Training Log Archive: Jethro

Teviotdale Harriers Langheugh Handicap. Lots of streams, mud, walls, mud, gates, mud, fences ... did I mention the mud. Finished 2nd again! - 27s behind Paul Lockie who had a 12min advantage in the handicap.

..... Wish list for 2018.
I think I might make this more of a hill racing year - already entered for Feel the Burns and will try for a Carnethy entry but quite fancy a shot at the SHR Championship. I have never completed this before and this year have the added incentive of being competitive in V60. The first two races are local - Chapelgill and Yetholm which leaves any two from Glamaig, Ben Rhinnes and the Ochil 2000's. All three on the still to do bucket list. Will have to have another crack at the LDMT after last years was abandoned due to the extreme weather and the OMM in the SW (most likely Dartmoor) is tempting as it is an area of the country I haven't been to.
Orienteering is less certain - will have a crack at qualifying for the CompassSport Trophy final with RR. Will try and defend my Britsih title at Balmoral and hopefully make it to the Scottish but it is a long trek north for a second weekend in a row. The SOL series doesn't look particularly exciting - Beecraigs doubling up with the CST ??? (maybe not happening???) - I don't like Achengarrich and Roseisle is a long way north for a sand dune area which I am not a great fan of. Will do them if they don't clash with other things. Will most likely do some or all of the Lakes 5 as they are easily accessible for me.
I am also getting very radical and going over to the "dark side" - I have put my name down for the Scottish Masters XC - supporting some of my fellow Teviotdale Harriers.
This is all of course dependant on fitness and freedom from injury and illness. It will also have to fit round the impending arrival of a second grandchild and a trip to the good ol' US of A for a wedding :-)

Round Bowanhill with Murphy just to remind my body what this running malarkey is all about - don't remember it being so painful!

A combination of some late nights over New Year and covering for Andrew while he is in Orkney has meant I have felt too tired to train.

Review of the year - The highlight has to be my first British Orienteering Championship title, it has taken 50 years (!) but was worth waiting for. Also managed to win the SOL M60 title after a close battle with DonP and finish just in front of him at the top of the M60 British rankings. Five Scots in the top 10 of the rankings which shows the competitiveness of our age group in Scotland. Nice to get selected again for the VHI's and pleased with my own performance but once again the team fell slightly short of the Auld Enemy. This was also a 6-Day year on Deeside - good areas and arenas, decent weather and good company with Maggie and Ian over from USA. Managed to sneak a win on M60 by a couple of points from DonP - again :-).

In between O events I managed to tick off a few hill races throughout the year with some V60 wins to show for it - Fairfield Horseshoe, Philiphaugh, Sedbergh Hills and 2nd at Langdale Horseshoe. Including a first attempt at the LDMT which was unfortunately abandoned 3/4 way round due to horrendous weather - but I still got the V60 prize.

The other events of note were two contrasting OMM's with Kenny Short - a low key but spectacular one in Iceland and a classic 50th OMM in Langdale.

In general a very sucessful year although I managed to make at least one major mistake in virtually every orienteering race - some more significant than others. Need to concentrate better, not make rush decisions and have a proper plan for every control - no matter how simple it looks on paper! Fitness suffered a wee bit later in the year with a niggly back problem - possibly work related and a sign of old age.

Preview for 2018 to follow .......