Training Log Archive: Thraws

Encapsulated what is fun and frustrating about orienteering. Some lovely forest just made for running through, but a lot of control sites in point features that were impossible to hit cleanly at any sort of speed. It was quite possible to have a good strong run then lose ages because you missed a pit or small depression by a few yards. The map and planning were great, but the mapping of the control symbol is a lot bigger than the physical feature itself and in slightly broken ground finding a flag is a matter of chance. So I fluffed 7, 8, 14 and 20 and lost about 4 mins even though I knew exactly where I was. Grrrr. Lost 2 more more mins at 20 mostly through rushing. Overall really enjoyed the event though and appreciated the sunshine, although the going was proper wet underfoot. Back was v. bad in the morning but no problem running, and I felt no fatigue at all from yesterday. Huh?

Oh dear! Reckon I did 14 out of the 17 legs really well, but on two longer ones I made route choice mistakes (minute each) and on number 6 I got completely lost (9 mins-plus). It didn't help that as I got near where I thought the control was a load of people started asking me if was looking for 117. I was and they said they couldn't find it. I said it's over there but it wasn't and I became an honorary bumbler. I'd messed up my bearing out of 5 and got two stream junctions about 120 metres apart confused, and run off the map. Took me ages to realise because the two streams were so similar. Anyway, race over and focus and concentration all gone. Still enjoyed the rest of the course as it was thoughtfully planned and made good use of the area. Really need to check my compass more often, although in my defence it was hard to run on a bearing even in the white forest. Also back was twinging in the morning so I didn't warm up or anything; think that may be due to over-eating last week. Will stop.

Rain down, rain down