Training Log Archive: bradcIn the 31 days ending Oct 31, 2008:
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Wednesday Oct 29, 2008 #
Running warm up/down (Warm up/down) 31:40 5.46 km (5:48 / km)
ahr:137 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
Warm up around the loch, then drills; warm down around the track, 3 x 10s sprints, then around the field and back to the chariot. Proper cold today! Leggings, helly, jacket, hat, gloves... felt like Michelin Man.
Running intervals 24:00 [5] 5.95 km (4:02 / km)
ahr:162 max:173 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
Having missed the FVO session last night I was determined to go to the track today and do it by myself. So I did. But it's not as much fun by yourself, and it's definitely harder to push yourself to the same level if there's noone else around to chase or stay in front of.
Mindful of Coach Stevenson's comments about this being at 10km pace - second hand from Jon's log! - I set off at that sort of pace, but found it difficult to stay constant. Mostly the first lap was harder, the second a bit slower, and then the final 3/4 lap harder again. Hmm, not the plan of the session. I wasn't too consistent in my rep pace either - a disappointing 3:43/km, then 3:45(!), then 3:36 and two 3:38s to finish. Distances: 1085m, 1070m, 1115m, 1105m,1100m. I wouldn't exactly be setting a 10km field alight! Well, I WAS on me tod. Apart from one girl walking back and forth over a 10m section of the track with big ear defenders on, and some bloke standing with a clipboard taking notes. Hmm. And people say that orienteers are weird?
Mindful of Coach Stevenson's comments about this being at 10km pace - second hand from Jon's log! - I set off at that sort of pace, but found it difficult to stay constant. Mostly the first lap was harder, the second a bit slower, and then the final 3/4 lap harder again. Hmm, not the plan of the session. I wasn't too consistent in my rep pace either - a disappointing 3:43/km, then 3:45(!), then 3:36 and two 3:38s to finish. Distances: 1085m, 1070m, 1115m, 1105m,1100m. I wouldn't exactly be setting a 10km field alight! Well, I WAS on me tod. Apart from one girl walking back and forth over a 10m section of the track with big ear defenders on, and some bloke standing with a clipboard taking notes. Hmm. And people say that orienteers are weird?
Tuesday Oct 28, 2008 #
Note
(rest day)
Hmph. Far too late getting away from the orifice to get to intervals. Unchuffed; it's probably the last chance I had of track time until the end of November, unless I can find a friendly athletics club near Stockport who wouldn't mind a guest runner joining them for the next few weeks...
Monday Oct 27, 2008 #
Strength training (Pilates) 35:00 [2]
Some new exercises to test us this week - thanks (?) Jase. Think it'll take a while before we perfect the GG pose. And my back was well Widow Twangy after all that running whilst bent double yesterday.
Record turnout of 18 thanks to the guest appearance of pilates professional Geoff, Kirsty BJ and young speed demon Ali McL.
Record turnout of 18 thanks to the guest appearance of pilates professional Geoff, Kirsty BJ and young speed demon Ali McL.
Strength training (Circuits) 25:00 [4]
Some changes to the circuits routine as well, to keep us guessing. I was paired up with young Spongey for the exercises, who was able to do two step ups to my one, or so it seemed - fast feet, no wonder he can run so quickly! I think that I got him on the other exercises, though :-) Those crunches are going to hurt tomorrow...
Sunday Oct 26, 2008 #
Event: SOL 7
Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 2.0 km (10:00 / km)
shoes: Silva K80 dobs
A good uphill warm up and a jog back from the finish.
Orienteering race 1:41:44 **** 10.57 km (9:37 / km) +445m 7:57 / km
ahr:145 max:168 spiked:13/19c shoes: Silva K80 dobs
SOL 7 & SHI, Craig a Barns. M35L course, 8.4km + 335m. Non-comp as I was taking advantage of some expert coaching! The goal of today was to plan each leg, so at each control we stopped and I talked through my plan. As I often run off without a plan, this was A Good Thing (TM).
Things were going swimmingly until #5, the long leg, which I executed well but at the finish the control proved to be in the wrong place, and I lost a couple of minutes. Interestingly, I later looked at an old map of Drumbuie and the gap in the crags WAS marked on that map! On the next leg I took a risk and we ended up in a not-so-well mapped area... 7.5 minutes lost, a real howler. Argh. Another 30s on the next, then 2 mins on #8 (again, better on the old map); poor, poor. After that things picked up and, despite tiring a bit, I only really made 2.5 mins of significant errors in the last 45 minutes.
So, 16 mins of errors, but the object of the exercise was to learn, and I definitely did. Gracias, amigo! The course was excellent and the area top notch too. And Scotland won! Well done to the lads and lassies.
Things were going swimmingly until #5, the long leg, which I executed well but at the finish the control proved to be in the wrong place, and I lost a couple of minutes. Interestingly, I later looked at an old map of Drumbuie and the gap in the crags WAS marked on that map! On the next leg I took a risk and we ended up in a not-so-well mapped area... 7.5 minutes lost, a real howler. Argh. Another 30s on the next, then 2 mins on #8 (again, better on the old map); poor, poor. After that things picked up and, despite tiring a bit, I only really made 2.5 mins of significant errors in the last 45 minutes.
So, 16 mins of errors, but the object of the exercise was to learn, and I definitely did. Gracias, amigo! The course was excellent and the area top notch too. And Scotland won! Well done to the lads and lassies.
Saturday Oct 25, 2008 #
Gym (Cross-trainer) 45:00 [3] 9.64 km (4:40 / km)
ahr:149 max:164
Oh what a lovely day.
How glad I am not to be doing the OMM... or not doing it, as the case may be, as they've cancelled it for the first time ever. If the weather there is anything like it has been here all day, I'm amazed that they even started.
A perfect day to be a gym bunny. I hit the yooni Jim and did some hilly intervals on the X-trainer. Don't like the programmes on the new machines. Not all progress is good.
How glad I am not to be doing the OMM... or not doing it, as the case may be, as they've cancelled it for the first time ever. If the weather there is anything like it has been here all day, I'm amazed that they even started.
A perfect day to be a gym bunny. I hit the yooni Jim and did some hilly intervals on the X-trainer. Don't like the programmes on the new machines. Not all progress is good.
Gym (Strength training) 30:00 [3]
Stretched and then hit the machines after the X-trainer. Puffed and panted and just about managed to move the odd weight or two for some feeble reps. I am a weed! Weeeeeed (one for the oldies there, yes, I do remember it being on telly)
Thursday Oct 23, 2008 #
Running (Trail) 40:57 [3] 7.41 km (5:32 / km) +230m 4:47 / km
ahr:145 max:163 shoes: Asics Gel-Trail Attack WR
Such a wonderfully wild and woolly day that I simply had to stop off at the uni on the way home and go for a run. Despite the rain I set off into the gloaming without a coat, and I was glad I did; it was really warm. Stupid global warming!
For some reason I decided to set off up into Minewoods, up to Pendreich and see if I could beat my way through to Cocksburn reservoir, then along to Minewoods and down to Bridge of A, then back. Sadly the trail shoes were not up to the job. Much splattering and slipping. The run along the forest track from Pendreich deteriorated into a bog snorkling comedy event. I managed to stretch out a bit on the road to Minewoods, then teetered/slid down the Coppermine Path before finally getting the chance to actually run a bit on the roads back to the uni. Not the hardish workout I was looking for, but it was at least jolly to be out in such fine conditions.
For some reason I decided to set off up into Minewoods, up to Pendreich and see if I could beat my way through to Cocksburn reservoir, then along to Minewoods and down to Bridge of A, then back. Sadly the trail shoes were not up to the job. Much splattering and slipping. The run along the forest track from Pendreich deteriorated into a bog snorkling comedy event. I managed to stretch out a bit on the road to Minewoods, then teetered/slid down the Coppermine Path before finally getting the chance to actually run a bit on the roads back to the uni. Not the hardish workout I was looking for, but it was at least jolly to be out in such fine conditions.
Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 #
Intervals intervals 19:00 [5] 4.92 km (3:52 / km)
ahr:164 max:176 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
FVO intervals, back at the track - yippee?! Jase had set us a gentle reintroduction to endurance training, in the form of 5 x 3 mins with 1 min between reps. The man himself wasn't there, off gallivanting around the Meadows instead, but his shoes were ably filled by Il Capitano. We were a depleted bunch of a mere 4 tonight - come on you lot, see you there next week!
It's hard to remember how to judge your pace for something like this after concentrating on speedier stuff, so I set off at a reasonable, steady, pace, which actually transpired to be only 3:27/km; hmm, slowish, but then, the recovery was much less than you get at the Meadows session, so perhaps it was right. I kept that pace for the next two reps, but Jon had loosened up a bit by then and pushed me a bit harder around the first lap or so of the final two reps. At the end I felt pretty good, and still felt like I could do another one...
Lap geekery (for anyone interested - as if!):
882m, 3:27/km, ahr 155 max 165.
866m, 3:29/km, ahr 163 max 171.
869m, 3:29/km, ahr 167 max 173.
901m, 3:21/km, ahr 169 max 175.
898m, 3:22/km, ahr 171 max 176.
It's hard to remember how to judge your pace for something like this after concentrating on speedier stuff, so I set off at a reasonable, steady, pace, which actually transpired to be only 3:27/km; hmm, slowish, but then, the recovery was much less than you get at the Meadows session, so perhaps it was right. I kept that pace for the next two reps, but Jon had loosened up a bit by then and pushed me a bit harder around the first lap or so of the final two reps. At the end I felt pretty good, and still felt like I could do another one...
Lap geekery (for anyone interested - as if!):
882m, 3:27/km, ahr 155 max 165.
866m, 3:29/km, ahr 163 max 171.
869m, 3:29/km, ahr 167 max 173.
901m, 3:21/km, ahr 169 max 175.
898m, 3:22/km, ahr 171 max 176.
C • wow! 4
Running warm up/down 35:00 [2] 5.0 km (7:00 / km)
ahr:134 max:156 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
Around the loch to warm up, then drills; then to warm down, 3 x 10s super sprints and 2km around the campus. Job done.
Monday Oct 20, 2008 #
Strength training (Pilates) 45:00 [1]
I noticed that I'd missed two weeks - definitely a bit wobblier on those side lifts! Reasonably flexible tonight tho.
Strength training (Circuits) 25:00 [4]
2 sets of the the FVO circuits, for the last time; a new routine for us next week. 40/10 but I mostly just started as soon as I'd got to the next station. Pushed it pretty hard tonight and got VERY sweaty so I must have been trying!
Sunday Oct 19, 2008 #
Orienteering race 1:19:14 [4] **** 13.06 km (6:04 / km) +310m 5:25 / km
ahr:152 max:170 spiked:0/30c shoes: Silva K80 dobs
Friday Oct 17, 2008 #
Running tempo (Fartlek) 40:32 [4] 9.4 km (4:19 / km) +165m 3:58 / km
ahr:156 max:166 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
This was more like it.
I needed to do something a bit more interesting than just a steady run, and I was feeling reasonable, so when I headed out for a lunchtime run in Livingston I decided to do a one-man fartlek session. It was great fun; I thoroughly enjoyed it, felt strong and pushed hard. Variety truly is the spice of life!
Shame that I appear to have pulled a muscle in my upper back... ouch
I needed to do something a bit more interesting than just a steady run, and I was feeling reasonable, so when I headed out for a lunchtime run in Livingston I decided to do a one-man fartlek session. It was great fun; I thoroughly enjoyed it, felt strong and pushed hard. Variety truly is the spice of life!
Shame that I appear to have pulled a muscle in my upper back... ouch
Wednesday Oct 15, 2008 #
Running (Trail) 43:54 8.13 km (5:24 / km) +290m 4:35 / km
ahr:143 max:158 shoes: Walsh PB Extremes
A very heavy-legged and uninspired late afternoon trudge along the Darn Path to BrOfA, up the Old Glen road then back down to the path climbing up to Pisgah; home through the wood. Out of sorts and really not enjoying it; felt like a punter. Oh well, we all have flat days. On on!
Tuesday Oct 14, 2008 #
Intervals intervals 21:00 [5] 4.0 km (5:15 / km)
ahr:158 max:176 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
FVO intervals around the uni loch.
Easy session tonight. 2 sets of 5 x 60 on / 60 off, 3 mins between sets. Given the reduced number of reps, I thought that I should run harder than I would have had it been a full set; my idea was to push at 45s/rep pace and then hang on. Fine, but I wasn't quite as nippy as I was, say, three weeks ago, so I was really just running at 60s/rep pace anyway! I was toiling towards the end of each rep in the second set, too, so I think I've lost a wee bit of speed endurance as a result of my lazy last few weeks.
Looking at the rep distances, my first two were the shortest, which probably speaks volumes for the value of doing drills beforehand (I didn't!). Rep distances were also more variable in the second set, when my legs were tiring. Borne out by the fact that I got my HR highest at the final set of the first rep, when the legs were still able to perform.
All this techno geekery is great, but really it's just telling me - work harder and faster!!!
Easy session tonight. 2 sets of 5 x 60 on / 60 off, 3 mins between sets. Given the reduced number of reps, I thought that I should run harder than I would have had it been a full set; my idea was to push at 45s/rep pace and then hang on. Fine, but I wasn't quite as nippy as I was, say, three weeks ago, so I was really just running at 60s/rep pace anyway! I was toiling towards the end of each rep in the second set, too, so I think I've lost a wee bit of speed endurance as a result of my lazy last few weeks.
Looking at the rep distances, my first two were the shortest, which probably speaks volumes for the value of doing drills beforehand (I didn't!). Rep distances were also more variable in the second set, when my legs were tiring. Borne out by the fact that I got my HR highest at the final set of the first rep, when the legs were still able to perform.
All this techno geekery is great, but really it's just telling me - work harder and faster!!!
Running warm up/down 21:35 [2] 3.2 km (6:45 / km)
ahr:133 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
Steady run out to the intervals session - too late to do the drills, again - and then a very easy jog off afterwards.
We don't seem to do the comedy sprints any more... next week at the track!
We don't seem to do the comedy sprints any more... next week at the track!
Monday Oct 13, 2008 #
Gym (Cardio) 30:00 [3]
My ankle isn't too bad today, just minor bruising, so since I'm on baby sitting duty tonight and circuits are therefore out, I went to the gym at lunchtime. 20 mins hard on the cross-trainer and 10 mins on the rower. It was a lovely day for a jog around this weekend's East District Cross Country course... not that I'm going, sadly :-(
Gym (Strength training) 25:00 [2]
For years I used to go to the gym 3 times a week and do 40 mins of exercises at home every morning before breakfast. That stopped abruptly 3 or 4 years ago and I am now, to quote a certain Mr RP Coltrane, a mere shadow of my former self. The weedy weights I struggled to push today would barely have taxed an out of shape squirrel. I am going to hurt tomorrow!
Sunday Oct 12, 2008 #
Event: SOL 6
Orienteering race 16:00 [3] **** 1.65 km (9:42 / km)
shoes: Walsh PB Extremes
INTerlopers' SOL at Inshriach South, M35L.
I was looking forward to this, despite never having run well here in the past - too many of those contour things for me to be able to read at anything above walking pace. Even the tales of rogue capercaillie in the INTerlopers accommodation the night before the race, which saw us having to remove several controls from the maps of four courses in order to prevent elders and juniors from being savaged, didn't put me off. Unfortunately the tales must have scared Jamie, because he - and, consequently, we - had a very bad night's sleep.
I set off without my head in gear and promptly made a 2 minute error, as well as tweaking my ankle en route. I wonder, does tiredness affect your balance as well as your concentration? Hmm. I was cautious to #2, but then duffed #3 and went over on my ankle heavily just coming into the control site. I sat on the ground for a bit and considered my options. Another 7-8km to go, head not in the game, balance/ankles clearly not either - hmm, again. Jack, walk back, ice, a couple of days off; or keep going and likely have to take a couple of weeks off? Sense, it seems, comes with age. I went for an early shower and spent the rest of the time playing in the car with the birthday boy.
I was looking forward to this, despite never having run well here in the past - too many of those contour things for me to be able to read at anything above walking pace. Even the tales of rogue capercaillie in the INTerlopers accommodation the night before the race, which saw us having to remove several controls from the maps of four courses in order to prevent elders and juniors from being savaged, didn't put me off. Unfortunately the tales must have scared Jamie, because he - and, consequently, we - had a very bad night's sleep.
I set off without my head in gear and promptly made a 2 minute error, as well as tweaking my ankle en route. I wonder, does tiredness affect your balance as well as your concentration? Hmm. I was cautious to #2, but then duffed #3 and went over on my ankle heavily just coming into the control site. I sat on the ground for a bit and considered my options. Another 7-8km to go, head not in the game, balance/ankles clearly not either - hmm, again. Jack, walk back, ice, a couple of days off; or keep going and likely have to take a couple of weeks off? Sense, it seems, comes with age. I went for an early shower and spent the rest of the time playing in the car with the birthday boy.
Saturday Oct 11, 2008 #
Orienteering race 1:06:19 [4] **** 8.54 km (7:46 / km) +325m 6:31 / km
shoes: Walsh PB Extremes
BASOC kindly let us old geezers run at Inshriach North after the young guns had run their Junior Inter-Regional Relays. Well, not AFTER, as it turned out - East area got lost en route, it seems, and the start put back 50 minutes! - but the organisers' decision to leave the juniors' start unit still on its trestle in a big blue tent next to the finish was unfortunate, as several people, including Beccy, punched it before realising that it wasn't the finish and they'd therefore just cleared the contents of their brikke. Thankfully it was gone by the time I finished.
I enjoyed this. After a week of relative sloth, it was great to be out, and I was relatively wide awake, which meant that (apart from an early 2-minute blunder at #2) I was concentrating quite well. I also found it easier going underfoot than Inshriach South, although I wasn't really pushing and even had a sit down at one point, albeit to hold my knee after I'd wanged it into a big tree stump! If only I could get rid of the stopping, folding, and staring at my map at every control I could shave three minutes off my time. But I'd probably run off in the wrong direction.
I enjoyed this. After a week of relative sloth, it was great to be out, and I was relatively wide awake, which meant that (apart from an early 2-minute blunder at #2) I was concentrating quite well. I also found it easier going underfoot than Inshriach South, although I wasn't really pushing and even had a sit down at one point, albeit to hold my knee after I'd wanged it into a big tree stump! If only I could get rid of the stopping, folding, and staring at my map at every control I could shave three minutes off my time. But I'd probably run off in the wrong direction.
Thursday Oct 9, 2008 #
Gym (Cross-trainer) 30:00 [2] 5.25 km (5:43 / km)
Just enough time to squeeze in a short cross-trainer session before breakfast - a long day of trade show and then travelling awaits. Think I managed to sweat out some of last night's toxins; god, I felt rough.
Wednesday Oct 8, 2008 #
Note
(rest day)
Another lovely day in Stuttgart but the networking event tonight - 2 hours of malt whisky tasting at the Scottish stand - has a 99% chance of precluding any physical activity other than exercising my arm muscles and marshalling my facial ones in order to mask my grimaces... horrible stuff.
Note
Postscript. The whisky tasting finished after 2 hours, but I'd already gone across to the Silicon Saxony stand, where they'd imported a beach, were giving out sandals and lots of beer - then it was on to the Jemi France stand for the fine wine tasting. FUzzywuZZydinglesplat hic oh my head
Tuesday Oct 7, 2008 #
Running (Road) 1:00:00 [3] 13.15 km (4:34 / km)
ahr:145 max:156 shoes: Asics Gel Landreth 3
After a long day standing at my, er, stand, I was feeling pretty dead, both mentally and physically. Which is terrible. Surely we are designed to stand up? My calves and back were aching. Ban chairs, I say. Anyway, I really didn't feel up to anything speedy, so I opted for the steady plod for an hour.
Plod plod plod. After just an hour on concrete every muscle in my legs was as tight as a gnat's chuff. Even after some judicious stretching the quads were still feeling weird. Further, liquid, muscle relaxant (accompanying the hotel meal) was in order. Ya. Pass ze reddenweinenhicfallover, fraulein!
Plod plod plod. After just an hour on concrete every muscle in my legs was as tight as a gnat's chuff. Even after some judicious stretching the quads were still feeling weird. Further, liquid, muscle relaxant (accompanying the hotel meal) was in order. Ya. Pass ze reddenweinenhicfallover, fraulein!
Monday Oct 6, 2008 #
Gym (Cross-trainer) 30:00 [3] 6.4 km (4:41 / km)
A long day of travelling to Stuttgart courtesy of BA. My first trip through Terminal 5 - it's, er, rather large. And all very nice, but how much did it cost? 5 billion?! You were robbed, BA.
Anyway, I arrived at my hotel in Stuttgart, deeply disappointed to find it in the midst of a concrete jungle with pavements being an optional extra. With the option largely not being taken, it seemed. On the up side, the hotel unexpectedly had a small gym, so I headed off down there for a stretch out and then 30 mins of interval programme on the X-trainer. Just enough to loosen off the tight calves and sore back. Only three more nights...
Anyway, I arrived at my hotel in Stuttgart, deeply disappointed to find it in the midst of a concrete jungle with pavements being an optional extra. With the option largely not being taken, it seemed. On the up side, the hotel unexpectedly had a small gym, so I headed off down there for a stretch out and then 30 mins of interval programme on the X-trainer. Just enough to loosen off the tight calves and sore back. Only three more nights...
Sunday Oct 5, 2008 #
Orienteering race 37:48 [4] *** 5.7 km (6:38 / km)
ahr:163 max:175 shoes: Silva K80 dobs
VHI Relays, Woodburn, NI. 1st off for team 4, on a medium leg (4.5km). This is it - I'm running well so I should be able to make the most of any pack running. I promptly duff #1, badly, by heading off with the long boys, and by the time I've relocated and got back, I'm 2 mins down. Idiot. Bang goes my advantage. Desperately try to get myself back in contention on #2 and go off too fast, not concentrating, and lose another three minutes on the fastest - it would have been less, but I discover that the hatched green on the map is impassable, particularly the stuff in open land.
Right, get a grip, I start concentrating (too late) and running hard. Pretty soon I'm flying along. No more mistakes! Absolutely pegging it along to and through the spectator control(s); this is the hardest I've ever run in an O race. By the third last, after 32 mins, I've caught up EddieH and all 5 mins I lost to him early on. We then both take the obvious route choice to the penultimate control, and get pinned in the most awful bit of boggy open with 6ft + high maneating brambles, torn to shreds - 2 more minutes lost, according to Tim G's time (he diverted through some green instead). Much use of very choice language, Eddie is still in shock, I think.
So - storming along, very bad at the start but I really got into it and was orienteering well whilst tanking it; pleased with that, at least.
So as the teams came in, it was Scotland, England, Wales, England, England, England... all looked lost. Then a rumour that one of the English teams was DSQ'd. Was it one of the ones already finished, or the one still out? (They only had 5, as the first guy out on the 6th team had broken his wrist in leaping a ditch in a pack en route to control #1, poor bloke.) In comes Scotland, Scotland, Scotland. And, yes, they WERE disqualified. We've lost the relays by 2pts but have won overall - yippee! Ha! Serious bragging rights. Ah. I remember the time I got called up for Scotland and we won the VHI trophy for the first time ever.... seriously, though, some superb runs by the team. By my standards I ran well, and was good enough not to be a drag on the scores. Chuffed!
Right, get a grip, I start concentrating (too late) and running hard. Pretty soon I'm flying along. No more mistakes! Absolutely pegging it along to and through the spectator control(s); this is the hardest I've ever run in an O race. By the third last, after 32 mins, I've caught up EddieH and all 5 mins I lost to him early on. We then both take the obvious route choice to the penultimate control, and get pinned in the most awful bit of boggy open with 6ft + high maneating brambles, torn to shreds - 2 more minutes lost, according to Tim G's time (he diverted through some green instead). Much use of very choice language, Eddie is still in shock, I think.
So - storming along, very bad at the start but I really got into it and was orienteering well whilst tanking it; pleased with that, at least.
So as the teams came in, it was Scotland, England, Wales, England, England, England... all looked lost. Then a rumour that one of the English teams was DSQ'd. Was it one of the ones already finished, or the one still out? (They only had 5, as the first guy out on the 6th team had broken his wrist in leaping a ditch in a pack en route to control #1, poor bloke.) In comes Scotland, Scotland, Scotland. And, yes, they WERE disqualified. We've lost the relays by 2pts but have won overall - yippee! Ha! Serious bragging rights. Ah. I remember the time I got called up for Scotland and we won the VHI trophy for the first time ever.... seriously, though, some superb runs by the team. By my standards I ran well, and was good enough not to be a drag on the scores. Chuffed!
Saturday Oct 4, 2008 #
Orienteering race 58:47 [4] **** 9.12 km (6:27 / km)
shoes: Walsh PB Extremes
VHIs, Magilligan East, NI: M35L course, 7.4km
OK, my first (and probably only) chance to perform for Scotland at a home international - best not blow it. Good job it was a nice easy area. And on a nice sunny day. Erk.
Heading off into the driving rain, I quickly noticed that it was harder going than I'd expected, and #1 was a reet tricky control. I lost a bit of time but so did everyone. Another 30s at #2, and a minute at #4; careless. I was feeling pretty good and running strongly but my nav in the circle was shakey. Then it was time to stretch out a bit, and after a repeat performance at #5 I started to get into the groove. The legs felt great. Another miss when we headed back into the tricky stuff, slow down, be cautious... more opportunity to press the pedal to the metal later, hey, I'm feeling good, the legs are on top form after all that rest! One more blunder in the circle at the third last. The finish, sub 60, phew, not bad - OK, so five minutes lost in big mistakes and probably another couple in being slow through controls (my great master plan of taking a map bag backfired - it took ages to fold each time and the map paper was better than Pretex, so it would have been fine despite the drenching) - and I'm actually only 5 minutes down! Just my bad luck that, this year, the results were pretty tightly packed, and I'm in 6th place - but thanks to Ben's 1st we've held our own in our class. And Scotland has won the individuals by 4 pts overall due to some classy running by others. Result! We made a happy bunch drying out in the NAAFI afterwards.
OK, my first (and probably only) chance to perform for Scotland at a home international - best not blow it. Good job it was a nice easy area. And on a nice sunny day. Erk.
Heading off into the driving rain, I quickly noticed that it was harder going than I'd expected, and #1 was a reet tricky control. I lost a bit of time but so did everyone. Another 30s at #2, and a minute at #4; careless. I was feeling pretty good and running strongly but my nav in the circle was shakey. Then it was time to stretch out a bit, and after a repeat performance at #5 I started to get into the groove. The legs felt great. Another miss when we headed back into the tricky stuff, slow down, be cautious... more opportunity to press the pedal to the metal later, hey, I'm feeling good, the legs are on top form after all that rest! One more blunder in the circle at the third last. The finish, sub 60, phew, not bad - OK, so five minutes lost in big mistakes and probably another couple in being slow through controls (my great master plan of taking a map bag backfired - it took ages to fold each time and the map paper was better than Pretex, so it would have been fine despite the drenching) - and I'm actually only 5 minutes down! Just my bad luck that, this year, the results were pretty tightly packed, and I'm in 6th place - but thanks to Ben's 1st we've held our own in our class. And Scotland has won the individuals by 4 pts overall due to some classy running by others. Result! We made a happy bunch drying out in the NAAFI afterwards.
Friday Oct 3, 2008 #
Note
(rest day)
...but no chance today either as it was work work work a.m. and then off to the ferry at 12:30. Rollocks!
Thursday Oct 2, 2008 #
Note
(rest day)
Another unexpected and unwanted rest day. All day in the office, with ca 5 hours of meetings and a late departure, then more slog in the evening. This week is turning into a write-off. I could really do with a nice easy-paced run to loosen out the legs...
Wednesday Oct 1, 2008 #
Note
(rest day)
An unplanned rest day - no opportunity to get out during the day, and that was it, because I was home alone with Jamie again tonight. Ho hum. A nice recovery run would have been A Good Thing (TM).