Training Log Archive: Jay-T

At a wedding.
Overall finished 6th on M21L - aiming for top ten so a good result (though helped by several people not doing sufficient days).

Hampsfell & Eggerslack

Late start, good contrasting area, feeling good; all set up for ending the week on a positive. In terms of the final result that was the case, but not in most other respects!

Heavy downpour as I was in the start lanes was not welcome, and I was slithering over the limestone pavement at the start.
Hit #1 ok, but on #2 I started looking too far north [20]
Not convinced by route to #3 (pretty much straight) but split looks ok.
#4 Drifted south (loathe to climb the hill more directly!) but corrected from the wall [15]
#5-#8 straightforward.
#9 Briefly confused at the crossing point, but headed for the correct thicket (despite there being more than were mapped) [15]
#10 Conscious decision to take extra care paid off as this control was spiked on a straight route.
#11 Unfortunately I proceeded to undo the good work almost immediately - went straight again (path to east looks preferable retrospectively) and missed above the crag, relocating in the big re-entrant. Game over (or so I thought) [120]
#14 Slightly overshot [10]
#15 Went via #11, small miss to SW in circle [15]
#16 It appears that I had the fastest split here - probably due to taking a route along the path a little way after crossing the wall which helped me recognise straight away that the bare rock was actually wooded.
#17 Went straight to the flag but read the wrong number initially [10]
#18 Didn't read the map carefully enough - looking on the boulder in the bracken to the W, then looped S before finally sorting myself out [40]
#19 Used the southern crossing point - extra distance but better running and a less severe climb - split holds up.
#20 Stupidly went via #4 rather than using the path to the N [20]
#21 Very visible - and this is where the course ultimately finished (61:14) after the end was voided.
#22 Avoided the undergrowth, using the southern crossing point (possibly marked higher than it was placed?) The control certainly was incorrect, as it was significantly up the slope from the crossing point, rather than down [240-void]
#23 Did this well - angry running.
#24 Too high [15-void]

Pretty unremarkable run - didn't feel fast either but generally seemed to be less off the pace than on previous days for some reason. Possibly attributable to some minor tracking up but that can't be the whole story.

Planning was a bit of a disappointment - especially the part in the eastern wooded section. Evidently the fact that they had to void the end of all courses using the western slope is also suggestive that something was missed in the planning / controlling process unfortunately.

3 of 34 (Class)
7 of 71 (Course)

Small error on warm down ;)

Bit of jogging about at the top of the hill after assisting my Mum up the 400m ascent to the start!

Pike O'Blisco

Great area - glorious weather helped. Course a little short.

#1 Recognised too late that I should be skirting the hill so added a bit of extra climb and distance straight away [20]
Good through the next few.
#5 Took a wider line to ensure that I could run more of the hill. Small miss in circle as I went below (rather than above) the crag below the control [15]
#6 Couldn't find a good line amongst the rocks and meandered up and down the slope somewhat [15]
#7 What a nasty leg. Steps run uphill: 0.
#8 Dropped down the hill to find some better running, somewhat hesitant coming past the crags, then overshot the small re-entrant, but realised upon spotting the ponds in the larger one [75]
Enjoyed the downhill legs!
#12 Possibly dropped too much too soon, but made sure I used the large boulders as attackpoints (which is why it was disconcerting when I didn't see the second one...)
#13 Used the path just because it was there - not necessary and meant I lost height that I had to regain [60]
#16 Used the bare rock but somehow ended up too far west on an unmapped knoll - from where I could fortunately see the correct location [15]
#17 Looking too high in the adjacent re-entrant - JoeG helped me out [15]
#18 Spiked with a bearing before enjoying the descent to the finish.

Not a bad run, and a good result (again on open fell... not sure what is going on).

7 of 38 (Class)
12 of 79 (Course)

Mining Museum (not quite as boring as it sounds), general sightseeing, Thirlmere.

Grizedale NW

Rough forest - not the day one would have chosen to have an early start.

Few little misses but generally ok through to #9.
Missed #10 to the north but rectified quickly (time loss less than I thought) [10]
#11 Indecision over route choice initially, then briefly looking on the hill too early [25]
#12 No error - time loss assumed to be due to having to forge the route out to the track through the fight (assuming people didn't go straight?) [45]
#15 Poor routes both getting onto, and later leaving, the track [30]
#16 Overshot down the hill [10]
#17 Did the majority of the leg really well, but then became confused over which small path I was on when ascending the hill (largely due to no bend in the path and more extensive vegetation). As such came out far east of the control but was fortunately alert enough to quickly realise what I had done [105]
Caught an M40 at #18 - I went straight to #19 and he went around the path - I came out on the path just ahead so possibly a good choice.
Did the opposite to #19 - I dropped down to the path to get a better attackpoint back in whilst he went straight. Beat him into the area near the control but then was confused by the absence of the marsh in the green area and overshot to the open marsh. Panicked slightly and followed said M40 towards #20 (as he had already got the control) before having to retrace my steps [150]
In my haste to re-catch the guy I began navigating to #24 when halfway to #23... [90]
Remainder went without any real incident, other than a small miss on #26 [10]

Worst day of the week, and very frustrating mistakes in an area that should have suited me; bit of a reverse of Day 1!

13 of 35 (Class)
22 of 75 (Course)

Simpson Ground

Enjoyable middle race - didn't quite manage to hold it together though; caught out by the transition into the vaguer NW section.

#3 Became disorientated in the green marsh and thrashed southwards briefly [20]
#4 Went to the end of the open marsh (rather than the wooded one - a popular error I think) but realised quickly [15]
#9 Slow through the green, then slightly unsure over the contours meaning I was very hesitant [25]
#12 Went north of the first hill which probably wasn't disastrous but was then overly hesitant again when I couldn't see the dark green on the spur near the control (never did) - but the contours should have been evidence enough [35]
#13 Classic error after error - just headed back up the spur then bumbled in from the east. Rcro still knocking about after passing him at #10 was not a good sign [75]
#14 Still struggling to regain control; too low [35]
#15 Gave myself a talking to; took this control more slowly to ensure that I regained concentration.
No more issues thereafter other than #18 where I couldn't see a way through the windblow initially so made quite a big detour [15]

Better than my last Lakes middle distance race (just a bit!) but some way short of what could have been...

10 of 46 (Class)
16 of 91 (Course)

Event: Lakes 5 Days 2014
 

Extended WU to start...

Swindale South

Not particularly challenging today technically and I had a pretty clean run, but the longest course of the week saw me struggle physically on the last stretch from #15 to the end.

Missed my start time after having to go back to get a cag when part way to the start after a fellow competitor told my that they were compulsory... This was confirmed by the whistle check woman (who had already sent me back once for not having a whistle) - one wonders why she abstained from enlightening me of the cag enforcement at the same time (especially given that there were no other clues such as signs to indicate they must be carried)...

Punching start meant that I was not penalised by this debacle - good job!

Started quickly chasing rcro (1min due to cag issues) - couldn't maintain that pace and soon slowed down after passing him on the way to #2.

Pretty clean through to #8 where I was simply overly hesitant [15]
#10 Skirted the hill too much [15]

Then was just knackered - dropped four places (Class) / seven places (Course) from #15 to the end without really making an error, other than a poor low line to #17 which was costlier than I thought [30]

Nevertheless a decent result on an area not really suited to my 'strengths.'

14 of 49 (Class)
18 of 87 (Course)

Esthwaite Intake
Did the training course (3.7km SL). Just about managed 10mpk - not sure whether that was a good omen or not!
New shoes required.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/562368977