More Regular Ol' Training

A twenty five minute treadmill session. It was a bit random but generally longer intervals at 4:00min pace followed by forty five on the bike and some ab-crunches and push-ups. The forecast for the weekend isn't looking great. Looks like being another wet one.

Regular Ol' Training Tonight

Some row intervals and a bike session. Felt pretty good.

So anyway, it is time. Time to head back to the mountain proper. I'm going to head over to Sugar Loaf on Saturday and run a sort of out and back along the Llanbed to Blaenafon route and spectate a bit of the race as it goes by. Should be about ten miles and 800m ascent. After that I'm aiming to get to the mountains once a week and I'm pencilling in a road trip to Snowdonia at the end of April. It will be my first trip there for about a year I'd guess.

Gilwern Without The Grunt

Week fifteen began with another run as sweeper. The Gilwern Grunt this time. A seven and a half mile proper off road race - except the kilometre in the middle that was, well, on the road. Apart from that it was all off road. Conditions were surprisingly good, the storm having mostly blown through before the start. It was cold and blowy but dry.

I felt surprisingly tired afterwards - as attested to by the fact that, popping into the supermarket on the way home, I was stood in the checkout queue with Matthew L directly in front at the self-serve - and I didn't even register it was him! I was looking right at him as well - senility is kicking in. I got home safely despite that and finished the day's training with half an hour on the bike and the core work out.

The End Of Week 14

Just a rest day today. So an easy hour on the bike. Up tomorrow is sweeping at the Gilwen Grunt - I'll be packing my storm force oilskins for protection against the approaching storm...

Found The Gap In the Rain

So I got lucky with the weather, managing to pick a gap in the rain although it was blowing a right gale. It all felt a bit laboured at first but I was determined to improve on my run from two weeks ago. I worked hard on the climbs, the first of which I managed a ten to fifteen seconds improvement. The final section, off the road, to the top of May Hill was a real struggle though. Right into the wind and possibly for the first time ever the clag was down with visibility at about 100m. Yes, low visibility on the May Hill. At points I felt I was running on the spot!

Anyway, I finally got over May Hill eventually and into the downhill section. It felt nice to stretch the legs but it was still surprisingly hard work into the strong wind. I also managed around a ten second improvement on the final climb to Hobbs Quarry so on that front the run was a success. Interestingly despite the improvements the overall run was a few seconds slower overall which was basically down to the strong winds and also the slippery, stony path down from Hobbs Quarry where I nearly came a cropper.

Going to rest tomorrow because I feel my legs need it...

Felt Okay Today

...until I started rowing. My legs felt good. No aches or pains but the moment I pulled the first stroke on the rower the burn in my quads hit. Guess I needed those three recovery days after all. Despite that I did my best for 7:49. Not a very fast 2000m but the session hurt so that's good enough for me.

I finished with 45 minutes on the bike. Aiming for an easy local run tomorrow. Undecided on Sunday before sweeping the Gilwern Grunt Monday - most likely in the rain, grrrrhhh.

I Could Run All Of The Hills Some Of The Way....

and some of the hills all of the way but couldn't quite manage all of the hill all of the way. I'd have to say though, in reality, it was most of the hills all of the way. There's no way, back in December, I could have run today's session. I'm pleased.

I focused on making it to the tops what ever the speed so long as I was 'running' - using the loosest definitions of running. Towards the far point of the route my heart rate hit 175 midway on one of the climbs but I just kept going.

A good solid 10 miles with 750m ascent in horrible, driving rain. I even managed a couple of Strava PRs and a half dozen 2nds to a run from waaaay back in 2012 when I was half decent. That was by far my hardest run so far and the Garmin agrees, telling me I have to rest for 3 days - that's two more days than it's told me before. I won't be taking that advice... Anyway, I finished with 30 mins on the bike and some ab-crunches.

Change Of Plans...

I've decided to change the schedule. Tomorrow I'm heading back to the mountains. Ahead of the schedule but I feel ready... Okay, hands up, I'm intending to head to the Malvern Hills. Not exactly mountains but still a bit uppy downy and certainly enough for me at the moment. Plus it's been ages since I last ran there.

The plan is ten miles. That should take me from Hollybush to Upper Wyche and back and about 2500ft ascent. That should be plenty for now... I might see a little rain but rain never hurt anyone.

A Poor Start To Week 14...

My legs were too sore to do anything yesterday. Much better today but still not up to much. I tried the rower but after a minute I knew it wasn't meant to be so stopped. The bike session was better so I put in a hour before a core session. I reckon the pegs will be okay tomorrow so it should be business as usual...

Too Much Marching...

The backs of my knees are killing. I think it's due to over-extending my stride yesterday - or something like that. I did some gentle stretching first thing and that definitely helped. This afternoon I put in 45 minutes of high resistance, lowish cadence - I don't know what I'm talking about - gym bike. Finished off with some ab-crunches. Not sure what I'm going to be capable of tomorrow so I'll just take it as it comes. Week thirteen of The Comeback is complete...

Aches In Other Places

I have aches in my legs in areas that don't normally ache after a longish plod. I swept the 20/20 Fission this morning. I knew what I was in for when I signed up. I knew it would be slooooow. It was so slow that I actually couldn't maintain running. I ended up walking much of it and then running to catch back up. The walking was more sort of marching and I think that's why I have aches in the different places. Still the distance was almost three times more than I've traversed for five months...

Sweep But No Sooty....

I'm all set to sweep at the 20/20 Fission tomorrow. I've got my kit packed. I feel rested. The weather looks okay if a little on the chilly side. I'm looking forward to the twenty miles. The only downside is early-ish start for a Saturday...

Decided On Rest

My lower legs feel a bit achy so I decided that rest would be the order of the day for the rest of the week - not sure that even makes sense... I have been going at it pretty hard for the last twelve and a half weeks after not going at it for about five years. Anyway, I'll probably do some core work tomorrow but other than that I'm resting my legs ahead of Saturday.

The plan, moving forward, now that I've entered the Butcombe Trail Ultra - why oh why oh why did I do that? - is to make my return to the mountain on the weekend of 2nd/3rd April. Not sure which bit of the mountains but probably somewhere close to home to acclimatise - it's been a while. Probably be Sugar Loaf. Might even catch a bit of the Llanbedr to Blaenavon race while I'm there if I go Saturday...

Feeling A Bit Jaded

Wasn't the best set of ten 1 minute row intervals but I completed the session despite feeling jaded. My quads burnt from the off. I felt a moment of doubt hit me midway through but I vanquished the doubt to finish. Then up was a very easy thirty minutes on the bike.

Not quite sure what to do for the rest of the week. I'm thinking I might take a few days off as I am sweeping the 20/20 Fission road race on Saturday. It obviously won't be a quick 'run' but it will be the longest for some time so I think I could do with fresh legs. Will definitely be good training though and I'm looking forward to it.