Training Log Archive: rcroIn the 31 days ending Jul 31, 2013:
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Wednesday Jul 31, 2013 #
Note
slept:4.5 weight:67kg (rest day)
Walked around a bit of Loch Ness in the morning then a little trip into the mountains in the afternoon. Started feeling very faint again - may have to write off tomorrow's run if things don't improve.
Tuesday Jul 30, 2013 #
Running - off road warm up/down 15:00 [3] 2.5 km (6:00 / km)
shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
To the start as running a bit late
Orienteering race (S6D - Culbin) 58:57 [4] 7.5 km (7:52 / km) +85m 7:26 / km
slept:4.5 weight:66.7kg shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
Scottish Day 3 at Culbin. 6.4km M21S course.
Started into a really complex bit. Had no real trouble where it was hard but my bearing from the start to it was off. Went through the first patch of bush so knew exactly where to go to find the second. Lots of other people looking lost. 2-3 went too far down, relocated pretty easily - +30s at most.
Very slow on 4, went round open. Rough underfoot. Straightish to 5 but bearing off - hit a path and stuck with it. Again very rough underfoot so slow. Hit control pretty well and again got 6 bang on.
First real mistake at 7 - matching up the wrong depressions so too far west. Lost a minute or so. On long leg 8 had choice of beach or path, took the path and went pretty quick until the sun took the energy out of me. Bit unsure on 9 but got it before everybody else who was heading to it.
Full on sprint on path toward 10 then slowed right down into the heather. Good straight route on down to 12. Little energy for the path run 13-14 and once off it it was incredibly rough and I couldn't risk my ankle. Slow out toward 15 for same reason.
15 a hillock in a patch of dark green - lesson learned from Sunday, go in the exit route. Bang on. Dash to the finish, hope everybody else had the same controls. No problem.
1-2 mins of mistakes pretty good. Nice course and area. Shame that the forecast rain didn't happen when I wanted it to and the cooling drizzle just after I finished fizzled out before I got to download. Struggling with the heat a lot - eating about 4 times as much as I usually do yet I still managed to faint when I got back to the hotel. Very glad of tomorrow's rest day.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/350861656
Started into a really complex bit. Had no real trouble where it was hard but my bearing from the start to it was off. Went through the first patch of bush so knew exactly where to go to find the second. Lots of other people looking lost. 2-3 went too far down, relocated pretty easily - +30s at most.
Very slow on 4, went round open. Rough underfoot. Straightish to 5 but bearing off - hit a path and stuck with it. Again very rough underfoot so slow. Hit control pretty well and again got 6 bang on.
First real mistake at 7 - matching up the wrong depressions so too far west. Lost a minute or so. On long leg 8 had choice of beach or path, took the path and went pretty quick until the sun took the energy out of me. Bit unsure on 9 but got it before everybody else who was heading to it.
Full on sprint on path toward 10 then slowed right down into the heather. Good straight route on down to 12. Little energy for the path run 13-14 and once off it it was incredibly rough and I couldn't risk my ankle. Slow out toward 15 for same reason.
15 a hillock in a patch of dark green - lesson learned from Sunday, go in the exit route. Bang on. Dash to the finish, hope everybody else had the same controls. No problem.
1-2 mins of mistakes pretty good. Nice course and area. Shame that the forecast rain didn't happen when I wanted it to and the cooling drizzle just after I finished fizzled out before I got to download. Struggling with the heat a lot - eating about 4 times as much as I usually do yet I still managed to faint when I got back to the hotel. Very glad of tomorrow's rest day.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/350861656
Monday Jul 29, 2013 #
Orienteering race (S6D - Carse of Ardersier) 1:01:14 [4] 8.67 km (7:04 / km) +20m 6:59 / km
slept:4.5 weight:67.5kg shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
Scottish Day 2. 7.3km M21S course.
Nice for some sunshine but really seemed to be struggling in the heat. Better run than yesterday and running pace was good when I was running.
Slightly to the left on 2 but didn't lose any time. Unsure at 4 but close. Went round the paths to 6 - good route. 7-8 quite good.
9. Didn't pay any attention to the yellow/white veg boundary and overshot by some margin - 2 mins maybe. 13 was going to the wrong hill and went back - 30s. 14 took a long time to come. All fine the rest of the way.
Less than 5 mins of mistakes overall. Fairly happy with run today but still miles off the course leader. Any area where running pace was more important than fine navigation?
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/350358839
Nice for some sunshine but really seemed to be struggling in the heat. Better run than yesterday and running pace was good when I was running.
Slightly to the left on 2 but didn't lose any time. Unsure at 4 but close. Went round the paths to 6 - good route. 7-8 quite good.
9. Didn't pay any attention to the yellow/white veg boundary and overshot by some margin - 2 mins maybe. 13 was going to the wrong hill and went back - 30s. 14 took a long time to come. All fine the rest of the way.
Less than 5 mins of mistakes overall. Fairly happy with run today but still miles off the course leader. Any area where running pace was more important than fine navigation?
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/350358839
Sunday Jul 28, 2013 #
Event: Scottish 6 Days
Orienteering race (S6D - Lossie) 1:03:04 [3] 7.5 km (8:25 / km) +45m 8:10 / km
slept:5.0 shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
Scottish 6 Days at Lossie in the pouring rain. 6.1km M21S course.
Started out slowly (and was waiting for GPS to find itself). Small mess on 1. 4 so easy I disregarded actual control, misread CDs for 5 so thought it was a knoll. 8 took some time to get to.
Lost some time at 11 as so many unmapped bike tracks that looked just like the mapped one was a bit off. Circuitous route to 12 but led into it by lots of people exiting.
Then the long leg. Bravely went cross country before landing on a N-S ride that I took to be the mapped one. Ran down it and was very surprised when it ended. Carried on a bearing and soon found I'd gone down an unmapped one. Got to the vicinity of 13 pretty quickly but couldn't match the form lines to any feature. Spent ages walking around before stumbling on control 181 - which was my 14. Went off to the west, spent a while finding nothing before re-reading CDs to find the order was 181 then 180 rather than the reverse so ran back frustrated. 7 mins lost?
Then another 3 mins lost on 14. Don't know what happened as my bearing was perfect. Running hard afterwards to make up time. Fine until the green at the end - control was south of the first clearing. Got to the first clearing then went south and spent several minutes looking around before going out to the path to the south to find I was 150 yards too far west - unmapped clearing! Then finding the control from the south was trivial.
About 15 mins lost. 25 mins down on winning. Very disappointed.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/349711602
Started out slowly (and was waiting for GPS to find itself). Small mess on 1. 4 so easy I disregarded actual control, misread CDs for 5 so thought it was a knoll. 8 took some time to get to.
Lost some time at 11 as so many unmapped bike tracks that looked just like the mapped one was a bit off. Circuitous route to 12 but led into it by lots of people exiting.
Then the long leg. Bravely went cross country before landing on a N-S ride that I took to be the mapped one. Ran down it and was very surprised when it ended. Carried on a bearing and soon found I'd gone down an unmapped one. Got to the vicinity of 13 pretty quickly but couldn't match the form lines to any feature. Spent ages walking around before stumbling on control 181 - which was my 14. Went off to the west, spent a while finding nothing before re-reading CDs to find the order was 181 then 180 rather than the reverse so ran back frustrated. 7 mins lost?
Then another 3 mins lost on 14. Don't know what happened as my bearing was perfect. Running hard afterwards to make up time. Fine until the green at the end - control was south of the first clearing. Got to the first clearing then went south and spent several minutes looking around before going out to the path to the south to find I was 150 yards too far west - unmapped clearing! Then finding the control from the south was trivial.
About 15 mins lost. 25 mins down on winning. Very disappointed.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/349711602
Tuesday Jul 23, 2013 #
Running - off road (BOK training run) 1:11:56 [3] 11.58 km (6:13 / km) +110m 5:56 / km
slept:3.0 weight:68.5kg shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
BOK training run from Failand. Just me and Charles out tonight - glad I wasn't the only one out as not in the best of moods after liberating my car from Volkswagen.
Went off to the east getting in the top of Ashton Court and Ashton Hill Plantation. Picked up the speed a bit towards the end.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/347256453
Went off to the east getting in the top of Ashton Court and Ashton Hill Plantation. Picked up the speed a bit towards the end.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/347256453
Saturday Jul 20, 2013 #
Event: Summer Series
11 AM
Orienteering - Urban race (Maize O Heat 1 Run 1) 12:45 [4] 2.24 km (5:42 / km)
slept:4.0 weight:68.3kg shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Maize O - Roughly 1 km course. First heat, first run (allowed two runs of each heat, then one go at the final).
Started out naturally hesitant then thought I took a pretty rubbish route 1-2 as should have doubled back on myself. On 4-5 went the easy way to the east - the west would have been a bit shorter but probably slower with more bends and junctions.
Bigger mess of 7 - missed a turning and had to do a loop of the monkey's feet. Hesitant on 11 but pretty happy from there back to the finish. 12:45 put me well in the lead at the time (second was 16 or so) and people were surprised when I said it should be easily possible in under 11. One to come back to later...
Started out naturally hesitant then thought I took a pretty rubbish route 1-2 as should have doubled back on myself. On 4-5 went the easy way to the east - the west would have been a bit shorter but probably slower with more bends and junctions.
Bigger mess of 7 - missed a turning and had to do a loop of the monkey's feet. Hesitant on 11 but pretty happy from there back to the finish. 12:45 put me well in the lead at the time (second was 16 or so) and people were surprised when I said it should be easily possible in under 11. One to come back to later...
12 PM
Orienteering - Urban race (Maize O Heat 2 Run 1) 11:13 [4] 2.01 km (5:35 / km)
shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Heat 2, first run. Roughly the same distance as the other.
Pleased that the monkey was easier on this course so took good fast route to 1 but got quite confused as to what to do after 2 - getting distracted. Soon saw that the fastest route by miles should be to double back and go to the west. Went right round the edge of the maze to 4 - safe, fairly quick, then around to 5. Doubled back after 7.
Took my favourite route via control 50 to get to 9. Poor route out from 10 - seemed to have to go a long way to the north but hadn't seen anything better. Then a fairly easy finish. Again in the lead at the time but only by 2 mins.
Pleased that the monkey was easier on this course so took good fast route to 1 but got quite confused as to what to do after 2 - getting distracted. Soon saw that the fastest route by miles should be to double back and go to the west. Went right round the edge of the maze to 4 - safe, fairly quick, then around to 5. Doubled back after 7.
Took my favourite route via control 50 to get to 9. Poor route out from 10 - seemed to have to go a long way to the north but hadn't seen anything better. Then a fairly easy finish. Again in the lead at the time but only by 2 mins.
1 PM
Orienteering - Urban race (Maize O Heat 1 Run 2) 10:56 [5] 2.09 km (5:14 / km)
shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Second go at Heat 1. Thinking I'd get really annoyed if I didn't beat my previous time. Joe looked like he was going well after a fairly disastrous first run so I knew I had to be quick and clean.
Took east route 1-2. Much better but stopped one junction too early +5s. Took same route as before 4-5. No mistake on 7 - looked out for the turning I needed.
Had a big crash with Paul Taunton which winded me a bit. +10s.
Just managed to break 11 mins, beat Joe by 6s. Against run 1, tied on 2 splits, worse on 2 splits (4s). Fairly happy with run - having two gos meant was possible to compare route choices.
Took east route 1-2. Much better but stopped one junction too early +5s. Took same route as before 4-5. No mistake on 7 - looked out for the turning I needed.
Had a big crash with Paul Taunton which winded me a bit. +10s.
Just managed to break 11 mins, beat Joe by 6s. Against run 1, tied on 2 splits, worse on 2 splits (4s). Fairly happy with run - having two gos meant was possible to compare route choices.
2 PM
Orienteering - Urban race (Maize O Heat 2 Run 2) 9:45 [5] 1.88 km (5:11 / km)
shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Second run of heat 2. Didn't think there was so much to gain out of this and had the distraction of Joe and Alan out with a camera looking for me.
Very decisive around the monkey. On 4 went the shorter more complicated route up the elephant's trunk and around the ear - to avoid a hairpin I didn't like doing too fast with bad ankle. Seemed to be better.
Then a disaster when I turned off one too early and missed my preferred route past control 50 so had to add in an extra hairpin. Went south from 10-11 miles better (30s saving).
Managed to break 10 mins which was quite unexpected. Was running full pelt at times and no real mistakes at all. Tied on 1 split (against first run), better on all the rest.
Very decisive around the monkey. On 4 went the shorter more complicated route up the elephant's trunk and around the ear - to avoid a hairpin I didn't like doing too fast with bad ankle. Seemed to be better.
Then a disaster when I turned off one too early and missed my preferred route past control 50 so had to add in an extra hairpin. Went south from 10-11 miles better (30s saving).
Managed to break 10 mins which was quite unexpected. Was running full pelt at times and no real mistakes at all. Tied on 1 split (against first run), better on all the rest.
3 PM
Orienteering - Urban race (Maize O Final) 11:00 [5] 2.1 km (5:14 / km)
shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
My one go at the final. Seemed to be for me to lose as was overall time was leading Joe by about 3 minutes.
Quite lucky as several legs were similar to heat 2 and in previous runs had worked out the best routes around. Apart from running slowly at the start, and a maize stalk whacking my eye in the monkey was making decisions quickly and in advance and running steadily. No mistakes but would have liked to have been a minute quicker.
Still it appears it was enough. Good to have a competition where Herefordian athletes appear at the sharp end of the results (and in the right order). Even better to have won my first buff in the process.
Quite lucky as several legs were similar to heat 2 and in previous runs had worked out the best routes around. Apart from running slowly at the start, and a maize stalk whacking my eye in the monkey was making decisions quickly and in advance and running steadily. No mistakes but would have liked to have been a minute quicker.
Still it appears it was enough. Good to have a competition where Herefordian athletes appear at the sharp end of the results (and in the right order). Even better to have won my first buff in the process.
Wednesday Jul 17, 2013 #
Orienteering - Urban race (Bradley Stoke Urban) 45:09 [3] 8.12 km (5:34 / km) +20m 5:30 / km
slept:4.0 weight:68.9kg shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Bradley Stoke urban race. 5.8k long course.
Very hot again but running better than previously - probably linked in to forcing myself to have lunch today.
Caught Paul Gebbett up at 1 but wasn't racing him and let him go off into the distance. Didn't fall into any of the mapped traps around 4 but did go down a big unmapped open bit. Didn't waste any time at 11.
Lost a bit of time on 16 as didn't see the first junction on the map. Was also a BOF director getting confused but that can be forgiven as they surely don't do much orienteering... Quite hesitant in the woods at the end.
Pretty good course, shame not fit and healthy enough to run it well at the moment.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/344180439
Very hot again but running better than previously - probably linked in to forcing myself to have lunch today.
Caught Paul Gebbett up at 1 but wasn't racing him and let him go off into the distance. Didn't fall into any of the mapped traps around 4 but did go down a big unmapped open bit. Didn't waste any time at 11.
Lost a bit of time on 16 as didn't see the first junction on the map. Was also a BOF director getting confused but that can be forgiven as they surely don't do much orienteering... Quite hesitant in the woods at the end.
Pretty good course, shame not fit and healthy enough to run it well at the moment.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/344180439
Tuesday Jul 16, 2013 #
Running - off road (BOK training run) 50:38 [3] 7.7 km (6:35 / km) +75m 6:16 / km
slept:4.0 shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
BOK training run from the Fosters.
Quite hot and lots of people out so slow going. Not complaining. Spent some time faffing around in tall bracken and in the process got my upper right arm sliced open by a bramble and the sweat got in straight away making it hurt.
Spent a good 5 mins stopped on top of a hill hence slow time.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/343688433
Quite hot and lots of people out so slow going. Not complaining. Spent some time faffing around in tall bracken and in the process got my upper right arm sliced open by a bramble and the sweat got in straight away making it hurt.
Spent a good 5 mins stopped on top of a hill hence slow time.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/343688433
Saturday Jul 13, 2013 #
Event: Swindon Urban Event
Orienteering - Urban race (Swindon Urban) 1:11:54 [5] 10.44 km (6:53 / km) +20m 6:49 / km
slept:3.0 weight:68kg (injured) shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Swindon urban. 7.2k long course.
Haven't been very well at all recently. Not been eating or sleeping much and still forcing myself to walk/run 10-15k each day. Combined with the 30C heat today knew I was going to run out of energy at some point. Think the last 6k or so was solar/heat powered...
Had a clean run and think I took the best routes. Didn't fall into any traps. Only mistake was caused by exhaustion on way to 15 - thought I was coming down the road to the east so did a couple of steps in the wrong direction. Apart from a cyclist's front tyre exploding as they went past me very little to note...
Pretty much last when I made it to download. As expected.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/341714296
Haven't been very well at all recently. Not been eating or sleeping much and still forcing myself to walk/run 10-15k each day. Combined with the 30C heat today knew I was going to run out of energy at some point. Think the last 6k or so was solar/heat powered...
Had a clean run and think I took the best routes. Didn't fall into any traps. Only mistake was caused by exhaustion on way to 15 - thought I was coming down the road to the east so did a couple of steps in the wrong direction. Apart from a cyclist's front tyre exploding as they went past me very little to note...
Pretty much last when I made it to download. As expected.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/341714296
Thursday Jul 11, 2013 #
Event: Summer Evening Event
11 AM
Orienteering - Urban 4:00:00 [1] 13.5 km (17:47 / km) +100m 17:09 / km
slept:4.0 weight:69.2kg (injured) shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 9
Mapping. Lovely day, nice place, good company - not a huge amount of issues with the map so far either. Went some way to reigniting my interest in orienteering again.
6 PM
Orienteering - Urban race (NGOC Score) 1 [0] 0.01 km (1:40 / km)
shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 9
All the positives from earlier on in the day now lost. Hugely fundamental errors on the behalf of NGOC and the organiser today that were so bad that it shouldn't be allowed to be a club at all.
Got to the quoted grid reference at 5.50, no signs anyway. Go on a bit, turn around, head back, go south for a mile find nothing, head back. Go back into Tewkesbury take every side road and do several laps of the town - found only what looked to be a lost Tony Noott not having found assembly either. Head the other way and do a grand tour of Northway - see an orienteer running, then 40 minutes after first arriving find and chase after Neil Cameron who tells me where to go. Grid reference was wrong and the first three times I drove past the turning there was no sign/kite and the fourth time there was a kite but was only visible from the other direction.
Get there so pissed off that I have some sharp words to say to both Pat and John Fallows. Too angry and upset to hang around or orienteer - so much so that I felt I could cry. Reminds me exactly why I've been getting so disenfranchised with orienteering recently - very tempted to just pack it in now and find something else to do. Have another counselling session at work tomorrow - the expectation was that a day off would do me some good...
In the latest Legend, Pat expresses disappointment in the numbers attending the Thursday evenings. I for one will never bother making the journey up to attend until the following basic event standards are used:
* event flyer
* correct grid reference
* signs from the point where it is supposed to be signed
(I would then add an expectation for a proper map and proper courses at a reasonable length rather than 13k but I suppose that isn't quite so basic...)
I know we are not supposed to criticise volunteers, but I would rather there be no event than for one this badly organised.
Got to the quoted grid reference at 5.50, no signs anyway. Go on a bit, turn around, head back, go south for a mile find nothing, head back. Go back into Tewkesbury take every side road and do several laps of the town - found only what looked to be a lost Tony Noott not having found assembly either. Head the other way and do a grand tour of Northway - see an orienteer running, then 40 minutes after first arriving find and chase after Neil Cameron who tells me where to go. Grid reference was wrong and the first three times I drove past the turning there was no sign/kite and the fourth time there was a kite but was only visible from the other direction.
Get there so pissed off that I have some sharp words to say to both Pat and John Fallows. Too angry and upset to hang around or orienteer - so much so that I felt I could cry. Reminds me exactly why I've been getting so disenfranchised with orienteering recently - very tempted to just pack it in now and find something else to do. Have another counselling session at work tomorrow - the expectation was that a day off would do me some good...
In the latest Legend, Pat expresses disappointment in the numbers attending the Thursday evenings. I for one will never bother making the journey up to attend until the following basic event standards are used:
* event flyer
* correct grid reference
* signs from the point where it is supposed to be signed
(I would then add an expectation for a proper map and proper courses at a reasonable length rather than 13k but I suppose that isn't quite so basic...)
I know we are not supposed to criticise volunteers, but I would rather there be no event than for one this badly organised.
Wednesday Jul 10, 2013 #
Orienteering - Urban race (BOK Long Ashton) 54:09 [4] 8.94 km (6:03 / km) +50m 5:54 / km
slept:4.0 weight:69.3kg (injured) shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
BOK Urban in Long Ashton - 6.2km "blue" course.
Really not been feeling well today and eaten nothing since half of dinner last night, and appear to have been the subject of a few too many meetings at work today - hence no energy at all in the heat.
Thought the course was too long, lots of doubling back, some controls very hidden. Not a huge amount of positives for me to take away from this.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/340543007
Really not been feeling well today and eaten nothing since half of dinner last night, and appear to have been the subject of a few too many meetings at work today - hence no energy at all in the heat.
Thought the course was too long, lots of doubling back, some controls very hidden. Not a huge amount of positives for me to take away from this.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/340543007
Tuesday Jul 9, 2013 #
Running - off road (BOK training run) 1:00:40 [3] 9.73 km (6:14 / km) +170m 5:44 / km
slept:4.0 weight:70.4kg (injured) shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
BOK training run from Cleeve.
Out via Goblin Combe, back over the top of the hill in the sun. Think I need a few more days like this to work on my tan and bleach my hair.
Ankle survived mostly ok - at one point foot landed awkwardly but didn't do any harm. Was going pretty slowly. Left knee felt like it hadn't had chance to properly stretch for some time.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/340105897
Out via Goblin Combe, back over the top of the hill in the sun. Think I need a few more days like this to work on my tan and bleach my hair.
Ankle survived mostly ok - at one point foot landed awkwardly but didn't do any harm. Was going pretty slowly. Left knee felt like it hadn't had chance to properly stretch for some time.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/340105897
Saturday Jul 6, 2013 #
Orienteering race (JWOC Tour Day 6) 8:00 [3] 0.5 km (16:00 / km)
slept:5.0 (injured) shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
11km course.
Was in a positive mood after Latvia's strong finish in the men's relay left GB for dust. Then was demoralised to find my start time shifted back to be the last start and for all runners starting within 13 mins of me not turning up.
GPS seems to be broken - 40 mins to locate, lost charge, unsure whether I am stationary or doing 60kph - worsened mood further.
Then within 100 yards of starting ankle turned multiple times and it was game over.
Brings to a close what has been, even by recent standards, a particularly shit week. Think I'd have been better off at work all week...
Was in a positive mood after Latvia's strong finish in the men's relay left GB for dust. Then was demoralised to find my start time shifted back to be the last start and for all runners starting within 13 mins of me not turning up.
GPS seems to be broken - 40 mins to locate, lost charge, unsure whether I am stationary or doing 60kph - worsened mood further.
Then within 100 yards of starting ankle turned multiple times and it was game over.
Brings to a close what has been, even by recent standards, a particularly shit week. Think I'd have been better off at work all week...
Friday Jul 5, 2013 #
Orienteering - Urban race (JWOC Tour Day 5) 18:49 [3] 3.41 km (5:31 / km) +60m 5:04 / km
slept:5.0 (injured) shoes: Saucony Powergrid Triumph 10 g
Finally completed a course! 2.2km in Hradec Kralove with a couple of thousand wet steps and cobbles to try and turn ankle.
Slow and steady so stood no chance against the elites. Some very complicated bits but no mistakes and probably took the best route choices. Came 23rd of 43 on the hardest leg! Last overall.
Still would have been nice to run this full out but should be positive that I could at least run bits and hand has also recovered enough to not be bandaged
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/337959423
Slow and steady so stood no chance against the elites. Some very complicated bits but no mistakes and probably took the best route choices. Came 23rd of 43 on the hardest leg! Last overall.
Still would have been nice to run this full out but should be positive that I could at least run bits and hand has also recovered enough to not be bandaged
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/337959423
Thursday Jul 4, 2013 #
Orienteering race (JWOC Tour Day 4) 47:25 [3] 3.57 km (13:17 / km) +105m 11:35 / km
slept:7.0 (injured) shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
5.3km middle race.
Used a new method for taping up my ankle today. Terrain was far more wacky than yesterday - hundreds and thousands of big rocks everywhere and all wet and slippery. Did controls 1-4 ok, then into the rocky bit a sprained ankle didn't stand any chance at all and it took me about 10 mins to struggle 100m down the hill out from 5 - so skipped out 6/7. Similarly rocky at 8 and well behind time so cut across to 16 and went on down the hill.
The hill slope with controls 18/19 on was spectacular - more rock climbing than orienteering. Was also impossible for me to do. Slowly scrambled up to 18 (no mistake) without foot falling into any 2ft deep hole between rocks and wimped out of 19. Terrain easier underfoot from 22 onto the finish.
Quite an incredible area. Shame it's now 4 days in a row I've barely been able to do any of the course - week is starting to turn into a waste of money. At least I was able to run bits today, was clean in navigation and for first time here ankle survived a day without getting more injured.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/337514392
Used a new method for taping up my ankle today. Terrain was far more wacky than yesterday - hundreds and thousands of big rocks everywhere and all wet and slippery. Did controls 1-4 ok, then into the rocky bit a sprained ankle didn't stand any chance at all and it took me about 10 mins to struggle 100m down the hill out from 5 - so skipped out 6/7. Similarly rocky at 8 and well behind time so cut across to 16 and went on down the hill.
The hill slope with controls 18/19 on was spectacular - more rock climbing than orienteering. Was also impossible for me to do. Slowly scrambled up to 18 (no mistake) without foot falling into any 2ft deep hole between rocks and wimped out of 19. Terrain easier underfoot from 22 onto the finish.
Quite an incredible area. Shame it's now 4 days in a row I've barely been able to do any of the course - week is starting to turn into a waste of money. At least I was able to run bits today, was clean in navigation and for first time here ankle survived a day without getting more injured.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/337514392
Wednesday Jul 3, 2013 #
Orienteering race (JWOC Tour Day 3) 1:10:11 [3] 4.48 km (15:40 / km) +155m 13:21 / km
slept:5.0 (injured) shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
8.2km shortened long course.
Weird rocky ankle-turning terrain. Ankle duly turned on route to 1, again at 4 and then twice at 5 by which time I decided it was a bit stupid trying to continue - was only walking anyway.
No appreciable mistakes on controls 1-5, just taking in the terrain and interpreting the rocks well. On 21-F made quite a balls up of control 24 - relocated off control 20 - stopped far far too erly. 25 was a hell of an awkward control to get into and out of.
The JWOC middle final did at least give a good display to lift my spirits afterward.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/337514430
Weird rocky ankle-turning terrain. Ankle duly turned on route to 1, again at 4 and then twice at 5 by which time I decided it was a bit stupid trying to continue - was only walking anyway.
No appreciable mistakes on controls 1-5, just taking in the terrain and interpreting the rocks well. On 21-F made quite a balls up of control 24 - relocated off control 20 - stopped far far too erly. 25 was a hell of an awkward control to get into and out of.
The JWOC middle final did at least give a good display to lift my spirits afterward.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/337514430
Running 15:00 [3] 2.5 km (6:00 / km) +30m 5:40 / km
(injured) shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
Jog along the railway track to the start as running late. Not at all easy and has to adjust stride length to ensure feet landed on the sleepers.
Tuesday Jul 2, 2013 #
Orienteering race (JWOC Tour Day 2) 1:08:22 [3] 7.1 km (9:38 / km) +75m 9:09 / km
slept:2.0 (injured) shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
9.2km "short distance" race.
Became pretty obvious on route to 1 that ankle wasn't going to play ball today and it kept wanting to turn on me. Then lost 1 min on 1 by being distracted by an american and binned another 3 mins by poor bearing to 2 - but map was good and relocated off indistinct veg boundaries.
Good 3-9 but a little off in the green to 10. Ankle progressively worsening and walking even risking it so cut from 11-20 as no chance of meeting the 90 min time limit. Made a mess of 11 and 20 - clearing not very clear.
Tried running bits toward the end but ankle was so bad this just was no viable. Shame as would be quite a nice fun area otherwise. Struggling at the end - ankle survived until the final step before the finish control before it went.
Heat so bad - 30 celcius that I probably wouldn't have been going too much faster even if I could.
Frustrated that I couldn't get a good run today as the next two are in the really steep and rocky bits that my ankle won't stand a chance against.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/336605597
Became pretty obvious on route to 1 that ankle wasn't going to play ball today and it kept wanting to turn on me. Then lost 1 min on 1 by being distracted by an american and binned another 3 mins by poor bearing to 2 - but map was good and relocated off indistinct veg boundaries.
Good 3-9 but a little off in the green to 10. Ankle progressively worsening and walking even risking it so cut from 11-20 as no chance of meeting the 90 min time limit. Made a mess of 11 and 20 - clearing not very clear.
Tried running bits toward the end but ankle was so bad this just was no viable. Shame as would be quite a nice fun area otherwise. Struggling at the end - ankle survived until the final step before the finish control before it went.
Heat so bad - 30 celcius that I probably wouldn't have been going too much faster even if I could.
Frustrated that I couldn't get a good run today as the next two are in the really steep and rocky bits that my ankle won't stand a chance against.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/336605597
Monday Jul 1, 2013 #
Orienteering (JWOC tour long) 20:00 [3] 1.5 km (13:20 / km) +30m 12:07 / km
slept:1.0 (injured) shoes: inov8 Mudclaw300 Yellow1
Ankle has been in considerable pain since the Harvester and swollen up. Hurts to walk. Managed to jog to start but felt it wanting to go straight away and it tried to go 4 times before I gave up. Found some controls very close to 1 but not it - there was nothing to tell us control descriptions were at assembly so was going blind somewhat. Did about 800m in the terrain before retiring before making ankle much worse.
So much for hoping this week was going to cheer me up...
So much for hoping this week was going to cheer me up...