Bob Graham Round

129 watchers

nuttyficket Aug 2014 11:28pm, 11 Aug 2014 65 posts	nuttyficket Ooft, cheers FF, very interesting. A pretty damning but informative view. Feeling a bit more respect for those 79 completers FR mentions. I'd forgotten the midges. I spent a trouble free 3 weeks in the Highlands last year, but that was in October when I guess midges are a bit of a non-thing.
flyingfinn Aug 2014 12:10am, 12 Aug 2014 516 posts	flyingfinn Just been taking a look at that list of 79 and I reckon (by sight without a proper cross check) the number of them with the full set is pretty high, around 45-50%.
FenlandRunner Aug 2014 6:34am, 12 Aug 2014 2,285 posts	FenlandRunner Agree with the comment made about the remoteness of Scotland. Both Snowdonia and the Lakes you're never that far from civilisation. In Scotland you can get proper lost and really in trouble.
flanker Aug 2014 6:55am, 12 Aug 2014 15,113 posts	flanker Thanks FF/DT. Useful feedback. I suspect my actual downhill technique isn't too bad - I've often been accused of dancing downhill - but what is lacking is the regular practice to build strength, speed, and confidence. However until we move north that is always going to be limited so it's a case of doing whatever I can down here, and to me that means doing some proper conditioning work. It'll never be as good as the real thing, but hopefully it'll be better. I've also been looking back at my racing this year, and wondering if racing (rather than running) 7 marathons, 2 ultras and the Hardmoors 110 in the 3 months preceding my target race may have something to do with tired quads too! That'll be different next year...
Derby Tup Aug 2014 8:59am, 12 Aug 2014 12,037 posts	Derby Tup When Stef first trained for a BG a good part of her training was done on the stairs of her office block in Southampton. Ironically she was concerned when she moved North that she wouldn't be able to do that in future! She swore it helped. Car-park stairs, reservoir embankments, sea walls are all good
flanker Aug 2014 9:14am, 12 Aug 2014 15,114 posts	flanker I have been known to use the 10 flights of stairs in the office.
Derby Tup Aug 2014 9:32am, 12 Aug 2014 12,038 posts	Derby Tup Stef had 5 flights of 13 or 15 steps. She used to do an hour and iirc got up to 42 sets of the 5 flights all run up and down
flanker Aug 2014 9:46am, 12 Aug 2014 15,116 posts	flanker I think if I did that much health and safety would get involved as the steps would be dripping in sweat and dangerous
stuart little Aug 2014 5:35pm, 12 Aug 2014 848 posts	stuart little Blimey, that was a big read back! FR - I wish I could take credit for thinking of such a sensible approach, but it was actually from one of my tutors for my CiRF qualification! My last "bootcamp" in the lakes seemed to do the trick mentally - it was the fact I was recovering very fast after all my runs (including a 35 m / 15,000 ft half-bob) and feeling strong has gave me the confidence that what I've been doing has worked to at least some extent. Plus it was a lovely holiday Flanker / anyone else: the link is here - mile27.com.au I tend to incorporate lots of these exercises into my rehab / gym work and in the circuits sessions my group does on a Thursday. As a quick test, see how many hops it takes you to cover 20 m, swap legs and see if it's the same amount. It's a very easy way to see if one leg is weaker! Whilst lots of Jump lunges and uphill bounding strengthens the legs, it can only ever fill the gaps between running downhills. As an aside (more for trail racing than BGs I'd imagine) I found running sessions on the incline trainer at the gym of 40 mins uphill followed by 20 mins at the max decline (3% I think) helped before having a trip down the WHW in may. DT: After your comments re: wanting to relive the process, it doesn't surprise me that the PB map has arrived. Let me know your plans... Did you get my Fmail?
Derby Tup Aug 2014 6:04pm, 12 Aug 2014 12,040 posts	Derby Tup I used to get on the treadmill and after a jog to warm up set it on max ramp and at a speed so I couldn't quite walk then see how long I could stay on