More training
The Barbondale LDWA event, run on the same day as the Three Peaks and over adjacent territory, turned out to be a severe test due to the excessively strong winds. Great Coum, the first of the two major climbs had us battling the wind head on and at times barely making progress. Fortunately this was followed by a lower level section down Dentdale in warm sunshine and some shelter.
This was not to last however, as the second major climb had us head on into the wind again on a fairly exposed section in a huge horseshoe which turned to summit on Calf Top now with the wind behind and blowing us over the minor tops of Castle Knott and Esk Holme Pike before returning to the village hall in Barbon.
I finished the 24 miles in just under five and a half hours totally exhausted and not sure just how much could be attributed to the high winds.
A slow six mile run followed on the Sunday, again a little disappointing, and this took the week's total mileage to 83.5. The Bank Holiday Monday saw a more encouraging outing with a 13-mile run in 1hr 58min, a significant improvement on recent road runs.
Tuesday had an eight-mile dawn run scheduled which turned out to be on the slowish side and a 10-mile afternoon outing was shortened to 4 miles due to tiredness.
The week was now showing signs of degenerating into a series of low performances and something was needed to lift the spirits.
A long midweek outing was called for and so, favouring familiar territory, I left Rivington Lower Barn heading for Anglezarke, the Yew Tree, Healey Nab and White Coppice. Running through the trees surrounding the Roddlesworth reservoirs was very pleasant in the sunshine and made the miles pass more easily.
At Piccadilly the option of turning for Darwen Tower was saved for another outing and I took the road down to Belmont and then up the Ramp to the masts. From there the route took me down to Gingham Brow, round the backs to Rivington and and Blackrod School and the through Lever Park back to the the Lower Barn in 20.5 miles. The distance was just short of 'a long run,' so a quick tour of the top barn took the total to 21.5.
The time was three minutes longer than the same run two weeks earlier which had come after a rest day and so, especially as the last few miles had been appreciably faster, Wednesday's time was just the encouragement I had been looking for.
Having suspended swimming training for April to concentrate on running, I was back in the pool on Thursday feeling very tired and followed this with a lunchtime six miles at a steady pace.
The conclusion was that the necessary fitness is not quite there but with two weeks of training left I hope to remedy this.
