Training Log Archive: jonny crickmore

Quick blast from the accommodation. Only got about 3 hours sleep so feeling rather rough. Knee is sore and no idea why, might of bashed it or could just be too much terrain/dobs.

Very easy round Tagarod.

Shakeout

WU -- Getting very excited.

Tiomila 1st leg -- 17th +36

GPS
Results

On the start line we got our maps, A2 and very wet slippy map bags. Aim to the start kite was don't sprint off too crazy, don't fall over and don't drop your map. Person behind me fell straight away (Aston?). Unfortunately didn't add don't run into last control which was a waist high wooden post with a box on top on the side of the run out. Completely destroyed the control, I think I sent the SI box flying. Anyway got the start next to Peter him going 147 to which my reply was no it's 1-47 ( turns out he did have 1-147 and I had 1-47 and he wasn't just being the idiot I thought he was). Then we seperated, I had my route planned and so the fighting in the green began. Flew down the hill now at the front with Jerker and Will. 1- found so this is already considerably better than Jukola.

Took a breather dropped to about 10th and settled. People missed four so then I got back in front this is radio 1 at 2.7km. Then everyone just stopped to plan the long leg. Will started going right but left looked good and everyone else headed that way so I joined and Will did too. Then an awesome moment with Me and Will leading at the front in total control. I knew we had different codes and left round the path looked good so I said I was going that way. Will said straight. I am pretty sure we both made the correct choice for our gaffles. Then the next 100 people went and followed Will. This got scary as I was completely alone but I was very confident my route was best so not too scared.
Unfortunately my navigation (compass) wasn't the best and I was off line to begin with but knew I was too far right. Then I saw everyone punch a control to my right. I was 90% sure it wasn't mine but I couldn't risk it so went there and wasn't mine so lost maybe 30s maybe a bit more.

I think 6 was the next radio and was now 23s behind so got away fairly lightly. The next section was very hard but I got through cleanly and carefully to 11.
12 was complete mayhem. I intended coming off the path to the right and thought we were heading there but it didn't appear and now I didn't know where we were and we hit this big unmapped extraction lane and everyone is standing around staring at each other. Just in the middle of the green a group went left and a group went right I though the people right looked like they had some impetus and so went that way and got the control. This was by luck/reading people not by navigation. Then they head out too far right and me and Peter go wtf and change our route but still banana'd enough and the other group got back.

Put the hammer down across the marsh chasing Peter. Then hit all my gaffles taking the lead (I thought of my group but turned out to be the whole race) at 15. Obviously opting for the path route to 16 and this time people followed me. Still in the lead all the way to 18. Again deciding on a path route (I went N but maybe S would have been better). Turning out the control and running "upstream" was grim and bit dangerous but got out and at least had some friends this time. I felt really good but held back a bit thinking I may still have to navigate and was no time to go in the red. Into the next control in the lead.

I knew the hill would be tough but for my gaffle my aim was go straight and hit the big craggy top of the hill and it should be easy from there. I missed the craggy top despite going up the line of huge boulders and was by myself. I knew I just had to stay on top of the hill and was on the left slope so climbed up and got there but now in the middle of a monster train of people. Hit the next few gaffles well and made it to the finish a bit annoyed. Turned out I was only 36s down so not too much damage done.

Definitely an incredible experience being right at the front of these races, even better with Will and Pete around to share the fun with who both finished in great positions too.

Then our next two legs smashed it but the gamble of a less experienced long night didn't pay off and we dropped 24min and down into 41st. Fairly good end and finished in 16th which I think is the best the club has had for a while but can tell everyone knows more was on the cards.

WD bits with Nathan and Peter.

Model south of Arena.

Hot hot hot

Woke up a bit sniffly after yesterday so complete rest.

Surprise surprise on first leg at Tio. Looking forward to it though. Some shocking news in the final details though about public wifi
"It will not be possible to access streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, NFL and others in the free WiFi network."
I was so keen to watch some offseason NFL action at the weekend.

C • NFL 1

Pyestock Orienteering

More orienteering. Standard Wednesday army event, start was about 2km south of the arena from Monday. Very different area though being flatter and a lot rougher and some low vis meant it was a bit more challenging at times.

Decided to do roughly 2x10min hard 10min jog but would adjust to fit bits of the course. Worked well and fast runnable first 10min then in the rough hardest orienteering for the last rep before a nice cool down round the rest of the easier bits in the open.

Hadn't had enough orienteering so test running and checking control sites for an SO event my dad is controlling. As apparently he hasn't had enough of that after JK middle.

Absolutely great fun. Mostly an offroad 4x4 area so loads of ditches, bushes, rides and mapped really well at 1:5000 as well as a great course by Kenny Leitch.
Just taking it very easy and feeling fairly good energy and soreness wise but still a bit too wheezy and phlegmy for my liking.

C • Kenny 1

Skipped evening run for a cricket net with my dad. Going to have a sore left arm tomorrow.

JK Relay 2nd -- 3rd leg for EUOC

Great runs by Alex and Ali sent me out in 2nd maybe 45s behind Will and with GG 20s behind. Unfortunately completely spooned 1, luckily so did GG a bit but blew my advantage. Surprised to see Will about only about 20-30s ahead across the field. From 2-10 me and GG were mostly together and closed the gap. I got dropped a little bit. Had an Emitag turnaround at 11 then the gap was up to about 20m then in the green bit at 12 I made a mistake a control on a ditch. GG didn't have it and Will also missed it but in a different place to me and sneakily got it. I guess an advantage of no beep for him was I didn't hear.

Came out to the open area and surprised to see Will only 50m ahead so worked on just grinding it out and whilst he made some small misses I closed the gap and got ahead at the end. Felt a bit guilty cause he was understandably very tired after a hard weekend. Really happy with the result and loving the orienteering at the moment.
Annoyed I couldn't make GG really work for it, he was faster but if he had had to close the gap physically it should of gone all the way and then who knows.

6 of the last 7 years on the podium at the relay (4th in 2016). Always seem to have great battles and definitely one of the best days of orienteering in Britain each year. No idea what will be happening next year though. Looking for a new club/life.

In terms of illness had some minor breathing issues but definitely on the mend and some more easy days before Tio now.