Training Log Archive: RHF

Token to the start.

50th November Classic - Course 2, 4th overall and 1st M21L Southern Champs

Spent some more hours being indecisive about what I should run, it was beautiful morning so was tempted to stick with elite. Chatted with Jane and went with the sensible calling of dropping down to M21L, the right call. Didn't have a huge amount of expectations but wanted to enjoy the forest!

First control was uphill and already my lungs were struggling. Thought it was going to be a proper struggle/did not finish retired job. Fortunately settled into things and the navigation was going pretty well, making steady progress.

Caught Dave Currie and a W21 about 2/3s round and had a fun race with them. I got ahead on a better route across some rough open and got a gap. Only for them to get ahead on the next control (I blame the map being dirty!) I overshot and had to catch back up on the long leg. Took the most runnable line across and caught back up with Dave. Managed to push on and just finish ahead (taking 7mins out of him!)

Happy with that performance, bearing in mind the cold! First ran Southern Champs almost 4 years ago and DNF'ed on Long so a good improvement! Lovely day to be out in the Forest, saw a great sunset. Got some spare maps to test run another day :)

Southampton City Race - 7/44 Men Open
Cold didn't get any better last night, had 11 hours sleep and the plan was to see how I felt before/during and just make a call. Felt okay enough and just had a go. Didn't want to miss Orienteering in my home map. Done sprintiverals on it a couple of times so roughly know bits of it. Pretty good Orienteering, a couple of hesitations on route choice. One error in a tricky control circle, compounded to rush make the next route choice. All in all, very happy to get out and happy with that position! Could've been up there even more if fully well.

Collecting: fortunately all the easy ones in the park!

OSR Halloween run
Big crowd out and a good laugh! Was part of the Scare Team so ran off in the woods and played some spooky music, then recited a scary poem. Had a developing cold throughout the day and was unsure whether to run, fortunately pace was slow! Quite fun in the woods after dark

Off road relaxation run
Across the fields and through the woods by work. Just cruising around and enjoying it. Left calf very tight after :/

Sunset run with Nicole extended handicap loop
Always the highlight of the working day. First half in light then dusk with a lovely bright red sunset. Will always aim to have a headtorch at work for post work runs.