Training Log Archive: IanW

Event: British Orienteering Championships
 

British Champs, Wharncliffe & Greno, M21E.

If this run were a Friends episode, it would be called "The one with the Missing Control." And on M21E, at the British, with World Ranking status... there are a few choice words that could be used to describe those kids/mountain bikers.

Knew the 2 hour target was unlikely with the training I've been doing recently, and what I perceived to be a tough physical area - plan was to get round and make sure the navigation was good.

Tweaked left ankle shortly after the start, didn't ease off that quickly and concentrating on that issue too much. So missed #2 badly, partly scale issues (90"). Fluked the tricky #4, another 1'+ gone at #5 - not a great start. Ankle at least felt fine now.

Down the hill to #6, through the scattered open, big earthwork, middle spur, finally spiked one :) Flag must be behind that tree. Flag not there?!?! First thought is I've got to be wrong, but I clock kids on mountain bikes on the other edge of the earthwork. Check map and description, look for potential parallel error, double check up and down spur. Ask the kids if they've seen it, of course they say no... Look for tag. No tag either. Can't possibly have got this wrong. The little s**** must have nicked it. And at the British Champs - what a race for them to ruin.

Eddie appears, double check, agree it's gone. More appear, they also agree and we move on to #7. Hare off in the right vague direction through the light green, don't check the compass and completely screw it up. Annoyed at first, but it doesn't really matter, they're going to have to void the course anyway :(

And then the mindset changed on the way to #8. Thought briefly about jacking, with nothing to "race" for any more, then decided just go round at whatever pace felt comfortable and to enjoy the challenge! Scrappy through the grottier bits to the road crossing, where saw Shminty who said he'd found the control buried in leaves nearby - I was amazed. Eddie then comes charging past with a replacement control, had a quick chat - didn't realise he'd gone back to assembly, really glad he was thinking straight though!

Then through into Wheata, guessed wrong for #14 in the thickets, fine around the rest. Non-optimal route to #21 but didn't care, still hit the control bang on. Missed #24 as didn't have a good enough plan, and a bit hesitant on #26, but otherwise fine through to the finish.

Really enjoyed it post road crossing, knew the time meant nothing, no guilty feeling when walking up the hills or taking my time at the drinks points. Surprised to see split times were comparable with Jon's on the ones I was getting right, and physically good until the tougher/uphill bits near the end of the course. Area wasn't as grotty as I thought it would be either. Still felt I had some energy on the run-in and had a smile on my face at the end rather than the more usual grimace :)

Think the decision not to void was probably the right one, Dougie rightfully crowned as British champion. Not so convinced on the World Ranking issue, though the difference it makes is probably minimal.

C • apologies 4

To the start, a little faster than planned due to standard Ian time... Checked out the control on the tiny model map on the way through, terrain was looking better than I was expecting.

Course 1 - Splits

Little jaunt round the local woodland to remind the legs/body what tomorrow will entail...

Felt awful... really heavy legs and stomach complaining too. New route, map memory not perfect so looking for an exit from a field in the wrong place, gave up and backtracked. A bit too much of the route on roads/gravel paths for my liking also didn't help.

Map from yesterday, except we used a no paths version:

http://www.happyherts.routegadget.co.uk/kartat/66....