Leg's that just don't seem to recover

Unsure if it's down to the amount of training i have done,

A good friend of mine Nick Cable, said that your legs can take 10 time more than you think,

But this week, i really can't see that, but then when i look at the miles i have done in the last 4 weeks over the time taken and ft of ascent, then maybe......

151 miles
34,297ft
at an average pace of 12.35min miles

That might explain it.

its calf pain, just constant aching, and stiffness,

Weekend Training - 13th/14th February

Well, that's what i call a weekends workout,

Saturday start early with hill reps, found a hill not to far away from home,

Its part of the Wilmot Wander route, cross the main road nr the back of Quarndon, and up the hill,

I have found a section that is not to steep to start with, but then just creeps up on you,

Started in the dark at 6.45am, and pushed hard up hill keeping at least 18.30 min mile pace and then for the downhills,

These i took at 7.20's so really punished the quads,

I had been doing this for 1 hr 15 mins when i reached the top of the climb to find a dog and a runner, nutter, must be like me i thought, and he was Stephen Burt, somebody that follows my blog, strange but true, had a natter then we went on our own separate ways,

(Stephen is competing in the DarkWhite Mini MM's this next weekend so good look for that, and see you soon! Drop me a line to let me know how you get on.....)

Managed a total of 6 miles and 2000ft of ascent, in 1hr 30 mins, good solid BGR times



Sunday, well that was a whole new world, agreed to run a route that i have run a few times before, starting at the water tower on Radbourne lane, across the Vickerwood estate towards Allestree Water Tower, then follow the Wilmot route in reverse until you reach the a split in the footpath, take the left towards Holbrook, four sharp descents and climbs later we returned to the split,

This is a tough little route covering 18 plus miles and 4650ft, covered in 3hrs 44 mins.

Total for the weekend 24 miles/6650ft -

My legs today feel like tenderised meat, its not pleasant.

Grindleford Recce - 31st January

Woke up, got ready, had granola, nuts and fruit breakfast, and pint of Water.

Defrosted the car, picked Steve up and drove to Bakewell,

Parked car in Bakewell nr the Monsal Trail at 6.35am,

Warmed up, checked map, put head torch on and off,

We had arranged to run the complete ruote of the Grindleford Gallop, 21 miles, but decided to start at the Monsal Trail checkpoint,

www.grindlefordgallop.co.uk/

The weather was cold, sharp frost overnight, and the ground hard underfoot,

First leg went really well, knocking 30 mins of previous recce, it helps when you don't have to check the map so much,



Through Baslow and up from the Village onto Balsow Edge, past Eagle Rock and along the ridge until we dropped down to then go back up to Curbar Edge then onto Frogatt Edge.



The run across Frogatt was great, great views and you could see the cold mist in the valley, so many photographers out trying to get that special sunrise shot over the edge.

From the end of the edge dropped down and then made our way on a bit of the route i have never ran, straight after Eyam, a lane, green lane, that was so icy, the ice must have been 2 inches thick in places, a real wind tunnel bitter wind,

Then across to the climb up Longstone More, two, three, four, five stiles, one of which didn't even have a fence either side, a real push until the top of the moor,

A really rocky descent down into Great Longstone, and then pick the Monsal Trail up,

At this point Steve seemed a little rocky, i think he needed fuel so pushed some into his face and then plodded down the Monsal trail,

Finished in 4hr 34min, great effort, tired but not broken, covered the 21 miles and 4,345ft.

I think on the day of the race, if paced properly might be able to crack 4 hrs.

Stephen Shaw