Training Log Archive: ba-ba

A few thought about Sunday's happening:

I've thought that 'orienteers go fell running' could cause problems for a while now. With ShUOC we had potential hypothermia cases in snow at the BUCS 2015 relays on Barr Wood with some novices and have since tightened up training and safety advice. There is still more we need to do however. Given the early JK details said 'Day 3 visits Fell Running territory' maybe the FRA rules should have been looked at prior to the event - they're pretty tight now after Brian Bellfield's death in 2012.

I think kit requirements need some serious thought for 'when orienteers go fell running' - i.e on exposed areas, especially in winter/spring. I'm by no means a saint and often moan about having to carry a cag but do so as it's a) the organiser's prerogative and b) I know what can go wrong. It's for this reason I've shelled out for a proper winter running jacket specifically for OMM/Long autumn/winter races/training runs with bad weather forecast - my Inov8 racing jacket is good, but isn't good enough for some things. A lot lies with the competitor, but the organiser has to take into account their knowledge of the area, conditions and that people will always try to get away without carrying extra kit.

On Sunday there were no check for cags save (maybe) at the whistle check (my cag was on for the jog to the start so I wasn't asked to show one. I had gloves and a buff with me as well). I know of one person who after the check hid their cag before starting and only carried a glove. Another wore an OMM cypher Smock - 70g windbreaker, paper thin, less use than a bin-bag. Club jackets are not much better, will wet out quickly and let the wind through - plenty of people wearing just these, including those should know better. There's then the issue of people not using Sound Mountain Judgement - given the drop-out rate it seems plenty of SMJ was used, but again, those not used to being high and exposed in a shit-storm, their only real hill experience in benign weather, will obviously have less experience and SMJ to utilise.

You don't have to shell out loads of cash for a jacket - even Decathlon's £6 walking jacket is partly taped, has a hood and, when put on, will provide more protection than a club jacket. It may not be nice to run in, but putting it on over a base layer when the weather turns will do the job.

Being ill-equipped is not only putting yourself at risk, but potentially fucking up the life of the organiser, planner, safety official, not to mention family, friends, orienteering in general.
If you don't like running with a bum-bag/in a cag, realise you will sometimes have to do it and practise with them every now and then.

SI boxes are used in fell races as back-ups to check when a person's exact location was definitively last known, but they are coupled with marshals who can relay to base immediately and - most importantly - deal with cold, tired runners, potentially even pull them out. Maybe a couple of marshals in the area to check? But then you have to think of their safety as well - this is a Fell Race organiser's primary though before deciding to carry on or abandon a race. Maybe the run-through marshal should have been detailed to check the well-being of runners in case of really poor weather?

When you consider that on Sunday getting us from the bus-stop to the arena across a couple of roads was obviously risk-assessed to within an inch of its life, it's slightly worrying that some (predicted) inclement weather put some people in really difficulty.

I know that those in their late teens/early 20s feel themselves immortal, that 'it'll never happen to me'. In some cases this is an enviable attitude to have, but in others it is dangerous.
I dislike overbearing health and safety culture, but when it comes to being outdoors I am now very cautious - especially with ShUOC and taking people out in the hills, even in good weather - as although only Fell Running properly for 6 years or so I have a lot more experience of shit conditions and what can go wrong. I don't want to come across all nanny-state telling people to put something more substantial on; admonishing them for not carrying/wearing suitable equipment - Orienteering and Fell Running are of course primarily about enjoyment - but in some cases it needs doing.

My worry is that Orienteering doesn't go Fell Running very often (when you look at the number of events listed on the BOF calendar), and that this may be thought about initially and then forgotten. This weekend a cyclist was killed in a race when hit by a race motorbike. The chances of this happening are likely higher than someone dying on a mountainous orienteering event - every bike race has motos, cars, road furniture etc. around it. But in the last year there have been many warning signs of riders being hit by motos/hurt by poorly thought out race routes/finishes, including some very big names (Sagan, Van Avermaert to name 2). Orienteering has had its warning and got lucky - lets hope it learns from it.

C • You should send this to Nick 10

Favourite part of the weekend: Old lady hands me map with the comment 'morning glory?' in a quavering yet excited voice. (maybe).

Worst part of the weekend: Being mistaken for Nixon. On the other hand I was twice mistaken for Speaky (courtesy of a flat cap)

minimal WU

Leg 1 for the 3rd team. Gave it as much as I could but was knackered and made a few silly mistakes. A bit slow to the corner so was stuck way back but worked way up through the sprintO, but then a couple of silly mistakes (one mistaking my AP for another feature) left me somewhat on my own. Got caught in a bush up the last hill which saw Alistair pass me, then died a thousand small deaths on the final fields.

JK Classic - Kilnsey Moor.

I never get as excited for an O race as I did for this - an area and distance that should suit me down to the ground. I felt OK, but not quite as perky as I'd like after the last couple of weeks and I struggled with tiredness more than I;d have liked on the last loop. Went through a lot of people like they were standing still and had a good time in some OK weather - a bit of light hail towards the end of the long leg the worst I had to deal with.

Small misses misinterpreting feature/flipping contours on 2/3.
5 - saw another control in similar feature - way early and off-bearing. Idiot.
6 - same as above, about level with control but way off bearing and way lower. 1min? Time to start trusting my O bearings?
12 - wonky and limestone pavement here was more difficult to spot than elsewhere. 40s
15 - eating food drifted up hill. Bit too slow to get moving as well. 30s.
20 - bang on bearing but confused by path on ground not on map, over-corrected before working out what was happening. 1min.
Very slow and not very proactibve on easy controls down to spectator.
Bolloxed on the last loop, being very cautious and surprised to finish so close to the clubhouse leader. Very unsure on 30, 31, and lost 30s on 32 looking way too early. Finished strong down the hill but should have done under 2h really.

JK Middle. Winner: GG 29:52 (140%)

Started off OK but was lacking any kind of oomph on the hills. Initial safe route to 7 wasn't executed later in the leg and ended up too right thinking I was too left (50s), then also fudged my exit to the road when confused by tapes. I was very slow mid-leg on 10, 12, 13, 15 (30s). Faffing around on 21 as well (40s).

Not enough forest O but got around without ridiculous time-loss. Should have been well under 40 mind.

Event: JK 2016
 

JK warm up including 5, 3 and 2mins steady to get moving.

JK Sprint 42nd. Winner: Kris Jones 14:18 (122%)

I wasn't expecting much from this (and got a par result based on BOF rankings), but I was happy that I at least didn't feel fatigued for the first time in a fortnight. Ran as fast as I could but that isn't very fast on tarmac for short distances at the moment. I probably reached my breaking point early on and hung in from there - speed work is starting imminently.
Enjoyable course with a few confusing yet fair multi-level sections which cost me a bit. Fun to catch Joe Mercer 2 mins by number 2 then watch him run into a dead end.

Main mistakes (winsplits says I was clean!):
4 - confused by underpass symbol, was on lower level. 5s, felt like more
5 - back down steps when out past 12 appears to have been quicker. 10-15s
7 - poor exit from 6 left me a wiggly route through flowerbeds. 5s.
14 - took a path that doubled back. Smoother lines available. 3s.
At 15 I was caught 1min by Mikey Adams - wasn't expecting that!
16 - couldn't see the direct multilevel route Mikey took so looped back. 15s
19 - S route as thought exit to control from N was blocked. 10s.
21 - inexplicably went S! 5s.

Off ploddy speed and minimal sprintO pray this was OK.

Eventual warm-down after the conclusion with Paddy