Training Log Archive: Arnold

(Most of the way) home from Claudia's new school.

Body quite weak as I haven't been able to fully shake off a stomach bug for the last couple of weeks. But speed OK and nice to be out in the sun.

Run up to Fløya in Tromsø. Hard work but nice views.

Down from Fløya to the cable car (top) station, -218m climb via some cool snow fields.

I was going to run all the way to the bottom but the knees felt a bit weak so I bailed and took the cable car.

Midnattsolgaloppen, Alta, Norway, Day 3.

As planned we missed Day 2 to spend more time at Nordkapp, which was definitely the right decision as the weather there was mostly sunny and in Alta it rained, plus Day 2 was a fairly boring middle.

The terrain today was really different to Day 1, properly Scandi stuff with rough going, rocky, mossy, steep in places. This was nominally 7.9k so not far off 12mpk!

The nav was really shaky at the beginning as I struggled to get into the map and terrain. Promptly lost 2m early on with the “it’s probably here somewhere” strategy, not recommended in Norway. The rest was better except 2 more minutes on a bullish route choice which didn’t pay off.

Physically didn’t feel great but hung in there just about. 4 people within 2 minutes ahead of me including Phil and Berni, oh well.

Some great views too and nice weather, so at least we got the full-on Scandi experience. Now off to Tromsø for the flight back.

Livelox (which I’ve only just discovered and is just brilliant): https://www.livelox.com/Viewer/Midnattsolgaloppen-...

Livelox from yesterday here:
https://www.livelox.com/Viewer/Midnattsolgaloppen-...

Came 4th out of 15 M40s which is v pleasing - however, beaten by 11 of 23 W21s on the same course!!

Midnattsolgaloppen, Alta, Norway. Day 1.

It was rather excellent on all counts, like a mini Greenland race with a few trees but still some epic views across the fjords.

The orienteering wasn’t too tricky (with decent visibility) but still pleasing to be rock solid, with one 45-sec mistake as the exception.

And as a mega bonus I beat my old buddies Phil and Bernhard by 1 and 5 minutes respectively. Oh and of course there was the unlimited free sushi at the finish courtesy of the race sponsor, Grieg Seafood.

Think we might skip Day 2 tomorrow to spend more time at the Nordkapp (3.5h drive away) and come back for Day 3.

C • Sweet! 7

Full of lunch and not so full of sleep, but somehow it went fine and I even missed the rain.

Funny how the legs seem to want to run fast even when the rest of the body doesn’t.

Southwark Park Race.

Another Don special, magicking a decent course out of not very much. Really good orienteering except for one 10’ nip into a dead end. Physically ok too, 4:29mpk is decent really considering the slowing down required at times (although it was SI Air.)

About 45 secs behind 2nd place and 3 minutes behind Michael Crone who is just ridiculously fast.

Separately Claudia went round the short course in 40 minutes with zero help and seemed to rather enjoy it, which is excellent news.

Long - Splits

Meh. Body still tired but ok after a tough first few km.
Tried to accelerate a bit after 10k with mixed results. The one nice thing was that the legs were keen to run fast even if the rest of the body wasn’t.

Still pretty tired but hung in there and speed was good.

Work to Imperial College.

Imperial College Park Race. Cool multilevel map, although it does get easier having raced here a few times.

Tired from lack of sleep but ok enough run except 10’ on one route choice, oh and I missed out a control for the first time in ages. HFA.

Imperial College to Clapham Junction

Norbiton station to home.

Long - Splits

Same again, without the unnecessary detours.
So. Flipping. Hot. (27C) But quite dry heat so body didn’t feel too bad, except I thought my head would explode. Which luckily it didn’t.