Training Log Archive: Jon XIn the 31 days ending Oct 31, 2010:
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Sunday Oct 31, 2010 #
11 AM
Orienteering 1:12:19 [3] 9.32 km (7:46 / km) +100m 7:22 / km
ahr:132 shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Tinto Twin Day, Brown course 8.1km. Not feeling too inspired for today, not least as my calves and ankles seemed to be locked solid after yesterday.
Not helping with any inspiration was that whilst last night's course was great, today's course was pretty disappointing - lots of dead running/easy controls, controls that were on last night's course, controls hung like beacons on top of the feature or on the direction of approach. Having said that, control #1 was good but I missed it by a minute! Also, all things are relative and a disappointing course at Inshriach is still better than what many other areas can offer!
Other than miss at #1 and slow plod straight through terrain rather than taking the long track run to #3, only really lost time at #8 where somehow extreme care still saw me in the wrong block of the checkerboard, relieved to sort it out fairly quickly!
Good fun weekend despite my general incompetence and heavy legs, day rounded off nicely by a successful interception of Fi's Cakes en route to Inshriach Nursery Cakes!
Not helping with any inspiration was that whilst last night's course was great, today's course was pretty disappointing - lots of dead running/easy controls, controls that were on last night's course, controls hung like beacons on top of the feature or on the direction of approach. Having said that, control #1 was good but I missed it by a minute! Also, all things are relative and a disappointing course at Inshriach is still better than what many other areas can offer!
Other than miss at #1 and slow plod straight through terrain rather than taking the long track run to #3, only really lost time at #8 where somehow extreme care still saw me in the wrong block of the checkerboard, relieved to sort it out fairly quickly!
Good fun weekend despite my general incompetence and heavy legs, day rounded off nicely by a successful interception of Fi's Cakes en route to Inshriach Nursery Cakes!
Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 3.0 km (6:40 / km)
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Saturday Oct 30, 2010 #
11 AM
Orienteering 1:16:00 [1] 4.4 km (17:16 / km) +100m 15:31 / km
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
FVO Speyside weekend - training put on by Gareth on a new area for me, Glen Glynack above Kingussie.
Went round with MC with her following the principles from Coach Inman's talk of the morning. Pretty straightforward area but really good to be out in terrain.
Had felt shattered all week post half-marathon and legs still feeling very tired. Very glad that I wasn't planning on doing the hill race - although it transpired in any case that planning to do it and actually doing it are two very different things.....
Went round with MC with her following the principles from Coach Inman's talk of the morning. Pretty straightforward area but really good to be out in terrain.
Had felt shattered all week post half-marathon and legs still feeling very tired. Very glad that I wasn't planning on doing the hill race - although it transpired in any case that planning to do it and actually doing it are two very different things.....
7 PM
Orienteering 1:25:40 8.73 km (9:49 / km) +100m 9:17 / km
ahr:120 shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Tinto Twin night race on Inshriach North, 5.4km Brown course for M40/45/50 and W20/21. Really looking forward to this and looking forward to the technical challenge (all the horror stories about the last night race here notwithstanding).
Started off pretty well and was second on the course (behind Jase) at #3. Decided to take the safe track route to the right on #4. Except that the way I did it was not so safe as I completely forgot to turn left on the forest road and ended up in the wrong block. Total confusion as I kept thinking I had matched something to the map only for it immediately not to fit again - and of course my relocation attempts weren't even considering the area of the map where I actually was! Eventually after ten mins or so found a large open area, stood still there for a long time working things out, then confirmed where I was by finding #5. Couldn't understand why I was the wrong side of the track from #4 but made sure to compound my error by dashing off, crossing the track, then getting lost in the correct block for a good long while too! Eventually turned my brain back on, went out, relocated, found it.
So - second at #3 by a matter of seconds, last (of 33) at #4 by over 24minutes!! Not feeling quite so inspired now but chugged relatively competently round the rest but losing 1-2 mins in a few places with not enough caution in the circle itself, plus probably a bit slow in the rough terrain for the final couple of legs.
Tonight's course was really good, kept us largely in the complex/vague stuff but with a good variety of skills needed. Quite disappointed to find that my White Course skills of taking the correct forest road junction were more of a problem for me than my ability to run straight and use the contours.....
Started off pretty well and was second on the course (behind Jase) at #3. Decided to take the safe track route to the right on #4. Except that the way I did it was not so safe as I completely forgot to turn left on the forest road and ended up in the wrong block. Total confusion as I kept thinking I had matched something to the map only for it immediately not to fit again - and of course my relocation attempts weren't even considering the area of the map where I actually was! Eventually after ten mins or so found a large open area, stood still there for a long time working things out, then confirmed where I was by finding #5. Couldn't understand why I was the wrong side of the track from #4 but made sure to compound my error by dashing off, crossing the track, then getting lost in the correct block for a good long while too! Eventually turned my brain back on, went out, relocated, found it.
So - second at #3 by a matter of seconds, last (of 33) at #4 by over 24minutes!! Not feeling quite so inspired now but chugged relatively competently round the rest but losing 1-2 mins in a few places with not enough caution in the circle itself, plus probably a bit slow in the rough terrain for the final couple of legs.
Tonight's course was really good, kept us largely in the complex/vague stuff but with a good variety of skills needed. Quite disappointed to find that my White Course skills of taking the correct forest road junction were more of a problem for me than my ability to run straight and use the contours.....
Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 2.5 km (8:00 / km)
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Friday Oct 29, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
Working in Edinburgh all day then up to Speyside for a 10pm arrival. Probably should have run yesterday after all...
Thursday Oct 28, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
Feeling tired still.
Wednesday Oct 27, 2010 #
6 PM
Running 1:18:28 [3] 9.57 km (8:12 / km) +100m 7:48 / km
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Setting out in the pouring rain with headtorch into terrain (Devilla) which I struggled to run through in the daylight six weeks ago was definitely one of those 'we are mad' moments! But actually had an awesome session round the JEC training course, seemed to get through the terrain okay tonight.
Ran miles past the first one and got passed by Will and Fraser, caught Gary at #3 and was caught there by Roger, ran near to one or both of them until #11 when I took a different route and then stopped at the control to sort my shoes out. Went awry cutting across the block to #12 so cut from there to #15.
Never going very quickly and not as precise as I would have liked, but keeping going fine and was having much fun out there - it even stopped raining for most of it!
Time includes jog to the start and at the end.
Very wet on the road home, must have been dangerous conditions as the infamous "Tullie's Gullies" blackspot had claimed its latest victim tonight.....
Ran miles past the first one and got passed by Will and Fraser, caught Gary at #3 and was caught there by Roger, ran near to one or both of them until #11 when I took a different route and then stopped at the control to sort my shoes out. Went awry cutting across the block to #12 so cut from there to #15.
Never going very quickly and not as precise as I would have liked, but keeping going fine and was having much fun out there - it even stopped raining for most of it!
Time includes jog to the start and at the end.
Very wet on the road home, must have been dangerous conditions as the infamous "Tullie's Gullies" blackspot had claimed its latest victim tonight.....
Tuesday Oct 26, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
Sore tired legs and calf muscles of lead after sunday. Really didn't want to go training today. Particularly didn't want to do intervals. But concerned to make sure no-one turned up to training and found themselves alone. So I went.
And got my reward. No-one else turned up. So I was able to turn the car back on, drive home, and have a beer watching Spooks instead of going for a run :)
And got my reward. No-one else turned up. So I was able to turn the car back on, drive home, and have a beer watching Spooks instead of going for a run :)
Monday Oct 25, 2010 #
6 PM
Pilates 30:00 [3]
weight:79.3kg
FVO Pilates. Sore legs!
Circuits 40:00 [2]
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Took it "steady" tonight...
7 PM
Running 23:14 [3] 4.02 km (5:47 / km) +107m 5:06 / km
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Golf course with Dixie. Didn't feel too bad all things considered....
Sunday Oct 24, 2010 #
Event: EDF Birmingham Half-Marathon
9 AM
Running race 1:26:25 [5] 21.1 km (4:06 / km) +100m 4:00 / km
ahr:151 max:163 shoes: Asics Hyperspeed
Just over a minute slower than last year (three weeks before New York) but definitely more of a struggle! All in all then satisfied with the time, thought I would do in the 85-90 range but unsure beyond that so pleased to be at the lower end.
Good conditions, cold and clear with only a slight breeze, downhill first mile and no clear target tempted me to run the first 5km at pb pace.....it soon became clear my legs weren't up to that so backed off a little bit.
Got to 10 miles not dissimilar from last year in a bit over 65, but not relaxed and with something to spare as I had then. As a result then unsurprisingly the climbs in the final 5km were a lot different this year and much more of a grind, did manage to pick up in the flat/downhill final mile though and pass some people.
Then back to watch the others who both did well, saw Liz but missed Anthony for the second year in a row!
6:04
6:26
6:29
6:37
6:48
6:31
13:13
6:43
13:49
6:54
6:50 (from mile 12 to the finish)
Good conditions, cold and clear with only a slight breeze, downhill first mile and no clear target tempted me to run the first 5km at pb pace.....it soon became clear my legs weren't up to that so backed off a little bit.
Got to 10 miles not dissimilar from last year in a bit over 65, but not relaxed and with something to spare as I had then. As a result then unsurprisingly the climbs in the final 5km were a lot different this year and much more of a grind, did manage to pick up in the flat/downhill final mile though and pass some people.
Then back to watch the others who both did well, saw Liz but missed Anthony for the second year in a row!
6:04
6:26
6:29
6:37
6:48
6:31
13:13
6:43
13:49
6:54
6:50 (from mile 12 to the finish)
Saturday Oct 23, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
Ate a lot and went to the theatre (Tom Stoppard version of Chekov's The Cherry Orchard).
Friday Oct 22, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
Meant to go for a jog at lunchtime but feeling a bit knackered and, even more persuasively, it was pouring with rain outside!
Thursday Oct 21, 2010 #
6 PM
Running 59:43 [3] 9.5 km (6:17 / km) +100m 5:58 / km
ahr:113 max:144 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Headtorch explore for me and Jase round Drumvaich Wood, Cambusbeg Plantation, Bog Myrtle Wood and Cambusmore Wood with Dixie as our guide.
Some very sexy looking forest and a decent track network too, could be much fun if mapped.
Dixie kept us on the tracks for the most part - then when Jase's torch failed with ten mins to go, he seized his chance and took us to the dicey riverbank track and up through the terrain!
Thinking I might taper for Sunday's half marathon now....
Some very sexy looking forest and a decent track network too, could be much fun if mapped.
Dixie kept us on the tracks for the most part - then when Jase's torch failed with ten mins to go, he seized his chance and took us to the dicey riverbank track and up through the terrain!
Thinking I might taper for Sunday's half marathon now....
Wednesday Oct 20, 2010 #
6 PM
Running 57:59 [3] 9.41 km (6:10 / km) +250m 5:26 / km
ahr:120 max:138 shoes: Brooks Ghost
FVO soup run from Jase and Janine's. Except I was too late for the run and, by carelessly inserting an extra loop early on in my route, failed to intercept the others. Apart from David Nicol who had dropped off the main group and was on his way back. So may not have been entirely pleased to meet me as he then headed off in the direction I had come from, the direction of my extra loop.......
Enjoyed my gentle jaunt though and luckily I was not too late for the delicious soup and cake :)
Enjoyed my gentle jaunt though and luckily I was not too late for the delicious soup and cake :)
Tuesday Oct 19, 2010 #
6 PM
Running warm up/down 21:18 [2] 3.72 km (5:44 / km) +78m 5:11 / km
ahr:129 max:160 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Late from work, not totally surprised to see no FVO types in the car park. Went part way round the loch then headed to the top pitches, still no FVOers but no Ochils either, thought they did their reps there!
Faffed a bit and decided to go to the track and do some 400s with quite a long recovery. Got to the track and Ochils were using the pitches next to the track - doing 10x500m in pairs so with quite a long recovery! I had missed the 6 min tempo warmup and the first couple of reps so joined in from there....
Faffed a bit and decided to go to the track and do some 400s with quite a long recovery. Got to the track and Ochils were using the pitches next to the track - doing 10x500m in pairs so with quite a long recovery! I had missed the 6 min tempo warmup and the first couple of reps so joined in from there....
Intervals intervals 33:28 [5] 5.5 km (6:05 / km)
ahr:125 max:158 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Ran with John Stevenson for the first couple with Sarah Wiseman doing the alternate laps, then as John had a cold I started making my laps slightly longer once properly warmed up. Sarah stopped with a couple to go so I did back to back reps to switch to be John's partner.
This meant in the end I did
5x500m-560m with approx 1:50 recovery,
then 1x950m (made sense to cut the corner) with 1:50 recovery,
then another 500m rep.
First couple and the longer rep at around 3:40mins/km, the rest at around 3:30mins/km
Quick warm down jog and then to my surprise there were some sprints to be done too! Distances varied from 80m-160m, managed to do these pretty much under 3mins/km, need to work on my start though....
This meant in the end I did
5x500m-560m with approx 1:50 recovery,
then 1x950m (made sense to cut the corner) with 1:50 recovery,
then another 500m rep.
First couple and the longer rep at around 3:40mins/km, the rest at around 3:30mins/km
Quick warm down jog and then to my surprise there were some sprints to be done too! Distances varied from 80m-160m, managed to do these pretty much under 3mins/km, need to work on my start though....
Running warm up/down 19:36 [3] 3.0 km (6:32 / km) +50m 6:02 / km
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Warm down up to Airthrey Castle and back.
Monday Oct 18, 2010 #
Note
Today I entered the Berlin Marathon 2011.
Looking forward to those long training runs already.....
Looking forward to those long training runs already.....
1 PM
Running 41:25 [3] 7.8 km (5:19 / km) +30m 5:13 / km
ahr:130 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Lunchtime run, work-Cambusbarron-Kings Park-fire station-work.
Seem to have left the nice springy feeling in the legs that I had yesterday out on Burbage Moor somewhere.....
Seem to have left the nice springy feeling in the legs that I had yesterday out on Burbage Moor somewhere.....
6 PM
Pilates 30:00 [3]
weight:78.1kg
First time this season I have made the start of the session - my efforts to do the balancing exercises at the beginning made this only too clear...
Circuits 40:00 [3]
shoes: Asics Hyperspeed
Slightly more full-on circuits this week, good session.
Running 25:06 [3] 3.97 km (6:19 / km)
shoes: Asics Hyperspeed
Golf course jog with Dixie, Ross and Fi.
Sunday Oct 17, 2010 #
11 AM
Running warm up/down 10:00 [2] 1.5 km (6:40 / km)
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
To the start and all that.
Orienteering race 1:31:59 [5] 12.0 km (7:40 / km) +300m 6:49 / km
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Compass Sport Trophy final, Brown course 9.8km
Started off steadily through the heather but maybe 20secs too low at #2 and again at #3, got into my running a bit on the track run across to Lady Cannings and then pushed pretty hard on the long leg to #7 (took the tracks round to the right). Jase was struggling with illness so could see him ahead and caught him near the control.
Kept control through the interesting vegetation mapping at #8 and #9 but lost 20/30 secs going too far right at #10, might have been better to read my map instead of trying to run up the steep slope!
Took the path-but-more-climb route round to the right to #11, this had a good line in but in retrospect was probably not worth it (maybe a minute different?). Then went straight to the re-entrant but didn't see flag. Stood there. Read descriptions - on the crag. Went to crag. No flag. Stood there. Stood there some more. Eventually someone else went to re-entrant and found flag hung low between two rocks. Description was re-entrant, it is #12 that is the crag. Duh. Maybe 2.5-3 mins lost on this leg including the route.
Too high on the next leg and didn't really get the map here (in my favorite screen of rough open with scattered trees), missed too high, relocated, missed too low. Luckily then saw it from below. Another 2.5-3 mins lost.
A bit more confusion in the detailed rock at #13 but contained time loss to no more than a minute which from the splits was a lot less than most other people! Rushing after that and nearly ran too high above #14, then took the path-but-more-climb route to should-be-trivial control #15, think this would have been good if I had used my compass at the end of the leg instead of overshooting (1-1.5 mins gone).
Okay for the final few but tired on the scramble up the cliffs and then through the heather. Disappointed with the way I let it all get away from me in the final part of the course - glad I persevered as against all expectation, Jase's illness and Rog's lost SI card meant that my run needed to count after all!
And - most importantly - FVO won again! Only three of our team who scored were people who scored for us in the final a year ago - what a great club :)
Started off steadily through the heather but maybe 20secs too low at #2 and again at #3, got into my running a bit on the track run across to Lady Cannings and then pushed pretty hard on the long leg to #7 (took the tracks round to the right). Jase was struggling with illness so could see him ahead and caught him near the control.
Kept control through the interesting vegetation mapping at #8 and #9 but lost 20/30 secs going too far right at #10, might have been better to read my map instead of trying to run up the steep slope!
Took the path-but-more-climb route round to the right to #11, this had a good line in but in retrospect was probably not worth it (maybe a minute different?). Then went straight to the re-entrant but didn't see flag. Stood there. Read descriptions - on the crag. Went to crag. No flag. Stood there. Stood there some more. Eventually someone else went to re-entrant and found flag hung low between two rocks. Description was re-entrant, it is #12 that is the crag. Duh. Maybe 2.5-3 mins lost on this leg including the route.
Too high on the next leg and didn't really get the map here (in my favorite screen of rough open with scattered trees), missed too high, relocated, missed too low. Luckily then saw it from below. Another 2.5-3 mins lost.
A bit more confusion in the detailed rock at #13 but contained time loss to no more than a minute which from the splits was a lot less than most other people! Rushing after that and nearly ran too high above #14, then took the path-but-more-climb route to should-be-trivial control #15, think this would have been good if I had used my compass at the end of the leg instead of overshooting (1-1.5 mins gone).
Okay for the final few but tired on the scramble up the cliffs and then through the heather. Disappointed with the way I let it all get away from me in the final part of the course - glad I persevered as against all expectation, Jase's illness and Rog's lost SI card meant that my run needed to count after all!
And - most importantly - FVO won again! Only three of our team who scored were people who scored for us in the final a year ago - what a great club :)
Friday Oct 15, 2010 #
1 PM
Running 36:20 [3] 7.07 km (5:08 / km) +200m 4:30 / km
ahr:133 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Back too late from London on Thurs, heading straight to Sheffield from work on Fri....but luckily had to go home at lunchtime so sneaked out for anti-clockwise Leckie circuit. Felt middling but got it done and at a decent pace.
Thursday Oct 14, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
I suppose I could have gone out pre-breakfast had I really wanted to....
Wednesday Oct 13, 2010 #
8 PM
Running 56:32 [3] 11.21 km (5:03 / km)
ahr:128 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Luckily didn't have to get up at 4am today. Less luckily the hotel fire alarm went off at 5am....
From hotel through Hyde Park and Green Park to St James's Park, then made my way back via a lap of each ending by running up Kensington Palace Gardens and back down Bayswater. Almost ran into Kensington Palace itself but then spotted the sentry up ahead....
From hotel through Hyde Park and Green Park to St James's Park, then made my way back via a lap of each ending by running up Kensington Palace Gardens and back down Bayswater. Almost ran into Kensington Palace itself but then spotted the sentry up ahead....
Tuesday Oct 12, 2010 #
7 PM
Running warm up/down 5:00 [2]
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Much more sore after circuits than usual so a quick jog to check I could actually lift my legs up at all.....
Orienteering race 1:00:58 [4] 12.38 km (4:55 / km) +50m 4:50 / km
ahr:138 shoes: Brooks Ghost
SLOW street event round Wandsworth. Even though I was one of the first to arrive then I still somehow managed to be the final starter......
Running strongly to start but flagged a bit in the middle (blaming the late night followed by 4am start this morning!), and made a bad decision on route, picked up two 10-pointers on the try-for-them-all circuit when I should have left them and could have picked up a couple of others right near the finish. Picked up again at the end and a pretty decent session, it does slow you up having to stop to write down the answers though!
Almost in time but a combination of pit-bulls, torch failure and inability to work out how to access the final underpass saw me 58secs late. Winner (John Owens) missed four controls with over a minute to spare, I missed six controls and was a minute late. It was rumoured that I was the first vet until someone pointed out that John Owens is also an M40!
Running strongly to start but flagged a bit in the middle (blaming the late night followed by 4am start this morning!), and made a bad decision on route, picked up two 10-pointers on the try-for-them-all circuit when I should have left them and could have picked up a couple of others right near the finish. Picked up again at the end and a pretty decent session, it does slow you up having to stop to write down the answers though!
Almost in time but a combination of pit-bulls, torch failure and inability to work out how to access the final underpass saw me 58secs late. Winner (John Owens) missed four controls with over a minute to spare, I missed six controls and was a minute late. It was rumoured that I was the first vet until someone pointed out that John Owens is also an M40!
Monday Oct 11, 2010 #
6 PM
Pilates 5:00 [3]
weight:78.9kg
More work shenanigans got me there with just enough time left for the Hundreds.....
Circuits 40:00 [3]
This week it was me sharing the stations with Jamie - no chance for shirking!
Includes warm-up/stretch after.
Includes warm-up/stretch after.
7 PM
Running 22:41 [3] 3.84 km (5:54 / km) +50m 5:33 / km
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Golf course lap with Fraser and Fi.
Sunday Oct 10, 2010 #
Note
(rest day)
Plenty of time to go running in the afternoon. I thought. Until I spent it all on conference calls. Hmmm.
Saturday Oct 9, 2010 #
3 PM
Orienteering 1:15:22 8.09 km (9:19 / km) +300m 7:52 / km
ahr:113 max:147 shoes: 2010 Inov8 Roclite
TAY permanent course inauguration at The Hermitage, had only been here once before and had forgotten what a good but tough area it is. Had a comedy first 10-15 minutes where I hadn't warmed up, then headed in wrong direction and turned wrong way down a path, then did some stretching, then met Beccy plus Jamie/Eilidh and had a chat (with this taking me past where I was supposed to turn off), then ran along the top of a valley instead of down it, then tried to get orienteering properly only to find that Inov8s was not a good choice when forest floor is steep and covered in slippery branches!
After that (!) it all went 'steadily' and I pottered along quite happily finding the not-too-visible permanent posts without much trouble apart from the one that was not quite in the right place. And the one right near the end that I missed by a minute or so.
Not exactly a stressful high intensity session (average pulse 113!!) but very enjoyable despite (because of?) that. Good to be out in a quality forest that could easily support a pretty decent event and one well worth doing some proper training in sometime.
Also not sure when I was last beaten by all of Davie Frame, Heather Hartman and Ken Daly.....
After that (!) it all went 'steadily' and I pottered along quite happily finding the not-too-visible permanent posts without much trouble apart from the one that was not quite in the right place. And the one right near the end that I missed by a minute or so.
Not exactly a stressful high intensity session (average pulse 113!!) but very enjoyable despite (because of?) that. Good to be out in a quality forest that could easily support a pretty decent event and one well worth doing some proper training in sometime.
Also not sure when I was last beaten by all of Davie Frame, Heather Hartman and Ken Daly.....
Friday Oct 8, 2010 #
8 PM
Running 46:02 8.87 km (5:11 / km) +246m 4:33 / km
ahr:129 max:150 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Tempo-ish loop round Leckie with torch (35:20) and then a warm down round via Gargunnock House loop. Could maybe have done with a warmup too..
Thursday Oct 7, 2010 #
6 PM
Running 1:09:02 [3] 8.94 km (7:43 / km) +486m 6:04 / km
ahr:122 max:155
FVO torch run at North Third, much fun. Nice steady start as Dixie and I let the fast boys head off on a longer loop and met them at the trigpoint. Speedier later on especially after I carelessly stacked it when I was at the front which let Will past to set the pace.....
Wednesday Oct 6, 2010 #
7 PM
Running 1:07:00 [3] 13.5 km (4:58 / km) +110m 4:46 / km
ahr:130 max:143 shoes: Brooks Ghost
From the uni with Rosco who was very tolerant of the slow pace - my legs were dead!
Felt better after unplanned couple of mins rest 40mins into run - bloke in landrover stopped us as we ran towards him on quiet country road (Carse of Lecropt), thought he was going to ask for directions or warn of a problem on the road ahead or something.
Instead he asked us not to run on that road in the dark with headtorches as (I kid not) there were old people living in houses out there who get frightened if they see single lights moving about (we were on the road!) and phone him (think he was from the estate) or phone the police or whatever.
It is a public road. And he seemed to imply they make a habit of making these phone calls. And cars or bikes with lights are apparently okay. And yet I am sure he was serious. Including his disbelief that we thought he was being ridiculous. Amazing. I guess he will just have to visit all the remarkably scared people who live in the very few houses on that road and teach them how to close their curtains once it gets dark......
Felt better after unplanned couple of mins rest 40mins into run - bloke in landrover stopped us as we ran towards him on quiet country road (Carse of Lecropt), thought he was going to ask for directions or warn of a problem on the road ahead or something.
Instead he asked us not to run on that road in the dark with headtorches as (I kid not) there were old people living in houses out there who get frightened if they see single lights moving about (we were on the road!) and phone him (think he was from the estate) or phone the police or whatever.
It is a public road. And he seemed to imply they make a habit of making these phone calls. And cars or bikes with lights are apparently okay. And yet I am sure he was serious. Including his disbelief that we thought he was being ridiculous. Amazing. I guess he will just have to visit all the remarkably scared people who live in the very few houses on that road and teach them how to close their curtains once it gets dark......
Tuesday Oct 5, 2010 #
6 PM
Intervals intervals 28:31 [4] 6.14 km (4:39 / km)
max:160 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Met up with Ochils this week and joined their 3x8mins session - except Rog and I were still warming up round the loch when we met the first rep coming the other way!
So did 7:21 with 2:10 rest then joined the remaining two at 8mins with 3 mins rest.
No real zip and pace a bit lower on the final one, first two just under 4mins/km and the final one about 100m shorter than the second one.
So did 7:21 with 2:10 rest then joined the remaining two at 8mins with 3 mins rest.
No real zip and pace a bit lower on the final one, first two just under 4mins/km and the final one about 100m shorter than the second one.
Running warm up/down 33:30 [3] 5.29 km (6:20 / km)
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Round the loch with Rog, then the Ochil warm down to the castle (a bit speedier than an FVO warm down!), then looking for my jacket (discarded in haste for first rep) with Rog and Tom.
Monday Oct 4, 2010 #
Note
Boat trip round Loch Annecy, where it was very very sunny.
Flight to Heathrow from Geneva, where it was very very wet.
Flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh, where it arrived very very late.
Home just before 1am, very very tired!
Flight to Heathrow from Geneva, where it was very very wet.
Flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh, where it arrived very very late.
Home just before 1am, very very tired!
Sunday Oct 3, 2010 #
9 AM
Running warm up/down 25:00 [2] 2.5 km (10:00 / km) +150m 7:42 / km
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Early start again today with bussing to the event arena and a 10am start - not helped by a late night drinking wine beside the canal in the old town after the night sprint!
Jog to the start via a few controls on the warm up map. Definitely not feeling so lively today!
Jog to the start via a few controls on the warm up map. Definitely not feeling so lively today!
Orienteering race 1:34:46 [4] 9.83 km (9:38 / km)
ahr:128 shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Long distance race alongside the World Cup race, awesome terrain again.
7.5km straight line with a couple of long route choice legs. 13th of 51 but 27 (!) minutes down.
Average pulse tells a story - found it tough to go through the terrain at any sort of pace - not confident in my agility and balance in this rocky stuff (rightly I think!) and not necessarily picking the pace up between the rocky bits.
Missed number 1 again - didn't realise I could take the path virtually all the way there so cut in through the green and overshot. Only 2 mins gone today. Missed number 2 as well at the end of the long leg with a parallel error amongst multiple knolls and re-entrants. Not too bad apart from that, just very hesitant and tentative in the rough stuff, although stood still for a long long time before I could persuade myself to go into the right huge depression at #7.
Might not have been pushing that hard but tired by the end - happy to sit in the warm sun for hours afterwards with a beer or two and watch the World Cup race - think Thierry will be hard to beat next year!
7.5km straight line with a couple of long route choice legs. 13th of 51 but 27 (!) minutes down.
Average pulse tells a story - found it tough to go through the terrain at any sort of pace - not confident in my agility and balance in this rocky stuff (rightly I think!) and not necessarily picking the pace up between the rocky bits.
Missed number 1 again - didn't realise I could take the path virtually all the way there so cut in through the green and overshot. Only 2 mins gone today. Missed number 2 as well at the end of the long leg with a parallel error amongst multiple knolls and re-entrants. Not too bad apart from that, just very hesitant and tentative in the rough stuff, although stood still for a long long time before I could persuade myself to go into the right huge depression at #7.
Might not have been pushing that hard but tired by the end - happy to sit in the warm sun for hours afterwards with a beer or two and watch the World Cup race - think Thierry will be hard to beat next year!
Saturday Oct 2, 2010 #
Event: World Cup stage 10
10 AM
Running warm up/down 25:00 [3] 2.5 km (10:00 / km)
shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
Middle distance arena about 1km walk from hotel, a pleasant stroll down beside the lake in the sunshine :)
Then 2km uphill to the start, felt well warmed up and pretty good after that and some stretching/drills.....
Then 2km uphill to the start, felt well warmed up and pretty good after that and some stretching/drills.....
Orienteering race 50:33 [4] 5.48 km (9:13 / km) +200m 7:48 / km
ahr:133 shoes: Apr 2010 VJ Falcon
....which helped me run strongly on the 200m uphill to the start triangle...and uphill on the tracks towards #1......and then off into the terrain at a pace which meant I lost contact almost immediately!
Pretty stupid really, intricate wooded limestone terrain meaning complex navigation and tricky underfoot - care was pretty obviously needed....
Made a right mess of #1 and got very confused by everything seeming to happen quicker than expected - then made a right mess of #3 where I hit a path I hadn't noticed half way along the leg and thought 'must be there already, everything is happening much quicker than expected'! When I did get near #3 I didn't realise a narrow ride on the map wouldn't really exist on the ground and lost more time.
So 20 mins by the time I got to #3 when the leader was 8 mins, ho hum. spiked #4 and spiked #5 - except that some 'interesting' overprinting with over-enthusiastic circle-cutting in the detail meant I was one of 11 (!) people who went straight from #4 to #6 (4-5-6 all short legs). Luckily I was one of only 3 of those 11 who realised.....five of the top eight finishers were caught out and disqualified!
Not so tricky after that and got on a bit better but still rushing and scrappy in the circle. 21st of 46 starters wiith somewhere between 10 and 15 mins lost and 19min behind the winner - not a good start to the weekend!
Pretty stupid really, intricate wooded limestone terrain meaning complex navigation and tricky underfoot - care was pretty obviously needed....
Made a right mess of #1 and got very confused by everything seeming to happen quicker than expected - then made a right mess of #3 where I hit a path I hadn't noticed half way along the leg and thought 'must be there already, everything is happening much quicker than expected'! When I did get near #3 I didn't realise a narrow ride on the map wouldn't really exist on the ground and lost more time.
So 20 mins by the time I got to #3 when the leader was 8 mins, ho hum. spiked #4 and spiked #5 - except that some 'interesting' overprinting with over-enthusiastic circle-cutting in the detail meant I was one of 11 (!) people who went straight from #4 to #6 (4-5-6 all short legs). Luckily I was one of only 3 of those 11 who realised.....five of the top eight finishers were caught out and disqualified!
Not so tricky after that and got on a bit better but still rushing and scrappy in the circle. 21st of 46 starters wiith somewhere between 10 and 15 mins lost and 19min behind the winner - not a good start to the weekend!
1 PM
Note
By 1.40pm it was time to be back in Annecy town centre on the Paquier lawns for the Orient'show.
Map at 1:1,000 with qualification consisting of three courses of 3-6mins and 20-25 controls. Forty mins between races.
No codes on the controls and 30secs penalty for each wrong one, more than 5 wrong is disqualification.
The map showing all controls is here (no codes remember!). It was awesome fun!
Map at 1:1,000 with qualification consisting of three courses of 3-6mins and 20-25 controls. Forty mins between races.
No codes on the controls and 30secs penalty for each wrong one, more than 5 wrong is disqualification.
The map showing all controls is here (no codes remember!). It was awesome fun!
Orienteering race 4:50 [4] 0.8 km (6:02 / km)
shoes: Brooks Ghost
Qualifier E first, think I was too concerned about the mispunch risk and took it a bit too cautiously.
Winner 3:20, I did 4:50, 45th of 94.
Winner 3:20, I did 4:50, 45th of 94.
Orienteering race 4:07 [5] 0.73 km (5:38 / km)
ahr:142 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Qualifier F, pushed harder.
Winner 3:13, me 4:07, 22nd of 96
Winner 3:13, me 4:07, 22nd of 96
Orienteering race 4:39 [5] 0.84 km (5:32 / km)
ahr:142 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Qualifier D, one wobble costing time when I had a collision in the labyrinth and got disorientated for the next control.
Winner 3:37, me 4:39, 29th of 97.
Pleased to manage all three rounds without punching a wrong control!
Finished 28th when the qualification times are added together, top 8 to the semi-finall - 8th was 2 mins ahead! Would have scraped into the women's semi-final but got cuffed by Sarah, Rachel and Tessa who were the fastest qualifiers from qualifiers D/E/F....
Winner 3:37, me 4:39, 29th of 97.
Pleased to manage all three rounds without punching a wrong control!
Finished 28th when the qualification times are added together, top 8 to the semi-finall - 8th was 2 mins ahead! Would have scraped into the women's semi-final but got cuffed by Sarah, Rachel and Tessa who were the fastest qualifiers from qualifiers D/E/F....
Running warm up/down 10:00 [2] 1.0 km (10:00 / km)
shoes: Brooks Ghost
A little of it before each round.
6 PM
Note
A few problems with the Orient'show on the day results meant the semi-final and final were delayed but we stayed around to watch first Pippa and then GG cross the line first and then lose the win on time penalties to Rachael (one of Pippa's punches not registering) and to Ralph (GG two wrong controls).
Mass start and multiple butterfly loops in the final meant it was craxy to watch!
Time for a quick shower/siesta and at last time for some very late lunch/early dinner in the old town - where the first starters in the night sprint started running past at about 7.10pm when it was still daylight!!
Mass start and multiple butterfly loops in the final meant it was craxy to watch!
Time for a quick shower/siesta and at last time for some very late lunch/early dinner in the old town - where the first starters in the night sprint started running past at about 7.10pm when it was still daylight!!
8 PM
Orienteering race 15:22 [5] 2.89 km (5:19 / km)
ahr:148 shoes: Brooks Ghost
Last race of the day (phew!) - night sprint round Annnecy Old Town.
Well up for this as it was the race I thought I could do best in over the weekend. A bit miffed that it was light for the early starters though!
Felt okay after warm up and started off strongly, ran well on the climb up to below the chateau and checked description - misread it and went the wrong side of the wall, d'oh! Around 35-40 secs lost.
Ran well after that although not sure what was best on the two longish route choice legs, finished 7th of 37 but only 24secs behind 2nd, dammit.
The winner was miles ahead on 13:13 but started just after 7pm so will have run in daylight.....however not convinced I could have run that time in daylight anyway.....
Really enjoyed it although we mainly ran through the old sector where some other courses had more controls in it - some good route choices and a few traps though - great final race of the day.
Well up for this as it was the race I thought I could do best in over the weekend. A bit miffed that it was light for the early starters though!
Felt okay after warm up and started off strongly, ran well on the climb up to below the chateau and checked description - misread it and went the wrong side of the wall, d'oh! Around 35-40 secs lost.
Ran well after that although not sure what was best on the two longish route choice legs, finished 7th of 37 but only 24secs behind 2nd, dammit.
The winner was miles ahead on 13:13 but started just after 7pm so will have run in daylight.....however not convinced I could have run that time in daylight anyway.....
Really enjoyed it although we mainly ran through the old sector where some other courses had more controls in it - some good route choices and a few traps though - great final race of the day.
Running warm up/down 20:00 [2] 2.0 km (10:00 / km)
shoes: Brooks Ghost
To the start from the hotel, spectating the final few controls afterwards.
Friday Oct 1, 2010 #
Note
Up at 4am for a day in London, then travel out to Geneva after work, get hire car, drive to Annecy, check into hotel just before 11pm, then to a bar for food and drink.....perfect preparation!