Monday, 19 July 2010
time to train
Having had good runs at the last three races, I've been having a look at my running to see what I can do to take it up another gear. I have had two winters of a lot of long slow distance work, with minimal speed work. Consequently my endurance is pretty good but I have no speed! While my goals are still dominated by the longer races, if I'm going to go any quicker I need to be a bit more structured! So its hill reps and speed work. It'll be trial and error. Coupled with this I need to work on my flexibility and core strength as its not what it should be, and my running 'style' is poor!
A week in North Wales
After Wasdale, P and I headed off to North Wales in the van for a week. We made the most of the permanent sunshine (!) on the Great Orme, climbing at Pen Trwyn for 4 days. Nearly managed to get Contusion (6c) but the final move to the belay thwarted me! We had one afternoon downstairs before the tides became too inconvenient.
We also had a couple of days mountain biking when it was wet, one at Coed-y-Brenin and one at Gwydyr. What striked me about both is that they still have long fire road climbs and no single track climbs unlike the 7 Stanes routes. Not sure they give you the views that they say and sell these 'sociable' climbs as!
A great week revisiting old haunts!
We also had a couple of days mountain biking when it was wet, one at Coed-y-Brenin and one at Gwydyr. What striked me about both is that they still have long fire road climbs and no single track climbs unlike the 7 Stanes routes. Not sure they give you the views that they say and sell these 'sociable' climbs as!
A great week revisiting old haunts!
Wasdale Fell Race
A week last saturday was the Wasdale fell race - always one to get my nerves going for some reason - whether its because its on local terrain and therefore I put myself under more pressure - who knows! Anyway as forecast the day dawned wet, windy and a thick mist covered the fells down to almost valley level. The start was delayed by over 20 minutes which didn't help the nerves! I had no real game plan - I desperately wanted to finish as last time I started I dnf'd at Pillar (I'd just spent 5 12 hour days moving house!) but I also wanted to race, as its not just about getting round.
I started steadily and at the first checkpoint was with two other lasses with one way out in front. The group I was with all took the long way round to get back down the the valley, with not one following me the direct way, so I managed to break away from the other 2 lasses, and that was the last I saw of them. Managed to 'team' up with a small group from Pots of Ashness to Scoat Fell col, the only real bit of navigation needed, and then pulled away.
Managed to trip over coming off Pillar and scuffed my knees a bit. Also managed to drop a full water bottle on the traverse around Kirkfell, which Ros had just handed to me at Black Sail. From then on I was drinking handfuls from streams only! Luckily the fell streams were all very much replenished after the dry spell!
After Sty Head I was on my own until the descent off the Pike, although I passed a couple of runners on the way, and then suffered badly with no grip on the final descent off Lingmell as my old faithful shoes were now thoroughly worn! Finished in 5:31, which was a mildly disappointing time, but the overall winners time was possibly the slowest ever due to conditions! Much more impressed with my overall placing 2nd Lady, 35th out of 167 starters and 122 finishers.
I started steadily and at the first checkpoint was with two other lasses with one way out in front. The group I was with all took the long way round to get back down the the valley, with not one following me the direct way, so I managed to break away from the other 2 lasses, and that was the last I saw of them. Managed to 'team' up with a small group from Pots of Ashness to Scoat Fell col, the only real bit of navigation needed, and then pulled away.
Managed to trip over coming off Pillar and scuffed my knees a bit. Also managed to drop a full water bottle on the traverse around Kirkfell, which Ros had just handed to me at Black Sail. From then on I was drinking handfuls from streams only! Luckily the fell streams were all very much replenished after the dry spell!
After Sty Head I was on my own until the descent off the Pike, although I passed a couple of runners on the way, and then suffered badly with no grip on the final descent off Lingmell as my old faithful shoes were now thoroughly worn! Finished in 5:31, which was a mildly disappointing time, but the overall winners time was possibly the slowest ever due to conditions! Much more impressed with my overall placing 2nd Lady, 35th out of 167 starters and 122 finishers.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Fisherman's Friend
While I love climbing at St Bees, both the bouldering and the routes, I've never really got on with leading anything much. The climbing feels too insecure and I have a very bad 'head' when it comes to leading even on bolts. I have been keeping myself in my little bubble for a long time.
Well with the BG out the way and the drive to move on, I've started to tackle the demons in my head. So last night instead of just top roping 6's and 7's at St Bees, I tied onto the sharp end and led a route - Fisherman's Friend - a 5! Found the climbing easy, but not the leading. In the end I led it twice and boy did I feel mentally shattered afterwards!! Still I did it, and it marks the first wee chip off the big mental block.
Well with the BG out the way and the drive to move on, I've started to tackle the demons in my head. So last night instead of just top roping 6's and 7's at St Bees, I tied onto the sharp end and led a route - Fisherman's Friend - a 5! Found the climbing easy, but not the leading. In the end I led it twice and boy did I feel mentally shattered afterwards!! Still I did it, and it marks the first wee chip off the big mental block.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Skiddaw Fell Race
After riding to work and back on Friday and a hard days climbing on Saturday (reaquainting myself with Chapel Head Scar after the lifting of the bird ban) we popped round to Keswick for the Skiddaw Race. The forecast was soo foul I couldn't think of anything else to do!! My legs felt sluggish on warm up - but that may have had more to do with the torrential rain and strong winds than actually feeling tired. As I've done no hill work or fast running for a while I couldn't really settle on a game plan as I didn't know how I'd feel and also as I'm doing Wasdale this weekend, I had that in the back of my mind.
Took it reasonably fast but steady out of Fitz Park and was second behind Pippa at that point. I got passed by a lass going around Latrigg and couldn't keep up (lack of speed on the hills!), but as we ascended into the clag after Latrigg car park, I realised I was gaining on her on the steeper ascents. I kept digging in, but ran out of steep ascent. The weather was pretty appalling, not cold but very strong winds and horizontal rain and hail. It was some surprise when the leaders came past so soon, and I was wondering how badly I could be doing, until we reached the top fence line and found the marshalls sheltering there. So we weren't going to the top then!
As I turned I made a real effort on the descent (not one of my strong points) and soon caught and passed the lass in 2nd. I put such effort in that the final descent round Latrigg my legs has gone completely, and it was a real effort to keep the pace going. Finished in 1:19:32 in 2nd place, with badly jelly legs. Happy with that!! Even did a warm down my legs felt so bad. Still finished 11 minutes behind Pippa in first!!
Photo courtesy of StuStod - thanks!
Took it reasonably fast but steady out of Fitz Park and was second behind Pippa at that point. I got passed by a lass going around Latrigg and couldn't keep up (lack of speed on the hills!), but as we ascended into the clag after Latrigg car park, I realised I was gaining on her on the steeper ascents. I kept digging in, but ran out of steep ascent. The weather was pretty appalling, not cold but very strong winds and horizontal rain and hail. It was some surprise when the leaders came past so soon, and I was wondering how badly I could be doing, until we reached the top fence line and found the marshalls sheltering there. So we weren't going to the top then!
As I turned I made a real effort on the descent (not one of my strong points) and soon caught and passed the lass in 2nd. I put such effort in that the final descent round Latrigg my legs has gone completely, and it was a real effort to keep the pace going. Finished in 1:19:32 in 2nd place, with badly jelly legs. Happy with that!! Even did a warm down my legs felt so bad. Still finished 11 minutes behind Pippa in first!!
Photo courtesy of StuStod - thanks!
Friday, 2 July 2010
Mountain Biking
Also been getting out mountain biking again and learning to love it! Its taken me a few rides to feel like I'm getting my groove back. A weekend away in Dumfries and Galloway really helped - Saturday at Kirroughtree and Sunday at Drumlanrig. Fantastic and even better as it was soooo dry.... I didn't go near McMoab thou!
A great weekend with a big bunch of mates all capped by a swim in the River Nith near Drumlanrig.
A great weekend with a big bunch of mates all capped by a swim in the River Nith near Drumlanrig.
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