Back To The Summit

Skirrid this time for the aptly named Skirrid fell race. I covered 7.5km all told, there and back. A steady walk across the boggy fields and slippy slopes of the Skirrid with about 375m ascent in total. It wasn't snowy this year but the wind on top was biting. I timed my journey up about right. I was at the trig with 5 minutes before the race start, ready to set the summit timer going.

I was marshalling with JD and it was fortunate there were two of us. With four digit numbers to record along with having to shout at runners to show their numbers and a field of 117, the runners came thick and fast. Too thick and fast and so after the first 35 runners I had to drop to just recording the times while JD did the numbers.

I was chief shouter. Yelling at the runners to show their numbers - funnily I've not yet mastered the art of x-ray vision or bendy vision for those runners fixing the number to the side of their legs - yes, you know who you are.

The key to recording the times and numbers of runners coming in groups of three or four is to be able to spot the numbers from as far away as possible. Once they are on you - not literally - because you've had to wait to see their number it's game over. There will no doubt be a fair number of errors but we did our best.

With the 117 runners through I headed back down into the warm.

A Non-Political Post

So I missed Stage 1 of the Zwift Tour of London on Monday/Tuesday but I can make that up at the end. Tonight it was stage 2. I plumped for the long course so that meant a double dose of the virtual Box Hill. 40km, 400+ metres ascent. I took it easy as I've been feeling fatigued from reading all the nonsense posted over the last few weeks. Anyway, it was an enjoyable virtual ride with over 2000 of us riding out. The road was clear, not a single car or extinction rebellion protester (oops, bit political there) to slow our progress - that was done by my lack of energy. Good workout.

Bit Slippy!

No, I didn't spill grease on the treadmill. I got out into the real world! Bit scary... (not really). Yes, I finally managed to get myself organised and enthused to go run with the Longhope running group. On a surprisingly chilly evening eighteen of us, head torches at the ready, headed out onto the trails surrounding the village. There was plenty of mud, much slipping and the best bit, it was all very easy going. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be aiming to make it a regular occurrence....

Treadmill Time

A gentle 4 miles. My left hip was giving me a bit of jip but I think more because I've not managed much this week. Not a lot more to say. This coming week should be less heavy work-wise so I'm aiming to try and run most days. Little and often and then build up the miles from there.

Only Got Lapped Once...

In today's eight lap race in virtual Harrogate. I pushed a bit harder today but I could definitely feel yesterday's training in my legs. I was going to run after but if I'm honest, I was knackered after the effort of the ride. Perhaps I should do the run bit before I do the riding next time.

Back To It

I enjoyed today's Zwift ride. 41km. It wasn't a race so I started steady and built into. My legs, after the few days off, took a while to get going. It was 4 laps and by the final one I was putting in some solid effort. After a few hours recovery I hit the treadmill for an incline session. Setting it to 12% I ran about ten short hill reps, leaving the incline at 12% for the recovery. I think my legs have recovered from last Saturday so I really need to find another big hill to 'run' up to keep the ball rolling.

Lacking The Will

Not been the greatest week of training so far. My legs are just about ready to go again but I'm feeling tired after a long day at work. Tomorrow....

No Possibility of Training Tonight

My quads have stiffened right up adding to yesterday's soreness. I can barely traverse the stairs. Saturday's walk up Blorenge did proper muscle damage so it's healing time before I crack on. Did the walk count as a training session? I wasn't counting it but based on how destroyed my legs feel I think I am now...

Didn't Expect That...

My quads are sore as f*(%! And all I did was walk up the Blorenge and jog back down. Really rams home the message that the only way to train your body to ascend bloody steep hills is to ascend bloody steep hills. I'm going to make a concerted effort to book in some time in the hills....

With my legs really sore I wasn't going to run so I did a steady 1:15hr Zwift 'race', the third and final stage of the Giro di Catelli. I didn't really race but I did put in as much effort as my sore legs would allow and I finished stronger than I started so I think it was a good session to get some blood flowing through the legs.

Chilly On Top

So I wasn't running today but I was back in the mountains. I was summit marshal for the Blorenge Fell race, taking the times so the runners can see how good or bad they are ascending or descending. I set out with plenty of time but by 'eck I'd forgotten how bloody steep the ascent up Blorenge is! Even walking my legs were burning under the effort. And hot? I had steam coming out the tops of my three jackets by the time I finally got to the top - and yes, I was glad of the three jackets by the time the last runners were coming through. Once that last runner was through I jogged back down, following the race route, as a makeshift sweeper - got bloody damn hot again by the finish.

Looking at how my training is going, I'm feeling fitter but after today's walk up Blorenge there's no alternative, I'm going to have to start hitting the hills if I'm wanting to hit the fell racing again...

Managed To Get Back To It Today

After a gap of a few days I managed to get back on it with the #Zwift Giro di Castelli stage 1. It was a group race on the Bologna time trial course. I took it steady for the first 6km, to the bottom of the hill and from there the hard work began. I upped the power towards my old FTP for the entirety of the steep 2km climb to the finish and gained somewhere near fifty places - which from a field of 330 wasn't too bad an effort. I continued on back down as a cool down to ride out 30 minutes of cycling.

Up tomorrow I'm to freeze my balls off stood and the top of the Blorenge recording the summit times of the fell runners taking part, funnily enough, in the Blorenge Fell Race. Warm I do not expect to be....

Two For The Price Of One

I decided to run some higher pace intervals today to try and reintroduce my legs to going quicker. Fourteen reps; seven pairs of 200m at 120%, recovery, 300m at 100%, recovery. The recovery between the efforts enough to get my heart rate down sufficiently. That took me to 8km.

During the cool-down I decided to keep going for a bit and get some good time on feet as that's been lacking of late. In the end I ended up clocking 12.5km. Longest run for a while and it's the first run for a while where I didn't feel congested. I can feel it in my legs now though.

Had To Admit Defeat...

and reduce the effort level half way through today's bike workout. I didn't feel too fatigued after yesterday's training but by half way I was feeling differently. I was blowing and had no choice but to reduce the level a bit. It was a good hard session - fnah fnah - but I decided not to flog myself for a run. I'll save that for tomorrow.

It's Been A Light Week

Still not feeling a hundred percent, coupled with a few long ones at work and the result was a distinct lack of training during the week. I mustered the enthusiasm for some training today and it wasn't a bad session. I completed workout number four of the Zwift Tri Academy on the treadmill before waiting a couple of hours and then completing the equivalent workout on the bike. The bike session was pretty tough and during the first couple of reps I was close to reducing the effort but I dug in and completed. My throat is now feeling sore. Hopefully the cat won't bring in any mice tonight so I can get a good restorative nights sleep - chasing mice around the bedroom at 3am is not the ideal way to recharge the batteries...