Training Log Archive: TimM

SSS. The only I thing I have done today other than eat and internet.

Event: JK 2016
 

Warm up map + some more jogging, followed by drills and strides.

JK Sprint.
Had been really looking forward to this race for a long time, and it's fair to say we had done a tonne of preparation. Was quite disapointed when we turned up and worked out where 7 out of the 22 controls were, so we knew exactly what a third of the course was going to be before we had even started.
Plan was to start steady, look at the course on the run out and flow well through the route choicey bits with a lot of planning ahead as not a lot of detail needed for each leg. Also knew what to look for in the start lane; we knew the gap was no longer in existence, but still had to look at the wiggle and a couple of other things.
1 - We had all seen it before starting so used it all to plan number 2, which didn't take very long as there only seemed to be one option. Double checked descriptions though just to make sure which side 2 was on.
2 - The geeking meant that once the plan was made I didn't have to look at the leg again, so plenty more planning. Annoyingly though I just seemed to forget to turn into the gardens bit and lost about 5 seconds in doing so. This pissed me off but provided a good kick up the arse.
3 - Another leg where once the plan was made no more map reading was needed so more planning.
4 - Missed the gap in the fence so lost another 5 seconds or so by going to the crossable bit of the fence. Was also worried that it might have sneakily been put under the bridge but that was a pretty stupid thought looking at it now.
5 - First real route choice. Went north because I thought it looked smoother and kept the height. I had caught Tom Fellbaum at 4 and seemed to lose some ground by taking this route and that annoyed me but I got the fastest split along with Dane so must have been fine. Felt like I was running incredibly slowly at this point and this, combined with the little time losses, meant I was feeling as though it was going badly but I was actually in the lead here.
6 - Was pleased to this leg because it meant we could use sneaky wiggle.
7 - Cut through the underpass.
8 - Used the pop out for the third time, did not enjoy going up those steps.
9 - Another simple leg and executed well. Still in the lead at this point.
10 - This was one of the controls we had seen from the arena. I had made the choice to head north out of nine so turned my map over to start planning the second half of the course. But when I got to the end of the alley I wasn't expecting to make a decision and thought I had to go right, losing 15 seconds by going all the way around the walls. When I saw people popping out from the left I got pretty angry and thought it was race over there. Also felt completely shafted by this point.
13 - The second route choice of the course. I went north, looking at it now I would go south but splits seem to think it was 50/50.
14 - As soon as I turned left I thought I had made a bad call but again it looks like it really was a 50/50. At the time it felt like i had lost more time though and I was pissed off again, and still really suffering.
16 - Had planned to go up the ramp but coming into 15 I thought it looked too far to turn around for the exit so headed for the steps. I think this was the right decision. Lost about 5 seconds coming into the underpass by not going direct though.
17 - Went right, possibly my worst decision of the course. Made worse by starting to head towards the sneaky wiggle. Looks like I lost 7-8 seconds by doing this and I was convinced I was going to be a long way down the results at this point.
19 - Went south because it was a smooth line with pretty much no map contact needed. I think this was perhaps 2-3seconds slower though, and I made the mistake of going all the way round that little building so probably lost 5 seconds on this leg.
The rest was just one big sufferfest to the finish.
I was fully expecting to struggle to get into the top 10 with that run so was quite surprised to be 6th. Solid, but could have been much better so quite annoyed. Seems like I had a good first half and then started to break down. Not sure how to overcome that. Still, good to see that I had the pace to challenge for the higher places. Not enjoying looking at the winsplits though.

Up to the park place with the boys. Carcas sneakily trying to listen into the convo.

To the meadows.

Full drill set.

Back home.

Nice and chilled around the bog and killing fields avec Andy, Ali and Chicken.