Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

Sol 1 gullane. Brown

Not mad for gullane at the best of times. I hate dogs, and I like trees, and I am not a mad fan of marram grass either so I had decided at the outset I was going to have no expectations of enjoying it. Best that way - then bits a pleasant surprise if you do.

Start - 1 - 2 fine. 3 - missed the small path coming out of 2 so wasted time going back, the passed just left of the control and had to relocate off the big open area. 1:25 down. 4 fine, 5 fine too. I think the young lads are more suited to this running. A bit confused at 9 as the hills before it looked massive. Got to 11 and the control was 228, should have been 230. Hummed and haaaad a bit, thought it was definitely right and ran on. Bit left on 12, then got back into it. 13, 14 fine. 15 should have been 228 but was 230. Bit confused - Did I mis punch before? - until I realised what had happened and ran on. These controls were swapped shortly after (I was an early split start). Dropped 1:12 on these controls in total. 15-22 fine, but I was getting tired. Then saw Dave r ahead so that gave me something to concentrate on. Closing him down, virtually got him at 27, then he went right, I went left, just for fun as I thought it was probably 50:50. I think I was marginally quicker, but Andrew kicked my ass, so I think left was the better route. Certainly less busy with others. 29 fine, 30 I was running along the sandy path, for what seemed like forever, so when a right came, I took it, thinking it was the one before the control. It wasn't. A bit of a magical mystery tour and I saw Dave r in the distance at the finish as I punched 30. 1:13 and the win lost here...

It was fun in the end. I probably tired / lost concentration after 40mins. The orienteering wasn't tricky, so I didn't really suffer nav wise, but in a big race I'd have had a gel. Pleased it was such a competitive race, and interesting to see the lads splits too. They definitely have different physical strengths to me.