Training Log Archive: Arnold

#Tired & #Mudfest are a tough combo, but I slugged it out with a couple of short stops to get my breath back on the hills.

I was thinking that this would be my last Wimbledon loop for the season because of the mud, but then it really is quite character building, so I’ll try and persist.

Wimbledon Common Night-O

Bit of an orange course making it very fast, but on Wimbledon that’s probably a good thing. Nice evening out, technically fine except for a few wobbles. Still not feeling 100% but despite it, the speed is surprisingly reasonable. If only...

Forgot the Garmin. I &!@£!!&#% hate when that happens

To / from start

So I still haven’t fully recovered from my cough, which is starting to get a little concerning as it’s been almost 4 weeks. Also, my ears have become blocked and generally feeling pretty low, so planning a blood test this week just in case.

As a precaution I gave the orienteering a miss today (shame as it looked fun) and laid low, but decided to go for a run anyway just to turn the legs over.

It appears that the legs are still working reasonably well despite everything, as this was a decent enough time. So not all is lost, and a time for all the little niggles to heal.

SN Windmill Hill race (Brown), advertised as 11.4/470

Beautiful sunny and crisp morning, and as technically perfect a race as can be really. But physically felt weak once again as I’ve STILL not shaken off the flipping cough. Rest of the body was ok though, which I suppose is progress.

Still, a lovely day out in mostly very runnable forest. I thought the time was ok enough until Jonny Crickmore posted 59’. Yikes. Although as he probably does 3-5x the training that I do, it’s hardly surprising.

Am looking forward to a decent winter’s training now (fingers crossed.)

Checking out control sites for next year’s Junior Home International race.

C • You should 2

Failed attempt at a long run. Sometimes, your body just says “nah” and I think today it was better to listen to it.

Easyish. Still coughing and backaching, but speed is decent. If only...

Jezero Balkano, Bosnia
Orienteering country no. 45

Finished one job last week and starting another one on Wednesday, so decided to join the ‘Höst Öst’ (Peo Bengtsson) tour for their race in Bosnia.

Flew into Zagreb last night and joined the group of over 100 for dinner. Nice chat with Peo, Annika Bjork (who brought her baby), and a random but lovely clutch of Scandinavians. Fun but really don’t think I could do this for 2 weeks straight!

Race was in a lovely location in the deepest Bosnian hills (with a cool drive to get there), but the map wasn’t much to write home about (runnable continental forest with super steep and slippy hills to climb.) Still, pleased to have done it and with a bit of luck, I’ll get a couple of hours in Zagreb before flying back.

Body felt better than Sunday although the hills were seriously hardcore. Nav ok given the map wasn’t 100% perfect.

C • Annika! 1

November Classic, The New Forest
Brown, 11.2/280

Boo hiss. After a week’s hacking cough, the body was weak and after a promising start, got progressively more tired. With that came some mistakes including a 3 minute whopper right before the end, where I’m still convinced the control was in the wrong place.

On the plus side, the New Forest was lovely as always (despite it being really wet) with wild ponies, cows and donkeys. So overall type 1.5 fun.