Training Log Archive: Thraws

Event: Surrey Hills Trail Challenge 2012
 

Way too hot to treat this competitvely. Just wanted to run strong. Was following to 3 and leading thereafter and got a bit confused near the climb to Leith Hill. Had managed to make my own route decisions and stick with them regardless of others, but when you realise some runners know this race like the backs of their hands there's a temptation to watch them. I followed a pair on the very fast downhill away from the summit but started stopping and checking when it became obvious we weren't on the path I thought, and the control still hadn't come up. The two in front were still beasting it, but approaching 9 (correctly) I was pretty sure I'd somehow made my way back to 4! So was a bit more cautious (and alone) to 10, which I almost forgot to punch, then got roads confused just before 11 and lost about a minute. The guy behind me caught me up but then forgot to go back up the hill for 12. So finish position seemed like the right one, although times were embarrassingly slow. Kept going unless walking was just as quick and, on the whole, enjoyed workout.

Was looking forward to running on an area I've done a fair bit of planning on, so know pretty well. Courses didn't seem designed to avoid brambles though. Was OK through 1 and 2 but changed plan for 3. Quickest split to 5 after taking it steady, and enjoyed the running through to 8. Had an excellent line to 7 but people were wandering between the two trees which might have been the control, looking confused. Saw Peter running hard at another tree about 30 yards off and followed him, cause flag wasn't where I'd expected, and there it was (probably in wrong place). Walked a bit to 9 but had a good route, then played safe for 10 taking road through fight but losing a lot of height. Straight was quicker. Was way right - deliberately - for 11, and sensible through 12 and 13. Alan started after courses closed and I was collecting last three controls on blue so could have nobbled his run and won, but I'm way too nice. Very hot out of the shade.

... in shorts.

Actually timed the journeys. 28 mins there and 33 back, must have been the wind.

Was getting twinges in knees, ankles, calves and hams, and wasn't at all sure about this. Warmed up on grass and seemed to get most of the kinks out, then found myself near the front when we lined up by our finish times. Started real steady and soon got into a good rhythm, but km markers were way out so after going through 2k in 9 mins (and deciding I was going to do a rubbish time in spite of feeling OK) was pleased to get to 3k in 12 mins. That put me back on 40 min schedule I was hoping for. Was starting to enjoy the course, which went along the front and past Butlins then wound about a bit through Felpham village before returning straight along the prom for 4k. Thankfully wind was in the north. Crowds were huge (probably best I've ever known apart from London) and the support was a real boost. Kept seeing people I recognised from school. Started to feel a bit tired and slipped behind schedule at about 7k. Think I could have picked it up a bit and gone for it, but was worried about blowing up early, and left calf started to feel real tight. Instead just tried to stay relaxed and keep with the people around me. Finished 6th M50 and 62nd overall, which felt OK, but Bognor doesn't attract the strongest of fields.

Rhododendrons 3 me 0. Given the time since the last survey, some of the controls among the thickets seemed a bit hit-or-miss, but decent runners managed to find them so I can't complain. Perhaps I was just put off by other duffers wandering round cluelessly? I entered brown because the entry price was steep, but with yesterdays 55 minutes in my legs I was never going to be quick. Couldn't make the map fit at all round 1 (2 mins), then, rushing, missed the gap between the dark green on the way to 2 and had a long detour after a few dead-ends (2.5 mins). Sloppy bearing out of 6, but biggest miss was 8. Control wasn't behind thicket I thought, or the next one, so back-tracked wrongly and lost 3.5 mins. Got distracted near 9 but sorted myself out, and was better after that. But forty minutes in (more than nine of them lost!) I was struggling to keep pushing and was very grateful for the occasional downhills. Lost another 30 secs near 21, making a total of 10 mins. Was stumbling by the end and collapsed at finish. Thank goodness Lu had a good run; that made the trip seem worthwhile.

Weather helped, but this was a quality event. As tricky and testing as a level 1 without all the cost, travel, pre-entry, start times, crowds and queues, moaners or marshes (though some of the paths were proper muddy). Just jogged to the start for a warm-up, then mental preparation completely scuppered by the bloke behind me asking how he should use his compass! Just as I was about to go!! So blew 1, put off by the runner starting ahead of me fluffing it even more, and the conservative route I chose to 3 was v. muddy and not optimum. Couldn't decode the info in the circle at 4 so went mostly on memory, then went up the wrong reentrant to 5 and overshot. Worst mistake was 6, where I checked several likely landforms before relocating on the path junction and spotting the crag. Spiked 7 and 8, thank goodness, but was rightwards at 9 and saw flag. Strayed right again leaving control, and leaving 11 as well. Spiked 13 with relief, then it was the long leg (at a SOG?!). Wasn't quite sure where I crossed the stream but ran up the path and through assembly then used bridge and path to secure accurate AP. Also saw the knoll and distinctive tree in the vicinity so knew I was warm. That was a good one to get clean. Last four were OK, though I was way to the right on 17 and used a path I'd never intended to. Never felt fast so tried to focus on good planning and avoided bad mistakes. Much more technical than usual but still enjoyed it.

Didn't need coat or gloves ... soon be spring.

Much warmer coming home, finally ...

Rear tyre has a slow puncture but at least it had stopped raining.