Training Log Archive: Jay-T

Cleaned my car!

Will probably run Long at the British next year again. Had I won I would have felt obliged to move up to Elite. However, I did not, I certainly do not fulfil the definition of elite and would struggle to finish I think. The bottom 25% or so (on the evidence from this year, around 50%!) from the Elite should really run Long in my opinion. This would improve the level of competition in both races. The Long has admittedly been devalued by the award of prizes for 1st place only, despite the fact that it is the second longest class at BOC (and at the JK over the two days, invariably the longest). I can see how some people want to compare themselves with the top orienteers, but Elite should be more exclusive.

Missed the relays unfortunately. Anyone for a SPOOK team at some point? Harvester perhaps?

Event: British Orienteering Championships 2013
 

British Long Championships M21L Winterfold
Unsure what to make of this. Small and largely average field on the Long this year. I finished in 2nd, 1:24 down on Iain Stamp in the end.

Time losses:
#3 Poor direction out of #2 and small miss in the circle (20s)
#5 Round was evidently better here (1m)
#10 Wobbled twice here (15s)
#12 Hadn't planned this long leg, direction out of the control forced me to take this route which probably involved more terrain than necessary (1m 30s)
#14 Ran straight over the small gully without seeing it but did realise upon hitting the larger gully beyond the control (30s)
#15 Poor direction out of #14 initially, then fell flat on my face when running down the path on the spur. Gashed my knee which hurt for the next couple and threw my concentration, overshooting. Never saw thickets to south of control either (2m)
#16 Had no idea how far along the small path I was as I crossed. Quick search speculatively but had to go beyond the control to the bigger path before heading back in (1m)
#18 Poor route (didn't even see path option at the time; concentration gone), calves cramping up at this point too so stopped to stretch. Once in the vicinity I started looking too far south (2m)
#19 Overshot by miles (1m 45s)

Just over 10m of errors right there. Orienteering is such a frustrating sport.

Course 5 - Splits

Early for event, so went for a quick jog / warm up around the area. Legs feeling awful to begin with but improved after some stretching. Controls seen = 0

SYO Bowden Housteads
Very hot and sunny evening and a new area for me. Magic map.
Set off first on the Long; slowed by being told I may have the wrong map after punching the start (I didn't), having to wake up the controls (seemed like an eternity!), deliberating whether SI units had been nicked (they hadn't), abuse from local youths (unprovoked) and pin punching (old school).
Navigationally fairly secure although it wasn't overly challenging.
Absolutely dismal turnout.

Improved steadily tonight... was on fire at the end, making time for a rapid 6-2 demolition of Luke at singles.