Training Log Archive: Spur

Midlands Champs M40 at Sherwood Forest. 7th/12 just ahead of the Midlands Champion! Very tired after last night's capers and felt out of sorts at the start. Lots of distinguished trees for first few controls, and actually had a very clean run, but 'hit the wall' about 2/3 the way round and, feeling really weak, had to walk a few bits near the end.

To the start and back from the remote finish.

Wander to see the Major Oak, a very distinguished tree.

British Night Champs. Cademan & Thringstone near Leicester. M40. 32 controls. Really difficult 'middle distance' style area with numerous indistinct paths, and a map exchange. Lost a few mins at #2 missing one path then took an unnecessary up and over a hill to #3 but was clean to #8 and had only lost 2 mins to Peter Suba who was running close by. No idea what happened at #9 but totally lost my bearings close to the circle and lost 4 mins. A bit muddled by the map exchange after #12 that took you to a road then reversed back 180 degrees, but had a good solid loop after this and despite a couple of wobbles at #22 and #23 was in ok shape at #25 (after 93 mins) with about 1k to go, and in 8th place per the splits. Then disaster, my head-torch packed up. Spent a few mins faffing with cables with no joy, so resorted to small emergency hand torch, but very quickly utterly lost with low visibility. Thrashed around looking for other lights then eventually found the right #26. Considered retiring but with so much greenery en-route opted to take a safety bearing to the west then a long path to #27. Small torch started flickering at this point which was concerning. Some rather spooky features in the last loop, deep sided ponds/crags/viaduct/fight but managed to struggle round with lots of time loss, 10 mins before courses closed at 10pm. After all that, quite satisfied to actually finish but missed 10th by one minute! Disappointing. 12th/14.

C • Hope 1

Final Stag Dark Series at Drumpellier. Took it fairly steady and got back in plenty of time to receive a very large trophy!

Lethargic jog round Pollok Park in wind and rain working off last night's curry.

Stag night-o at Pollok. Picked a good route but had a couple of errors wasting some time circling for two controls. But kept composure, missed one out and made sure I got back in time. Kenny and John were late back so a win on the night and a win overall in the series !

Turf circuit of QP/Cathkin/Hampden.

C • oooh - 1

S.Queensferry Scottish Sprint Champs in dreadful weather conditions. Pretty clean run. Being last starter didn't help on muddy slopes but smooth through most of it with minor hesitation on motorway crossing. 5th M40 behind 4 strong runners, quite satisfied. 1215 BOF points.

Chasing sprint. Started 10th MV and finished 10th/30 so ok but rather messy, including another chaotic head-to-head with Max. Confusion at start where Max was sent off 10 seconds too early but then stopped confused by tapes. I was pretty confused too but found the triangle. Max overtook but then stopped to tie a shoelace. Ahead at 4 but led Max into the wrong alley at 5. Pleased to spike 7 while others milled around above it, but map not legible for 8, although scenic on the waterside. Neck and neck with Max at 10 but control circle confused routes to 11, then did exactly what I'd told myself not to do and had to climb steps to 12. Max left 13 ahead of me then disappeared to the right. Lost concentration leaving 14 when almost saw Thomas hit by a car. Went too far wide into an alleyway then smashed head on into Thomas myself at a blind junction...no sign of Max meanwhile Terry J gets to 15 ahead of me and I need to sprint to get back past him to the finish. Sadly he pulls a hamstring in the run-in. Meanwhile Max appears back 5 mins later...I'll go back one sunny day to see how fast that course might be without distractions! Good fun.

Last year's sprint champs course at Erskine. Took 17 secs off last year's time. Will savour being the M40 title holder for one more day.

Stag night-o at Alexandra Park. Pretty clean and went for safety at the end to avoid any penalties.