments at the Queens Arms afterwards, which thankfully had clean cutlery. It was tomato soup with double bread and a pint of lamb pale ale. The staff at the pub say the fell race is on for this year...

Litton Birks AM.jpg

[mr brightside]

An easy 5k round the woods last night, felt like junk miles to me.

[mr brightside]

4.5m/580' XC tonight, another easy one, picking up where i left off before my ankle problems. I don't really expect to see any difference from doing these sessions, the cumulative milage will be too little. Normally i'd cover less than 20mpw, and i can't see how adding another 10 easy miles is going to add much to my fitness. I don't expect to see any change in my parkrun times.

[mr brightside]

Fast session last night, 3.2m/350' fartlek in the woods, usual route. The session felt fast and very good, the fast legs were strong and didn't tail off like sometimes, there is a conker tree en route which bombards you from above when you run underneath it, unfortunately it's on one of the slowest legs. Might do parkrun on saturday.

[mr brightside]

Shocking parkrun this morning, 21.17, towing my bag out all the way and got beaten by all the guys I normally stay ahead of.

50m ride up to the craven arms and back afterwards, which was 1min shy of a sub 3h, so a comparatively strong session compared to my crappy 5k efforts. The air was hot and humid, and the lanes were full of flies which were desperate to get down my throyt. I limited myself to 2 pints as I have a fell session planned for tomorrow and want to actually get some sleep this time. Watch this space for route details.

[mr brightside]

Same route as last week today, 7m/2215' from the ale house in Litton. I followed the ridge path along north for a bit longer then came back, i'm fairly sure it will lead you to horse head if you carry on going. It's a lot wetter and stodgier than the path past the firth fell trig. I had the soup with extra extra bread in the pub after; i couldn't bring myself to have a sticky toffee pudding on account of them not having any custard. It's an arrogant cheffy thing you see, ice cream for the summer and custard for the winter, it's not down to what you like.

Litton Birks AM.jpg

[MattPo]

Yes it does lead to Horsehead, lovely quiet area. I bivie’d up there just after we were allowed to travel post lockdown. A very fine night with a bottle of wine.
Glad the fell race is on. Hope to do it, shouldn’t be too hard to beat my last years time.

[mr brightside]

Yes it does lead to Horsehead, lovely quiet area. I bivie’d up there just after we were allowed to travel post lockdown. A very fine night with a bottle of wine.
Glad the fell race is on. Hope to do it, shouldn’t be too hard to beat my last years time.

I can't find any trace of it in the calendar, or on sientries. I don't know if it's confirmed.

Straight 5k tonight up at 'the track', otherwise known as southway. The college track is out of service for resurfacing. 19.44 for the distance give or take a bit, the usual dramatic drop-off kicked in at 3k.