Training Log Archive: Mark3In the 31 days ending Aug 31, 2017:
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Thursday Aug 31, 2017 #
Note
(rest day)
Made a cake. Was going to run afterwards, but it took like 4 hours and then I had to pack...
Ate a lot of icing.
Ate a lot of icing.
Wednesday Aug 30, 2017 #
Note
(rest day)
Poker tournament at work.
Tuesday Aug 29, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Barrel Inn BM) 46:42 [5] 10.39 km (4:30 / km) +324m 3:53 / km
ahr:151 max:170 shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
21st/154
http://eyamsports.nfshost.com/attachments/BIFRResu...
Loving the quantity of available races up here! Another good one; largely firm trails with some grass and mud although it's been very dry so conditions were excellent. It was a much more comfortable temperature for running than yesterday too at about 12 degrees.
Took the first climb reasonably and as expected passed by loads of people, but repassed them all once we got to the flat/downhill bits. The hill practice definitely working; accelerated up the steepest bit of the course and passed several people who'd resorted to walking :) it's not long ago that would've been me! Nice downhill through the woods although getting pretty dark under there, good job the start was 6:30 and I didn't envy the people near the back of the field! New eyes helped a lot I think. And made the views from the top more enjoyable.
I think I was 17th or something, again; high standard. Happy with it.
http://eyamsports.nfshost.com/attachments/BIFRResu...
Loving the quantity of available races up here! Another good one; largely firm trails with some grass and mud although it's been very dry so conditions were excellent. It was a much more comfortable temperature for running than yesterday too at about 12 degrees.
Took the first climb reasonably and as expected passed by loads of people, but repassed them all once we got to the flat/downhill bits. The hill practice definitely working; accelerated up the steepest bit of the course and passed several people who'd resorted to walking :) it's not long ago that would've been me! Nice downhill through the woods although getting pretty dark under there, good job the start was 6:30 and I didn't envy the people near the back of the field! New eyes helped a lot I think. And made the views from the top more enjoyable.
I think I was 17th or something, again; high standard. Happy with it.
Monday Aug 28, 2017 #
Orienteering - Urban race (Abingdon Urban) 46:16 [5] 10.48 km (4:25 / km) +38m 4:20 / km
ahr:150 max:166 shoes: Adidas Adios 3
http://www.tvoc.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#94&cour...
8th: http://tvoc.org.uk/application/documents/events/20...
<4mins down on Dane; yep I'll take that.
---
Fairly uninteresting urban, basically just running. Some route choices but not massive differences either way.think east on 5 looks slightly shorter despite our discussion afterwards.looking at it now I think I cut someone's garden on 6 - oops.didn't save any time by it; just added slight confusion.climbed over 3 fences on 10 where it was probably faster to go around since you could avoid all 3 if you went a bit further.
My route on 13 east is longer and more corners than West.could've gone slightly straighter on 14.don't think any of those are significant, though.
Biggest time loss was maybe 15-25s on 19 going via 2.Not sure why I got drawn into that.
Made sure not to mess up the leg after the timed crossing like last week!
3 mins behind Jack, 2 behind RP, 4s behind Leon. Pretty pleased tbh.
8th: http://tvoc.org.uk/application/documents/events/20...
<4mins down on Dane; yep I'll take that.
---
Fairly uninteresting urban, basically just running. Some route choices but not massive differences either way.think east on 5 looks slightly shorter despite our discussion afterwards.looking at it now I think I cut someone's garden on 6 - oops.didn't save any time by it; just added slight confusion.climbed over 3 fences on 10 where it was probably faster to go around since you could avoid all 3 if you went a bit further.
My route on 13 east is longer and more corners than West.could've gone slightly straighter on 14.don't think any of those are significant, though.
Biggest time loss was maybe 15-25s on 19 going via 2.Not sure why I got drawn into that.
Made sure not to mess up the leg after the timed crossing like last week!
3 mins behind Jack, 2 behind RP, 4s behind Leon. Pretty pleased tbh.
Sunday Aug 27, 2017 #
Orienteering - Forest race (Heater Rigg) 1:37:29 [4] 11.76 km (8:17 / km) +201m 7:38 / km
ahr:155 max:185 (sick) shoes: X-Talon 225 (July 2017)
EDIT:
http://www.ebor.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#122&cou...
Terrible result despite not that many mistakes, must have been running even slower than it felt like!
Still getting stomach pain but definitely better than yesterday. Had I not pre-entered, got a bnb etc then probably wouldn't have bothered, but as it was...and actually, pain eased off toward the end.hopefully that's it now and will be fine for tomorrow.
Deliberately tried to be very safe; couldn't run very fast so wanted to be accurate.this largely worked.very pleased with going to my attack points, etc, until 7 where I tried to aim off but failed; think I decided too late and had already drifted in the opposite direction.luckily a man told me where I was(without me asking!) which caused me to immediately turn around.
Tried to unwisely cut a corner in 15 and lost some time through the heather.otherwise though, didn't really make any mistakes, just slow due to not feeling 100%.But a good run in the circumstances,I think.
http://www.ebor.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#122&cou...
Terrible result despite not that many mistakes, must have been running even slower than it felt like!
Still getting stomach pain but definitely better than yesterday. Had I not pre-entered, got a bnb etc then probably wouldn't have bothered, but as it was...and actually, pain eased off toward the end.hopefully that's it now and will be fine for tomorrow.
Deliberately tried to be very safe; couldn't run very fast so wanted to be accurate.this largely worked.very pleased with going to my attack points, etc, until 7 where I tried to aim off but failed; think I decided too late and had already drifted in the opposite direction.luckily a man told me where I was(without me asking!) which caused me to immediately turn around.
Tried to unwisely cut a corner in 15 and lost some time through the heather.otherwise though, didn't really make any mistakes, just slow due to not feeling 100%.But a good run in the circumstances,I think.
Saturday Aug 26, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Parkrun - Cheadle Hulme) 18:51 [5] 5.0 km (3:46 / km) +27m 3:40 / km
shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
2nd - chicked. But apparently she's in the GB junior XC team, so that's ok.
Another good Parkrun; undulating and all on grass.will be great XC practice in winter. Very un-busy too which is nice.there are so many Parkruns around this area and lots of them are fast, which explains the lack of people here.and it was dry underfoot today...
5k felt very far.winning for about 1k, then overtaken by a guy and the girl after a mile or so, then the guy dropped back but I stayed more or less with the girl all the way around; she maintained the 20m gap though and then it was an uphill finish so I had no chance.apparently she's been quicker in the past though, so she probably had another gear if I'd had caught her. Good racing, though.
Another good Parkrun; undulating and all on grass.will be great XC practice in winter. Very un-busy too which is nice.there are so many Parkruns around this area and lots of them are fast, which explains the lack of people here.and it was dry underfoot today...
5k felt very far.winning for about 1k, then overtaken by a guy and the girl after a mile or so, then the guy dropped back but I stayed more or less with the girl all the way around; she maintained the 20m gap though and then it was an uphill finish so I had no chance.apparently she's been quicker in the past though, so she probably had another gear if I'd had caught her. Good racing, though.
Orienteering - Forest race (Cowhouse bank) 8:51 [3] 1.26 km (7:01 / km) +1m 7:00 / km
ahr:125 max:144 (sick) shoes: X-Talon 225 (July 2017)
Had to give this up due to pretty painful stomach cramps :(
Orienteering - Urban race (Helmsley) 18:44 [4] 3.95 km (4:45 / km) +28m 4:35 / km
ahr:147 max:166 (sick) shoes: Adidas Adios 3
Only just managed to make it round. I'd describe my pace as a brisk jog.as a consequence didn't do a lot wrong but was pretty lucky on a few occasions when I just trusted the person ahead was going to the right side rather than checking.some suspicious (ie wrong) mapping, e.g. Numbers 1 and 9.
They had grippled through the control hole, so had to go back and punch again on one occasion.I'd have thought clubs would've learned by now.
3 was probably faster to stay on the road for longer and approach from the E, since W was complicated.hesitated coming out of 6 as had done no planning at all.15 should've gone s but didn't see it.
Shame I was feeling so grim as would've been a good little sprint otherwise.
They had grippled through the control hole, so had to go back and punch again on one occasion.I'd have thought clubs would've learned by now.
3 was probably faster to stay on the road for longer and approach from the E, since W was complicated.hesitated coming out of 6 as had done no planning at all.15 should've gone s but didn't see it.
Shame I was feeling so grim as would've been a good little sprint otherwise.
Friday Aug 25, 2017 #
Note
(rest day)
Would've cycled today but took too long to peel the chicken this morning for slowcooking...
Probably wise to have a rest day given the potential for 3 races tomorrow :)
Probably wise to have a rest day given the potential for 3 races tomorrow :)
Thursday Aug 24, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Pilsley BS) 43:30 [5] 9.8 km (4:26 / km) +272m 3:54 / km
ahr:136 max:162 shoes: X-Talon 212 (May 17)
https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/20689038_10155...
27th/255, 7(!) mins down.
Yet again astonished by the standard at the front (which I was nowhere near) of this tiny race which attracted maybe 200 people and I was about 30th.
Little bit of an ankle twist just before the top of the first descent which I could feel all the way round and made me a bit nervous, but after the first 3k or so gradually started to reign some of the fast-starters back again. 10k just too short for me really, but enjoyed it anyway and pushed hard; good training.
Nice Indian in Bakewell afterwards.
27th/255, 7(!) mins down.
Yet again astonished by the standard at the front (which I was nowhere near) of this tiny race which attracted maybe 200 people and I was about 30th.
Little bit of an ankle twist just before the top of the first descent which I could feel all the way round and made me a bit nervous, but after the first 3k or so gradually started to reign some of the fast-starters back again. 10k just too short for me really, but enjoyed it anyway and pushed hard; good training.
Nice Indian in Bakewell afterwards.
Wednesday Aug 23, 2017 #
Cycling (Commute) 50:00 [3] 17.5 km (21.0 kph) +233m
shoes: Specialized Sirrus Sport [bike
Running - Trail (MH Training) 1:30:30 [3] 13.71 km (6:36 / km) +407m 5:45 / km
ahr:123 max:146 shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
Lovely evening and excellent terrain. Also very much enjoying my new eyes.
Tuesday Aug 22, 2017 #
Running - Trail (CheshireHashHouseHarriers) 1:29:52 [3] 12.09 km (7:26 / km) +240m 6:46 / km
ahr:122 max:157 shoes: X-Talon 212 (Sep16)
My first experience of a hash.
My last experience of a hash.
Did not enjoy it.
The markings were tiny pieces of kitchen roll tied to trees or occasional chalk. But sometimes there were no markings at all - 'because that brings the group back together'. This meant that you were never sure whether or not you were going the right way. This is not good for an orienteer. Glad I did it once. But once only.
My last experience of a hash.
Did not enjoy it.
The markings were tiny pieces of kitchen roll tied to trees or occasional chalk. But sometimes there were no markings at all - 'because that brings the group back together'. This meant that you were never sure whether or not you were going the right way. This is not good for an orienteer. Glad I did it once. But once only.
Monday Aug 21, 2017 #
Gym Strength (Pump #59) 1:00:00 [3]
Sunday Aug 20, 2017 #
Orienteering - Urban race (Frodsham urban) 50:26 [5] 11.37 km (4:26 / km) +210m 4:04 / km
ahr:151 max:165 shoes: Adidas Adios 3
http://www.dee.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/index.php#247...
1st (!) - http://www.deeside-orienteering-club.org.uk/result...
Pleased with the vast majority of this; didn't do a lot wrong.
Near-perfect all the way to 20. 21 had the control circle not-cut and so I thought there wasn't a way through when actually there was - but this just meant I thought it was a 50/50 choice.luckily I picked the right way so I didn't lose time (other than extra thinking time) but I'd have been a bit annoyed if I'd have picked the other way.
The one leg which should've been easy,24,(immediately after timed out crossing, so plenty of free planning time) was the one mistake I made, ending up in a dead end.really not sure how I failed to spot this while standing still...lost 25s.
Momentarily confused on 25 and punched an extra control, but something didn't feel right and I checked the code luckily.need to get in the habit of reading ALL the control descs not just the ones that look potentially ambiguous, since they would've prevented the 10s loss here.
But in general really good; not a very difficult course but needed to keep the concentration up throughout; it didn't feel dull at any point. Running-wise, the longer stuff I've been doing is definitely helping as still feeling pretty good by the end.
Just about managed to drive here safely by not putting in any eye drops beforehand and wearing two pairs of sunglasses one atop the other!definitely better than yesterday so hopefully it should just improve from now.
1st (!) - http://www.deeside-orienteering-club.org.uk/result...
Pleased with the vast majority of this; didn't do a lot wrong.
Near-perfect all the way to 20. 21 had the control circle not-cut and so I thought there wasn't a way through when actually there was - but this just meant I thought it was a 50/50 choice.luckily I picked the right way so I didn't lose time (other than extra thinking time) but I'd have been a bit annoyed if I'd have picked the other way.
The one leg which should've been easy,24,(immediately after timed out crossing, so plenty of free planning time) was the one mistake I made, ending up in a dead end.really not sure how I failed to spot this while standing still...lost 25s.
Momentarily confused on 25 and punched an extra control, but something didn't feel right and I checked the code luckily.need to get in the habit of reading ALL the control descs not just the ones that look potentially ambiguous, since they would've prevented the 10s loss here.
But in general really good; not a very difficult course but needed to keep the concentration up throughout; it didn't feel dull at any point. Running-wise, the longer stuff I've been doing is definitely helping as still feeling pretty good by the end.
Just about managed to drive here safely by not putting in any eye drops beforehand and wearing two pairs of sunglasses one atop the other!definitely better than yesterday so hopefully it should just improve from now.
Saturday Aug 19, 2017 #
Running - Trail (Morning jog) 1:13:12 [3] 12.22 km (5:59 / km) +121m 5:42 / km
ahr:136 max:153 shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
Set off to drive to the Pendle 3 Peaks but it was just too dangerous to drive and ended up turning around and coming home again before I caused an accident. Read the side effects from the 3 different types of eye drops and one of them can cause light sensitivity...perhaps will go without that one tomorrow morning!
Very damp run from home instead which was not a problem for me but which was a problem for my non-waterproof map...got a bit lost due to this and bad footpath signage, but will be a nice loop in future now I know it.
Very damp run from home instead which was not a problem for me but which was a problem for my non-waterproof map...got a bit lost due to this and bad footpath signage, but will be a nice loop in future now I know it.
Friday Aug 18, 2017 #
Note
(rest day)
Vision good.however my eyes are super light sensitive (apparently this is a very common short term side effect) so unsure if I'll be able to race tomorrow, even wearing sunglasses...
Thursday Aug 17, 2017 #
Note
(rest day)
Wednesday Aug 16, 2017 #
Note
(rest day)
Laser eye surgery day.
It did not go wrong; I am not blind. Hooray!
Will see tomorrow how much it's improved my vision.
It did not go wrong; I am not blind. Hooray!
Will see tomorrow how much it's improved my vision.
Tuesday Aug 15, 2017 #
Running - Road/Track intervals (MH Track) 1:26:01 [5] 12.18 km (7:04 / km)
ahr:114 max:154 shoes: Nike Pegasus 32
10min fartlek on grass, 10x500m(2mins), 4x200m(90s)
Session was tough after the fartlek 'warmup'!
500s: 102,3,2,3,3,4,3,2,2,2 - consistent :) not fast, but no-one quick was there so was at the front on my own, plus not really got back into regular speedwork yet.
200s untimed since they were part of a relay and had a baton; not enough hands for the watch...
Session was tough after the fartlek 'warmup'!
500s: 102,3,2,3,3,4,3,2,2,2 - consistent :) not fast, but no-one quick was there so was at the front on my own, plus not really got back into regular speedwork yet.
200s untimed since they were part of a relay and had a baton; not enough hands for the watch...
Monday Aug 14, 2017 #
Gym Strength (Pump #58) 1:00:00 [3]
Sunday Aug 13, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Two Hillforts CM) 1:09:59 [5] 14.74 km (4:45 / km) +537m 4:01 / km
ahr:149 max:173 shoes: X-Talon 212 (May 17)
EDIT: 5th/68
http://walkrunclwydian.co.uk/2-hillforts-fell-race...
A couple of choices for races today but this was the hilliest so naturally it's the one I went for.
Quite a bit of road at the start/end to get to the interesting terrain, but the reward was some lovely purple heather and great views from the top.
I think I came 6th-ish, only around 5 mins behind done guys who'd done the British Fell champs at Llanberis yesterday so not bad. At the top of the first hill I was about 3 places worse but I overtook two on the first downhill and one on the long bridleway descent (which he complimented me on at the finish :) ).
Terrain was very dry and the fellraisers would've been better today especially with all the road; but they were pretty damp from yesterday (they absorb water terribly).
Great day to be running :)
http://walkrunclwydian.co.uk/2-hillforts-fell-race...
A couple of choices for races today but this was the hilliest so naturally it's the one I went for.
Quite a bit of road at the start/end to get to the interesting terrain, but the reward was some lovely purple heather and great views from the top.
I think I came 6th-ish, only around 5 mins behind done guys who'd done the British Fell champs at Llanberis yesterday so not bad. At the top of the first hill I was about 3 places worse but I overtook two on the first downhill and one on the long bridleway descent (which he complimented me on at the finish :) ).
Terrain was very dry and the fellraisers would've been better today especially with all the road; but they were pretty damp from yesterday (they absorb water terribly).
Great day to be running :)
Saturday Aug 12, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Half Tour of Bradwell) 2:13:42 [5] 25.01 km (5:21 / km) +905m 4:32 / km
ahr:145 max:170 shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
https://www.racetek-live.co.uk/website/public_resu...
http://www.wolfspitfellrace.org.uk/images/Results/...
6th/142. Only a minute off 5th, but miles behind the top 4. First half pretty good fun, drizzly but clearing up to Lose Hill which was a good bit, then contouring along Win Hill through the purple heather and trees was good fun.
After that though it was a pretty uninteresting trail run to get back to Bradwell.the long tour route looked a lot more interesting; maybe next year.
The leaders pulled away up from Bradwell but I reeled them back in on the slippery, rocky descent to Castleton. Never saw them after that. Was running with 7th who was a faster uphill walker but walked sooner than I did so it kept pretty close;got away through the downhill bracken though and then only glimpsed him near the end when I made a 30s mistake and went towards the delightfully named Shatton by mistake.map printing quality pretty low unfortunately; otherwise a good race.
http://www.wolfspitfellrace.org.uk/images/Results/...
6th/142. Only a minute off 5th, but miles behind the top 4. First half pretty good fun, drizzly but clearing up to Lose Hill which was a good bit, then contouring along Win Hill through the purple heather and trees was good fun.
After that though it was a pretty uninteresting trail run to get back to Bradwell.the long tour route looked a lot more interesting; maybe next year.
The leaders pulled away up from Bradwell but I reeled them back in on the slippery, rocky descent to Castleton. Never saw them after that. Was running with 7th who was a faster uphill walker but walked sooner than I did so it kept pretty close;got away through the downhill bracken though and then only glimpsed him near the end when I made a 30s mistake and went towards the delightfully named Shatton by mistake.map printing quality pretty low unfortunately; otherwise a good race.
Friday Aug 11, 2017 #
Cycling (Commute) 50:00 [3] 17.5 km (21.0 kph) +233m
shoes: Specialized Sirrus Sport [bike
Thursday Aug 10, 2017 #
Cycling (Commute) 50:00 [3] 17.5 km (21.0 kph) +233m
shoes: Specialized Sirrus Sport [bike
Running - Road/Track (Recovery jog) 29:04 [2] 5.01 km (5:48 / km) +84m 5:21 / km
ahr:116 max:135 shoes: Nike Pegasus 32
Wednesday Aug 9, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Eccles Pike AS) 26:48 [5] 5.41 km (4:57 / km) +234m 4:04 / km
ahr:126 max:150 shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/results//race17/ep201...
Found this hard, set off as fast as I could but even before the hill started was being overtaken, then even moreso once the hill started. Got a few back on the way down including the first girl and one about 100m before the end, but 30s down on the top 3 Macc Harriers who came 2nd in the team comp, just behind Pennine.
Still more hillwork needed!
Found this hard, set off as fast as I could but even before the hill started was being overtaken, then even moreso once the hill started. Got a few back on the way down including the first girl and one about 100m before the end, but 30s down on the top 3 Macc Harriers who came 2nd in the team comp, just behind Pennine.
Still more hillwork needed!
Tuesday Aug 8, 2017 #
Running - Trail race (Bradwell AS) 29:47 [5] 6.14 km (4:51 / km) +231m 4:05 / km
ahr:138 max:160 shoes: X-Talon 212 (May 17)
http://www.fellrunner.org.uk/export_results.php?fo...
Raining lightly. Very fast start along flat roads at the start; was glad I put in a bit of effort here as I suspect it queued up a bit further down the field, but I was ok.kept running all the way up (think my ascending is improving.a bit.) Once at the top it undulated on a track and across fields for a bit, and I overtook two more people, then the next guy was within sight but miles away.
Unfortunately he was close enough to follow so I watched him rather than the tape, consequently ending up on the wrong side of a wall which I had to follow for a few hundred metres before there was a convenient gate to climb over.didn't cost much time though, and no places.
Fast downhill to the finish, slightly too steep and wet for me to go for it as much as I wanted.
Not an amazing race but good views from the top, and any race is better than no race!
Maybe came top 10ish? There are an incredible number of senior males up here; the race probably wasn't better attended than a TACH but the demographic is totally different.
Raining lightly. Very fast start along flat roads at the start; was glad I put in a bit of effort here as I suspect it queued up a bit further down the field, but I was ok.kept running all the way up (think my ascending is improving.a bit.) Once at the top it undulated on a track and across fields for a bit, and I overtook two more people, then the next guy was within sight but miles away.
Unfortunately he was close enough to follow so I watched him rather than the tape, consequently ending up on the wrong side of a wall which I had to follow for a few hundred metres before there was a convenient gate to climb over.didn't cost much time though, and no places.
Fast downhill to the finish, slightly too steep and wet for me to go for it as much as I wanted.
Not an amazing race but good views from the top, and any race is better than no race!
Maybe came top 10ish? There are an incredible number of senior males up here; the race probably wasn't better attended than a TACH but the demographic is totally different.
Monday Aug 7, 2017 #
Gym Strength (Pump #57) 1:00:00 [3]
Sunday Aug 6, 2017 #
Running - Trail (Hayfield loop) 1:28:43 [3] 13.67 km (6:29 / km) +561m 5:23 / km
ahr:132 max:158 shoes: X-Talon 212 (Sep16)
A few km shorter than expected since I lost track of some minor path (aka the pennine way) just before kinder low and kept contouring. Obviously decided subconsciously I hadn't had enough of running through heather.
Lovely day to be out. Had fancied a race but the closest I could find was 90 mins away and this was on my doorstep :)
Lovely day to be out. Had fancied a race but the closest I could find was 90 mins away and this was on my doorstep :)
Saturday Aug 5, 2017 #
Orienteering - Forest race (S6D Day 6 Glen Feardar) 1:48:32 [5] 12.73 km (8:32 / km) +554m 7:00 / km
ahr:136 max:160 shoes: X-Talon 212 (May 17)
A more encouraging end to the week. Started well; a few wobbles on 2 investigating some other controls, but they were very close to mine, and a ditch looks quite like a re-entrant! Didn't have enough of a plan to 3 and was saved by Joe Taunton catching the 2mins on me and then finding 7 which gave us a good AP. I was pretty much where I thought, though.
Then 4 I ignored Joe and Ed N and followed a stream (which was miles away from the stream near the control, not sure what I was doing) and they got away. But I did 5-6-7 pretty well... and then 8 - a bee* was buzzing around my head, as they do... but then it strung me and then it flew inside my top and couldn't get out! So after running around in circles trying to get away from it while it was stinging me, and failing to get rid of it by flapping the bottom around, I then had to actually remove my top and shake it to get the damn thing out. Anyway after that experience I was totally disorientated and not in the right frame of mind to find the control and was looking about 2 re-entrants too early. Stupid bee. Unfortunately this lost me the chance of running with Joe again and never saw him again.
Lucky on 9; used the woods above it to the S but that wasn't my initial plan (didn't really have an initial plan; should've used the three massive boulders below). My contouring route to 10 was ok but too nervous, should have trusted I didn't need to know exactly where it was because it would be obvious when I came out into the open. Bit lower down the slope than I thought. Caught by RP and two other guys here. Took a different line to them to 12; RP disappeared the distance but got there the same time as the others. Pretty much together for 13 and 14, then I got away down the hill a bit on 15 and led them into that; surprised to catch RP again here.
Unfortunately this was a bad thing as I then tried to stay ahead and went too fast and made a mess of 16, found 20 but didn't realise it was 20 unfortunately until the second time I visited it. Bracken pretty poorly mapped (but shouldn't have been using it, USE THE CONTOURS.
RP and I did 17 to the end pretty well, he was always ahead but I was taking different routes a lot of the time. I could keep up in easy terrain but couldn't handle his pace through the heathery stuff.
Shame about the bee, that wasn't really my fault, but should really have learnt both the going-too-fast and the use-the-contours lessons by now!
*probably a bee, anyway. We had been warned over the commentary that there were new hives in the area and there would be more bees than usual.
Then 4 I ignored Joe and Ed N and followed a stream (which was miles away from the stream near the control, not sure what I was doing) and they got away. But I did 5-6-7 pretty well... and then 8 - a bee* was buzzing around my head, as they do... but then it strung me and then it flew inside my top and couldn't get out! So after running around in circles trying to get away from it while it was stinging me, and failing to get rid of it by flapping the bottom around, I then had to actually remove my top and shake it to get the damn thing out. Anyway after that experience I was totally disorientated and not in the right frame of mind to find the control and was looking about 2 re-entrants too early. Stupid bee. Unfortunately this lost me the chance of running with Joe again and never saw him again.
Lucky on 9; used the woods above it to the S but that wasn't my initial plan (didn't really have an initial plan; should've used the three massive boulders below). My contouring route to 10 was ok but too nervous, should have trusted I didn't need to know exactly where it was because it would be obvious when I came out into the open. Bit lower down the slope than I thought. Caught by RP and two other guys here. Took a different line to them to 12; RP disappeared the distance but got there the same time as the others. Pretty much together for 13 and 14, then I got away down the hill a bit on 15 and led them into that; surprised to catch RP again here.
Unfortunately this was a bad thing as I then tried to stay ahead and went too fast and made a mess of 16, found 20 but didn't realise it was 20 unfortunately until the second time I visited it. Bracken pretty poorly mapped (but shouldn't have been using it, USE THE CONTOURS.
RP and I did 17 to the end pretty well, he was always ahead but I was taking different routes a lot of the time. I could keep up in easy terrain but couldn't handle his pace through the heathery stuff.
Shame about the bee, that wasn't really my fault, but should really have learnt both the going-too-fast and the use-the-contours lessons by now!
*probably a bee, anyway. We had been warned over the commentary that there were new hives in the area and there would be more bees than usual.
Friday Aug 4, 2017 #
Orienteering - Forest race (S6D Day 5 Glen Feardar) 52:52 [5] 6.67 km (7:56 / km) +275m 6:34 / km
ahr:144 max:170 shoes: X-Talon 225 (July 2017)
Another bad day. By far the easiest technically and much easier than yesterday physically too.
Stated ok, tentative but accurate, up to 9. 10 looked like it was on the edge of clitter but the actual description was 'hill', unfortunately I didn't read that and was going solely off the rocks and bracken, neither of which were distinct.as noted before, should've used contours here rather than other features.or at least as well! Then messed up 11 which was straightforward but think I was annoyed after 10, looking at the GPS I seem to have drifted off my bearing for no real reason and then had to relocate.
Next few controls I was being especially careful so were ok. But just time for one final mistake on 17 where I navigated to pretty much exactly the correct place but didn't see the white splodge of trees on the map near the control and so thought I was in the wrong place, went 90s in another direction, then stopped and thought about more and noticed the splodge and had to come 90s back again;sigh.
Probably 7mins of mistakes; pretty poor on this area. Hopefully a good day final day tomorrow, but quite glad the next three weeks will be a bit of a break from o tbh.
Stated ok, tentative but accurate, up to 9. 10 looked like it was on the edge of clitter but the actual description was 'hill', unfortunately I didn't read that and was going solely off the rocks and bracken, neither of which were distinct.as noted before, should've used contours here rather than other features.or at least as well! Then messed up 11 which was straightforward but think I was annoyed after 10, looking at the GPS I seem to have drifted off my bearing for no real reason and then had to relocate.
Next few controls I was being especially careful so were ok. But just time for one final mistake on 17 where I navigated to pretty much exactly the correct place but didn't see the white splodge of trees on the map near the control and so thought I was in the wrong place, went 90s in another direction, then stopped and thought about more and noticed the splodge and had to come 90s back again;sigh.
Probably 7mins of mistakes; pretty poor on this area. Hopefully a good day final day tomorrow, but quite glad the next three weeks will be a bit of a break from o tbh.
Thursday Aug 3, 2017 #
Orienteering - Forest race (S6D Day 4 Creag Choinnich) 1:46:49 [5] 10.13 km (10:33 / km) +529m 8:22 / km
ahr:126 max:161 shoes: X-Talon 212 (May 17)
It had all been going pretty well but today was disappointing.
The walk up to the start through thick heather was tough and foretold of things to come. So navigation to the first two controls was perfect but it was a walk the whole way. On 3 I ventured slightly off the edge of the map but managed to relocate (a skill in itself) and didn't lose too much time. Overshot 4 a bit and walked to 5 before the terrain got slightly more runnable and increased the pace contouring to 6, still pretty slow and careful. 7 was a vertical decent which I took gingerly.so slow so far but going ok.
Then things started to go wrong.didn't take enough time on route choice to 8.retrospectively I think this is because I'm used to being able to make complex choices while running, but the terrain today was such that that's very hard.I need to STOP and think about the hard choices even for 10s rather than trying to make one on the move.anyway I took a choice which was both further, over rougher terrain, with a worse AP.this not only took a long time but also destroyed me physiologically and I started to feel really really tired.
Couple of mins lost on 9 despite walking and just mentally not together at all, took ages to relocate.then another couple on 12 which was one of the easiest controls as most of the leg was on a downhill path, but I wasnt concentrating and had no idea how far along I'd gone.then probably 3 mins on 14 just not being careful and mistaking one hide for another despite a plethora of information which should've told me otherwise.
Last few controls ok. But the mental tiredness really got to me today; not something I often suffer from.early night I think.
The walk up to the start through thick heather was tough and foretold of things to come. So navigation to the first two controls was perfect but it was a walk the whole way. On 3 I ventured slightly off the edge of the map but managed to relocate (a skill in itself) and didn't lose too much time. Overshot 4 a bit and walked to 5 before the terrain got slightly more runnable and increased the pace contouring to 6, still pretty slow and careful. 7 was a vertical decent which I took gingerly.so slow so far but going ok.
Then things started to go wrong.didn't take enough time on route choice to 8.retrospectively I think this is because I'm used to being able to make complex choices while running, but the terrain today was such that that's very hard.I need to STOP and think about the hard choices even for 10s rather than trying to make one on the move.anyway I took a choice which was both further, over rougher terrain, with a worse AP.this not only took a long time but also destroyed me physiologically and I started to feel really really tired.
Couple of mins lost on 9 despite walking and just mentally not together at all, took ages to relocate.then another couple on 12 which was one of the easiest controls as most of the leg was on a downhill path, but I wasnt concentrating and had no idea how far along I'd gone.then probably 3 mins on 14 just not being careful and mistaking one hide for another despite a plethora of information which should've told me otherwise.
Last few controls ok. But the mental tiredness really got to me today; not something I often suffer from.early night I think.
Wednesday Aug 2, 2017 #
Orienteering - Forest race (S6D Sprint - Ballater) 20:06 [5] 3.99 km (5:02 / km) +82m 4:34 / km
ahr:132 max:158 shoes: Salomon Fellraiser
Couple of subopotimal route choices; 11-12 and 12-13. 11-12 pretty marginal; 12-13 definite mistake. Saw both routes for both, just chose wrongly.
Fell over a bit 8-9 which cost 10s as well.Bit of a hesitation 15-16 going back to check I'd got the right 15, another 10s maybe. otherwise good.
Stuck to my intended tactics in the forest (ie most of it) staying on the paths all the time; happy with this decision.not as urban as I had hoped for, but still good fun.
Fell over a bit 8-9 which cost 10s as well.Bit of a hesitation 15-16 going back to check I'd got the right 15, another 10s maybe. otherwise good.
Stuck to my intended tactics in the forest (ie most of it) staying on the paths all the time; happy with this decision.not as urban as I had hoped for, but still good fun.
Note
20th/51
https://www.scottish6days.com/documents/2017/RD17_...
Did the trail-o, which took about 90mins. I think I got 12/20 which is pretty poor. I am not going to be the next Tom Dobra. I had been really looking forward to it, and it was fun at the start, but it got dull pretty fast. I think I would prefer Temp-o to this (which was Pre-o, with one timed control). Turns out the difference between a timed control in Pre-o and Temp-o is that the latter can have Zs. Who knew.
https://www.scottish6days.com/documents/2017/RD17_...
Did the trail-o, which took about 90mins. I think I got 12/20 which is pretty poor. I am not going to be the next Tom Dobra. I had been really looking forward to it, and it was fun at the start, but it got dull pretty fast. I think I would prefer Temp-o to this (which was Pre-o, with one timed control). Turns out the difference between a timed control in Pre-o and Temp-o is that the latter can have Zs. Who knew.
Tuesday Aug 1, 2017 #
Orienteering - Forest race (S6D Day 3 Birsemore) 58:48 [5] 6.98 km (8:25 / km) +210m 7:19 / km
ahr:147 max:168 shoes: X-Talon 212 (May 17)
Another pretty good run for me, and 10min ks with 26 controls and not a single path is not to be sniffed at imo.
#1 a hard control because it was very hard to identify the wide rides on the ground despite then looking very obvious on the map.had no idea where I'd crossed the wall, but saw a control on a boulder and relocated from that ok. Small miss on 2 and was caught by my 2min man (seeding was done on world ranking;I was surrounded by people better than me) and I just about kept up with him to 3 and 4.
5-7 on my own were straightforward; 8 should've been too but I had the classic now-I've-hit-the-line-feature-do-i-turn-left-or-right moment and picked the wrong one.
Next few ok, but 12 was a big miss, I was in the right reentrant to start with but much too high, then was confused by the bracken which I thought was the mapped bracken (it wasn't) and had to relocate on the wall - lost 2mins here.
Happy with all three controls in the technical section which I did slowly and accurately; small miss on 22 but saved by a foreigner telling his clubmate where it was, but then 23 was another moment like at 8 and I picked the wrong way again - and again there was easily enough information to make the right choice; just trying to go too fast. Last few easy.
Could have been a few mins faster but basically just outclassed at this level. Good fun though to compare with the top guys, and definitely feel I'm improving.
#1 a hard control because it was very hard to identify the wide rides on the ground despite then looking very obvious on the map.had no idea where I'd crossed the wall, but saw a control on a boulder and relocated from that ok. Small miss on 2 and was caught by my 2min man (seeding was done on world ranking;I was surrounded by people better than me) and I just about kept up with him to 3 and 4.
5-7 on my own were straightforward; 8 should've been too but I had the classic now-I've-hit-the-line-feature-do-i-turn-left-or-right moment and picked the wrong one.
Next few ok, but 12 was a big miss, I was in the right reentrant to start with but much too high, then was confused by the bracken which I thought was the mapped bracken (it wasn't) and had to relocate on the wall - lost 2mins here.
Happy with all three controls in the technical section which I did slowly and accurately; small miss on 22 but saved by a foreigner telling his clubmate where it was, but then 23 was another moment like at 8 and I picked the wrong way again - and again there was easily enough information to make the right choice; just trying to go too fast. Last few easy.
Could have been a few mins faster but basically just outclassed at this level. Good fun though to compare with the top guys, and definitely feel I'm improving.
Running - Road/Track (Ballater hill) 35:53 [3] 5.06 km (7:05 / km) +205m 5:54 / km
ahr:137 max:153 shoes: Nike Pegasus 32
There is a big hill overlooking Ballater where we're staying; the OS map had a path up so thought I'd have a go. There's a chance the sprint uses a bit of it tomorrow, but it's not embargoed until tomorrow, so thought I'd check it out.
Very scenic and good view from the top, but it's not an area where I'd want to leave the path in a sprint! It would be extremely slow.
Very scenic and good view from the top, but it's not an area where I'd want to leave the path in a sprint! It would be extremely slow.