Training Log Archive: Thraws

Quality area. Variety of terrains, massive and mind-bending route choice, but runnable throughout. There were a few areas of complex contour detail where the (new) mapper had tried to use contours to render the scene. My older map shows these mapped as earth features and those are generally much easier to intepret. Lost a bit of time on 1 and 2 through rushing then, leaving 3, tried to pass to the north of the lake through the forest but never saw the high fence and had to backtrack to the path across the dam (2 mins lost). Couldn't really see the map near 9 and 10 because of all the brown squiggles so was real careful with compass (very risky!). Same was true of the quarried areas between 12 and 17 but flags were quite visible fortunately. Left track a bit too early for 18 then completely lost my head and went down the slope instead of up simply because I had decided that was where the course should go. Relocated at the bottom and climbed back up but got confused by parallel paths near the bunkers and lost a massive four minutes and more places hunting among unmapped thickets. 20 was real tricky, but I used the paths well, then missed the path near 21 and lost another minute. I'd have been very pleased with a mistake-free 62-ish minutes, but figured clean runs on the area would have been pretty rare.

Absolutely freezing, but no marshes, no rocks, no deep heather, no tussocks; just open forest, leaves underfoot, lots of hills, and some proper big depressions. I made a big mistake at 3, which cost me third place, but totally enjoyed the atmosphere, the challenge and the workout at this perfect little event. I was rushing a bit, having lost a few secs at 1, and let myself get distracted by walkers near 3 because I thought they would spike the control at the speed they were going. I must have missed the flag by 20 metres, but then ran 200 metres past before relocating. Two minutes lost. Took the path round to the left for the long leg to 6, but straight up the hill was probably best. Walked a bit to 8 and was careful with the tricky short legs, so speed generally was OK. What held me up today was occasional bramble and the usual tripping denger. Noticed that I tend to abandon plans already made, after a mistake however small, so need to stop doing that and trying to outrun my brain.