Training Log Archive: Thraws

10k walk from Graffham round the 20 control sites in the north to assess optimum route and time needed (more than 2 hours). One of the control features has been removed by the estate! A tower on four of the longer courses. No wonder the mapper hadn't put it on. It probably wasn't there! Replacement 'hide' hastily erected.

Chiswell (Portland), West Cliff, Portland Bill, Southwell, Church Ope Cove, Verne Yeates. Rainy, but flatter.

Langdon Hill (NT), Upcot, Chardown Hill, Charmouth, SWCP via Golden Cap and Seatown, Lower Eype, Eype Down, Quarry Hill, North Chideock. Even hillier, but less sunny.

With Jan. East Chaldon, West Chaldon, Chaldon Down, SWCP, Lulworth Cove, Bindon Hill, West Down Fm. Hilly and sunny.

Test ran my black course at Charlton. Although I did stop here and there to get my breath back or check something. Got to 5 in about 14 minutes. Went straight for long leg and that took about the same amount of time. Careless bearings for 7, 8 and 9 (though I did have other stuff to think about), then scrappy near circle for 10 and 11. Was at map exchange in about 56 minutes. 16 was a tough uphill slog, but that's all the serious climb done then. Made a Horlicks of the tricky 20 so stopped watch at around 80 mins and went to check control site was mapped correctly by taking careful bearings off all the surrounding features. It is. I was just rushing or tired. Got stuck in fight on the way to 22 and simply couldn't run the last 30 metres of uphill. Got a tiny bit scratched, and it was hard work, but that should fit the bill.

Played it safe as I have serious issues with some of the mapping here. Started OK and felt surprisingly good given the week's exertions. Left 4 completely the wrong way and missed 6 by miles due to careless compass. Ran hard through to 11, but en route to 12 hit ride and then decided I was navigating from 12 to 13 so turned right up the hill (wrong way) and couldn't make map fit. Eventually checked compass so knew I was wrong but not why. Just saw a stream which could have been the mapped one, and I was quite lucky it was. Binned 3 whole minutes. Felt like I was flying on longer leg to 15 and then kept it up right through to finish. So pleased with general fitness, but annoyed about carelessness.

Signing off map corrections and course details with Controller Smith. Are we there yet?

Lodsworth, Henley, Woolbeding Common, Borden, Tullecombe, Rake, Chapel Common, Stanley, Linchmere and Marley Commons, then a huge circuit of Black Down to Haslemere. Felt fine till about 5.30, but last five miles were a bit of an ordeal. No real problems though, and blisters, thankfully, just stayed away. Walk to station, train to Petersfield and then drive home by 9p.m. Only made possible by Jan, who fetched, cooked and carried. Thx J.

My attempt to do the 63-mile Serpent Trail as a two-er. Drive to Petersfield, then walk Nyewood, Iping and Stedham Commons, Midhurst Common, Ambersham, Graffham and Duncton Commons, Coates and Hesworth Commons, Bedham, Petworth and Upperton. Wore Saucony trainers so had wet feet almost all day, though sandy heathland meant most of the going was dry. This is the south of England at its best, the rival of anything in the Lakes or Scotland. Tired and footsore by the end and unsure whether I'd be good enough for another day of the same.

Checking course legs, control sites and map corrections for Charlton Forest event. A few more decisions made, including starting over again with the finish.

Ran down today because I thought legs would be tired and I wanted to 'race' rather than slog round a longer course. Was probably a good move as motivation was high all the way round. And no mistakes to speak of helped. Biggest problem was making out the overprint on what is quite a 'fussy' map. Went down the wrong ride to 1 but relocated on fence. Slipped badly on bluebells after 4 and decided to be more careful. Couldn't decide whether the track I wanted after 6 went through the OOB or not; there was a gap in the fence but I'm b*****ed if I could make it out on the map! Ran long leg to 10 hard as I thought the split here would determine the finish order. I wasn't quickest though. Had a breather at the road crossing and planned ahead and was OK through the last loop, though I walked the uphills with no sense of shame as they were very steep! Finished 12 secs off first position so fairly happy with that.

Set off in a bit of a grump, but by the time I got to the event I was all ready to go. Had Alan starting right behind me so wanted to be clean through the first few to try and delay the inevitable. Hit 2 with relief and the help of a big tree, almost ran off the map (again) to 3, and got stuck in 'the lost world' near 5. Was hesitant to 6 but you could see the flag from the wet path. Planned to go straight to 8 but the sight of the swamp changed my mind for me and I veered left to see Alan eating up the path. Led him to 8, followed him to 9, and was following him to 10 when he went the wrong way! Got the 'niche' OK, but couldn't make out the detail between 10 and 11 and was hesitant again, but found the flag first. Alan was first to 12 though and got away going to 14 after the big hole failed to come up for me when I expected it and I slowed down. Was slightly rightwards for 16 and leftwards for 17, but OK. Saw Alan doubling back out of 18 on the road round, so went straight to the finish and had the slightly quicker split. Good course on a remarkably dry Sheffield Forest. Orienteering therapy.

Collected the 10 furthest controls as I didn't have to rush off.