Nice little 1 hour canter in the snow just finished past 1.
Predicted blizzard most of AM and didn’t disappoint. When I set off, there was a lorry stuck at the top of the Mennock pass not wanting to risk their lives descending.
The usual run up to the radar station was quite a challenge due to the in yer face blizzard at about 50mph. 3 hats on and hood of top and the pain still got thru, loads of little needles pinging my face. Snow only between 1 inch and about 9 inches deep. What was remarkable tho was that even tho I had map and compass already set for the descent, I thought “I may try and follow my footsteps back down” but in a space of only 5 minutes, most of all said prints were obliterated by the freshly fallen snow and wind.
Luckily, as I explained to the locals in the pub last night, my 35 years experience of hill running possibly puts my skill levels just slightly higher than a day tripper in shorts and sandals
Lots of traffic stuck in the snow upon arrival back home including a selection of 4WDs, an ambulance, and still, that lorry.
Why do I do it, probably not to be a martyr/victim, more as I love life and have been close to quite a few friends and family who never got to age 57 to be able to enjoy life.
My Scout Troop went for a skiing weekend there one weekend in the early 80’s . My only memory was that one of the leaders lost his digital watch on the hills on the first day. The following day they took us all out there & told us to be quiet as we listened for the hour chime to go off on his watch…no-one heard it.
I love running in the snow. Lots currently falling in the Alps, will probably head up Zugerberg tomorrow for some snowy frollicks. Gives me another excuse not to go swimming
Hah yes Wanlockhead, I try to aim for high villages, last one being Heptonstall in the Pennines.
I love that story, think there did used to be skiing and curling when there were proper Winters up here. The was a group here the other month. I felt so sorry for them as it pissed it down non-stop for the whole time that they were here. The next day, it was sublimely beautiful. Of course, they will go back explaining what a damp, dank cold shithole it is, as we all would I guess * *
Sounds like Clive and I have similar weather. I bailed on the hill run and stayed low. I don’t mind hiking in high winds but running in it sucks balls. I had a much more pleasurable 1 hour running through the snow down lower. Somehow even managed a 1k PB. Must have been a tail wind. Either way I’ll take that in January.
Another run done, that’s 37km so far this week and a decent step towards some regular training. Feels good to be doing it but it’s a reminding me what tired legs feel like.
First swim of the year done. Nothing special: 200m warmup, 750 main set, 200m with my new pads, 100m cool down. But I did manage to do 750m of continuous freestyle for the first time. Normally I can do only do 150m or so before I have to switch to breaststroke. The downside was to achieve it I had to drop my pace hugely, and was 15 seconds slower than my breaststroke warm-up per 100m But it’s still progress right?
In all seriousness, does there come a point where it’s better just to stick to mixing strokes if that’s quickest (I raced breaststroke when I was younger so I can maintain a race pace over 750m that’s only a little slower than my current fastest 100m freestyle), or is it going to be worth investing the time and effort in freestyle ‘endurance’ in the long run?
what pace is your frontcrawl per 100 and breaststroke?
Its all because of technique so your problem is not going to be “endurance” but technique and the ability to hold technique under fatigue. Keep at it as BS is a real strain on the knees and legs over a triathlon, there’s a reason swimmers don’t go above 200m, and about 50% of your power comes from the kick, where as its closer to 10% in front crawl.
Nice work
I was too scared to do them off 1:45, as I kinda knew I’d get to 1:38 at some point and then just fail massively.
Probably gonna split them into 3 x (5 x 100m) in future, until I’m holding 1:32 and under on each rep.
Take that long rest after five to reset.
Then go again.
I then walked home, no more swimming or gym work for me (for today)
Back in the day, I’d do a nice warm up row, some weights and core, then into the pool for 1km pull buoy.
That took about an hour, should probably get back into that.
But my pool does kids lessons from 3:30pm - 7pm most days, which kinda makes it a huge no-no for me.
. My only memory was that one of the leaders lost his digital watch on the hills on the first day. The following day they took us all out there & told us to be quiet as we listened for the hour chime to go off on his watch…no-one heard it.
*
out and back. Wet and cold lol
But it’s still progress right?
(for today)