Training Log Archive: Thraws

Same area as yesterday, but as this was a score event you could do things in an order which avoided the worst bits. We quickly decided Kenny should go for the seven to the west of the river, then Mark and I split up the rest. He ended with six southern ones, three of which were very close to the finish, and I took the five in the north. First I went south to a spine control but left it in the wrong direction after I mistook a wall for a path. When I got to the road I decided to run round it, which took me past the first of 'my' controls, then it was spine-extra-spine through short heather and bracken, and paths out to my distant 'extras'. I was able to link them using a gully through the christmas trees, along which I followed an elderly woman with whom I couldn't keep up! She was brilliant. After the two last spine controls (and 40 minutes up) I made a bit of a mess of a root stock I'd been to yesterday, but I'd finished after 43 mins. I forgot, though, that Mark was getting the two near the finish and went downhill for them. But I couldn't find either and, with the clock ticking, gave up. Mark was at the run-in and we waited a minute for Kenny then finished. In second place! We'd missed one, but so had every other team, and the DVO winners were just a few seconds ahead. First time on an orienteering podium for me.

Tranmires, Hallow Rigg, Cowgate Rigg and Standingstones Rigg. Although there was no heather today, this area was probably even less runnable, a bit like Ringwood on a bad day. There was an excellent little pick among rides and veg boundaries at the start, which I made a bit of a mess of, then the familiar (by now) mix of furrows, tussocks, vague mapping and obscure control sites. It was difficult to get out of a walk/stagger, even in the white forest. It made Selhurst feel like Scandinavia. I missed 5 by a few yards and 10 by a bit more, only realising when I started to go downhill. Relocated off a boulder-control and then my own number 11. The worst, though, was the pointless out-and-back leg to 17 which was through every kind of grot imaginable: fallen trees, brambles, young trees, furrows. Navigation was out of the question. Then you had to fight through a load of christmas trees to get to the final control. Result was worse than yesterday's so I think I lost a place or two in the overall results. Like I cared!

Stony Marl Moor, Penny Howe and Pye Rigg. This started with a brief heather-slog, then a tricky little pick in a highly contoured area. Leg 5 was 2k long, and most of it was wading through thigh-deep heather. This put me in a bad mood, so when we got to the forest I rushed my attack and chose the wrong ditch through the light green. Lost 3 mins here and another 1 on 6 because my bearing was inaccurate. Got into a bit of a head-to-head for 9 to 13, which caused me to overshoot the AP for 9 as I was rushing. Relocated off 5 but lost 4 more mins. I had been warned, but I thought the area was pretty low-rent. Running was almost impossible and some control sites were very obscure. Features that stood out on the map were hard to make out on the ground. It rained during the 3k walk back from the finish.

Only did this because I didn't think I could get car out of assembly field to do anything else. I don't like night-o and the fearsome midges in the torchlight at the start were like a form of torture. The petzl headlight was OK on the paths but as good as useless in the trees. After blundering around for 9 minutes looking for a boulder I decided the only way I could score any points was to follow someone with a decent light (although the first few people I found seemed as lost as me). So I had help for three of the controls among the ditches, then headed out to the path in the south for three more there. As I had a few more minutes I went off to look for a 'south-west ride' but couldn't find it and was two minutes late back. Complete disaster. But sort of fun in the weirdest way. Came almost last.

Arrived in pouring rain, put tent up in pouring rain, ran in pouring rain, but this was a good start to the weekend. It combined a scrubby bit of forest, a marshy field, and some farm buildings, and there were dummy controls, one of which I went to. The routes between the controls in the wood, the only technical bit, had been pre-trampled through the undergrowth by the planners, so you just had to be careful you got the right elephant track. I thought my race was pretty competent, but my time turned out really slow. My excuse is it was really dark.

Test ran my 'brown' course at Selhurst. Have to say I quite enjoyed it. I got scratched and stung a fair bit but I think the course manages to make good use of the good bits (there are some left!) of Selhurst. Anyway, it was a bit epic for a Brown so I think I'll promote it to Black and plan another slightly shorter Brown course. Think the event's coming together quite well. And I've managed to keep the total number of controls to 38, which is not many more than a SOG. Right leg sore after.

Got through the sprint part just about OK despite not being able to distinguish the red overprint from the mass of black buildings and got lulled into a false sense of security by the first few forest legs because the controls were near major paths. Then messed up 13 by being a little high and navigating v. confidently to 14. Then couldn't manage the 75 metres back to 13 because I couldn't work out which of the numerous earth features were mapped and which weren't. Lost three minutes here then tried to make up time by charging at 15 without a plan or anything so that, although I must have been within yards of the flag, I couldn't see it. Ran around and found 18 (100 metres away) but ran back into familiar broken ground and kept going till I came to path, turned round and ran back to 18 again, then found control by luck. Massive five minute mistake. Had no confidence looking for 16 and stopped short then got into quite a good head to head and improved through 17 to 23 (quarry section) though I went a long way round twice to avoid the dangerous descent into and out of 23. Was too far right for 25 and got real lucky with 26 and with 27 as well which was rather hidden. Very disappointing run, but wasn't sure what I was expecting and was not mentally prepared at all. Too much on my mind at the moment. Lovely weather and good atmosphere though, and knackered back, legs and feet were all OK, thank goodness.

Taping 37 out of 39 control sites for Level C event in October. No major problems other than with leg 1 to 2 on green which is almost impossible because of bracken and brambles. Replanning necessary. Controller is on the area tomorrow so will have to see what he says, especially with regard to rough open in north east corner. Took just over an hour to put out blue/brown controls, and 2.5 hours to do the other 30.

After all that I jogged/ran round the PBM to see how much quicker I could go. Don't know how I ever thought this would go in 2.5 hours! Halfway in 1 hour and 45 mins, but probably walked more than ran in second half. Ached all over and just about managed to get a shuffle on when walking felt too slow. Comparison of walking with running speeds suggests a BGR timing of just under 21 hours, but in current physical state I'd struggle to complete just two sections on schedule, never mind the whole thing. Months of training needed to get used to the discomfort. Talk about time on your feet though.

Test ran my blue course at Selhurst. Bracken and brambles were a significant problem round 1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16 and 17. I've managed to avoid the worst in the forest but getting onto and off rides and tracks is a nightmare. It must improve before October. Other than that, thought course was OK and only really messed up 1 by being way too high. Looking forward now to seeing updated map and getting controllers comments. RS suggests losing 13, and climb to 11 seemed a bit gratuitous. Wouldn't hurt to shorten course a little bit.

Arthur's Pike, Bonscale Pike, Loadpot and Wetheral Hills, Hallin Fell. Awful weather but good stroll.

Great Mell Fell, Little Mell Fell, Gowbarrow Fell. Had planned to do these separately, but was able to link them via lanes. Lovely day and lovely views.

Heavy rain that started in the morning was my excuse for skipping the Mosedale Horseshoe and walking over Styhead instead. Climbing legs had all but forsaken me, and the walk would only repeat what Lu and I did here a couple of years ago in similar conditions. Got a bus from Seatoller back to Keswick and went straight in the chip shop!

Fairfileld, Seat Sandal, Steel Fell, Sgt Man, High Raise (wrong order), Langdale Pikes, Rossett Pike, Bow Fell, Esk Pike, Great End, Ill Crag, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Sca Fell (via Foxes Tarn), Wasdale Head NT campsite. Lovely weather. Had to push real hard all day as needed to be in Wasdale before shop shut at 8. It shut at 7.30 but the staff opened up for me and I was able to buy some desperately needed calories. Two badly bruised toenails and sore feet from wet boots made this an ordeal. Final descent in a hurry was absolute agony. Worried about last leg now.

Keswick Moot Hall, Skiddaw, Calva, Blencathra, Clough Head, Dodds, Raise, Whiteside, Helvellyn, Nethermost and Dollywagon Pikes. Wild camped at Grisedale Tarn. Rainy start, better later. Unable to manage necessary speed because of pack and boots so behind schedule. Also, totally inadequate food intake.