Training Log Archive: BrandNewMe

Lacking in motivation.

Run hine

With james from his place, ont' moor, through some marshes and tussocks and mud and back. Such mud - it was incredible. Spent most of the run knee deep. One of those runs where you are so splattered you have to strip to your undies on the doormat. Brilliant!

From James's up stoodley, then along to withins gap, round a reservoir and back. Found some amazing tussocks, so at least 10mins of this time was spent staggering around.

Ray was off first today, and did well so I got to the start with 10mins spare. Luxury!

Today's course was bearings looking for pits for the first 5 or so, a v long leg through an open area into the jwoc 97 long / relay forest, a few controls with more interesting / contoured terrain, then another v long leg back into a maze of trenches, which was nuts but great fun, then a rather dull finish, when I was tired.

http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/doma/show_map...

One mistake of a minute, then the predictable wobbles in the bingo bits. Buzz was lacking today, feeling a bit drained. Took the overall win though, and a pair of socks as a prize, home.

So the five day overall was good fun. It's in that time of year when you can feel at a bit of a lose end. The terrain was nice enough. V much bearings, which was good practice for me. The maps in Belgium seem to be affected by seasonality more than a lot of areas, and they were mapped for summer veg which meant a lot of the stuff that was on the map was not noticeable on the ground.

Every day had some good string courses on a proper map. The assembly area every day was indoors with seating, showers and a cafe serving soup, sandwiches, coffee, cake and beer, all good value. The entry was €57 for two of us inc emit hire which must have been one of the cheapest multiday events anywhere. The organisers were v friendly, giving us split starts and helping us find accommodation.

The only minor moans are an 10-12 start block meant early starts every day. The other thing was urinals. I can't say I have had much experience of urinals until now. I've led a sheltered life. It was a bit of a shock to have to queue in the middle of the urinals to pick up my bib on day one, then every day the loos were shared with the gents. Nice. An education..