Training Log Archive: Old Daniel

Warm up

BKO event at Star Posts -a sort of replacement race for the postponed Southern Champs. I like this wood and it was in many ways similar to race with similar starts and finish to one in 2018 where I did 8.46 mins/km. I think that in todays I race was technically better, I seemed to be more in control and really only lost time at three controls 1 overshot a bit but quickly recovered, 12 where I did not see control went away needlessly and 17 where I missed path and had to cross grotty marsh - I doubt if it was 3 mins in total which for me is pretty good. There were crossings of rough open from the big fire damage which I found difficult and was slow. (My ankle which was sore in both races last weekend but not since is not great now) but I am slower. Todays terrain is white wood and runnable but that bit more challenging than Weds and as I result I am quite a bit slower.
Yet another race I really enjoyed (but was tired afterwards, so no shortage of effort being put in

Enjoyed yesterday so did the Emerson's Green course in reverse. Enjoyed outing but having to work hard and although orienteering was good not quite so nice as yesterday. Not sure I believed the time when I finished and so a bit tempted to do another urban course tomorrow and seek a very unlikely hat trick!

I ran a course from the BOK Blast at Portishead marina which was really, really good. Not very fast but having to concentrate and read the map all the time. Idea was just to get used to a different scale.

MLS Event at Fritham. Very wet underfoot -if early humanoids had evolved in South Hampshire rather than East Africa we would have had webbed feet, which could have been a handy (footy) adaptation today. Drifting a bit on the compass work across the woodland so a bit off on a few controls and lost (2mins) at 10 not seeing fence and going too far up the hill. But seemingly more of a zip in my running than many races of late, so that's very pleasing and the fact a seem to have been a vest width in front of Alice meant we could discuss the course on the return journey. Not the most technical of races but really enjoyed running through this area which is an interesting mix of natural deciduous and open heather.

Warm up of sorts on a raw, cold, grey and dizzly day. Was really looking forward to the race !

Just did a standard route around Purdown as a bit pre-occupied. Still pretty wet and slippery but much nicer weather to run in. Did not stop watch so time is a pure guess

Another bright day so ran around Ashton Court, legs feeling a bit heavy but time is ok

Standard warm up

NGOC Lightning Tree Hill, a bit like a step back in time to a rough, tough hilly forest and a course with 11 controls, interesting contrast to Saturday. Another cold frosty day - struggled with 3 where I tried to contour on a slippy steep hillside and missed path junction on route to 5 but otherwise ok. Testing forest very difficult to plan and map on bit a welcome return and a varied and challenging course. Particularly pleased that I nailed the ditch in the green and was clean through the last few technical short legs when tiring