Training Log Archive: Mark3In the 31 days ending Aug 31, 2015:
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Monday Aug 31, 2015 #
Orienteering race (RAL urban) 50:11 [5] 11.3 km (4:26 / km) +118m 4:13 / km
ahr:145 max:176 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
4th, 3:40 down.
Lost 30s 4-5 concentrating on avoiding the cricket pitches rather than the uncrossable fence.Otherwise good, and I think I picked the best routes.
Recent maize maze helped.HM yesterday didn't help - felt ok near the start but very heavy legs on the long legs.bit surprised to be so far behind tbh; enjoyed it though.routegadget will be interesting.
Lost 30s 4-5 concentrating on avoiding the cricket pitches rather than the uncrossable fence.Otherwise good, and I think I picked the best routes.
Recent maize maze helped.HM yesterday didn't help - felt ok near the start but very heavy legs on the long legs.bit surprised to be so far behind tbh; enjoyed it though.routegadget will be interesting.
Sunday Aug 30, 2015 #
Running race (Severn Bridge HM) 1:25:48 [5] 21.1 km (4:04 / km) +254m 3:50 / km
ahr:157 max:172 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Nice to do a half marathon without grimacing in pain with every step and so preferred this to the forest of Dean one in that respect.
Otherwise, found it hard going, struggled up the hill and couldn't believe how long the bridge went on for at the end! But it's a PB, so I'll take it :)
Otherwise, found it hard going, struggled up the hill and couldn't believe how long the bridge went on for at the end! But it's a PB, so I'll take it :)
Saturday Aug 29, 2015 #
Orienteering race (NGOC Maize Maze) 56:27 [5] 9.2 km (6:08 / km) +84m 5:52 / km
ahr:140 max:160 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
Great fun.enjoyed it more than last year and managed to beat Richard at the easier of the two heats - but he shall remain the undisputed king of maize maze orienteering.
Missed the final control the second time of doing heat 1 - didn't run past it, just ignored it - unsure what happened there.I'd already written it off as a disaster by that point, due to losing 45s near the beginning, however actually it would still have been a minute faster than my first attempt!darn.but Richard still comfortably ahead.
Really enjoyed it though, and great practice for urban.
Missed the final control the second time of doing heat 1 - didn't run past it, just ignored it - unsure what happened there.I'd already written it off as a disaster by that point, due to losing 45s near the beginning, however actually it would still have been a minute faster than my first attempt!darn.but Richard still comfortably ahead.
Really enjoyed it though, and great practice for urban.
Friday Aug 28, 2015 #
Running race (Towpath 5k) 18:32 [5] 5.0 km (3:42 / km) +37m 3:34 / km
ahr:144 max:167 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Meh,felt quick but time not great.not a quick course though, so not too bad.
Thursday Aug 27, 2015 #
Running (Jog) 20:00 [2] 3.3 km (6:04 / km) +57m 5:35 / km
ahr:121 max:140 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Wednesday Aug 26, 2015 #
Running race (Crook Peak Cake Race) 22:35 [5] 4.9 km (4:37 / km) +240m 3:42 / km
ahr:155 max:164 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
Felt ok, very disappointed (and surprised) to be 30s down on last year. Destroyed by Tom Dobra as well.
C • Tom 5
Tuesday Aug 25, 2015 #
Running (Recovery jog) 25:47 [3] 5.1 km (5:03 / km) +53m 4:48 / km
ahr:128 max:162 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Incl. one effort where I failed to get the segment :(
Monday Aug 24, 2015 #
Running intervals (B+W Training) 56:32 [5] 8.1 km (6:59 / km) +36m 6:50 / km
ahr:138 max:166 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
7*700m (100m jog)
I think it's more the length of time since I last did any intervals rather than yesterday that made this tough; really struggled to pace it well.
700s: 2:22,24,26,27,30,28,29
2:30 for 700 is 3:34 ks, would hope to be faster than that on a normal day
I think it's more the length of time since I last did any intervals rather than yesterday that made this tough; really struggled to pace it well.
700s: 2:22,24,26,27,30,28,29
2:30 for 700 is 3:34 ks, would hope to be faster than that on a normal day
Sunday Aug 23, 2015 #
Running race (Four Fans Fell Race) 2:19:39 [5] 19.8 km (7:03 / km) +1288m 5:19 / km
ahr:136 max:165 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
First category AM fell race - 18km, 1200m climb - 5th/30
http://www.wfra.me.uk/1482.xls
Not sure how much stuff to take over the bare minimum - erred on the side of caution due to the forecast and probably had more weight than most others, but at least felt safer!
Missed the corner-cut to Fan Frynych so ran a bit of extra distance, but otherwise running quite well. Soaked within about 30s, although it wasn't raining that much, the ground was saturated and there was lots of spray.
Wasn't entirely sure of the best place to leave Beacon Way so just followed the guy in front - very unused to the scale so had no idea the really obvious thing I could see was the Roman Road until actually getting to it. But after that, ran up the first half of Fan Nedd before it became too steep.
Didn't realise there would be a fence along the road so route down from Fan Nedd was a bit circuitous. Fell over a few times coming down.
First river crossing was thigh-deep ish, didn't have any trouble.
Came out far too far S on Fan Lila (I think this is because if you head directly uphill at the start you are going E, but the hill bends gradually so if you keep going directly uphill you end up SE), I actually thought we might be too far N but I decided to trust Gary and that paid off (thanks Gary!). Had a 9bar walking up that which was quite hard to eat but pretty enjoyable.
Followed Gary past the steep-bit off Fan Lila to an equally steep-bit which he trounced me going down. Then watched him enter the river, lose footing, get swept downstream a bit, find something to cling onto and rescue himself. I thought "I'm going to find a better place to cross than that", then promptly picked a worse place, was up to about waist-deep when got to the very fast flowing bit, then was suddenly neck-deep and being carried downstream trying frantically to grab onto a rock, all of which were slippery...eventually caught one which nearly pulled my arm out of it's socket, managed to grab onto a bush with the other hand and haul myself out...phew. This was terrifying. I'm amazed to be not more badly injured; only a few cuts and bruises from the rocks on the river bad. Fell running is hardcore.
Started to get a bit foggy at the top of the (very long) walk up Fan Fawr, lucky to come out exactly at the trig point which provided some confidence. Then followed the path down the steep bit (so steep that any other way seemed impossible) and took a different line to Gary on the last bit on the basis that if we went the same way, he was always going to beat me down the hill. He still beat me, but we couldn't see each other for most of it which made it more exciting :)
Very enjoyable, probably nicer than it would have been in 25 degree sunshine but getting a bit chilly in the wind, especially after the soaking.
http://www.wfra.me.uk/1482.xls
Not sure how much stuff to take over the bare minimum - erred on the side of caution due to the forecast and probably had more weight than most others, but at least felt safer!
Missed the corner-cut to Fan Frynych so ran a bit of extra distance, but otherwise running quite well. Soaked within about 30s, although it wasn't raining that much, the ground was saturated and there was lots of spray.
Wasn't entirely sure of the best place to leave Beacon Way so just followed the guy in front - very unused to the scale so had no idea the really obvious thing I could see was the Roman Road until actually getting to it. But after that, ran up the first half of Fan Nedd before it became too steep.
Didn't realise there would be a fence along the road so route down from Fan Nedd was a bit circuitous. Fell over a few times coming down.
First river crossing was thigh-deep ish, didn't have any trouble.
Came out far too far S on Fan Lila (I think this is because if you head directly uphill at the start you are going E, but the hill bends gradually so if you keep going directly uphill you end up SE), I actually thought we might be too far N but I decided to trust Gary and that paid off (thanks Gary!). Had a 9bar walking up that which was quite hard to eat but pretty enjoyable.
Followed Gary past the steep-bit off Fan Lila to an equally steep-bit which he trounced me going down. Then watched him enter the river, lose footing, get swept downstream a bit, find something to cling onto and rescue himself. I thought "I'm going to find a better place to cross than that", then promptly picked a worse place, was up to about waist-deep when got to the very fast flowing bit, then was suddenly neck-deep and being carried downstream trying frantically to grab onto a rock, all of which were slippery...eventually caught one which nearly pulled my arm out of it's socket, managed to grab onto a bush with the other hand and haul myself out...phew. This was terrifying. I'm amazed to be not more badly injured; only a few cuts and bruises from the rocks on the river bad. Fell running is hardcore.
Started to get a bit foggy at the top of the (very long) walk up Fan Fawr, lucky to come out exactly at the trig point which provided some confidence. Then followed the path down the steep bit (so steep that any other way seemed impossible) and took a different line to Gary on the last bit on the basis that if we went the same way, he was always going to beat me down the hill. He still beat me, but we couldn't see each other for most of it which made it more exciting :)
Very enjoyable, probably nicer than it would have been in 25 degree sunshine but getting a bit chilly in the wind, especially after the soaking.
Saturday Aug 22, 2015 #
Running race (Gloucester parkrun) 18:27 [5] 5.0 km (3:41 / km) +29m 3:35 / km
ahr:161 max:180 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
4th I think.pushed really hard - it has so many corners!
Orienteering race (NGOC Crickley Hill) 36:26 [5] 5.5 km (6:37 / km) +225m 5:30 / km
ahr:148 max:168
Could definitely feel parkrun in legs going up the hills, otherwise ok.
Mistake on number 1, the purple line covers a bit of contour detail (that's my excuse anyway) and had to relocate on number 4, 2 mins lost.
Concentrating really hard on planning the whole leg to the attack point, and this worked well.no other mistakes, although road was better choice to 16 and it would've been better to aim off left rather than right to 23.
Mistake on number 1, the purple line covers a bit of contour detail (that's my excuse anyway) and had to relocate on number 4, 2 mins lost.
Concentrating really hard on planning the whole leg to the attack point, and this worked well.no other mistakes, although road was better choice to 16 and it would've been better to aim off left rather than right to 23.
Thursday Aug 20, 2015 #
Running race (Court Wood 5k) 20:29 [5] 5.0 km (4:06 / km) +120m 3:39 / km
ahr:159 max:164 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
Tried a different tactic - last time, went for it up the hill, died and then struggled with the rest.
This time, took it easier on the hill and let the top three disappear into the distance, then had more left for the remaining 4k.enjoyed the race a lot more - but was 15s slower.sigh.
Nearly caught 3rd and won more beer though :)
This time, took it easier on the hill and let the top three disappear into the distance, then had more left for the remaining 4k.enjoyed the race a lot more - but was 15s slower.sigh.
Nearly caught 3rd and won more beer though :)
Wednesday Aug 19, 2015 #
Running (Potential control sites) 45:49 [2] 8.2 km (5:35 / km) +82m 5:19 / km
ahr:118 max:154 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Exploring control sites, making sure there are things to attach controls to, map corrections...after all, there are only 10 months or something to my event!
It was raining so I didn't take a pen.
However one area of the map has loads of good control sites and would definitely have benefited from one - needs a revisit :)
Edit: couldn't check one site because some teenagers were having sex in it.there will be a prize for anyone guessing the correct location (one guess per person)
It was raining so I didn't take a pen.
However one area of the map has loads of good control sites and would definitely have benefited from one - needs a revisit :)
Edit: couldn't check one site because some teenagers were having sex in it.there will be a prize for anyone guessing the correct location (one guess per person)
Tuesday Aug 18, 2015 #
Running race (Bingo Race) 54:31 [5] 7.9 km (6:54 / km) +114m 6:26 / km
ahr:147 max:166 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Screwed by the maths here...
The concept was:
Each team (of up to 6 people) has a bag with 18 counters; 6 green, 12 red. Do an 800m lap, take a token; keep going until you have all green tokens.
The geeks at work (including me) calculated that even though the max distance here is 18 laps and the min is 6 laps, the expected number of laps isn't 12, it is in fact just over 16.
however since there were 30 teams competing, the likliehood was one of them would be lucky - and they were; I think the winning team only did 11 laps.
Jason and I did the full 18 - we were particularly unlucky - actually I did 10 since we ran the last together.
I think we were 8th/30 - morally we were 2nd (with the luck factor removed) and the winners were a team of three, so I think this was a pretty good performance. And a good way of making an interval session a lot more fun!
800s: 2:29,41,41,44,46,44,41,47,45
so not bad consistency other than the first where I really wanted to come back in the lead! It was a by-no-means-flat, gravelly 800 as well...
The concept was:
Each team (of up to 6 people) has a bag with 18 counters; 6 green, 12 red. Do an 800m lap, take a token; keep going until you have all green tokens.
The geeks at work (including me) calculated that even though the max distance here is 18 laps and the min is 6 laps, the expected number of laps isn't 12, it is in fact just over 16.
however since there were 30 teams competing, the likliehood was one of them would be lucky - and they were; I think the winning team only did 11 laps.
Jason and I did the full 18 - we were particularly unlucky - actually I did 10 since we ran the last together.
I think we were 8th/30 - morally we were 2nd (with the luck factor removed) and the winners were a team of three, so I think this was a pretty good performance. And a good way of making an interval session a lot more fun!
800s: 2:29,41,41,44,46,44,41,47,45
so not bad consistency other than the first where I really wanted to come back in the lead! It was a by-no-means-flat, gravelly 800 as well...
Monday Aug 17, 2015 #
Note
(rest day)
At work for 2 hours longer than normal and then it was dark by 9 :(
Sunday Aug 16, 2015 #
Running race (Cheddar Gorge HM) 1:42:03 [5] 21.1 km (4:50 / km) +665m 4:11 / km
ahr:151 max:166 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
4th
Pleased with time - it's a tough course:
https://www.strava.com/activities/370282429
takes in Beacon Batch trig point twice as well as going up Cheddar gorge.
3rd until 11k or so and the second time up to the trig point; then destroyed up the hill by Justin.
http://www.webscorer.com/results?raceid=48995&...
At 3km or so I bashed my head on a branch. For a few hundred metres I was thinking "Hmm, that hurt quite a lot" and then went to wipe sweat out of my eyes - turned out it was blood, and there was also blood spattered down my face, chest, vest, legs...it was everywhere. The marshals kept asking if I was okay. I did feel a bit woozy -but it was a very hilly HM, so it's hard to know if that was related to the injury or not. Anyway, the St John ambulance guy at the end cleaned it up a bit and recommended I go to the minor injuries place to get it stitched or glued together... I haven't done that, but I will tomorrow if it's still bleeding I guess.
Four other people came in afterwards to have the same treatment! I think it was due to it being at the bottom of a muddy slope, so you'd been carefully watching the ground for several hundred metres beforehand. Then I was so close to the person in front of me that I didn't see it until too late.
Pleased with time - it's a tough course:
https://www.strava.com/activities/370282429
takes in Beacon Batch trig point twice as well as going up Cheddar gorge.
3rd until 11k or so and the second time up to the trig point; then destroyed up the hill by Justin.
http://www.webscorer.com/results?raceid=48995&...
At 3km or so I bashed my head on a branch. For a few hundred metres I was thinking "Hmm, that hurt quite a lot" and then went to wipe sweat out of my eyes - turned out it was blood, and there was also blood spattered down my face, chest, vest, legs...it was everywhere. The marshals kept asking if I was okay. I did feel a bit woozy -but it was a very hilly HM, so it's hard to know if that was related to the injury or not. Anyway, the St John ambulance guy at the end cleaned it up a bit and recommended I go to the minor injuries place to get it stitched or glued together... I haven't done that, but I will tomorrow if it's still bleeding I guess.
Four other people came in afterwards to have the same treatment! I think it was due to it being at the bottom of a muddy slope, so you'd been carefully watching the ground for several hundred metres beforehand. Then I was so close to the person in front of me that I didn't see it until too late.
Saturday Aug 15, 2015 #
Running race (Burnham on sea parkrun) 18:31 [5] 5.0 km (3:42 / km) +48m 3:32 / km
ahr:158 max:173 shoes: Asics Nimbus 17
Bit of parkrun tourism and testing out new trainers.
Bought them as injury-prevention shoes rather than to be fast (reviews describe them as 'cushty') and that are super-heavy,literally twice the weight of my virratas. Given that I thought they performed very well.the plan is to use them for training and longer races.
Parkrun was a good course, although a bit windy along the seafront in one direction which made ks 2 and 3 a bit slow.
3:33,51,54,39,35
Bought them as injury-prevention shoes rather than to be fast (reviews describe them as 'cushty') and that are super-heavy,literally twice the weight of my virratas. Given that I thought they performed very well.the plan is to use them for training and longer races.
Parkrun was a good course, although a bit windy along the seafront in one direction which made ks 2 and 3 a bit slow.
3:33,51,54,39,35
Thursday Aug 13, 2015 #
Orienteering race (NGOC park campus urban) 41:09 [5] 9.7 km (4:15 / km) +65m 4:06 / km
ahr:152 max:165 shoes: Saucony Virrata 2
Wasn't planning on going but had to have a go at beating Tom for the league title.
Failed.
Running quite well but losing a few secs per control, lost 30s on last control with some slightly dubious mapping but 2mins down overall so didnt make a difference.
Made some bad choices to wiggle down alleyways rather than going round,the alleys often had those bike stopping bars across which made them significantly slower than going round.
Failed.
Running quite well but losing a few secs per control, lost 30s on last control with some slightly dubious mapping but 2mins down overall so didnt make a difference.
Made some bad choices to wiggle down alleyways rather than going round,the alleys often had those bike stopping bars across which made them significantly slower than going round.
Wednesday Aug 12, 2015 #
Running race (Bitton 5k) 17:56 [5] 5.0 km (3:35 / km) +30m 3:29 / km
ahr:162 max:173 shoes: Saucony Virrata 2
Tried insanely hard...and maybe exactly the same time as last year? Fingers crossed for 17:55 in the results...
Found it incredibly uncomfortable physically trying to maintain that pace and really struggling by the end (and slightly uphill on the way back doesn't help; neither does the turning point (out and back course).
3:29,35,36,41,43
Found it incredibly uncomfortable physically trying to maintain that pace and really struggling by the end (and slightly uphill on the way back doesn't help; neither does the turning point (out and back course).
3:29,35,36,41,43
Tuesday Aug 11, 2015 #
Running (Jog) 42:05 [3] 8.3 km (5:04 / km) +110m 4:45 / km
ahr:129 max:161 shoes: Adidas Boost
Not too much before tomorrow, but couldn't resist having a go at the segment on the tump...
Monday Aug 10, 2015 #
Note
(rest day)
This wasn't meant to be a rest day but I wanted to get all the routegadgets+analysis done before forgetting where I'd gone wrong!
Overall a disappointing week navigation-wise but with temporary flashes of greatness; just need to string those flashes together a bit better now!
Overall a disappointing week navigation-wise but with temporary flashes of greatness; just need to string those flashes together a bit better now!
Sunday Aug 9, 2015 #
Note
(rest day)
Traveling back from Scotland.
Saturday Aug 8, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Glen Affric S6D day6) 1:30:23 [5] 10.1 km (8:57 / km) +454m 7:18 / km
ahr:138 max:173 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
Tried to take the safe route to 1 along the ride, but slight miss and then turned wrong way. Should have used other crags to NW as AP rather than top of hill further away.
2-misread hilltop due to large side spur and so went to look at a different control.
3-4-5-6-7 happy; tough but good fun, orienteering well. Bit of unnecessary climb on 6 caused by gaining a lot at the start and then contouring, but corrected well.
8 - major disaster. Bisected the OOB area almost perfectly; in a reentrant 150m N of where I thought.Found a path which I thought was a stream (I remember thinking "That's weird; I'd have mapped this as a path! It is a bit boggy I suppose, therefore I will forget all about it and not bother to think that maybe it's a path and I'm an idiot") now about 300m away from where I thought I was, got very confused by the large marsh and totally failed to twig that it was FLAT and there was therefore only one place I could be, assumed for some reason it was the bracken-covered hill near the control (?!), went N again and finally relocated successfully on a lake near the start...hardly my finest hour.
9,10 good, 11 a bit tentative as I'd thought I was in a stream which turned out to be just a damp reentrant, but relocated well and didnt lose too much time.
12-16 good with a little miss on 14 not going quite far enough before losing confidence.
17 similar mistake to previous day #1 in that had no concept of where I'd crossed stream and so didn't know how high I was; I think this is as a result of oversimplification ie "S to stream, ignore everything else"; should have monitered marsh, hill top etc to keep in touch. Rest ok.
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/?us...
2-misread hilltop due to large side spur and so went to look at a different control.
3-4-5-6-7 happy; tough but good fun, orienteering well. Bit of unnecessary climb on 6 caused by gaining a lot at the start and then contouring, but corrected well.
8 - major disaster. Bisected the OOB area almost perfectly; in a reentrant 150m N of where I thought.Found a path which I thought was a stream (I remember thinking "That's weird; I'd have mapped this as a path! It is a bit boggy I suppose, therefore I will forget all about it and not bother to think that maybe it's a path and I'm an idiot") now about 300m away from where I thought I was, got very confused by the large marsh and totally failed to twig that it was FLAT and there was therefore only one place I could be, assumed for some reason it was the bracken-covered hill near the control (?!), went N again and finally relocated successfully on a lake near the start...hardly my finest hour.
9,10 good, 11 a bit tentative as I'd thought I was in a stream which turned out to be just a damp reentrant, but relocated well and didnt lose too much time.
12-16 good with a little miss on 14 not going quite far enough before losing confidence.
17 similar mistake to previous day #1 in that had no concept of where I'd crossed stream and so didn't know how high I was; I think this is as a result of oversimplification ie "S to stream, ignore everything else"; should have monitered marsh, hill top etc to keep in touch. Rest ok.
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/?us...
Friday Aug 7, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Glen Affric S6D day5) 1:41:49 [5] 11.1 km (9:10 / km) +448m 7:38 / km
Almost comically bad #1. Contoured round to crags, but then couldn't cross straight away, so went up for a bit, then found better crossing place, but had no idea how far up I'd gone.
In reality it was about 1 contour but I hadn't been concentrating and therefore after running up the path for a bit assumed I must have gone too far. This was a terrible decision and meant I wasted loads of time imagining I was in two different places and seeing which fitted the best. It was like playing chess. Eventually worked it out but then had no confidence in the other path. Basically rubbish and all down to the contour error right at the start.
With hindsight - should just have gone straight to path.
Then a string of pretty good legs, helped by a passing train 10-11-12 but picked my own route to 13; which was straighter and looks good on the GPS,(Train went down stream) but there was so much bracken I was very lucky to find the control; couldn't make out features underneath. Arrived mid-train though; hurrah!
Then terrible 14, drifted off but didnt recognise the veg boundary at the time and so had no idea where was along path; didnt realise so far right. Relocated on stream ok but lucky in bracken again.
There was so much bracken it was basically the White Rose.
16,17 good, then really bad route choice into 18 taking in the gorge at its steepest point, unlucky not to hit control first time though.
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/?us...
In reality it was about 1 contour but I hadn't been concentrating and therefore after running up the path for a bit assumed I must have gone too far. This was a terrible decision and meant I wasted loads of time imagining I was in two different places and seeing which fitted the best. It was like playing chess. Eventually worked it out but then had no confidence in the other path. Basically rubbish and all down to the contour error right at the start.
With hindsight - should just have gone straight to path.
Then a string of pretty good legs, helped by a passing train 10-11-12 but picked my own route to 13; which was straighter and looks good on the GPS,(Train went down stream) but there was so much bracken I was very lucky to find the control; couldn't make out features underneath. Arrived mid-train though; hurrah!
Then terrible 14, drifted off but didnt recognise the veg boundary at the time and so had no idea where was along path; didnt realise so far right. Relocated on stream ok but lucky in bracken again.
There was so much bracken it was basically the White Rose.
16,17 good, then really bad route choice into 18 taking in the gorge at its steepest point, unlucky not to hit control first time though.
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/?us...
Thursday Aug 6, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Darnaway W S6D day4) 1:11:45 [5] 10.4 km (6:54 / km) +326m 5:58 / km
ahr:148 max:166
Some brilliant orienteering coupled with some startlingly appalling decisions and implementations!
Deliberately very hesitant to 1, but still too fast and therefore struggling to match features - lucky.
Not enough attention to compass on 3 but relocated ok...from the road.
6 - came out on a track and had no idea which one. Looking at GPS; miles away from where I thought! Failed to aim off, and had crossed a minor path without realizing.
10 - a low point. Got distracted by other people after puddled path, lost concentration, then something happened and I was lost. Relocated from big hill.
13 - simply no idea.
18 - navigated really well to the big feature then messed up the complicated bit at the end.
18-19-20-21-22 - some of the best orienteering I've ever done
23 - navigated perfectly to the control but read the wrong code and so was very confused for ages
So basically 4 great controls, everything else rubbish. See routegadget.
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/?us...
Deliberately very hesitant to 1, but still too fast and therefore struggling to match features - lucky.
Not enough attention to compass on 3 but relocated ok...from the road.
6 - came out on a track and had no idea which one. Looking at GPS; miles away from where I thought! Failed to aim off, and had crossed a minor path without realizing.
10 - a low point. Got distracted by other people after puddled path, lost concentration, then something happened and I was lost. Relocated from big hill.
13 - simply no idea.
18 - navigated really well to the big feature then messed up the complicated bit at the end.
18-19-20-21-22 - some of the best orienteering I've ever done
23 - navigated perfectly to the control but read the wrong code and so was very confused for ages
So basically 4 great controls, everything else rubbish. See routegadget.
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/?us...
Wednesday Aug 5, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Darnaway E S6D day3) 52:06 [5] 7.2 km (7:14 / km) +150m 6:33 / km
ahr:137 max:168
Another poor result unfortunately but some really good splits overall, so much more positive.
Of 22 legs and 86 competitors:
4 top 10 splits and another 8 between 10 and 20, then one or two controls only in the other blocks of 10.
on exactly zero of the 12 good legs was I following anyone or led into the control. The disadvantage of starting last is that if you make a massive mistake near the beginning, there's no one in the forest anywhere near you
Onto the errors:
1 - wrong veg boundary,and struggled to relocate in the vagueness.2 mins
2 - another first for me.misread the large depression the smaller depressions were in as a hill - simply because the tags are so far away from the control.had I mapped this I might have put more tags? Loss of other depressions and form lines have more than two! Anyway, so convinced I was looking for a ridge with depressions in it, rather than a depression with depressions in it, and therefore spent all the time on the ridge to the north.finally relocated on number 6, took a bearing and only then eventually realised what had happened.thoroughly frustrated as I'd just visualized the wrong thing! But not a mistake I'll make again in a hurry.10mins(!)
3-10 good
11 - not best route, should have gone W then N to path. Instead went N on path then W through grot. Lost bearing and had to relocate on PJ.should have picked best route to AP rather than focusing on control.
2mins
12-15 good
16 - bearing was off, then still looked in rough even when no sign of hill.need to learn size of a contour (common mistake for me).1min
17-finish good
15 mins...too many.speed is clearly fine though.tomorrow will be better.
Terrain was great, much nicer than day 2.
Of 22 legs and 86 competitors:
4 top 10 splits and another 8 between 10 and 20, then one or two controls only in the other blocks of 10.
on exactly zero of the 12 good legs was I following anyone or led into the control. The disadvantage of starting last is that if you make a massive mistake near the beginning, there's no one in the forest anywhere near you
Onto the errors:
1 - wrong veg boundary,and struggled to relocate in the vagueness.2 mins
2 - another first for me.misread the large depression the smaller depressions were in as a hill - simply because the tags are so far away from the control.had I mapped this I might have put more tags? Loss of other depressions and form lines have more than two! Anyway, so convinced I was looking for a ridge with depressions in it, rather than a depression with depressions in it, and therefore spent all the time on the ridge to the north.finally relocated on number 6, took a bearing and only then eventually realised what had happened.thoroughly frustrated as I'd just visualized the wrong thing! But not a mistake I'll make again in a hurry.10mins(!)
3-10 good
11 - not best route, should have gone W then N to path. Instead went N on path then W through grot. Lost bearing and had to relocate on PJ.should have picked best route to AP rather than focusing on control.
2mins
12-15 good
16 - bearing was off, then still looked in rough even when no sign of hill.need to learn size of a contour (common mistake for me).1min
17-finish good
15 mins...too many.speed is clearly fine though.tomorrow will be better.
Terrain was great, much nicer than day 2.
Tuesday Aug 4, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Forres Sprint) 23:04 [5] 4.62 km (5:00 / km) +129m 4:23 / km
ahr:151 max:172 shoes: Saucony Virrata 2
Terrible; meant to be my best event of the week and managed to do a loop in the wrong direction
#fail
Will wait for splits to appear to see if I can salvage anything - running speed seemed good, but missed one route choice and nearly missed number 12 as well, so by no means great even without the major one.
Will have to sort this out before city race euro tour.
- missed route through on 8: 30s
- thought was at 12 at 11 so was very confused at road and went miles wrong way: 60s
- messed up scale at 19 and went way too far into park: 30s
- 24,28,27,26,25: 2mins30
4mins30 lost in a sprint - worst urban result ever maybe?
Positive - successfully vaulted fence that thwarted yannick...
#fail
Will wait for splits to appear to see if I can salvage anything - running speed seemed good, but missed one route choice and nearly missed number 12 as well, so by no means great even without the major one.
Will have to sort this out before city race euro tour.
- missed route through on 8: 30s
- thought was at 12 at 11 so was very confused at road and went miles wrong way: 60s
- messed up scale at 19 and went way too far into park: 30s
- 24,28,27,26,25: 2mins30
4mins30 lost in a sprint - worst urban result ever maybe?
Positive - successfully vaulted fence that thwarted yannick...
Orienteering (TrailO) 1:00:00 [1] 2.4 km (25:00 / km)
6/11 correct - no good at this type of o either...
Monday Aug 3, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Strathfarrar) 1:23:15 [5] 8.2 km (10:09 / km) +454m 7:57 / km
ahr:133 max:162
Tone set for the rest of the race by number 1.GPS helpfully shows me I was within about 20m of control, but had no confidence, got thoroughly confused in the bracken and eventually relocated on a control on another rock.7 mins 30 lost.not a great start.happy with 2,3,4...
Different genre of mistakes today: contours.route to 5 had good plan and executed 75 percent of it well...then due some reason ignored that I needed to gain a few contours and lost four instead, misread marshes as a result...eventually related 6 contours too low.another 7 mins 30.not a good day.
Tentative on 6.unsurprising now! Bit high;60s.lucky on 7.8ok.
Followed someone on 9 (on the assumption that I was worse than everyone else out there) but they lost me another minute damn them...
Went up and over to 10, then couldn't see crag from above, track route looks better.2mins.
Rest ok, but not quick.
Jeez,19 mins lost.that's a result to bin.more than anything, just not really enjoying the terrain much.struggling to see the shape of the land underneath the vegetation, not sure how everyone else is managing!
Different genre of mistakes today: contours.route to 5 had good plan and executed 75 percent of it well...then due some reason ignored that I needed to gain a few contours and lost four instead, misread marshes as a result...eventually related 6 contours too low.another 7 mins 30.not a good day.
Tentative on 6.unsurprising now! Bit high;60s.lucky on 7.8ok.
Followed someone on 9 (on the assumption that I was worse than everyone else out there) but they lost me another minute damn them...
Went up and over to 10, then couldn't see crag from above, track route looks better.2mins.
Rest ok, but not quick.
Jeez,19 mins lost.that's a result to bin.more than anything, just not really enjoying the terrain much.struggling to see the shape of the land underneath the vegetation, not sure how everyone else is managing!
Sunday Aug 2, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Achagour S6D Day 1) 1:20:14 [5] 11.2 km (7:10 / km) +257m 6:26 / km
ahr:140 max:162 shoes: X-Talon 190 (orange)[9.5]
Not as bad as tomorrow will be/was...
Started ok;in wrong march for a bit,contour interpretation a bit rusty.maybe 60s.next 2 ok, but 1 reentrant too low down on 4,another 60s.standard stuff.ok to 11,another 60s stopping too early inamongst the archery stuff.
Up to 14ok,then major compass checking fail as went NW rather then W and hit wrong fence,3mins.then same error on next leg, S not SW,came out in wrong place by miles but at least had good AP after long track run.3mins.another minute on 20 and 21 each just but being accurate enough.
11 mins lost, ish, not too bad for first event in this terrain for a couple of years, but I'd have hoped for better
Started ok;in wrong march for a bit,contour interpretation a bit rusty.maybe 60s.next 2 ok, but 1 reentrant too low down on 4,another 60s.standard stuff.ok to 11,another 60s stopping too early inamongst the archery stuff.
Up to 14ok,then major compass checking fail as went NW rather then W and hit wrong fence,3mins.then same error on next leg, S not SW,came out in wrong place by miles but at least had good AP after long track run.3mins.another minute on 20 and 21 each just but being accurate enough.
11 mins lost, ish, not too bad for first event in this terrain for a couple of years, but I'd have hoped for better
Saturday Aug 1, 2015 #
Orienteering race (Nairn sprint) 18:26 [5] 4.3 km (4:17 / km) +46m 4:04 / km
ahr:152 max:177 shoes: Saucony Virrata 2
Very much enjoyed this.
Definitely felt like I was more used to urban than sprint and so not really going fast enough; kept realising that, speeding up and then making errors.
Didn't see man-made fence on 2, deviated ok but should have planned for.15s faffing on 3 with alleyways, leaving 2too fast.
Then ok to 10, on 11 missed obvious trap and went down correct alleyway, but decided must be wrong and went to next one, which was definitely wrong! Maybe 30s here.
Happy with rest although punched an extra control and was lucky to get the correct one as well.
Was 12th ish when left out of 140 maybe?
Definitely felt like I was more used to urban than sprint and so not really going fast enough; kept realising that, speeding up and then making errors.
Didn't see man-made fence on 2, deviated ok but should have planned for.15s faffing on 3 with alleyways, leaving 2too fast.
Then ok to 10, on 11 missed obvious trap and went down correct alleyway, but decided must be wrong and went to next one, which was definitely wrong! Maybe 30s here.
Happy with rest although punched an extra control and was lucky to get the correct one as well.
Was 12th ish when left out of 140 maybe?