Training Log Archive: Parkino

Progress Report:
at last year's JK, my first in 28 years, I finished 29th overall (32nd & 31st), my target this year was the top twenty ... and I made it: 19th. But I can't be too content: neither run was good enough (and won't trouble my rankings), and though I might be faster than I was last year I still had to walk portions of the course

I was hoping the technical challenge might favour me, but I had trouble reading the fine detail on the map at 1:15 and failed to appreciate the incline of the shorter slopes, the physical effort interfered with my navigation, as it would

I'd say top 15 was a possibility but, unfortunately, I move up to M45 next year and that's a more competitive class (at least the maps will be 1:10)

long-term target 15th JK 2014

JK Day 3, Craig'a'Barns
another moderate run - when I was running, which happened only occasionally after 7, the terrain was too rough for me and the effort sapped the energy from my brain!

Declan M caught four minutes on me when I messed up 4 (having passed metres below the control and turned away), then we had some 'fun' head to head all the way to the finish, I kept catching the wee man when I made mistakes, he took 3minutes out of me on the long slog up the hill (12), but I beat him into 13 - the forest was a mess around there

almost turned my ankle on the descent to 14, it hasn't swollen, but it is a bit traumatised

finished 33mins down on James Logue, 25th, enough to secure 19th place overall

JK Day 2, Dunalastair
agh, missed my target by one place, but last year I finished 32nd on day 2 (39mins behind Bill Edwards) so this is an improvement - could've been so much better

the scale threw me in the first section, I kept stopping too soon, lost time on 1 because I was slow and very cautious, but the big mistake came on three where I cut through the green too soon and came out near the fence and cut back into what I thought was the right bit of white, but it wasn't - it was too contoured - came back out and had to think, worked it out, but again was puzzled by how far into the wood I had to go, on 4 I was bang on-line but slowed up because I was worried I'd gone too far, same on 5, got it together by 6, but can't say I was clean for the rest ...

I feel I've improved, but I might need to do some fell running or something

Event: JK 2012
 

JK Day One, Sprint, Livingston
last year's JK sprint was my first ever sprint race, didn't quite get to the right intensity that day, and yet I was knackered by the time I'd reached the spectator control, I've come on a bit since then, the basic speed has improved, and I guess my result shows it, but I'd hoped for slightly better ... than 23rd

And would've got it if I hadn't been such a coward and refrained from running across the grass before the last control - no one else was doing it at the time and my pre-race recce had suggested it wasn't permissible, but as Charlie Adams pointed out, I did have a map

still, it was a good pipe-opener for the main event

Snow ...