Training Log Archive: Thraws

Weather conditions ideal, late-ish start, tidy car park, so far so good. Carrying a little fatigue from yesterday so minimal warm up and steady start. Slightly overshot 2 looking for 'green' forest which turned out to be as runnable as it gets, but was good thereafter. Wasn't planning ahead much but forced myself to look at the map a bit more and tried to collect features. This was easy in the rhododendron area which was incredibly well mapped. Small misses identifying clearings and distinctive trees. Couldn't keep it up when we got on the steep slope, despite spotting prominent earthbanks and other brown features. It's interesting that the map of this area has changed a fair bit since we were last here 3.5 years go, even though the ground can't have changed at all. Subjective mapping! Anyway, made max use of compass and tried to visualise, and flags when they came up turned out to be mine. Was pleased with time and result and even more pleased with improving consistency.

Perfect little event. Lovely area and map, thoughtful courses (and a decent length), some warm sunshine at the finish, less pain from the knee and a good result. Followed my minuteman to 1, good route to 2 but hesitant near the circle, cautious to 4, caught SJ near 5 and was behind him through 6 to 8 but overtook on the long leg to 9 and had the motivation then to get away. Thought I had after I spiked tricky 10 and 11 but left the latter badly and had no AP for 12 (20 secs lost). Was pleased to spike 13 and 14 in the low-vis stuff. Generally just felt much better. Bruising is going away and there was a hint of spring and I was stronger in the terrain. About 90 secs off a victory. I'd been right to look forward to this event. Now for tomorrow.