Training Log Archive: Bashman

Recovery (sort of)
Challenged Oleg's 19 minute ascent of Kingshill from home, same bike same cleats. Had to push quite hard, and made it to the top in 19:40, damn! Ah well, I'll manage some day. Quite nice rolling back down the hill in the setting sun, getting cold though.

Some epic updating will commence tomorrow morning. Basically had a good week at cairngorm preparing myself not only for the 6 day but next year. Then I had the best six day I can imagine. Especially happy with the selection races but also the last two days were I proved to myself that my results didn't really depend on start times. The sprint race was very motivating, I'll make sure I go into some very deep analysing tomorrow.

C • Updating 1

WU and Drills

S6D - Day 6 - Coulmony - 2nd by 35s to Daniel
Another early start another challenge. Even going to the start I was shattered, so made sure I did some drills to feel better, although it didn't help much. Knew Daniel had a late punching start so I really had to give it my all, especially in an area like this which would track up massively.
Started fast, really pushing the pace and got best split to 1. But then a slight directional error to 2, I think I wasn't picturing it well too, because I was a bit surprised to see it. 3 looked like a nice and easy leg, however I messed it up badly, spiking everythink on the checklist until a miss-bearing coming from the marsh. I didn't even notice crossing the path into a parallel depression but I spent a minute being confused before realising my horrific mistake. Probably due to pushing the pace too much. A few slow (compared to everyone else) legs followed, probably due to the lack of tracks. Got every control well, and I think going round the hill to 6 was the best option at the time, although apparently it was quite runnable going straight over by the end of the day.
Took no effort to find either 6 or 7, both on the ride. Then a 5 minute maximum gap to cross the road. Okay, I may not be a person who needs a lot of time to cross a road because of old legs or whatever, but I think 5 minutes is a bit much. I approached 8 after crossing the road to a saddening sight. Around 10 competitors gathered round the control, analysing the rest of their courses. Is this really orienteering? Am I the only one who thinks we should have had something closer to the 1 minute maximum that the elites had? Rubbish, I avoided whatever small temptation there was to stop and hurried through the control. That is, as soon as I got through the crowd of people blocking the control.
Slightly distracted by this thought going to 9, but it didn't cost me any time. Nice and easy next few controls, good orienteering and making some good tracks for people later on. Slowed down to 14 as the bracken was very high, and I just wanted to make sure I spiked it. However, at 14 I was in the lead by 6s because of Daniel's mistakes. Wish I had known this at the time. Not very happy with 15, our long leg. Took a lot of time being confused at various points and should have just ran. As soon as I got to the green at the control point, I wasted another 30s thinking I had overshot it. Badly done...
Another few seconds wasted going to 16 because I couldn't see much of a veg-boundry where the control was from the bracken. Happy with 17, slow to 18 again but glad to have spiked it. Missed 19 by 20s but pace was good. Through the last few and a fun finish down the steep slope.
I knew Daniel would beat me but I really expected him to do under 50. A bit annoying to know that if I hadn't messed up at 3, 14, 15, 18 or 19, I would have won again... But then again he made a lot of mistakes too. It really was a track day but I think I proved quite well that I can still do well no matter when I start.
http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.a...
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin...

Looong WU, good WD

S6D - Day 5 - Roseisle - 7.1km - 1st by 2 mins
Early start, 1st finisher on my course, time to relax but challenge myself at the same time. Had one of the worst starts for a while. I steamed off too fast and just failed to read/simplify any of the intricate detail around the start. Overshot 1 for a good 45s, finding several other controls and eventually spotting mine well hidden behind the hill. Raced off to 2, keen to bring the lost time back in, round the green going fine and looked for the point where lines from the green in front and to the right met at right angles. This failed as a technique, and for some reason I assumed the undergrowth to the left was hiding the track, but it was not. Another 45s running around before hitting it by chance, crap orienteering.
Calmed down a bit and hit 3 bang on, but getting tired already. For some reason I didn't see the short beach option to 4 but instead took the paths, which was safer I guess and it gave me a good attackpoint, longer route but best split, back in it. For the next few controls nothing much happened and I slowed down a bit just to make sure I could read the map. However I still began to tire and by 8 I was crawling up every slight incline, just to lose the gained height once again the next second.
Steadily kept going until 13 where I was so sure it was on a hill that I didn't bother looking at the descriptions. Some up the steep hill to the left of the control, 20s peering round until I saw it, 15m below hiding in a deep pit, cheeky work by Eddie H. Beached it to 14 at the expense of having to really hunt for an attackpoint. Luckily my entry was correct and I landed on it quite happily with a best split by 10s. Took the lead on winsplits from this point. However I was really getting tired now, and the sand running didn't help.
Next few were easy, but difficult in the tired sense. Just after 17 and went over my ankle quite severely and I thought for a moment that I was done. Hobbled/walked for a bit wasting maybe 20s but eventually the pain went and I carried on, jumping into the first radioactive stream, learning my lesson, and crossing the bridge of the next. Found 18 easily after that. The two open control were quite a shock, because everything got a bit more vague. 45 degree mistake to 20 but since it was such a short control I got away with it and saw it.
Easy to 21 and then onto 22, which was annoying. Found Ross who looked exhausted and as if he had been searching for a while. Tried not to be put off by that so attempted to be the hero by finding it, but it took a good 30s before I realised we had banana-ed right because of the undergrowth. The second time undergrowth has lost me time today.. Sloppy navigating to 23, really getting tired and my distance judgement went down the drain, only wasted 15s maybe from slowing down though. Picked up a bit after this and two best splits followed, before another blunder of 30s looking for a hill instead of a depression. Pushed the final control and run in, pretty confident I had blown today. Left the door wide open for anyone else anyway.
However, when everyone else lost a few more minutes than me, I was surprised again to take the jammy win. Although it was 4 hours of torturous waiting for that to happen.
http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.a...
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin...

WU with Matt

S6D - Day 4 - Loch of Boath - 6.5km - 1st by 4:20
Don't remember much about this but I remember feeling pretty fresh pre-race as I had stayed at my parents rather than camped.
Nice and fast start, a nice slight banana and spiked 1, and nothing very interesting happened until 4 when I caught Laurence J and he stuck to me like glue. Slightly annoying, as he put me off a bit too. Led him into all controls up to 7 until I made a beginners error to 8. Started following the green, stupidly thinking that the rought open was the green, I was pushing too hard. Lost a minute before realising and then completely nailed it to catch Laurence again just before 8. Watch had died so I wasn't too sure how I was doing...
I dropped him after 9 which was good and then relaxed for the next few which were all very easy. Tired up the hills but kept a clear head and spiked every control. Saw Gustaf at one point crossing my path, inspiring stuff. Finished strongly, being careful on the last section where Daniel had messed up.
Even with 8, I think this was my cleanest day, and my biggest win. Didn't get best split on 4 out of 18 controls today, a definite PB for the week. People might say that the tracks were the cause but I didn't see any until around 11, and even then they only distracted me as they headed out to different directions. Had to make my own a lot of the time. Very thankful that it was a selection race as it hopefully seals the deal for me. I can definitely relax from now on anyway as this 4th win secured my 6 day title.
http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.a...
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin...

Long Drill session as WU and then short WD

Rest Day Sprint - Lossiemouth - Men - 3.9km opt. - 3rd, 37s off Gustaf
I felt pretty terrible before warming up, not ill or anything, just tired. However after a lot of drills I was ready for it. Treated it like a proper race, averted my gaze from the live GPS during Euromeeting so I didn't know much about my course at all.
The start was very fast, running at sub 3 out of the field into the intricate blocks of Lossiemouth. Flowed through 1 and headed towards the safe open park for the long leg to 2. This is when I realised that the best way to navigate was using building shapes. Poor entry into 2, taking a longer route, but I was happy with my exit to 3, a shorter route from what I had planned.
Steadily flowed through the controls, no real time loss, although I had slowed to plan number 7. I decided the best option was to nail it to the open once more and then go from there. Worked pretty well but I had forgotten to plan ahead. Thankfully it was an easy two legs which I spent planning 10.
Just as I punched 9 I decided to go back on myself and once again use the open as a safe attackpoint, figured out a good entry on the way too. Then 11 was my biggest time loss. I lost all capabilities to think and took a much longer route losing 5-10s. Not much but it could add up. Slowed down a bit and made sure I nailed 12 and planned 13.
Here I caught Dad, my 3 minute man. Entering the open quarry I got quite confused to the contrast but soon realised that I had to use the bushes and shingles for the next few legs. I was very happy with 14 because I spotted my exit before I hit 13, hardly anyone else found this narrow path, and then pushed hard to beat all other non-euromeeters, including Gustaf by 7s, BAM!
A bit dazed going to 15 and headed off a few degrees off, quickly corrected though. Wasn't sure what was better to 16 so just picked my hunch and stuck to it. Clean to 17 but then died running on the stones to 18, but I'm sure everyone did. Two last dreadfully tough running legs, happy with my routechoice, running at sub 3/km, and drew first on the run in for the first time this week, with some help from Matt and crew.
Pretty satisfied with this, but need to practice more on sprint maps if I get to EYOC. But I'm confident that if I can recreate something like this, if I get to Eyoc on a well rested pair of legs, that I can do pretty well.
Not sure how hard they were pushing, or how well they did, but I would have drawn with Hector and beat a few british runners, plus a handful of euromeeters if I had been against them. Pretty sure that some of them were saving themselves though.
http://www.scottish6days.com/results/2013/sprint/1...
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin... - GPS, pretty dodgy, at the bottom

Run to event from the campsite, good WU and a decent WD with Nathan

S6D - Day 3 - Culbin - 6.7km - 1st by 2mins
I was not having the best of mornings. Felt pretty ill, didn't take any medicine and just hoped for the best.
After the huge warm up I was ready on the start line with a German Euromeeting runner. We set off in the same direction, and it didn't take long to realise we were heading for the same control. We had a bit of a battle but I pipped in front just as we entered the green and spiked it before him. Hugely motivated, I carried along solo to 2, noticing a cheeky shortcut through the rough open where the white forest made the crossing a lot easier. Overtook my W21L 2 minute girl and carried on pushing down the track. Had this control sorted from a while back and cleanly went up the re entrant to find it.
3 was almost visible from 2, so no problems there. Slightly shaky on 4: Didn't read the map with much detail and I thought I had missed it just as I saw it, -10s maybe. Another easy control to 5, took it really slowly because it was getting denser. Another small slip (20s) on 6 as I dropped to much, seeking the safety of the large open. This carried on to 7 where I had no real plan and just seeked to hit the open, which turns out was very vague. Came too far left but saw it soon enough. (-25s). Wasn't sure what to do with 8, the beach was the shortest option, however I was visualising loose sand and slow running. I decided that everyone would probably take that route so I wouldn't lose out if I did too. It turned out to be grass anyway, and the control was easily hit.
I was worried heading to 9 as there wasn't much to use as an attackpoint, should've gone straight.... Decided to use the slight bend in the path but luckily someone with the same leg as me that I was chasing down led me in. I overtook him to 10 and once again looked for the huge open for security. Ended up aiming off too much and having to slowly trundle along the edge, trying to find unmapped rides and opens on the map. Hit it evenutally but down 30s.
After this I wanted to catch it up, so I really hammered it on to 11 and won by 12s. Forgot to mention that Nathan was my 4 minute man, and although this was a tad hopeful I thought I had seen him heading to 9 earlier on, so he was now my aim. Easy follow the slope to 12 and then I almost suffered for pushing too hard. Headed to 13 in a very random direction with no PDP at all, very lucky to hit it and I learnt my lesson, although from now on it was a matter of running. I could see Nathan ahead so I really pushed the track option. He decided to cut in on the ride to 14 so I challenged him and overtook him by taking the longer track option. We pushed together and caught Matt Felly, but by then Nathan was behind.
North option to 15, don't think it mattered thought, and the north option gave a good entry. Then easy to 16, although I faffed in the circle for 30s, thinking the yellow was green off the map. Two fastest splits on the two last legs, catching up the time and then a hard run in where I couldn't be bothered anymore.
Once again surprised to have won, as I lost a lot from mistakes. Can't complain though, and there's a lot to learn from it. Another EYOC selection race nailed.
http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.a...
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin...

WU and WD
WU - Got half way to the start only to realise I didn't have my bib... Then got the whole way to the start to realise I didn't have my control descriptions.. The things that working at enquiries before a race does to you... Ah well, today was going to be a good test.

S6D - Day 2 - Carse - 6.4km - 1st by 3 mins
Slightly unprepared for today, and I think it showed during the course.
I started normally, however even by 1 I was messing up. The kite had fallen and I couldn't see the control, so just stood in the pit for 20s looking around. Sped up after this and spiked a 4s best split to 2. Slightly dodgy route to 3, aiming off too much. Good to 4, best split and catching Daniel. Then had a bit of a nightmare to 5. I kept thinking I was coming right of the control, so was looking left more. Eventually saw the depression on the left of the control, and if I had only looked right I would have seen it.. Instead a minute wasted exploring various depressions.
Matthew Leitch caught me again here (overtook him to 4) and we had a good battle to 6. I pipped in by chance to spike the control, and he missed it, didn't see him after this. 8s best split to 6, clawing towards Daniel's lead. I used the same attackpoint as I did for 3 to 7, quite a good technique to remember. Nothing very interesting happened until 11 where me and Daniel were drawing on the same time. I overtook him and kept this lead until the end.
Slight mistake to 16, ran round it but came back soon enough. I was really struggling to keep up the pacem something that happened every day in the 6 day which makes me wonder if I'm pushing too hard for the first half of any course. It didn't have any devastating effects, apart from making me feel amazingly crap and slow by the end. Something to play with and work on anyway.
Back to the course, loved the area around 17 and really enjoyed the orienteering, despite my knackered feeling. Good splits so I wasn't dropping any time because of speed. Tackled the long leg well but finished pretty scrappy, similarly to yesterday.
A good win, although it didn't count for very much. Another scottish top 3. Lots of pressure for tomorrow as some people had a good rest today and didn't race it too hard.
http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.a...
http://www.scottish6days.routegadget.co.uk/cgi-bin...