Training Log Archive: Thraws

Event: November Classic (UKOL)
 

Started this with a very dodgy back and wasn't even sure whether I could run at all. I'd take it a leg at a time and concentrate on spiking controls. Warm up was ok and 1 went well. Used safe route to 2, but 3 was cross-country and muddy - although enjoyable. Was liking the map a lot, although had to relocate on a marsh for 4. Poor (if safe) route to 6, and was rightwards for 9 and went to wrong flag. Read map well through 13, then faffed near 14 and lost about a minute. Good execution (again) for 15 to 17 and I was inside the hoped-for hour. Very surprised to be in 2nd at download as priority had been getting round (walking if necessary) without making back worse. Despite the inevitable mud, really enjoyed the area and the course, and drove home feeling more optimistic than I had in the morning.

Well, knee was sore and brambles, brambles everywhere were a distraction. But the four big mistakes I made were of the sort I used to commit back in the rush-and-hope days. I was pretty good to 6 then neglected compass in the effort to get through the brambles quickly and came out on the track by a distinctive tree. Only it wasn't the one I thought and my bearing took me about 150 metres south of the control. It never 'felt' right, but I foolishly put my faith in two bumblers who I thought must be near the flag and we all ended up lost. Eventually relocated off a depression I'd used in an event before. Four-plus minutes binned. Was too far left and stuck in brambles and lost two more minutes at 10 before going down to path and starting again. Was looking for a tree (and one I thought I'd recognise) at 12 when control was on a rootstock. And just had no AP for 13 because I was rushing so never had a chance. So lost around nine minutes in total. And back was very dodgy afterwards. I hope I learn some lessons, though my various minor aches and pains may have been a little to blame.

Collected the nine furthest controls while the sun dried out the forest temporarily.

Didn't want to walk till dawn again so drove to the end at Eastbourne and got a train to Lewes. This was a bad idea. It forced me to rush the whole thing, which had repercussions in terms of mental state and fatigue, and driving for an hour and a half in a very tired state at 4 in the morning is way too dangerous. Went back up the Juggs Road in the twilight and was at my post soon after 6. I soon slipped behind the optimistic schedule I'd set and was hurrying when I tripped going up (!) Itford Hill and fell very heavily on elbow and knee. Was also winded for a bit. Knee soon became very swollen. Nevertheless, loved the familiar Firle Beacon stretch and was in the fleshpots of Alfriston by 10. Ate my egg sandwiches here and the salt in these may have caused me to become dehydrated as I got extremely thirsty as the night went on. It was muddy by the Cuckmere River, and scarily dark in Friston Forest, but by 11.15 I was on the home stretch over the Seven Sisters. But I lost the path at the top of the first hill and ended up near some buildings. I guessed where I was and, luckily, got it right, but I was rattled now about nav and, concomitally, speed. Never really knew where the best line was till I got to Beachy Head so was pushing hard and neglecting efficiency. Consequently got tired and a bit fed up. Also, you could tell even in the dark the area was a bit special, and I never felt I was doing it justice. At least I didn't have the crowds. Drove home with unseen dog mess all over the bottom of my shoes, yuk!