Training Log Archive: FE

Event: HH Ace of Herts SE League Event
 

HH N Ashridge - Short Green, had entered short blue but achilles still iffy.
Scrappy race. Did the basics right with plenty of bearings but not great on executing them with all the fallen trees.
2. Crossed road onto wrong path and took time to realise. -30s.
5. Large unmarked shallow depression close to control threw me. -20s
6. Not sure if I took a bearing and didn't go far enough. -60s
9. Influenced by someone ahead and hit slope on wrong side of deep reent. -45s.
Finish - went down to beat someone when control was on the top track! -20s
Legs packed up a 1k from the end. Just not run enough of late and felt sick at the end.
A deceptively tricky course, caused in part by many fallen trees preventing perfect bearings.

Achilles was worse than expected. Hopefully it will be no worse than fortnight ago.
Want to attend events as C is hooked, but not sure about the wisdom.

Albury-Blackheath-Shamley-gravel loop-back via railway
Exploring loop to find best surfaces. Plenty of mud and came off twice onto feet as a pro and sideways like a novice!
Moving time 1.41.

SLOW Mogador Event from 9/18 - 270 pts (give or take!)
After a short wu, wisely decided to ride with R foot clipped in and L not. Made it round without puncturing or falling off, yeah!
Tough going in places and dismounted numerous times and walked a few hills.
Map reading was much more difficult than I expected without a compass in hand.
Respect to anyone who can do this well. So much to concentrate on, never mind navigating off a static board with a compass somewhere else on the board.

Swelling appeared after Sunday and took 5 days to disappear, could be peroneal tendon.

Event: MV SE League Event
 

MV Headley Heath - Middle Blue
Again not in the zone well before start, so when I drifted off bearing to 1 and lost 60s I accepted it, along with numerous hesitations, and was pleasantly surprised I was competitive at long last, which given it was 90% on paths was even more surprising. Good course, given the area. Flawless organisation.
1. Drifted S to parallel track, -60s.
2. Tried cutting through and doubled back, -10s.
4. Lost way on the tiny paths & relocated twice, -60s.
5. Brain not with it, confused over valley, -40s.
9. Went long way round, maybe lost 10s.

An odd one today, kept calm, and had a reasonable flow even when I was unsure where I was and trusted I would relocate. Getting better at tackling the course as a whole rather each leg being a race and getting annoyed when mistakes happen, or I struggle physically.
Ligament by achilles painful towards end after getting foot trapped in large branch.

Freezing jog/walk to start with stretches. Think cycling break has helped as both calf and hamstrings gave no hint of trouble.

Shoelands - out via St Catherine's in 63, back via transmitter in 47.
Love/hate this heavy mtb. Not the best day for a novice, with two heavy showers on muddy/sandy bridleways. Had two hairy moments, first on 6% hill when chain was jumping b/w crank cogs and was unable unclip and just made it to hold it to a car bonnet, otherwise I'd have fallen off, and later when rear mech almost ripped off.
Useful recce.

Event: SAX Regional
 

My first rear puncture repair with discs, then a mile of unsuccessfully figuring out the gears on MB.
Bramley via 22. out in 30, back and uphill in 28.
Nice to get out and explore, but hard work as the front had a slow puncture which meant I could push the tyre into the rim at the end with my hands.
No issues and rode without cleats, which made it harder still.

72.6 kgs. Niggles everywhere, after sitting for 60 hr plus a week in freezing office.