Training Log Archive: Thraws

Three more hours at Selhurst checking the planning tape had been removed from all control sites, including those we didn't use.

Lovely day, nice atmosphere, great area, well-planned courses, but yet another dreadful map (in places). Enjoyed most of this, but three or four control sites were on bits of map that bore absolutely no relation to the ground. Only myself to blame for 1, though, as I ran past the path junction then couldn't find the smaller paths near the control. 3 and 4 didn't feel right but I spotted them by chance and got past a load of earlier starters. Had company for 5 to 8 but got away to 9 and legged it to 10, picked AP and went in carefully. Found the gully end but no flag and too much bracken for a good look around. Went out to relocate but paths felt all wrong, then got caught by the pack again and with so many blundering around in the bracken it was just a matter of time. (Went back afterwards and flag was about 15m to the north but gullies, paths and clearings were nothing like as mapped.) There was a missing path near 11 but I went down where it should have been, saw a clearing and crossed my fingers. Phew! Lots of people lost a lot of time on this nightmare control. Raced Neil through 12 and 13 but he was too quick. Mostly fun, but lots of grumbling in the car park.

Had a tailwind on the way home for what must be the first time ever. Lovely evening, last of summer?