Training Log Archive: simonw

Helping with WMJS squad.
Shadowing Kieron for most of it who was a bit out of his depth. Most found it a bit too much because of the underestimated hilliness of the Wrekin.

Classic half Skyline route with Henry. Cracking.

Just to get out the house. The old Teddesley loop and see what I felt like when I got to the Chase. Quagmire.

Took the dog round some of the park run. She kept stopping to poo. and I lost interest before the first turn off.

Easy one with Fly dog. A bit too easy. She's very old and slow now. Probably too much for her.

After flying to Amsterdam then driving to Germany on Monday. Got to site to discover the parts hadn't arrived so can't do anything until next Monday earliest. Decided to just come home.
Couldn't face this tempo run around the old block everybody seems to be doing on Wednesdays so went for an easy amble across the Chase and met up with Henry at Wimpy corner.

Freezing in Papenburg. Council seem to have an aversion to street lights.

Not the Long Mynd Valleys. Race canceled just after we left the house it seems. An empty School car park barring a couple of other non informed was the give away sign.
Tried a run out but anywhere close to coming out of the valleys was downright dangerous. Managed a lacklustre 4.5 miles. Felt flat.

Titterstone Clee Fell race.
Not done since 2012. Shame. It'd be a regular run if it was closer than the 1h 15 or so drive.
Puts up a good case for being a proper fell race. Straight up and down a hill. First 1/3rd to half is pretty much choose your own line but then it gets down to a choice of one or two obvious trods slightly contouring round to the summit cairn. For me it was pick somebody to follow, preferably with yellow shirt who I thought knew a good way. I chose Andy Davies. Was a good choice.
For Henry. He had a different tactic. Run off the front ahead of the 2h:33m marathon runner - Paul Jones (who knows the best lines) and 68min HM and GB mountain runner Jack Wood (who didn't know the lines but followed Paul before out sprinting him to the line). No, he scrambled across the boulder field and let 8 people go past. Guess it was too late to pull anything back as it only a 20 minute run. School boy error springs to mind.
Still did better than me though in 9th. I was minute down on my last effort and 20th place which is very poor.

Half arsed then couldn't be arsed.

Standard Chase loop to rifle ranges trig and back via mungo bone route. Warming up. Bit less splashing about.

West mids League event. Hartshill Hayes. Brown.
Not been on the area for a number of years and decided not do do it because it was a OD event, meaning Emit would be used. Discovered OD have switch to SI so with that my mind was changed.
Remember the area quite well and was dreading it if I'm honest but just started out relaxed.
Not much to report in a blow by blow account but felt good and all the way to #7 then fell on my face in the mud. Took a while to get the map clean and even then headed off on a daft route around some fence line and took a while to get back into it.
Overshot #8 as did many others. A sneaky control somewhat as it was in the OOB area. Description said correct side though. Whatever.
Henry came past at #11 and went too far right to #12 . Stupidly me and some HOC guy followed him in.
#13 went my own way and watched Henry take a daft line to that one also.
#14 the pattern continued. Managed to stay with Henry but watched him head 45degs off down the hillside. Map was a bit off TBF.
#15 Followed him in.
#16 A few milling about scratching heads saying map was wrong. Not sure. Bit of a wobble at this one.
#17 OK
#18 Blowing a bit with Stu and Henry slowly pulling away.
#19 Caught Stu on the downhill where he hesitated peeling off to the obvious hand rail
#20 to #22 felt good. Stayed in contact throughout with proper plans. Not the best lines but I didn't get lost.
#23 was a bit slow as couldn't decide on the best way.
#24 and #25 A bit finicky but did OK and relocated when I hit the wrong ctrl for 25. Caught Henry again but he left me on way to 26.
Remaining controls uneventful if taken a little slowly as to not spoil the good run so far. Found it hard going anyway. Harder than it should be.
Pretty enjoyable run out by orienteering standards.

UPDATE: It seems #6 and #16 were in the wrong place. #14 map is wrong. The feature is too high on the map.

https://www.od.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#60&route...
Awaiting the routegadget geekery later.