Training Log Archive: Spur

Climbed to the summit of Ben Lomond for the first time today. Ascent on the tourist path and descent via Ptarmigan. Pretty misty and windy at the top!

SoSOL brown course at Tentsmuir. Fairly solid up to #12 in the dunes, although hit lucky finding 6 quickly. Started to get rather scrappy in the jungle on the long legs. En route to #13, couldn't find ditch to follow in second block so battered through grot. After the main path, found the narrow ride through dark green at 2nd attempt to be rewarded with a sea of nettles guarding the ditch crossing; carefully picked a route through them and approached from the tower in the semi-open area. Cut in off edge of forest, no sign of control, circled around for a couple of minutes randomly and luckily found it well into the seasonal undergrowth. Relieved to see a high kite in the bracken at #14 but then battered through more grot towards 15, couldn't make any sense of the shades of green near the circle and wasted a couple more minutes. Argued with the vegetation again near #16 but ok from here to the end apart from struggling to see #20 in the shallow ditch.
Reasonable enough time.

Evening race at Queens Park. 21 seconds behind Kenny this week!

Control collecting by bike

Mens 10k road race at Bellahouston. First 10k road race for a few years, managed a PB by 3 mins though! Felt good for the first few k, but tired a bit in Pollok where it felt a bit humid, picked it up again and managed a good sprint finish. Erratic splits:

4.18
4.19
4.22
4.35
4.34
4.51
4.40
4.33
4.41
3.42 (Garmin says this was 920m)

C • Well done! 1

Cycling round Whitelee Wind Farm finalising permanent courses.

Checking Whitelee control sites.

BBQ race at Mugdock, very clean run helped by local knowledge, and running well. Only 90s behind Arnis.

More cycling around the lake and alpine meadows.

Cycle round Lake Bled and to a waterfall.

Climbing hills above the lake.

Rowing to the island on Lake Bled

Run round perimeter of Lake Bled in Slovenia. A very scenic training run !

Run round perimeter of Lake Jarun in Zagreb with Skippy.

Walking round tourist score orienteering course on Lopud island near Dubrovnik, with Mary, and some with Mum & Dad.

Clyde coaching, leading some urban technique practice in Houston.

Last race of my 30s! Erskine Urban Race, 6th male veteran, a very pleasing result with several rival scalps today! Found some good smooth routes across minor fences and avoiding traps. An enjoyable course and map. Too high and wide for #18 and didn't see the small tree straight away. Had trouble with #23 and lost about 90 seconds, control description not specific that crag foot, assumed it was but couldn't see kite from the path right next to it, so ran up the hill, and then back down again, then found it behind some greenery! 1191 BOF rankings points just makes it into my top 6.