Training Tip no. 3

Dear Blog,

Having returned from a few days trudging while camping I thought I would continue my theme of helping to maintain your interest. So next idea for a trudge:-

       This involves the session organised for you so that you do not have to think or plan; bliss??? No sitting down sketching out details of mileage, no need to give thought to surface to avoid impact type injuries, no consideration to quality. A quarter of a century ago, I used to spend some time in northern Scandinavia, Sweden and Finland. I was always amazed to find all weather tracks built in the smallest of villages, villages situated well inside the arctic circle. Facilities for changing etc. were free, no attendant to supervise, community trust ruled. The tracks were flooded in the winter and used for ice hockey!! Attached to the tracks and camp sites were jogging trails of varying length, some flat, many undulating, most having ‘street lighting’ so their use was not curtailed during the long winter months, the lighting controlled by infra red sensors, each light triggered by passing a sensor, five or six lamps before needed, thereby conserving energy by not having the lamps lit continuously. Mimicking this set up, I have often camped at a camping club site within forestry commission woodland or a private site backing onto woodland. The commission do an excellent job laying out tracks and paths providing an endless combination of pathways to train on. Varying gradients with decent underfoot conditions allows quality and quantity sessions without the necessity to plan a workout; the fartlek session is laid out for you. Try it Blog. As a suggestion, one such private site I have used is near Newent, close to Gloucester. The site backs onto Dymock Forest and Newent Wood with many paths and trails. The facilities at the site are first class with free showers and toilet block on a tidy site. A weekend away from the familiar surroundings will do you the world of good, Blog.

And don’t forget I am still writing to you to squeeze an extra penny or so for Tiny Tims Children’s Centre and Newlife charities.

                                                         Colin