Training Log Archive: Thraws

Soon got into a bit of a pack with the same boys as yesterday and, again, their haste led them to make small mistakes. The only error I made was trying to go straight for 3. The heather was short but those who went right round on the track were still quicker. After that I stuck to the paths, which made the nav very easy, but you had to be careful oxygen debt/fatigue didn't lead to silly mistakes. I wasn't too proud to walk a few paces near the top of one small climb. There was a dog leg at 8/9 then at 13/14 so I was able to see those in front on the way in and behind on the way out. I seemed to be holding position and making up lots of ground on those on the shorter courses. I didn't really make any errors to speak of, but the course was technically very easy, with no tricky legs at all. I think the planner had tried to get us to go straight, but the truth was that if you did (the right thing!) you'd lose lots of time fighting the furrows. So, a pretty rubbish area but a good race for me as I held off some good juniors all competing for interland selection.

The Short Brown course seemed a bit, well, Short, but the word was that the area was really rough underfoot and very slow going. I was expecting the worst (Ringwood!) but in the circumstances it wasn't too bad and I was halfway round in 22 minutes when I looked at my watch. The whole thing felt very much like a SOG, so a bit of what I know best. I seemed to be running with a load of M16/18s and was quite pleased that I was able to keep up as they kept making silly small errors, though most of them outran me. First mistake was leaving 9, when I kept on up the rentrant to the track in the north although there was a more direct path to the south. Then a moment of self-doubt caused me to needlessly check the code on a control I knew wasn't mine and I lost another 30 secs. I managed to make out the hill with 11 on from another hill so went for it straight, then spiked 12 too. Opted for the tracks to 13 but cut across for 14 and was dragged off bearing by blasted furrows. Consequently went in too early and overshot the flag which cost another minute. Overall, though, felt the race had gone quite well and I'd have a good start in the chase.