Training Log Archive: Rosco

Event: British Relays
 

BOC Relays Culbin West first leg with FVO Flyers.

Was looking forward to this with a wee bit of trepidation as it was certainly the best team I've run for with Roger on second and Ewan as anchor.

Although I think of myself as a bit of a speed merchant that seems to be nonsense as loads of guys hared off in front of me and I was struggling to plough through the heather. Tired from yesterday: nothing to do with the shampoo consumption.

Bit of a pause before 1 to work out where I was, which I did successfully and then was going well and by 4/5 was running with David Sprot. By 7 we caught Ralph Street. I wasn't certain they were on the same gaffle as me as I hadn't seen them early on but was confident I could keep up and felt I was orienteering well - running my own race, as I had been telt. 8 was a tricky control, far into the green, with no clear safe route, so I decided to take a careful bearing through the open depressions from the ride end/veg corner. I had lost contact a wee bit racing through the white so stopped and confirmed my location, then set off carefully ticking off the bracken filled depressions. The bracken was thick on the last one and I got pushed round to the left but instead of going back round to the right got in a little panic, went further left, got in a real panic as I knew I was near then a bit of headlesschickenfollowothersfindwrongcontrolswearalot. Ended up back at the white section. Confirmed where I was (bit harder this time) ran a bit harder straight through, back to the same place, kept going this time and relocated on the obvious relocation feature (big open reentrant) and up into the control swearing. Need to have more faith in my own ability and execute the chosen plan. Was fine after this (apart from looping route on the long leg) but had lost 6 or 7 minutes and was a long way back.

Very annoyed and swore some more. Apologies for the terrible language. Would have been 43mins if it wasn't for 8. Then Roger went out and made an even bigger mess of things than me. Would have been 6th if either of us hadn't messed up or 5th if neither of us were so silly and that would have been pretty pleasing. Roger probably wouldn't have messed up if he hadn't been so far down thanks to me though.

Ewan stormed round and I think he will be looking for some new team mates.

Event: British Long Champs
 

BEOC Classic at Culbin. Well this is what it was all about. Began to psych myself out earlier in the week - all the winter training had pretty much been geared towards this weekend - so had a look at the Culbin West map and reminded myself that I'd had a pretty good run there at the 6 days and that I do actually know how to navigate. That in orienteering: I am in control of My race.

The forest looked awesome so I was getting pretty excited before the start, and tried not to think about the fact that I hadn't actually been running for ages and that several bits were creaking.

Set off to 1 on a careful bearing, crossed the ride and then got put off by someone on 21s, ran away past it into the vague stuff. What are you doing man?! Dork! Run your own race! 2 minutes lost already. This could be a long day..... However got right into it and was loving it. 16 was about the only one I had trouble finding the control on when I stopped a bit short. There were a few banana loops and I started to tire and got a bit cautious/tentative but then that is better that making a massive error. Planning ahead wasn't really required but I did note the low vis section at the end and was careful to be accurate in there. It was a bit of a lonely race - didn't see anyone at all on 21E so was pleased it was all my own work.

Ewan was saying it was a bit easy, and in the fact that it required one strategy - go straight and take care near the control - he was right, but in general it was a real test.

Absolutely magnificent, easily the best area I've run on. Loving it. What a birthday present for an old codger. That is what orienteering is all about.

wu jog to start and a bit of stretching.

Thought about doing some stretching. Didn't.

Couple of training loops planned by Gary at Tentsmuir to get into the sand dune type stuff preBOC. The map was hideous. And so was I in the green bits However by the end I had remembered how to do them. The white forest was easy as the contours all go up the way. Feel my vision is a wee issue. There's always something....

run out and back to forest. We didn't take the CofF option.

C • Collection of Flag? 14

Didn't bother with intervals as was tired and am still concerned about hamstrings when I do these speed type things.