Training Log Archive: Shingo

Hampsfell - Course 2 (M50)
Far better run than the day before. Found the technical opening forest section quiet tricky but held it together. The open moorland section was okay except for 0.5m boulders hidden in a sea of bracken. #16 was in the wrong place and lost time finding it as it was higher up the hillside than marked. In the end the last three controls were voided (is that a word) with finish being a #15. Finished in the top quarter of the field which was more like it. A good couple of days orienteering with yesterday's particularly memorable. State Leagues in Newcastle next weekend to bring me back down to earth.

A long, steep walk to the start but well worth it.

Pike of Blisco - Course 2 (M50)
A fantastic day in the Lakes with memorable views of the fells. The orienteering was challenging and it well and truly beat me. A few minor issues with #1 getting my eye in, ok to #6 which I overshot, likewise with #7. Lost confidence at #9 doubting where I was without reason. Biggest mistake was a #13 where I took a vague compass bearing rather than reading the detail on the map, lost 10 mins here. Nothing in Australia prepares you for this kind of terrain. I overheard someone say it was like Scandinavia without the trees. Needless to say I was well off the pace.

C • I'm guessing 5

Circuit of the four munros (Geal-charn, A'Mharoconaich, Beinn Udlamain & Sgairneach Mhor) to the west of Drumochter Pass. Not particularily exciting hills but made for a great high level run with fantastic views as the cloud levels was above the tops. Only slight downside was a 4km run along the cycle path next to the A9 to get back to the car. Headed up to Aviemore afterwards (as characterless as always) and saw an Osprey on the way back.

C • Tapering 2

More munro bagging, this time Carn Liath, Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain & Carn nan Gabhar (east of Blair Atholl). No views from the tops again, at least the rain held off but was very windy. No GPS trace as I was walking rather than running. Made it down in time to make the last tour at the smallest distillery in Scotland, so good I even splashed out on a bottle of 12YO single malt.

Event: Lakes 5 Days 2014
 

Meall nan Tarmachan from NTS car park. Some very heavy showers on the way up and down but was dry on the top, no views. Would have been nice to have done the Ptarmigan Ridge but not enough time and far from ideal conditions.

C • Nice 2