Training Log Archive: Parkino

Success!

My target was a top ten finish in one of the JK classic races or at BOC. Did it at the first attempt, plus an 8th place on the sprint, and held on to a top ten finish overall. (Last year I was 25th.) Job done.

And yet ...

I'm dismayed by the gulf in pace that persists between me and many of the others. Most of my splits were outside the top twenty. I need to get faster and stronger, and take more risks, if I want to improve on this year's achievements.

C • Depressing isn't it..... 12

C • Most Promising Boy 10

JK Relay, Pwll Du, Senior Men, leg 3
another good run, caught and passed by Richard Barrett, but overhauled Liam Corner and got within sight of Fraser Purves (8secs), I was running on fumes by the end (so pleased to be within a second of the Trophy runners' splits to the last control)

6) chose to go to the right of the little hill, but boulder was on the left, scrabbled across to it [15]
16) previous route had short steep climb, hard to get going again [15]
17) ditto [10]

5th of 11 on gaffle, ran 7.26km

easy run to the start etc

JK Individual, Llangynidr
good run (in the circumstances), spoiled by a silly mistake near the end, going was tough on the southern slopes, again, also through the heather in the east, definitely not the fast runnability promised

3) difficult to sight bearing, took second bearing from boulders on hill, but - inexplicably veared off line 150m before control, as if influenced by curve of the big depression (I remember experiencing some confusion about the right line), perfect distance but no control, relocated at 4 [120secs]
5) took second bearing from below sheefold, hesitant [20]
6) knew I was low and right as I came over the ridge but strayed a little too far looking in a bunch of (unmarked) pits [60]
7) cloud obscured top of hill so contoured around it [20]
9) pit in deep heather, hesitant but only just off-line [10]
13) hesitant at attack point, resisted temptation to go left [10]
14) complacent, found a good line, but intended to aim off not hit the feature bang on, couldn't see pit or flag and sped on down the hill, confused [110]

13th, 11mins behind Jon Cross who caught Ben Stansfield

10th overall

easy run to the start etc

JK Individual, Merthyr Common
very good run, around 90secs of navigation errors, but gave away at least 5secs at most controls by stopping to take a proper bearing, so another 90secs in total, going was tough on the southern slope and my lack of strength was exposed, physically didn't perform as well as I might have done

2) bearing slightly off (right) [20]
3) veered left after catching feature (crag, boulder), corrected fairly quickly [40]
8) slow and hesitant through stony ground [20]
17) slightly left on bearing initially [10]

9th, but almost 8mins down on Ben Stansfield, 5 behind JD

Event: JK 2014
 

JK Sprint, Singleton Park/Swansea Uni
good run, but fairly easy - easier than last year? - slow to get up to speed and then didn't kick on soon enough

1) hesitation when entering park and not aggressive enough into flag [10]
3) hesitation at path junction, possibly better to go right [10]
8) almost overshot [5]
18) didn't find a good way through hedge [15]

8th (= with Paul Murgatroyd), 59secs behind Martin Ward