Training Log Archive: Thraws

Went out a few minutes behind schedule, which, in the circumstances, was probably just as well. Had managed to get an hour or two's sleep, and the weather condiitons were perfect, so was really looking forward. Had figured out how to use Jonny's headtorch so, on long run out to start kite, unrolled and refolded map, pleased that the overprint was nice and clear. Got a bit confused on way to 1 and was hugely relieved to find it OK, then tried to settle down on way to 2. The torch was supposed to have some sort of function that adapted the strength of the beam to the distance from the object (!), but it didn't seem to be giving me much help. I could use it to read the map OK though. Stumbled through bracken into 2 and 3, overshot gully at 4 and right reentrant at 5. Had probably lost about five or six minutes by this point but was confident now that my technique using paths and tracks was just right for the conditions and I'd be OK. Even though the headtorch had completely died! Flat battery!! Thank goodness most of the course was in the open as I'd have been stuffed in the trees (which I was in by control 11). Wasn't perfect for 6, 7 or 8, but found them. And as the light began to thicken and the mists to lift I was much better through 9 to 13. I'd been over an hour now so, looking ahead, was hugely pleased to see the last five controls were urban-style, in the camp, and easy-peasy. Just needed to get 14 and 15 cleanly, which I did, and I punched the radio control a km out with 14 minutes left to get inside my forecast time. Sprinted through the camp and handed over 7 mins under schedule. Felt good. Time was average, but there were strong runs from every member of the team and we did enough collectively to retain the Handicap Trophy thanks to SYO handicap team winning the overall competition. Back to bed at 5, but forced out of tent by heat of sun at 7.

Event: Harvester Relays 2013 - Longmoor Camp
 

Wasn't going to bother with Park-Os this year, but addition of the 'maze' swung it for me. And I'm glad I went; really enjoyed the whole thing. Caught and passed a few, but route choices weren't flawless. Then binned a couple of places on the 'run-in' because I couldn't figure out where the exits from the maze were, how to get to them, or which way to head for the finish.

Clever planning. A teasing mix of short easy and long challenging legs. Again, would probably have been satisfied with result if I hadn't flunked the run-in. At 2/6/13 (which had loads of lines coming out of it) I was looking for control 14 for ages before I realised that was it and I had to get to the finish. Then missed shortest route to exit. Great fun, but I'm not sure this has much to do with proper orienteering.

Control pick, and then Corridor and then 2 controls of Map Memory exercise with Josh. Good compass practice and solid map interpretation skills. Did 'aiming off' for first time. Two missing controls which is annoying but typical. Josh is small, I know, and the veg was really high, but he is so slow in terrain. Painfully. Barely ran at all. Frustration made worse by abundant bracken. Thank God it wasn't raining. Then over an hour for lunch!

Clock relay, hanging controls. Shadowed Alex, who is tiny but gets through the bracken like a little mouse. Careless navigator though. Then looong wait for girls. Mind was elsewhere.

Haven't been able to shrug off a mild infection so was unsure how I'd feel. Then got stuck in traffic and stressed out on journey over so not ideal prep. Was first to 1 but wasn't strong on uphills and had to just do my own thing. Neil was away by 6 but Alex was just ahead and no one behind. Walked almost all the uphill as quickly as I could as I'm sure it was as fast as running and was glad to have pretty much all of it out the way by 7. Had a plan to overtake Alex and could still see Neil leaving 9, but couldn't find flag at 10 and binned 3 mins looking for it (it was on a thicket almost 250 metres (!) away!). Neil must have realised it was misplaced and lost less time. Alex went right and I went left to 11 but he held the gap and then pulled away after my legs and motivation died on the uphill run-in. Usual lovely midsummer weather and thoroughly enjoyable run over the Downs.

Walk with Jan from Duncton via Heath End, Serpents Trail through Lavington and Graffham Commons, Graffham, SDW to Duncton Quarry, and Duncton Mill. Needed an umbrella to cope with the light showers in the first hour, and a pint at the White Horse in Graffham to cope with the lingering effects of previous evening's champagne and cocktails and late night. J slightly hobbled by Mont Blanc hill reps so was able to keep up. Serious rhoddie invasion of Graffham Common noted.

Lost bits of time near several controls but had no major misses and felt I was running pretty strongly, so result was a bit of a disappointment. Really enjoyed the forest and the course though, a good sort of end to the season. Lost 30 secs at 1 and 3 through carelessness, then about a minute at 6 by going to two unmapped and wrong trees further up the slope. Used paths rather than go straight as my running legs felt good, although fatigue was undermining concentration after about 45 mins. Was looking for wrong feature at 15 and was careless again at 17, and reckon mistakes totalled about 5 mins, so even without them I'd still have had a pretty average time.

Post-pub and pint walk with Jan. Ditchling - Lower Standean - High Park Fm - Streathill Fm - SDW - Ditchling Beacon. Brisk pace throughout, but it's either that or get left behind. Lovely day, but parts of the South Downs don't really belong in a national park.

Actually left home without my orienteering kit, so nearly missed the start and was definitely mentally unprepared. By number 4 or thereabouts I'd realised almost the whole area was a mess of brambles, so although there were good routes into controls, if you missed them you were in big trouble. Also got confused by the map changeover which was actually at 1 and not the start each time (!!!). Got caught by Neil very early so that disheartened me further, and there were youngsters who I could not match for pace. Was wearing a cotton t shirt which soon became sweat-soaked and uncomfortable and bloodied where I'd been scratched. There was one nice bit of woodland which was put to good use, but on the whole I rather hated this experience and was very surprised with a 6th overall position. For my money this is up there with Southwater CP and Millennium Wood as an area quite unsuited to orienteering, especially when a first-time planner is involved.