Training Log Archive: Nathan

Decent warm up before the race, running drills and stretches. Good to have a catch up with Jack as well.

Southern Navigators Trophy, also 3rd Interland (England Selection Race).
Short Brown Course: 8.2km 325m 23controls.

Before i speak about the race, i want to talk about a tactic i tried out. I chose a middle start time, instead of late as most did. I wanted to see whether running at an earlier time put less pressure on me and might make me run better.

Started the race well, was quite surprised at how complex the terrain was in the beginning so adapted my plan to slow down slightly and nail the navigation. Got 1 quite well, heading along the side o the open to the clearing and then more or less straight, ignoring the paths and simplifying by just using contours. Dipped over the rise and in to the control. Good exit to 2 and again went more or less straight, opting to head over the hill rather than round and I think it was the best route. Another good exit out towards 3, contouring along to the path then following it around to the reentrant and dipping in to the control. Followed the path around then cut off down past the green and up between the two hills across the open and in to the pit. Then to 5 was a pretty easy control, just hitting the path and cutting down the slop in to the re entrant. 6 was a much similar control following it again, maybe a slight hesitation coming out but again, found it well. Caught Matt up (4mins) at this point, and got ahead going to 7, good route, going straight down to the long path and following it along until I saw the hill and cutting in. Dodgy exit, headed to the path, or tried to, but got vaught in the nettles, losing a decent amount of time annoyingly, but then got on to the river path and followed it along, then straight on a bearing across the sparse open and finding the control. Overtook Harriet going in to 9, straight more or less to the re entrant. Matt caught me up again at this point, then we struggled up the slope together, then along the fence and cutting off early to run through the woods and in to the depression. Enjoyed 11, finding the earth walls well and just running alongside them on to the man made feature on the end. Messed up 12 (before the road crossing[2mins]), didn't hit the path but bashed through the green instead. Took my time across the road (1:34), and planned ahead a bit. Found 13 fine obviously as it was the next control. Then straight to 14, could have been faster taking the road? Maybe, long leg to 15, went straight, still with Matt at this point, to the main path in the area, along and then down past the rough green stuff, then straight, bit nervy seeing a control just before but clicked and went around the green to find it. 16 was again fine, went straight and yet again found it fine. Same plan to 17 and executed well. Went across the open to 18, before cutting across the bridge then along the path and straight in, Matt leading. Path again to 19, no issue. Poor exit again to 20, annoying 90 degree error but corrected it very quickly, I'm happy to say. Shot off across the path, going straight rather than wasting time cutting to the path as the forest was gorgeous, Matt got ahead, but I spied him coming out of the control, so pushed on to try and catch up. Which I did, incidentally on the way to 21, again, running in the terrain as it was gorgeous (again) counting off the thickets as I went. Straight again to 22, very easy control, finding the clearing fine. Then race with Matt across to 23 and the finish.
Decent race in truth, maybe lost 1:30 or so on mistakes, but was running well so was happy with this. 3 wins out of 3 for interland now, so that's all good, plus beat a few talent squad members so again, pretty happy.

Went to the gym with dad (getting there more now, as haven't had the access last few weeks really). Rowed 2k as a warm up then upper body circuits after for 20 minutes followed by rolling and more rowing. Felt ok, bit of a pain in right shoulder from having skipped this for a few weeks.

Nice little swim as a warm down, haven't forgotten how to do this!

Steady around the local roads, looking forward to sunday, felt good.

Nice evening core session.

Advised rest day as pretty tough 10 days or so.

Core session even with a rest day.

Headed to Bradgate park with the school team. Lead a group on a pretty tough hill route, getting lost in the very low cloud and absolutely soaked but feeling epic on the hills, definitely getting better at these.

First week of 5-a-side with the boys. We played well and actually enjoy this more than sunday league, which I've now quit.

Pretty easy run with harriet after school. Felt really tough and tight after the weekends exursions, first 5-a-side match tomorrow, can't wait.