Training Log Archive: bradc

Event: Scottish Championships - Relays
 

Scottish Relays, Newtyle Hill - 4.7km + 260m / 25c. 1st leg on a class 4 (handicap 11+, whatever that means) team with Catherine and Peggy. Normal service resumed today; game over by number 1.

Got there with the pack, but - oh no, wrong control number. It's 247, I want 227. But it's the right place, everyone else is punching... oh oh, is it a trick start? Am I really in the right place? Go for a wander. No, it's definitely the right place, but it's the wrong number. Has it been placed wrong? Has everyone else mis-punched? No, can't be. Wander again. Sod it, it must be the right one. Look, first control descrption and on the map, 247. Er, hang on. Cooled down now. Does the map really say 247? Writing is too small. And, um, it's the top control in the control descriptions, but why does it say number 7? Flip over map. First six controls are printed on the LHS. Ball. Ox. 4m30s error. Noone around but me and the bluebells. A**e.

Turns out I wasn't the only one caught by the "first control in the control descriptions" mistake but I was the only one to take so long to realise it. A new mistake for me, it shows you just how much you filter out. Next time I'll know to check my control numbers AND my, er, control numbers. I'd have hoped that having the control number on the map would have helped but the two numbers were almost identical (bad luck) and I really couldn't read the numbers on the map - too small and indistinct.

Unsurprisingly somewhat dispirited at that point, I tried to pick myself up, but missed #6 by maybe 60s because I stopped focussing and started dwelling. Told myself off and was reasonably solid after that, but not running as hard as I should until I met the long course folks up on the madly confusing butterflies at the top (too much detail for me) and had some people to chase. Pinged my ankle a bit chasing Claire downhill, slowed me down a little.

Poor performance all round. TRIMP 116.2.

C • Hope I didn't distract you 2

Event: Scottish Championships - Individual (UKOL)
 

Scottish Champs at Dalnamein: M40S (6.5km) + 140m).
Lovely day for it and the area was much nicer than I remembered. I had a good run, by my standards; just four poor controls, amounting to a little more than 2 minutes of errors in total. I was a little hesitant, particularly after crossing the ravine; not sure why, since I was navigating well and I could/should have run harder. Pleasantly surprised, then, to win my age class and be second on my course. Good work in the Connor household today.
Top marks for the course planning and the organisation, a very slick and enjoyable Scottish Champs. TRIMP 134.8.

C • 71 seconds..... 2

Generally feeling a bit tired and over-worked this week, so, I'm taking things a bit easy! Scottish Champs at the weekend, of course, have to be in tip-top condition for that. Oh well, never mind, for-the-tip condition will have to do!
Felt a bit creaky to start, having been sitting down for pretty much all of the last few days, but had loosened off a bit by Braco and sped up a bit. I was able to attack the climb from Greenloaning up on to the Muir. All good. TRIMP 138.3.

Just time for a short run up to the Gathering Stane. Feeling a bit more like a runner today. TRIMP 71.2.