Training Log Archive: Thraws

Love Oxford, and like the idea of racing through its familiar medieval streets, so entered longest course. Still not quite right though, and desparately unfit after several weeks of almost no exercise. Not expecting much. After a mad little park bit, out into the university buildings, where an elevated section (with unfamiliar mapping) causes me to lose 1.5 mins. The first long leg includes a suicidal dash across four lanes of traffic in St Giles, and I'm unable to decode the mapping of stairs so need to go and have a look first which wastes best part of another minute. Mostly OK through castle bit, helped by quicker youngsters overtaking me, and go fairly well through High Street section even if I do cause a few drivers to have to brake a bit sharply. Held up by tourists in places as well but decision-making is positive. After a wriggle through Trinity Coll I enter another tricky bit and lose about a min at 31 because I am following rather than thumbing. Miss some handy stairs near 33, go wrong way to 34, and leave 35 in opposite direction, and am obviously getting tired almost an hour in. But worst mistake is failure to find way into St Anne's. It's on the map but I miss the gate on the ground and run right round college to attack control from the west instead. Probably over 2 mins lost here. Between 42 and 43 there is an open gate but I can't see if it's mapped as such because a green tree blob on the uncrossable black line is really confusing. Play safe and follow paths round building. Took the wrong longer route to 45, but Kris Jones did too, as he overtakes me and then wins. Mistakes must add up to about 7 minutes, but I've enjoyed it and am really stiff afterwards but OK the next day. Wish I was fitter though.