Training Log Archive: Thraws

I was having problems with my back and Lu had a slight cold so I wondered whether we'd even be at this. But I took a couple of ibuprofen and warmed up carefully and felt OK on the start line. There was a long delay because of a crane outside M&S, which reminded me a bit of the Marrakech Marathon. I thought I started more carefully but was through the first lap in just over 4 mins again and feeling alright. Splits after that were 4.20 and 4.25 and I thought I'd floor it in the last lap and be somewhere around 4 mins for a sub-17 but, although I overtook a few, I hadn't really got a lot left in the tank. I've got a choice, either lose about a stone or become a fun runner.

I think I'd rather have had a break today and done something else, but the weather was so good it seemed worth the long drive. On the way I decided to do the blue course as the race with Lu would give us both the incentive to push a bit harder. As it was, I made a series of pretty stupid mistakes again which I can only put down to trying to outrun my brain. I stopped too early to 2, distracted by a couple of lost people I should have completely ignored (90 secs). I saw a flag near where I thought 4 would be but checked the code, luckily, and was a good 100 metres short. Felt heavy-legged on the climbs to 5, 6 and 7, and lost time at 5 because I thought I was at 6! Saw the good route through the field to 10 but lost 2 mins at 12 because I didn't use compass on a compass leg and instead relied on visual identification of veg boundaries. Was OK for next 6 controls and reckoned 19 could be make or break as it had scope for major time loss, but spiked it and caught Lu here (four minutes). Followed her out of control but took slightly differerent slightly worse route to 20, so followed her again on optimum route to 21. She was running strongly and I was falling back, then I decided she had forgotten to punch 21 and it was through the trees to my left. I left the ride in expectation of a flag but it wasn't there and nor was the veg boundary. I reached the path below and ran up and down it a bit, panicking wildly that all the time I'd made up was being lost, but failing to relocate. Finally saw another runner punching a flag in a vague location and reached the finish having lost 3 mins 40 secs on the leg so was just one place ahead of Lu. Another disappointing run but good area, v. good course and quite outstanding weather.

I thought I'd try and do this eyeballs out, full tilt, as preparation for the middle champs. Big mistake! Every time I think about running I make basic navigational errors. I made significant mistakes on at least six of the legs. No. 1 was OK, but the effort to run hard up the hill to 2 meant I never realised how high above the valley bottom the pit was and I was 30 metres to the right and confused. It was uphill through 3 and 4 and when I left the track for 5 I took a bearing as though the track was running due north. I was heading north-east when I should have been nearer north. Consequently I must have passed the veg boundary over 100 metres to the right and well below. In addition there were brambles everywhere. I could have coped with this but the map had them in certain spots only so I was using them a bit to navigate. I relocated on the ride beyond but lost over 90 secs. I did the same thing halfway to 8, using the angle the red line made with the ride to set my bearing rather than the north line. Again, about 100 metres right and too high and v. confused. I stopped much too soon for 7 because I wasn't using the compass properly. 9 to 12, the downhill legs, were much better, and I opted to go round to 13 but still got stuck in some horrendous bramble. After 14 I failed to realise that heading north, as I intended, from the path end where I was would take me through some rough forest so lost time here as well. Just wasn't thinking half the time, and the killer brambles definitely spoilt a really interesting course.

Afterwards I collected the ten controls at the north end of the map on a route suggested by David. This brought home just how bad the brambles were in parts. I was using the compass and could hardly ever go where I wanted to and I still got really really scratched. But the weather was absolutely perfect and the forest above the undergrowth was lovely. The 3k took about an hour.

Technical difficulty never got much above about 3 and a half but I really enjoyed the course and the area. There was a bit of a track to 1, thankfully, as it gave some of the early starters problems. Made a small mess of 5 by veering too far right twice and lost about 30 secs. Made use of the tracks through 8 and saw 9 from a bit away. Knew I'd lose time at 10 and did because my AP was a hill top and the brown features were obscured by stuff on the ground. Relocated on thickets/trees. Enjoyed the low-vis controls (12 to 16) the most and was as careful as necessary. Ran too far along the road for 16 but aimed for the pheasant enclosure, then used paths and tracks for the rest of the course. Legs were really heavy over the last 15 minutes but I realised afterwards I had actually been running uphill very slightly. Forest was so flat I didn't notice. Lovely way to run 10k.

Did an Attack Points, Descriptions and Relocation Exercise with Alex. It was quite warm in the sun but very wet underfoot. The second and third exercise went very well and we were able to hold a bearing pretty well for distances in excess of half a kilometre. Struggled a bit to keep up in the terrain!

Shadowed Jack round the short course so was unable to take part, which was a shame as I'd been looking forward to this. The area was first class and the course was really good. Would have been a great little work out but at least I saved my legs a bit for tomorrow. Jack ran well but got found out a bit by a course which was consistently technical.

Started quicker in pursuit of a better time and place but it probably wasn't a good idea as I had to rein right back on second lap in order to maintain a decent pace to finish. Splits very roughly were 4.00, 4.25 (1), 4.25, 4.14. Sooner I can start cyling to work the better. Enjoyed it as always and slept like a lord the night after.

Don't really know what went wrong here as I didn't make any big mistakes, and the long leg I thought I'd executed poorly still doesn't seem to offer anything obviously better now that I can look at in a cold light. I think I just had heavier legs than usual from the day before and the distance and especially the climb made me cautious. I was just fine through 3 but elected to walk on the very first hill even though I'd been out just 8 minutes. I reckon that explains the poor time: just plain lack of attack and general attitude problem at major events. I went to the wrong flag first at 4, then walked again leaving it, but kept going in the open to 5. Then I walked up most of the big hill to 6 because I thought everyone would. I just didn't see the flag at the control, but found the wrong pit beyond it then saw a wrong flag about 70 metres away and had to check. Relocated on ditch. 7, 8, 9 and 10 were pretty easy, but lost time at 11 because I didn't go far enough up the grotty slope and figured I was in the wrong bit of wood. Then had a leg of 3k plus across about three deep valleys and just couldn't see a route. Nor did I want to unfold the map to plan the whole thing so just took the good track due south as fast as possible and figured I'd work something out. Once I was in the open I thought I'd stay there and run round the last hill as it gave me a good attack, but it did take me about a kilometre from the red line. Then I had to walk up the last hill anyway, as I wasn't doing hills, and lost another minute or so in the circle by being knackered and not believing I was where I was. Toyed with the idea of going round to 15 as well, but went up and over instead and it was alright. Tried to make an effort and push for the last three and the run in, but knew time was pretty mediocre. Legs apart, though, enjoyed the area and the course and was glad we'd come. Sun had warmth in it and the queue for caterers was about 5 mins long. Really good event.

Sprint is a total misnomer, as the trickiness of the course made it necessary to go real careful if you didn't want to lose contact. I was relieved to get through the Brasenose Wood part of the course OK and was feeling confident after spiking the first Shotover control. I'd planned a good route to 9 but, emerging in the clearing, was completely put off by the noisy sounds of a large group of children. Trying to avoid them I lost concentration, and ran right past the correct control to another one I could see. 10 was alright (very easy) but I didn't take the right info from the map for 11 and just fluffed it completely. Then followed some juniors to 12 and the finish. I hadn't done myself justice but I might make up some places in the chase.

I was fairly confident I could haul in a few of those starting ahead of me so was looking forward to this. Passed first person on way to 1 in spite of careless route choice, then simplifed 2 well but lost a bit of height in the process. Punched 3 just behind a large group of those starting ahead and overtook several on way to 4. Got 5 and 6 well, then put my foot down on the long leg to 7 as the last section looked like another control pick where everyone would be following. Caught two more by 8 then followed one of them up the hill to 9 without checking map and missed small path out to spectator control. All those I'd passed earlier came flying by and I had to overtake them all again by 13. Followed them to 11, even though their route choice wasn't mine, left the control better than they did and just had more puff and determination on the last hill. Made up seven places but was way off leaders.

Spent about 3 hours in Charlton Forest looking at control sites for blue and green courses for October regional. Probably covered about 7km. Forest very runnable but a bit same-y.

Usual SOG thing of overtaking people all the way round so often helped with finding controls. Made a bit of a mistake leaving 5 as I couldn't believe we needed to go up before descending into the Dyke so went through the gate and down then had to climb up to get past the trees. Everyone goes at the same speed walking up the climbs so tried to get a shift on when we could actually run as I knew it would make the difference. Reckon the climb was probably a bit more than 300m.

Wasn't really in the mood for this but Lu wanted to do it. I'm glad I did, though, because it was good fun and I really enjoyed myself. Felt OK after too. Started at back of A race so I wouldn't go too fast and kept up steady pace through first two laps. Think I was stronger than those around me on third and picked it up on fourth to overtake a few. I was about 10 secs down on last year, but as I wasn't too sure about even getting inside the 18 minutes cut-off I was pleased enough. Will hopefully get time down on the next two rounds which we have also now entered. An excellent high intensity work out just before the climax of the orienteering season, with southern, sprint and middle champs and JK all coming up.