Training Log Archive: IanW

Hanging controls for Sherbrook training - learning that the point contour features were generally dubious...

Control Pick on Sherbrook - contour only map, didn't really get on with the mappers interpretation of the contour shapes or the spacing, with slopes seeming shallower/steeper than I was expecting a lot of the time. Eased by #2 which had been put in the bottom of a tiny pit (see previous note about point contour features) and wandered around a bit on the right spur before giving up, going back to #1 and trying, and missing, again. Stumbled across it after going up and down the spur, then later discovered that there was another pit, identically sized, next to it but only one marked on the map...

Through the majority of the rest fine (small depression at #5 non-existent), the big contour shapes were pretty obvious, even if there were some intermediate wiggles which looked just as big on the ground as the bigger shapes. Hit #12 perfectly, except there was no flag which was slightly confusing. A trip up and down the spur convinced me I was in the right place. Slight miss at #15 as a bit too far down the reentrant, then the "how many pits do we map?" game at 18 too - 3 on the map, about a dozen on the ground. Great...

Taking it relatively easy, felt it on the hills, flow good but not great - too easily broken by nicked kites.

Map Memory with Chris E. I took the odd controls, hit the first 3 fine, (especially pleased with route and execution to #3 after deciding against the piss easy path option) then path to #7 didn't seem to be there and so ended up 75m north side of feature but spotted the flag. Then #13 went awry, wasn't on path after not going south of fence enough, so ended up north but managed to correct without referring to the map. Taught me that I need to make more time when running for looking at the map.

Feeling a bit tired, heather really energy-sapping, couldn't really keep up with Chris when he was leading. And got hungry which didn't help...

Walshes a bit too big for me for orienteering - feet sliding around in them far too much primarily when contouring/cross slope legs. So a nice off-road run shoe for now...

Trains with Chris E and Rich Robinson.

First set - Chris hung flags in wrong places but ended up at right pit. Bit of a write-off this one. First real hill was a killer.

Second set - never going to catch Rich, nor Chris me, walked up killer hill at end.

Third set - hanging perhaps the most difficult set, all in the green, hit them all well so quite happy. Chris only caught 50 secs on me.

Last set - went for this, chasing Chris down and Rich only giving me 30 secs, slight wobble almost going down one reentrant too early, Chris was going easy along the path with Tess so managed to catch him, just holding off Rich behind me.

Good session - efforts were level 4, decent recovery between them though - time likely an overestimate of actual running time.

Jog to and from start of trains exercise