Training Log Archive: IanW

Finishing tagging sites, and sorting out a few map corrections.

Test running a couple of courses. Didn't pick the best routes several times, missed one control by a minute or so, and just missed several others that would have been more obvious with the kites in place. Not too surprising given the amount I was actually looking at the map, but it was trickier in places than I'd anticipated.

One control requiring a little further investigation, and mountain bike tracks have shifted around a bit.

Taping control sites, and a bit of night-O practice at Whippendell. Bit damp overhead/underfoot from the afternoon rain. Few slight map alterations to be made, but nothing substantial. Plan is to test run a couple of courses tomorrow.

So the obvious question - why have I been stupid enough not to have done this before?

Run with Hatton Darts from The Gate, Branston. Walked down there so ran with fell-running pack, given that mad event I've agreed to in 4 months time. Two groups - faster one on road, and slower one off-road; preference is for off road so went with them across the fields down to Walton on Trent. Easy and very sociable pace to begin with, and a few regroups on the route south. There were some faster people with the off-road group and we split after crossing the A38, picking up the pace a bit along the canal, but still could hold a conversation.

Good fun, approachable and friendly group, and food/chat in the pub afterwards. Shame I'm off down south for most of the next month - might just have to get out to the Peaks with the group of a Sunday...

Approx Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5299322 - pancake flat, but got me out there.

Bike moving along much more smoothly now I've cleared a load of gunk out of the drivetrain. Saw a strange mink/polecat-like creature on the river cycle path today - not quite sure what it was. Had a big bushy tail that seemed almost as big as its body... looked too slender to be one of the dreaded black squirrels.