How Slow Was That?

No really, how slow was that? It was so cold out there tonight that I wore my mittens and couldn't operate my watch. I have no idea of quite how poorly I performed - although I know it's right up there with my worst. I'll be on tenterhooks until the results come out - or maybe not.

I started off at the back of the field. Not quite last but not far off. I took things very easy in the first half of the race. These days my stride length is tiny - like other things on a night as cold as tonight, fnah fnah. I focused on form and tried to stride out. That worked to some degree and it felt pretty good not to shuffle along. From half way I began to push things a little - but not too much, didn't want to get carried away. I ran the incline well and actively put in the effort. From there I eased along while still focusing on striding out.

As I enter the final 500m I moved past a group of three of four runners with a concerted effort and started to feel a little sick with increase in effort, tilting towards towards max - not been there for a while. I lifted off the accelerator in the last 100m - well, there's no point flogging a dead horse, is there?

I hope I ran close to 20 minutes but I can't help but think I was a little adrift of that and I'd like to use the excuse that my quads were still feeling sore - which they really were, so I will use that excuse...

Petrol Shortage?

Well that was odd. Just been to the garage to get some petrol for the generator and it was a no show on all pumps. Didn't expect that. I know there's been that bit of trouble at t'mill - aka the refinery - but I didn't expect to get to the garage and find the cupboard bare. Most odd. I shall attempt to appropriate some tomorrow instead. I don't think the genny will actually run dry at tomorrow's  Bridge Inn - but I'd rather not flirt with danger.

But I digress. My legs, or more specifically, my quads are feeling a little sore. A bit of self massage and an hour on the bike has eased things a little. I think I'll be ready to put in another ludicrously slow 5k tomorrow night. I'm not even sure I will get the right side of twenty minutes - and that will be sad. Totally bloody sad. Fingers crossed I get inside. Oh, the potential embarrassment...

End Of The Weekend

It's not often I post twice in one day! but I'm bored...

I've been looking at my race schedule and at the moment - like old mother hubbard and her cupboard - it's pretty bare. Having thumbed the FRA calendar I'm looking at entering the Three Peaks race at the end of April. A long way to go for a race but I reckon it would fit well with the South Wales Traverse training. Then up, the following weekend, the Great Lakeland 3 Day - if only I could take that week off work and stay up north all week - but that can't happen. Still interested though. At three x 26 miles per day without any pressure, that would be good training for the Traverse. To which, it's now looking highly likely that I'm going to take my second crack at it on the weekend of June 2nd to 5th. The long bank holiday weekend, finishing on the Tuesday - cheers Queenie - should give me the best options for selecting the best day according to the weather - I am not going to set out in shit conditions like last time - lesson learnt. By aiming for that weekend the above race and event would fit well. I'm on the cusp of entering...

Back Again

For more running up mountains. This time with Pat and Matthew for a planned 20-21km - which, on count back, turned out to be almost 25km but my calculated ascent was about right, weighing in at 3,300 feet. We visited all of the normal places - but necessarily in the normal order - and the final loop back down into Llanthony made a nice change. Something different.

Conditions were, once again, brilliant. Yesterday's sunshine didn't make an appearance so things were a little colder with temperatures around 1-2 degrees and possible a little colder right on the tops. Visibility was great though and you see all the features of the mountains near and far. Best of all my tape from last year was still in place for the descent through the forest so that was about as good as it gets route-wise - provided, that's is, that your friend doesn't fell a tree on to you and shouts 'Dave' just in time for you to stop, turn and see a tree landing on your head - which was lucky, anywhere else and it could have done some damage...

No harm done we continued on and all in all it was a thoroughly great run. So it's been a 50k weekend with approaching 7,000 feet of ascent. My quads feel a little sore right about now but nothing that won't be recovered in a day or two. Good job. Mission complete. Just need to plan out next weeks training schedule and then I can put my feet up and chill for what's left of the weekend. Happy days.

Today's 25km run with its 3,300 feet of ascent

Have To Be Quick

Haven't got long. I'm off out. Good training today though - as you can see from my route below. I went off on the wrong ridge on the way out to race - doh - but quickly realised my shadow wasn't in the right place and I wasn't heading north. So I whipped out the map, a quick dabble on the compass and I was back on track.I arrived without much time to spare, registered and headed for the start line.

I started slowly, sitting pretty towards the back of the field and slowly but surely - don't call me Shirley - worked my towards slightly in front of the back of the field.

My legs were feeling the earlier 10k to get to the race as I struggled on the climb but being a race you still work as hard as you can - at least I do. I was hoping to improve of the fast, slippy descent - and I did. I gained somewhere in the region of ten places as I skied my way towards the middle of the field.

By the time I was into the farm fields at the end I was puffing but it was all down hill and no one came back at me. All in all I pleased with my time of 31:12. Quite a bit slower than my previous 27:39 - but then I hadn't already run 10k and 1,200 feet of ascent on that day and nor was I carrying full kit and a few extra bits and bobs - well, you can't take short cuts with the mountain or she'll bite your arse!

No time for chatting after the race, I turned tail and headed back up the race route for the journey home - and I didn't take the wrong ridge this time. I covered a total of close to 25k and 3,500 feet of ascent which included the Longtown Fell Race. A good days training. Up tomorrow is another 20k and 3,000 feet of ascent but first I'm off to the Chepstow do...

Today's training, race, training route...

Almost time for feet up

but not quite. There's just the little matter of the last three quarters of an hour of my 90 minute bike session to complete before I can relax ahead of what's going to be a fairly busy weekend of activity. Of which, sadly, only a little bit is going to be nocturnal action - and even more sadly, said nocturnal activity is the Chepstow Dinner. Ho hum, should be good fun all the same.

So, I've been planning tomorrow's running. The schedule is tight but achievable - I think. Provided I get on the road by half eleven I should have time to park up at my secret location and head up to Dyke - ooh, stop it, no - Offa's Dyke, run along the top for a bit and then back down t'other side to Longtown for the fell race. By my estimation that should be a gentle 9k - but with a slightly less gentle 1,200 feet of ascent! I don't want to have to push it too hard - I said stop it - so I'm going to give myself an hour and a quarter to get over to the race and register. The race is only 5k but by then I'll be knackered so I'll no doubt go badly but it'll be good training in any event. There won't be any time for chatting after the race for me as I'll have to hot foot it the 9k back over the hill to the car. All being well I'll be back home by quarter to five. A quick shower and then I'll be down to Cheppers for the do.

Of course, I might well take my fancy dancing shoes with me in the car and perhaps - if I'm very lucky - head straight to Chepper's - or a place close by - to get cleaned up, showered and ready to boogie. Thus missing out the middle man - or home, as I like to call it. Squeaker will be miffed but she's getting fat these days so the dry food will see her all right. If I do get the nod to head straight for Chepstow it will save me a very valuable 30 minutes of driving. Need to make sure I pack everything I'm going to need if I do that though. I feel a list coming on...

Quesadillas

And how do you pronounce that anyway? Tasty though. I made up some flour torilla - first principles man, that's me - and on with the topping of butternut squash (had to use it up or lose it), chilli and feta cheese. Folded and onto the griddle pan. Pretty tasty but I might cut down on the feta next time out.

Managed 90 minutes instead of the scheduled 60 so that was a bonus. Then again I'm not sure there'll be any training tomorrow... Still, there's the weekend to look ahead to and it should be good. I reckon I can fit in a 10k run - to Longtown for the fell race. That's only a short one so it'll be the 10k back again to the car. Then home for a quick shower and down to Chepstow for the Club dinner. I'm pretty sure it'll work - but it's going to be close. The timings are tight. Up Sunday is a 13 mile run from Llanthony with friends. Looking forward to it - even if it won't be very restful.

Getting There...

On the work front, that is. It was a really good, productive day - oops, shouldn't get that excited about work should I? Still, as it's all about to get pretty darn hectic for the next four or five months so any day where it goes well is a day worth savouring in my book. I know it's going to be a real balancing act between work and play and getting the training plan right is going to be critical. Too much and I'll fade away. Too little and I'll never get there. Tricky times ahead.

A bike session tonight and I might see if Martin is on for another lunch run tomorrow...

Sounds Like A Plan

I realise I can no longer bumble along from day to day without a proper training plan. I'm not going to get where I want to go without a structured - or at least a more structured - regime of training. I need more speed. I need more hill climbing capability and I need more endurance. Those aims can't be achieved without some structure to it all.

I am going to try and alternate between a speed session and a hill session midweek, leaving the weekends free for longer, mountainous runs. With the lunch run once a week that should give me four running sessions a week. Around that I'm going to try and do 60 minutes on the bike most days and, of course, the all important core body work on the abs and upper body. Then I'm going to mix in some - as yet, an undecided number - of rowing sessions.

Now I'm not stupid enough to think that's going to happen overnight but I need to make it happen, and happen pretty quickly. Once I form a routine I'll be fine - or should that be 'if' I form a routine - I hope I do.

Training-wise today, Martin and I got out for the Dundry loop. It's been a while since we've gone over the top and while it was damn hard work, it was nice to revel in the glory - OK, so there wasn't any glory - of having got out there and done it.

No Traffic Chaos

Which didst surprised me most highly. With the M4 / M5 roadworks beginning to crank up a notch I was expecting life to get a little slower on the drive to and from work - well, after all, my driving might as well join my running in the slow lane. However, the traffic was flowing more freely than normal. Probably just a blip but if it wasn't then this blog post has almost certainly just put three or four nails in the coffin of free flowing traffic. I guess I'll just have to see how things go but I'm sure that during the next three years - yes, three years - of road works, that there are bound to be some bad days.

Anyway, I'm off to make myself a tasty Spanish potato tortilla with a Mediterranean vegetable twist. Smoke me a kipper I'll be back after dinner. OK, actually won't...

All Upholstered Out

Wow did that ever take a long time. I thought it wouldn't take too long to upholster the bench seat. I thought, with my new staple gun, I'd make light work of it. A little bit of cutting. Stretch the cloth in place, staple, and on to the next bit, staple, and so on. How wrong you can be. I started work on it at about nine and it took pretty much through to two in the afternoon to finish it. Admittedly that did include putting it back in the van and taking a few pics but I really didn't think it would take that long. And hard work? Cripes, I worked up a right sweat and no doubt with all the bending, leaning and generally tilting in awkward positions, I'll no doubt have an ache on tomorrow.

Still, I'm pleased with the end result. The option to use cheap denim has worked out. I think it'll look even better once I upholster the sides of the van to match - but I need to ply the ceiling first and install the LED lights and, of course, I've still got the back-rest/auxiliary mattress section to upholster but that, I fear, will be a more difficult task on account of the sewing - I'll not be able to use my staple gun on that. I have a feeling that little job might go onto the back burner for a while. Right now Vera's a bit like the Death Star from Return Of The Jedi - she's fully operational, she just looks a bit shit.

As to training, my legs feel very achy. I am really surprised and I'm not sure what I shall do - or should that be, capable of?

So, without further ado, here are the latest pics of Vera.

Bench/Bed with mattress ready to upholster

Upholstered and in the van (auxiliary mattress section still to do)

Sliding section retracted
(The auxiliary mattress section is not shown here but the
idea is to store it as a back-rest to the bench using Velcro)

Well I Cacked That Up

What a disaster. I missed not one but two controls out in today's orienteering - and I honestly didn't realise I'd done it! That said, had I realised I possibly wouldn't have gone back as I was too shagged. Never mind. What I did do was good fun and I'm not going to lose any sleep. It was always on the cards I would f*(% up royally in the old orienteering game at some point. It was only a matter of time.

One thing I don't think helped was using the control list from the side of the map. I was forever flipping the map from side to side to read the control descriptions and then losing my place on the map when I flipped back. I definitely need one of them arm band control description holder whatsits so I can keep the map the right way up while being able to eyeball the control descriptions at all times. It's the little things - sssh, no, matron.

Away from that disaster it was a good day's training. I parked up at Speculation as planned and ran the 4.5km over to Five Arces for the Parkrun. I timed it about right, arriving with about ten minutes to spare. I then raced, what turned out to be, somewhat more slowly than I had hoped to but I didn't spare any horses over the twisty 5km course so I can't complain - I must be getting to old for this game*. I came 9th overall and 4th in the old fart category.

Then after a short respite I headed back to the car to dump a bit of kit I knew I would need - I always seem to carry too much extra kit these days. I took a different route back - well, it's nice to mix things up a little. Another 4.5km clocked. From there I headed over to 'The Pludds' for the orienteering, cue another 3.5km. Then, of course, the disaster was another 6km before a final 3.5km back to the car once again and the drive home.

In all I clocked 27km and 2,500 feet of ascent. Surprisingly for such a short distance my legs have stiffened up - stop it. Good training all the same. It definitely feels like I put in the effort. Just going to finish off with an hour on the bike to see if I can breath some life into my tired legs...

* PS, I'm not getting too old for this game, I'm only just getting started.

Decent End To The Week

Finished the week on a reasonable high - well, the work week anyway - have to wait and see how the other finishes... Twas a productive day.I'm almost looking forward to the continuation next week - ok, maybe not but I will be glad when it's done and dusted.

Anyway, I am all set for tomorrow and a great day of mad running. Maybe not quite fighting fit, I'm not far away. It should be bloody good fun. I'm going to drive over to Speculation and run to Five Acres (5k). Race the Parkrun (5k) and then hot foot it - although I should have plenty of time - over to Brierly (10k) for the orienteering and the Blue course - is there any other? Then it's the jog back to the car (5k). All in all I should clock up over 30k - and be totally f*(%ed by the time I get home. What could be better than clocking up that mileage and two races? No, I don't know either...

Non-stop Day

Boy am I glad to put my feet up. It's been a hectic day. Rushing here. Rushing there. Rushing almost everywhere. Ok, that's over stating it but I'm glad to be back home with my feet up. What can possibly be better than being home with my feet up? The fact that I have £5.49 off my next shop at Sainsbury's on account that they are a total rip compared to Asdal - and I bought a load of half price stuff anyway! But besides all that, what's going on with Ryvita Fruit? It's gone up from £1.20 to almost £1.60 in the space of a couple of months! That is taking the piss. Suffice to say it's now off the list - regardless of how tasty they are they aren't worth 80% more than regular ryvita. Thieving gits...