Training Log Archive: martin(uk)

Event: Nottingham City Race
 

Nottingham Urban Race, Mens Veteran (course 2).

After a long day at Graves Park Cliffhanger, and quite a few pints in Hathersage with Andy Simpson etc, I wasn't sure if I was going to feel very energetic for this race. Thankfully, once I got going, I felt ok and got into a good rythm. The tunnel was used again, and some good intricate housing to the north of the city, but the course missed the intricate (multi-level) stuff in the university that caught people out last time. Caught Charlotte Ward 4 minutes by the intricate housing bits, so that helped slightly when the course was going in and out of alleyways.

The castle at the end could have been tricky, but there was a 2-minute road crossing time-out not long before it, so plenty of time to check it out.

1st, with a 90 second win, so happy with that. Another 100 Nopesport League points in the bag. And another Buff.

Event: Cliffhanger Ultrasprint
 

Cliffhanger, putting out Score Course controls.

Cliffhanger was cancelled after torrential rain on Friday (and most of June and July), but the orienteering could go ahead anyway, albeit without the maze barriers for the Ultrasprint.

First job was to get 24 controls out in the more remote parts of Graves Park. Some walking, some jogging, plenty of steep slippery muddy banks.

Ultrasprint, Qualifier 1. Struggled occasionally with the map scale, so a few losses of 5-10 seconds at controls, but generally ok.

Ultrasprint Qualifier 2. Better now that I had the hang of the scale, few misses, but good enough for a top 6 place and into the A final.

Ultrasprint A Final.

Great course with two different sets of butterflies so it was a fun head-to-head race (until I got dropped). Managed to keep Joe Taunton in sight, and it turned out I was in 4th at the spectator control, when I guessed I was 5th or 6th. Rob B came by on the next set of butterflies and made it a sprint finish with Joe for 3rd/4th, and I came 5th. No need for me to sprint, since I'd won the Veterans race anyway, and had Nottingham coming up tomorrow.

Dore Urban event.

Certainly the muddiest urban event I've ever run, as all the grassy areas were a bog. Nice to get to run on the map though, as I missed out when it was used after the Harvester 2011.