Training Log Archive: Spur

Saulton & Humbie SoSOL Brown course. Pretty clean run with only really one minute lost on no 17 which I couldn't get to fit the map. Some easy early controls but kept good focus in the valleys, spiking most of the controls (although a little relieved to see 10 from above) and kept a decent pace. Pleased with 3rd out of 10 behind Arnis and Jethro. Shame not enough runners on the course for ranking points but should be good SoSOL points.

Houston AGM course planned by Donald. Enjoyed this and was happy with my route choices. 6th/12.

Sprint course on 2011 map of Mdina old town in Malta. Ran off the map at no 2 but ok after that!

Stirling Mountain Bike score event planned by Alex. Good fun, and well planned challenge, although my bike was not rugged enough for many of the muddy and rocky tracks and found the 1:40,000 OS map hard to interpret in places. Got 14 of the 30 controls. Change of plan after 2nd once I'd seen direct route back to road was impassable, so went up into Sauchie Crags and toiled in some rough trails but steadily picked up controls and great views from North Third reservoir. 10 controls after 1hr 45 was ok, but then wasted 25 minutes and lots of energy making no sense of paths in Polmaise (deja vu), battering through rhododendrons without finding the control, and only had time for a few more near the roads and one in the quarry before returning just on the 3 hr limit. Km times varied from 2.25 to 14.10.....19th/27.

Went round one loop of the fort and the fields loop at Braco, on the course I failed to get to last week (thanks Brad, and GG). Great wee area and precise 1:5,000 map was quite a change from the cycling. Sunny Autumn late afternoon.

Walking from George Square to Celtic Park and back.

Shawlands to Paisley Road to drop off bike with Alex for Sunday. Went to the wrong climbing centre! So only one control and a 1km error!

Ran home quicker than I'd cycled there...

Looking forward to evening run on new area at Braco. Stuck in gridlock traffic in Glasgow, moved about 2 miles in 45 minutes so gave up and turned back. Waste of time and petrol. Then car broke down on way home. Very annoyed.

C • Oh no! 2

Jog to station then to George Square. No other takers for club training so watched the City Chambers light show instead.

Setting up signage and start and finish teams at Croy, including a second jog up to the start with the clear back-up unit - nice sunny Autumn morning though.

Croy SoSOL Brown course. Well planned by Arnis making good use of the area and a mixture of terrain. Only two mistakes of note - two mins too high at 2 and a minute lost too high in bracken at 24. Had a good ding dong battle with Max after catching him at 7 and kept ahead of him. Happy with run overall, seconds behind Alex and Barry. 22nd/43. If I was a student I'd be in the uni top 10!

Control collecting and various sign removal etc. Made a mistake at no 2 again! Glorious Autumn evening sun.

GUOC sprint relay at Glasgow Uni. Solid enough run and overtook two people. Very slippy so holding back a little. Only mistake on wrong level at 19. Good new map and course and fun format.

Warm down jog and various equipment set up and removal in the driving rain.

Putting out some start and assembly route taping at Croy in the driving rain.